A/N: Sorry for being later than usual, but enjoy. I am going to attempt to have another bonus chapter out tomorrow for Labor Day, but no promises

The next morning came and Aurora forced herself out of bed. She did not want to leave the comfort of her room. She really didn't feel like doing anything actually. Last night's events still haunted her and despite scrubbing her skin raw in the shower, she still felt sticky from Malfoy's touch.

After getting dressed and brushing her hair, she left for the Great Hall. Harry and Ron were already at the table.

"Thank God you're okay Rory. What happened last night? We thought you were right behind us. We thought maybe you got caught."

"I'm fine Ron. I got back to the common room just okay." Aurora feigned a smile for them. She wasn't as convincing as she hoped though as Harry shot her a skeptical look. Ron however bought her omission and continued to shovel food into his mouth.

"You should've seen Malfoy this morning when he saw us," Ron snickered.

"I don't want to talk about Malfoy,"she snapped back. Aurora was feeling irritated. It wasn't their fault, it's not like they knew what had happened to her last night, but she never wanted to hear his name or see his face again. The fact that she could never escape him enraged her.

"Are you feeling okay, Rory?"

"Yes, sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. I just don't want to talk about him. He bores me and the more attention we give him, the more he'll bother us." Harry seemed to except this answer a little more, but continued to shoot her uneasy looks for the rest of breakfast, in which she avoided eye contact with. This was just not something she was comfortable sharing yet, especially with Ron and Harry. They would surely start a fight and everyone would know then.

As they ate, Ron and Harry caught Aurora up to what they discovered the night before.

"A dog?"

"That thing was no dog," Ron shuddered. His voice rose several octaves.

"But more importantly it's hiding something. Hermione saw it herself. I think it's what Hagrid and I picked up at Gringotts. It might be the item that triggered the break-in." Harry pushed his glasses higher on the brim of his nose as he continued to speak animatedly. He was rather cute to Aurora. She smiled as he talked. Only Harry could make her day better after the night she had.

"It's either really valuable or really dangerous," Ron said waving around a breakfast burrito as he spoke.

"Ugh don't play with your food Ronald. It's disgusting."

"Thanks mum," he said rolling his eyes. Aurora kicked him from underneath the table which gifted her a dirty look from Ron. She smirked back.

They spent the rest of the day discussing what it might be, but none of them could come up with a plausible object that would need a beast to protect it.

The next weeks passed quickly and Aurora, Harry, and Ron had almost forgotten about the monster guarding the mysterious package on the third floor. September turned into October, and Aurora was much happier. She had not forgotten about Malfoy, but she was in a much better mental state about that night. She was also relieved to find that he was now leaving her alone. He no longer sat behind her classes, cornered her in hallways, or even attempted to talk to her anymore. Every now and the she would catch him glancing at her in class for a moment before looking away, but Draco had kept quiet towards her.

She had spent the majority of her time with Harry and Ron as Harry discussed how Quidditch practices were going. It was still a secret that he was on the team and only Aurora, Ron, and Quidditch captain, Oliver Wood were aware of the broom he was gifted by McGonagall. It was the newest model, even better than the broom she had at home.

In addition to Malfoy, Hermione had seized to speak to her as well. Aurora was much more neutral about this fact than Harry and Ron though. As far as Ron was concerned, this was a dream come true. Unfortunately for Ron though the same could not be said for Draco. Malfoy still continued to bully him and Harry. He often came to the Gryffindor table to offer his snide comments. This was the only time Draco would attempt to get Aurora's attention.

Even as he pelted insults onto Harry and Ron, he kept his eyes firmly locked onto Aurora. She could feel his gaze each time burn into her, but she refused to look at him. She would not give him any level of satisfaction for what he had done to her. As far as she was concerned, he was dead to her.

The three had mostly forgot about the package that was protected by the massive dog beast. Aurora would catch herself pondering about it every now and then, but was distracted easily by Harry's Quidditch practices, mountains of homework, and battling Ron in Wizard's Chess. He has since beaten her since their first game, which he took great joy in reminding her every time they began a new one.

