Halle Potter and the first year of madness
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Halle's heart leapt in her chest as she heard the gut-wrenching scream leave Dewei's mouth. She felt Ronnie shift weakly beside her as Neville let out a strangled cry. Fortunately for the trio, it appeared as if Zabini's assailant had not heard the noise. Halle however didn't want to chance it and quickly shoved the orange potion she was holding in her pocket and put her hands over Neville's and Ronnie's mouths. She then clamped her own mouth shut as the three of them backed away from the stairs that led to the section, they stood in.
She could tell that all three of them were in danger of making noise as she heard the loud shaky breaths of her two friends. She wanted to tell them to shut up but even she herself could hear the exhales of shaky breath escaping the confinement of her clamped mouth.
They were terrified as the hooded figure stood above them menacingly, having just committed such a heinous crime.
Her heart pounded painfully in her chest at the thought of the figure hearing them.
Who knew what the figure would do to them?
However as quickly as that thought came to her mind, the Hooded figure with a sudden whip of their cloak, rushed out of the class room and slammed the door shut.
Halle let out a sigh of relief which quickly turned into a choked sob.
She removed her hands from her two friends mouths to see a pale faced Ronnie with her mouth wide open. She was clearly too shocked to process what had just happened. Neville looked as though he were about to be sick.
Halle couldn't blame him. She felt rooted to the spot and the only thing that was stopping her from throwing up herself, was the fear that the cloaked figure would hear them and return to finish them off.
The cloaked figure that had just pushed Dewei Zabini off the Astronomy tower.
They had to tell Professor McGonagall. No, they had to tell Professor Dumbledore before someone found him themselves.
The image that popped into her mind was gruesome and made her blood run cold.
"Do you think he's…." Started Ronnie who sounded like she was on the verge of tears but before she could finish that question they were startled by a scream.
Oh god! Had someone found him already?
"HELPPPPPP!"
Wait a minute that wasn't another student, that was Dewei.
"HELLLLPPPPP!" Screamed the panicked voice of Dewei.
"Merlin, he's alive!" Cried Neville shaken.
"We have to help him, now!" Commanded Halle.
The three of them quickly trailed the stairs and rushed over to the balcony that they had seen Dewei fall over. The three of them just about managed to look over the high balcony and could see Dewei dangling as he struggled to hold onto the bottom bar of it.
"Zabini, hold on!" Cried Halle.
Dewei looked up to see the trio and grimaced before retorting "Noooo, I thought I'd just drop and take my chances. What do you think I'm doing?" He shouted sarcastically but Halle could see his grip was loosening.
"Dude! Are you really gonna sass the people trying to save your life?" Shouted Ronnie.
"Yes, because they haven't saved me." Snapped Dewei.
"What do we do?" Asked Neville panicked.
The balcony was too high for them to try and lean over and grab him. Halle thought about Ronnie and Neville lifting her over and trying to pull Dewei up but Dewei was bigger than her and there was no guarantee that Neville and Ronnie would be able to support both hers and Dewei's body weight.
Halle thought about getting a teacher but the trip from the astronomy tower to the great hall and back wouldn't be as quick as the situation would require and Dewei would no doubt fall before one arrived and they didn't know any spells that could help him.
"We need something to pull him up with." Said Halle starting to feel some of Neville's panic.
"If only we had some rope." Said Neville distressed.
"Neville! You're a genius." Blurted Ronnie.
"I am?" Asked Neville surprised.
Suddenly she was pulling out the jar of purple paste out of her pocket.
"What's that gonna do?" Asked Halle confused.
How was paste going to help them?
"It's extendable goo. You stretch it out. If we had used the melt potion, the goo would've stretched out to heave hood boy out the floor. We can stretch it out and pull Zabini up but I don't know how strong it'll be without the support of the floor. We'll have to pull him up super quick." Said Ronnie hastily.
"HELLLOOO? HELP!" Screamed Dewei. His voice was rather high pitched now and sounded like he was holding back from crying.
