THE HALLOWEEN ADVENTURE
In the day after the dog incident , Ron was very adamant in finding what the dog was guarding. Though even Natasha was interested in finding out, she wanted to leave the topic alone for now. As the owls flooded into the Great Hall as usual, everyone's attention was caught at once by a long, thin package carried by six large screech owls. Natasha was just as interested as everyone else to see what was in this large parcel, and was amazed when the owls soared down and dropped it right in front of her, knocking her bacon to the floor. They had hardly fluttered out of the way when another owl dropped a letter on top of the parcel. Natasha ripped open the letter first, which was lucky, because it said: DO NOT OPEN THE PARCEL AT THE TABLE. It contains your new Nimbus Two Thousand, but I don't want everybody knowing you've got a broomstick or they'll all want one. Oliver Wood will meet you tonight on the Quidditch field at seven o'clock for your first training session.
Professor M. McGonagall
"A Nimbus Two Thousand!" Ron moaned enviously. "I've never even touched one.". They left the hall quickly, wanting to unwrap the broomstick in private before their first class, but halfway across the Entrance Hall they found the way upstairs barred by Crabbe and Goyle. Draco came and asked,"You got a package Weasley? Your family will be starving for days now.". "Natasha got a Nimbus 2000, Malfoy. Thanks to your stunt during the flying class.", Ron said. Draco looked stunned, and said "B-But first years are not allowed to do that!". "They changed that rule only for her", Ron said proudly. Natasha did not like the whole conversation,as she did not like showing off. "What would you know about a Nimbus, Weasley, you couldn't afford half the handle," Malfoy snapped back. "I suppose you and your brothers have to save up twig by twig.". "Eat slugs Malfoy.", Ron told and started walking. When Natasha passed Draco ,she could hear him muttering "Congrats.". When she passed him, she looked back and smiled. She knew there was a good guy somewhere inside him. When they reached the common room, they heard Hermione "Hey Natasha , it is illegal first years to have a Broomstick. You promised you will not break any more rules.". "Hermione, Professor McGonagall gave this to me. She made an exception to the rule. That too how am i supposed to play Quidditch without one.", Natasha asked. "OK . Well congrats.", Hermione said.
Natasha was very impatient to be on her broom the whole of that day. She bolted her dinner that evening without noticing what she was eating, and rushed to her dorm to unwrap her broom. There was Lavender and Parvati present in her room, and they together opened the parcel. Lavender and Parvati let out an admiring sound as soon as they finished unwrapping. Even Natasha, who knew nothing about the different brooms, thought it looked wonderful. Sleek and shiny, with a mahogany handle, it had a long tail of neat, straight twigs and Nimbus Two Thousand written in gold near the top. As seven o'clock drew nearer, Natasha left the castle and set off in the dusk toward the Quidditch field. She'd never been inside the stadium before. Hundreds of seats were raised in stands around the field so that the spectators were high enough to see what was going on. At either end of the field were three golden poles with hoops on the end. They reminded Natasha of the little plastic sticks Muggle children blew bubbles through, except that they were fifty feet high. Too eager to fly again to wait for Wood, Natasha mounted her broomstick and kicked off from the ground. What a feeling – she swooped in and out of the goal posts and then sped up and down the field. The Nimbus Two Thousand turned wherever she wanted at her slightest touch.
"Hey, Natasha,come down!".Oliver Wood had arrived. He was carrying a large wooden crate under his arm. Natasha landed next to him. "Very nice," said Wood, his eyes glinting. "I see what McGonagall meant … you really are a natural.". "I'm just going to teach you the rules this evening, then you'll be joining team practice three times a week.". Though Natasha knew most of the rules, she was still eager to hear them from a Quidditch player. They spent nearly 15 minutes discussing the rules of the game. The game was like muggle Basketball. The players called the chasers had to put the Quaffle through the rings. The beaters try to stop the chasers by throwing Bludgers at them. Keepers try to stop the Quaffle from entering the post. Then came the seeker who has to catch the golden snitch which gives the team 150 points and ends the game. After discussing the rules, He pulled a bag of ordinary gold balls out of his pocket and a few minutes later, he and Natasha were up in the air, Wood throwing the golf balls as hard as he could in every direction for Natasha to catch. Natasha didn't miss a single one, and Wood was delighted.
