Chapter 6
Åsa walked into the Great Hall to notice that Draco Malfoy, her official enemy, was shocked to see her, along with Harry and Ron, who were behind her, to be at Hogwarts. Fritzie was the only one to notice that Åsa was tired, except the people who knew what happened the night before. When Åsa grabbed a goblet of orange juice and lemon poppy seed muffin, she heard Harry and Ron.
"It's either really valuable or really dangerous," Ron stated.
"Or both," Harry suggested.
"Or it's a secret prison that holds all the bad students." Åsa suggested, scooting down next to Ron. She did the spooky hand movement while she scooted down, making Harry and Ron laugh a little bit.
Hermione and Neville didn't show the slightest interest in the trap door underneath the dog, but Åsa was the one most fascinated with the whole room they were in earlier that day. As Åsa thought of other things that could be under the trap door owls came flying down with a giant package and a letter. Two owls dropped the package in front of Harry and another owl dropped the letter on the package.
After Harry read the letter, he gave it to Ron who read it while Åsa read over his shoulder.
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 as he finished reading it. Åsa was just gaping at the package since he got the new broomstick that Ron has been talking on and on about. "I've never even touched one."
The three got up and left the Great Hall quickly with the broomstick and letter in hand. When they got halfway across the entrance hall, they found that the stairs were blocked by Crabbe and Goyle. Draco Malfoy grabbed the package from Harry's hand, much do Åsa's distaste.
"That's a broomstick," Draco stated the obviously, throwing it back at Harry. "You'll be in for it this time, Potter, first years aren't allowed them."
"It's not any old broomstick," Ron blurted out. "it's a Nimbus Two Thousand. What did you say you've got at home, Malfoy, a Comet Two Sixty? Comets look flashy, but they're not in the same league as the Nimbus."
"What would you know about it, Weasley, you couldn't afford half the handle," Malfoy sneered. "I suppose you and your brothers have to save up twig by twig."
Åsa nearly punched Draco in the jaw, but Professor Flitwick appeared next to Malfoy's elbow.
"Not arguing, I hope students?" The professor squeaked.
"Potter's been sent a broomstick, Professor," Malfoy stated, quickly.
"Yes, yes, that's right," Professor Flitwick smiled at Harry. "Professor McGonagall told me all about the special circumstances, Potter. And what model is it?"
"A Nimbus Two Thousand, sir," Harry replied, trying not to laugh at the horror on Draco's face. "And it's really thanks to Malfoy here that I've got it."
The three walked past the four and went up the stairs, smothering their laughter.
"Well, it's true," Harry chortled. "If he hadn't stolen Neville's Remembrall I wouldn't be on the team . . ."
"So I suppose you think that's a reward for breaking rules?" A voice stated from behind them, Åsa quickly recognizing it as Hermione Granger's bossy tone. Hermione walked up the stairs and stared at the package disapprovingly.
"Are you speaking to us again?" Åsa questioned quirking an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I though you weren't speaking to us?" Harry stated.
"Yes, don't stop now," Ron agreed. "it's doing us so much good."
That made Hermione march away with her nose in the air.
"That was a little mean, Ron." Åsa sighed.
The day was one of Åsa's favorite holidays, Halloween. She loved how many people dressed up in the muggle world and got candy from their local area. She loved types of candy from the muggle world, but now she is in love with the candy from the wizardry world. After eating her pumpkin flavored muffins, and drinking a goblet full of warm milk, she started towards the Charms classroom.
Today Professor Flitwick was allowing their class to star making objects fly, which many people were excited for like Åsa. She sat down in her regular seat, next to Hermione and across from Seamus. Going unnoticed, Åsa slipped some candy into her mouth. Her family loves Caramel Green Apples, so they got the candies that were shaped like cough drops but they were called Caramel Apple Hard Candies.
She also gave some to Ron, who quickly bit down on it and made Hermione and her giggle. Hermione, who loves the candies too, got some from Åsa.
When the class started, Professor Flitwick quickly put the class into pairs of twos. Åsa was put in a group with Lavender, who didn't like Åsa that much anymore, Hermione and Ron were put together and Seamus was put together with Harry.
"Now, don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practicing!" Professor Flitwick squeaked. "Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic words properly is very important, too – never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest."
Åsa got their feather up and inch before getting disrupted by Ron, who was shouting out the spell.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" The red head shouted, waving his arm like a windmill.
"You're saying it wrong," Hermione snapped. "It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa; make the 'gar' nice and long."
"You do it, then, if you're so clever," Ron snarled.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" Hermione flicked her wand, making their feather rise off the desk and hover about four feet above their heads.
"Oh, well done!" Professor Flitwick cried, clapping. "Everyone see here, Miss Granger's done it!"
After the professor finished giving Hermione the spot light, Åsa muttered a good job and gave her another Hard Candy as a reward. Hermione smiled and watched Åsa try to get her feather higher than Hermione's. When class ended, Åsa decided to apologize for almost getting Hermione in trouble and being a snarky person. The two walked out of the classroom, only to find trouble.