"Ok let's do it." Said Halle Hurriedly.
Ronnie opened the medium sized jar and scooped up the purple paste in one hand.
"Neville, grab this end." Said Ronnie and he did as he was told.
Suddenly the paste was stretching out as Ronnie and Neville pulled both sides.
Halle couldn't help but fret as she saw the goo being stretched. This was going to save him? Some flimsy goo?
She bit her lip as anxiety built inside her. Now was not the time to doubt the only plan they had. Dewei's life depended on it. Positive thoughts only.
When they stretched out the goo to its maximum length, the three of them stuck their heads over the balcony.
Dewei was still hanging but clearly his arms were aching and fear was beginning to overtake him as he continued to thrash and struggle whilst holding the bar.
"Zabini! We're gonna throw you some goo. Grab onto it and we'll pull you up." Instructed Ronnie.
"What? No! Go get a teacher." Shouted Dewei positively frantic.
"There's no time! Grab on or splatter! Your choice." Retorted Ronnie.
"For Merlin's sake. If I die Weasley I'm haunting you." Screamed Dewei.
Ronnie nodded her head at Neville who let his side of the goo fall over the balcony. Halle watched as it levelled up with Dewei's shoulders. It was long enough but was it strong enough?
'Positive thoughts Halle. It will work.' She thought to herself.
"Ok, Halle, Neville, grab the goo. Zabini, you gotta grab on." Shouted Ronnie.
Neville took his place behind Ronnie and grabbed onto the extendable goo. Halle proceeded to do the same and to her surprise the goo felt more durable than it looked.
"You can't be serious?" Halle heard him shout. The fear was clearly getting worse.
"If we leave now, you're gonna fall. Or do you wanna break a few bones, I don't know, like your neck?" Screeched Ronnie.
They had no time to argue.
"Dewei! Grab onto the goo now! Trust us! Please!" Screamed Halle pleadingly.
After a silent pause this seemed to work because suddenly, they felt the weight of Dewei grab onto the goo.
Dewei was a slim built boy but the trio felt the pull of the goo as he grabbed on and they felt themselves slide forward.
All three of them had to drag their feet into the floor to stop themselves from dropping Dewei.
Suddenly they were playing a one-sided game of tug of war. Halle pulled with all her strength as did the others. For one fearful second the goo tugged back down but the trio pulled with all their might until they saw Dewei's hands grasp the top bar of the balcony.
The three of them quickly dropped the goo and rushed forward to help him. Neville being the tallest of the three, leant on his tip toes to grab Dewei's upper half whilst Halle and Ronnie grabbed his arms tightly. The three of them once again pulled and with one big heave the four toppled onto the floor, piled onto each other.
Neville quickly rolled off of Ronnie, with Dewei in tow and the four of them laid side by side and spread out trying to catch their breath. The air was filled with heavy panting for several minutes.
Finally, Halle managed to sit herself upright, the others did too. The goo was still half over the balcony. She couldn't believe that it had actually worked.
She made a mental note to never doubt Ronnie's potions again and to get her something amazing for Christmas.
Halle looked over to her left where the other three were gaining their composure. Dewei looked as though he had coughed up a lung. It was still weird to see Dewei possess any other facial expressions other than demonic death glare and super scary scowl but now wasn't the time to joke in her head or out of it.
Instead, she cautiously asked "Zabini? Are you ok?"
He turned his head to her and for a second Halle saw an emotion so deep in his eyes that for a split second she had to look away. When she looked back, he answered her.
"I'm fine Potter." He said steadily.
His voice had returned to its normal dry tone but his eyes said otherwise.
He had been scared, that was obvious and was quite the normal reaction given the circumstances but something else was there too. Something Halle couldn't pin point.
"I suppose I ought to thank the three of you for saving my life." Said Dewei slowly.
"No problem." Said Halle unsure of how to react to him.