After half an hour, night had really fallen and they couldn't carry on. "That Quidditch Cup'll have our name on it this year," said Wood happily as they trudged back up to the castle. "I wouldn't be surprised if you turn out better than Charlie Weasley, and he could have played for England if he hadn't gone off chasing dragons.". Perhaps it was because he was so busy, what with Quidditch practice three evenings a week, on top of all her homework,but Natasha enjoyed doing both. Girls of her dorm started teasing her saying that she is an unusual combination of a bookworm ,and a quidditch player. Even Hermione joined them. Natasha could hardly believe it when she realized that he'd already been at Hogwarts two months. The castle felt more like home than Privet Drive ever had. Her lessons, too, were becoming more and more interesting now that they had mastered the basics.
Then came Halloween , the day Natasha was not looking out for, after she came to know that her parents had died on that day. She had woken on that day, sobbing uncontrollably , as she had the dream of the green light and the laughter. Hermione and Parvati rushed to her bed and tried to calm her down. She got ready after calming down and went for breakfast. She was greeted by the smell of baking pumpkin wafting through the corridors. The classes went on quite normally, and Natasha forgot about the day till they got ready for lunch.
The great hall was already being decorated by the professors. The hall also smelled of Pumpkin. She saw only joy in the faces of her fellow students. All this made her even more sad, as she knew she could not celebrate today because it was the day her parents were killed. She could not control her emotions after lunch and rushed into an empty cupboard instead of going to her classroom. She closed the door behind her and started sobbing again. She just could not feel the joy other students felt, she even felt jealous of others as they had parents and she did not. It was just too much for. She sat inside the cupboard for a very long time sobbing ,and lost the track of time.
Severus Snape had a free hour , and was going back to his private quarters after spending some time in the Library. He always hated Halloween,as it was the day in which the only love of his life died. He did not have a happy mood as the rest of the professors, and even skipped the Halloween feast if possible just to mourn Lily privately. When he passed a cupboard which he knew was empty, he heard someone sobbing from inside that. Severus felt angry to the student , who decided to bunk classes and spend time in a cupboard. He opened the cupboard door and was shocked to find Natasha potter sobbing uncontrollably. Severus felt uncomfortable seeing her cry. It was like seeing lily cry. "What happened to her?", Severus thought. Finally Severus asked, "Why are you not in your class , Ms potter.". Natasha turned to him with a fearful expression ,but mustered all her courage and said, "Y-You will not u-understand sir. Its s-something p-personal". "Ms potter , please tell me your problem. If you tell someone your problems you will get relief. Come with me, we will sit and talk elsewhere.", Severus said. Natasha had no other choice but to obey her Professor, and followed him silently to his quarters.
"Now talk , why are you skipping a class.", he asked. "I -I am j-just not feeling w-well, professor.", Natasha replied. "Really, Ms potter? Then why are you crying?",Severus asked. She just stared and did not reply. But then it struck him in his face. It was the day 'THE DAY'. She must be feeling, for her parents. Just like he felt about Lily. "This is about your parents isn't it , Ms Potter?", Severus said. The girl looked surprised , and nodded. "Listen to me ,ms.. Natasha", Severus said addressing her by her first name," You should not be like this. I know you are a strong and wonderful girl. Your father and mother, will not want you to be crying like this", Severus said stressing a bit when he mentioned Mother. "They would want you to stay strong. They would want you to be happy. I do hope that you are not any facing any other problems at school, Ms Potter.", severus said. Natasha shook her head and said, "No sir, i am not facing any other problems at school.". "Then please stay happy. I hate it when one of my top students are sad, Ms potter. I see so much potential in you."
Natasha felt encouraged by the Professor's words , and was thankful to him for talking with her. "He must have done this to many of his students", she thought. "Take this, , this is a calming will help you to calm down.", the Professor offered a potion. Natasha gladly took the potion ,and drank it. Natasha felt her nerves, calming down ,and she felt so much better. "Thank you professor", Natasha said with a smile. "You are welcome Ms Potter. Now off you go", Severus said. Natasha went out of Professor's place with a newfound confidence. She felt so much better ,and was thankful to the professor. When she reached the common room , she sat on the cushion and sat thought about things the professor said.
