THE ROAD NOT TAKEN

Chapter 5: That was me saving your lives.

Disclaimer: All recognizable characters belong to J. K. Rowling.

AN: Your beliefs will be tested while you read this chapter but I ask that you bear with me, explanations will be coming in the future.

Arriving at the Great hall, Harry slid into the empty seat next to Neville. It had taken him a couple of minutes to walk down from the headmaster's office and he had been thinking. He very much doubted he would be expelled from Hogwarts for what he had done, but even if he was, it wouldn't be much of a loss. He had been having plans for his life before Hogwarts came along and it was not too late to pursue them. He had already collected some essential information about his parents and he was sure he could use what he already had to reconstruct their lives given time.

He actually didn't regret what he did to Malfoy and he would do it again if he found himself in the situation again, he had actually benefited from it. Seeing the elder Malfoy draw his wand on him, for a split second, Harry had felt like he was back at the Dursleys again, before he had discovered his magic and at the mercy of his relatives. Back then, he had been in no position to protect himself and just like in the Headmaster's office. Had he been alone with the other man, Harry was sure that he wouldn't have been able to protect himself.

The truth was that he may know a few defensive and offensive tricks but against a grown wizard, and one who clearly knows how to fight like Malfoy Sr, he would be useless. He would be at the man's mercy and that was something Harry hated more than anything in his life. He hated being powerless, having someone above you that could do anything they wanted and you are in no position to do something about them. And yet that was the situation he was in in the magical world.

Nearly everyone older than him was more knowledgeable about magic than him and in case of a fight, unless he was to find a way of making it physical, he would be at a great advantage. He knew he was physically stronger than anyone his age, probably as strong as some fifth or sixth years, but that would be useless against someone who can make sure you can't get close. What he needed to learn was how to fight with magic, either with spells or just with direct magic like he did with most things. And if he wasn't expelled, that was he was going to be doing from now on.

With that resolution, Harry dropped his magic and continued eating. None of the Gryffindors had actually noticed him, many discussing what will happen to him for what he did to the Malfoy boy. It didn't take long for the boy in question to spot him from where he was seated and he swiftly walked over with Crabbe and Goyle.

"Having your last meal Potter?" He sneered. "When are you getting on the train back to the muggles?"

Harry looked up, while everyone around him quieted down, suddenly noticing him as well. Harry paused his eating and stared at the boy. "Unless you want a repeat of what happened this afternoon, I suggest you go back and take your seat."

Harry's voice was soft but very clear and it was obvious that he wasn't bluffing. For a second, Malfoy looked like has was second guessing himself but he looked at the expectant faces of the other Gryffindors and his face became firm.

"I'd take you on anytime on my own," said Malfoy. "Tonight, if you want. Wizard's duel. Wands only - no contact. What's the matter? Never heard of a wizard's duel before, I suppose?"

"Of course he has," said Ron who was seated opposite them jumped to his feet and wheeled around. "I'm his second, who's yours?"

Malfoy looked at Crabbe and Goyle, sizing them up.

"Crabbe," he said. "Midnight all right? We'll meet you in the trophy room; that's always unlocked."

Once Malfoy had gone, Harry looked at the redhead before shaking his head and went back to his meal. He ignored the excited whispers around him while he concentrated on his food.

"You don't plan on going for the duel, do you?" Neville asked as they were walking back to the dormitory.

Harry just shrugged in answer. When they reached the dorms, he went straight to bed and was asleep a minute later.

It felt like he had only been sleeping for minutes when someone shook him awake.

"Harry...Harry wake up it's almost midnight!"

He blinked and stared at Weasley's face. "What?"

"You need to wake up, it's almost time for the duel." The boy said. "We can't be late!"

"I'm not going." Harry said and turned around before covering his head and doing back to sleep.

"But...Malfoy!" Weasley sputtered but Harry didn't even turn around.

"I told you you're wasting your time." He heard Neville saying. "He was never going to your duel."

"But Malfoy challenged him!"

"And you took the challenge, feel free to go if you want but I doubt Harry will be joining you." He concluded. "And neither will I."

