Halle Potter and the first year of madness
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The next morning came and Halle felt great relief knowing that no repercussions had come from their crazy adventure from the night before.
Professor McGonagall had come to the common room and announced that Filch had, had an incident and believed it to be members of Gryffindor house that were responsible for the incident. She had told them that if any one knew anything they should speak up.
Hermione had given them a angry pointed look but stayed silent.
Professor McGonagall then stated that there was no significant proof that it was a member of there house and that she would not be inquiring an investigation, but had made sure to give the entire house a stern lecture about upholding the reputation of Gryffindor house which in itself did feel like a twenty minute detention.
She mentioned nothing about the third floor corridor, which the three headed dog had also received a smoke bomb but Halle assumed no one was none the wiser to that development. At least for now.
When Professor McGonagall had let them go, she was gleeful to see the looks of shock on the snake gangs faces as herself, Ronnie and Neville waltzed into the great hall looking more cheerful than ever. Even after what happened, it felt good knowing that their plan had failed.
She caught a quick glance of Lu, but avoided eye contact. Dewei had mentioned that she had seen Filch burst into the hospital wing covered in Green dye.
Neville explained how he was covered head to toe in the stuff with only his eyes being untouched by the smoke. He said that Lu had given her brothers and Neville a searching look but otherwise said nothing and no blame had fallen onto them.
Especially as Madam Pomfrey had no suspicion to believe it was them, as she had to tend to Blaise and Dewei's injuries and luckily for Neville, she had suggested that his throbbing wrist was probably psychological, due to the ordeal of his first flying lesson and said it could happen to anyone. She then gave him a pink potion for his problem which he gave to Ronnie who'd asked if she could have it.
Halle decided she would keep out of Lu's way for a little while, just until the incident could be forgotten. She didn't want Lu to see her as a trouble maker.
She caught a quick glance of Blaise Zabini sitting next to Pansy Parkinson whilst casually eating the eggs off his plate.
He looked fine. Apparently the three headed dog hadn't caused him too much distress. Maybe that was due to the fact that he was now in the great hall as opposed to the third floor, although in saying that, he had regained his composure quite quickly during the confrontation with Lu.
She wondered where she stood with the boy now. He was part of the Snake gang and her dislike for the group was intense, especially after yesterday, but Blaise was still a mystery to her.
He had covered for them last night, warned them about Filch and amazingly unlike the rest of the snakes, hadn't necessarily been their school bullies.
Although he was definitely a member of the snake gang, in the last two weeks, Blaise had never said anything towards herself, Ronnie and Neville. He was always with his god siblings yes, and perhaps even laughed at the jokes at their dispense but he didn't participate in it. Draco, Phina and Pansy definitely did, and Crabbe and Goyle were brainless oafs who were at the Draco's beck and call.
Then there was Blaise who had just been there. No comments, no cutting remarks, just there. Last night was the third time exactly that she had heard his voice, whereas the others, she heard them speak all the time and she only had two lessons with the Slytherins.
Halle tried to re-evaluate her opinion on him.
Like his brother, he wasn't nice. The confrontation on the express still lingered in the back of her mind. As Matt had described Dewei as having a Slytherin mindset, she knew Blaise definitely did, basing her judgment on his argument with Dewei and his interaction with them last night. He was as Slytherin as it got.
However he wasn't like the snakefoys, at least not as bad, but that didn't mean that he was a good guy either. She certainly didn't want to be friends with him but now she felt like she owed him. He didn't have to help any of them but he did.
Why?
Dewei's story of him finding his god siblings obsession with them, didn't sell it for her.
Halle felt herself get frustrated.
She really didn't want to think about the snake gang or the Zabini's. She was determined to have a good and normal day.
Herself, Ronnie and Neville had agreed that it would be better to not raise any attention to themselves and avoid any more adventures like last night.
They also didn't want to give Hermione granger, who refused to talk to them (not that any of them were complaining.) a reason to go running to a teacher about them. Apart from that Halle was sure if Hermione did, Ronnie would punch her in the face and as much as Hermione was annoying, she didn't want Ronnie to get in trouble for assault.
Luckily for Halle no such assault took place. The day went smoothly, even after a small confrontation with the snakes and they had seen her with her new nimbus two thousand, curtesy of McGonagall.
Halle promised herself if she learnt how, that she would get something amazing for her head of house to show her gratitude.
Halle was thrilled. Her practice session with Oliver Wood, for quidditch went off without a hitch and she was all too happy to tell Ronnie and Neville all about it.