As more weeks past, it was finally Halloween. It had now been two months now since she had arrived at school and Aurora felt Hogwarts was more of her home than the manor ever had been. She loved her mother very much and she tried to give her the best childhood she could, but the manor was no home, but a cold, isolated house. It lacked company outside of Draco and her mother and the warmness she felt when she was with Harry and Ron.

Now that they had also mastered the basics of their classes, most of their lessons had become much more interesting. With the exception of Defense Against The Dark Arts, most of their professors were eager to get the first years to use magic. However, Quirrell remained anxious and squirmy in classes. Aurora felt bad for him. He must have been very traumatized from one of his many adventures to be as on edge as he was today. His behaviors though still struck Aurora as bizarre, but she saw no good sense in further traumatizing the poor man by picking apart his stories. Even if they seemed slightly exaggerated she saw no real harm in them.

That morning of October, the scent of pumpkin drifted through the corridors of the school. Marching her way down the dormitory stairs, Aurora met Ron and Harry in the common room to go to breakfast. The three chatted animatedly about what would await them for breakfast. Ron insisted they walk faster to have first dibs on everything. Aurora knew this was ridiculous as there was almost an endless supply of the food and more than enough for anyone, but with so many siblings she was sure Ron was always possessive over food. Part of her agreed with him though. Halloween was her favorite holiday, she wanted more than anything to assure she would be able to try all of the food.

Breakfast had been the best it has ever been yet in Aurora's opinion. Pumpkin was one of her favorite scents and foods and she was delighted to find the smell was not just a charm, but part of her meal. She downed three glasses of pumpkin juice, and ate various pumpkin pies and pastries.

The boys poked fun at her as she stuffed food into her mouth commenting how she was worse than Ron. She laughed with them and was too excited to care about how much she ate. This proved to be a terrible idea as at the end of breakfast she was left with a stomach ache.

Even better than the Halloween breakfast, Professor Flitwick finally decided that the class was ready to start with levitating objects. The class hummed excitedly as they were put into pairs by Flitwick. Aurora prayed she would not be paired with Draco as the first year Slytherins were also in charms with them. Luckily though, she was paired with Dean Thomas, another fellow Gryffindor. She was hopeful she would've been paired with Harry or Ron, but Dean was perfectly kind and would be a fine partner. Looking over she took note at the pairs. Harry had been paired with Seamus Finnigan, which he seemed happy with it. Ron on the other hand was matched with Hermione Granger. Neither of them seemed very content about this arrangement.

"Now that you're paired, you will take turns trying to make the feather fly. Remember the nice flick and swish motion we discussed or else it will not work. Or perhaps you will end up like that one wizard who famously mispronounced the spell and ended up with a buffalo who crushed his chest. Also the most important part, say the words with the movement, Wingardium Leviosa," Flitwick squeaked from the top of a stack of books. the Professor was very small and needed something to stand on in order to see over the entire class.

"You can go first," Dean said gesturing with his hand to the feather.

"Oh, a gentleman," Aurora teased back. She got a little satisfaction from his small blush.

Aurora cleared her throat and began to prepare herself for the charm.

"Well are you going to go?"

"Patience Dean. I'm getting ready. Alright. Wingardium Leviosa," Aurora said while doing the swish and flick motion. The feather did not budge. Dean Thomas began to laugh. Aurora was slightly annoyed with him, but remained calm. No reason to get worked up completely.

"Well if you think it's so easy, why don't you do it," she snapped at him.

Dean immediately stopped laughing and straightened up. It would be all more embarrassing if he had made fun of her and was unable to do it himself.

"Well it can't possibly be that difficult," he smirked. Aurora rolled her eyes. She was confident that if she couldn't do it, he would not be able to either. This boy was going to eat his own words.

While waiting for him to prepare for the spell, she glanced over the room to the blonde boy seated several places in front of her. She was glad Draco couldn't catch her staring at him, that would likely make him believe she forgave him and was over what had happened. She did not forgive him, but she still felt herself curious about him. He was not having any more luck with his feather than she was. He swished and flicked several times, but could not lift the feather off his desk. It did not help, that his partner, Pansy Parkinson hung relentlessly onto his arm as if he was the oxygen she breathed. He appeared agitated with her and attempted to shove her off several times, but it seemed to have no effect on her as she continued to grab him. Aurora scoffed, this really wasn't the place to be flirting and although Malfoy had violated her, she did to get any enjoyment from seeing him clearly upset about being touched.