The next day, Harry found out what had happened from Neville. Apparently, Weasley had managed to convince all the other boys in their dorm to go with him and Neville had no other option but to follow. They ran into Granger who was waiting for them in the common room and when she failed to convince them to turn back, she too ended up going with them. And so the four Gryffindors had left the tower to go to the trophy room only to almost be caught by Filch.

Malfoy hadn't planned on showing up and had hoped to put them in trouble. They were thankfully not caught but while escaping, they found themselves on the third-floor in the forbidden corridor where they were almost eaten by a Cerberus of all things. And then they had run back to the Gryffindor tower and had gone to sleep but not before Granger mentioning that the giant dog had been guarding some secret trapdoor. All in all it had been a fun night atleast from Ron, Dean and Seamus' perspective. Neville and Granger, not so much.

Once Neville had finished retelling the story, Harry just shook his head and kept quiet. He wasn't interested in the Cerberus or whatever it was guarding, if Quirrell was truly after it, then he was in for a serious challenge. From what he knew of Cerberus in Greek mythology, they were vicious creatures that were very dangerous that even some of the greatest warriors never dared to face one head on. Though he had read somewhere that Orpheus had charmed one with music. If this one was the same as the one in the legend, then it was either a very effective guard or a useless one if someone knew how to get past it.

The Potions lesson wasn't any different from the first one only that Snape was actively avoiding Harry. It was subtle, almost so much that Harry was sure no one picked on it but after years of spotting details, Harry say it right away. He wondered what was going on in the man's head and tried his best to make eye contact but he just couldn't. Therefore it went without incident, and Neville was more confident this time thanks to working with Harry and their potion was perfect, just like Malfoy's and Tracey's and her friend.

He and Neville were the last to leave as Snape had refused to take their potion sample claiming that they had cheated. Harry tried to reason with him until the man threatened the two of them with detention and they left without submitting their sample. They had just left the class when something slammed into Harry. He looked down and raised an eyebrow. "Hello Tracey."

The small girl who came up to about his chest looked up at him with a large smile. "Hi, Harry. How are you?"

"I'm fine." He replied. "How are you, yourself?"

"Tracey, let him go this instant!" Her voice hissed coldly and the small girl removed her arms from around his waist. "I'm sorry about her."

"It's fine." Harry replied as he looked the blonde girl. The dark-skinned boy they usually walked with was leaning on the wall watching the conversation. "Is there something you two wanted."

"Well, Tracey wanted to_"

"Would you like to study with us?" Tracey interrupted, ignoring her friend's glare. "Daphne thinks that you could help us improve if we studied together."

"Well, the idea of a study group sounds appealing but I'm doing a bit of personal research which is likely to take most of my free time." Harry started and the small girl pouted. "Though if you three have one already, maybe I can join you from time to time when I can. And I'm sure Neville would be thrilled to join you, right?"

The boy who had been watching in silence startled at being addressed. "Oh...I uhmm...wouldn't mind I guess."

He had not rejected them because he had been thinking of McGonagall's words. While he didn't need friends, it wouldn't hurt to have some allies especially not that he had yet to create for himself a place where he was unchallenged and didn't need to fear anyone. Besides, Neville needed some friends as well, and it seemed like he wasn't going to be making them by himself. Not only would it benefit the other boy, it would also help to take away some of his attention from Harry.

After lunch, McGonagall invited him to her office where she told him what his punishment was going to be. It turned out that he wasn't being expelled after all. He lost his house a hundred points, more than they had accumulated so far and he was to serve detention with Filch for the next two weeks until the end of September.

"Why wasn't I expelled?" Harry asked from the door as he was leaving. "Is it because I'm the boy-who-lived? Am I too valuable that even putting a student's life at risk isn't enough for me to be expelled?"

"Are you unsatisfied with your punishment, Mr. Potter?" McGonagall asked with raised eyebrows.

"Simply curious, professor." Harry replied. "Somehow, I doubt any other student in my place would have got off as lightly as I did."