Her happiness extended when the weekend came and they went to check out the secret passageway again. They enacted out their plan like before, and waited at their posts.
Once again no one came.
After some breakfast they had gone back to the passageway and checked out each floor. No one was there. Eventually they headed for floor 2.
It was exactly how they had seen it last week. Nothing seemed different or out of place. Halle had suggested that they be cautious and test a few things first, to be sure no one would come.
So they did.
They tested slight touching and full touching to see if anyone came, or if some magical alarm went off.
Nothing happened.
They tested picking up vials and opening books, still nothing happened. They then checked the greenhouse. The plants still looked healthy. Neville looked as though he could stare at them all day. He stuck to the right side and touched a few plants he knew, just to see if anyone came but no one did.
Something they hadn't noticed before was the table desk against the back wall. Along it was equipment of all sorts, what looked like large silver barrels sat on the desk. Bags of Soil, even an attached cabinet of books was there. Books on all sorts of plants and how to tend to them and plenty of other stuff. They tested all of these things too but nothing.
Halle knew someone had built this place but she wondered if the seven story passageway was now abandoned because it seemed illogical for someone to leave all their stuff behind like this.
Their books, their plants and whatever else resided there, but Halle's instincts were leading her to believe that no one was going to come. That they were safe to look around.
And so they did.
They stayed in the greenhouse for a little while. Neville kept them on the right side because Halle was too nervous to go on the left, even with each plant on that side being in glass cabinets. There was at least 50 or more plants in the room. Halle barely knew any of them except for the ones she had so far seen in Herbology which wasn't that much.
Ronnie knew a few more plants in the room but only by a little and of course Neville knew a lot of them.
Every time they stopped in front of a new plant his face became gleeful or focused. Sometimes a look of awe graced his features as he explained several of the plants and what their uses were for. Ronnie listened intently as he explained or would chip in pieces of knowledge she knew in regards to potions, that the plant properties could be used for.
Halle found it strange how Ronnie wasn't amazing at Herbology and how Neville wasn't amazing at potions when they definitely had the knowledge for the other subject but Halle also thought about how well a team they would make if they put their heads together at the two subjects.
There were plants that Neville hadn't seen before and he was brave enough to even prod one with his wand, which the plant seemed to laugh and playfully did the same back.
They looked around the right side for a little while more before leaving the greenhouse.
They then looked around the main potion room. Halle looked around by the books that had all sorts of different potions and instructions on how to make them. There was loads. Potion books for medicinal purposes, love, mind control and more.
Halle picked up one book called 'One hundred different ways to defeat your enemies: A potions guide to poisons.'
She quickly put the book down.
There was even a few journals there.
Halle picked up a brown one. The journal looked old and new at the same time.
Halle opened the journal and skimmed through some of the complex text. It was filled with potion ideas and thoughts, dos and don'ts and potions to experiment with.
Halle deduced that whoever had written these journals was a potion mastermind. Halle didn't know anything about potions but she could easily recognise someone who did.
After her second lesson of potions yesterday, Halle knew she would never possess a love for the subject, at least not while Snape was teaching it, but she couldn't help but be astounded by the deep knowledge of the journal in her hands.
She had to show Ronnie this.
She knew her red headed friend was probably having a field day.
Ronnie after coming out of the indoor greenhouse had beelined straight for the cabinets that had a variety of different coloured, ready made potions on the shelves.
All of them were labelled and by the looks of it were placed in Alphabetical order.
It was all pretty impressive to say the least.
Halle called over to Ronnie and showed her the journal.
Ronnie instantly became mesmerised.
"Woah. Whoever wrote this must've really known their potions." Said Neville who came beside Halle to look at the journal too.
"Tell me about it." Said Halle.
"It's beautiful! Does it say who it belongs too?" Asked Ronnie, coming out of her stupor.
Halle skimmed over the pages and checked the front and back. There was no visible name.
"I can't see one." Said Halle.
"Shame. The person who wrote this has some really killer ideas. I'd love to meet them." Said Ronnie in awe.
"They probably did really well in Hogwarts." Said Neville.
"You think the person who wrote this came to Hogwarts?" Asked Halle.
"Well yeah, otherwise how could the journal be here?" Replied Neville.
"True." Acknowledged Halle.
"Yeah well if they were taught here, they must've had the best teacher ever. I guess we've really downgraded huh?" Said Ronnie smirking.
"I'd love to be this good at potions. At this rate I'm gonna blow my own head off with how bad I am." Said Neville longingly as his cheeks went a little red.