"In saying that though, perhaps I ought to ask what the three of you are even doing here in the first place?" Said Dewei, his tone becoming suspicious.
"I know, he's not ready to accuse us of pushing him after we just saved his life!" Said Ronnie irked.
"Well considering you lot are the only ones around, it's quite easy for me to make that accusation." Challenged Dewei.
"It wasn't us Zabini. It was someone in a hooded cloak." Said Neville quickly.
"That still doesn't answer my question." Said Dewei, his tone hardening.
"We were invited. What were you doing here?" Said Halle matching his tone.
It surely couldn't be a coincidence. Like the night they had ran into that three headed dog, Dewei and Blaise just happened to be in the trophy room. Halle definitely hadn't believed Dewei's excuse, no matter the conviction in his voice. It didn't add up.
"Invited by who?" He asked still suspicious.
"I answered your question. You answer mine." Said Halle crossing her arms.
Dewei stared at her intensely for a moment.
"I was invited too." Said Dewei carefully.
"By who?" Asked Halle repeating his question.
"You first." Replied Dewei, his eyes filled with mistrust.
Halle for a second was about to argue with him but decided against it, seeming as he had almost just died.
She fished out the folded note from her pocket and handed it to him. He took the note and read it. Halle caught his glare harden ever so slightly.
"Your turn." Said Ronnie impatiently.
Dewei handed the note back to Halle.
"I don't have mine." He said far too casually for Halle's liking.
"How convenient." Muttered Ronnie.
"Well what did yours say?" Asked Neville.
"Same thing. Meet me at 8 in the astronomy tower." Said Dewei.
"How do we know you're not just saying that because we've showed you the note?" Said Ronnie crossing her own arms.
"First of all Weasley, I was the one pushed off the balcony. You don't get to be suspicious of me. Second of all I came here at exactly 8, which was 5 -10 minutes ago, before I saw your note so what reason do you have to be suspicious of me?" He asked his tone sneerful .
Ronnie didn't have an answer for that and neither did Halle if she was honest. It wouldn't make sense if he was C.S and have someone push him off the balcony for god knows whatever reason or goal but that didn't mean that something wasn't going on with him.
"Ok, so this C.S invited you to the tower, the exact same time as us. Why?" Asked Neville a little timidly as Dewei turned his scowl onto him.
"I don't know. Whoever this C.S is, either wanted to pull some practical joke or they hate us and wanted to frame you for my inevitable death." Said Dewei so nonchalantly that Halle's jaw dropped.
The boy had just been scared helpless minutes ago and now he was talking about it as if it was some old minor inconvenience that happened three years ago.
"A practical joke? No one throws someone off a balcony as a practical joke Zabini." Said Ronnie clearly sharing Halle's incredulity.
"I did give a second option Weasley." Said Dewei exasperated as he rubbed his left temple.
"Well the only people that currently fit that description is your god siblings. Are you telling me, they hate us so much that they would try to kill you, so that we'd get the blame?" Asked Halle dubiously.
"This wasn't Draco or Serphina. They wouldn't have the galls for a start. I don't know who C.S is but clearly their my problem and my problem to deal with alone. Thank you for saving my life and now I wish you all a goodnight." Said Dewei rising to his feet and dusting himself off before turning away from them and heading toward the door.
"Wait, what? Zabini!" Said Halle scrambling to her feet.
Ronnie and Neville did too.
"You…..you…can't….ju..just leave! Wha…wh…..what if whoever pushed you is out there?" Squeaked Neville as he looked frightfully towards the door.
"Well evidently they're out there Longbottom." Said Dewei sarcastically.
"Yes, bird brain! They are out there and when they bloody well see that your not a splattered carcass on the ground, they're gonna try again. We've got to go to the headmaster about this. You know, for the attempted murder that just took place." Said Ronnie just a sarcastic.
"She's right. You can't deal with this by yourself. Besides we got a note too which means that whoever pushed you probably would've done the same too us." Said Halle reproachfully.