"You got off...lightly as you put it because it was the first time you have done this and Mr. Malfoy wasn't injured in any way." She said. "Otherwise, you would have been worse off, probably on your way to Azkaban. And should it happen again, expulsion may be the least of your worries."

Harry stared at the professor for a second before he nodded and left. He knew something else was afoot. Malfoy Sr. had influence, he didn't know to what extent but he doubted anyone could floo into the headmaster's office, Albus Dumbledore no less and draw his wand against a student. It only meant that he believed he could get away with it, which meant he had influence. The fact that even with his apparent influence he couldn't get a better punishment for Harry meant that there was more going on.

Going straight to the library, Harry politely asked where he could find books on defensive magic and she directed him to a book shelf where he picked a book and sat down. With his magic up, he started reading. It felt good to sit down with a book in hand and read without worrying about being disturbed, it was like he was back in his room at Privet Drive and it felt comfortable. As days passed, this became a place of solitude for him, somewhere he can be without being bothered.

By the end of September, everyone seemed to unconciously give that particular table a wide berth even when he wasn't occupying it. Days turned to weeks and every time he didn't have lessons, he spent it in the library reading about offensive magic. By the time October was drawing to a close, Harry was sure he had nailed down the theory, now all he needed was start practicing. He had also grasped a couple of basic offensive and defensive spells. Once he was capable of casting those flawlessly, he would then move on to try more advanced spells.

Checking his watch, Harry sighed and got up. Today was Halloween, and while he usually had dinner with the rest of the students in the Great hall, he didn't feel like it today. This was the day his parents had been murdered in their home, he had no reason for celebrating it. That morning, he had written letters to all his parents' friends to introduce himself and tell them how sorry he was about what they lost on this day. Hedwig had taken all the letters which meant that all five were still alive.

Postal Owls were very intelligent creatures and they seemed to have a way of locating their targets so long as they were alive. A tiny little bit of information that no one gave much thought. For Harry, whose plan was to find out if his parents' friends were alive, it had indeed been very important. Hedwig was even smarter than the others, and if she had known that she couldn't deliver the letters, then she would have left them behind like she had done with the one he wrote and addressed to James Potter.

However, she had come back a few hours ago with Black's and Pettigrew's letters unopened and no reply from any of the others. That could only mean that wherever those two were, Hedwig couldn't reach them, while the others had received theirs but had opted not to reply. He had hoped that by contacting them, he could open up a channel of communication and hopefully get an insight in his parent's life with time, unfortunately that was not to be. Maybe they were mourning today and would reply later, either way, today hadn't gone as he had hoped. Atleast he knew that they were all alive.

With that thought in mind, Harry headed to the exit of the library. The librarian was in her chair as always.

"Happy Halloween, ma'am." Harry told her as he passed by.

"I'm sorry that I can't say the same for you, Mr. Potter." She told him with an understanding nod.

Harry stopped on his way and gave her a nod in return. Not many people seemed to remember what the cost had been for the Dark Lord's defeat. Harry trudged through the empty hallways towards the kitchens. He was just rounding a corner, right in the area with the girl's bathroom when a figure slammed into him. Harry stumbled back a step while the other person fell down.

The other boy looked up, at first in fear and then in relief when he recognized Harry. "Oh, thank Merlin I found you. We need to get back to the dorms, right now!"

"What's going on, Neville?" Harry asked as he helped the pudgy boy up.

"A troll!" He exclaimed, looking around as if he expected it to jump out of nowhere. "There's is a troll in the castle!"

"What do you mean?" Harry asked with a frown. "Why would there be a troll in the castle?"

"Come on, there's no time to explain." He grabbed Harry's hand urgently but then paused and sniffed the air. "Oh no, it's too late! What are we going to do?!"

Neville had pulled him away from the corner and was pulling him further when Harry stopped. He placed a finger on his lips telling him to shut up before he held the other boy's hand. Neville was shaking, and Harry was sure the boy was moments away from pissing himself, but he stayed in place even as they heard heard it - a low grunting, and the shuffling footfalls of gigantic feet as they rounded the corner where they had just been. Harry let out his misdirection magic and waited along with Neville.