She forced herself to look away as Dean Thomas tapped on her for her to watch him.

"I think I'm ready."

"Took you long enough."

"Shut up," he teased while nudging her arm.

Suddenly she felt the familiar heat of eyes on her. She looked up. Draco was staring directly at her. She met his gray eyes with her violet ones for the first time in weeks. He looked almost wounded. She quickly tore her eyes away from him and smiled to look at her partner. From her peripheral vision she could see Draco melt. His head dropped down as he pivoted his body to face forward again. He remained very still, ignoring Pansy who was still insistent on climbing all over him. Aurora ignored him. He could have her sympathy, but not her attention.

"Alright Dean, swish and flick."

"Yeah, yeah. I know."

Dean stretched out his wand arm and attempted to preform the spell. Nothing.

"So what was that you were saying? That you could do it?" Aurora laughed.

"It's not me it's the feather," he tried to reason.

"Uh huh. You're free to admit you were wring anytime now."

Abruptly, Aurora heard someone scream from across the classroom. It came from Ron and Hermione's desk.

"You're saying it wrong!" Hermione snapped. Ron's face was turning redder by the second. Aurora watched partially in amusement and weariness. Ron's explosive anger towards Hermione was legendary and she was testing him at the moment.

"It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-O-sa. You have the make it nice and pronounced," she continued to criticize him.

"This isn't going to end well," Dean said looking over Aurora's shoulder.

"No it isn't," she agreed. the situation was almost painful to watch. Half the class was beginning to stare at the two as they seemed to battle each other.

"Well if you're so clever, why don't you do it!" Ron snapped back at her. His blue eyes were wild with rage and Aurora was concerned that he might have a stroke. She had never seen him this worked up before. She would be sure to tell Fred and George all about this later. They'd be happy with something new to torture their brother over.

Hermione rolled up her sleeves and cleared her throat. She seemed to be preparing herself for the charm she was about to perform. Swiftly, she lifted her wand to the feather and said firmly but smoothly, "Wingardium Leviosa."

Amazingly, she had levitated the feather to fly over her and Ron's head. It smoothly drifted through the air with the direction of her wand, and Hermione smiled at her successful charm.

"Well done!" Flitwick cried. He had clearly missed the altercation from earlier, but was overjoyed to see that someone had accomplished the charm. "Look at Miss Granger everyone! She's done it!"

Though Aurora was somewhat jealous that she had not been the first to charm her feather to fly like how she was the first to transfigure her matchstick, she was still pleased for Hermione and that the first in her year to achieve it was at least from Gryffindor.

As the class ended, Aurora hurried out and waited in the corridor for Harry and Ron to appear. Ron was still very agitated and Aurora made a note to stay quiet. She had experience dealing with terrible tempers. If she stayed quiet, hopefully Ron would calm down faster.

Ron proved to be very unkind when angry. He was not violent or threatening, but had no control over his mouth. He strutted down the hallways at first listing various profanities which Aurora warned against. He glared at her, but she reminded him that she was saving him from a possible detention or losing house points. The latter would have made him very unpopular.

Finally, he moved to the target of his anger, Hermione.

"It's no wonder no one can stand her," Ron spat harshly. Each syllable seemed to prick off his tongue in cacophonous tones. "She's a nightmare, honestly."

Aurora felt something push past her. It was Hermione. Her bushy hair swung around her shoulders as she rushed down the corridors in mixture between a brisk walk and a light jog. Aurora glared at Ron.

"I think she heard you, you jerk."

"So?" Ron seemed slightly guilty. Aurora certainly hoped so. He quickly changed his tone to one that appeared to be trying to sound sensible, "She must've noticed that she has no friends."

Aurora stopped in the middle of the courtyard and Ron and Harry paused with her. She was horrified by what Ron had just said. She understood Hermione could be unbearable sometimes, but that didn't give him any right to tear her down. She was a good person even if she could come off as a stuck up know-it-all. Aurora could understand her though. She had something to prove just like Hermione did. She was only motivated and the others just couldn't understand that.

"Ronald. I love you, but you're a prick."

