Chapter 9

Halloween Injuries

Halloween morning the castle was flooded with the smells of pumpkin being baked in the kitchen, no one knew where it came from and just assumed it was part of the Hogwarts charm to be festive during a holiday such as this. My History of Magic class ended early, surprisingly and I made my way down to Charms my next class. Class ended and students were filing out. I notice Ron and Harry push their way through the crowded corridor.

"It's no wonder no one can stand her," Ron said to Harry. I looked at him with an intense look, that most mistook for a glare. "she's a nightmare, honestly!"

I watched a bushy haired girl knock into Harry and recognized it as Hermione, and I was shocked to see she was in tears.

"So?" said Ron, but he looked a bit uncomfortable. "She must've noticed she's got no friends."

I felt my anger flare and I stomped over to Ron, don't get me wrong I still hate mudbloods like her. I stopped in front of him before glaring at him and taking out my wand.

"Ronald Bilius Weasley!" I hissed pointing my wand at him fear stretching across his face. "I may not care for mudblood Granger, but I do care if you make a girl cry!" I growled taking a few steps back and pointing my wand at him. I flicked my wand and yelled, "Stupefy!"

Ron flew back and was unconscious when he hit the ground. I turned around and ran after Hermione, who was heading towards the girls bathroom.

I quickly caught up to her and grabbed her shoulder before she could enter the bathroom stall. She quickly turned around and let out a soft sob that wouldn't been mistaken for a squeak.

"Hey Mud-" I cut myself off and corrected myself. "Hermione, you okay?" She looked at me with as much shock as one could muster when crying.

"You called me by my... name."

"Yeah, well" I mumbled awkwardly scratching my head. "Don't get use to it. Look... Hermione. Ignore my stupid brother! I got him back for making your cry so don't worry about it."

"What?" she gasped tears still falling.

"I said I got back at him gave him a taste of the Stupefying charm! But don't make a big deal alright." I could feel my face heat up as I said that. "Just cause your a mudbl- muggle born doesn't mean you should be treated like that, Ron stepped over a line he shouldn't have dared to cross." I can't believe I was going to say this. "You can count on me... as a friend."

Hermione just stared at me a few seconds before I was hugged and she cried into my chest. I blushed more not knowing what to do. I awkwardly wrapped my arms around the bushy haired girl and held her close. Realizing that anyone from any house could walk in I reached for my wand and locked the door. "It's alright, Hermione. Let it all out." I whispered.

I stayed in the bathrooms all afternoon holding Hermione like that and was really surprised how much this girl could cry, I also spent most of the Halloween feast like this too. I'll have to head to the kitchens for some good sweets.

I could hear something stomping towards the bathroom, something big and it had a foul odor, something like a mixture of old socks and a public toilet that hasn't been cleaned in years. No not even that, it's much, much worse!

"Hermione." I whispered, "Go hide. Don't come out."

She looked up at me, her face was puffy and eyes were red. "W-Why?" she asked.

"Somethings coming, go and hide." I stared at the door as I helped her up before pushing her into a corner that was hidden behind the stalls, no one would notice her. Although I could feel her peeking out from her hiding spot. I turned around and unlocked the door allowing it to open and the stomps got louder until they stopped in front of me. I stared at the thing before me as I heard the click of the lock for the door. Before me was a twelve foot tall creature, its skin was dull and a granite gray color, with a lumpy body like a boulder with a small bald head perched on top like a coconut. It had short legs thick as tree trunks with flat, horny feet. In its hands was a huge wooden club, which dragged along the floor because its arms were so long. The creature before me was a Troll. I stood there dumbfounded as it turned its head towards me. Who let a troll in?!

The troll swung its club smashing the near by stalls, sinks, and mirrors. Lucky for me I manage to duck in time. I looked back at Hermione who let out a high pitched scream. I looked back to see if Hermione was okay, seeing as the club swung her way. Hermione was lying on the ground with her hands covering the back of her head. I could hear the door unlock and running of footsteps come in. I raised my wand and flick it in the trolls direction.

"Stupefy!" I yelled. The orange sparks flew from my wand and bounced back and heading back in my way. "Expelliarmus!"

The shield of magic bounced the spell back and landed somewhere else. I looked past the troll and seen Harry and Ron trying to think of something to do to help.

"Hey! You two!" I yelled and they looked my way in shock. "A troll is stupid with a capital STUPID!-"I ducked again to avoid another hit. "Confuse the damn thing!"

"She's right!" Ron ran and picked up a metal pipe. "Oi, pea-brain!" yelled Ron a he threw the pipe at the troll.

The pipe hit its shoulder but didn't faze him but what did catch his attention was Ron yelling and turned its ugly snout toward him. Harry ran over and tried to get Hermione to get up and run.

"Come on, run, run!" Harry yelled at Hermione trying to pull her toward the door, but she wouldn't move. She was frozen still in terror.

All the yelling and the echoes seemed to be driving the damn thing mad because it let out a horrid roar and started toward Ron. I ran as fast as I could and in front of Ron, standing in front of him protectively pointing my wand at it. What would work against a troll?

