The coming weeks went quickly and soon enough the morning of Halloween came and I didn't want to wake up. I knew this was the day my parents were killed. Petunia always took me to their graves in Godric's Hallow, even though she should never have gone back there.
This would be the first year I wouldn't be visiting them and I was sad. They were still my parents and I had vague memories of them. I still missed them and every story Petunia would tell me about my mother during their childhood.
As I dressed and headed down to breakfast later than usual, I already knew that everyone knew what this day meant to me. The castle was decorated beautifully with cobwebs with massive fake spiders crawling, earrily moving statues that would wave or smile unexpectedly, and delicious food.
None of it mattered to me as I didn't sleep well last night.
I knew there was a level of importance with the holiday. Though books were good to come by the knowledge of such events, it was nothing compared to what Daphne and Pansy told me at breakfast. Most students were in the Great Hall for Breakfast, dining on the delectable array of food presented for the morning meal.
Both girls wore their uniforms but they looked neater than before, if that was even possible. Their hair was tucked out of their way, in a low ponytail for Pansy and a single braid for Daphne, with rosy cheeks and smiles as they watched me sit down.
"What's the occasion?" I asked carefully, my stomach turning at the sight of the food. I settled for a large goblet of water and a couple of strawberries. I would ask one of the House-Elves to retrieve some food later, that is if I was feeling hungry.
"It's All Hallow's Eve tonight!"
"A big thing in the Wizarding World, huh?" I shrugged. "This is my first All Hallow's Eve in the Wixen World. Muggles simply call it Halloween, give out sweets when it turns dark and that's it. Nothing special."
Quidditch and my late-night reading was not helping my appetite recently. I wasn't used to the extra exercise but I was glad I was getting fitter by the day. There was a lot to learn about Quidditch, and about the new world I was in.
"The feast for tonight will be huge," Pansy said. "If we were home, we'd have a giant ball to celebrate!"
"Really?" I put food onto my plate. "Not a big deal in the Muggle World. I only care because it's my parents' day of death. Nothing special for me."
They didn't know how to respond to that, keeping silent a moment before Daphne said, "It's a big deal for the traditionalist families. For Pansy and Draco, it's most important. For Blaise and I, less so, since our families are less traditional."
)(-)(
Once again, Draco and I took the high-back wing chairs. Between waking up and breakfast, the common room chilled considerably. As the months waned on further into the colder side of the year, the common room changed with the weather. Thick blankets were thrown over several sofas and a variety of large cushions were set over the sofas. The fire wormed its way higher as the water meddled with the sunlight's path, casting a laurel green hue on the waking common room.
The other girls huddled on one sofa and shared a large blanket. I draped my Slytherin robes across my legs. My whole body was on the chair as I cuddled one of the throw cushions.
Snape saw that we were cold, almost shivering under our blankets and blazers a pathetic sight that tugged at his cold heartstrings. He waved his wand subtly, charming our coverings to retain warmth easily. Summoning a House-Elf, the pale wood coffee table between the sofas blared with a selection of food and Snape gestured towards it.
"Eat, I do not expect you to achieve if you are not fully nourished," As the students snatched at the warm and exquisite food, I huddled deeper into my robes. "That includes you, Miss Potter. I know for a fact that you did not eat at Breakfast."
"I did eat," I retorted. I was tired already and didn't want to argue about food. Even Petunia knew I didn't eat much on this day. I pursed my lips at his accusing stare.
"And, how much did you eat, Miss Potter?"
I countered his question with a short answer, "Enough."
He didn't look satisfied with my answer but he didn't push me anymore. He turned back to the rest of the group. "I understand that you all know that tonight is Hallow's Eve, yes? Good. On this night, every night, Slytherin House has a sort of event because of the traditions that many of your Housemates and you have in your families. Over the years, Parents and Guardians have requested that we celebrate Samhain and Hallow's Eve tonight."
I didn't join in my friends' joy. Yes, Halloween was one of my favourite holidays, I could not keep the dread from creeping into my bones.
I nodded slightly, to portray fake gladness, even though I knew this would't convince the dungeon bat.
"Miss Potter," Snape asked after dismissing the rest. He waited until they all left and lowered his voice. "Why have you not been eating? It isn't healthy and I cannot allow a First-year potioneer to continue with this behaviour."
"It's Halloween, Sir," I put my shoulder bag on, gripping the strips. "I suppose you know what happened today, years ago. I've read everything I could on my parents, I know as much as the best person. A stupid prophecy killed them, I am not stupid."
"Very true, Miss Potter. I agree," He said, folding his arms in a bat-like way. "Now go, and I expect you to be eating during tonight's event."
"Of course, Sir. I'll need my energy for Quidditch Practice," I chuckled for a second. "And to deal with the Gryffindors in your Potions class tomorrow."
)(-)(
The day dragged on significantly. We had DADA along with transfiguration and History of Magic. Charms were not too bad, they did learn how to make things float, well some of us did. But Blaise, Daphne, Draco and Pansy could not wait for the feast that evening, they said that it would be amazing. I trusted their judgement on this matter.
