DON'T OWN HARRY POTTER OR DRACULA!

LADY OF THE NIGHT:

CHAPTER FIVE:

The next morning, Harry filled Ron and I in on the package that Hagrid had seemingly moved from Gringotts to Hogwarts. Ron frowned, mulling this over. "It's either really valuable, or really dangerous." I nodded. "Or both." Seeing as all we knew about the package was that it was rather small (about only two inches long), we didn't have much to go on as to guessing as to what it was.

Now all we had to do was find some way to get back at Malfoy, and such a chance came later that week, when a package landed on the table for Harry. He read the letter, and his face burst into a grin as he showed the letter to me and Ron. Ron groaned in envy. "A Nimbus Two Thousand! I've never even touched one!" I sniggered. "I can't wait to see the look on Malfoy's face." Harry agreed as we left the Great Hall.

Malfoy stopped us and grabbed the package, felt it, then threw it back to Harry, smirking. "That's a broomstick, Potter. You're in for it now. First-years aren't allowed them." Ron smirked right back at him. "It's not just any broomstick. It's a Nimbus Two Thousand. What did you say you've got at home, a Comet Two Sixty? Comets look flashy, but they're not in the same league as the Nimbus." Malfoy's smirk was quickly replaced by a scowl. "What would you know, Weasley, you couldn't afford half the handle. I suppose you and your brothers have to save up twig by twig."

Sensing a fight, Professor Flitwick, our Charms teacher, came over. "Nothing wrong, I hope?"

"Potter's got a broomstick, Professor," Malfoy answered quickly.

"Yes, yes, that's right. Professor McGonagall told me all about the special circumstances, Potter. And what model is it?"

"A Nimbus Two Thousand, sir. And it's really thanks to Malfoy here that I've got it." The look on Malfoy's face was priceless. We fought hard not to burst into tears of laughter as we walked off. "Well, it's true. If he hadn't taken Neville's Remembrall, I wouldn't be on the team..."

"So I suppose you think that's a reward for breaking rules?" We looked around to see Hermione Granger, standing with her hands on her hips. Harry smiled. "I thought you weren't speaking to us?" Ron chuckled. "Yes, don't stop now. It's doing us so much good." We laughed as Hermione stalked off.

A couple of months later, on Halloween morning, Professor Flitwick told us he thought we were ready to begin learning how to make objects fly, something we'd been looking forward to for quite some time. I, unfortunately, had been placed with Neville Longbottom. Praying nothing extremely terrible would go wrong, I sat next to him.

We looked up as Hermione lifted her feather into air and Flitwick praised her. Ron didn't seem too happy about it, but my mind was on other things, since Neville had somehow managed to cause the feather to start attacking me. It took me about five minutes to squash the feather with my books. Neville bit his lip. "Sorry."

I waved it off. "Never mind. I'm used to getting attacked by insane feathers every day." He stared at me for a few seconds, then began laughing when he saw my mouth twitch as I unsuccessfully attempted to hold back my own laughter.

As I sat down beside Ron and Harry for the Halloween feast, we overheard Parvati telling her friend that Hermione was crying in the girl's bathroom and wanted to be left alone. Ron looked slightly guilty at this, but quickly shrugged it off as the feast appeared.

Just as we began eating, Quirrell rushed into the Great Hall, screaming in terror. "Troll-in the dungeons-thought you ought to know." With that, he collapsed. A stunned silence reigned for a few seconds, then everyone began screaming in horror. Finally, Dumbledore managed to calm everyone down. "Prefects, lead your Houses back to their dormitories. Immediately!"

Percy the Prefect went into full-steam. "Follow me! Stick together! No need to fear if you follow my orders! Excuse me, I'm a prefect!"

Harry frowned at us. "How could a troll get in?" Ron shrugged. "Dunno. They're supposed to be really stupid." I nodded. "Maybe it's just Peeves trying to make trouble again." Harry suddenly stopped in his tracks. "I've just remembered. Hermione."

"What about her?"

"She doesn't know about the troll." We glanced around, and Ron bit his lip. "Oh, all right. But Percy had better not see us." We ran off, heading for the girl's bathroom that Hermione was located in. I froze when I heard footsteps behind us. "Quick! Behind here!" I pulled the others behind a statue, and we peeked around it to see Snape hurrying down the corridor. "Why isn't he in the dungeon with the other teachers?"

"Search me." After Snape's footsteps had faded, we ran off down the corridor. Ron frowned. "He's heading for the third floor." Harry wrinkled his nose. "Can you smell something?" We heard a low grunting, and looked down the corridor to see the troll headed straight towards us. The troll stopped outside a door then went through it. Harry signaled to me and Ron. "Maybe we can lock it in." Ron nodded in agreement. "Good idea."

We rushed towards the door, and Harry slammed the door shut, locking it in place. "Yes!" As we turned to head back to the common room, a shrill scream came from the room we'd just locked the troll in.

"Oh, no."

"Hermione!"