I pushed Ron out of the way as the troll swung its club at us just in time and instead I got hit. I gasped as I got the air knocked out of me and went flying across the room hitting the wall with the mirrors and sinks attached to it. I coughed, gasped, and wheezed as I tried to get up. I could hear faint shouting from Ron and blinked as my vision started to blur. Oh honestly, there is no way I am blacking out! I am not going to show any weakness. I manage to get up and stand on my feet looking at the troll. Harry was hanging off the trolls neck and it seems he's got his wand stuck up the creatures nose.

"Gross." I mumbled. I felt around for my wand and looked around when I didn't find it. It was by Ron's feet, joy, what luck do I have? I scoffed and tried to take a step forward. I felt shocks of pain as I walked towards Ron's direction. I squatted down and tried to pick up my wand only to find out I couldn't move my arm. I tried to move it again and failed again. Great now I have a broke arm.

"R-Ron!" I yelled at him but it came out more of a whisper. He looked down at me in shock.

"You've got to try and knock the thing out."

"W-what! Why can't you do it?"

"Because I can't."

Ron looked around for something to come to mind. He pulled out his wand and looked panicked. He pointed his wand at the troll.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" cried Ron.

The club flew suddenly out of the troll's hand, rose high, high up into the air, turned slowly over and dropped, with a sickening crack, onto its owner's head. I grabbed Ron and dragged him to the far wall with me as the troll swayed on the spot and then fell flat on its face, with a thud that made the whole room tremble.

Harry got to his feet, he was shaking and out of breath and Ron wasn't any better off he was shaking just as bad as Harry. A long pause of silence passed and no one said anything but stared at the troll that was knocked out on the ground.

It was Hermione who broke the deathly silence.

"Is it... dead?" she asked her voice shaking as she got up and joined us around the troll.

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

Harry bent down and pulled his wand out of the troll's nose. It was covered in what looked like lumpy gray glue. "Ugh, troll boggies." Harry wiped it on the troll's trousers.

A sudden slamming and loud footsteps made the four of us look up. Did we really make that much of a racket? Well I suppose someone was bound to hear what was going on sooner or later. I mean with all the crashes, the breaking of things, the trolls roars, and ya know the damn thing falling and probably shaking the entire school. A moment later, Professor McGonagall had come bursting into the room, closely followed by Severus, with Quirrell bringing up the rear. Quirrell took one look at the troll, let out a faint whimper, and sat quickly down on a toilet, clutching his heart. I felt my eyes narrow at Quirrell, what a pathetic excuse of an act is that?

Snape bent over the troll. Professor McGonagall was looking at Ron, Harry, and I. Wow, if she's THIS mad then, boy, wait until Slytherin's first Quidditch match. She was so angry her lips turned white, which kind of freaked me out a little.

"What on earth were you thinking of?" said Professor McGonagall, with cold fury in her voice. Harry looked at Ron, who looked back at him. "You're lucky you weren't killed! Why aren't you in your dormitory?"

Severus gave Harry a swift, piercing look causing Harry to look at the floor. Then Severus looked at me, along with the two other Professors in the room. I was just about to answer when a small voice came out of the shadows.

"Please, Professor McGonagall, they were looking for me."

"Miss Granger!"

I gave her a look which she ignored.

"I went looking for the troll because I... I thought I could deal with it on my own... you know, because I've read all about them."

Ron dropped his wand and looked at Hermione in shock, and so did Harry. Hermione Granger, telling a downright lie to a teacher?

"If they hadn't found me, I'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 me off when they arrived."

Harry and Ron tried to look as though this story wasn't new to them. I scoffed a took the stand with my aching body screaming at me to stay still.

"What bullshit, mudblood." I hissed under my breath.

Hermione snapped her head towards me.

"Granger here didn't come looking for the stupid thing, it found her when she was alone in the bathroom. I found her and thanks to her stupidity I nearly got killed. But she is right about Potter and my pathetic excuse for a brother. If they didn't come when they did we'd be dead."

I looked to Hermione and gave her a wink. McGonagall gave me a questioning look, Quirrell gave me a frightened look which was fake, and Snape gave me a doubtful smirk.

"Now if you don't mind," I walked over and stood by Snape. I could feel my strength leave me and my vision blur even more then it already was. "I am going to black out and hope that someone will catch me and take me to the Hospital Wing so I bid you all farewell for now."

I coughed and someone sneezed.

"And no one pay attention to the sneeze that came from Quirrell's Turban."

I let darkness overtake me and felt arms wrap around me.

Fred's POV

"So what's next, George?" I asked looking toward my twin. We were planning the next prank that'd we unleash onto the unsuspecting residents of Hogwarts.

"How bout we plant a dungbomb in Snape's office followed by-"

The portrait of the common room slammed open and our little brother Ron, Harry, and Hermione came running into the common room. They were hunched over out of breath.

"Where's the fire, you lot?" I asked getting up.

"R-Raven!" gasped Ron as he tried to even out his breath.

I looked at George in shock and could see the same fear he had in his eyes. "What's wrong with her?!" we asked, more like demanded, at the same time.

