A/N There has been some formatting mistakes on my part where Italics but if you haven't caught on that Italics are thoughts from the characters. Hope that clears some things up! Enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 9 : A troll-ubling incident
H.J.P
Weeks flew by for Harry in the blink of an eye. Harry had never enjoyed school that much thanks to his cousin but Hogwarts was slowly becoming his home and he was enjoying it immensely.
All of the classes were each unique in their own ways, sure some more enjoyable than others but Harry was grateful for it all even though he didn't like them all.
Charms class for example was always fun since Flitwick, the small goblin-like wizard, pretty much left them to their own devices when practising new spells. It was ample time to have a conversation with friends.
Although DADA and Potions were beginning to not be as fun as Harry had anticipated as he arrived at Hogwarts.
Quirrel's class was a pain in normal circumstances with his stutter but more so for Harry when his scar would ache in each lesson, resulting in a pounding headache which made understanding the lesson much harder. Thankfully Ron would summarize the class for him, not well but good enough for Harry to research in depth later.
Snape's class was on another level of extreme. For Harry to despise this class more than Quirrel's, was saying something. Snape's constant criticizing and harsh comments were what made him hate the class since it would make Harry think of his uncle.
While Harry knew that making his work look bad was one of the reasons Snape picked on him, he didn't want to change since it was all he knew but one day he lost it.
During one lesson, they were all independently brewing a potion. Ron and Harry were quietly speaking about random things like Quidditch and homework when Ron's potion blew up. Thankfully it caused no harm to Ron or anyone around him but Snape had other thoughts.
"Why did you tell Weasley to add in four porcupine quills instead of two. What was passing through your small excuse for a brain Potter! Trying to make your potion look better? Weasley, why would you listen to Potter's insane thoughts." He snapped. "Potter, detention with me at 7 o'clock sharp on Thursday. Same goes for you Weasley but report to Filch." He glared at them, daring them to disagree. Neither rose to the bait.
As the pair left, Harry was seething with fury, not that anyone saw.
How dare he accuse me of sabotaging Ron's potion to make me look good. Insults sure, mocking sure but accusing me, I don't like that at all.
Regardless of his thoughts, he knew shouting insults and foul words would not help him. So he inhaled deeply, trying to wash away his thoughts and focus on what his next course of action would be.
After a long pointless meal of picking his food, Harry left for the library to find Hermione. Despite being on rocky terms with her, he walked up to the table she was studying, in search of information. "Hello 'Mione," Harry said.
"What do you want, Harry? I'm trying to work on my essay Professor Sprout set for us" Hermione asked impatiently.
"I was wondering if Hogwarts sends something like the muggle report cards we got in primary school to our family?" He asked.
Grabbing at the opportunity to lecture, she replied "No but we can owl our family on our grades and progress. I've been using the school owls but you have Hedwig so you're ok."
"Thanks a million 'Mione!" Harry exclaimed happily and swiftly left Hermione and her studies behind him.
It did not take long before plans started to form in Harry's head.
—-
Later in the week, the school found themselves in Great hall for the highly awaited Halloween feast.
Harry was sitting with Ron, who was eager to stuff himself with sweets.
Unlike Ron, Harry wasn't very excited for the feast, since he still couldn't digest as much food as everyone without it coming back up. He was also a bit numb because Halloween brought back bad memories that he would rather forget.
To make matters worse, Hermione was not present. Harry knew she was annoyed at their run in with the three-headed dog but he was a tad bit worried about her considering that he overheard Lavender saying to Parvati that she was in the bathroom crying and he assumed that was because of what occurred last period
Flashback
During Transfiguration with their head of house, they were again practising turning a match into a needle. Of course, Hermione had already perfected hers in the previous lesson and was now reading ahead in her textbook, most likely for the 10th time or something.
Harry, along with a few others, was close to completing their task when Seamus, a few desks over, threw his wand down on the table in an angry huff and shot his hand in the air. "Professor, why can't we do some more interesting transfiguration like turning a desk into a pig like you did a while ago." He exclaimed.
All heads turned away from their work and focused on Seamus and their teacher who was sitting at her desk grading papers. "Mr Finnigan. I have already told you and your classmates why you will not be attempting that any time soon. Anyone care to remind Mr Finnigan why." McGonagall asked.
As per usual, Hermione's hand flew into the air, who was bursting with the need to answer.
McGonagall observed her class to see if anyone else other than Hermione would answer. When no one moved to put their hand up, she sighed and opened her mouth to ask Hermione when she saw a hand raise out the corner of her eye.
Harry slowly raised his hand in the air, he couldn't even remember the last time he raised it willing to answer or even ask a question. He was already having regrets but it was too late to back out now. This was his first step forward into achieving better marks. Participate more then improve his written theory. Either way, his guardians would not find out. He was not be stupid enough to go looking for punishment.
