Wolf, Witch and Forks
AN: This is one in Paul's POV. It would cover the Halloween feast with my twists and Quidditch as well. Lots of characters mean more work if you don't want to make them one dimensional. As the creative juices are flowing, so I can churn out more chapters at a faster rate. I am trying to improve my writing also at the same time.
A reviewer asked that wasn't Bella a major klutz? Yes, she is, but Ballet was something she excelled in without being Ms Butterfingers and surprisingly this detail was already incorporated in the chapter.
Harry's friend circle also does not include a Hufflepuff character which was completely unintentional as neither he, Bella nor Paul was sorted in that house. There is some literal Smith bashing so you have been warned. Hopefully, the story has not become filled with tropes and is still something original.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Twilight
Chapter 9: Trolls and Brooms
Paul
Noon, Headmaster's office, September 12th 1997
"Albus, I think you should still reconsider," Professor Snape asked the headmaster tenth tine according to Paul's latest count. Paul, Harry and their friends were all gathered in the headmaster's office with their Heads of House.
Madam Hooch Oliver Wood, Marcus Flint and Bianca Capshaw who were the Quidditch team captains of Gryffindor, Slytherin and Ravenclaw were in attendance as well.
"Severus, the decision is final. Mr Wood, Mr Flint and Miss Capshaw you are to hold additional tryouts for our talented first-years over here"
Flint blurted with anger, "Fine! But what positions do you want them to play? I think with their size! maybe seeker or keeper at best. There is no way they can handle the chaser or Beater positions."
Paul felt insulted at being indirectly called short and he noted the others were also not pleased. Harry was openly glaring at Flint.
But the other captains seemed to agree with him as he heard Capshaw saying, "My team requires a chaser and a beater this year, rest of the spots are already occupied by returning members. I don't think Zabini will be able to keep up with either Scott, Dawson or Randolph."
Oliver then added, "Same here. The seeker position is filled by McLagan already and I have only the chaser tryouts left. Alicia and Angelina have a very specific chasing style."
Paul was feeling let down. Blaise and Ron were now sharing disappointed looks with Theo and Harry before. But then Professor McGonagall who was initially against the idea of them trying out finally said something in their support for the first time.
"All of your concerns are noted. If they are not good enough then just reject them. Let the boys choose which position they want to try out for, there is no harm in having reserve players if they are not good enough for the team yet.
Wood, you need a reserve keeper as well as a chaser and Mr Flint your seeker cannot take part this year. There is also the matter that you need to retake your OWLs so you might want to train a chaser to take over in the future.
Severus, before you protest that how I know that Slytherin does not have a seeker is because Mr Higgs got selected in the MDA and came to me to shift his Animagus training batch. Miss Capshaw, just give Mr Zabini a fair chance."
As Professor McGonagall finished, the uncomfortable silence which had permeated in the room before vanished. Paul was proud to call McGonagall his favourite.
Dumbledore with an unnatural twinkle in his eyes agreed by saying, "Well reasoned Minerva. I think the matter is closed. All of you please leave for Lunch."
"We can be on the quidditch team?" Ron shrieked in disbelief as they made their way to the great hall.
"Hold your horses, Weasley. Wood is worse than Flint when it comes to Quidditch, so better do well in the tryouts" Theo remarked.
The rest laughed as Ron stuck his tongue out at Theo.
Harry who was quiet till now, then asked everyone, "What positions have you chosen to try out for? I was thinking seeker."
Paul replied quickly, "Chaser!" same response was given by Theo. Ron had chosen keeper, whereas Blaise to their shock wanted to become a beater.
12:30 PM, Entrance Hall
As soon as they reached the entrance Hall, Paul winced at the sight before them. "This is going to be so bad!" Harry stated the obvious but his concern was genuine in Paul's opinion. Bella, Padma, Hermione, Tracey and Daphne were all watching them like prey.
Bella screeched pulling both Harry and him down by their ears, "You all are so STUPID! What if you died!"
