Trolling for Trouble

Harry sat in the locker room pulling on his Quidditch uniform. This was their first big match up against Slytherin. They'd played against Hufflepuff and won several weeks earlier, near the middle of September. Harry had to admit that he was nervous. He'd heard from the Gryffindor team as well as others that the Slytherins played dirty. He was pulled from his thoughts by Oliver's voice.

"Harry, you ready?" Wood asked, giving Harry a grin.

"I think so," Harry answered as they walked out.

"Just remember, avoid the bludgers and you'll be fine," Oliver whispered as the gates opened and the two teams whizzed out on their brooms. Harry flew high above the pitch, watching his teammates below. He was trying to keep his breathing even as Madam Hooch picked up the Quaffle.

"Now, I want a nice, clean game from all of you," she shouted before tossing the ball into the air. Angelina and Katie flew after it as did a few Slytherin players. Madam Hooch released the bludgers and Fred immediately sent one hurtling towards the Slytherin Seeker, Marcus Flint. Finally, the Snitch fluttered into the air. It flew around Harry's head before darting off in a different direction.

Harry knew all he needed to focus on was catching the snitch. He tried not to pay attention to the action taking place below him but he found it considerably more difficult than it sounded with Lee Jordan narrating every play through the loud speaker system.

Far below him, Hermione and Ron sat in the stands with Hagrid. Hermione gave him a wave and he faltered a little on his broom.

"Stop, you're distracting him," Ron said.

"He's not doing anything…so how can I distract him?" Hermione retorted.

"Come on Harry!" Ron bellowed.

Just then, Harry spotted the snitch flying over the Hufflepuff section of the stands. He zoomed off in that direction, hoping Flint hadn't noticed. Just as Harry was within reach of the small winged ball, his broom began to fling him about wildly. He tried to grip it with both hands and steady himself but it wasn't working. Harry could feel himself slipping off the broom. Flint flew past Harry after the snitch and Harry's heart sunk. Flint was going to catch the snitch and win the game.

"And it looks like Marcus Flint has spotted the snitch," Lee's voice boomed out.

"And…it seems that Harry Potter has lost control of his broom," he added, sounding shocked.

Back on the Gryffindor side of the stands, Hagrid was holding binoculars up to his face. Hermione and Ron were watching anxiously as Harry fought to regain control.

"Blimey, it looks like someone's cursed Harry's broom," Hagrid mumbled. Hermione reached up and took the binoculars from the half-giant. She peered through them and over at the opposite side of the stands. Her gaze landed on Snape. He was staring intently in Harry's direction, mumbling something over and over again.

"It's Snape," she gasped.

"What do you mean?" Hagrid asked.

"Well…when you cast a spell, you can't break eye contact. And he's not blinking," she said, handing the eyepiece back and starting to walk down the stands.

"Where are you going?" Ron called after her.

"To stop him," she replied simply.

"Nutter," Ron muttered under his breath. Hermione ran as quickly as she could over to the other side and ducked beneath the seats. She found where Snape was sitting and pulled out her wand. With a deep breath, she cast a spell.

"Incendio," she whispered. A lick of fire shot from her wand and ignited the professor's robes. As quickly as she could, she crawled back out and headed back to the Gryffindor side.

"Oi, you've caught fire," one of the students said to Snape. Severus looked down at the edge of his robes and stood, trying to put them out. In the process he managed to knock Professor Quirrel from his seat. Harry immediately regained control of his broomstick.

He pulled himself up and looked around. Lee hadn't announced that Slytherin had won so he still had a chance. Then he spotted it; it was single speck of gold in the sunlight. He leaned forward, racing towards it when Flint appeared at Harry's side, banging into him. Harry rammed the other boy back. This continued for a minute or two more before Harry saw the snitch take a dive towards the ground. Both players angled their brooms downwards until Flint pulled out, colliding with the ground anyways. Harry stood with both feet on his broom and reached out for the small ball. He just about had it within his reach when he tumbled forward off his broom. Harry stood up and felt a strange sensation in his mouth. Suddenly, he opened his mouth and the snitch popped out into his hands.

