IMPORTANT AN AT THE BOTTOM!

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. That privilege solely belongs to JK Rowling.

Chapter 6 Halloween

For the next several days, thoughts of what could lay beneath the trapdoor plagued Vesper's mind. What could possibly be so important to warrant a Cerberus being brought into a school full of children to guard it? And what did Harry know about it? She hadn't missed the way his eyes widened in realization when Hermione mentioned that the dog was guarding something. Vesper was positive the boy knew something and was determined to find out what it was.

Hermione, however, was determined to forget the whole thing. "I don't know why you're so curious about it," she said one day. "It's none of our business what Professor Dumbledore might need hidden." Yet Hermione was not so quick to forget her anger at Harry and Ron. "Honestly, it's a wonder they haven't been expelled yet. They could've gotten us in a whole lot of trouble and they haven't even apologized!" She was now adamantly ignoring the two boys. Vesper begrudgingly followed Hermione's example, though it meant that she now couldn't ask Harry about what might be hidden under the trapdoor.

Matters did not improve as October rolled around. Lessons became progressively harder now that they had mastered the basics, and Hermione was more determined than ever to remain top of the class. Vesper wasn't ignorant of the hostility that her year mates treated Hermione with. The snide whispers of, "know-it-all" and, "show-off" had sent Hermione fleeing to the girls' lavatory or a corner in the back of the library more than once. Lately, the comments seemed to come more frequently and with greater enthusiasm. All this did though was make Hermione more resolute in her aspiration to do well. When Vesper asked her why, she said, "They're jealous. Maybe if they put more effort into their schoolwork and not insulting me then there wouldn't be a problem." But despite her friend's brave face, Vesper still worried for Hermione's wellbeing.

Her fears were realized on Halloween morning. Vesper and Hermione headed to Charms class, the corridors filled with the scent of baking pumpkin. Professor Flitwick announced that they were going to start practicing levitation charms on feathers. He had them all pair up to practice. Vesper was paired off with one of her dorm mates, Parvati Patil. Hermione had the unfortunate luck to be paired with Ron.

"Now, don't forget the nice wrist movement we've been practicing," said Professor Flitwick, "the swish and flick. And enunciate: Win-gar-dium Levi-o-sa. Off you go!"

The class went to it, resounding calls of Wingardium Leviosa filling the room. Vesper, after her first unsuccessful attempt, managed to make her feather skirt along the top of the table where she sat but the feather made no move to float in the air. She looked around the room to see how the others were progressing. Most were staring blankly at their unmoving feathers; the once enthusiastic voices were now lackluster and full of boredom. Seamus Finnigan somehow managed to set his feather on fire. Harry quickly used his robes to smother the flames.

But even worse trouble than that was brewing two tables down from Vesper. Ron currently looked like he was beating his feather with his wand instead of casting a spell.

"No, stop, stop, stop!" Hermione's clear voice drifted over to where Vesper was seated. "You're going to take someone's eye out! Besides, you're saying it wrong. It's Levi-o-sa, not Levio-sa."

Ron was not impressed. "You do it, then, if you're so clever," he spat.

Vesper didn't even need to look to see what happened next. Hermione was almost certainly the best in their year and she nearly always got a spell right on her first try. So it was really no surprise when a white feather suddenly floated in Vesper's peripheral vision.

"Oh, well done!" cried Professor Flitwick. "See here everyone, Miss Granger's done it! Splendid!"

Ron glared at Hermione for the remainder of the lesson.

The corridor outside the classroom was crowded after class was finished. But even so, that didn't stop the conversation in front of Vesper and Hermione from being overheard.

"It's Levi-o-sa, not Levio-sa. She's a nightmare, honestly! It's no wonder she hasn't got any friends 'cept for that menace Black."

Vesper turned to her friend, to tell her to ignore Ron, but there was nothing but empty space where her friend had been a moment ago.

Anger flared up inside her. She reached out, pulling Ron around to face her.

"Nice going, Weasley," Vesper snapped. "Maybe if you stopped being a prat for two seconds, you might realize that she was trying to help when she didn't have to." She brushed past them but stopped after only a few steps. With one final glare, she added, "You best hope she's alright, Weasley, because if she's not…you'll have me to deal with."

Vesper turned and began to search for her distressed friend. She didn't see the visible gulp of one terrified Ronald Weasley.

It took a while for Vesper to find Hermione. Thinking that perhaps her friend had sought solace in the empty dormitory, Vesper checked there first. When she found the room to be empty, she then checked the library. Maybe Hermione had decided to immerse herself in a good book to forget those hurtful words

It wasn't hard to find Hermione; she hadn't gone very far. Vesper found her in the girls' lavatory a few corridors down from the Charms classroom.

When she entered, Vesper cringed at the noise of Hermione's broken sobs. Her anger spiked, but she forced herself to calm down for Hermione's sake.