"Aah…Ooh, Bella my ear!" "Bells! you are going to pull my ear out!" Hermione was next as she narrowed her eyes towards them especially Theo, "Bella is right, even worse you might have gotten EXPELLED!"
"These idiots never think once before acting!" Padma sneered at Ron who cringed. Daphne and Tracey to Paul's relief kept quiet and did not scold them publicly but the cold fury in their eyes was enough to make a grown man run for the hills.
Bella though continued her rant but this time her ire was directed towards Blaise, Ron and Theo, "Blaise, Theo you should have known better! Ron next time do not follow the foolish Pig and Shrimp over here."
The older students and their classmates had surrounded them, enjoying the drama. Paul saw Neville coming towards them to hopefully diffuse the situation unfortunately he was stopped by Tracey with a hiss, "I know they rescued you today, but all of you could have been killed on those horrid brooms! So do not defend them!"
Daphne, then in a chilling tone muttered, "let's go! Snape is right they are dunderheads!" As one all the five girls turned and went together inside the great hall.
5:00 PM,13th September, Quidditch Pitch
"Lahote and Weasley, you know the rules, right?" Wood asked. Ron and Paul just nodded sheepishly. The Girls had finally come around in the end after a lot of apologising and begging. Hermione being the only other Gryffindor in their group was sitting in the rafters with a book.
She had come to support them but was more interested in reading; others were not allowed as they belonged to different houses.
"Lahote you are up first. As it is a closed practice and tryouts, only your friend was allowed, she can be very stubborn! Angelina will run some drills with you and then Alicia will check whether you are fast enough to keep up with both of them.
Fred and George are the beaters this year, so expect some bludgers directed towards you. If hit, remain calm and I will call a time out. Everyone in the air!"
Paul felt adrenaline course through him as Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinet tested him in many chasing manoeuvres which Hermione made him cram all night with Bella's help. They were not treating him as a first-year at all. This made his respect grow for the two third-year girls. Oliver had blocked most of his throws but he still managed to get the quaffle through the hoops a couple of times.
Ron's brothers were also not making things easy and he had to dodge two bludgers in the past one minute, the third one had just narrowly escaped hitting his rickety old school broom. Soon Wood whistled and everyone made their descent.
Angelina was first to compliment him, "Not bad at all!" Alicia also agreed with her friend, "You know your quidditch kid!" Fred and George surprised him with their twin speech, "Gred! Pauly was shockingly good!" "Forge Pauly was not good, he was horrifyingly great!"
Paul thanked all of them as Wood gave him a pat on the back, "Welcome to the team, Paul! Here, fill this uniform form and inform McGonagall that you made the team. This a broom catalogue from Quality Quidditch Supplies, you should owl order your new broom before the end of the month. The practise schedule is not made yet, I will pass it over to you in the common room. As you are a Quidditch team member you can't join any other weekday club according to the school rules."
Paul had tears of joy in his eyes as he received the signature Hermione bear hug while Ron congratulated him nonstop. Soon it was Ron's turn as he flew up to the hoops dressed in heavy protective pads and gear. He was not a keeper prodigy like Wood but he still managed to block some throws as Angelina and Alicia mercilessly barged him with Quaffles. The twins were no less as Ron's broom was hit twice by bludgers, 'how did he maintain his balance' Paul thought stunned.
Wood whistled after a few minutes giving poor Ron some relaxation from the onslaught. "Ron you can be a reserve this year, so you can still join other weekday activities. It's my OWL year so I want someone to be ready to replace me." Ron's jaw was hanging open when Oliver gave him the same instructions as Paul.
The twins teased their brother while the girls congratulated him. Ron's ears turned red when Hermione also gave him an enthusiastic congratulatory hug. But Paul's mood soured when the second-year seeker Cormac McLagan opened his mouth for the first time, "Oliver you are going to regret this! These Firsties would be smashed to pulp in the first game!"
Before Ron or Paul could give the boy a piece of their mind, Hermione to their shock barked, "Keep your rubbish opinions to yourself, McLagan! You are just a jealous toerag!"
She then grabbed Paul and Ron's arms and dragged them towards the castle. Paul could hear in this distance Oliver shouting, "McLagan! do not mess with Granger or her friends! She can be a very scary Witch!"
