Chapter 5

Sheer Dumb Luck

The following morning I was woken by Hermione's alarm clock going off. I turned over in my bed not wanting to get up before I remembered I wasn't at home but at Hogwarts and today was the first day of school. I got up and rubbed my eyes. The sun was shining brightly through the window between Parvati and Lavender's beds. They too were also starting to wake up. To my right Hermione was already brushing her bushy hair in the mirror over the sink and finding her toothbrush. From my trunk I pulled out a fresh shirt and pair of socks and pulled them on with my skirt. Upon my chair I found my black robes and tie from the previous day had been replaced. Instead there lay a new set of robes, black on the outside with a red inner lining and the Gryffindor lion embroidered on to the left breast side. On top of that was my new House tie, red as well with thin gold stripes going diagonally across it. I pulled them on and fastened up my robes. Dressed and ready I went down to breakfast with the other girls.

Breakfast was held back down in the Great Hall so it was easy enough to find the following morning. Harry and Ron weren't there when I arrived so reluctantly I stayed with Hermione as she talked incessantly to Parvati and Lavender. When they eventually got there they joined me. During breakfast Professor McGonagall came down the aisle handing out the timetables to all the Gryffindor students. I looked at mine to see we only had nine different subjects throughout the week. Most were during the day apart from Astronomy that was to be held at midnight on Wednesdays and we were to have Flying classes on Thursday afternoons from the second week of school. That was going to be interesting, having class late one night then have to get up for class at nine a.m. the next day. Bit harsh, wasn't it? Looking through my timetable I saw Harry, Ron and I had Herbology first which was down in the greenhouses in the castle grounds. Gathering our bags, we left the Great Hall to find our first class.

Getting around Hogwarts wasn't as easy as we first thought. When we walked out into the grounds through the doors we had come through the previous night the three of us suddenly realised that we didn't actually know where the Hogwarts greenhouses were. They could have at least provided us with a map of the school but I guess that would have been too easy. In the end we had to ask some passing students to point us in the right direction. This we found was a problem throughout most of the first week. Finding any of our classes was impossible due to the sheer size of the castle. It was very easy to end up in the wrong corridor or walking through the wrong door or going down the wrong staircase. Even the ghosts and portraits weren't much help despite them both being able to move freely around the entire castle. Nearly Headless Nick did try to help us find our classrooms at least.

As Percy had warned us the previous night, Peeves was indeed someone you had to keep your eyes out for. If you weren't careful you'd end up with a waste-paper basket on your head or he'd trip you up by pulling the rug out from underneath you. The fact he could turn invisible meant he could sneak up on you very easily. Worse than Peeves though was the caretaker, Filch. While Peeves could turn invisible, Filch could literally turn up anywhere. Harry, Ron and I got in trouble with him before the first morning's lessons were even over; we'd been looking for where our Charms class was when we took a wrong turn and ended up at the entrance to the third floor corridor which was out-of-bounds. If it weren't for Professor Quirrell turning up, we would have gotten detention. Filch also owned a pet cat called Mrs Norris. Normally I liked cats but this one I disliked with a passion. She would prowl the corridors for students who were causing trouble before disappearing in the blink of an eye to get Filch, who'd always appear seconds later wheezing and gasping to reprimand whichever student had been caught.

In spite of all this, lessons at Hogwarts were pretty interesting and were quite fun too. After only a couple days worth of classes I was already beginning to wonder how Muggles got along day-to-day without it. Each lesson was very different to the next as were their teachers. Herbology was taught by a dumpy little witch named Professor Sprout who showed us how to take care of all kinds of strange little plants and fungi; during Astronomy lessons on Wednesday night with Professor Sinistra we were sat outside on the Astronomy Tower Platform freezing in the cold night air while we studied the different constellations; Defence Against the Dark Arts, a class Harry, Ron and I had been looking forward to, seemed to be a bit of a joke as it was taught by Professor Quirrell, a nervous young teacher who looked like he'd jump at his own shadow if he didn't expect it, ironic considering he was meant to be teaching us how to protect ourselves; and as for Charms, it was taught by Professor Flitwick, a short wizard who had to stand on a pile of books to see over the top of his desk and had gotten so excited in our first lesson when he read out Harry's name that he toppled backwards out of sight.

History of Magic, which we had second period Thursday morning, was easily the most boring class we had. From what I overheard Hermione saying, the teacher, Professor Binns, was a ghost. He had fallen asleep in the staff-room one evening and when he got up to teach the next day he walked out leaving his body behind not having realised he'd died. Professor Binns had one of those voices that could easily send you to sleep; he would drone on about Emeric the Evil and Uric the Oddball, his tone monotonous and uninteresting, not realising that about halfway through he had got them mixed up.

Transfiguration was probably my second favourite class overall after Charms. Professor McGonagall taught her classes very differently to the other teachers. Like she had been at the Sorting, Professor McGonagall was brisk and strict with us from the moment we stepped into her classroom, making it clear that she wasn't going to take anyone messing around in her lessons and if they did, they would leave and not return. As soon as she changed her desk into a pig though, and back again, I knew it would be a class I would want to work hard in. Our first lesson did mainly consist of note taking but we got to try out a spell at the end of the lesson where we had to turn a matchstick into a needle. I didn't fair too badly, managing to get it entirely silver in colour but it still lit when it was struck. Hermione, unsurprisingly after a few lessons with her, managed to get hers almost completely transfigured.

If it was possible to hate a teacher before you had been in his class for five minutes, I managed it with Professor Snape, the Potions Master. We had double Potions on Friday morning with the Slytherins and so had made our way down to the dungeons after breakfast to where the Potions classroom was located. The dungeons were cold and dark, much more so than the rest of the castle. The Potions classroom wasn't much better. It was dimly lit room with arched ceilings as there was no natural light coming from outside and there were rows upon rows of shelves with jars of pickled animals floating in them. When we entered the empty classroom, Harry, Ron and I sat at the very back so that when class ended we would be the first to leave.

A door suddenly banged open. Professor Snape swept into the classroom from his office, his black cloak flapping behind him. The way he moved reminded me somewhat of a bat. He had a strange pallor about him, his skin pale in comparison to his black robes. Everything about him looked unpleasant especially his greasy black hair and hooked nose. His black eyes scanned the room when he turned to face us. They seemed to linger on where Harry and I were sat at the back. He went down the register, looking at us in turn. Being the first name on the list, I was the first for his scrutiny. He spoke with a slow tone, almost spitting my surname. His eyes narrowed on me as if I reminded him of someone before moving on. It was like he'd taken an instant dislike to me and I hadn't even done anything. If I thought I had it bad, however, Harry had it worse. Like every other teacher, he paused when he got to Harry's name.

'Ah, yes,' he said softly, 'Harry Potter. Our new – celebrity.'

At the front of the class Malfoy and his friends Crabbe and Goyle were snickering to themselves. Snape finished the register then turned to the class.

'You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making,' he said, his voice slow and deliberate. It sent shivers down my spine. 'As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses … I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death – if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach.'

Harry, Ron and I looked at each other. Ron raised his eyesbrows and nodded towards Snape in a "What on earth?" kind of way.

