Chapter 6 – Classes and a Troll
10th October 1991
Whispers seemed to stalk Harry wherever he went. Whether it was to the common room or to the classrooms, students shamelessly tried to get a good look at his scar and a few others actually stopped him and requested him to show it to them. During meals half the student population would stare at him as if he were a reincarnation of Merlin himself.
"Honestly Blaise what's with all these people wanting to stare at my scar all the time? Don't they have anything else to do?" he told Blaise irritably.
"Well," he drawled "You are the… … wait… … Oh, so famous boy who vanquished the greatest dark lord ever to walk upon these lands, not to mention a Slytherin to boot. Obviously they're going to want to look at you. I wouldn't be surprised if some came for your autograph next."
"Oh please! I would rather kiss the giant squid than give out autographs," Harry exclaimed.
Blaise sniggered, "I think that can be arranged very easily."
Harry just gave him a look that promised death and torture in the future. "Come on or we'll be late for transfiguration. You know how McGonagall is about punctuality," Harry said walking faster towards the transfiguration classroom.
Five minutes later the Slytherin's and Gryffindor's were seated in the class room away from each other. McGonagall was as usual in her animagus form waiting for the class to settle down. As soon as the class settled in she transformed and began in her usual stern voice, "In today's class, we will be starting practical transfiguration."
The whole class burst into excited whispers, most of them coming from the Gryffindor's. A glare from McGonagall silenced the class instantly.
"Until today you have been studying the theory behind transfiguration which is very essential for today's class. Now keeping in mind what I have been explaining to you for the past few days, you will transfigure a match stick into a needle."
She waved her wand and immediately a matchstick materialized on every bench. "You may begin. The incantation is on the board and if you are having trouble I am here to help."
Harry pulled out his wand smoothly and pointed it at the matchstick. He stared at it hard and muttered the incantation but nothing happened. He frowned and said the incantation again with a flick of his wand. Nothing changed again. He tried once more but without any success.
Harry sighed and looked around the room, everyone was saying the incantation out loud but there was no change in their matchsticks. Neville Longbottom had somehow managed to blow his face up, Blaise was poking his matchstick looking bored, Weasley was jabbing his matchstick hard with a worn out wand and Lillian had her face screwed up in concentration and kept muttering the incantation. Only Hermione Granger from Gryffindor had managed to change a small part of matchstick into a needle and was looking quite pleased with her accomplishment.
"If that Granger girl could do it, it's a bloody shame I can't do it yet," he muttered to himself turning back to his work.
After about six to seven tries latter Harry had only managed to change the tip of his matchstick to a pale silver colour. He glared at the matchstick and dropped his wand on the table, frustrated. Even Lillian had managed to change half her matchstick into a needle and kept giving Harry superior looks which irritated him to no limits.
"Ok, Harry calm down," he said to himself "This matchstick is not a matchstick but a needle. It needs to be changed back to its original form." He looked at the matchstick and imagined it from all angles as a needle and not a matchstick. He imagined the difference in the properties of a matchstick and a needle as McGonagall had lectured them and visualized it transforming in his mind. Keeping the image of the needle fixed in his mind he closed his eyes and said the incantation softly pointing his wand at the matchstick. Two seconds later he opened his eyes and saw a perfect needle in front of him. He smiled in satisfaction and tried to change the needle into a matchstick following the same process.
Fifteen minutes later he was changing his matchstick into a needle and the needle back to a matchstick as fast as he could. He kept trying to do it faster and faster.
He was broken out of his little game by the stern voice of Professor McGonagall, "What do you think you are doing Mr. Potter?!"
"Err trying to see how fast I can transfigure the matchstick into a needle and the needle back to a matchstick, Professor," he said wondering if he had been doing it wrong.
McGonagall gaped at him.
"My word, never has anyone changed their matchstick into a needle in their first class, forget back into a matchstick!" she said looking shocked.
"You are as talented as your father was during his time at Hogwarts Mr. Potter. 30 points to Slytherin," she said, a rare smile gracing her face. None of them noticed the jealous look on Hermione's face or the look of disdain on Ronald Weasley's.
Blaise nudged Harry and said, "Great going mate, think you could give me a hand?"
"Sure, why not," he said moving over towards Blaise.
By the end of the class only Hermione had managed to transfigure her matchstick into a needle and earned 10 points for her house.
As everybody was moving out of the class someone nudged Harry hard in the ribs and muttered something like evil and dark.
"Who the hell was that?" Harry asked Blaise rubbing his ribs.
"Weasley," Blaise said, darkly.
"What the hell is his problem with me?"
"Donno, but you should see the way he looks at you."
"What about it?"
"It's like he would like nothing better to do other than seeing you dead or pull out your intestines with his bare hands and then munching on them as he sees your body convulsing on the ground," he said making weird gestures with his hands.
Harry grimaced, "That's… just sick. What kind of a mind do you have Blaise?"
"What! It's true! You should just make eye contact with him and you'll see what I mean."
"Yeah, yeah whatever, come on we've got potions in a half hour."
Potion's Laboratory
"Today you are going to learn how to make a simple potion to cure boils. This will be the first time you will be brewing a potion and I expect it to be flawless," Professor Snape said, his voice barely audible yet clear as crystal. "I do not want any mistakes or else there will be severe consequences."