Lunch, noon, 15th September, Hufflepuff Table, Great Hall
"Shrimp! Gryffindor is going to beat you guys for sure! Now that I am on the team" Currently Bella, Paul and Harry were sitting at the Hufflepuff table for Lunch. Susan Bones and Hannah Abbott who they all shared classes with had invited them.
"Huh! Keep dreaming Pig, I am the new Slytherin seeker, the most important position. I decide the game FYI. Theo also made reserve chaser; you should have seen Malfoy's face when Flint announced that"
"Peacock deserves that! Ronnie is over the moon as Professor McGonagall said he can continue to be a Chess Club member even if he makes the team next year whereas instead of congratulations, I get a warning that my Quidditch and Duelling privileges would be revoked if I don't keep an Acceptable in every subject and an Outstanding in hers." Paul groaned after the last sentence. Bella however was not sympathetic to his cause.
"Thank God! Someone told you that grades are important! I still can't believe Capshaw made Blaise a beater. Almost my entire house protested against his selection but Bianca just kept grinning like a mad person."
Paul and Harry exchanged a worried glance. 'Maybe we underestimated Blaise' Paul thought.
"Harry, did you order your Broom yet? Renee just wrote back that she will cut my allowance if I overspend on a broom while she parties every weekend. No top tier brooms for poor old me!"
"I also got a stern warning letter from Renee about saving my money. I want to buy the new Nimbus 2000…"
"That is the most Expensive seeker broom on the market! Shrimp, Renee would be so mad!" Paul shouted.
"I know, okay! You are no less… I have seen the way you were eyeing that Cleansweep Nine!"
Cedric Diggory, who Paul and Harry had met during their first session of the Duelling club chipped in from across the table probably eavesdropping on their conversation, "That is a really good broom, my cousin just got it this summer. It is better for Chasers than seekers."
Paul knew that Diggory was the Hufflepuff seeker and had made the team in his second year. "Which brooms do you like?" Harry asked. Cedric replied immediately, "Air Wave Gold"
"That is not even for sale! it will come out in three years!" Harry gave Cedric a curious look. "I saw its prototype in action during summer at the Quidditch Expo. It is made especially for seekers."
"Must be expensive." Paul thought out loud. Cedric shrugged, "My pa promised to buy it if I score all Outstanding in my OWLs."
"That's not a bad deal! Can you help us with selecting a broom? I know you are on the Hufflepuff team and all…" Harry requested. Cedric smiled before saying, "Why not?" "Hmm…let's see what's your budget?"
"Renee said not to exceed fifty galleons" Paul replied while Harry said, "about a hundred galleons"
"Both are good amounts to work with." "Paul you should go with the Cleansweep company, they are not top tier but they are a reliable brand. Comets are good but no speed.
Buy the Cleansweep seven this year which is for thirty-five galleons, you can upgrade it next year to a Cleansweep nine and Harry write to Quality Quidditch Supplies they actually might give you a discount on Nimbus 2000 as it right now costs hundred and fifty but you are Harry Potter after all"
"I don't like using my name…" Harry replied with a frown but Paul could see the gears turning in Harry's mind. "Um…there is always the option that you can buy a cheaper broom this year and wait for Nimbus 2001's next year."
"That broom is going to be a game-changer."
As Harry, Paul and Cedric continued to talk more about Brooms and their features, Bella chatted with Hannah and Susan, he did hear Bella scoff, "Boys and their toys".
5th October, Abandoned Classroom 1C, Sixth Floor, Enchantment Corridor
"Everything hurts!" Blaise moaned. "It's going to hurt! thank Merlin! for Paul and Harry's ridiculous morning runs that I don't have leg cramps" Theo said.
Their entire group was currently occupying an abandoned classroom behind the portrait of twins in the meadow. "Blaise if you think Capshaw is hard, Wood is on another level!"
"Paul's right, who the hell keeps a Quidditch practise at five in the morning. Thank Merlin! Flint loves his sleep." Harry agreed.