The long-awaited feast came soon enough, the students rushed into the Great Hall and found their seats within moments. Thousands of bats fluttered from the walls and ceiling, thousands more swarmed over the tables. Their black masses of bodies made the candles flicker.
The feast was bustling with life as people ate and stared at everything around them. The older years were muttering about a secret party in the Room of Requirement. The younger years were still revelling in the spectacular show that the Ghosts were putting on, doing tricks as Nearly-Headless Nick swung his nearly-decapitated head on the last bit of flesh, freaking out some of the students with weak stomach.
"Troll!"
Quirrel came running into the Great Hall.
"Troll—In the dungeons— you ought to know!"
He was on the floor in a dead faint.
An uproar came ripping through the Great Hall. The students looked to the Head Girl and Boy, to their Prefects, and to their teachers, trying to figure out if this was a prank or a real threat. Several firecrackers from a wand quieted them down so Dumbledore could speak.
"Prefects," He used his wand to vocalise his words better. "Lead your Houses back to the dormitories immediately!"
Farley and Crumb refused to move, telling their house to stay there for a moment.
"Headmaster, Slytherins are in the Dungeon!" Farley yelled over the other House's footfalls. "It will endanger us if we go!"
"I suggest that my House be allowed to stay in here," Snape mentioned. "Hogwarts herself would never allow the troll to harm them here."
"Yes, good call, Severus," Dumbledore mumbled.
"I will set the hall up for them," Snape pulled his wand out as he spoke.
"As will I. Now, go. Albus, and find that creature before it brings harm to one of ours," McGonagall said, her wand in hand.
Around a hundred sleeping bags were summoned and replaced the tables and benches. They scattered the grey forms towards the High Table, farthest away from the doors. As if on que, the older Slytherins took the sleeping bags nearest the doors and the youngests were sent further inwards. The three younger years were surrounded by the four older ones, letting the advanced skills of the Seventh years nearest the doors to keep them safe.
I and my friends took the ones closest to the High Table. I sat on the level, robe across my lap as I transfigured some of their sleeping bags into bean bags so we could sit.
No one else in my year thought to do so but I doubted they had the skill.
"Remember that time when you tumbled down the stairs at mine, Draco?" Blaise said, making Draco's cheek tinted pink. "You got a mouthful from my mum when you did, 'You little brat!' Her face was proper red, 'Both of you, bed now. Useless children.' She grumbled all night about us, even complained to your mum the next morning."
Our laughs were quiet, the type that covered our even quieter words. We did not want any attention on us, we simply wanted to have a bit of fun by taking the micky from each other.
I didn't really join in. Ihad only known these four since the train ride to Hogwarts. I didn't have any pleasant memories with friends, I didn't really know them as well as they did. I wanted to join in but I couldn't.
Several unexpected sounds silenced the Slytherins. The doors sang with vibrations from a sharp force, the wood cracking under the harsh pressure.
BANG.
BANG.
BANG.
Hogwarts decided this situation, the creature outside those doors was dangerous enough. She pulled out the long strips of wood, twisting them to block the doors. She locked the creature out and locked the students in, this would keep them safe for the moment.
THUD.
All of this caused several students to yelp in fright, others murmured, and Farley and Crumb had their wands out with the intent to harm in their eyes. They would protect their House, the place they called home, the people they called family.
THUMP.
THUMP.
THUMP.
The doors did not open at the creature's demands, Lady Hogwarts forced them away. She would protect these innocent children, they were in Her school and under Her protection. Nothing would harm them under Her care.
THUD.
The older students shoved the third years and below against the furthest wall, gaining distance between them and the doors. Distance was key. Their wands pointed at the banging, faces firm in concentration and fear. They would attack if provoked.
The banging continued for several minutes, getting stronger and faster each time. Soon enough the door vibrated heavily with force. Their hands turned white with strain, they still held their vice-like grip on their wands.
Every single Slytherin had their wands on them.
At. All. Times.
The older students drilled this into every new member, they understood soon enough why this was the case.
THUMP.
CLANG.
CRASH.
The creature burst in, breaking the wooden barriers and making the younger Slytherins scream in terror. Instantly, every capable Slytherin yelled, "STUPEFY!" and the Troll was unconscious on the floor.
"What in the world!?" A Ghost came through a wall. Slytherin's Ghost. He was the Bloody Baron and he was confused.
"Bloody Baron, get Snape quickly!" Gemma Farley yelled at him. He huffed but nodded, flying away.
The next few minutes were a blur. Snape came, informed Dumbledore, got rid of the Troll, calmed his House and sent them back to the common room.
Unlike some of the teachers and her Housemates, I noticed that Snape's trouser leg was ripped, his leg also bled. The tear was in the shape of an extremely large paw, Dumbledore warned us of something. I loved mysteries because I would always get them solved quickly, and I dubbed this a mystery worth getting in trouble for.
The commotions for the Troll was finally over, the celebration could begin in the Slytherin common room. Every Slytherin brought their beloved pets and Familiars, though these were few, to the common room.