All the Gryffindor's exchanged fearful looks. Neville looked petrified.
"Weasley," Snape called suddenly, "What would I get if I added a powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood."
"Erm... err…. I don't know sir."
"This… will not do, haven't you been listening in my classes Weasley? 10 points from Gryffindor. Now let's try again, where would I look if I wanted bezoars?" he said looking straight into Ron's eyes.
"I d-don't know s-s-sir," he stuttered.
"Stuttering will not help Mr. Weasley, didn't think you would revise and come to class did you? Hasn't your mother taught you anything? That's another 10 points you've lost," he said sneering at Ron.
Ron just turned bright red and glared at Snape.
"That's 5 points more gone for Gryffindor and a detention for that look on your face," he said smirking at him.
All the Gryffindor's gasped in outrage.
Suddenly he turned towards Harry, "Potter, same questions."
"Sir, we would get the draught of living dead if we added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood and we can find bezoars in the stomach of a goat," Harry said without missing a beat.
"That's what I expect from my Slytherin's," he said coldly, "another question Mr. Potter, what do we use boomslang skin for?"
Harry thought for a moment and replied, "I don't know sir. I do not remember reading it in our potions text."
"You're right it is not there in your normal text books but that is no reason not to read ahead Potter," Snape said softly. "However since you answered your previous questions satisfactorily, twenty points to Slytherin."
He tapped his wand on the board and said, "The instructions for the potion are on the board, you have two hours."
Immediately everybody moved towards their cauldrons and started removing the ingredients required.
About two hours later, Harry's potion had a dark blue colour when it was supposed to be a light blue colour. Professor Snape walked past Harry's table and looked into his cauldron. He then looked into Harry's eyes and stared without blinking or moving. Harry had to suppress a gulp and prevent himself from wiping the sweat of his forehead, but he didn't avert his eyes from the professor's eyes. About a minute later Snape finally stopped staring and said, "Acceptable Mr. Potter," and moved to the next table.
Blaise nudged him and asked, "What in Morgana's name was that all about?"
"I honestly have no idea," Harry said. He was more fixated on why the professor had a pained expression on his face just before he stopped staring into his eyes.
As they walked out of the potions class they were approached by Malfoy without his goons behind him. "Hey Potter, I saw Weasley looking like he would want nothing better that to see you dead."
Harry didn't like Draco much but always maintained a civil conversation with him. He felt he was too arrogant and took too much pride in his name and wealth. "Yeah, I don't what that guy has against me."
"Really? That's interesting, do you want to get some pay back?" he asked Harry giving a sly grin.
Harry grinned back, "Sure Malfoy, what do you have in mind?"
"Nothing much, all we have to do is make fun of him in front of his band of Gryffindork's and the reaction will be priceless."
"That's it? Heh, I expected something better from you Malfoy."
"Oh," Malfoy said raising his eyebrows, "And what do you have in mind?"
"You'll see at dinner…. So are you in?"
"Of course, who would miss a chance to see a Weasley embarrass himself."
"What about you Blaise?"
"Leave me out of it, I'd prefer to watch and not involve myself in these little rivalries," Blaise said shaking his head.
"Why Blaise, are you scared?" Malfoy asked, sneering
"No, I just don't want to take sides. You of all people should know better Malfoy."
Before Draco could say anything else, Harry cut in.
"Drop it Malfoy, it's his choice not yours to make," he said sharply.
Malfoy turned back to Harry and looked at him strangely and just nodded after a few seconds, "See you at dinner," he said and went away towards their common room.
After he had gone Blaise turned back to Harry, "I don't know why you need to get involved with that jerk."
Harry just shrugged and said, "He'd be a useful friend to have."
"So, are you going to tell me what you have in mind?"
"What are you talking about Blaise?" said Harry trying to look innocent.
"You know what I'm talking about."
"Oh just you wait," he said grinning. "Now all I need to do is find Filch."
"What? Why?" Blaise asked looking confused.
"Don't worry about it," Harry shouted back, "See you at dinner," and took off looking for Filch, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. Blaise saw him go and muttered to himself before walking back to the common room.
Soon after dinner Harry and Draco saw Ron and his friends finishing their meal and quickly went to intercept them before they left for their common room.
As they reached closer to the red head they could hear what they were talking about.
"Honestly, Snape favours those slimy snakes a bit too much!" they could hear Ron complain.
"Oh, don't be absurd Ronald; he's just doing his job. He's supposed to be one of the greatest potion masters in the wizarding world," the haughty tone of Hermione Granger remarked.
"He maybe a great potion's master but he sure is a git," Lillian said bitterly. "He took ten points from me because my hair was a mess!"
"Mary!" Hermione exclaimed, "That's no way to talk about your professor!"
"Shut it Hermione, Lillian is right, and that Potter. Thinks he's the king of Hogwarts. But I know what he really is," Ron said darkly. "He's a dark wizard and maybe the next 'you know who' for all we know."
Lillian snorted, "Come off it Ron, what are you saying? I know Potter and I'm sure he's no evil guy. He's an annoying cockroach but certainly not evil and definitely not the next you know who!"
"The next 'you know who' does sound promising doesn't it, Draco?"
All three Gryffindor's turned around to see who had interrupted them.