"Did you see who pushed me?" Asked Dewei calmly.
"No. Their cloak was covering their face." Replied Halle.
"Right I didn't either. So what's the point in going to the headmaster without a culprit?" Asked Dewei.
"The bloody well point is someone in this school, is ready to cause harm to all of us. How is that not enough of a reason to go to Professor Dumbledore?" Shouted Ronnie.
Halle herself couldn't believe how calm he was being about this.
"Look. It's not exactly like the teachers can interview the entire school. I'm alive and I'll be on my guard. Besides I don't need the fuss. I'd get pulled out of Hogwarts for my safety or my sister would watch me like a hawk and I'd never get any peace. Besides there's obviously a reason someone tried to kill me and I'm none the wiser to what that reason could possibly be. I'd like to at least know the reason first. So, if the culprit does try again, I'll be ready next time. Now please drop it!" Said Dewei and without a second glance he walked away and out of the classroom.
The trio were left dumbfounded as Dewei left the room. For several moments they were silent until Ronnie broke it.
"What the bloody hell was that? What was that?" She cried to no one in particular as her arms flailed towards the door.
"I have no idea." Said Neville.
"Come on, we'd better go to Professor Dumbledore before someone tries to off him again or worse, us." Said Ronnie managing to calm herself.
"No." Said Halle still staring in the direction of the door.
Both Neville and Ronnie turned to look at her.
"What do you mean no?" Asked Ronnie confused.
"I mean we're not going to Professor Dumbledore or any teacher for that matter." Said Halle firmly.
"Halle?" Said Neville questioningly.
"Look I know the smart option would be to go to a teacher but going to a teacher means admitting that we've been sneaking around and I don't want any of us to lose house points or get expelled, besides, we can't go to a teacher." Said Halle.
"Why not?" Asked Ronnie perplexed.
"Because Zabini just lied to us." Said Halle.
"He did?" Asked Neville.
"Yes. He knows who C.S is or he at least has some sort of clue as to what's truly going on, otherwise he wouldn't have been so eager for us not to tell Professor Dumbledore and he was adamant it wasn't the Snake twins. Whatever's going on he knows or he at least knows of something and whoever this C.S is, must want us to know too or they wouldn't have sent the note. Think about it. They waited for Zabini to reach the classroom and get close to the balcony before attacking him. Which means….."
"They probably got here before him. Probably before us too." Said Ronnie. Her voice betraying her nerve.
"Exactly. They must've seen us. And on the off chance that they didn't see us, then either way somebody still invited us. There could be a possibility that he's right and somebody wants to frame us but I don't think that's the case. Something in my gut is telling me otherwise. Something strange is going on and we're going to find out what, however I think it best we tread with caution from now on." Said Halle strongly.
Ronnie looked as though she was torn between listening to Halle and going to Professor Dumbledore but slowly she nodded her head and a look of determination graced her features..
"So what did you have in mind?" She asked the raven haired girl.
Neville looked expectingly at her too.
"I think it's time we expand our friendship group." Said Halle forming a plan in her mind.
/
After leaving the astronomy tower, instead of returning to Gryffindor tower, the trio had made their way to the secret passageway.
They had discussed the balcony situation in more detail and went over several possibilities of what the situation could actually be.
Halle had wanted to cover all the possibilities but not assume anything either.
With one exception of assuming that the culprit was still in the school.
Hagrid had told Halle that Hogwarts was one of the most safest places in the world, so the trio figured that C.S had to be a student, but they wouldn't rule out other possibilities either, especially as the break-in at gringotts lingered in the back of her mind.
Once their theories were out in the open, they formed a plan in regards to Dewei.
Whatever was happening, he was definitely at the centre of it, but someone had involved them and they had no clue as to why or if they were truly in danger or not.
Something that seriously put Halle on edge.
Although she was suspicious about him she also knew, she didn't want to watch another attempted murder.