McGonagall looked as if someone told her that Snape had put on a fake muggle clown costume for Halloween. She quickly snapped out of her surprise and said "Yes Mr Potter, go ahead."
Harry took a breath and stated "Turning a match into a needle is easier than turning a desk into a pig since a match and a needle are similar in weight and proportion, making it easier to transfigure. It also requires less magic to change since they are both small and the change isn't very different, whereas the pig is very different to a desk considering it was alive and the desk is an inanimate object."
The whole class was dead silent. Ron, beside him, was staring at him as if he had grown a second head and Hermione looked outright insulted.
McGonagall regained her composure and said with a small proud smile "Indeed Mr Potter. 15 points to Gryffindor."
When the bell went and nobody moved, McGonagall said "Well, what are you waiting for, a written invitation? Class dismissed."
Quickly everyone scooped up their processions and left. Harry just wanted to roll his eyes at his classmates as he walked with Ron to the tower, they could be so daft sometimes.
"Mate, first off, that was bloody brilliant and did you see the look on Hermione's face when McGonagall asked you instead of her. It was a pleasant change from having her recite from the stupid textbook. She's such a teacher's pet." Before he could say more, Hermione pushed past them with tears falling helplessly down her face.
"I think she heard you," Harry said, stating the obvious while frowning at Ron's behaviour.
"Who cares, it's true that she is an insufferable know it all," Ron said bluntly but stared at her as she ran out of sight
End of Flashback
Momentarily those thoughts were forgotten as golden plates appeared with streaming hot food across the table. Everyone moved to begin eating but they didn't get very far because Professor Quirrel sprinted into the Great hall and up to the head table, causing everyone to look his way.
He slumped against the table in front of the Headmaster's chair with his signature purple turban out of place and an expression of utter terror upon his face. All he could choke out was "Troll—in the—dungeons. Thought—you ought to— know."
Before anyone could fully react, he collapsed to the ground as he fainted.
The hall erupted into panic and screams. After the headmaster eventually silenced everyone with a few loud bangs out of his wand he spoke "Prefects will escort their house to the dormitories at once!"
Percy, Ron's older brother who loves to boss everyone around, immediately directed the house out of the hall. Harry could tell he loved every second of it.
As they all ventured upstairs, contemplating how a troll got in, Harry was thinking about where the Slytherins would go since their dormitories were in the dungeons, as well the Hufflepuff dormitories since he heard they were in the dungeons too.
Harry stopped suddenly, thinking deeply. Thankfully he was at the back so nobody noticed, well except Ron. "Mate, what's wrong?"
Harry only said one word but he knew Ron would understand "Hermione."
Ron, true to his word, did understand but looked rather uncomfortable. "I..fine. Let's go before someone or God forbid Percy finds out."
Harry knew that he should tell a teacher instead of running to save Hermione from a troll that would be three times their size but he didn't trust adults. So he nodded reluctantly and the pair raced down a corridor to the nearest bathroom.
As they turned a corner, Harry could hear fast paced footsteps coming from behind them. He pulled Ron behind a stone griffin statue in an attempt to hide from whoever was coming and it worked as Snape rounded the corner and briskly walked past, oblivious to the Gryffindors.
When they moved from behind the statue Ron spoke up and said "Snape is heading for the third floor."
It was a good point but Harry would dwell on it later, they had to find Hermione first. "Not here, later."
They made their way down a few corridors when they smelt something disgusting. It smelled as if there were a couple of dead animals that had never bathed when they were alive. It was then they saw the troll turn the corner.
Before it could spot them, they slipped into a shadowy alcove. The troll was about 10 feet tall and was holding a wooden bat as he approached an open door, the girls' bathroom but it looked like only Harry realised that since Ron said "Why don't we just lock it in?"
"Ron you idiot. It's the girls' bathroom!" Harry said angrily.
"Oh." Was all Ron could say before they heard a high pitched scream coming from the bathroom. Ron sprinted into the doorway, closely followed by Harry, who muttered "Oh crap," under his breath as he saw broken stalls and water everywhere
Whimpers were heard and they saw Hermione curled up in a fetal position up against the wall while the troll was making his way to her.
"How do we distract it?" Ron asked.
Harry looked around, noticing the broken bits of pipes and taps strewn across the floor "Like this." He said as he picked up a tap and tossed it at a wall. The troll turned his head away from Hermione and looked dumbly around to find the source of the noise.
It soon spotted Harry and abandoned Hermione by staggering towards Harry instead.
"Ron, move around and try to confuse it by yelling and throwing stuff," Harry ordered and Ron was quick to obey.