"It's a shame don't you think Harry. Accusing you of being a dark wizard and insulting our dear head of house," Draco said silkily.
The Gryffindor's eyes darkened as they saw Draco and Harry standing behind them.
"Potter," Lillian greeted coolly, "What a surprise."
"Freckles, Granger, always a pleasure," Harry said giving a mock bow. "Ah, Weasley, never a pleasure seeing you," he said smirking.
Ron's face turned bright red as Malfoy started sniggering.
"What do you want, dark wizard!" Ron spat, his eyes filled with fear and hatred.
"Me? A dark wizard?" said Harry raising his eyebrows. "And what makes you say that?"
Ron didn't say anything but continued glaring at Harry.
Malfoy choose to interrupt then, "Say Weasley, what was that professor Snape was saying in class today? Oh, yeah didn't your mother teach you anything. Is that why you eat so pathetically?"
Harry didn't say anything knowing Malfoy maybe out of line there but didn't stop him either. Malfoy continued his verbal assault until Ron finally lost his temper and pulled out his wand. Draco immediately whitened but Harry came to his rescue.
"Now Weasley you know magic is forbidden in the corridors, but if you start then I'll be forced to show you what this dark wizard can do," said Harry narrowing his eyes and trying to look more intimidating.
Ron, who was now furious, was being held back by Lillian and Hermione, snarled back nonetheless, "I can take you anytime anywhere Potter."
"Be careful of your words Weasel or you might just find yourself….. Dead," Harry said softly, aiming for the scariest tone he had at his disposal and he was desperately trying to control his laughter on the inside.
"Yeah Weasley, why don't you run back to your common room and stay there before we do something we regret," Malfoy hissed.
"Shut up, just name the place and time and I'll be there," he spat.
"Midnight, in the trophy room," Harry said right away.
"Done! Magic only and no physical contact."
Harry grinned, "Then we'll meet in the trophy room, see you at stroke of twelve and make sure you have someone to drag your mutilated body back with you," he said as he and Malfoy walked away.
As they walked back Draco turned to Harry, "You could get into serious trouble if you get caught you know."
Harry just laughed, "Draco, are you a Slytherin or not?"
"What's that supposed to mean, of course I'm a Slytherin," he said narrowing his eyes.
"Then you should now that Filch will be duelling in the trophy room instead of me and poor Weasley is going to face a mighty opponent," said Harry with a satisfied look on his face.
"Nice!" Draco exclaimed.
"Yeah, that what he gets for spreading rumours about me being evil and going to kill everybody in the school. Honestly, it's really irritating when people run away from me every time they see me or keep muttering dark wizard under their breaths every time I walk past them or constantly fixated upon getting a look at my scar. It really gets under my skin," Harry said tightening his fists.
There was silence for a while after that. "You really don't like being the centre of attraction do you," Draco asked, looking at Harry closely.
"No I don't."
"Well anyway let's hope Weasley and the mudbloods get caught!" Draco said gleefully.
"Mudblood? What's that," asked Harry looking confused.
"You don't know? ….. It's a foul word for someone who is muggleborn."
Harry then remembered what Blaise had told him about how pureblood's act towards Muggleborns. He realized Draco was a typical muggleborn hating pureblood.
"I think they should kick out all the mudbloods out of the wizarding world, don't you Harry?" Malfoy asked Harry.
"I don't care what you think about muggleborns as long as you don't use that word in front of me."
"Why do you care? Oh, I see. You're friends with that mudblood Austin aren't you?" he said giving his trade mark sneer.
Harry stopped and turned towards Draco, "I said don't use that word. As for why I care, it really doesn't concern you. Now let's get going, it's almost nine."
Harry then turned back and walked away towards the common room leaving Draco behind making a note in his head to never help or ask Malfoy for help.
Malfoy stayed back for a few minutes, a pensive expression on his face before his face lit up suddenly and he walked slowly towards the common room to write a letter to his father.
Both didn't notice a man standing in the shadows, his red eyes gleaming, "He is an interesting one isn't he Quirrell," A soft high pitched voice hissed as Draco vanished from his sight.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Gryffindor common room, half an hour to midnight
"Ron! Don't go! If you get caught you could be expelled!"
"Let go Hermione, I'm going to teach that bastard a lesson today."
Hermione was pleading with Ron not to go and Lillian was sitting comfortably in the couch watching Hermione's attempts to stop him.
"Don't just sit there Mary! Help me stop this hothead," Hermione yelled at Lillian.
"Oh for godsake Hermione just let him go and I'm going with him anyway," Lillian said rolling her eyes.
"Wait what?! Why on Earth would you want him to go and why do you want to go with him?"
"I'm telling you to let him go because he's not going to stay and I'm going with him so that I can take him to the hospital wing after Potter's done with him."
Both Ron and Hermione stared at her with open mouths wondering what she meant.
"What do you mean take me to the hospital wing," Ron said looking a little pale.
"Isn't it obvious, no matter how good with a wand you think you are, you can't beat Potter and I don't think you should try to. I'm sure you've both seen how annoyingly good he is in class," she said leaning back in the couch and crossing her legs. "But it's your choice Ron, if you go I'm coming with you, no matter what Hermione says and I want to see the castle at night."
"I don't care how strong Potter is, I'm a Gryffindor and I don't back down from a fight," Ron said looking determined, the Gryffindor in him making an appearance.
