Chapter 29: Uh, Spell Gone Wrong?

Phoenix tried to catch up with her bushy brown hair friend. Hermione kept running down the halls. Phoenix was about to catch up with her when, "Miss Matthews."

She stopped and turned around, hearing the voice of Professor Snape. "Professor?" 'I'm going to lose Hermione!'

"Congratulations on making the Quidditch team Miss Matthews." He said with a small smile, or at least what Phoenix thought was a smile.

"Thank… thank you Professor." 'Did I just hear right? Did he just congratulate me?'

"Your broom is suitable for your needs?"

"Yes, Sir. I wanted to thank you. It is lovely. I appreciate it very much."

'Am I still on the same planet? Shouldn't he be punishing me for running in the corridors? I don't understand. He has been treating me this way since I got here!'

"You are welcome, Miss Matthews. Good day and please do not run in the corridors."

'Did he just say please?' Phoenix, confused, watched Snape leave. 'Okay, that was weird. What was all that about? Does he know? No, he would have said something. No mind, I need to find Hermione, anyway. Maybe she went to the library?'

Not seeing any Professors in the corridors, Phoenix ran towards the library. She didn't care if anyone was in her way. A friend was in need. The goal was to find Hermione and talk to her. If she knew her, she would have gone to the library. Coming to a halt, Phoenix caught her breath and walked through the library doors.

Hermione was not at their normal table. So Phoenix quietly looked down each aisle. 'Maybe Hermione is in one of these aisles? I would be if I didn't want to be around anybody.' But she couldn't find her. She looked around again. 'Okay, that is a first. So, when Hermione is not in the library, where else does she go? Hmmm, I guess I can check the common room.'

Leaving the library, Phoenix made her way to Gryffindor tower. 'Now would be a good time to practice my new power. It has been a while since I got it, and I could not practice because of Quidditch. Now how on earth did I trigger it?'

Phoenix walked slowly, thinking. 'Maybe fear triggers it? That is what Hermione suggested.'

While focusing, Mrs. Norris came strolling down the hall. 'Oh! It is that stupid cat! Be invisible! Be invisible!' Phoenix begged. Mrs. Norris took one look at her and ran. 'Crap, I despise that cat!'

Phoenix bolted towards the tower. Turning the corner, she almost smacked into Mr. Filch. Her eyes grew wide. Normally she was not afraid of skipping class, but being in a new school, she wanted to keep a low profile. To her surprise, Mr. Filch kept walking.

'Oh! Thank the Elders! I am invisible!'

Not thinking twice, Phoenix continued running. The fat lady was brushing her hair as Phoenix ran up to her, saying the password at the same time.

"My word! Are you not supposed to be in class right now?"

Phoenix rolled her eyes, "I… for... got one of my books."

Not believing a word, the fat lady looked at her. "Oh, alright." And the portrait door swung open.

Phoenix walked inside and whispered. "Hermione?" No answer. She walked up the stairs to the dormitory. "Hermione?" Still no answer.

'Okay. I'm completely lost. Where is she?'

Sitting on the bed, Phoenix thought of where to go. It was harder than she thought. 'Maybe I could try the lost witch spell?' she started reaching for the book of shadows when another thought came to her. 'Wait! When I was talking to Professor Snape, Hermione turned the corner and disappeared. I didn't talk to Snape that long. Maybe she slipped in a bathroom!'

Phoenix hoped off the bed, ran down, and out of the common room. She knew which bathroom Hermione would be in. She just hoped she was still there. Phoenix cautiously ran to the bathroom, not wanting to be caught by Mr. Filch.

"Hermione, are you in here?" Phoenix hollered as she entered the girls' bathroom. Hearing sniffling coming from one of the stalls, she quietly walked over. "Hermione, it's me, Phoenix." She knocked. Phoenix tried pushing the door open, but it was locked. "Hermione?"

"Go away." Hermione sniffled.

Phoenix peered into the crack of the door finding Hermione sitting on the stool hugging her legs. "Finally! Do you know how hard it is to find you if you are not in the library?"

"Leave me alone." Hermione mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Leave me alone, please."

"And why would I do that? You are my friend. I never leave a friend if they need someone to lean on."

Nothing was said. Phoenix heard some more crying and peered through the crack again. Hermione was still hugging her legs, head down.

'Wow! Something must be deeper to Ron's comment than what is let on.'

The crying continued for a while until sniffling took over.

"Ron is right. Why are you even my friend? I don't deserve friends. No one wants a- know- it- all."

"Let me tell you something. Ron is a jerk. Don't listen to him. And there has to be a- know- it- all friend in the circle, or the circle won't be complete."

"I never had any real friends."

"Well, that was because you hadn't met me."

There was silence. Was Hermione hoping Phoenix would disappear? Phoenix looked in the crack and saw Hermione sighing. She knew she was not ready to come out. Making herself cozy on the floor, Hermione continued crying and sniffling. Time went by slowly. Phoenix wasn't sure how long they have been there. 'Okay, my butt is getting cold. Hermione must be getting uncomfortable. And I am hungry. I bet it is dinner time.'

"Phoenix." came the small voice of Hermione.

Phoenix nearly jumped off the floor on hearing her name. She was almost asleep. "Yes?"

"Do you really want to be my friend? I mean, you are not just being nice to me because we spoke on the train?"

"No, Hermione, if I didn't want to be your friend, I would have ditched you a long time ago."

There was more silence. Then a small click. Hermione unlocked the door. Phoenix walked over and gently pushed the door. Hermione was standing there, her eyes still fresh with tears.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being my friend." She smiled, making a smile come across Phoenix's face.

"No problem."

Phoenix walked away from the stall door, noticing Hermione's gesture. Hermione walked over to the sink, washing her face.

"What is that smell?" Phoenix asked, scrunching her nose in disgust.

The smell resembled some old dirty socks and a dirty old toilet. Before anything was said, they heard heavy footsteps, then the door flew open. A horrible sight was in front of them.

The creature was nothing like what Phoenix had seen. Twelve feet tall, its skin was dull, granite gray, its great lumpy body like a boulder with its small bald head perched on top like a coconut. It had short legs thick as tree trunks with flat, horny feet. The smell coming from it was incredible. It was holding a huge wooden club. Phoenix didn't know if she was more afraid of the creature in front of her or demons she had battled many times.

Hermione gave out a blood curling scream. Phoenix pushed Hermione under the sink, her instincts kicking in. She raised her wand and hands, trying to figure out which way to approach.

"Hermione, be quiet! You're going to cause the troll to retaliate!"

The troll let out a scream of its own, lifting his club high into the air. He was walking towards them, knocking sinks off the walls. Phoenix backed up along with Hermione. Debris was flying as the stall doors were knocked off. Hermione continued to scream as Phoenix herself was getting nervous.

Phoenix didn't know what to do. She closed her eyes, flicking her hands. When the troll's scream was no longer heard, she opened her eyes. Harry and Ron were standing in the doorway, covered with troll guts.

"Oops! My bad!" as she gave a cheeky smile.