I must be in the Hospital Wing, she realized.

She gradually opened her eyes to see three professors sitting by her bed. She looked around, observing sterile white surfaces and two other beds, occupied by Potter and Weasley. She felt a sudden rush of warmth, remembering that they saved her.

"I see you're awake. We'd like to ask you some questions," Dumbledore said. Hermione nodded cautiously, asking, "Have the others woken up yet?"

Snape sneered at them. "I wasn't aware that you were so fond of their well-being, Miss Granger."

"Now, now, Severus. I think it's refreshing to see a spot of inter-house unity," Dumbledore placated.

McGonagall sighed, and started the questioning.

"What exactly did you think you were doing?" Professor McGonagall bit out.

Hermione bit her lip. "I-I'm sorry Professor, I had just finished reading about trolls a-a-and I thought I'd be able to do something about it," she said, looking contrite.

Snape looked unconvinced, McGonagall frowned, and Dumbledore just smiled.

"As your Head of House, I am responsible for your punishment. 20 points from Slytherin." Snape left, robes billowing in his wake. McGonagall left as well, leaving her with Professor Dumbledore.

"10 points to Slytherin for bravery and cleverness. You should be proud." He swept out of the Hospital Wing.

Once the Professors left, Hermione looked at the two boys. They were pretending (and failing quite miserably) to be asleep.

"Why were you there?"

The two boys looked at each other. "A third year said they saw a girl near the troll. We thought it was our friend, but turns out she was in the Common Room the whole time," Potter says. Hermione nods in acceptance, the trio falls into a silence, Harry and Ron talking amongst themselves and sharing sweets.

"You've had visitors?" Hermione asked, breaking the silence on her end.

"Erm...Yeah," Weasley said sheepishly, "My brothers."

Once in the safety of the common room ("Filth," the portrait hissed as it swung open) she stopped short, greeted by the sight of a full room staring unabashedly at her. "Where have you been?" A prefect demanded.

"I'm sorry, I was in the Hospital Wing. I got here as soon as possible, though."

"I bet it let the troll in the school!" A random voice exclaimed hatefully.

"You'd lose that bet," Hermione snorted. When everyone ignored her, she looked down at her feet. There was no way someone from Hogwarts would allow a troll into the school grounds, right? It had to have been an accident of some sort… right? She thought it was unlikely but during the entirety of the walk back, she couldn't find another reason.

She had to get to the library as soon as possible. Knowing she wouldn't be missed, she scurried up to the first year girls' dorm room, whispers following her.

Daphne walked into her dorm and stood there, exasperatedly, the worry she felt ebbing away seeing her classmate acting like herself. She hadn't known Hermione was in the hospital wing, she had originally came up to make sure she really was ok, but seeing Hermione throwing everything in her trunk onto the floor and mumbling to herself, Daphne knew she was ok.

"...is it… Where is it?!" Hermione sighed and leaned back against the bottoms of her feet, staring in front of her. Daphne continued watching silently. Suddenly Hermione gasps excitedly and burrowed down again into her trunk. With a near shriek of triumph she flipped open the book she was looking for and buried her nose in it.

"Hermione?" Daphne knocks on the door, feeling the need to make her presence known. "Are you ok?"

Hermione jolted her head up from the book, half expecting a judgemental brat. Upon seeing Daphne, she relaxed and smiled sheepishly. "Oh, yes. Thank you. Hearing that there was a troll in Hogwarts made me think of this book." Daphne could tell the girl was amping herself up with her thoughts. Hermione saw Daphne's expression and said, "I'm sorry. I tend to get excited when there's a mystery to be solved."

Hermione bit her lip. She knew that she came across as a bossy know-it-all. She had been told numerous times by old classmates. She hoped that Daphne could be a friend, but was afraid of scaring her off.

Daphne smiled at Hermione and sat down next to her. "So what exactly do you think is going on?"

Hermione couldn't contain the grin that spread across her face even if she tried. Looking at the opened door she leaned in closer to Daphne. "I think someone let a troll into Hogwarts." Daphne's eyes widened.

"I thought those were just rumours! Are you sure?"

Hermione shook her head. "I don't know. But I hope to find out."

As soon as the lunch bell rang, she made a beeline for the library. She asked Madam Pince for a list of books on trolls. Looking amazed that someone talked to her, she gave a list of several books Hermione could work with.

Hermione jumped when Madam Pince told her the lunch period ended. She checked out three books and thanked the librarian.