'Potter!' Snape said suddenly. The three of us looked back to the front of the classroom again. Snape was glaring at Harry. 'What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?'

Harry glanced at Ron and me. We both shrugged. Beside us, Hermione's hand had shot into the air.

'I don't know, sir,' said Harry.

If it was possible, Snape's look of loathing seemed to increase as did his smile, his lip curling upwards.

'Tut, tut – fame clearly isn't everything.' He ignored Hermione and persisted. 'Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?'

Hermione stretched her hand up higher. Again Snape ignored her as he waited for Harry to answer.

'I don't know, sir.'

'Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?' said Snape, a hint of smugness in his voice at Harry being unable to answer his questions. 'What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?'

This one I actually knew. They were the exact same thing. It was a small flower with toxic purple leaves but the roots were used in potions that were meant to ease pain and heart troubles. It was a common ingredient in potions used to help those who suffered lycanthropy, like Lupin did. He had a small supply of the flowers in the potion box at home. I didn't put my hand up though; Hermione, who was now practically out of her seat, was still being ignored by Snape so what was the point in putting my hand up when he'd probably just ignore me too.

'I don't know,' said Harry. His voice was oddly quiet. 'I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?'

A stifled laugh went round the room. Snape's cold eyes narrowed. I think Harry had done it now.

'Sit down, you silly girl,' Snape snapped at Hermione as he swept round the tables to where Harry, Ron and I sat. He placed his fingers on the table in front of Harry, leaning forwards over his cauldron. 'For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of the Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite.' He paused. None of us moved. 'Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?'

I grabbed my quill as did the rest of the class and we quickly wrote down what Snape had just said. Snape returned to his desk, not before adding that Harry had just lost a House point. Harry, Ron and I looked at each other again. We were not going to enjoy Potions one bit. Things didn't improve as the lesson continued either as we attempted to make a potion that cured boils. Even being paired with Hermione didn't stop our potion from being criticised; only Malfoy, who Snape seemed to have taken a liking to, and his potion seemed worthy of his praise.

Acid green smoke and a loud hissing began to fill the classroom. On the table in front of us I could see Neville sweating profusely over his potion having somehow managed to melt the bottom of Seamus's cauldron. I sat silently watching as Snape belittled Neville for his mistake as his potion began leaking over the floor. I pulled my legs up so it didn't touch me. Neville had been drenched in it and boils were sprouting all over his body. Snape ordered Seamus to take him to the Hospital Wing before rounding on Harry and Ron next to me.

'You – Potter –' he barked, 'why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor.'

Harry opened his mouth to argue but Ron kicked him under the table.

'Don't push it,' he muttered. 'I've heard Snape can turn very nasty.'

If that was Snape being nice I didn't care to see what Snape was like when he was nasty.

That morning at breakfast, Harry had received an invitation from Hagrid to visit him after class as we had Friday afternoons off. After the dismal Potions class, Ron and I asked to join him and so the three of us walked out the rear of the castle that led down to the grounds. His Hut was located at the bottom of a hill below the Stone Circle, just on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. When we knocked on the door a loud barking came from inside. After a moment's scuffle, Hagrid opened the door, his hand clasped round a large boarhound's collar. He was much bigger close up than when I'd seen him before the Sorting. Then again, I was only eleven. His Hut was a cosy little place split into two circular adjoining rooms. The far room had an enormous bed and dog basket while the one we stood in had a large table and chairs set before a roaring fireplace, a copper kettle gentling boiling over it.

'Make yerselves at home,' Hagrid told us. He let go of Fang's collar who headed straight for Ron and started licking him. We took a seat at Hagrid's table while he bustled about pouring the boiling water into a teapot. Harry introduced Ron and me to Hagrid as he placed a plateful of rock cakes on the table. 'Another Weasley, eh?' said Hagrid, looking at Ron. 'I spent half me life chasin' yer twin brothers away from the Forest. As fer a Black, I haven't seen a Black set foot in this school since yer father was here.'

We sat chatting to Hagrid for almost an hour. We told him about our first week of classes and how we'd been in trouble with Filch already when we got lost around the castle. Hagrid seemed to share our dislike of him and his cat, Mrs Norris. Even Fang growled at the mention of her. When we told him about what happened with Snape, Hagrid merely dismissed it and changed the subject to ask about Ron's brother Charlie who worked with dragons. Beside me Harry had become fascinated by a newspaper cutting that had been lying on Hagrid's table. He nudged me and showed me the article. It was about the break-in at Gringotts.

'Hagrid!' said Harry. 'That Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday! It might've been happening while we were there!'

Again Hagrid dismissed Harry's concerns, thrusting the rock cakes towards him.

'What's the big deal?' I asked Harry quietly while Hagrid resumed talking to Ron. 'Nothing was stolen so what's the problem?'

'Hagrid and I went to Gringotts that day,' Harry whispered to me, 'and we went down to a vault that Hagrid then emptied. What if that was the same vault that the thief tried to break into? What if whatever Hagrid took from that vault was whatever the thief was after?'

I frowned.

'Harry, I think you're reading too much into this,' I told him. 'There are any number of vaults in that bank. Just because you and Hagrid emptied a vault doesn't mean it was the same empty vault that the thief tried to get into. It's probably just a coincidence.'

'I don't know,' said Harry. He didn't seem convinced.

'Harry, leave it,' I urged him. 'It's nothing to do with us anyway. We probably won't even hear anything more about it.' I looked at my watch. 'Besides, we better head back up to the castle. Dinner's in half an hour and we've got loads of homework to do.'

Though unconvinced Harry dropped the subject. We left Hagrid's at quarter to seven with our pockets full of the uneaten rock cakes Hagrid forced upon us. We emptied them out on to the table when we sat down. I was still brushing out the crumbs the following couple of days.

The second week of term started, which meant the we'd finally begin Flying lessons. It was a compulsory subject for all the first-years. I had been looking forward to these. I'd never been on a broomstick before. I couldn't wait to find out what it was like. Unfortunately for the Gryffindors though we were sharing the lessons with the Slytherins. If Potions lessons were anything to go by, it meant that Draco Malfoy would be sneering and laughing at us whenever we did something wrong.

Malfoy was certainly an unpleasant boy to be around. If he wasn't boasting to his friends about all the things his father did, he was boasting about his apparent talent on a broom. Several times during the week, Harry, Ron and I overheard him talking about how it was unfair that first-years weren't allowed brooms or that they didn't ever get on the Quidditch teams. When he got to the part about narrowly missing a Muggle helicopter though I began to doubt the truth in his stories. It wasn't just Malfoy though who bragged about their skills on a broomstick; it appears any student who grew up knowing about magic had been on a broom prior to starting here. Ron had loads of stories about using his brother Charlie's broom and almost crashing with a hang-glider. Not all wizards had been on brooms before Hogwarts though. Like Harry and myself, Neville had never been on a broom before. He seemed to pale just at the thought of it.