Lillian grinned, "Alright you go get beaten up and I'll take a tour of the castle."
As they walked out of the portrait hole Hermione came running after them, "Wait, wait! Have you two gone mad?"
"Go back to bed Hermione," Ron said annoyed at the girl's unwillingness to back down.
"No! You can't go! It's against the rules!"
A brain wave struck Lillian, "Hey Hermione, haven't you ever wondered what sort of activities occur during the night at Hogwarts? I mean where do the ghosts go, how does everything get cleaned, how many secret rooms are there in the castle, is it possible to sneak into the restricted section of the library and read about ..."
"Stop!" Hermione yelled looking extremely flustered. "It's against the rules and I'm sure they have a good reason!" she growled.
"Hermione, you're out of the common room, its midnight in other words night time in the castle. Don't you want to see for yourself what goes on at night rather than reading it from a book?" she said looking into Hermione's eyes.
"I-I, I don't know," she said but it was clear that she was struggling with herself.
Lillian decided to go for the kill, "You could write a book about it."
Hermione went still.
"Oh, alright let's go," she said, sagging her shoulders in defeat.
All three Gryffindor's made their way to the trophy room and wait for Harry to arrive. After waiting for ten minutes, Ron exclaimed, "Where is he? It's already five minutes past midnight!"
"Ssshhh!" Lillian hissed, "I hear something."
Immediately they all fell silent. "Come on my sweet, I know they are in here somewhere," came the sickly voice of the caretaker, Argus Filch.
"Its Filch and Mrs. Norris," Hermione gasped in horror.
"Run!" Lillian whispered and they all ran for it. They ran for their life but Ron tripped over a suit of armour which fell with a loud bang.
"Shit," he cursed and ran fast to catch up with the two girls.
"You heard the noise, didn't you Mrs. Norris! Come on after them!" Filch yelled, terribly excited about catching students out of bed.
Ron, Hermione and Lillian suddenly came to a dead end with a door in the side. "Quick, through the door!" Lillian said urgently.
Ron tried to open it but it was locked, "Oh no," he moaned, "We're doomed."
"Move aside," Hermione commanded, "Alohomora," she said pointing her wand at the lock. The door clicked open and all three of them rushed in and locked the door from the inside.
"Where are you little brats?" Filch's muffled voice came through the other side of the door, "I know you're here somewhere."
He tried to open the door but found it locked. "Must have turned somewhere else," he grumbled and decided to check elsewhere.
Lillian and Hermione who had their ears pressed against the door sighed in relief hearing his footsteps fade away.
"What is it Ron," Lillian snapped at Ron who had been tugging her shirt for the past few seconds.
She turned around to see what he wanted and froze in shock. "Err… Hermione, you better open the door or we're gonna die."
"What?" Hermione said, confused and looked back.
There was a huge three headed dog staring at them. It was slowly waking up and had drool dripping from its mouth.
"AAAHHHHHH!" all three yelled and they quickly ran out as the dog started barking like mad and slammed the door shut behind them and didn't stop until they were safely inside their common room.
They collapsed on the couch panting and trying to catch their breaths.
"That, that was awesome!" Lillian exclaimed after she had caught her breath.
"Awesome?! Have you seriously lost your sanity?" Hermione shrieked.
"Yeah it was. I mean how often does that happen to you? Getting chased by Filch, meeting a three headed dog and running for your life all in one night!"
"Hopefully never, but did you see what that dog was standing on?" said Hermione looking at Ron and Lillian.
"Yeah, it was a trap door and that was the third floor corridor which is out of bounds," said Lillian.
"That means it was obviously guarding something," said Hermione looking pensive.
"It could be that or it could also be a plot by Potter to get me killed," said Ron.
"Don't be ridiculous Ronald."
"Oh come on you two. He doesn't show up for the duel but Filch shows up who chases us to a room with a monster. How can it not be a plot to kill me! You're lucky I was there to save you!"
"Yeah Ron whatever you say. Well I'm off to bed; remind me to thank that nest head tomorrow. Come on Hermione, let's leave Ron here to his delusional thoughts," Lillian said yawning and walking up the stairs to her dormitory.
Hermione followed her up the stairs and said, "Thank Potter? You really are crazy Mary."
"I'm not crazy I just enjoy thrills."
Ron could hear them arguing as they walked up the stairs and he slowly went up to his own dormitory convinced that Harry was trying to kill him.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Harry woke up the next day feeling refreshed. He got out from his bed and sat on the window sill looking out as the sun slowly rose over the lake remembering the times when he used to watch the sun rise when he was with the Dursley's, only this time there were no Dursley's and it felt a hundred times more wonderful.
Blaise woke up a little while later and they went for breakfast where they were joined by Malfoy and his goons.
"So do you think Weasley got caught?" Malfoy asked Harry smirking.
"I certainly hope so, oh look there he comes."
Ron walked into the great hall and headed straight to the Slytherin table.
"I know you were trying to kill me last night because you know I'm right about you!" he began, "And you should also know that your bloody three headed monster dog failed to finish me off!" he hissed.
"What are you talking about Weasley?" said Harry, genuinely confused.
"What I'm saying is your little plan to kill me failed and you better stop trying or you'll regret it," he said and walked back to the Gryffindor table.