It was true. Yesterday's lesson although not as explosive as the previous week, had still ended in disaster for Neville. They were continuing from last week but this time they were causing boils instead of curing them. Ronnie had kept her promise of keeping an eye on Neville and kept showing him and Seamus what to do but she had been distracted when Snape had snapped at them and had taken points away from them for talking. Neville put the wrong ingredient in and the potion splashed in his face, causing the boils to start forming.
Snape ripped into Neville about his stupidity. Halle couldn't help but get mad and berated Snape.
"Why don't you actually encourage him to do better instead of putting him down?" Scolded Halle.
That cost another ten points and Neville was sent up to the hospital wing.
When they retrieved him, Madam Pomfrey had made a comment about starting to see him on a regular basis. Halle knew it was a joke but it still had made Neville blush in shame.
She knew Snape's words had gotten to him.
"And you will be." Said Halle almost aggressively.
"Huh?" Said Neville looking at her questioningly.
"Well as far as we're aware these books are just lying here and we have a potions genius with us. We might as well use these factors to our advantage. We'll study these books with the help of Ronnie and we'll do great without Snape and rub it in his face." Said Halle firmly, being reminded of the advice Dewei had given her a few nights ago.
If stepping up their game academically meant them having a win over the snakes and Snape, then Halle would read over these books a thousand times. However she kept it forefront in her mind that pettiness wasn't her main reason for wanting to learn anything.
She had made herself a promise to be a great witch and a opportunity had presented itself.
She had found the seven story passageway by chance but perhaps this was the universes way of telling her how to achieve her goal and she was more than happy to make sure that Neville was given that opportunity too.
He was too kind for some greasy haired git to make him feel insecure about himself and he was much smarter than he gave himself credit for, and Halle wanted Neville to know it too.
Then of course there was Ronnie who no doubt wanted to get her hands on half the books in there. She had stated that she wanted to do well in potions which she was amazing, but already her spirit was being brought down by Snape, and Halle wouldn't accept that. Ronnie already did well but hopefully with these journals and books she would be the best potion maker in Hogwarts.
They decided that they wouldn't be using any of the passageway potions. They would leave those alone. They also decided that they wouldn't tend to the plants either. They were still wary about how they were being looked after.
They decided just to read the books. They added other lessons to their criteria including Herbology and made a plan. They decided to study in the passageway every Sunday afternoon and leave by dinner. It would help too when tackling homework. They would take notes from the journals and attempt to make potions of course with thorough instructions from the official potion books. They would also take notes from the Herbology books and any book from the library that helped them with their other subjects and quiz each other to keep their studying from being boring.
They decided for the moment to only keep these sessions on Sundays as they didn't want to attract any attention for always disappearing for the entire weekend.
Although the castle was large enough to not even be noticed, them and their housemates were becoming quite social with each other.
Matt and Freja had sat with them a couple times this week during dinner. Monday evening saw Seamus pull out his chess set and challenge them, Dean and Ryan to a few chess matches.
Ronnie won each time she versed someone. Halle was surprised to see that wizards chess had the pieces actually destroy each other, but still, she had enjoyed the session very much.
Yesterday had seen them and their other housemates other than Dewei and Hermione, go down to the lake after Neville had come out of the hospital wing. The Gryffindors had decided to cheer themselves up after another dreadful potions lesson.
Dean and Ryan had decided to teach the others about football. Freja who turned out to have two older sisters in Hufflepuff, Farah and Frida, got one of them to transfigure a large rock for them and turn it into a football.
Halle, Freja, Matt and Seamus already knew what football was, being half bloods but Freja didn't ever really play the game growing up, Matt had grown up with a bit more wizard culture as his muggle family apparently weren't in his life and Seamus said that he and his dad were more tennis and rugby boys. Halle had only ever played the game at school but never had she played with people for fun, so she was happy to join in. It was also fun to see Ronnie, Neville, Lavender, Parvati and Padma look so confused as Dean and Ryan explained the rules.
Ronnie wondered how Muggles found the game so interesting when there was no flying but Halle noticed as they played more that Ronnie found herself enjoying the strange game and even having good foot work.
Eventually Lavender, Parvati and Padma took to just watching and cheering them on as they weren't that good at the game but Halle was proud of them for even trying, as sometimes they were really girlish and it was cool to see Pureblood's interested in Muggle culture.
Despite the horrible potions lesson, it had been a great afternoon. Halle wondered to herself if their Fridays were going to be like this every week. Part of her hoped so. It was great just bonding with her housemates. Something that she would've never been allowed to do on Privet Drive.