It appeared around the corner and Merlin, it was a horrible sight. Twelve feet tall, its skin was a dull, granite gray, its great lumpy body like a boulder with its small bald head perched on top like a coconut. It had short legs thick as tree trunks with flat, horny feet. The smell coming from it was incredible. It was holding a huge wooden club, which dragged along the floor because its arms were so long. It shuffled past them without a glance and only when it had entered through the door to the bathrooms did Neville start breathing.

"Oh Merlin." He panted, his face white as a sheet. "I've never been so scared in my life_"

He was cut off by a loud petrified scream coming from the bathroom the troll had just entered. Without a second thought, the boy escaped from Harry's grip and ran straight into the bathroom. Harry rubbed his temples, usually, he wouldn't have bothered to intervene, but he considered Neville an ally, and there were things he was beginning to notice about the boy, similarities between the both of them that intrigued him, and not to mention Neville's parents had been close friends with his. Perhaps saving him would be enough to earn an audience with them, or put him in their good graces at the least.

Trolls were magically resistant, and at his level he couldn't come up with another magical method to deal with it before it could kill the two children. Neville had somehow maneuvered himself between the troll and the cowering girl. While his wand was shaking from fear, he stood his ground and kept shooting a weak disarming charm at the troll. How the other boy knew the spell, Harry had no idea but he recognized it as one of the few basic combat spells he had learned. In any case, the spell wasn't having any effect and if Harry didn't do anything, he was going to be killed by a single blow from that club.

Harry felt a jolt of excitement as he ran towards the troll. He had never gotten a chance to really test his physical abilities and how much he had grown since he fought Dudley and his friends. He could feel his blood pumping, and he felt a thrill he hadn't felt in a long time as he leaped at the troll. His momentum and power pushed him up and he landed on the troll's back. He wrapped his long arms around its thick neck and started squeezing with all his might. However, there wasn't much of an effect. He may be stronger than normal but even he couldn't choke a troll.

And so he did what he had always done as a kid when facing Vernon's blows. He called upon his magic. He had become quite familiar with it since he came to Hogwarts thanks to his constant use of it, and so it came to his call without hesitation. He felt the familiar rush of warmth through his body and he directed it through every part of his body. And then he felt it, it was like his strength had increased tenfold, he felt invincible as he wrapped his arms around the creature's neck and squeezed.

He could feel his muscles straining as he increased the pressure and the troll was certainly feeling it as it stopped its advance and started stumbling around while trying to shake him off. The troll let go of its club and used both hands to grab Harry from it's back. It managed to get a hold of his robes and pulled. Harry tried to hold on with all his supernatural strength but then the troll lurched back and slammed its back into the wall behind it, Harry felt the impact more than it did.

While he didn't feel any pain, it was enough to shake his grip on its neck and it was able to pull him off from its back. Without even hesitation, the troll hurled him away from it straight into Neville and Hermione who were holding each other. Harry immediately recovered and shrugged off his torn robes before circling the stumbling troll. It was obvious he had been making headway as it was stumbling aimlessly while it nursed its bruised neck. It was breathing heavily and clearly trying to recover, Harry wasn't about to let it.

He charged at it just as it stumbled around to look at them. He jumped and stepped on one of the sinks which he used to push himself up and onto its back once again. He had his arms around its neck in an instant and he started squeezing, harder than even before. The troll tried to fight, but to no avail, it tried knocking onto the wall but Harry wasn't about to let go. He could feel his muscles in his arms straining as he squeezed harder with strength he hadn't actually thought he could muster.

The troll put up a fight, but slowly, its struggles reduced and it fell on one knee, and then the other. Harry didn't let up, even as it fell down face first, he was still clinging on its back. It wasn't until he was fully convinced that it had really passed out that he let go. Breathing heavily as the adrenaline wore off, Harry looked back at his fellow students, they were staring at him like they were seeing him for the first time. Harry didn't blame them, it must have been quite a sight, seeing an eleven-year-old strangling a troll. He too was surprised with his strength, he had known he was stronger than normal but even he hadn't realized that he was that strong. Maybe it had been adrenaline along with magic?