Vesper walked tentatively toward the only occupied stall and knocked on the door. "Hermione? You okay?"

Hermione didn't answer. Instead, her crying seemed to only get worse.

"Hermione," Vesper tried again, "Hermione, please. Please come out."

"N-n-n-no! G-go away!"

"No one really thinks that about you, Hermione! Ron Weasley's just –"

"I don't care what Ron Weasley or Harry Potter o-or anyone else th-th-thinks about me! I-I d-don't!"

Judging from the continued sobs, Vesper thought that Hermione's declaration seemed as unlikely as Snape confessing his undying love for Professor McGonagall. Was Hermione's brave face all just an act that Vesper had easily fallen for? If so, she thought, I seem a pretty poor excuse for a friend.

"Come on, Hermione," said Vesper. "Look, we've missed most of History of Magic but if we hurry we can make it to the greenhouses in time for Herbology. What do you say?"

"N-no! I don't ever w-w-want t-to s-see Ronald Weasley again!"

Merlin, she didn't know what to do! School almost always worked to cheer up Hermione.

But the crying girl went on. "I-I know th-that you're j-just b-being nice, Vesper. Y-you don't h-have to pretend a-anymore. I'll still h-help you w-with school a-and everything."

That made Vesper pause. Did Hermione really think so low of herself that she didn't understand that Vesper really did want to be her friend? She inwardly cursed Ron Weasley til the day he died. His cruel words, spoken out of spite and jealousy, had been the final blow to push Hermione's insecurities over the edge. Her usually brilliant mind had become warped to the point of illogicality; to where she couldn't look past Ron's words to see what was just on the other side of the lavatory door. If she could just get Hermione to calm down and see reason –

"Hermione," Vesper said, very purposefully, "I'm going to leave for a bit, but I promise I am coming right back. Okay?"

She didn't get a response, but then Vesper really didn't expect one. Hermione's crying seemed to be gaining momentum again, and she knew she had best get going.

The walk over to the hospital wing was easy enough. Classes hadn't let out yet so the corridors were still empty and for that, Vesper was grateful. The sooner she got Hermione calmed down, the sooner Vesper could deal with the problem at hand; namely a certain redheaded boy with a habit of speaking without thinking about how his words might affect others.

Only one bed was occupied when Vesper reached the hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey came bustling over the moment she entered.

"What can I do for you?" The matron's voice was very clipped and business-like.

"I need a Calming Draught please," Vesper rattled off. "Oh, and a headache potion too, I suppose," she added.

Madam Pomfrey stared at Vesper, her eyes suspicious. "And why should I give these potions to you when you clearly are not in need of any of them?"

"They're not for me, Madam Pomfrey, but for a friend." The lie rolled easily off her tongue. "She received some bad news this morning at breakfast. A family member just died suddenly. She was so upset that she ran off to our dormitory. When I went to check on her after first class, she was still terribly upset. She's really worked herself up into a state and this was the only thing I could think of to help her."

"Poor dear," said Madam Pomfrey, heading for the storeroom. She came back a few moments later. "I'm also giving you a Sleeping Draught. No doubt your friend will need it. Now hurry up and get back to class."

Vesper smiled to herself as soon as she was out of the hospital wing. It had been much easier convincing Madam Pomfrey than she thought it was going to be. Now her only challenge was getting Hermione to drink the potions.

Many hours later, Vesper found herself sitting on the floor of the bathroom, cold, uncomfortable, and hungry. It was well into the evening now and she hadn't eaten since breakfast. When she had returned earlier with the potions, Hermione had refused to take them. At least she hadn't tried to make Vesper leave again. Vesper had been thankful that Hermione hadn't run off when she left, but wasn't sure that Hermione would stick around if she left again. So she sat herself down and didn't move all through lunch and afternoon classes, Hermione crying the entire time.

But the crying had stopped, and the slight creak of the stall's door caught Vesper's attention. She glanced up. Hermione's usually impeccable uniform was wrinkled and her eyes were distinctly red. Slowly, Vesper stood up. She walked over to her friend, who was fiddling with the edge of her robe, and handed over the headache potion. Hermione took it without question, downing it in one gulp.

"Thank you," said Hermione, "for everything. And I'm sorry."

"It doesn't matter," said Vesper with a small smile. "I expect that someday in my Hogwarts career I will have a good long cry too and you can repay the favor then. But for now, let's just get something to eat; I'm starving!"

However, before either of them could make a step towards the door, it opened. And on the other side was not a student leaving the feast early.

It was a troll.

It almost seemed as surprised to find two small girls in the lavatory as they were. Hermione, using the troll's momentary surprise, shot out her hand and grabbed Vesper, pulling her into the stall Hermione had barricaded herself in.