"It's no wonder no one can stand her," Ron stated from in front of them. "she's a nightmare, honestly."
Hermione decided to push past them as she was almost in tears. Åsa, getting ticked off at all the guys, wacked both of her friends upon their heads as she chased after the crying friend. After catching up with the brunette, Åsa silently followed her into the girls' restroom. Hermione locked Åsa out of the stall and started to cry harder.
"Don't listen to them, Hermione. They're stupid boys." Åsa sighed, resting her head against the stall door.
"But they're right! I have no friends!" Hermione cried from inside the stall.
"I'm your friend, though." Åsa pointed out, making Hermione kind of stop crying but more of hiccups. The stall door opened and Hermione hugged Åsa, who opened her arms. They stood there for a while before decided to stay in here since they were already late for class.
The two talked about many things, their interests, Halloween, and things that made long conversation. The two could smell the supper from inside the bathroom, but they decided not to go so the boys could feel even guiltier. As the two talked they heard loud thumping noise and the sound of the doors closing and locking.
Åsa looked up first, since Hermione was drying her eyes. When Hermione looked up, both of the girls screamed at the sight of a twelve foot tall troll with granite gray body and a huge wooden club. The two girls ran away from the troll but the wall was in the way. Both squeezed behind the last sink, but the troll was advancing toward them, knocking the sinks while he did.
"Confuse it!" Åsa could hear Harry shout on the other side of the restroom. The Danish witch saw that a tap hit the back of the troll's head, making it stop just feet away from the two witches. It stopped and then turned towards the wizards, lifting its club and swinging it around.
"Oy, pea-brain!" Ron could be heard as well, throwing a metal pipe at the troll as well. The troll paused and turned towards the yelling and started at Ron instead. Harry ran over to them and tried to help Åsa move Hermione, but the brunette was frozen with shock.
"Hermione Granger! Snap out of it!" Åsa yelled at her, but sadly caught the attention of the troll. But before it could turn around, Harry ran at it stupidly and jumped on the neck of the ugly troll. Harry's wand was jammed up the troll's nose, which was what startled the troll, and it twisted around while howling in pain.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" Ron shouted suddenly, flicking his wand.
The club in the troll's hand suddenly rose out of the hand, high in the air, and then it dropped straight on the troll's head. The monster swayed and then fell flat on its face, with a loud thud that made the whole room shake. Åsa shook her head from all the dust that fell onto her ponytail and scalp. Not all could fall off, so it looked white in some spots of her flaxen blond.
"Is it – dead?" Hermione spoke up, frightening Åsa.
"I don't think so," Harry sighed. "I think it's just been knocked out."
Bending down, Harry pulled his wand out of the troll's nose. There was a lump of gray glue that stuck to the part that was inside of the troll.
"Urgh – troll boogers."
Åsa nearly gagged when Harry casually wiped it on the troll's trousers. There was a suddenly slamming of a door and loud footsteps that echoed in the girls' restroom. Moments later, Professor McGonagall, with Professor Snape following closely, and Quirrell in the rear, shaking. Quirrell looked at the troll and sat on a toilet, holding his heart.
Snape looked at the troll's current condition. Professor McGonagall didn't see the two girls in the corner, but she only saw the two wizards that protected the witches.
"What on earth were you thinking of?" Professor McGonagall said, with fury in her voice. "You're lucky you weren't killed. Why aren't you in your dormitory?"
"Please, Professor McGonagall – they were looking for me." Hermione stated.
"Me too." Åsa sighed, standing up and helping Hermione too.
"Miss Granger! Miss Gunnarssen!" Professor McGonagall stated in shock.
"I went looking for the troll because I – I though I could deal with it on my own – you know because I've read all about them."
"I wanted to see one in real life so I decided to tag along with Hermione." Åsa said, her voice trembling as if the professor wouldn't believe the two. Åsa noted that Ron dropped his wand in shock because the two were actually lying to a teacher.
"If they hadn't found us, we'd be dead now. Harry stuck his 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 us off when they arrived."
"Well – in that case . . ." Professor McGonagall said, staring at the four of them, "Miss Granger, Miss Gunnarssen, you foolish girls, how could you think of tackling a mountain troll on your own?" Both of the girls hung their head in fake shame as Professor McGonagall told them that.
"Miss Granger, Miss Gunnarssen, ten points will be taken from Gryffindor for this," said Professor McGonagall. "I'm very disappointed in you two. If you two are not hurt at all, you two better get off to Gryffindor Tower. Students are finishing the feat in their Houses."
When the professor finished, Hermione and Åsa walked out of the restroom with silent smiles on their faces. The two walked back to the Gryffindor Tower, nearly skipping, and got many questions of why they were late and why Åsa had white patches in her hair.
But the two only stood by the doorway till Harry and Ron got back. All of them said 'Thanks' and decided to get food.