The three remained silent as they walked to their next class, History of Magic with the Ravenclaws. Hermione was not in class and Aurora did not see her in the rest of her classes for the afternoon. She made a note to check on her later. Ron also looked more guilty as Lavender and Parvati announced that Hermione had been in the ladies' restroom all afternoon and wanted to be left alone.

Aurora though Ron deserved to feel terrible. She did love him, he was like a sibling to her, but if she was being honest, he was being a prick and needed to be made aware of it.

After classes, it was finally time for dinner. Aurora was in better spirits now that should she would finally get to eat another proper meal. Her lunch had been more rushed today as she had to finish the last part of her Potion's essay.

As the trio entered the Great Hall they were amazed. Breakfast and lunch were only a preview for what they would experience for dinner. Thousands of live bats swung around the ceiling and occasionally dipped low to the tables. Carved pumpkins lined the middle of all five of the tables and various skull and other Halloween themed candles lined the room. The aroma of the food was almost overwhelming and Aurora couldn't wait for the amazing feast that awaited them. Aurora could not hope but notice that Hermione was still not at the table. She frowned slightly. She felt horrible that Ron had ruined not only her day, but that she would be missing this astonishing dinner.

However she dug into her food. Perhaps she could bring Hermione some to the dorm. She would eventually have to leave the bathroom. Just as she was helping herself to a serving of pumpkin shaped potatoes, Professor Quirrell bursted into the Great Hall frantically.

"Troll! Troll!" He cried. The room remained dead silent.

Dumbledore stood from his head position at the teacher's table and looked down onto Quirrell who continued to run up to the other professors.

"There's a troll- in- the dungeons," he said again gasping for breath. He then sank to the floor, collapsing into unconsciousness. Aurora found it rather dramatic, but kept quiet at the more pressing news of a troll loose in the castle.

The peaceful, jolly feast was no more. The room erupted into panic. Aurora scanned for only one person though. She met Draco's eyes for the second time today. He didn't look hurt this time though, he looked afraid. Aurora was sure the same expression was plastered onto her face, but she was hoping she could give the boy some comfort. Even though she still hated him, she couldn't explain the draw she had towards him. She justified it that he was one of the closest things he had to family. Yes, that had to be it.

Dumbledore exploded several fire crackers out of his wand in order to silence the spiraling room. It wouldn't do any good for everyone to panic.

"Prefects, lead your houses back to the dormitories immediately. Professors follow me."

Percy Weasley immediately sprung into action. He likely felt quite in his natural element bossing people around. Now Percy, in Aurora's opinion, was much more insufferable than Hermione ever was.

"Come on everyone! right this way! There is nothing to fear as long as each of you heeds all of my orders! First years! Come on, keep up!"

"How could a troll even get in?" Harry questioned. Aurora was thinking the same thing.

"Probably just a prank from Peeves," Ron dismissed. He seemed grumpy to have been forced to leave dinner early.

Aurora walked on. Something was still bothering it, it was at the front of her head. It was almost graspable, but for some reason she couldn't quite reach it. Then finally, it dawned on her. She looked at Harry who seemed to slow down as well.

"Hermione!" They said in unison. Aurora's stomach began to hurt all over again, but instead of it being from the delicious food, it was for in fear for Hermione.

"What about her?" Aurora wondered how Ron could be so dense sometimes.

"Hermione is still in the bathroom. She hasn't heard about the troll," Harry explained.

"We have to go get her," Aurora quickly added. Ron's expression turned slightly sick. He was afraid and longed for the safety of the Gryffindor common room. Aurora could hardly blame him, hell she was afraid too, but she also had to help Hermione. She needed someone.

"She wouldn't be in this predicament in the first place, Ronald, if you weren't being a prick to her earlier," she reminded him. Aurora was hopeful her guilt trip would be enough to motivate him to come along with her and Harry to save her.

"Fine," he muttered out, though he did not look pleased. "And Percy better not see us. I'm not getting a detention for her."

The trio ducked behind a group of Hufflepuffs and slipped alongside the deserted corridors towards the girls' bathroom. The three were startled by the noise of footsteps rapidly approaching them.

"Percy!" Harry whisper yelled. The three ducked behind a statue blocking some of a wall. However, rounding the corner was not Percy, but Snape.

