"I still can't believe you got on the team." Izzy was saying as a Jack-o-lantern bobbed over
her head. It was Halloween and everyone was in the Great Hall eating. Linda, Ellura and
Izzy sat on one side of the table and Andy, April and Vayvar were on the other. They usually
sat like this. "I didn't think first years made the team." April grabbed a handful of liquorish
wands that someone had decided should sit right in front of her.
"That's only in Gryffindor and Slytherin. We Hufflepuffs are a lot more trustworthy."
Beside her Vayvar opened a chocolate frog, as it tried to jump away April caught it almost
absentmindedly. Izzy unwrapped a chocolate coin.
"Yeah, as Chasers. Not Beaters." April stuck her tongue out and waved a liquorish wand at
Izzy.
"Eat-ous your food-ous, and leave me alone-ous." Izzy leaned back dramatically.
"Oh no, it's the legendary Wand of Liquorish-ness, I must comply with your magical
powers." Everyone began laughing, aside from Ellura who just rolled her eyes and went back
to trying to read without getting sticky food all over her book. Vayvar snatched a liquorish
wand from April's plate.
"Hah ha, you shall not stop me, you evil thing!" as they began 'Duelling' Andy and Izzy
began placing bets.
"One giant Lollypop says 'Four eyes' wins."
"You're on." Suddenly a host of sparrows flew up between the two girls.
"Oh, I thought I left my wand at the room." The small group laughed and even a few
Hufflepuffs around them giggled. But, as usual, Ellura still didn't smile let alone laugh. Linda
nudged her lightly.
"Come on Ella, what's wrong?" she waved the short blonds concern away.
"It's nothing, don't worry." Izzy leaned forward.
"Come on Elly, you can tell us." Ellura glared at the red haired witch
"Don't call me that." April was about to stop Izzy before she said something stupid but she
heard Hermione's name behind her and remembered she hadn't seen her all day.
"Parvati Patil said that she wouldn't come out of the girl's bathroom. She said that she'd been
in there all afternoon...crying." she recognised Neville's voice and sighed. It was too late to
go now; she'd probably get in trouble from the professors if she tried. Suddenly Professor
Quirrell burst through the big double doors screaming.
"TROLL! IN THE DUNGEON! T-TROOLLL IN THE DUNGEON!" he stopped in
the middle of the hall and whimpered: "Thought you ought to know." Before fainting on
the stone floor. For a moment everyone was silent, then all hell broke loose as everyone
screamed and ran for the door. The booming voice of the headmaster echoed over the yells.
"SILENCE!" the entire hall froze and turned to face Dumbledore as spoke calmly.
"Everyone will please, not panic. Now, Prefects will lead their houses back to the
dormitories. Teachers will follow me to the dungeons." April heard someone call to the
Hufflepuffs and followed.
As the Hufflepuff group broke off from the Gryffindors she saw Harry Potter pull a Weasley
from the crowd.
"Hermione! She doesn't know!" They ran off toward the girls' bathroom. Vayvar grabbed
April's robes.
"You're not thinking of following them are you?"
"Are you kidding? I'm just a first year, not a stupid Gryffindor. He might have gotten out
of the dungeons and there's no way I could take on a Troll." She saw Professor McGonagall
herding students. "But I know someone who could." She called out to the professor.
"Ms Thompson, aren't you suppose to be heading to the Hufflepuff dormitories?" April ran
up with Vayvar in tow.
"Professor McGonagall, I just saw two Gryffindor boys run to the girls' bathrooms, they
said someone was still there." Vayvar stepped forward.
"We need to follow them professor," her voice seem a little more formal and superior than it
usually did, "they were only first years like us." Professor McGonagall looked a little shaken
when she saw Vayvar.
"Very well, follow me." She stated.
As the two students' ran after Professor McGonagall they rounded a corner and saw Professor
Snape arguing with Professor Quirrell.
"I know what you after, and I better not catch you there again." Snape growled. Quirrell
began spluttering.
"Will you two professors please come with me?" Professor McGonagall announced as she
ran past. "It appears we have rogue Gryffindors." A light smirk appeared across Professor
Snape's face
"Forgive me professor, but that always seems to be the case." April giggled at the Potions
professor's joke. But as they came closer to the bathroom they heard the Troll roar and Aprils
smile washed away. The three Professors began running as fast as they could and April and
Vayvar were soon left behind. They heard thunderous crash as professors rounded the final
corner. Soon Professor McGonagall's voice echoed back to them:
"Explain yourselves, both of you!" when the two Hufflepuffs got to the bathroom doorway
they heard Hermione take the blame and stop. As Professor McGonagall began scolding her
Vayvar leaned over to April
"She's very loyal for a Gryffindor." She whispered. April nodded.
"Smart as a Ravenclaw and Loyal as a Hufflepuff, why is she in Gryffindor?" Vayvar
shrugged.
"At least she's not in Slytherin. And besides, my guess is that those two will probably need
her help more than we would." Professor McGonagall wandered out of the bathroom and
stood in front of them.
"Thank you both for telling me rather than running off after those two yourselves. You
will each get ten points for using intelligence rather than bravery. Now, Professor Snape
will escort you both to the kitchens on his way to the dungeons, while I take these three to
Gryffindor tower."