So for the first time in a month, they had gone back to the library on 3. The trio in their month of study sessions had solely focused on Potions and Herbology, seeming as 2 was their goto floor. They had wanted to get a good grip on the two subjects until they felt confident in their classes without the chastising of Snape or just the need for Neville's knowledge of Herbology. They had planned to focus on the likes of their other subjects such as charms and transfiguration after Christmas.
However the balcony situation had thrown that plan out the window.
Halle of course knew that three eleven year old kids wouldn't be expected to know magic that would save a boy from falling off the astronomy tower but they had been put in that exact situation and of course had come up empty.
If Ronnie hadn't of thought to be precautious when approaching the astronomy tower, Dewei could've died and that thought didn't sit right with Halle.
Although she wasn't expecting for C.S to try the tactic of throwing Dewei off the astronomy tower again, she wanted to be prepared for any other tactic and seeming as Dewei had a suspicious reason to not want to go to a teacher, Halle decided they should be better magically prepared.
There was still a strong possibility that C.S would come after them as well.
So they searched for charms and defensive spells and made a list of relatively easy ones to learn that could protect them. They also had Ronnie make a list of potions that she could quickly make too.
They found a book called the jinx, the hex, and the curse: A wizards guide to sneak charms.
Halle had made sure to read the introductory chapter about the levels of the three different charms twice.
They were considered dark charms but were also considered flexible in wizard customs. The book specifically explained that the magic itself wasn't dark as opposed to the intent of the wizard. Some of the spells would even be standard Hogwarts teachings. The book also explained how the three charms were considered different levels of dark charms with Jinxes being minor and Curses being the most harmful. However the book also seemed to give the three charms subsections, particularly in the case of defence.
The book gave an example such as a curse known as the leg locker curse being used in a duel. That a curse such as this would be considered necessary if you wanted to use a curse that could cause harm without causing long lasting damage to an attacker that was trying to hurt you. The book specified how this would be considered a more acceptable curse to use in everyday wizard culture as opposed to an advanced dark curse that could cause death.
Halle noted that the book did not name any kind of these curses.
Jinxes, hexes and curses that would be taught at Hogwarts would be substantial to a wizards education. Hogwarts curriculum was ministry approved, so any dark charm that would be taught at Hogwarts would not be considered Advanced dark magic.
Halle after reading the introductory chapter a third time felt better knowing that she wasn't being evil if she used any of these spells but chose to stick to less damaging ones nevertheless.
Ronnie had picked up a book that Halle hadn't caught the title of, but Ronnie made it clear that these potions would be a bit more productive to their safety as she explained that some of these potions were probably more suitable for third and fourth years.
Halle asked her if she was sure she wanted to attempt any of them but Ronnie said she would make the ones that she could manage and would make sure to write down notes for herself and Neville.
They continued their planning in a corner of the common room when they returned for curfew and got out their standard book of spells grade 1, magical drafts and potions and the dark forces: A guide to self protection.
As for Dewei, their plan was simple. They would keep an eye on him by following him. Halle decided she would also keep an eye on Blaise too. She wasn't sure if he knew about the tower incident but she decided that he was just as suspicious as his brother.
Neville would keep a special eye on Dewei when it came to their dormitory. Neville was quite perceptive even given his timid nature. He especially tended to notice when someone's mood would change.
The three of them would essentially plant themselves around him.
To which they did.
They left him alone the following Sunday, to continue their research for their chosen spells and potions.
So far their spell list was:
The fire making spell.
The levitation spell.
The knock back jinx.
The full body bind curse.
There were a few other spells that Halle had seen between her charms and defence books but she wanted to keep the list simple for herself, Ronnie and Neville.
Ronnie from the Sunday had already started with the potions she had chosen to make. Halle and Neville had left her to it. The passageway had enough supply of ingredients to last for an entire year if not more. Ronnie still got giddy every time she stepped onto the floor.
Halle and Neville were going over the wand movements of their chosen spells. They didn't choose to practice the spells just yet. They didn't want to damage their surroundings.