"Ronnie! Gets it so easy. I should have been a reserve." "Oye! Wood is harder on me than you! You have duelling on weekends so you get off early!"
"Yeah… I get it, Wood is a quidditch Nut! now tell me which brooms did you all get? My new Comet 260 arrived yesterday" Theo asked them with excitement. The girls who were busy in the other corner of the room groaned collectively. None of them liked Quidditch and called it a dangerous life hazard. 'We need a quidditch loving girl in here.' Paul thought.
Harry answered shyly, "Nimbus 2000… I got a discount on it…" "Bloody Hell! I have to use Charlie's Cleansweep six, not bad but not good as Paul's new Cleansweep seven."
Ron was feeling a bit embarrassed but Paul and Blaise gave him encouraging fist bumps after Blaise said "We Cleansweep chaps need to stick together! I also got a Cleansweep seven, beater addition. My mum did not let me buy the Cleansweep Nine!"
"I feel a bit left out… with not being on a team," Neville said in a low tone but Harry immediately reassured the boy, "You should try out next year. You can be a beater…We all will help you" Paul and the others also tried to cheer up the only boy in the room who was not on a Quidditch team.
They were immersed in their conversation when Bells, Mione, Pads, Daph and Tracey who was holding his dog Duke approached them with frowns on their faces.
Bella was the first to say, "No more Broom talk! Pince has been working me to the bone and it's not even been a month since I joined MDA! If you think your captains are hard, Pince is their boss! I have never been called a klutz so many times in my life!"
Hermione agreed before adding, "Paul and Harry have Quidditch practise so they have it a bit easy during Duelling sessions. Professor Flitwick always diverts his entire attention on me! As he thinks they can master spells faster due to their first duels! I am exhausted from the mock drills. Snape also does not make things easy."
Padma, not the one to be left behind, "Vector is in charge of the first years. She keeps showering Ronnie-kins over here with praises whereas I am piled with books on Chess Strategy." Ron protested but Padma silenced him with a look.
Tracey just sat beside Neville playing with Duke. "Stop stealing my pet Trace! He is going to be so sad if he doesn't get to see you during summer." Paul teased.
Tracey grinned, "Shut up Paul! Dukey loves me! The school newspaper wants to make him their Mascot" while Daphne for the first time had a large smile on her face to his surprise said, "Art and Photography Club is Amazing! I don't know why you all joined such tough activities. Which reminds me! Say cheese!"
He and the others were taken aback by the large flash which came out of Daphne's new camera. "I wasn't ready" "My hair looks ridiculous!" "Daph! My robes are dirty" "I was wearing glasses" "My eyes!"
Daphne ignored their protests as she set the camera on the nearby table, "That one was for my collection. Now smile! I want one for your Christmas Gifts! Squeeze in would you"
This time everyone within seconds complied and gave their best smiles, Harry also managed to remove his glasses before a large flash filled the room again. "There! I knew the timing charm would come in handy."
They enjoyed some more banter and criticised their instructors and teachers before discussing homework for the week. Paul felt this was what Professor McGonagall meant by family during their first night at Hogwarts.
11:00 AM, October 31st Charms Courtyard
"Granger is such a know-it-all Beaver! Always being a Bucktoothed Bushy haired Teacher's pet! Its Wingardium Leviosa not Leviosaaaa! Ugh… she is so annoying! No wonder she does not have any friends" Zacharias Smith ranted to Ernie Macmillan when the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs were exiting the charms class.
Paul wanted to strangle Smith at the moment as he saw a crying Hermione rush past them. The puffs were giving Smith horrified looks but Gryffindors had mixed reactions. Parvati, Seamus and Lavender seemed to somewhat agree with Smith but Fay and Dean were glaring daggers at the boy.
Ron and Neville had a similar reaction to Paul: "We will get detention for this!" Then Paul ran up to Smith before punching him in the right eye. Ron jumped on Smiths' back and Neville tackled him to the ground. It was three raged filled lions vs a Hufflepuff bully. Terrified Gasps resounded across the courtyard at the unfolding muggle style one-sided fight.