We whirled around, forcing the door open. Hermione was pressed up against the wall, her eyes wide in terror. "Confuse it!" Harry, Ron and I began throwing things at the wall, but it didn't seem to notice. Ron finally caught its attention by shouting at it as he launched a pipe at the troll's head. Harry and I ran over to Hermione, trying to get her up, but she was frozen in shock.

The troll started towards Ron, who was trapped with no way to escape. Then Harry did something incredibly stupid: he lept onto the troll's head, wrapping his arms around its neck. The troll didn't notice him, but it did notice when his wand accidentally got stuck up the troll's nose. Ron pulled out his wand and yelled out, "Wingardium Leviosa!" The club rose out of the troll's hand and landed with a thud on the troll's skull, knocking it out.

Harry wrinkled his nose as he pulled his wand out of the troll's nose. "Ugh. Troll boogers." As he wiped it on his wand, Professors McGonagall, Snape and Quirrell came running into the room. Quirrell spotted the troll and let out a whimper as he sank to the floor.

As Snape inspected the troll, McGonagall turned on us. "What were you thinking? You're lucky you weren't killed. Why aren't you in your dormitory?" Hermione finally regained her voice. "Please, Professor McGonagall-they were looking for me."

"Miss Granger!"

"I went looking for the troll-I thought I could handle it-you know, because I've read all about them. If they hadn't found me, I'd be dead. They didn't have time to get anyone. It was about to kill me when they arrived."

"Well-in that case..." McGonagall stared at the four of us, "Miss Granger, how could you think of taking on a mountain troll on your own?" Hermione looked down at the floor as McGonagall continued. "Miss Granger, five points will be taken from Gryffindor for this. I'm very disappointed in you. If you're not hurt, you'd better go to Gryffindor Tower. Students are finishing the feast in their houses."

Hermione left, and McGonagall turned to us. "I still say you were lucky, but not many first years could have taken on a fully-grown mountain troll. You each win Gryffindor five points. Professor Dumbledore will be informed about this. You may go."

As we headed for the common room, Ron was grumbling. "We still should've gotten more than ten points." Harry sighed. "Five, you mean. She docked Hermione five points."

"Good of her to get us out of trouble like that. Mind you, we did save her." I chuckled. "She probably wouldn't have needed saving if we hadn't locked that troll in with her." Harry nodded in agreement as we reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.

Harry, Ron, Hermione and I were standing around a bright blue fire in a jar Hermione had conjured when Snape limped over. We moved closer together to hide the fire, and he spotted us. "What's that you've got, Potter?" Harry showed him the book Hermione had lent him on Quidditch, and Snape scowled. "Library books are not to be taken outside the school. Give it to me. Five points from Gryffindor."

Harry frowned, watching Snape limp off. "He just made that up. Wonder what's wrong with his leg?" Ron crossed his arms. "Dunno, but I hope it really hurts."

That evening, Harry had come back from trying to get his book back, his eyes wide. He told us what he'd seen about Snape's leg in that closet. "You know what this means? He tried to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween! That's where he was going when we saw him! He's after whatever it's guarding! And I'd bet my broomstick he let that troll in as a diversion!"

Hermione shook her head. "No-he wouldn't. He may not be very nice, but he wouldn't try and steal something Dumbledore's keeping safe." I snorted, and Ron rolled his eyes. "Honestly, Hermione, do you think all teachers are saints or something? I'm with Harry." I nodded. "I wouldn't put it past Snape. But...what's he after? What's that dog guarding?"

The next afternoon, Ron, Hermione and I made our way up into the Quidditch stands, holding a banner that said 'Potter for President' with a lion underneath. We began cheering as the Gryffindor Quidditch team walked out onto the field. Madam Hooch began speaking to both the Gryffindor and Slytherin teams, blew her whistle, and the game began.

Lee Jordan immediately began commentating. "And the Quaffle is taken immediately by Angelina Johnson of Gryffindor-what an excellent Chaser that girl is, and rather attractive, too-"

"JORDAN!"

"Sorry, Professor McGonagall."

I chuckled as Lee continued, "And she's really belting along up there, a neat pass to Alicia Spinnet, a good find of Oliver Wood's, last year only a reserve-back to Johnson and-no, the Slytherins have taken the Quaffle, Slytherin Captain Marcus Flint gains the Quaffle and off he goes-Flint flying like an eagle up there-he's going to sc-no, stopped by an excellent move by Gryffindor Keeper Oliver Wood and the Gryffindors take the Quaffle-that's Chaser Katie Bell of Gryffindor there, nice dive around Flint, off up the field and-"

Lee winced, "-That must have hurt, hit in the back of the head by a Bludger-Quaffle taken by the Slytherins-that's Adrian Pucey speeding off towards the goal posts, but he's blocked by a second Bludger-sent his way by Fred or George Weasley, can't tell which-nice play by the Gryffindor Beater, anyway, and Johnson back in possession of the Quaffle, a clear field ahead, and off she goes-she's really flying-dodges a speeding Bludger-the goal posts are ahead-come on, Angelina-Keeper Bletchley dives-misses-GRYFFINDORS SCORE!"