"Wha-what was that?" Granger asked with wide eyes from where she and Neville were still seated after Harry had knocked them over.

"That was me saving your lives." Harry said, voice soft but hard. "And in return you will not tell anyone what happened here. Is that clear?"

The two nodded frantically, not wishing to suffer the same fate as the troll and Harry nodded in satisfaction. He could see fear in their eyes and he knew that no matter what happened after here, that fear will always linger in their minds, and his secret was going to be safe. He was just about to leave when his sharp ears caught approaching footsteps. He gestured the other two children to keep quiet and raised his misdirection magic. Just in time too as the owners of the footsteps arrived.

Professor McGonagall had come bursting into the room, closely followed by Snape, 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. Snape bent over the troll to examine it while McGonagall looked around in confusion, seeing the destroyed stalls and sinks without any sign of whoever had fought the troll.

"Is it dead?" She asked.

"No, just passed out." Snape answered. "Whoever it tried to attack must have strangled it somehow, though they must have left when they heard us approaching."

Granger and Neville were staring at the teachers with open mouths. They were standing right there and yet the teachers didn't seem to have seen them and it was obvious Harry was responsible for that. The boy seemed to be full of surprises, and now that the threat of death from the troll had passed, her mind was just beginning to comprehend what the tall boy had done. She had never given him much thought which was weird as she had been thrilled to learn that the boy-who-lived was to be in the same class as her.

She had read all she could about him, and had been looking forward to meeting him and compare herself with someone already so accomplished at their age. But then somewhere between boarding the train and arriving at Hogwarts, she had just lost interest. Her interest in this mysterious boy had somehow disappeared and she had never spared him much thought after that. But now that she was standing just behind him, the only thought going through her head was that he had grown, alot. She remembered seeing him on the train, but it was like he was a different person now.

It had only been two months but it was like they had been apart for over a year. The boy could pass for a third year or even a fourth year if he tried. He looked lean but clearly strong though not as strong as he had just demonstrated. Hermione couldn't think of anyone that was capable of what the boy had just done, and had she not witnessed it with her own eyes, she would have doubted anyone who told her about it.

The teachers left, and the three Gryffindors started walking back to their dorm in silence, each occupied with their thoughts. It wasn't until they had arrived in the empty common room that Hermione got enough courage to ask. "What are you?"

Harry stopped and Hermione cursed herself for her stupid question. Instead of thanking him for saving her life, she was asking what could even be considered a rude question. She was just about to apologize when Harry replied.

"That is what I'm trying to figure out." Harry replied softly. He turned to look at both them. "Maybe you two could help?"

"Oh...uhmm sure, I guess." She replied uncertainly while Neville just nodded silently beside her. "What can we do?"

Harry just smiled in reply. Perhaps saving them was more worth than he had initially thought.

As they entered November, the weather turned very cold. The mountains around the school became icy gray and the lake like chilled steel. Every morning the ground was covered in frost. Hagrid could be seen from the upstairs windows defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch field, bundled up in a long moleskin overcoat, rabbit fur gloves, and enormous beaverskin boots.

The Quidditch season had begun and on the second Saturday or the month, Gryffindor was to play Slytherin and the whole school seemed to be hyped for the game. Harry didn't see what the big deal was, but he was never interested in Quidditch and neither were Hermione or Neville. The day after Halloween, Harry had asked the two to help him research his parents and their friends and had been told almost immediately by a reluctant Neville what had happened to Sirius Black and Peter Pettigrew.

Apparently it had been Sirius Black who delivered Voldemort to where Harry's parents had been hiding. When Pettigrew had confronted him, he had killed his former friend along with twelve muggles. It wasn't exactly common knowledge but if anyone cared to ask, they would certainly find out as those who grew up in the magical world were well aware of the story. It explained why Hagrid and McGonagall had tried not to talk about Black, probably fearing that he would be very upset about the betrayal of his parents by their closest friend.

Black was in Azkaban, and Pettigrew was dead. Only he wasn't. Harry knew that for a fact and wondered if he was the only one who did. Was it information that was hidden from the public to protect the man? Harry planned to get at the bottom of this one way or another.