At breakfast Thursday morning, the Gryffindor first-years were a mixture of nerves and excitement. Even Hermione, little Miss Know-It-All, seemed worried at the prospect of getting on a broomstick. For as much as she liked to learn things from books, there were some things like flying you weren't going to be able to be good at simply by reading all the theory without getting on a broom itself. It didn't stop her though. She sat opposite Harry, Ron and me at the Gryffindor table with Neville, telling him all she knew about the principles of flying from a copy of Quidditch Through the Ages. They only stopped when the mail arrived.

Since receiving my Hogwarts letter, I learnt that Owl Post delivered all the mail in the wizarding world. At quarter to nine every morning the Great Hall would be flooded by owls flying in through the windows with letters in their beaks and parcels in their claws for their owners. They would swoop low and drop their deliveries to the correct students before flying off again back out the windows. So far I hadn't received or sent any letters using Gizmo apart from the one I sent to Lupin to tell him I was in Gryffindor, and so he spent most of his time in the Owlery. Now and then he would appear at breakfast to keep me company and I'd feed him some Owl Treats that I kept in my bag. Just up from me a barn owl had dropped a small square package in front of Neville. He opened it to reveal a small glass orb that appeared to be full of smoke.

'It's a Remembrall!' he told us. 'Gran knows I forget things – this tells you if there's something you've forgotten to do. Look, you hold it tight like this and if it turns red – oh …' Neville's smile vanished when the smoke inside it turned red, '… you've forgotten something …'

A hand appeared from nowhere and snatched the Remembrall from Neville's hand. We all looked up to see Malfoy's sneering face looking at us, tossing Neville's Remembrall up and down in his hand. His friends, Crabbe and Goyle, were with him as usual. Harry and Ron jumped to their feet. Before they could even get a word out, however, Professor McGonagall, who could spot trouble faster than I could wave a wand, was already standing over us.

'What's going on?' she asked, her tone sharp.

'Malfoy's got my Remembrall, Professor,' said Neville.

Malfoy scowled. He dropped the Remembrall back on to the table in front of Neville.

'Just looking,' he shrugged, and they sloped away.

That afternoon, the Gryffindors headed out of the castle to the Training Grounds that were located behind the Herbology greenhouses. It was a large flat grassy area surrounded by high stone walls on its very edge at the foot of the hill leading up to the Owlery. As we walked across the grass we could see a woman dressed in black robes commanding a series of brooms to float out of a door to what I assumed was a storeroom for the Quidditch supplies. The Slytherins were already there. She saw us approaching. Madam Hooch, a witch with short spiky grey hair and odd yellow eyes, assembled us in front of her where twenty or so brooms now lay on the grass before us.

Like Professor McGonagall, Madam Hooch was a strict teacher with brusque instructions. She had each of us stand by a broom and summon it to our hands, which we held above them. With the simple command of 'Up!' we gave it a try. Harry's broom shot straight up into his hand; next to him, Ron's flew upwards and smacked him in the face; my own seemed to lift slightly at the tip then flopped back down again. This wasn't going to be easy. When we all had managed to get our brooms in our hands without bending down to pick them up, Madam Hooch showed us the correct way to hold it. I felt a wave of delight when I watched her correct Malfoy's grip, something he'd apparently had wrong for years. Our grips sorted Madam Hooch then instructed us to kick off the ground and attempt to hover.

In all his nerves Neville pushed off before Madam Hooch had even blown her whistle. His broom seemed quite temperamental too. It shot upwards into the air – higher and higher – until Neville realised what had happened, paled, and swung off the broom. He landed with a hard thump on the ground. A nasty crack and a loud cry later, Neville was lying face down on the grass while his broom was now floating off towards the Forbidden Forest. Madam Hooch ran over to Neville. A quick examination told her he'd broken his wrist.

'None of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing!' snapped Madam Hooch. She got Neville to his feet and started leading him away from where we were gathered. 'You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say, "Quidditch".'

Madam Hooch walked off with a whimpering Neville.

'Did you see his face, the great lump?'

I looked round. So did the rest of the Gryffindors. The Slytherins were all laughing.

'Shut up, Malfoy,' said Parvati Patil.

'Ooh, sticking up for Longbottom?' said Pansy Parkinson, a sour-faced Slytherin girl. 'Never thought you'd like fat little cry babies, Parvati.'

The impending argument between the two girls was stopped before it even started when Malfoy found Neville's Remembrall lying in the grass. He snatched it up, a smirk on his face.

'It's that stupid thing Longbotton's gran sent him.'

'Give that here, Malfoy,' said Harry.

Everyone stopped and watched. Harry had stepped away from the Gryffindors so that he was square with Malfoy. Both were eyeing each other with great dislike.

'I think I'll leave it somewhere for Longbottom to collect – how about – up a tree?'

'Give it here!' demanded Harry.

But Malfoy was already on his broom and flying upwards. Well, it appeared he hadn't lied about actually being able to fly. He flew over to a tree that was planted in the grounds, hovering above its top branches.

'Come and get it, Potter!'

Harry didn't need any encouragement. He grabbed his broom without a second thought, even with Hermione telling him not to. He ignored her, climbed on to the broom, and shot off into the air. I watched as he flew over to where Malfoy was floating. Harry actually seemed quite good on a broom. The other girls all gasped when he took his broom even higher. Ron beside me let out a whoop. When he was level with Malfoy, Harry turned his broom sharply to face him. They were too far away for us to hear what they were saying but something made Harry shoot forwards on his broom, Malfoy narrowly dodging him. Next moment Malfoy had thrown the Remembrall high in the air and was flying back to where the Slytherins were gathered. In seconds Harry was chasing it. Closer and closer to the ground he got, his hand outstretched as he reached for it. Next moment Harry was pulling out of the dive having narrowly missed the ground. In his hand was the Remembrall.

Cheers started from the Gryffindors as he came flying back over to us but his celebration was short lived when a sharp voice shouted, 'HARRY POTTER!'

Professor McGonagall was running over to us, her face white with shock. She ordered Harry to follow her despite the protests of Parvati and Ron and took Harry away. She dismissed the rest of us to return to the castle. Class was over. Ron and I shared a look of concern then followed the rest of the Gryffindors back into the castle to wait for Harry to return.

Harry didn't come back until dinner. He came running into the Great Hall with a massive grin on his face and came over to join where Ron and I were sat eating our sausages and mash and pie. Before we could even ask what happened, Harry was already telling us how Professor McGonagall hadn't expelled him. Instead, she had taken him to meet a fifth-year Gryffindor called Oliver Wood who was the Captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He'd spent the last couple of hours with Wood back out in the Training Grounds learning about how to play Quidditch and being shown the different balls used in the game. Harry was going to be the new Gryffindor Seeker. Ron was amazed, saying he was the youngest House player for the last century. He was to start training next week with the rest of the Quidditch team but we had to keep it quiet. Fred and George showed up a few minutes later to congratulate Harry before heading off to find their friend, Lee Jordan. They were soon replaced by Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. Just the people we wanted to see.

'Having a last meal, Potter?' he asked. 'When are you getting the train back to the Muggles?'

'You're a lot braver now you're back on the ground and you've got your little friends with you,' said Harry coolly. I wouldn't have said there was anything little about Crabbe and Goyle.

