The Crystal Council

Chapter 9

Halloween

Harry and Hermione stood opposite each other and bowed before taking up their dueling stances. Professor Valler stood on the sidelines ready to referee the Gryffindor duel finals. Draco had already won Slytherin's best duelist and all that was left was to decide who was Gryffindor's best duelist and the final two could only be Harry and Hermione. Both Gryffindors had watched the other closely during their duels looking for their weaknesses and strengths. Hermione had found Harry to be a strong head on duelist often striking his opponents fast and hard usually bringing them down in one or two spells. Hermione focused more on defensive tactics blocking or dodging.

"Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, are the two of you ready to duel?" asked Professor Valler

Both students nodded never taking their eyes off each other.

"Very well…begin!" shouted Valler

"Stupefy" both Harry and Hermione yelled, red bolts of light erupting from their wands.

Their spells clashed creating a large white burst of light blinding Harry. Hermione had expected the explosion, she had deliberately created it by matching Harry's spell perfectly and it was not an easy task to perform but allowed Hermione to get the jump on Harry. Hermione cast Protego before rushing towards Harry who had quickly cast Protego after the flash expecting an attack from Hermione. The light was beginning to fade, and Hermione could make out the shimmer of his shield which Harry had clearly put a good deal of his magic into. Hermione found herself closing the distance far more quickly than she had anticipated as if her speed was somehow being augmented and she soon found herself next to Harry who having just recovered from the flash bang and found Hermione wand pointed at his shield and in the next second Harry was blown backwards, his shield shattered. Harry flew back several feet before crashing to the ground and the room feel silent before Professor Valler yelled

"The winner is Hermione Granger!"

The Gryffindors erupted in cheers as the their champion had been decided. However both professors and participants were quiet.

"Quirrell check on Potter make sure he is okay." ordered Valler as she quickly made her way over to where Hermione was kneeling on the ground.

"Miss Granger are you okay?" asked a worried Valler

Hermione tried to answer but was unable, she had used too much of her magical core in her last attack and was unable to move much less speak. Valler looked deeply concerned before summoning two potions with her wand one went to Quirrell who attempted to give it to Harry which caused Harry to recoil in pain as if struck by lightning. Valler looked increasingly concerned as Hermione felt her consciousness fading as Valler called her name.

Hermione woke up suddenly but her body refused to move as pain arched through her limbs and head. She let out a sigh and as if on cue Madam Pomfrey exited her office carrying a tray of potions. The school nurse took immediate notice of Hermione and began to move in her direction. Madam Pomfrey placed the potions on nightstand hidden by a hospital divider before coming around to check n Hermione.

"Miss Granger, good to see you're finally awake. How are you feeling?" asked Pomfrey

" It… hurts…" was all Hermione could say in response

Madam Pomfrey wasted no time, she quickly moved back into her office and returned with another tray of potions. Pomfrey helped Hermione into a sitting position before feeding her the first potion. Two more followed soon after and Hermione began to feel a little bit better, from her own experience she knew the first potion was a pain potion, the second was a mana replenishment, and the third was a nutrient replenishment potion. Hermione shook her head head as the taste of the potions faded from her mouth and the pain from her body.

"Are you okay deary?" asked Pomfrey

Hermione nodded and asked " What happened to Harry?

" The same thing that happened to you. The two of you collapsed from magical exhaustion during that woman's class." Replied Madam Pomfrey venomously

"Does this happen often with Professor Valler?" asked Hermione

"Yes, at least a few times a year though it is mostly older students who push themselves to hard. It's the first time first years have ended up here thanks to that woman." replied Madam Pomfrey " Now get some rest my dear I need to take care of Mr. Potter, I will be back to check up on you later." instructed Madam Pomfrey

Hermione nodded and fell back into the bed and was soon asleep. Time passed quickly after Hermione woke up the next day, Amy visited and told Hermione the class tournament final had been postponed until the end of the year, by the end of the week Hermione was out of the Hospital Ward and Harry the week after. The year continued relatively normal from then on with Hermione having no trouble with her classes due to having completed them once before. Therefore, she decided to spend her time helping Amy, Neville, and Harry with their homework as well as practicing her magic in the Room of Requirement, exercising around the Black Lake, and searching the library for the book the hat mentioned.

This routine continued daily and due to an amazing amount of luck she managed to avoid Ron during that time period. That is until Halloween rolled around. Hermione, Amy and Neville were sitting together chatting and enjoying the feast, when Harry suddenly showed up behind the trio.

"Hey Hermione! Happy Halloween!" called Harry

"Harry! Happy Halloween! How are you doing?" replied Hermione as she turned

"I'm well and I wanted to introduce a friend of mine. Meet ." said Harry

Hermione's eyes landed upon the tuft of red hair just behind Harry's black and once Ron took a step from behind Harry. Hermione tried to steel herself for the face she would see but it was too late and what she saw was not a human face but a gold mask. Hermione's fight or flight instinct kicked into high gear and she was up and out of the Great Hall in less than a minute and moved so quickly to the Grand Staircase she failed to notice the man coming up from dungeons. Hermione's feet carried her without thought up the staircase and onto the third floor where she found a door she opened and hid behind trying to reduce her heart rate.