At 3:40 Ron came into the common room. When he saw Natasha , he came near and asked, "Where were you? I cannot believe you of all people missed a class."."I was not feeling well, Ron.", Natasha said. Ron believed what Natasha said. "Hey do you know what we did in charms?, Ron asked, and talked about their lesson. Natasha felt that Ron was not telling her something. Then a big thing happened at the Halloween feast. A thousand live bats fluttered from the walls and ceiling while a thousand more swooped over the tables in low black clouds, making the candles in the pumpkins stutter. The feast appeared suddenly on the golden plates, as it had at the start-of-term banquet. Natasha was puzzled when she did not find Hermione anywhere during the feast, but knowing Hermione, she must be busy with her books ,and lost the track of time. Natasha was just helping herself to a baked potato when Professor Quirrell came sprinting into the hall, his turban askew and terror on his face. Everyone stared as he reached Professor Dumbledore's chair, slumped against the table, and gasped, "Troll – in the dungeons – thought you ought to know. He then sank to the floor in a dead faint.
There was an uproar. It took several purple fireworks exploding from the end of Professor Dumbledore's wand to bring silence. "Prefects," he rumbled, "lead your Houses back to the dormitories immediately!". Percy was in his element. "Follow me! Stick together, first years! No need to fear the troll if you follow my orders! Stay close behind me, now. Make way, first years coming through! Excuse me, I'm a prefect!". "How could a troll get in?" Natasha asked as they climbed the stairs. "Don't ask me, they're supposed to be really stupid," said Ron. "Maybe Peeves let it in for a Halloween joke.". They passed different groups of people hurrying in different directions. As they jostled their way through a crowd of confused Hufflepuffs, Ron suddenly grabbed Natasha's arm.
"I've just thought – Hermione.", Ron told. "What about her?", Natasha asked. She knew immediately that something was wrong. "I have not told everything about today's charms class.", Ron said. "She was acting her usual in the class, showing off in front of everyone. I got angry and started telling bad things about her to Seamus she heard that and ran off crying somewhere.". Natasha was angry at Ron, "What a jerk!", she thought. "You have any idea where is she now?", Natasha asked. "I heard Lavender telling Parvati that she was in the girls bathroom ,near the dungeons crying.", Ron replied. "We need to go there now!", Natasha said pulling Ron's hand. Ducking down, they joined the Hufflepuffs going the other way, slipped down a deserted corridor, and hurried off toward the girls' bathroom. They had just turned the corner when they heard quick footsteps behind them. "Percy!" hissed Ron, pulling Natasha behind a large stone griffin. Peering around it, however, they saw not Percy but Snape. He crossed the corridor and disappeared from view. "What's he doing?" Ron whispered. "Why isn't he down in the dungeons with the rest of the teachers?".
Quietly as possible, they crept along the next corridor after Snape's fading footsteps. "He's heading for the third floor," Ron said, but Natasha held up her hand. She could smell something funny. "Can you smell something?" Ron sniffed and a foul stench reached his nostrils, a mixture of old socks and the kind of public toilet no one seems to clean. And then they heard it – a low grunting, and the shuffling footfalls of gigantic feet. Ron pointed – at the end of a passage to the left, something huge was moving toward them. They shrank into the shadows and watched as it emerged into a patch of moonlight. It was a horrible sight. Twelve feet tall, its skin was a dull, granite grey, its great lumpy body like a boulder with its small bald head perched on top like a coconut. It had short legs thick as tree trunks with flat, horny feet. The smell coming from it was incredible. It was holding a huge wooden club, which dragged along the floor because its arms were so long.
The troll stopped next to a doorway and peered inside. It waggled its long ears, making up its tiny mind, then slouched slowly into the room. "That's the girl's bathroom", Natasha said horrified. They heard something that made their hearts stop – a high, petrified scream – and it was coming from the bathroom. "Oh, no," said Ron, pale as the Bloody Baron. "Hermione!" they said together. It was the last thing they wanted to do, but what choice did they have? Wheeling around, they sprinted back to the door and turned the key, fumbling in their panic. They ran inside the bathroom. Hermione Granger was shrinking against the wall opposite, looking as if she was about to faint. The troll was advancing on her, knocking the sinks off the walls as it went. "Confuse it!" Natasha said desperately to Ron, and, seizing a tap, he threw it as hard as she could against the wall. The troll stopped a few feet from Hermione. It lumbered around, blinking stupidly, to see what had made the noise. Its mean little eyes saw the both of them. It hesitated, then made for her instead, lifting its club as it went. "Oy, pea-brain!" yelled Ron from the other side of the chamber, and she threw a metal pipe at it. The troll didn't even seem to notice the pipe hitting its shoulder, but heard the yell and paused again, turning its ugly snout toward Ron instead, giving Natasha time to run around it.
