A/N: Sorry I took so long to update! I have no plan for the end, pretty much just winging it along the way. Hope you enjoy this one.
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October 31st, Halloween
Harry remembered his first-well, first first Halloween at Hogwarts. The food had been drool-worthy, the ghosts jumping with joy(Harry guessed they would have, if they were able to) and activity buzzing through the British boarding school. How different Halloween with the Dursleys had been! Dudley would come home, his face covered in the majority of the sweets, dump his loot on the table, and feast 'till the morning. After his trouser buttons had near exploded, and the belching had eased, he would play Throw-Harry-Across-The-Room-And Watch-As-His-Nose-Bleeds. But now everything was different. He had Hogwarts, he had food, and (most importantly) he had Hermione. She was nothing like the original Granger girl, her nose breathing in the dust of musty books, turning it up at the occasional eye-roll or correction. He was growing far more attached to her than before, noticing how sweet her humour was, seeing that golden splash of freckles gleam in the shining sun.
The only thing that soured his day was the question of Fate. Why had he sent him here? He couldn't ask Hermione, a fact which he regretted to the fullest. Though a brilliant witch, she was still too young, and wouldn't understand his dilemma.
Quirrel had been the identical to before, trembling at every word he uttered, masking his true identity as Voldemort's half. Halloween had been the start, Harry remembered, of Quirrel's wrath. Events of horror had taken place soon after, setting loose an obstacle of disaster. Were trolls to be in the dungeon this time, or was Quirrelmort to take on a different path? He would have to wait and see.
Harry POV
I had been anxious the entire feast, awaiting Quirrel's call of trolls. This time I would not hesitate to strike, at the beast, waiting for Ron. Quirrel had to be followed. His whereabouts had to be revealed. Oh, if only ! had asked the staff of his attendance before! Quirrelmort had collapsed that night, but it wasn't known if he was taken to Madame Pomfrey immediately. Why had I not questioned it before?
" Harry, you've got to eat" urged Hermione, placing a leg of roasted chicken on my plate. I had been eyeing the door for hours, ready to exit the Hall at Quirrel's entrance. Hermione was oblivious to the cause of my anxiety, but no witch that smart couldn't see the drops of sweat lining my brow. I relented slowly, plucking a grape from it's cluster. Hermione scowled, obviously not satisfied with my act. " Fine" I huffed, and chewed on some meat. It would have tasted delicious if not for the taste of bitter worry inhabiting my mouth. Hermione bit her lip, her adorable nose scrunched up. Wait. Hermione didn't have an adorable nose. Since when did she have an adorable anything? Yet my eyes stayed fixatated on her, mesmerized with it's…Stop. There is nothing captivating about Hermione and-
" Tro-o-o-olls! Tro-olls in the dun-g-g-g-geon! " cried out a trembling, terrified voice. My head spun as I identified the speaker. Quirrel collapsed on the floor, staging an act so believable I just had to admire the simplicity of it. There was a second's pause before the Hall erupted in whispering. Hermione's eyes grew wide as she realized the situation. " Silence! Silence in the Hall! Prefects, may you please take your students immediately to their dormitories. No stops" Dumbledore bellowed. The Ravenclaw prefect, Mikayla, transformed in a military general in an instant as she gathered the students into " single file line, kiddies! A step outside and you'll be begging for death!"
Hermione took my hand as she headed toward the Robinson girl. I stood my ground and didn't budge an inch. " Come on, Harry! I for one would not like to be troll kibble, so if we could please-"
" I don't care about trolls" I muttered. Hermione rolled her chestnut eyes and sighed. " I don't care for them either, so let's-". I shook my head. She couldn't come, but I had to figure out the Quirrel situation. " Go with Mikayla. Stay in your dormitory" I commanded. Hermione looked shocked at the change in my eyes. I just couldn't let her get hurt. She looked back at a disappearing group of first years, and then faced me once more. " I won't forget this Mr. Potter" she huffed. Hermione ran back, joining her fellow students. After seeing her safely with Mikayla, I surveyed the room.
Quirrel had disappeared.
A/N: Hope you liked it. Tons more action in the next chapter, but be patient! R&R.