They decided they would work on the spells outside the passageway too. Neville had suggested that they go down to the lake during the week so that their practice was not limited. Halle also found herself looking at a few more spells that she jotted down for future reference.
When the Monday came the trio had stuck to their plan. They had gone down to breakfast together and when they entered the great hall, they found Dewei Zabini already there eating his breakfast with an almost bored look on his face as though he hadn't been dangling for his life two days ago.
Halle had to admit she was completely impressed with both the Zabini twins' ability to seem completely unfazed by the dangerous affairs that had taken place in the last six weeks. Of course, she had seen both of them afraid but she had to admit that their own façades or emotional masks were highly skilled to a level that she herself was not at.
She reminded herself that her own façade had slipped far too often for her own liking whilst being at Hogwarts. She would have to learn to take a leaf out their book.
The trio as planned sat down with him, with Halle and Neville strategically sat on either side of him and Ronnie opposite them much to Dewei's chagrin.
He sent all three of them a death glare and gracefully got up and removed himself from between Halle and Neville and sat down next to Hermione Granger.
He had only done this once before, when his brother a month ago had tried speaking to him and he also had sat down next to Hermione.
He probably assumed that they wanted to talk, and sitting next to Granger would silence any conversation attempts but Halle had assumed this would be his first tactic.
As agreed the trio silently got up and moved over to Dewei and Hermione and sat down, only this time with Neville joining Ronnie's side so he was facing Hermione and she was facing Halle who was sitting on Dewei's right.
Before he could make any sort of reaction, The trio did as they planned and began talking as normal as ever as if Dewei hadn't moved away from them or the fact that they were not friends with either him or Hermione.
"So Ronnie what was you saying earlier about Halloween." Asked Halle casually.
She could feel the death glare she was receiving from Dewei but she chose to ignore it. She also noted from the corner of her eye that Hermione was looking at all of them curiously.
"Oh yeah, well Ginny and I, back home used to talk to mum about celebrating Halloween and Samhain. People think they're the same thing but they do actually differ. Obviously we're not old enough now but when we're out of Hogwarts we want to participate in some of the festivities. Charlie told us of some of the festivals he's seen in Romania. He says there awesome and that we even have cool rituals here in Britain. Ginny and I have been obsessed and we've been trying to convince mum for ages to let us go when we come of age. There's one ritual were witches and wizards have a magical séance and then dance naked under a full moon. I wish I was of age now, in two weeks, this Halloween will fall under a blue moon which makes the celebration much more spiritual but I want to dance under a blood moon. That's the real fun. Both moons have significant magical purposes." Said Ronnie also casual while taking bites of food in-between her story.
They agreed that they keep their conversation as casual as ever and wouldn't mention anything to do with the tower.
"There's a blood moon this year during Summer Solstice. Also known as the pagan holiday of Litha." Informed Hermione in her usual sniffy tone that she took when spewing information that no one actually asked for.
Her tone was also still a little rough around the edges. She was apparently still mad at them.
Halle now noticed she had a book in her hand that she was reading.
Hermione did this quite often. Ronnie seemed to stare her out for a moment, so Halle intervened.
"What's a blood moon Ronnie?" She asked sounding confused. She knew a blood moon was a red moon but she didn't want an argument ensuing at the breakfast table.
"It's a Lunar eclipse. It means the earth's shadow covers the moon entirely but it turns red because the sun casts a shadow onto the earth and when the moon comes into that shadow it goes red instead. It's due to Christianity and paganism why it's called a blood moon but there's no blood involved." Answered Hermione still reading her book.
Ronnie looked like she wanted to punch Hermione just for the sake of it. Oddly enough Dewei looked put out by the entire conversation.
Luckily for them he had just finished his breakfast and decided to leave the hall. Halle was grateful. She wrapped the remainder of her breakfast in some toast and napkins and proceeded to follow Dewei. Neville and Ronnie did the same, leaving an even more curious Hermione Granger staring after them.
/