"Why isn't he with the other teachers?" Ron questioned.

"Who cares?" Aurora snapped. Perhaps Snape had to be up here to look for the troll. Who was she to question Dumbledore's orders? As far as Aurora was concerned, Snape's whereabouts was not their biggest priority. They needed to get to Hermione and fast.

"Hold on can you guys smell something?" Ron asked. In fact Harry and Aurora could also smell something. It was a reeking odor comparable to old gym socks, onions, and sewage. Aurora scrunched up her nose. This had to be the putrid scent she has ever come across.

"Egh what is that?" Harry cried. He seemed to be gasping for air, but the odor was so thick it was suffocating. Aurora thought she might be sick.

Harry's question answered itself however with grunts and stomping feet. It was the troll. Aurora was paralyzed with fear for a moment, but then sprung into action. The noise was coming from the corridor by the girls' toilets, the one place they needed to be.

"Hermione!" The trio sprinted down the hallway and approached the bathroom door. This was the last place Aurora wanted to be, but what choice did she have?

When they opened the door, Hermione was pressed against the back wall. Her eyes were wide, hair splayed across the wall. Her mouth was agape in horror, but no sound came out of it. The troll was slowly approaching her, club in hand. The troll swung its weapon around violently, knocking off several sinks as it stalked closer to the poor, terrified girl.

"Shit what do we do?" Ron asked. He seemed desperate. He of course wanted to help her, but was unsure of what the best course of action would be that wouldn't result in death or injury.

"Confuse it!" Aurora yelled. She threw several of the broken sink parts that littered the floor at the wall. If they made enough noise, maybe they could attract it away from Hermione. Harry and Ron followed suit and began to throw debris as well.

Fortunately for the trio, the noise worked in distracting the troll. The ugly beast whipped its head around violently swinging the club over his shoulder.

"Rory!" Harry screamed as he dived to shove her over. The club had missed her narrowly by inches.

"Thanks," she murmured from under him. Standing up, Aurora and Harry faced the troll. It was no longer interested in Hermione now, but they were not yet safe.

"Oy! Pea-brain!" Ron yelled form the other side of the bathroom as he chucked a broken off pipe at the troll. Again the troll whipped around to face Ron. It flared its ugly snout and bared its rotting teeth.

As Ron continued to scream obscenities at the troll, Aurora and Harry tried to coax Hermione from the back of the bathroom wall.

"Hermione come on. We have to leave now," Aurora said while pulling on her arm lightly.

"Why won't she come? Or even say anything? Hermione let's go!"

"She's in shock. We're going to have to figure something else out."

The troll was getting more agitated now. Ron's various yells echoed off the porcelain walls and were throwing off the troll's senses. It roared one final time before dropping down and charging at Ron.

Harry immediately sprung into action as he typically did for his friends. He jumped on the troll's back. Aurora's eyes widened in terror as the troll aggressively tried to shake him off. His body seemed to fly through the air before flopping back down again onto the troll's back. Harry then managed to fasten his arms around the troll's neck and reached into his pocket.

Oh goodness, he's not going to, Aurora thought. But he did. Harry grabbed his wand and stuck it far up the troll's nose. The troll cried and howled in pain. It twisted and flailed around his club. Ron and Aurora's eyes met for a second then they both sprinted into action.

"Come on!" Aurora said and grabbed Hermione. She half dragged and half carried the girl away from the wall that she was slumped against. Aurora would have preferred had Hermione would at least try to walk, but she could not fault the girl in the slightest. She couldn't even begin to imagine the fear she felt being alone with that troll. She probably thought she was about to die before the trio had arrived.

As Aurora took care of Hermione, Ron whipped out his wand and pointed it at the troll. There wasn't much he could do. They've only had a couple months of lessons. How would four first years, who are hardly capable of magic and one unable to even move defeat a massive troll?

Alas, Charms class today had in fact been helpful for Ron. He pointed his wand firmly at the club and called out:

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

The club flew into the air out of the troll's grasp. It was perfect timing in fact as the troll was just about to throw Harry off his back, and smash him. Ron rose the club higher and higher until it towered over the troll's head. Then, he released.