Opening a door to an abandoned classroom, Harry entered the room for their study group. Daphne had managed to get some older students to transfigure some furniture into comfortable couches for the group with a large round tablein the middle. Harry rarely attended but after Halloween, Hermione had joined and together with Daphne, the two girls managed to keep the group active and competitive enough that his absence wasn't minded much. Today, he decided to drop by, just because he had nothing to do and for once he didn't feel like sleeping.

"Harry!?" Hermione exclaimed, swiftly hiding the notes they had been pouring over. "What are you doing here?"

"In case you have forgotten, I'm also part of this study group." He replied as he took a seat opposite them. "Where are the others?"

"Well, Tracey is a huge fan of quidditch and didn't want to miss the game between Slytherin and Gryffindor." Hermione explained. "So she somehow guilt tripped Daphne and Blaise into escorting her to watch the game."

"I see." Harry said. "So did you look into what I told you?"

"What?...oh yeah, magical shields!" Hermione said as she rummaged through her backpack and got out pieces of parchment. She slid them across the table between them towards Harry. "This is all I managed to find."

While Harry read through her notes, he saw from the corner of his eyes as the two Gryffindors glanced at each other before glancing at him again. Placing down the parchment, he stared at them. It didn't take more than a few seconds before they broke under his piercing gaze.

"Look, I know you told us that we shouldn't talk about what happened with the...you know, troll..." Hermione started. "But you know we can't just...forget it."

"I could obliviate you." Harry offered and his offer was received with silence.

"At this point I don't know if i believe you or not." Hermione finally said. "Look, we are your friends, Harry. We just want to understand you."

Neville nodded from her side but didn't say anything. He knew atleast well enough to understand that he wouldn't tell them anything if he didn't want no matter what they said.

"I'm different, I've always been for as long as I remember and not like the fact that I'm a wizard. I can do things that other wizards can't and I've been trying to understand why that is." He said, taking them by surprise, not having expected him to actually tell them anything. "I think it had something to do with my parents and what they were, because I believe they were more than just a witch and wizard."

"That's why you asked as to look into their history." Hermione said in realization and Harry nodded in confirmation. "Okay...not that I don't appreciate it but why are you telling us now?"

"Because you asked." Harry said simply and got fierce glares in return, clearly neither of the two believed him. "Also, I was hoping you could do me a favor, Neville."

"Anything."

"Christmas is approaching, will you be going for the holidays?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, why do you ask?"

"I was hoping to stay for the holidays with you." Harry said, shocking the other boy.

"But why?"

Harry sighed, looking embarrassed. "Well, this may sound silly but I wanted to experience what it felt like to go through Christmas with a magical family. I don't remember much about that one year I was with my parents."

Hermione looked sad, Neville too and Harry knew that he was on the right track. "I...dont know Harry_"

"Look, it's okay if you don't want, I'm sure staying at Hogwarts won't be too bad." He said. "But please think about it, that's why I told you this early so you can have time to think about it."

Neville nodded and Harry stood up. "Well, I'll see you guys later."

And with that, Harry left the two knowing that whatever the reason Neville didn't want him to stay with them was, it wasn't likely to stand up to his emotional manipulation. He was going to spend this Christmas with the Longbottoms.

One morning in mid-December, Hogwarts woke to find itself covered in several feet of snow. As usual, Neville was the one to wake up Harry but the tall boy was more reluctant to leave his bed than usual.

"Harry, you really need to wake up, I don't think Snape will appreciate you arriving late." The other boy was saying. "Besides, I received something yesterday that you may want to see."

Harry turned over in the bed and stared at Neville. "What?"

"No, you have to get out of bed first."

Harry stared at him, considering if it would be worth it before he sighed and got up. Neville smiled and handed him a piece of parchment, it was a letter from Neville's grandmother telling him that it was okay for Harry to stay with them for the holidays. Harry smiled, while he wasn't surprised by the letter, it felt good to know his efforts hadn't been wasted.

AN: Like I said, there's a perfectly good explanation for whatever happens.