Dudley had assured that no one wanted to be her friend in school and the few children that she came into contact with, that were friendly, couldn't be her friends because she was never allowed to fraternise with other children outside of school.
She had once been invited to a sleepover with Lacey Becker, a girl from primary school, who like Sarah Rodham had rich parents who liked to make her happy, unlike Sarah she was a sweet girl who had a kind word for everyone. In class she kept her distance because Sarah and Dudley made it a point to bully anyone who even liked Halle but Lacey always managed to have a nice conversation with Halle.
Halle always had to walk home. School wasn't that far but was a half an hour walk and Lacey always took up ten minutes of that walk as she lived practically across the road and round the corner from school.
Lacey always managed to give her encouraging words and for her 9th birthday she had invited Halle to come. Her mother had come to Privet Drive to get permission from aunt Petunia but she insisted that she was grounded for some misdeed and said she couldn't go. To make it worse Dudley had a sleepover the very same day just to rub her it in and she had to stay locked in her cupboard until they left, with the exception of a few bathroom breaks.
Halle had actually cried that night. Someone had wanted to be her friend and wanted to be in her company and the Dursley's had ruined it for her.
But they couldn't now. She was at Hogwarts and they were back in Little whinging doing whatever, whilst she was having the time of her life. Enjoying herself with others and learning magic.
It was the best feeling in the world even with the horrible potion lessons and the snakes always managing to make their voices heard.
The feeling continued through out September into October.
Halle was becoming comfortable in lessons. Quidditch practice was going great. Her friendships was strong in Gryffindor and even in some of the other houses, she was starting to have decent conversations with, now that they had been at school for over a month. The books in the passageway were proving to be useful more than ever.
Neville in their sixth potion lesson had actually knew one answer for a question that Snape had asked. He of course had no confidence to raise his hand and answer it but the pride in Ronnie's eyes was so immense that he did extremely well in class that lesson. Something that seemed to upset Snape greatly.
Even Halle had known 1 or 2 answers in potions now, and even Herbology and she felt proud. They still had a long way to go before they were great but it felt good knowing that their starting point was off to a good start.
Halle was managing the homework well enough and much to Halle's delight the Gryffindors had taken to a daily activity on Fridays. They would usually have some tea with Hagrid when he wasn't doing ground keeper duties and then join the others for whatever activity they had planned next.
It was always such a good way to start their weekends. Sometimes Hermione would join at the request of only Freja or Matt and sometimes she wouldn't. She still barely spoke to herself, Neville and Ronnie.
Dewei never joined in on Friday nights.
Their adventure with the three headed dog hadn't changed his stance with anyone. Halle chose not to feel anything about it. Before she had been somewhat angry with his behaviour but now she just chose to accept how he was. It was the least she could do seeming as he and his brother had stopped herself and the others from getting in trouble.
Since that night she had barely even thought about the dog or the mysterious package it was guarding. She had barely even thought about Dewei or Blaise and their mysterious argument.
She hadn't seen anymore signs of the two talking, not that she had been looking, but still, when she saw Blaise he always seemed preoccupied. Lu after a few days had gone back to giving Halle her usual winks or gestures of greetings which Halle was glad for.
That week had been the first that any of those memories had resurfaced in a month.
It was a Saturday and Halle had finished quidditch practice. She was getting ready to meet back up with Ronnie and Neville and do some more exploring, an activity they had taken to doing on Saturdays , when a large brown owl approached her and stuck out its leg. There was a note attached to it.
"Thank you." She said as she unwrapped the note from his leg and he hooted at her before flying off.
Halle looked at the note.
Meet me in the Astronomy tower at 8. I have information for you.
C.S
C.S? Who was C.S? And why did they have information for her? What information?
Who did she know with those initials?
No one came to mind.
She tried to think about what information she could possibly want to know and then a possible thought occurred to her. What if they had information on the mysterious package?
It was possible but if that were the case then why would she specifically need to know? Sure she wanted to know but why would she need to know? Did the package have something to do with her? Hagrid had taken her with him to collect it on her birthday of all days but that idea didn't seem right.
Then there was the fact of how someone knew that she wanted to know?
Perhaps this information was something else? But what? Was it about the passageway? Someone knew she had found it? The Zabini's? Had someone seen her watching them?
All of these questions felt possible but she couldn't deduce an answer, which frustrated her because now she felt tempted to find out this information from this mystery person but everything about this felt weird.
No good could come of this if she went.