Paul shouted, "How dare… How dare you said! Mione has no friends, you bastard!" Neville hissed next, "She is a thousand times better than you! Never insult her!" Ron just kept kicking Smith who was now beaten black and blue.
Paul resisted as Dean and Ernie removed him from top of Smith as Seamus and the rest of the Hufflepuffs managed to separate Ron and Neville from the offending boy. Professor Flitwick shouted, "Detention for the entire week! You three come with me now, someone please take Mr Smith to the Hospital Wing!"
The news spread out through Hogwarts like wildfire about how three Gryffindors almost pummelled a Hufflepuff to death.
7:00 PM, Halloween Feast, Great Hall
"I am going to kill Smith!" Harry cursed darkly as he sat beside a subdued Paul. Ron and Neville were also silent as all three of them were receiving black looks from Smith's friends at the Hufflepuff table.
"Flitwick did not deduct Points, but we have Trophy room and Dungeon cleaning duty with Filch for an entire week!" Paul said in a low tone.
"Where is Hermione? I haven't seen Bells, Trace, Daph or Pads in classes either…." Harry inquired worried to which Parvati answered, "Padma was saying that Granger had locked herself in the Girls bathroom on the first floor. Davis, Swan and Greengrass are also with them." Parvati replied.
Paul noticed Theo giving, a heavily bandaged Smith a murderous death stare. Blaise who was normally reserved was openly showing his hatred for the latter. Smith was putting on a show to milk the sympathy of everyone in the Great Hall, though many were not buying it except his most loyal supporters.
"I have no regrets! Mione just helped the guy! She did not deserve that" Paul huffed. Harry agreed but said before going back to the Slytherin table "You need to keep that temper of yours in check."
The candy spread across the table for the feast tasted bitter and sour for Paul. None of the boys had touched a single sweet on their respective tables, as they were still not over the incident from the morning.
Suddenly the doors of the Great Hall opened by a terrified Quirrell, "TROLL in the Dungeons! Thought you ought to know…" before falling forward in a dead faint. Pandemonium broke out as the headmaster in an amplified voice shouted, "SILENCE! DO NOT LEAVE YOUR SEATS. PREFECTS ESCORT YOUR HOUSES TO THE COMMON ROOMS. SLYTHERIN AND HUFFLEPUFF WILL NOT LEAVE THE HALL. SEVERUS, MINERVA, FILIUS WITH ME. POMONA, SEPTIMA, AND BATHSHEBA SECURE THE HALL. CHARITY, ARIF, DANIEL, IRMA ESCORT THE STUDENTS TO THE COMMON ROOMS. RUBEUS, SILVANUS LOCK THE GATES AND CONTACT THE MINISTRY"
As the Professors hurried to comply with the issued commands, Paul realised 'The girls don't know about the Troll!'
He quickly looked at Harry who had the same horrified look on his face, with a gesture for Blaise to follow, he grabbed a startled Neville and Ron, with Harry and Theo quickly joining the leaving crowd of Gryffindors and Ravenclaws out of the hall.
With stealth, they escaped the student lines and made their way towards the first floor. "This is crazy! We should tell a Prefect!" Neville shouted as the boys ran towards the lavatory on the first floor. "A little late for THAT NOW!" Ron blurted. "This is such a Gryffindor thing!" Theo groaned. Blaise got annoyed, "Will you all Shut up! Trolls have bad hearing Thank Merlin!"
"We are almost there! The Troll might be still in the dungeons!" Harry said as they reached the toilets. "Won't it be rude of us to go in the girl's toilet?" Neville nervously muttered while the other five gaped at the boy.
Paul was the first to recover and said, "Neville no time to be polite! this a matter of life and death!" Harry entered first followed by the rest.
They saw the girls were surrounding the stall at the end. Bella using soft gentle tones was trying to coax Hermione out, "Mione will you please come out now? the feast would be ending soon"
" Okay…" As soon as Hermione unlocked the stall, Tracey noticed them. "What are you all doing here? Shouldn't you be at the feast?"