Malfoy, Harry and Blaise burst out laughing and Crabbe and Goyle just looked confused. "H-he thought Mrs. Norris is a three headed dog!" Harry choked, holding his side, laughing like crazy.
"Plan to kill him," Draco laughed wiping tears from his eyes, "He's honestly lost his mind. I think he mistook the cat's shadow for a three headed monster! What a loser!"
Blaise was the first one to get himself under control, "Alright you guys we got flying practice with the Griff's in fifteen minutes you better hurry up."
"Yeah sure Blaise," Harry chuckled.
The Slytherin first years made their way to the ground for their first flying lesson and many were eagerly looking forward to it.
Malfoy started boasting about his flying skill and it didn't take long for all the boys to start arguing about their flying skills and talent in Quidditch. Harry, who had never flown or even heard of Quidditch, just walked quietly trying to figure out what the hell was Quidditch. He turned to one of the girls, Daphne Greengrass if he remembered correctly.
"Hey Daphne," he called, poking her in the shoulder.
"What do you want Potter?"
"What the hell is Quidditch?"
All the girls stopped and looked at him as if he had grown two sets of horns.
"What? Did I say something wrong?" he asked looking a little nervous.
"You, a boy, don't know what Quidditch is?!" exclaimed Tracey Davis, another Slytherin first year.
"No I don't," he said looking annoyed at the stares he was getting from the girls.
"It's a sport," Daphne said finally, "Played on brooms. All the guys are crazy about it, even most of the girls."
"Oh, I didn't know wizards had a sport."
"Duh, where were you all these years, living with filthy muggles?" scoffed Pansy Parkinson, a girl with a face that eerily resembled a pug.
Harry tuned red, "Would I ask so many questions if I were living with wizards."
"Oh god no! Don't tell me you are actually living with muggles," she said looking shocked.
"Yeah I am," he muttered, "and it isn't pleasant," he added.
Harry left them quickly as they reached the grounds, not wanting them to ask any questions about his life with the Dursley's and went and joined Blaise who was with the other boys.
The Gryffindor's were already there and there were about twenty brooms in a neat line on the ground.
Their teacher Madam Hooch arrived. She had short grey hair and yellow eyes like a hawk. "Well what are you waiting for? Stand next to a broom and say up!"
Everybody stood next to a broom and yelled 'UP'. Harry's broom shot into his hand as soon as he said it. "Wow," he muttered. Many brooms just rolled on the ground and didn't jump into the owners hands.
After everybody had their broom's in their hands Madam Hooch corrected everybody's grip on the broom and berated Malfoy for doing it wrong all these years. "Alright, on the count of three, I want all of you to kick off the ground and fly around the pitch and come back. Do you understand?"
Everybody nodded. "Good. One, two…" But she stopped as Neville, who was nervous and scared about leaving the ground had already kicked off. "Come back here boy!" she yelled, but he went higher and higher and suddenly slipped of his broom.
Everybody winced as a loud cracking noise was heard as he hit the ground. Madam Hooch ran to him and checked him for injuries. "Broken wrist," she muttered as Neville whimpered in pain holding his wrist. She hoisted him up and turned back to the class, "Alright you lot, I'm talking the boy to the hospital wing and I do not want anybody touching a broom or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say Quidditch."
After she left everybody started murmuring about Neville falling off his broom. Suddenly Malfoy started laughing and picked something from the ground, "Look, it's the thing Longbottom got at breakfast today!"
It was a round glass ball glittering in the sunlight.
"Give it back Malfoy," Ron said, holding out his hand to Malfoy.
"I don't think so Weasley, I think I'd leave it up a tree for you to get," he said sneering at him.
BIFF!
Someone punched Malfoy in the face and snatched the glass ball from him. All the Gryffindor's started laughing and even few of the Slytherin girls started giggling while Harry and Blaise just looked on amused.
It was Lillian and she held the glass ball in one hand and her wand in another. "Got something to say Malfoy?" she said raising her eyebrow.
Malfoy just held his nose and spluttered, "How… how dare you! You bitch! My father will hear about this!"
Lillian started laughing, "Running to daddy are we now you little pussy?"
Draco pulled out his wand, a murderous expression on his face, but before he could say anything Madam Hooch came back. "What is going on here!" she exclaimed.
"Malfoy tried to hit me with his broom and I punched him in self defence madam Hooch," Lillian lied quickly and tried to look as innocent as possible.
"What! The mudblood is lying!" yelled Malfoy.
"LANGUAGE, Mr. Malfoy!" she said shocked. "Mr. Potter," she said turning towards him. "Is Ms. Austin telling the truth?"
Harry looked at Lillian who had a pleading expression on her face and then at Malfoy. He remembered what Malfoy had called her and said, "Yes, Madam Hooch, that's exactly what happened."
Lillian grinned in relief and Madam Hooch rounded on Malfoy, "That's 10 points from Slytherin and a detention with Filch for assaulting a girl!"
"But he's, they're lying!" he tried to protest.
"I will not hear anything else now go back and stand next to your broom," she said in a no nonsense tone.
Malfoy went back and stood next to Harry and hissed, "Why the hell did you lie?!"
"I told you not to use that word didn't I?" Harry said coldly.
