4
Harry, Hermione and Ron walked back from the Gryffindor common room back towards the entrance hall to stand guard for the night. Upon arriving they decided to sit down and get some rest. While they sat Mrs. Norris, the grounds keepers cat whose disposition was always foul, came to join them in their watch. The trio had never particularly cared for the cat because she had a habit of snitching out their whereabouts to Mr. Filtch back in their school days. Hermione, Ron, and Mrs. Norris eventually drifted off to sleep but Harry stayed awake, staring into space consumed by the input coming to his senses. As Harry listened he slowly became aware of a soft rumbling somewhere in the distance.
Harry sat perfectly still as the rumbling drew nearer but held his hand tightly around his wand. Harry didn't even flinch when the doors of the entrance hall burst open with a swish. And when the creature who had made this grand entrance picked up Mrs. Norris and tossed her into its gaping mouth, Harry still did not move. As Harry watched he began recognizing the creature Grendel who was said in the old myths to live in the great lake just outside the castles building. As Grendel began to reach towards Hermione and Ron, Harry raised his arm quickly and cast a spell. "Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted. This spell was a classic disarming spell, it was meant to take away the weapons of whomever it was cast upon. Seeing as, however, that Grendel was not carrying any weapons, the spell instead worked to free Grendel's arm from the body that was controlling it. Harry held his wand steady, fighting to make the spell finish its intended purpose, and after concentrating very hard against a struggling Grendel, the spell worked. Grendel's arm now lay just inches from the feet of a very startled Hermione and Ron who had woken up midway through the attack.
Grendel who was stunned and oozing blood from his now empty shoulder socket turned and bolted out the door as fast as his feet could carry him. Meanwhile, people were beginning to arrive at the top of the entrance hall stairs, awakened by the screams of pain Grendel had omitted as his arm was torn off. Dumbledore was the first to arrive. "It seems that the monster that has been terrorizing us for the past few months has left something behind as a parting gift. I don't think that we will be seeing him again anytime soon" Dumbledore stated neutrally then continued more jovially, "Thank you Harry, Hermione and Ron, we will now be able to sleep without fearing what may be lurking in the dark. Thank you!"
"It was our honor to help out this fine fortress," Harry replied, "and none of this could have happened without fate on our side."
"Well said Harry!" Ron announced.
"I think now it is time that we all get a good sleep. We can celebrate tomorrow," Hermione said tiredly.
But just as Dumbledore turned to show Harry Ron and Hermione where they could sleep more comfortably for the night Minerva McGonagall rushed in saying breathlessly, "Wait! Albus, wait! You forgot to bestow a gift on the valiant hero that has saved us from Grendel." As she spoke she held out a jeweled sword that Harry recognized immediately.
"Thank you Minerva, you are quite right," Dumbledore said.
McGonagall turned to Harry and held out the sword to him, "This Harry, as you should know is Godric Gryffindor's sword. It is a great honor to possess this sword. Use it wisely and allow it to guide you with your leadership in days to come."
"Thank you," Harry said to Dumbledore and McGonagall, "I will take good care of it."
Harry, Hermione and Ron walked back from the Gryffindor common room back towards the entrance hall to stand guard for the night. Upon arriving they decided to sit down and get some rest. While they sat Mrs. Norris, the grounds keepers cat whose disposition was always foul, came to join them in their watch. The trio had never particularly cared for the cat because she had a habit of snitching out their whereabouts to Mr. Filtch back in their school days. Hermione, Ron, and Mrs. Norris eventually drifted off to sleep but Harry stayed awake, staring into space consumed by the input coming to his senses. As Harry listened he slowly became aware of a soft rumbling somewhere in the distance.
Harry sat perfectly still as the rumbling drew nearer but held his hand tightly around his wand. Harry didn't even flinch when the doors of the entrance hall burst open with a swish. And when the creature who had made this grand entrance picked up Mrs. Norris and tossed her into its gaping mouth, Harry still did not move. As Harry watched he began recognizing the creature Grendel who was said in the old myths to live in the great lake just outside the castles building. As Grendel began to reach towards Hermione and Ron, Harry raised his arm quickly and cast a spell. "Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted. This spell was a classic disarming spell, it was meant to take away the weapons of whomever it was cast upon. Seeing as, however, that Grendel was not carrying any weapons, the spell instead worked to free Grendel's arm from the body that was controlling it. Harry held his wand steady, fighting to make the spell finish its intended purpose, and after concentrating very hard against a struggling Grendel, the spell worked. Grendel's arm now lay just inches from the feet of a very startled Hermione and Ron who had woken up midway through the attack.
Grendel who was stunned and oozing blood from his now empty shoulder socket turned and bolted out the door as fast as his feet could carry him. Meanwhile, people were beginning to arrive at the top of the entrance hall stairs, awakened by the screams of pain Grendel had omitted as his arm was torn off. Dumbledore was the first to arrive. "It seems that the monster that has been terrorizing us for the past few months has left something behind as a parting gift. I don't think that we will be seeing him again anytime soon" Dumbledore stated neutrally then continued more jovially, "Thank you Harry, Hermione and Ron, we will now be able to sleep without fearing what may be lurking in the dark. Thank you!"
"It was our honor to help out this fine fortress," Harry replied, "and none of this could have happened without fate on our side."
"Well said Harry!" Ron announced.
"I think now it is time that we all get a good sleep. We can celebrate tomorrow," Hermione said tiredly.
But just as Dumbledore turned to show Harry Ron and Hermione where they could sleep more comfortably for the night Minerva McGonagall rushed in saying breathlessly, "Wait! Albus, wait! You forgot to bestow a gift on the valiant hero that has saved us from Grendel." As she spoke she held out a jeweled sword that Harry recognized immediately.
"Thank you Minerva, you are quite right," Dumbledore said.
McGonagall turned to Harry and held out the sword to him, "This Harry, as you should know is Godric Gryffindor's sword. It is a great honor to possess this sword. Use it wisely and allow it to guide you with your leadership in days to come."
"Thank you," Harry said to Dumbledore and McGonagall, "I will take good care of it."