She needed to talk to Ronnie and Neville.
She folded up the note and shoved it into her pocket before bounding toward the castle, making her way to Gryffindor Tower. When she arrived at the common room, she saw Ronnie and Neville in the corner of the room and rushed over to them.
"Oh, there you are, we were just about to come down. Are you alright Halle?" Asked Ronnie a little concerned noticing her red cheeks.
"Did you run here?" Asked Neville also concerned.
Halle nodded and took a moment to catch her breath. When it returned to normal, she pulled out the folded note and handed it to Ronnie.
Ronnie looked confused for a second but took the note and opened it. Neville peered over her shoulder as they read the note together.
Both of their faces suddenly dropped as suspicion took held of Ronnie's and confusion took held of Neville's.
Neville looked around before quietly asking who C.S was?
"I don't know. I tried to think of people with those initials but I drew a blank." Said Halle being careful not to be too loud.
"What information?" Asked Ronnie rereading the note as if there was some possible clue she had missed.
"I don't know that either." Said Halle but she went into her three theories of what possible information this person might have.
"I don't trust it." Said Neville anxiously.
"Neither do I, which is exactly why we're coming too." Said Ronnie.
"What?" Chorused Halle and Neville.
"Someone sends a dodgy and ambiguous note and your telling me it doesn't feel like a setup to you?" Asked Ronnie.
It did feel like a setup but for what?
"Well yeah, but why are we going?" Asked Halle.
"Because if it is a setup, then we're gonna catch the culprit and go to Professor McGonagall." Said Ronnie smirking.
"Why can't we go to Professor McGonagall now?" Asked Neville, looking at Ronnie as though she had grown two heads.
"Because on the off chance that someone actually does have information, it might be worth finding out, especially if it is to do with the mysterious package. However I don't have faith that this C.S does. It's probably the snake gang again and if it is we can gather evidence this time. If it's someone else, then we hear what they have to say, but relax we're not going unprepared." Said Ronnie firmly.
"Ronnie the last time we walked into a setup we almost got eaten by a three headed dog. Remember?" Whispered Halle incredulously.
"Yes but we're not going to stand centre in the class. We're going to stand beneath it." Said Ronnie.
"Huh?" Said Neville confused.
"Under the class theres a room for extra equipment. We go there and wait and see if anyone comes. We'll go to dinner early and leave. We'll gear ourselves up , then go to the Astronomy tower and go beneath the classroom. We'll wait and see who comes. And don't worry, no dye or smoke bombs will be involved." Said Ronnie quickly after the look her two friends gave her.
For one they didn't have the absorbable cloaks anymore as they had returned them to Fred, George and Lee.
Also, if this was a set up and they took evidence to Professor McGonagall, they'd be in danger of revealing that they were the ones who had smoked Filch, if C.S was smoked.
"Ronnie I don't know about this. I don't want us to get in…"
"Halle relax! Eight is before curfew. We'll get there earlier anyway and we'll have some smoke free potions. Besides it can only really be a student. We'll be fine. Trust me." Said Ronnie confidently.
Halle still wasn't sure but she was also tempted to go too. Halle had a feeling that something was going to happen, but what? She wasn't sure but she felt as though she had to be there.
"Alright let's do this but nothing like last time." Said Halle pointedly.
"Promise. Neville you in?" Asked Ronnie.
Neville looked as if he wanted to scream no but he resigned himself with a nod of his head.
So they waited.
When 5 came, they went down to dinner and ate quickly and when they finished, they returned to Gryffindor Tower. Ronnie grabbed three potions that she had made herself from home.
"What are these potions exactly?" Asked Neville as he stared at the clear potion in his hand, the orange potion in Halle's and the jar of purple paste in Ronnie's.
"Flash bomb. Melt potion. Extendable goo. Yours Neville will blind your target temporarily. Halle's yours will melt their feet into the floor and the goo will pull them out of the floor." Informed Ronnie as they prepared themselves.
When 7:30 arrived they made their way to the Astronomy tower and hid underneath the class. No one was around. They waited until 8 o'clock and right on schedule someone walked into the classroom. Their footsteps were heard creaking across the class and when they crossed the spot where the trio stood, Halle was shocked to see that she recognised the figure.
It was Dewei.
He was looking around the class. Was he waiting for them? Was he C.S?
Before Halle could even think more , another set of footsteps could be heard entering the room and suddenly before they knew it, a tall figure in a black cloak came into vision through the floor boards and suddenly had rushed over to Dewei and pushed him over the balcony.
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