Malfoy just glared at him and didn't say anything.
"Alright same procedure, on the count of three I want all of you to kick off the ground and take a round of the Quidditch ground and come back. One, two, THREE!" Madam Hooch yelled blowing her whistle.
Harry kicked off the ground feeling the wind blow against his face. His robes were fluttering and with a fierce joy he realized flying was easy! It felt so natural to be on a broom, it was like he was born for flying.
He clenched the broom tighter and zoomed high into the air doing loops in the air, he went faster around the pitch and dove down towards the ground. He went faster and faster and didn't hear the girls scream or Madam Hooch blowing her whistle. All he knew and felt was the air swirling around him and the broom under him. He pulled out of his feet when was barely twenty feet above the ground and came to a stop next to Madam Hooch grinning like a madman.
"Are you crazy Potter!" she screamed, "You could have died!"
"What are you talking about Ma'am?" Harry asked. He looked around and saw everybody looking at him with an expression of awe and shock on their faces.
Madam Hooch calmed down and asked him, "Was that your first time on a broom Mr. Potter?"
"Yes why?"
"Brilliant," she muttered ignoring him, "Absolutely amazing. His first time on a broom, he is a natural."
She suddenly turned back to the rest of the class and said, "Alright, that's enough for today, class dismissed. Mr. Potter, please stay back."
As everybody left the grounds she turned back to Harry, "That was amazing Potter, the way you flew on the broom."
Harry just nodded wondering what she wanted.
"Tell me how did you feel when you were in the air?"
"I felt like this was what I was born to do. It was amazing," he said, his eyes shining.
"Brilliant, absolutely brilliant, Mr. Potter you are a natural in the air and it would disappoint me if you didn't try out for the Quidditch team next year. I'll talk to Severus and put in a good word about your flying skills."
Harry just nodded not knowing what to say.
"You may go Mr. Potter."
"Yes ma'am," he said and ran to tell Blaise what Madam Hooch had said to him. As he entered the castle he was stopped by Lillian.
"Oh it's you, what do you want?" he asked her.
"Nothing, I just wanted to thank you, you know… about that thing with Malfoy," she said.
"No problem."
"Why did you do it?"
Harry's face darkened "I don't like it when he calls muggleborns that word."
"Oh….. Cool," she said staring intently at a stop above his shoulder.
They didn't say anything for a while but just looked around.
"Great flying," she said suddenly.
"Yeah, I loved it, Madam Hooch asked me try out for the team next year," he said grinning.
"Oh that's great. Good for you."
There was another uncomfortable silence between them. Suddenly her face lit up. "Oh and thanks for last night! We had lots of fun," she said grinning.
"Fun?"
"Anyway, I'll see you around," she said quickly and turned heel and ran.
"Wha? Hey wait! What are you talking about?" he yelled after her as she ran into the next corridor. "FRECKLES!" he yelled hoping she'd come back.
He stared at the place she disappeared wondering what the hell she was talking about and was even more confused as to why she said being chased by Filch was fun?!
"Girls," he grumbled, "always acting weird."
Lillian who had just reached the portrait hole was cursing herself over and over again, wondering what possessed her to run like that! She told the fat lady the password and went to the common room to think about what she had just done only to be blasted back by the noise volume in the common room. All the Gryffindor's were cheering and clapping.
"What the bloody hell?"
"We welcome the new queen of Gryffindor!" yelled George Weasley standing on a table with his twin brother.
"Too right dear brother of mine, please welcome the one and only Ms. Lillian Mary Austin!" yelled Fred Weasley and everybody started hooting and cheering again.
"What are you on about?" Lillian yelled over the noise of everybody's cheering.
Lee Jordon came up to her and said, "Did you punch a Slytherin?"
"Yes?" she said.
"And did you get him into trouble by lying about it?" Katie Bell asked, amidst hoots and whistles.
"Yeah, what about it?" she asked them.
"What about it?" said Fred jumping down from the table.
"You have done something every Gryffindor would dream of doing," said George jumping next to his brother.
"Thus, you are now legend in the house of Gryffindor!" yelled Lee as everybody started cheering again.
Lillian started laughing, "Well let's hope this isn't the last time it happens."
George faked a tear coming out of his eye, "Fred, a girl of our own blood."
Fred patted him on the shoulder and said, "We'll have to teach her everything we know."
"Well I'm glad you all approve but I really got to go and have a bath," she said looking at everybody.
Everybody cheered once more as she went towards the stairs to her dorm and many people patted her on the back as she went. She didn't notice Hermione following her. She reached her room and collapsed on her bed laughing.
"I hope you're happy, you should be ashamed of what you did Lillian Mary Austin."
"Oh lighten up Hermione it was all in good fun."
"Fun or not, you lied to a teacher and physically assaulted a student!"
Lillian sighed, "Hermione you have got to pull yourself out of the world of books and rules and live life a little."
Hermione, who was about to scold her some more, stopped and looked at her strangely. "Oh well I hope you at least thanked that Potter for saving your skin."
Lillian stopped grinning immediately. "Yeah I did," she said, "and I don't know why I ran like a chicken after that," she added under her breath.
"What did you say?" asked Hermione.
"Nothing, nothing, I said I'm going for a shower."
"Well come out fast, we got charms in an hour."