"She-she-" Ron couldn't get the right words out and looked panicked.

"Raven got hurt!" exclaimed Hermione who look like she was about to cry.

"She got hurt when we were fighting the troll." explained Harry.

"She saved me, a-and she got hit with the club!" cried Ron.

"What?!" yelled George and I.

"Is she alright?!" I asked as George took a more different turn, distracting everyone.

"Wait, You fought a troll?" asked George.

I elbowed my twin in the ribs signaling that this wasn't the best time for that. "Right, not the best time." mumbled George.

"She's in the Hospital Wing right?" I asked.

Ron nodded. I looked at George who had the same idea I had and we made a mad dash out the portrait hole and down stairs, dashed through some corridors, and up stairs before we came to the Hospital Wing. We burst through the doors to the Hospital Wing startling Madam Pomfrey, who was tending to the injured student we were looking for. Raven was unconscious and her chest and her right arm was bandaged up along with her legs.

"She took a real beating..." mumbled George.

"No kidding." I mumbled as we got out of the way for Madam Pomfrey. The door burst open and we didn't even have to look back in order to know who is was, it was Ron, Harry, Hermione, and even Percy was there.

"What happened to her?" Percy asked quietly catching the sight of her.

"S-She was injured when the troll swung at Ron." explained Hermione. Nothing else had to be said on that. And no one said anything except for Percy who went to go and send and owl to mum and dad about what happened and how bad Raven's condition was.

When Madam Pomfrey was done patching her up and came and told us how she was.

"She's got a few broken bones but she'll pull through." said Madam Pomfrey as covered Raven with a blanket. "She'll be up and around in a couple of days."

Madam Pomfrey then left to go tend to another person that was in the room. Even though Madam Pomfrey said she was going to be alright I couldn't help but worry about what if Madam Pomfrey was wrong? What if she didn't pull through?

Mum and Dad came through the doors to the Hospital Wing about an hour or so later, I lost track of the time when I sat down next to Raven's bedside and it looked like George was too at a loss for time.

"Oh my goodness!" screeched Mum rushing over. "Is she alright?!"

"Yeah, they say she's fine. She'll wake up when she's ready too." said George who didn't take eyes of Raven, who was still unconscious.

Madam Pomfrey then came in and told Mum all that happened. She was in absolute tears as she hugged Raven's body. It took awhile before Mum let go and her and Dad left to go home. Even then George and I didn't leave we sat by her bed and stayed with her through the night.

Raven's POV

I slowly opened my eyes and was blinded by the bright light of the sun that shone through the window. I groaned and sat up feeling a pinch in my chest. I looked down at my wrapped torso, must still be healing. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and looked around, Madam Pomfrey wasn't around either and there was no one else in sight. I shrugged and got up, grabbing my shirt off the chair and heading toward the exit. However when I reached the outside I was greeted by Madam Pomfrey who looked up from her desk and toward me.

"Oh goodness, child!" exclaimed Madam Pomfrey as she got up and rushed to my side. "You shouldn't be up, you're still healing!"

Madam Pomfrey escorted me back inside and layed me down on the bed tucking me in. "Uh, Madam Pomfrey," I asked as she rushed about preparing some skele-grow for me. "How long was I out?"

"I'd say a good four days, my dear!" replied Madam Pomfrey as she handed me a cup. I drank the liquid and set on the table next to the bed.

"Four days hm? That serious?"

She nodded, "Yes, I'm afraid you took quite a hit."

I nodded and layed back down. "And when can I get out of here?" I asked as I closed my eyes hoping to relieve my boredom that was already coming through my mind. "As soon as your bones are completely healed!" she replied. I sighed and nodded.

"Alright, thank you."

Madam Pomfrey nodded and left me but not before telling me that if I needed anything that all I had to do was call for her and she'd be here in no time. I stifled a yawn. Might as well get some more sleep in then.

I was now sitting up and looking through a book that Madam Pomfrey brought in for me at my request. I've only manage to sleep until lunch time, which was when Madam Pomfrey gave me something to eat, and it has been about an hour or so since then. Classes were almost over and I had no work to work on, but I knew I has a lot to make up for.

The doors to the Hospital Wing opened and I looked up to see who it was. Fred, George, and Ron stood there with wide eyes as they stared at me. Ron was the first to run toward me and he immediately hugged me. "You're okay?!" he cried. I sighed as I set my book down on my lap. I looked down at him and patted his head with a smile on my face.

"Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

He looked up at me with tears in his eyes but he was trying to keep it cool. "W-well you were out for days!" said Fred. He and George joined my side. They wrapped their arms around me as well. "We were so worried." breathed George.

I gave out a short laugh and asked "What for? I was bound to wake up sooner or later!" "But still!" they yelled their grips tightening on me. I gave out a squeak of pain and glared at each of them.

"Would you mind letting go! I'm still healing here!" I yelled.

"Sorry!"

I sighed in relief as the released me and backed off a bit. They actually spent the rest of the day in there talking to me until they were usher out by Madam Pomfrey.