Their sudden movement drew the troll from its stupor. It let out a terrible roar as the stalls surrounding Vesper broke like twigs. She and Hermione ducked, the splintered wood falling on top of them. Hermione screamed just as the doors burst open again. This time it was Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. A quick shout of, "Move!" from Harry was all the warning they had before the troll continued its assault on the stalls. A new wave of wood fell on top of them.

Vesper felt a sudden crushing pain on her leg. She looked back. One of the large beams that created the frame for the stalls had her leg pinned beneath it. Hermione hadn't even noticed. She crawled from the wreckage to underneath the sinks. The troll noticed and swung down its club, just nearly missing a screaming Hermione.

Harry and Ron, who had just been throwing pieces of broken wood at the troll, winced as Hermione was nearly crushed. Angrily, Vesper yelled, "Don't just stand there; help!"

That seemed to work. Harry pulled out his wand and made a running charge towards the troll. He grabbed hold of the troll's club as it prepared for another swing and was lifted into the air, landing on top of the troll's shoulders. The troll jerked and twisted trying to see what was on its shoulders.

That was when Harry decided to shove his wand up the troll's nose.

Howling with pain, the troll began to flail about. Vesper was worried that Harry's grip would come loose and send him flying into a wall.

"Do something!" Harry shouted.

Ron looked around. "What?"

"Anything! Just hurry up!"

Ron pulled out his wand. Hermione shouted, "Swish and flick!"

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

The club the troll was holding suddenly flew out of its hand and into the air, rising higher and higher, turning slowly over – and dropping onto the troll's head. The troll swayed and fell flat on its face.

Ron moved to help Vesper, and she begrudgingly let go of her anger toward him. Together, they managed to push the beam off her leg and she stood up gingerly. Putting weight on it, her leg flared with pain, but it was manageable and definitely not broken. She limped over to Hermione and grabbed her friend's shaking hand.

Hesitantly, Hermione asked, "Is it – dead?"

"I don't think so," said Harry. "It's just knocked out."

He bent down and pulled his wand out of the troll's nose. It was covered in what looked like slime.

"Urgh – troll boogies."

They all grimaced in disgust.

A sudden slamming and several hurried footsteps made the four of them look up. A moment later, Professor McGonagall came bursting into the room followed by Professor Quirrell and Snape. Vesper supposed that she really shouldn't be surprised. After all, the troll wasn't exactly quiet in destroying the bathroom.

Professor McGonagall looked positively furious. She rounded on Harry and Ron.

"What on earth were you thinking? Explain yourselves, both of you!"

"Well, you see –"

"It wasn't –"

"It was my fault, Professor McGonagall."

McGonagall finally seemed to notice Vesper and Hermione. "Miss Granger?" she said, disbelief written on her face.

Hermione nodded. "I went looking for the troll and made Vesper come with me. I'd read all about trolls and I thought I could handle it. But I was wrong. If Harry and Ron hadn't come, I'd probably be dead."

"Well, be that as it may," said Professor McGonagall sharply, "what you did was extremely foolish and I am very disappointed in you. You not only endangered your own life, but Miss Black's as well. Five points will be taken for your serious lack of judgment."

Professor McGonagall turned to Harry and Ron. "As for you two gentlemen, I hope you realize that not many first year students would be able to take on a fully grown mountain troll and live to tell the tale.

"Five points will be awarded to each of you – for sheer dumb luck," she added. "Now, the rest of the students are finishing the feast in their common rooms. I suggest you join them."

They didn't need to be told twice. Vesper, Harry, Ron, and Hermione hurried out of the bathroom towards Gryffindor Tower. Vesper lagged behind, and Hermione slowed her pace. The two boys walked on ahead, their conversation floating back.

"We should've gotten more than ten points," Ron grumbled.

"Five, you mean, once she's taken off Hermione's points."

"Good of them to get us out of trouble like that. Mind you, we did save them."

Vesper rolled her eyes and called out, "Mind you, we might not have needed saving if someone hadn't been a complete arse."

To her utter surprise, Ron turned around looking rather sheepish.

"I am sorry about that," he said, "you know…what I said. To both of you."

"I'm sorry too," said Vesper. "I shouldn't have threatened you." She held out her hand. "Friends?"

He took it without hesitation. "Friends."

"Friends."

Harry had joined in, placing his hand on top of Ron and Vesper's. He looked past Vesper. "Hermione?" he asked.

The bushy haired girl placed her hand over Harry's, a smile on her face.

"Friends."

AN-Goodness I am terribly sorry! This was supposed to be out months ago but RL just kept getting in the way. I would bore you with all the details but those can be found on my LiveJournal instead. You should check it out; there will be lots of goodies on there! Just go to

Side note: This fic is halfway done! Woo!

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed/faved/alerted. You guys keep me going!

Until next time! Remember to review!

Love Lora