The thick club fell with a loud crack over the troll's head. The troll began to sway. Ron, Harry, Aurora, and Hermione who suddenly grew use of her legs, sprinted close the bathroom door. The troll then slumped over, and collapsed with a thud.

The four stood silent for several moments in amazement. That had really just happened. They exchanged looks for awhile between each other and back at the troll. It was Hermione who broke the silence first.

"Is it dead?"

"No, I don't think so," Harry answered. He approached the troll's face, his wand still sticking out of the trolls' nose. He yanked it out, a long string of snot coming with it.

"Ugh troll boogies." Harry then wiped the disgusting wand onto his robes. Aurora gagged. This had to be one of the most repulsive experience of her time at Hogwarts. Well either this or kissing Malfoy. Both were just about equally terrible to her.

Suddenly a storming sound of footsteps could be heard from the corridor outside the bathroom and it wasn't long before the bathroom was infiltrated by professors. They all gave a gasp or a flash of shock at the first years and the unconscious troll. However, Professor McGonagall was not at all amused by their accomplishment.

"What on Earth were you thinking?" She lectured the children. More professors came into the bathroom. Quirrell nearly fainted again at the sight of the troll. Aurora rolled her eyes this time. She could understand his fear considering his typical behavior, but at this point it was getting ridiculous. The troll was knocked out, he had absolutely no reason to be this perforative. Aurora noticed Snape seemed to agree as he also flashed a suspicious glance at Quirrell.

"You're lucky that you all weren't killed. Why weren't you in your dormitory?" McGonagall continued on. The four eyed each other unsure of who was going to answer her.

"Please Professor. This is all my fault they were looking for me."

Aurora was shocked. Hermione Granger lying to a professor. To protect them of all people. Aurora thought that Hermione hated her after the duel incident.

"Miss Granger!"

"I went looking for the troll. I thought I could capture it on my own. I've been reading a lot on them and I thought I was knowledgeable enough to do it. I'm sorry." Ron and Harry looked shocked at this point too. They hid it well with the stillness of their expression, but Aurora could still read it in their eyes.

"If they hadn't found me, Professor, I would probably be dead by now. Harry jumped on its back and stuck his wand up its nose, Aurora got me to a safer location, and Ron knocked it unconscious with the club. They didn't have time to get you Professor, or else I would have died before you arrived. Please don't punish them, this was all my fault."

Aurora, Ron, and Harry all tried to have as neutral of an expression on their face as possible as if this was the entire truth. The Professors eyes all seemed to gaze them and Aurora thought she might crack for a moment under the pressure, but she held strong.

"Well if this is true, in this case. Miss Granger, you are a very foolish girl." Hermione ducked her head in shame at her words. Aurora felt guilty. Hermione was protecting them and facing one of her worst consequences. Disappointment from authority figures. Aurora wished she could take some of the heat. She was already used to disappointing her authority figures, it wouldn't bother her so much.

"To think you could ever take out a full mountain troll by yourself with two months of magic under your belt, absolutely ridiculous." McGonagall did not hold back at all.

"I'm sorry Professor, I shouldn't have done it. It was very foolish of me."

"You're right you shouldn't have. For your irresponsibility Miss Granger, five points will be taken from the Gryffindor house." Hermione sulked further down at this news in shame.

" And as for you three, you were very lucky in this situation. Not many first years can say that they took out a twenty foot mountain troll. I will advise you though not to get cocky about this experience. From now on you lot will do better to stay in Gryffindor Tower like your peers. However, for your bravery and dumb luck, five points will be awarded to Gryffindor each of you. Now go on you four. Off to bed."

And with that they were dismissed to bed.

"I think taking down a troll is worth far more than a measly fifteen points," Ron grumbled.

"Shut it Ron. You're lucky we're not dead," Aurora teased tucked her hair behind her ears. Taking down that troll, though frightening, had given her a rush of adrenaline. A small part of her willed something similar to happen again so she would have shot at fighting something herself.

"Thank you guys," Hermione said again. She appeared shy and embarrassed, looking down at her shoes rubbing the soles across the floor.

"Of course," Harry smiled at her.

After they had all made amends they continued on to the Gryffindor tower. However something would be different from now one. Fighting a troll was a unifying experience and it was safe to say the trio was no longer a trio, but a foursome. Hermione Granger from this point on, was their friend.