INTERLUDE: IN THE WAKE OF A TROLL


Dumbledore rested his benign gaze on the unlikely group before him. The Slytherin girls, Gemma and Femma (there was something there, he just couldn't put his finger on it) were slumped in a corner, quietly sipping the calming draught that Professor Snape had seen fit to press into their hands. Oakstaff, the rather burly Hufflepuff Quidditch captain had his hands on his knees and was panting like a great bellow. A very dead troll still lay in a smoking ruin. And in the midst of it all stood the boy of the hour.

"Spotter," he began

"Sparhawk"

"Yes, Sparhawk. Let me get this straight"

There was a snigger from somewhere at that, but he decided to ignore it.

"You were all on your way to the dorms as I'd ordered you to when suddenly you chanced upon what you thought were signs of the troll being en route to the Slytherin chambers."

"Quite right"

"And in a fit of goodwill, you decided to go slay the troll on your own?"

"I sent my friends to go find the teachers and the prefects. Then seeing as every second counts when a troll is hell-bent on killing children, I decided to be the vanguard"

"You seem to be forgetting that you're a child yourself, Sparhawk. What exactly were you hoping to accomplish?"

There was a snort from Mc Gonagall who was examining the troll carcass. She muttered something suspiciously like "A wee bit of arson apparently"

"In the future, you'd do better to exercise some caution, my boy. With that out of the way, on arriving you found dear Miss Gemma and Femma sorely pressed and you decided to render aid?"

Sparhawk nodded.

"And you set the troll on fire"

"The very thing"

"Excellent my lad. Fifty points to Hufflepuff"


Snape had hardly believed his eyes when Quirrel had shown up to the staff meeting later that day with a swollen face. "Fell on my face," he said by way of explanation, but Snape had more sinister suspicions. Frankly, he'd have never expected it of Quirrel, but hey, people never failed to surprise him. Look at Sparhawk and the troll. Oh, who was he kidding? That was completely expected. Anyhow, he'd have to corner him at the first opportunity.

A few minutes later, Snape was staring in astonishment as Quirrel cornered him in a dank passageway. Well, that had been easier than he'd thought. Before the stuttering fool could so much as open his mouth and hold up the conversation for the next two minutes while he found his way through a t, Snape cut him off by jabbing his wand in his mouth.

"What do you think you're playing at?" he asked, his soft voice menacing in the darkness.

Quirrel whimpered.

"The object behind that door is destined for a far more powerful man than you, Quirrell. I would suggest you keep out of my way while I go about getting it."

Quirrel nodded.

"Good. Now a word of this to anyone..." Snape flashed a transparent vial before the other man's eyes. Obviously, Quirrel did not know what it was, but he assumed it must be some sort of agonizing poison with no antidote. He gulped. and shook his head quickly.

Snape eased off him and swooshed away. Once he was out of earshot, he heard his master hiss, "Interesting..."


A/N: This was some awkward chapter arrangement, but I really could find nowhere to put this. Longer chapter next week. As always, read and review.