'I'd take you on any time on my own,' said Malfoy. 'Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only – no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizard's duel before, I suppose?'

'Of course he has,' said Ron. 'I'm his second, who's yours?'

Malfoy eyed up Crabbe and Goyle, 'Crabbe. Midnight all right? We'll meet you in the Trophy Room, that's always unlocked.'

They left.

'Ron,' I said as soon as he was gone, 'what were you thinking? Harry's never heard of a wizard duel! Malfoy will easily be able to get the upper hand over him.'

'And what, let Malfoy think Harry doesn't know anything so he mocks him even more?' said Ron. 'That's the last thing he needs.'

'The last thing he needs, Ron, is to be in a duel he doesn't even know how to fight in,' I said.

'What is a wizard duel anyway?' said Harry. 'And what do you mean, you're my second?'

'Well, a second's there to take over if you die,' said Ron casually. If he what? Harry and I looked at him confused and a little bit shocked. 'But people only die in proper duels, you know, with real wizards.'

'We are real wizards,' I said, pointing out the obvious. 'Eleven year old wizards in case you'd forgotten.'

'I know that,' said Ron indignantly. 'Look, the most you and Malfoy'll be able to do is send sparks at each other. Neither of you knows enough magic to do any real damage. I bet he expected you to refuse, anyway.'

'I wouldn't count on that,' I said. 'You've heard how much Malfoy brags about what he knows and stuff. He said he was good on a broom and that turned out to be true. He could know more than you think.'

'He's all wand and no spell,' said Ron confidently.

'And what if I wave my wand and nothing happens?' asked Harry.

'Throw it away and punch him on the nose,' suggested Ron.

'Wow, helpful,' I muttered.

'Excuse me,' said a voice behind us. We looked up.

'Can't a person eat in peace in this place?' groaned Ron.

'I couldn't help overhearing what you and Malfoy were saying –' started Hermione.

'Bet you could,' muttered Ron.

'– and you mustn't go wandering around the school at night,' she continued, 'think of the points you'll lose Gryffindor if you're caught, and you're bound to be. It's really selfish of you.'

'And it's really none of your business,' said Harry.

'Goodbye,' said Ron.

Hermione gave me a pointed look then walked off. What did she expect me to do about it?

Why Harry and Ron thought they could sneak out of the Gryffindor Tower late at night without someone finding out, I don't know. Why I agreed to go with them too, I didn't know either. At half past eleven I met them down in the common room only to find the three of us weren't alone. Hermione had been hidden in a chair in the corner. She tried to stop us again but Harry and Ron didn't listen and left the Tower, Hermione and I following after them. She continued to berate them about how we didn't care about Gryffindor one bit and they'd the lose points she'd earned from doing a Switching Spell in Transfiguration. Harry and Ron brushed her off, telling her to go away. Annoyed, she did so, only to find the Fat Lady had left her portrait. She was stuck.

With no other option, Hermione followed us. She and Ron were at each other all the way down the corridor when we ran into Neville who had been curled up on the floor asleep. He'd forgotten the password to the common room. We tried to get rid of him but Neville insisted on coming with us as well, so the five of us proceeded down to the third floor. The castle was empty and eerily silent compared to how it was during the day. We turned into the corridor that led the opposite way from the one where the Charms classroom was located. We opened the door to find the Trophy Room was empty. We walked inside peering around for any sign of Malfoy and his thug friends. The room was silent. Malfoy wasn't there.

'He's late,' said Ron, checking his watch. 'Maybe he's chickened out.'

'I don't think he's chickened out, Ron,' I said slowly. A second later, we all jumped when we heard a voice coming from behind the door we'd just entered through.

'Sniff around, my sweet, they might be lurking in a corner.'

'We've been set up,' I finished.

Quickly we ran in the opposite direction from where Filch's voice was coming from. We slid through the door at the other end of the Trophy Room and into a corridor full of suits of armour. Harry indicated for us to follow him as there was another door we could escape through. Filch was getting nearer. We could hear him searching the Trophy Room with Mrs Norris. It made Neville jump in fear and he knocked into a Ron who in turn fell into one of the suits of armour along the wall. There was a loud crash and bang. At that moment I knew we were done for.

'RUN!' yelled Harry.

We didn't need telling twice. The five of us bolted without any idea where we were or where we were running to. Harry pointed to a tapestry at the far end of a wall and we rushed through it. On the other side we saw we'd ended up near to our Charms classroom that was far away from the Trophy Room and one corridor away from the Grand Staircase. We appeared to have managed to give Filch the slip. Although we were out of breath, Hermione still managed to berate us about the whole thing being a set up. Malfoy must have planned it and told Filch, knowing we'd get caught. Harry ignored this and told us we needed to get back to the Tower. Before we'd taken one step, however, Peeves came floating out of the door to our Charms classroom. He cackled gleefully when he saw us. We begged him not to tell but Peeves wasn't one to stay away from causing trouble. It was only when Ron took a swipe at him that Peeves gave us away.

'STUDENTS OUT OF BED!' he bellowed. 'STUDENTS OUT OF BED DOWN THE CHARMS CORRIDOR!'

We ducked under Peeves and ran for it. Following Harry he led us down a corridor that came to a dead end with a locked door. Behind us we could hear Filch's hobbling footsteps running towards us.

'This is it!' moaned Ron. 'We're done for! This is the end!'

'Oh, move over,' snapped Hermione. Taking Harry's wand from him, Hermione tapped the lock and said, 'Alohomora!'

The lock clicked and the door opened. We rushed inside and slammed it shut behind us. Harry, Ron and I pressed our heads to the door to listen to what was happening the other side. Filch was asking Peeves where the students had gone but Peeves wasn't cooperating. In spite of him just giving us away, I was thankful Peeves was then refusing to tell Filch where we'd gone. We listened as he went off muttering back down the corridor and Peeves zoomed off cackling through a wall. With him gone, I turned round to see where we were. I froze.

'He thinks this door is locked,' whispered Harry. 'I think we'll be OK – get off, Neville!' He'd been gripping at Harry's arm, whimpering.

'And for good reason,' I said numbly.

A pair of yellow eyes blinked as it glared at us. Not one pair, in fact, but three, all of which belonged to one of the three heads of a monstrous dog. Each of its three mouths had its teeth bared as it growled at us, its long yellow fangs dripping with saliva. Right now I was wishing we'd been caught by Filch; at least we were more likely to survive that encounter. It was only because it hadn't expected us that it hadn't attacked us up till now. The six eyes blinked again and it took a stop towards us. I felt a hand grab my pyjamas and I was pulled backwards. Harry had pulled me back through the door as the dog lunged for us. The five of us got out of the room just in time and Harry slammed the door shut and locked it behind him. We ran for it and didn't stop until we were back at the portrait of the Fat Lady. Ignoring her reprimand for being out of bed, Harry shouted the password at her and she let us in. We ran through the entrance and collapsed in the common room. Neville ran straight upstairs to the boys' dormitory.

It was a few moments before any of us spoke. We were all fighting to catch our breath, each of us in a heap in one of the chairs in the corner.