-x-x-x-x-x-x-
31st October 1991
Almost two months had passed since Harry had come to Hogwarts and he had settled down quite comfortably in the castle. He also hadn't spoken to Lillian since the flying lesson incident and he couldn't be happier. Less contact with her was a good thing in his books.
"Hey Harry come on, let's go, the feast will be starting soon," said Blaise walking out of the room.
It was Halloween and the 10th death anniversary of Harry's parents.
"You go on ahead Blaise, I'll catch up later."
"You sure?"
"Yeah I'm sure," Harry said looking out of the window.
"Alright then you better hurry up because the food is supposed to be delicious, even better than the welcoming feasts."
"Yeah cool I'll be there," he muttered having no intention of going to the feast. Blaise nodded and left the room.
Harry sighed and looked at the moon's reflection on the lake. There were a few bats hanging on the trees and he could see a few of the giant squid's tentacles.
"I miss you mum, dad," he whispered "wish you were here."
He sat on the sill for another fifteen minutes listening to the frogs croak and watched the bats and owls fly out to hunt before jumping out and deciding to go for a walk in the dungeons.
He walked out of the common room and headed in a random direction. He was so deeply immersed in his thoughts that he didn't see someone walking towards him who didn't see him either. They banged into each other and fell on the floor.
"Watch it you idiot!"
"You watch it yourself moron," Harry snapped, rubbing his forehead and looked ahead to see who it was. "Oh, hey Freckles."
"What have I told you about calling me that word!" she said angrily.
"You told me not to call you that word," he said smirking.
She took a step closer to him and said, "So why are you still calling me that name?"
"Because you don't like it?"
She growled at him and was about to retort, but Harry quickly cut in and said, "Why are you not at the feast?"
She stopped and looked at him and replied, "I didn't feel like going."
He raised his eyebrows at that and she elaborated further, "It's my mum's death anniversary," she said quietly.
"Oh..., sorry about that," he said.
"So what about you? Why aren't you at the feast?"
Harry shrugged, "Same reason. Didn't feel like celebrating anything."
Lillian didn't say anything but sat on the floor. "Sit down; we don't have anything else better to do."
Harry shrugged and sat opposite her leaning on the wall.
"Cookie?" she asked him pulling out a packet.
"No thanks, I'm good."
"Suit yourself," she said and began to eat.
"Why'd you run that day?" he asked her suddenly.
Lillian blushed, "I really don't know. It felt like the right thing to do at that moment."
Harry just sighed and stared at the ceiling. "Do you miss her..., your mother?"
"Yeah, I do but I don't even remember her so that makes it less painful, though I still look at her photographs once in a while," she said munching on her cookies.
"I don't even know how my parents looked," Harry said. "I've never seen any photograph of them."
"What! How come? Didn't your aunt ever show you any?" she said looking appalled.
Harry laughed bitterly, "Her? She hates me, no point in asking for a photo of my mum and dad in their house. I didn't even know their names until McGonagall told me if you remember."
Lillian didn't say anything but let him continue talking. She knew he needed to talk about it to somebody. "I wish I had a photo or something to remember them with."
"Your father was a chaser in Gryffindor," she said suddenly "and your mother had gotten an award for being a prodigy in charms before she left Hogwarts."
"Really? How do you know that?" he asked her surprised at that information.
"Well, your dad has his name written on one of the Quidditch trophies and your mum has a trophy too in the charms section with all the details written next to it. I saw them when you challenged Ron to a fake duel," she said grinning.
Harry laughed, "Oh yeah, so you actually went with him?"
"Yeah, wanted to check out the castle at night."
"So what happened? I mean Filch was supposed to be there but Weasley comes the next day yelling about me trying to kill him with three headed dogs," Harry said.
"He actually told you that!" she exclaimed.
"Yup, so now tell me what happened?"
"Well we went to the trophy room eagerly waiting for you to arrive but only you weren't there but Filch was! So we ran for it, we meaning me, Ron and Hermione."
"Granger was there too?" Harry asked, surprised.
"Yes, don't interrupt me. Anyway so we ran for it but came to a dead end with a locked door. So Hermione unlocks the door with some spell and we go in waiting for Filch to go away. While I was busy trying to hear if Filch had gone or not Ron kept tugging at my shirt annoyingly and when I turned around I saw this huge three headed dog staring at us with drool dripping from its razor sharp, foot long teeth! We fled from that room choosing Filch over death and ran nonstop back to our common room where we finally stopped and discussed about what we had just seen."
Harry stared at her mouth opened. "So the dog was real."
"Yeah it was."
"What the hell was it doing there?"
"I have no idea but it was standing on a trap door and the door was on the third floor corridor."
"The corridor Dumbledore said was out of bounds!" Harry said realizing why it was out of bounds.
"You think it was guarding something?"
"Yeah that's what I thought. I think I'll go and ask Hagrid about it later," she said more to herself.
"Who's Hagrid?" he asked her.
"Oh, he's the game keeper, lives in the grounds in a hut. I meet him in my first week here; he's a really nice guy."
"Ok, you do that. Well I think I better go the feast I about to get over and people will have a fit if they see a Slytherin and a Gryffindor sitting opposite each other," he said standing up and holding his hand out to her. She took it and jumped up.
"Well, see you later then," he said looking at her.