Back in the Great Hall a furious Amy was being kept at bay by Neville and Harry as she raged at Ron.

"What did you do to her!" yelled Amy

"I don't know we just met today!" yelled back Ron

"I don't believe you! What did you do!" yelled Amy

Harry and Neville where trying to separate the two as McGonagall stood up to stop her students when the door to the Great Hall burst open and assistant professor Quirrell stumbled through.

"Troll in the dungeons! Thought I ought to let you know." Quirrell said before collapsing on the floor.

The entire Great Hall burst into fearful chattering which quickly got out of control until Dumbledore stood wand to his throat and commanded "QUIET!" The room fell silent and Dumbledore continued " Prefects please escort your houses back to their dormitories, the teachers will secure the dungeons and help escort the Slytherin's safely to their dorms."

The teacher and students began to move out of the Great Hall and back to their dormitories. However as the Gryffindors made their way up the stairs Amy, Harry, Neville and , Ron peeled off into an adjoining corridor and began looking for Hermione concerned for her safety. The four made their way to the third floor with the help of the portrait.

Hermione was trying to calm down, her chest was heaving from running and she was seeing spots. She took a few deep breaths trying to recover from the memories that haunted her. Five minutes passed then ten before Hermione could feel her heartbeat return to normal. The red hair and gold mask, She knew they would continue to haunt her probably until her death. However, she would need to get used to Ron again if she was ever going to save her friends. Hermione took a few last deep breaths before looking around the dark room she was in and once her eyes adjusted she covered her mouth, stifling a scream. Sleeping on the other side of the room was a massive three headed dog,Hermione felt panic seep back into her body as she looked for the entrance. Fortunately, it was only a few steps to her right which she took with the utmost caution praying the dog would remain asleep. The second Hermione closed the door behind her she let out a deep sigh of relief as she felt her legs shake beneath her. Despite years of facing dark wizards and magical beasts of all kinds Hermione had never dealt with a Cerberus before and right after a panic attack too. Hermione grit her teeth, as her anger at her own weakness flared, that damned gold mask would haunt her even into her next life. She began walking towards the common room however, before she could move from the door a scream tore from down the hall in the opposite direction of the common room.

Hermione recognized the scream and it could only be Neville, Hermione turned and ran toward the source however once she turned the corner of the corridor she wished she hadn't. There in the middle of the corridor was a massive twelve foot tall troll with stone gray skin and an odor that could wake the dead. However, the smell was not the real problem Hermione could see the troll was holding a bleeding unconscious Amy. Ron was unconscious on the floor but otherwise unhurt. Neville was slumped against the wall and clearly bleeding. The only one still standing was Harry and his left arm was bleeding but he still held his wand ready in his right. Harry began cast stupefy at the troll but it did little more than enrage the beast further. The troll swung at Harry who despite casting a shielding spell was sent flying into the wall with a sickening crack, he did not get back up. Hermione wasted no time and pulled her wand out and cast a bombarda at the troll's feet hoping to throw it off balance. Hermione did blow one of its toes off which only enraged it further. Hermione booked it down that hall wand at the ready she was soon within reach of the troll and as it raised the arm holding Amy, Hermione took her chance and cast a bombarda directly into the creature's armpit blowing out a chunk of its flesh causing it to cry out in pain and drop Amy straight into Hermione's arms as she ran past. The troll cradled its injured arm as Hermione gently laid Amy down on the corridor wall and turned to face the troll again. Hermione could feel the blood pumping through her veins she was fired up and angry and she could feel the power coursing through her. She placed her wand back in her robes and trigger Merlin's device and retrieved her Elder wand ready to put the troll down. Hermione turned to find the troll still nursing its arm and crying and to her astonishment she could understand the mumbling troll.

"It hurt. Want to go home. Miss momma." Cried the troll

In that second Hermione lost all of her steam as her anger subsided and she let out a sigh. Hermione quietly walked up behind the troll and cast a sleeping spell allowing the troll to fall into a deep sleep, Hermione then set about healing the troll's wounds she had forgotten that she was the future queen of all magical creatures. Hermione would have to act in a way that could protect both magical creatures and witches and wizards. Hermione sighed as she finished healing the sleeping troll and moved to Amy's side, slumping down next to her friend she cast one last healing spell on Amy's head wound before the exhaustion of the evening caused her to pass out. As the last vestiges of her conciseness faded Hermione could hear someone running down the hall in a frantic manner.

Thank you all for your patience this chapter is done at long last. I also want to thank everyone who has read and/or reviewed this story. I hope to wrap up the first year story in the next chapter. Having said that I'm planning on starting a second story and alternating chapters between the two stories and hopefully keeping me on track for both.

Reviews:

xefan: Thanks, sorry you had to wait so long for the update.

wolfy48:Its taken awhile but i stick by the fact that this story will only stop when its done or i'm dead.

bit-beep: Thanks!

Humor1: I'm glad you are enjoying the story particularly because I get the chills when I read it too. :)