'What do they think they're doing, keeping a thing like that locked up in a school?' panted Ron once he had enough breath back in his lungs. 'If any dog needs exercise, that one does.'

'That dog,' I breathed, ignoring the stitch in my side, 'wasn't a dog, Ron.' It wasn't. If I was correct, that dog had been a Cereberus. It was a creature from what I thought was mythology, but of course, this was the wizarding world so why shouldn't it be real. They were supposed to guard the underworld so what one was doing in the Hogwarts castle was anyone's guess. 'That was a monster!'

'You don't use your eyes, any of you, do you?' snapped Hermione. We looked at her. 'Didn't you see what it was standing on?'

'The floor?' said Harry sarcastically. 'I wasn't looking at its feet, I was too busy with its heads.'

'Or maybe you didn't notice, there were three of them,' added Ron.

'No, not the floor,' said Hermione. 'It was standing on a trapdoor. It's obviously guarding something.'

'Guarding something?' I repeated. 'What could the school have that would need a beast like that to guard it?'

Hermione stood up, her hair wilder than ever and her eyes narrowed.

'I hope you're pleased with yourselves,' she said. 'We could all have been killed – or worse, expelled. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to bed.' and with that she turned on her heel and disappeared up the girls' staircase.

'No, we don't mind,' said Ron. 'You'd think we'd dragged her along, wouldn't you?'

'I think she's right though,' I said. I pushed myself up to a sitting position. 'It's almost one a.m. and we have class tomorrow. Snape won't take too kindly if we all fall asleep during our Double Potions lesson with him. We'd better get to bed.'

Harry and Ron agreed and we separated to go to our dormitories.

Hermione was still fuming the next morning when we got up. When Parvati, Lavender and Sally-Anne all left the dormitory to go down to breakfast, she turned to me.

'I don't understand how you could be friends with those two,' she said to me tersely. I stopped plaiting my hair and looked over my shoulder at her. 'They're such a pair of horrible boys. All they've done is lose points for the last week.'

'They're my friends,' I replied, slightly annoyed. 'I knew Harry before I even started here.'

'Well I still think they're a pair of troublemakers,' said Hermione, 'and if you're not careful, you'll see yourself getting into a lot of trouble with them and you'll lose Gryffindor House points and probably get detention too.'

Hermione left the dormitory. I sighed and followed shortly after to get some breakfast.

I found Harry and Ron down at the Gryffindor table when I got there. Just up from them I could see Hermione sending them a disapproving look while Neville, who was between her and Seamus, still looked pale from the previous night. When I sat down, Harry and Ron pointed over to the Slytherin table where Malfoy was sat. I sat up enough so I could see him. A livid look was on his pale face at the sight of the three of us.

'I guess his plan of getting us expelled backfired,' I said. I turned round in my seat. 'Still, I don't want a repeat of last night. I never want to go near that dog again. I can see why Professor Dumbledore said that corridor was off limits.'

'If it wasn't for Malfoy, we never would have found that dog,' said Harry. 'And I don't somehow think it's the dog that makes the corridor out of bounds.'

'What makes you say that?' I asked.

'Remember about the break-in at Gringotts?' said Harry. He lowered his voice so only Ron and I could hear him. 'What if whatever it was that was in that vault was brought here? Why else would Hagrid pick something up for Dumbledore but not say what it was if it wasn't something that needed protection.'

'What could be so important that Dumbledore would need to bring it here?' asked Ron.

'I don't know,' said Harry, 'but whatever it was, it was kept in a high security vault at Gringotts and someone tried to steal it too. It would explain why the dog was here, if that's what it's guarding. Why else would it be?'

'It's either really valuable or really dangerous,' said Ron.

'Or both,' said Harry.

I frowned. Harry was still fixated on whatever had been stolen from Gringotts and was now thinking it was being kept here. I didn't think I'd ever say this but in this situation I actually felt myself side with Hermione about this. The less we had to do with the dog, the better; whatever was beneath that trapdoor had to be no good and so it was best to stay out of it. On the plus side, aside from this morning, the events of the previous night had made Hermione stop speaking to us, not that Harry or Ron minded. Having finished the conversation about the mysterious object they had moved on to thinking how to get back at Malfoy.

Above us the owls had arrived with that morning's post. Around us a loud whispering started. Harry, Ron and I looked up. Everyone was staring at a group of six screech owls that were carrying a long thin package. My eyes followed as it crossed the Hall, flying right over to where the three of us were sitting. They dropped it in front of Harry and flew off again. A note then dropped on top of it left by yet another owl. Harry, Ron and I looked at each other. Harry shrugged and ripped open the note.

'It's from Professor McGonagall,' he told us. 'It says not to open it here because it's my broomstick for Quidditch. It says it's a –' Harry gaped. 'Nimbus Two Thousand!'

'A Nimbus Two Thousand!' repeated Ron. His eyes widened. 'I've never even touched one.'

'A lot of people are trying to see what you've got, Harry,' I said. I nodded my head at the people on the table behind me; some Ravenclaw students were straining to see what it was. 'Let's go back to the common room and you can open it there.'

Quickly the three of us left the Hall with Harry's broomstick. We were barely across the Entrance Hall when Harry felt something grab the handle of it. Malfoy, with Crabbe and Goyle predictably beside him, had followed us and snatched the package from Harry's hand. He stared at it with a look of both spite and jealousy.

'That's a broomstick,' he said. He threw it back at Harry. 'You'll be for it this time, Potter, first-years aren't allowed them.'

'It's not any old broomstick,' said Ron, 'it's a Nimbus Two Thousand. What did you say you've got at home, Malfoy, a Comet Two Sixty?' Ron grinned at Harry. 'Comets look flashy, but they're not in the same league as the Nimbus.'

'What would you know about it, Weasley, you couldn't afford half the handle,' said Malfoy. 'I suppose you and your brothers have to save up, twig by twig.'

'Not arguing, I hope, boys,' squeaked a voice. Professor Flitwick was scuttling towards us.

'Potter's been sent a broomstick, Professor,' said Malfoy.

'Yes, yes, that's right,' said Professor Flitwick. He beamed at Harry. That wasn't the reaction Malfoy had hoped for. 'Professor McGonagall told me all about the special circumstances, Potter. And what model is it?'

'A Nimbus Two Thousand, sir,' said Harry. He appeared to be trying not to laugh. 'And it's really thanks to Malfoy here that I've got it.'

'Very good, very good,' squeaked Professor Flitwick. A bell rang then, signalling class would be starting soon. 'You best get it up to your dormitory so that it doesn't get damaged. Mind, don't be late for class because you're admiring it too much.'

'No, sir,' said the three of us.

We walked up the Marble Staircase, snickering at the look on Malfoy's face when Harry had thanked him for his part in Harry getting a broomstick and a place on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

'Well, it's true,' Harry said. 'If he hadn't stolen Neville's Remembrall I wouldn't be on the team …'

'So I suppose you think that's a reward for breaking rules?' said an angry voice behind us. Hermione had caught up to us. She was looking at the broom with as much disgust as Malfoy had.

'I thought you weren't speaking to us?' said Harry.