She didn't reply but had a terrified expression on her face. "Hello? I just said bye to you," he said shaking his hand in front of her face.
She still didn't say anything but pointed shakily behind him. "What?" he asked again.
"L-look b-be-hind you," she stuttered.
"Huh," he said turning around. His eyes widened as he saw the largest and ugliest beast he had ever seen holding a club in its thick hands.
"Fuck!" he yelled as it raised its club ready to strike. "DUCK!" he shouted and grabbed Lillian and pulled her to the floor as it swung the club smashing it against the wall. Cracks formed all over the wall and the beast snarled.
The beast roared as it raised its club again. "COME ON RUN!" he yelled pulling her up and running away from it.
They ran hard until they came to a dead end, "Shit," Harry cursed.
"Shit is right!" said Lillian in panic, "this is just like last time only there's no Filch but a fucking troll!"
They tried to back out but were trapped as the troll came in blocking the exit.
Harry took out his wand and tried to think of a spell to hit it with but nothing came to his head. Both he and Lillian backed up against the wall, their eyes darting around trying to look for an escape.
The troll swung its club sideways but this time towards Lillian.
"Austin! Move!" Harry yelled but she was frozen in her place. Swearing, he ran and pushed her out of the way but got hit in the process and was smashed into the wall. His back and ribs exploded in pain as he crumpled on the floor.
"HARRY!" Lillian screamed, terrified.
Harry opened his eyes and saw the troll moving to hit him again; he knew if it hit him again he was going to be crushed.
"HARRY!"
Suddenly time seemed to slow down, the pain in his body seemed to be diminishing and he began to hear lots of whispers around him.
He was confused, what was going on? All the voices were whispering something similar but couldn't make out what it was.
He saw his wand lying next to him and he picked it up to defend himself from whatever was making this happen but as soon as he touched his wand he understood what the whispering was and he understood what it were trying to tell him.
Everything seemed to go back to its normal speed. He saw the troll swing the club over its head ready to strike, he saw Lillian screaming at him to get out of the way and he felt the pain in his body returning, but he just raised his wand confidently and yelled "Eradicopectus!"
A yellowish green light burst out of his wand and hit the troll in the chest blasting it back. It fell on the floor hard and didn't move again.
Lillian stumbled to her feet, her body shaking and ran to Harry, "Harry! Harry! Are you okay?!"
Harry felt the world and everything in it begin to spin. He tried to move but the pain was too much.
"Are you alright Harry?" asked Lillian looking concerned.
Her pretty face swam in front of his eyes as spots of darkness began to obscure his vision. "I'm fine," he muttered and lost consciousness.
"Harry!" Lillian yelled panicking, "Holy fuck! Harry wake up! Harry!"
Suddenly she heard people running towards them. Thinking surprisingly fast, she quickly stuffed Harry's wand inside her pocket and pulled out her own. She dropped it near him knowing the significance of Harry's wand and what could happen if anyone found out what it was.
The headmaster, McGonagall, Snape and Quirrell came running into the corridor.
All four stopped dead in their tracks when they saw the sight in front of them. The troll was lying face down on the floor; the wall was broken in several places and Lillian Austin was kneeling next to an unconscious Harry trying to get him to wake.
Professor Dumbledore was the first to get into action; he pulled out his wand and started waving it over Harry. "What happened? Ms. Austin," he asked her gently.
Lillian forced herself to calm down and then looked at the headmaster in the eye.
"Harry and I were talking in the dungeons and suddenly this troll shows up!" she started shakily, "it tried to hit us but we dodged and ran until we came to a dead end. It then tried to hit me but Harry pushed me out of the way and he got hit in the process."
Professor McGonagall gasped.
"He then picked up his wand and fired some weird yellow looking spell at it which blasted the troll back. Harry then collapsed and then you showed up and now he won't wake up," she said with tears in her eyes.
Professor McGonagall put her hand on her shoulder and told her not to cry and it was going to be okay.
Meanwhile Snape was checking out the troll, he looked up and beckoned the headmaster over. "What is it Severus?"
"The troll is dead, its heart has been completely destroyed, how I do not know," he said looking grim.
"You think Harry did that?" Dumbledore asked.
"I told you I don't know. But first we must take the children to the hospital wing," Snape said.
"You're right," he said turning back to McGonagall, "Professor, please take the children to Madam Pomfrey. Ms. Austin, Harry is fine. He just has a few broken ribs."
Both Lillian and McGonagall nodded. Professor McGonagall conjured a stretcher and levitated Harry into it and took him to the hospital wing with Lillian beside her.
"I'll be expecting you in my office Severus," said Dumbledore looking at Snape. Snape just nodded and the headmaster walked away.
Once everyone was gone Snape walked towards Quirrell, grabbed his shirt and slammed him into the wall, "I know you did this Quirrell, you better stay away from that corridor or you will regret it," he hissed.
"I-I d-d-don't know w-wha-what you're t-t-talking about S-Severus."
Snape just let go of his shirt and walked away.
But just before he was out of sight he heard Quirrell calling him. "And Severus, you better get that leg of yours checked, its bleeding rather badly," he said without a hint of stutter in his voice.
Snape paused, narrowed his eyes but didn't say anything. He stood still for a moment, waiting for Quirrell to leave before going to the headmaster's office.