We immediately burst into cheers, while groans could be heard from the Slytherins.

"Budge up there, move along." Hermione, Ron and I looked up to see Hagrid moving slowly down the row towards us. "Hagrid!" We moved over to make space for him, and he sat down. "Bin watchin' from me hut. But it isn't the same as bein' in the crowd. No sign of the Snitch yet, eh?" I shook my head. "Nope. Harry hasn't had much to do yet."

Hagrid raised his binoculars, peering up at Harry. "Kept outta trouble, that's somethin'."

I turned back to Lee's commentary. "Slytherin in possession-Chaser Pucey ducks two Bludgers, two Weasleys, and Chaser Bell, and speeds towards the-wait, was that the Snitch?" Harry and the Slytherin's seeker, Terence Higgs, sped downwards to catch it, and Harry was knocked sideways by Marcus Flint, who had slammed into him.

"FOUL!"

Madam Hooch lectured Flint for a bit, and then awarded a free shot at the goal posts for Gryffindor. But, naturally, the Snitch had vanished out of sight.

Dean Thomas had begun yelling, "Send him off, ref! Red card!" Ron frowned over at him. "What are you talking about, Dean?"

"Red card! In football (AUTHOR'S NOTE: AMERICAN SOCCER), you get shown the red card and you're out of the game!" Ron sighed. "This isn't football, Dean." Hagrid, however, agreed with Dean. "They oughta change the rules. Flint coulda knocked Harry off his broom."

Lee was having trouble trying not to take sides. "So, after that obvious and disgusting bit of cheating-"

"Jordan!"

"I mean, after that open and revolting foul-"

"Jordan, I'm warning you-"

"Okay, okay. Flint nearly kills the Gryffindor Seeker, which could happen to anyone, I'm sure, so a penalty to Gryffindor, taken by Spinnet, who puts it away, no trouble, and we continue to play, Gryffindor still in possession. Slytherin in possession-Flint with the Quaffle-passes Spinnet-passes Bell-hit hard in the face by a Bludger, hope it broke his nose-only joking, Professor, only joking-Slytherins score-"

Hagrid suddenly frowned, looking up at Harry. "Dunno what Harry thinks he's doin'. If I didn' know better, I'd say he lost control of his broom...but he can't have..." His broom had started rolling over and over, with him barely hanging on. Just then, the broom gave a wild jerk, and Harry swung off it, hanging on with one hand.

Hermione seized Hagrid's binoculars, scanning the stands, and suddenly gasped. "I knew it! Snape-look." She handed the binoculars to me and Ron, and we saw Snape staring at Harry, muttering under his breath. Hermione sighed. "He's jinxing the broom."

"What do we do?"

"Wait here." Hermione ran off, and Ron and I turned back to watching Harry being thrown around by his broomstick. The Weasley twins attempted to pull him safely onto one of their brooms, but it was no good-every time they got near him, the broom went even higher in the air. They dropped lower beneath him, obviously thinking they might be able to catch him if he fell off.

Ron bit his lip. "Come on, Hermione."

A few minutes later, Hermione came running back just as Harry's broom stopped trying to throw him off and he managed to swing himself back on. "Neville, you can look!" Neville had been hiding his face in his hands for the entire time Harry's broom had tried to buck him off.

Harry was speeding towards the ground when we saw him clap his hand to his mouth as though he was going to throw up. He fell to the ground on all fours and began coughing. Suddenly, something plopped out of his mouth into his hand. "I'VE GOT THE SNITCH!" The Gryffindor stands exploded with cheers.

A little while later, Hagrid was serving Harry some tea, and Ron was telling Harry that Snape had tried to jinx his broom. "We saw him. He was cursing your broom, muttering, and he wouldn't take his eyes off of you." Hagrid frowned. "Rubbish. Why would Snape do somethin' like that?" Harry sighed. "I found out something about him. He tried to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween. It bit him. He's trying to steal whatever it's guarding."

Hagrid suddenly dropped the teapot. "How do you know about Fluffy?" I gaped at him. "Fluffy?"

"Yeah-he's mine-bought him off a Greek chap I met in the pub last year-I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the-" Harry leaned forward. "Yes?"

"Now don't ask me anymore. That's top-secret, that is." I ran my fingers through my hair, frustrated. "Hagrid, Snape's trying to steal it!"

"Rubbish. Snape's a Hogwarts teacher. He'd do nothin' of the sort." Hermione sighed. "So why'd he try and kill Harry?! I know a jinx when I see one! You've got to keep eye contact, and Snape wasn't blinking!"

"I'm tellin' yeh, yer wrong! I don't know why Harry's broom acted like that, but Snape wouldn' try an' kill a student! Now, listen to me, all four of yeh-yer meddlin' in things that don' concern yeh. It's dangerous. You forget that dog, an' you forget what it's guardin'. That's between Professor Dumbledore an' Nicolas Flamel-"

Hermione smirked at him. "So, there's someone called Nicolas Flamel involved, is there?"