'Yes, don't stop now,' said Ron. 'It's doing us so much good.'

Hermione gave me another significant look like the previous night and walked off with her nose in the air. I frowned. It wasn't up to me to control Ron and Harry's behaviour.

'Don't you think you're being a bit harsh on her?' I asked Harry and Ron. We climbed the staircases to go back up to the Tower to drop off the broom. 'I mean, she doesn't want us to get in trouble, that's all.'

'When she's the one getting us into trouble?' said Ron. He stared at me as if I'd gone mad. 'She was the one who opened that door, not us. And she's meant to be the intelligent one in our year.'

'None of us knew where we were, Ron,' I reasoned. 'We weren't to know that door was the corridor that led to that thing. Besides, Hermione only came with us because she got shut out the Tower. If Filch had caught us, he might have believed her if she'd told him we'd been tricked.'

'Doubt it,' snorted Ron. 'Filch never believes students, even goody-two-wands like her.'

'Ron's right, Jenna,' agreed Harry. 'Even if Filch had caught us, he wouldn't have believed her and all she would have done is gloat that she was right. She's just a bossy know-it-all who loves to show off and be right about everything.'

'Still,' I muttered but I could see the boys weren't going to be swayed.

Things didn't improve between the four of us in the coming weeks. With school in full swing now and Harry also going to Quidditch training three times a week, we had little time to even be concerned about it. With every class we got more and more homework, which in turn meant we spent more and more time during the evenings in the corner of the common room attempting to write our essays. Hermione was rarely ever seen in between classes and when she was, she always seemed to be on her own; Parvati and Lavender were always too busy gossiping to each other in a way that Hermione would probably disapprove of, while the other girl, Sally-Anne, tended to spend more of her time with a friend of hers from Ravenclaw. It was only when I saw her walking down the second floor corridor that I found out where she kept hiding.

I had followed her over the Transfiguration Courtyard one day after lunch and up a small staircase that led to the second floor. She was heading to the library. Intrigued, I continued to follow her. She pushed open the door and went inside. I walked quickly to catch up with her and opened the door. I peered round it to see where she had gone. The library was a long rectangular room with bookcases reaching all the way up to the ceiling. To the left of the entrance was a high desk, the librarian sat behind it. I saw Madam Pince eye me over her glasses. I quickly walked in properly and headed to a bookcase to make it look like I was after a book, not following someone. I walked in between the shelves of books, looking for Hermione. Around me, books were floating on and off the shelves, flapping over to tables and sliding back in their correct locations. I found Hermione near the back of the library. She was sat on her own on a table in the corner. She didn't notice me; instead her head was buried in a large thick tome. She actually looked kind of lonely. Her eyes seemed to scan the pages but not take in anything that was written on the parchment. I actually felt sorry for her. When she looked up, I ducked behind the bookcase I was next to so she didn't see me. I couldn't imagine Hermione taking well to me following her. With one last glance at her, I left the library. I didn't know what to do and I was pretty sure even if I told Harry and Ron, they wouldn't care enough to do anything about it either.

However lonely Hermione must feel, she certainly hid it well in class. Still she would thrust her hand in the air whenever she knew the answer to the question the teacher asked, beaming whenever she received House points for a correct answer. I would watch her do this with an odd amount of curiosity. If she was so lonely, why was she trying so hard to impress everyone? Sure it worked with the teachers but all it did to the rest of us was think she was a smarty-witch. She really wasn't doing herself any favours being a teacher's pet. A part of me wanted to point this out to her but I thought better of it, hoping she might learn herself she was going about making friends with people the wrong way.

Hallowe'en arrived. I wasn't surprised when I saw how much of a fuss the school seemed to make over the holiday, considering what its reputation in the Muggle world was. The entire castle was decorated with live bats and real cobwebs while there was a constant smell of pumpkin pie coming from wherever the kitchens were located in the castle. Even the suits of armour were enchanted to make the students jump when they were least expecting it. I had the feeling that it wasn't an enchantment but was Peeves taking advantage of the season to scare the students more than he normally did. There was a buzz around the castle that I hadn't seen since the Start-of-Term feast on the first day here. All the students seemed excited and there was to be a feast that evening for dinner so concentration was quite thin on the ground during classes, especially with the first-years.

'Yes, yes, we are all looking forward to the feast tonight,' said Professor Flitwick cheerfully when he tried to get our attention in Charms that day. 'But first we must do some work and I'm sure you'll all like what I've got for you today.'

With a flick of his wrist, Professor Flitwick waved his wand at a book beside him. It floated into the air beside him. It remained there for a moment or two as the class "ooh-ed" in appreciation. Professor Flitwick flicked his wand upwards and the book fell back on top of its pile with a thump. Telling us we were going to try the Levitation Charm, Professor Flitwick separated us into pairs and gave us each a feather to enchant. Sitting next to Neville, Professor Flitwick paired us together while Harry was put with Seamus and Ron was told to go with Hermione. Having not said anything to each other since the day Harry got his broom, it was hard to tell who was angrier about having to work together.

'Now don't forget the nice wrist movement we've been practicing,' squeaked Professor Flitwick. He was perched on top of his books once again after giving us our feathers. 'Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic words properly is very important, too – never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest. Now, off you go.'

I looked at my feather. Picking up my wand, I gave it a little poke. Feathers were really light. Wouldn't it be more of a challenge for us to try and make a book float or something? I soon found myself to be wrong. Even with the wrist movement Professor Flitwick had been getting us to practice for the past few weeks both in class and as homework, my feather didn't lift one millimetre off the desk. No one seemed to be making any progress. Neville was stuttering the words due to his nerves so his spell was incoherent; Harry was staring at his feather as if he was trying to will it to float; Seamus was waving his wand aimlessly until a small explosion occurred and his feather burst into flames, smoke blowing up in his face; and Ron was impatiently jabbing his wand to no effect.

'Wingardium Leviosa!' he shouted again and again.

'You're saying it wrong,' Hermione snapped at Ron after several minutes of this. They were sitting on the table in front of me. 'It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long.'

'You do it then, if you're so clever,' snarled Ron.

Hermione looked at her feather. She took a breath, rolled up the sleeves of her robes, and pointed her wand at it. With a smooth flick, she said, 'Wingardium Leviosa!' and her feather began to lift off the desk.

'Oh, well done!' cried Professor Flitwick. He clapped his hands enthusiastically at Hermione's achievement. 'Everyone, see here, Miss Granger's done it!'

Needless to say Ron's temper hadn't improved by the end of the lesson.

'It's no wonder no one can stand her,' he said to Harry and me as we left the classroom. We joined the students heading down the corridor to go outside for break. 'She's a nightmare, honestly!'

Just then, Hermione pushed roughly between Harry and Ron. She strode off quickly in front of us but not before I saw tears were forming in her eyes. Harry, Ron and I stopped. I felt an awkward feeling start in the bottom of my stomach.

'I think she heard you,' said Harry.

'So?' said Ron, though he looked a bit uncomfortable about the situation. 'She must've noticed she's got no friends.' I frowned.

'I'll see you later,' I said to them before running after Hermione.