Daphne then narrowed her eyes, "Idiots! this is the Girls washrooms! You all would be in so much trouble"
As the girls gave them questioning looks, Harry answered calmly, "Do NOT Panic! There is a Troll loose in Hogwarts Dungeons. We all came to warn and get you out" Bella and Daphne held back screams while Padma and Tracey were about to faint from shock.
Hermione however gave a loud sob, "This is all my fault…" Theo to Paul's surprise came forward and enveloped Hermione in a comforting side hug. "It was all Smith's fault! Now we need to leave!"
Just as the eleven first-year students were about to leave an acrid disgusting odour filled the air signalling the arrival of the nightmarish green giant. Paul could not move his feet in shock but Harry was better under crisis, jerked him, "PAUL SNAP out of it! I have a plan! Bells! Pads! you both are the best in charms. Try levitating its club. Mione! cast the bluebells flame charm on it!
Nev, Trace, Theo, Daph distract it! Ron, Paul, Blaise help me!" 'Harry's leadership skills were god gifted it seemed' Paul thought as he, Ron and Blaise assisted Harry in climbing up the Trolls Back which was currently distracted by the name-calling done by the others.
Bells, Mione and Pads had their wands out. Soon Harry was on top of the unsuspecting Troll as it did not feel a thing due to its thick skin. Harry then stuck his wand in the Trolls nose which agitated it more. But the dangerous move worked as the Troll loosened its grip on the humungous wooden weapon. Getting their chance both Bella and Padma as one, shouted, "Wingardium Leviosa!" while Hermione set the levitating club on fire. "Drop it on its head NOW! I Am about to let go!" With that, Harry pulled out his wand and jumped down. He was caught in the nick of time by Neville and Theo.
"Woah it's a Troll flambe!" Paul joked without thinking as he watched the spectacle of the Troll being battered by the flaming baton. While the rest screeched, "SHUT UP PIG!"
The adrenaline was just wearying out as all of them gave out sighs of desperate relief. They were about to leave when Professor McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick with the Headmaster entered the lavatory.
Their jaws dropped at the sight of a fully grown mountain troll with a charred head lying on the floor. But soon they noticed all the first years. Each teacher then called out his or her house charges,
"Potter, Nott, Davis, Greengrass!" Snape spat venomously. "Messers Lahote, Longbottom, Weasley and Miss Granger! To me!" professor McGonagall commanded but her tone was less acidic in comparison to Snape. Whereas Professor Flitwick calmly called out, "Miss Swan, Miss Patil and Mr Zabini"
The headmaster remained silent, staring deep into their eyes, which Paul found alarming. Snape was the first to berate them, "Our usual culprits! Potter and his gang! We should have expelled them after the broom incident!"
Dumbledore ignored Snape and asked with twinkling eyes, "Will any of you care to elaborate on what happened here?" All of them at once started explaining, creating more noise than sense. McGonagall though was having none of it.
She silenced them with a stern glare. Paul with all the courage in him finally said after a few seconds of silence, "professor we came here to warn the girls about the Troll…They were all here to support Mione… and were not at the feast."
Professor Flitwick who had not said anything then whispered something to the other adults. Paul hoped that the tiny professor took their side.
McGonagall was about to address them but Dumbledore interrupted her by saying, "Mr Lahote it seems is telling the truth. The children were just here at the wrong time. So, no need to punish them for this. I think forty points each to Slytherin and Gryffindor and thirty to Ravenclaw for doing the school a great service! Please retire to your respective common rooms immediately!"
"Albus!" all their heads of house protested but conceded eventually after a few minutes of pouring water down the ducks back.
Paul and Harry overheard the headmaster whispering to Snape as they made their way out, "If as first years they can slay a Mountain troll! I am more interested in what they have in store for us next! Harry does know how to choose his friends."
Harry then muttered something that Paul would remember for the rest of his life, "I am just lucky that they chose me..."
AN: The troll thing has mostly been a trio affair though there are more people involved. I hope you enjoyed it. Next time Harry's POV and hopefully that would mark the end of the first term.