"Come on, run, run!" Natasha yelled at Hermione, trying to pull her toward the door, but she couldn't move, she was still flat again the wall, her mouth open with terror. The shouting and the echoes seemed to be driving the troll berserk. It roared again and started toward Ron, who was nearest and had no way to escape. Having no bright ideas, Natasha did something that was both very brave and very stupid: she took a great running jump and managed to fasten her arms around the troll's neck from behind. The troll couldn't feel Natasha hanging there, but even a troll will notice if you stick along bit of wood up its nose, and Natasha's wand had still been in her hand when she'd jumped – and it had gone straight up one of the troll's nostrils. Howling in pain, the troll twisted and flailed its club, with Natasha clinging on for dear life; any second, the troll was going to rip her off or catch her a terrible blow with the club.
Hermione had sunk to the floor in fright; Ron pulled out his own wand – not knowing what he was going to do he heard himself cry the first spell that came into his head: "Wingardium Leviosa!". Ron had told Natasha about the spell, it was the one which was done in charms. The club flew suddenly out of the troll's hand, rose high, high up into the air, turned slowly over – and dropped, with a sickening crack, onto its owner's head. The troll swayed in the spot and then fell flat on its face, with a thud that made the whole room tremble. Natasha got to her feet. She was shaking and out of breath. Ron was standing there with his wand still raised, staring at what he had done.
It was Hermione who spoke first. "Is it – dead?". "I don't think so," said Natasha, "I think it's just been knocked out.". She bent down and pulled her wand out of the troll's nose. It was covered in what looked like lumpy gray glue. "Urgh – troll boogers.", She wiped it on the troll's trousers. A sudden slamming and loud footsteps made the three of them look up. They hadn't realized what a racket they had been making, but of course, someone downstairs must have heard the crashes and the troll's roars. A moment later, Professor McGonagall had come bursting into the room, closely followed by Professor Snape, with Quirrell bringing up the rear. Quirrell took one look at the troll, let out a faint whimper, and sat down quickly down on a toilet, clutching his heart. Professor looked at the trio with a shocked expression and bent over the troll. Professor McGonagall was looking at Ron and Natasha. Natasha had never seen her look so angry. Her lips were white. Hopes of winning fifty points for Gryffindor faded quickly from Natasha's mind. "What on earth were you thinking?" said Professor McGonagall, with cold fury in her voice. Natasha looked at Ron, who was still standing with his wand in the air. "You're lucky you weren't killed. Why aren't you in your dormitory?". Professor Snape gave Natasha a swift, questioning look, as if saying you better explain everything. Natasha looked down, she knew the Professors were disappointed.
Then a small voice came out of the shadows. "Please, Professor McGonagall – they were looking for me.". "Miss Granger!".Hermione had managed to get to her feet at last. "I went looking for the droll because I – I thought I could deal with it on my own – you know, because I've read all about them.". Ron dropped his wand. Hermione Granger, telling a downright lie to a teacher? "If they hadn't found me, I'd be dead now. Natasha stuck her wand up its nose and Ron knocked it out with its own club. They didn't have time to come and fetch anyone. It was about to finish me off when they arrived.". Natasha and Ron tried to look as though this story wasn't new to them. "Well – in that case…" said Professor McGonagall, staring at the three of them, "Miss Granger, you foolish girl, how could you think of tackling a mountain troll on your own?". Hermione hung her head. Natasha was speechless. Hermione was the last person to do anything against the rules, and here she was, pretending she had, to get them out of trouble. "Miss Granger, five points will be taken from Gryffindor for this," said Professor McGonagall. "I'm very disappointed in you. If you're not hurt at all, you'd better get off to Gryffindor tower. Students are finishing the feast in their houses.". Hermione left. Professor McGonagall turned to Natasha and Ron.
"Well, I still say you were lucky, but not many first years could have taken on a full-grown mountain troll. You each win Gryffindor five points. Professor Dumbledore will be informed of this. You may go.". They hurried out of the chamber and didn't speak at all until they had climbed two floors up. It was a relief to be away from the smell of the troll, quite apart from anything else. "We should have gotten more than ten points," Ron grumbled. "Seriously! We narrowly escaped punishment, and you are complaining about points?", Natasha asked with a laugh. "Good of her to get us out of trouble like that," Ron admitted. "Mind you, we did save her.". They had reached the portrait of the Fat Lady. "Pig snout," they said and entered. The common room was packed and noisy. Everyone was eating the food that had been sent up. Hermione, however, stood alone by the door, waiting for them. There was a very embarrassed pause. Then, none of them looking at each other, they all said "Thanks," and hurried off to get plates. But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend. There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.