I looked round at the end of the corridor to see where Hermione had gone. She had gone down the small spiral staircase that led to the Transfiguration Courtyard. I hurried after her. Hermione didn't stop when she reached the courtyard like I thought she would. She kept going, crossing the courtyard then walking down the footpath that led towards the Stone Bridge. I wasn't sure where she was going but I wasn't going to let her be upset because of the boys. She pushed through the door back into the castle, me chasing after her. I walked down the first floor corridor that was covered from ceiling to floor in tapestries and round the corner into the next where I saw Hermione go into a bathroom. I stopped at the door, waiting a moment before I entered. After a minute I pushed open the door and walked inside. It wasn't too hard to know which cubicle she was in as it was the only one with its door closed, and the only one where I could hear her crying behind it. Cautiously, in case she wanted to be alone, I walked up to the locked door and gently knocked on it.

'Hermione?' I said. 'Are you all right?'

'Go away,' I heard her cry. 'Go back to your big-headed friends.'

'Hermione, I'm really sorry about what Ron said. He just doesn't think sometimes … well, he doesn't seem to think at all.' I couldn't really comment considering I'd only known him for two months. 'But all boys are jerks this age. You just have to ignore them.'

'How would you know?' she asked me fiercely.

'Because I lived with enough of them for the past ten years,' I muttered. I leant back against the door waiting to hear if Hermione would reply.

There was a few moments silence, then –

'I thought you said you were from a wizarding family?'

I sighed. It just had to be this way to get her to talk, didn't it?

'I am,' I said to her, 'but I was an orphan before I started Hogwarts. I come from a wizarding family but I accidentally got abandoned shortly after I was born. I know about as much as a Flobberworm does about the wizarding world and magic when really, because of my family, I should know a lot more. I can't even do half the spells we've been set so far. You saw me in Charms, I didn't make my feather lift off my desk at all. But while I don't know a lot about magic, I certainly do know something about boys and that they are immature jerks at this age.'

I stood straight when I heard the lock of the cubicle click open. Turning round, the door opened. A tearful Hermione stood inside, her eyes red and her hair messy around her face. She looked at me with a disheartened expression on her face.

'Still,' she sniffed, wiping her eyes. 'You're a real witch, from the wizarding world. I'm just a Muggle-born. There's nothing magical about my family at all.'

'Being from a wizarding family doesn't mean anything,' I said. 'Surely you've seen that by now. Neville and Ron are both from those pure-blood families and you've beaten both of them in all our classes. You've managed almost all the spells we've been set. So what if you don't have magical parents? Your abilities aren't determined by who you're related to.'

'I guess.'

Hermione closed the door of the cubicle again and took a seat on the floor. I joined her. We sat in silence for a few minutes. Something seemed to be on Hermione's mind but she didn't seem to know how to say it. I watched as she stared at her hands in her lap.

'Can I ask you something?' she finally said.

'Sure,' I said. 'What do you want to know?'

'It's not what I want to know,' Hermione replied. 'I read every textbook we got set before we came here. I thought by reading everything I could, it would help me fit in. But it didn't. All it did was make people tease me, just like at primary school. If knowing things about the world I'm apparently a part of and being able to do the spells is wrong, then I don't know what to do. Nobody here likes me. They all just think I'm a know-it-all.'

'There's nothing wrong with knowing things,' I said. 'Before I came here I read all I could too, thinking that because I was from a wizarding family I should already know this stuff.'

'So how come you don't get teased but I do?' Hermione asked. 'How are we any different?'

'Because I don't raise my hand for every question and give twenty word answers when two words will do.' Hermione glanced at me sheepishly. I raised my eyebrow. She knew I was right. 'Hermione, there's nothing wrong with knowing an answer. It's knowing when to let others try first. You remember that question Snape asked us in our first class? About the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?'

'Yes, what about it?' she asked.

'I knew the answer,' I said. 'I knew they were exactly the same thing. I also know that the leaves are poisonous; that they grow in Scotland; and that after harvesting their roots have to be dried out until the next full moon before they can be used.'

'What's your point?' asked Hermione.

'My point,' I said slowly, 'is that I knew a lot that I could have told Snape in order to answer that question.' For someone so intelligent, Hermione was a bit slow sometimes. 'But because I knew he was asking Harry, I stayed quiet. If he'd then asked the rest of the class I might have put my hand up.'

Hermione frowned. She hunched up, looking away from me.

'You know, you're not the only whose been bullied.' I folded my arms and brought my knees up to my chest. 'At the orphanage I was bullied all the time because I was different.'

'You were?'

'Yeah, because I kept making strange things happen.'

'Like what?'

'I made some cakes taste like they had salt in them instead of sugar once.'

Hermione laughed. I smiled too.

'Anything else?'

'I broke several things,' I shrugged, 'and I set the curtains on fire once.'

Hermione gaped at me, 'You set something on fire?'

'I didn't mean to,' I said. 'This girl who lived at the orphanage with me was teasing me because of having no parents. I got really angry, so angry I felt like I was seeing red. Next thing I know she's screaming because the curtains behind me was smoking and had caught alight.'

'Wow,' breathed Hermione. 'And here I was just using my magic to steal the biscuits my parents wouldn't let me have. They're dentists so having sweets at home is a rare treat. They always kept them in the cupboard on the top shelf where I couldn't reach them, even if I stood on the kitchen counter. When I realised I could make things move if I stared at them, I used it on the biscuit tin and managed to get it down. My parents couldn't understand where all the biscuits were going.'

I smiled at Hermione's story. Hermione smiled back at me.

'Harry and Ron aren't that bad you know,' I told her. 'Harry's been bullied as much as you and I have. As for Ron, he's got five older brothers. Imagine how he feels coming here after all of them.'

'I know they probably aren't,' said Hermione quietly. 'But they're the ones teasing me the most. It's not really going to make me want to be friends with them.'

'Maybe try what I said and it might make them want to be friends with you instead,' I suggested.

Hermione and I ended up missing the rest of our lessons that day, as well as the Hallowe'en feast. We remained where we were in the bathroom sat on the floor. I knew we were going to get in trouble for missing class but I felt this was more important. Hermione needed a friend here at Hogwarts and I knew what it was like to be an outcast. By talking to her, it turned out she wasn't actually that bad. Her enthusiasm had a lot to be desired about but putting that aside, she was actually really nice. Overhead we could hear that it had started to rain outside. Rumbles of thunder echoed through the empty corridors around the castle while streaks of lighting flashed through the windows. I could also feel my stomach grumbling. I finally managed to convince her to come out at half past seven, meaning we hadn't missed all of dinner.

'I hear they make pumpkin pie for the Hallowe'en feast,' said Hermione. 'I've never had it before. I wonder what it tastes like.'

'I've never had it either,' I said. 'I've been looking forward to –'

I stopped. In front of us, blocking the door to the bathroom, were two very large grey columns. Slowly Hermione and I looked up. A pair of vacant grey eyes stared back at us, belonging to a very large and very confused looking troll. I swallowed. The troll let out a grunt. Hesitantly I moved my hand until I felt Hermione's robes in my fingers. I stepped backwards, pulling her with me.