Hermione settled comfortably on her bed, her books spread out in front of her to various helpful chapters. So far she had found out a few, well-known and agreed-upon facts. Trolls are not smart at all. Their hides are are very strong, so not much can stop them. Only a wand to the nose and spells to the eye, she smiled. Nowhere in any of her books say how someone might be able to control them using legal methods. But one thing was certain: trolls were not smart enough by themselves to even step foot on Hogwarts grounds.

Hermione sighed. She had been rereading these books for the past few hours. No more answers appeared on the papers, no matter how many times she reads them. Knowing there was nothing more to be read, Hermione carefully placed the books on her nightstand and decided to get some sleep. Hopefully she would be able to gather more information with a fresh brain.


It had been a week since the incident with the troll and Hermione had found absolutely no new information, so she went back to studying for her exams ("They're eight months away!" She exclaimed to an uninterested Daphne).

It was as she was just settling down to write a potions essay that she heard the faintest whisper coming from her left.

"-Flamel."

"Harry, mate, that's obviously a dead end. Just because you 'feel' like you remember him doesn't mean a rat's bum unless you find something."

"Alright, Ron, I get it. Anything about the dog?"

"There is no way that is considered a dog."

Hermione tapped her quill against the table she was sitting at. Weasley. And Potter? Suspicious, Hermione stalked over to the secretive boys, peering around the bookshelf. They didn't notice her, and continued to talk about Nicholas Flamel, a three-headed dog, and Snape. What on Earth happened? She decided to confront them.

"What in the world do you think you are doing?" Hermione asked as she turned the corner and put her hands on her hips, her voice coming out in a violent whisper.

They blanched and tried to come up with excuses.

"Y-You see, Granger, we were just, erm-"

"-We were studying! For, erm, Potions. You know, the essay."

Hermione pursed her lips and put her hands on her hips. "The essay isn't on Nicholas Flamel, it's on the 12 different uses of dragon's blood."

The two floundered for a long minute, and Hermione smirked. "Nicholas Flamel is a well-known alchemist. And despite the way Professor Snape treats Gryffindors, there is no way he has it out for you, Potter. He has far more important things on his mind than a silly first year."

Hermione started to leave when Potter stopped her. "Wait." Sighing and cursing her curious nature, she turned and faced the duo again. Folding her arms, she waited.

"Let's-Let's say, hypothetically, that there was this-erm, larger than average dog. W-With three, erm- okay, scratch that. There are three large dogs in a room, why do you think it- they'd be there?"

Hermione frowned at the blatant lie.

"Well, if there were three dogs in a room, they're probably being kept there temporarily or guarding something. Do you know what kind of dog it was?"

"Ah, probably a-a rottweiler?"

"Alright, so rottweilers are traditionally used for protecting things and people. A treasure, a room, a person, something along those lines."

"How would you get the dog-er, the dogs to leave?" Weasley asked.

Hermione raised a brow. "Are you two really that simple? If you're talking about a dog, then clearly, give them a treat. Of course, I can't imagine why you would be motivated enough to try and trick a dangerous dog."


Hermione groaned as she closed her books. Try as she might, there wasn't any revealing information to be found about trolls running rampant. She closed her eyes and thought, going over it once more.

She bolted up suddenly. She needed to find Potter and Weasley; they owed her.

She rushed out of the Slytherin dorms, where she barreled down Malfoy. Throwing a quick apology over her shoulder, she snickers when she hears his loud and indignant "HEY!" and Daphne's smothered laugh.

Daphne laughed as she watched her friend rush out of the portrait door. She had never met someone who could be so poised but also completely frazzled at the same time. Biting her lip, she stands up and follows Hermione.

"Where are you going, Daph?" Theo asked, looking up from his essay.

"I'm following Hermione. Come if you want," She said.

Hermione went straight towards the courtyard, as most everybody was outside. Just as she reached the large doors, she heard her name called. Stopping, she turned around, surprised to see Daphne following.

"Daphne, why are you here?" Hermione asked.

Daphne grinned at her. "You left in such a hurry, I thought you were up to something fun."

Hermione smiled. "You're probably not going to like where I'm going."

Daphne pouted and looked at her questioningly.

"I'm going to go ask Potter and Weasley a question."

"Why are you going to talk to them, of all people?" Daphne looked disgusted.

Hermione smirked. "They owe me. I can call in a favor for information."

"What? Why do they owe you?"

"That's for me to know, and for you to find out," Hermione said smugly.

"I'm still coming with you!"

Hermione grinned and opened the door to the courtyard.