"OVER HERE" Ron yelled while throwing bits of pipe at the surrounding walls, resulting in large clangs but it paid no mind and kept moving to Harry.
"Hermione, run," Harry said. Hermione stood up shakily but she was too busy staring at the troll in horror to move any further. "NOW!" He bellowed but she did not move because she was rooted to the spot with pure fear. "Gee and I thought we were meant to be the brave ones." He uttered under his breath.
"OI, PEABRAIN," Ron yelled as he threw a heavy piece of pipe which hit the troll, who merely grunted but still turned his attention to Ron.
Grabbing at an opportunity, yes a stupid one but still an opportunity regardless, Harry launched himself onto the troll's back and jabbed his wand up one of the troll's nostrils.
The troll howled in immense pain. It rocked from side to side, swinging his bat in every direction until he dropped it, causing one of the remaining sinks to crumble. Harry clung on for dear life and yelled at Ron "Do something!"
Ron looked around until he locked eyes on the old bat lying a few feet away. Then it came to him. He ran forward and grasped the bat with two hands. It was heavy but he managed to heave it up into the air regardless.
He stepped forward. One. Two. Three. Until he was right in front of the troll and he swung. The bat hit the troll square in the stomach, causing it to hunch over and wail in agony, making Harry slip off in the process.
Raising the bat he swung again, with more force, hitting the troll in the head. As a result, the troll collapsed onto the ground unconscious from the blow.
As Ron dropped the bat and looked around, he found Harry and Hermione staring at him in disbelief. "What? You pick up a few things while living with Fred and George."
Not a few moments later, Snape, McGonagall and Quirell came racing into the bathroom. One look at the troll and McGonagall launched herself into a scolding lecture.
"What were you three thinking? Are you out of your minds?"
Snape looked at Harry as if he wanted to strangle him for his rash Gryffindor recklessness. Harry couldn't blame him, it did look bad.
"Please Professor. It was my fault." Hermione said quietly.
Harry and Ron stared at Hermione in shock. Hermione Granger, the girl who abides by the rules and is top of her classes lied for them. One of which made fun of her mere hours beforehand.
A quick look at the teachers and Harry saw they didn't quite believe it either.
"I've read about trolls you see and I thought that I'd be able to do something. I wanted to test my knowledge but if it weren't for Harry and Ron I would be dead." She continued shakily. It was true for the most part, if not for Harry and Ron she would be in pieces and for that she would be forever grateful. She just hoped that she wouldn't get expelled for this predicament.
"I see," McGonagall said. "Well Miss Granger, you can't just go and disregard direct orders from your teachers. I expected better, from you especially. 5 points will be taken. If you don't require medical assistance, I recommend you head back to your common room where the rest of the house is finishing the feast."
Hermione hung her head low, her bushy hair covering her face as she left. Harry felt bad since she wasn't used to being told off but was glad for her helping them out.
"As for you two, you are both extremely lucky since not many first years would be able to take down a fully grown mountain troll. I award you 5 points each for helping out a classmate in need. You may head up and join your classmates now but be noted that the headmaster will be informed of what has happened here."
Both Harry and Ron were relieved and moved to make their way out when a silky voice stopped them. "Not so fast boys. Might I remind you that you both have a detention to attend to."
Harry inwardly groaned. He was hoping that Snape would forget but that was wishful thinking.
Sparing a last glance at Ron, who slumped off in the direction of Filch's office, he jogged up to keep up with Snape's long strides as they left towards the chilly dungeons.
As they entered his office, Snape quickly set him up with cleaning products to clean 8 filthy cauldrons. Before Harry started, he spotted Snape's bloody leg as he sat down to grade some papers. The Cerberus. "Well, what are you waiting for, start!" Snape barked and Harry was quick to comply.
Harry was content with his detention. He found cleaning therapeutic and helped to distract him from troubling thoughts. Despite being treated like a slave and being to cook, clean and what not he still enjoyed it but he hated cleaning at the Dursleys because of how he was punished if there was one tiny mark left. He shuddered involuntarily and resumed scrubbing.
An hour later Harry was finished and spoke up to his teacher. " I've finished sir."
Snape was quiet before replying. "Then go."
With that Harry left, oblivious to how the Potion Master stared at the gleaming cauldrons in disbelief.
——
S.T.S
How did he make the cauldrons gleam as if they were brand new, let alone in the space of an hour. What if...no he must have somehow used magic while I wasn't looking. Yes, just like his father he is. This whole term, it was just like James Potter awoke from the grave and came back to school to torment me.
Oh, the brat will pay.
If anyone knew Professor Snape, they would know that he kept his promises but would he go too far before he could realise how different Harry was from his father in more ways than one.