"He's done it! Harry Potter's caught the snitch!" Lee's voice rang out.

"Worth one hundred and fifty points, Gryffindor wins!" he exclaimed. Harry beamed at the cheering spectators. It felt good to have beaten Slytherin.

Several days later, the fervor of Harry catching the snitch had died down. Unfortunately, Ron's new obsession with Hermione's correcting him had not. He and Harry were walking along the center courtyard on the grounds and he was going on about it some more.

"It's Leviohsa, not Leviosah," he mocked. Harry didn't want to say anything for fear of upsetting both of his friends. From behind them, Hermione appeared and pushed past them, trying to keep tears from falling.

"What'd I do?" Ron asked.

"I think you upset her," Harry answered. Ron just shook his head as they walked on.

Dinner that night was uneventful, at first. Hermione had not appeared and Harry was worried. Ron was acting as if nothing had happened.

"I think you should apologize to her," Harry blurted.

"Huh?" Ron asked, his mouth full of food.

"I think you've upset her with not letting it go," he continued. Ron swallowed.

"Ok…I'll apologize after dinner," Ron muttered.

Just then, Professor Quirrel came running in. he stopped in the middle of the room and took a large breath.

"T-troll in the dungeon! Thought you ought to know," he squeaked before passing out. Dumbledore and McGonagall exchanged worried looks before the Headmaster stood up to address the student body.

"I would like everyone to proceed in an orderly fashion back to your common rooms. Staff, please come with me," Dumbledore announced. Students began to scatter in all direction frantically. The staff began to follow Dumbledore out of the Great Hall, except for Snape. He walked to a door behind the staff table and hurried out of view. As Harry and Ron tried to follow the other Gryffindors, a thought came to Harry.

"Where's Hermione? We've got to warn her," Harry said.

"I saw her in the girl's bathroom earlier…she was crying," Irlynn said, having heard his question.

"Thanks," Harry said and dragged Ron off in that direction. They reached the bathroom and heard loud, rumbling steps coming towards them.

"I think it found us,' Ron croaked out. Harry pushed the door to the bathroom open and ran inside. Hermione was just coming out of a stall, her eyes red and puffy. Before Harry could say anything, the troll slammed through the door, it's large club splintering the wood. Hermione gave a yelp and jumped back, ducking under the sinks. Harry and Ron took several steps backwards as it swung the club, smashing the stalls and a couple of the sinks. Before he knew what was happening, the creature had picked Harry up by the leg and was swinging him around, trying to hit him with the club.

"What do we do?" Ron asked.

"Something…anything," Harry answered and managed to avoid another swing. Ron looked down at his wand.

"Swish and flick," Hermione called. Ron nodded and raised his wand.

'Wingardium Leviosa," he said and the troll's club floated above his head. The troll looked up at it as it came crashing down on his head. It tumbled to the floor and Harry managed to roll out of the way. The commotion had drawn Professor McGonagall, Snape and Quirrel.

"What in Merlin's name is going on here?" McGonagall demanded. Harry was heaving for breath as he noticed a ut on Snape's leg. Severus quickly covered it up with his outer robes.

"I…I let the troll in. I'm sorry Professor. I thought I could handle it on my own. If it weren't for Harry and Ron…I'd probably be dead," Hermione said.

"Miss Granger, I am very disappointed in you. Five points from Gryffindor," McGonagall said and then looked at the two boys.

"As for you two, what were you thinking taking on a full grown mountain troll?" she scolded. Then her features softened slightly.

"Five points…for each of you for your bravery and sheer, dumb luck," she said and turned to go. Ron and Harry heaved sighs of relief as they and Hermione walked out as well. None of them noticed the withering look Snape gave Quirrel.

Out in the hall, some students had managed to sneak off from their Prefects, Irlynn included.

"Are you alright?" Irlynn called, running up to Harry and company.

"Yeah…we're fine," Harry answered.

"I heard the troll went…you're sure you're ok?" she rambled.

"We really are ok. Ron saved us," Hermione said. Ron blushed.

"It was nothing," he said, trying and failing to hide a grin.