Great, I thought, first a three-headed dog and now a bloody troll!

'Back away slowly,' I whispered to Hermione.

The troll grunted again. It came towards as we backed away from it. Our backs hit the side of the first cubicle, trapping us between it and the troll. The troll raised its club above its head and swung. Quickly I grabbed Hermione and pulled her round and into the cubicle with me. We screamed as the troll's club smashed against the wooden panel. The force of the blow knocked us to the floor, wood splintering on top of us. While the cubicle shattered around us, it had protected us from the full force of the troll's swing.

'Jenna! Hermione! Move!'

I pushed a piece of wood away from my face and saw two people standing in the doorway. It was Harry and Ron. Their shout had drawn the troll's attention. They were throwing pieces of broken wood at it. With the troll distracted I saw our chance to escape. I pushed Hermione forwards, who was almost frozen with fear, and over to where the sinks were. The troll looked round when it heard something moving behind it. It saw us hiding underneath the sinks. Again it raised its club. As it swung it down, I pushed Hermione forwards again so that it missed her when it smashed the sink she had previously been under while I scrambled backwards to avoid it as well. We screamed again when bits of ceramic exploded over us.

'Help!' screamed Hermione.

'Confuse it!' shouted Harry.

All the noise and screaming was confusing the troll making it angrier. It stomped around, blinking stupidly and grunting aggressively at us. It turned to where it saw Harry. It started to lumber towards him.

'Oy, pea-brain!' yelled Ron. He threw a metal pipe at the troll. It merely bounced off his shoulder but Ron's yell was enough to draw its attention from Harry. With the troll slowly moving away from where Hermione and I were still crouched under the sinks, Harry ran over to us.

'Come on, run, run!' he shouted at Hermione. She was still in shock and wouldn't move. I took hold of her other arm and together Harry and I got her to her feet.

The troll roared. All the chaos was driving it mad. It was swinging its club wildly around causing massive amounts of damage to the bathroom. It stomped about with little attention to what it was treading on. It was getting closer and closer to where Ron was standing by the entrance to the bathroom.

'Harry, no!' I screamed.

Harry had let go of Hermione and ran at the troll. He took a running jump and somehow managed to get his small arms around the troll's thick neck, his wand going right up its nose. He was lifted off the ground. Even though it couldn't see him, the troll could feel him. Who wouldn't feel a wand going up their nose? It roared and flailed, Harry clinging on for dear life as it did so. It swung its club dangerously close to where Harry was hanging. Beside me Hermione had sunk to the floor, me going down with her, as I could no longer support her dead weight. In front of us I saw Ron pull out his wand. What did he plan on doing? We didn't know any spells that could take on a full-grown troll.

'Wingardium Leviosa!' he cried.

With a swish and flick the troll's club suddenly flew out of its hand and floated up above its head. The troll dumbly looked upwards at it. A moment later there was a sickening crack as the club dropped right on top of its head. I watched as the troll swayed dangerously on its feet before landing flat on its face on the floor, Harry falling off its shoulders. The entire room seemed to shake as it hit the stone. I stared at it, only then realising how much I was panting in fear. Harry got to his feet visibly shaken. He and Ron came over to where we were and helped us to our feet. I looked at the two of them, unable to tell them just how thankful I was they had shown up. Hermione was the first of us to speak.

'Is it – dead?'

'I don't think so,' said Harry. 'I think it's just been knocked out.' He bent down and pulled his wand from out of the troll's nose. It was covered in a horrible green sludge. 'Urgh – troll bogies.'

From outside the bathroom we heard a collection of footsteps and voices running and shouting towards us. The four of us looked up as the bathroom door flung open. Now that I thought about it, we must have caused quite a commotion that was enough to draw someone's attention. Professor McGonagall came bursting into the bathroom, closely followed by Professor Snape and Professor Quirrell. Professor Quirrell took one look at the troll and let out a faint whimper. He sat down on a piece of broken toilet, clutching at his chest. He looked like he was hyperventilating. Snape was examining the troll while Professor McGonagall was looking at the four of us with a mixture of horror and astonishment, four eleven year old wizards standing remarkably unscathed in a completely trashed bathroom with a troll lying unconscious on the floor. Even saying it made it sound impossible. Once her initial shock had gone, she finally found her voice.

'What on earth were you thinking of?' she scolded. 'You're lucky you weren't killed. Why aren't you in your dormitory?'

Harry, Ron and I looked at each other. None of us had an explanation for this nor did we know even how to explain it.

'Please, Professor McGonagall – they were looking for me.'

Harry, Ron and I looked at Hermione.

'Miss Granger!'

'I went looking for the troll because I – I thought I could deal with it on my own – you know, because I've read all about them.'

Ron dropped his wand. Harry and I stared at her. What was she doing? She was the least responsible person there and yet she was taking the blame? Telling a blatant lie and to a teacher as well?

'Jenna tried to stop me but I didn't listen and we got trapped in here. If they hadn't found us, we'd be dead now. Harry stuck his wand up its nose and Ron knocked it out with its own club. They didn't have time to come and fetch anyone. It was about to finish us off when they arrived.'

Harry and Ron both nodded. I remained silent.

'Well – in that case ...' said Professor McGonagall, straightening her glasses. 'Miss Granger, you foolish girl, how could you think of tackling a mountain troll on your own?' Hermione hung her head. 'Five points will be taken from Gryffindor for this. I'm very disappointed in you. If you're not hurt at all, you'd better get off to Gryffindor Tower. Students are finishing the feast in their Houses.'

Hermione left. Professor McGonagall turned to Harry, Ron and me.

'Well, I still say you were lucky, but not many first-years could have taken on a full-grown mountain troll and live to tell the tale. You each win Gryffindor five points,' the three of us looked at each other, surprised by this turn of events, 'for sheer dumb luck,' added Professor McGonagall as an afterthought. 'Professor Dumbledore will be informed of this. You may go.'

The three of us quickly left the bathroom before Professor McGonagall had a chance to change her mind. We ran all the way to the Grand Staircase where we finally slowed our pace on our way back to the Gryffindor Tower.

'We should have got more than ten points,' grumbled Ron.

'Five, you mean, once she's taken off Hermione's.'

'Good of her to get us out of trouble like that,' admitted Ron. 'Mind you, we did save her.'

'She might not have needed saving if we hadn't locked the thing in with her,' said Harry.

'We wouldn't have needed saving at all if you two hadn't insulted her in the first place,' I said. Harry and Ron looked at me. I raised my eyebrow at them. 'I have a point you know. And thanks for locking the troll in there with us. That's a comforting thought.'

'We didn't mean to,' said Ron.

'Either way, thanks for saving us,' I said. 'When I went after her, I didn't really expect to then also get trapped in a bathroom with her by a troll. But Professor McGonagall's right. We were lucky to survive that.'

If it weren't for that troll though, then Harry, Ron, Hermione and I would never have become such great friends. There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and that was definitely one of them. It was our first adventure together since joining Hogwarts and it certainly wouldn't be the last that the four of us would encounter.

hope you like the changes i've made to this chapter