Book 1 - Harry Potter And The Dawn Of Chaos

Chapter 9 - Happy Halloween

Harry, Ron and Hermione walked the busy corridors of Hogwarts and Harry couldn't help but reflect on how different things were now compared to when he first started this wonderful school. Hell come to think of it, things are different now compared to a month ago. This time last month it had really just been him and Hermione with the ghost of Ron trailing behind them both. The change Harry had seen in his now best mate had been great. The ginger boy had quickly come out of his shell and Harry had quickly grown to love his friendship with the boy. While Hermione was great, she could often be a little too much and would often spend hours of the day reading and rereading the text books or old homework assignments and notes. This could leave Harry feeling very bored throughout the day as attempting to disturb her from this would never go well. He had tried it once and would never do so again. However with Ron it was different, he was a very laid back friend who would gladly take any excuse to distract himself from his work and honestly if it wasn't for Hermione's constant reminders about deadlines and his private tutoring with Greengrass Harry thought Ron would complete every assignment an hour before the class. That wasn't to say Ron didn't try, since the meeting with Snape Ron seemed more driven than any of them to achieve well but that didn't seem to cross over into his ability to plan ahead of time when it came to assignments.

They had just come from Herbology with the Ravenclaws which was always a slightly chaotic class with the two houses in an almost friendly competition for house points, though Harry could swear there were definitely moments when it wasn't friendly. Harry had found it strange that they shared some classes with other houses but not all of them, their year group was definitely small enough that all lessons could be joint together and it would still be a manageable class size however as always Hermione had an answer from him.

'Well the classes we share are the ones with time sensitive parts to them. Herbology, Potions and Astronomy all involve times and dates for certain tasks so by putting them together it means everyone can have a lesson around these times and dates.'

The answer had made a lot of sense to Harry and he couldn't fault the logic. Defence was next, the classroom had been changed slightly, the rows and rows of desks had been pushed to the side of the room creating a large space in the centre of the classroom. This meant that today's lesson would be a practical one. The professor was sitting on the front of his desk watching each student enter the room. Harry felt a sharp jolt of pain from his scar as his eyes fell on him but it was a somewhat regular thing for Harry, something about the classroom really made his head hurt. The man then straightened up, his voice calling the classes attention to him.

"Welcome, now today is another practical lesson. So far this term I have covered the basics on dark magic, defensive magic and a few basic spells you can use. Can anyone tell me what spells we have gone over?"

Everyone in the class raised their hand.

"Mister Notts give me one."

"The Knockback jinx."

"Good, Mister Crabb another."

"The one that shoots the red things out the wand."

"You mean the red sparks charm."

"Yes."

sighing Professor Quirrel wrote it down alongside Nott's answer. "Miss Parkinson?"

"The Verdimillious Charm."

"Good, used to reveal dark magic in an area." He paused for a second and Harry was interested to see where this was going. "Can anyone tell me what all of these spells lack?"

At this no one put their hand up, it took a few seconds before Harry nervously raised his own.

"Mister Potter, what do you think?"

"None of them are actually useful in defending yourself." His answer seemed to impress the teach so he continued. "Well the knock back jinx has offensive uses but won't do much to defend us against more skilled and powerful wizards. The red spark charm will just let people know where we are and the Verdimillious charm only helps us uncover any dark magic in an area. Nothing we know right now could be used to defend us."

"Correct. 5 points to Slytherin." Harry smiled, it felt good to not only get it right but to be rewarded for it. "Today we will learn the first of the basic shield charms. The incantation is simply Protego. The wand movement is straightforward." With this he demonstrated a harsh and sharp line downwards. In Front of his wand appeared a slight shimmer. Almost undetectable. "Now I want everyone to pair off and perform this charm. Cast the banishing charm as your partner while they attempt to block it. Begin."

Suddenly the class moved, as if someone had stung them all they jumped from their seats and paired off. Ron parried with Hermione and Harry was left slightly worried about who he could match up with. Harry fiddled with his wand nervously as he looked around. He could see one member of the class that still didn't have a partner, a boy by the name of Blasie Zabini, Tracy Davis had gone with Daphne Greengrass, leaving the boy without someone to go with. Harry awkwardly approached him.

"Hey, would you like to work with me?"

"Yes."

When the boy didn't continue talking Harry uncomfortably made his way over to one of the empty spaces in the classroom. Two boys lined up facing each other. Harry went first, raising his wand and tried to rain in his slight nervousness. As his hands stopped shaking Harry began with a quick downwards strike of his wand. Harry shouted, "Protego!". He could feel his magic pour through the wand and was able to see a slight shimmer in the air right in front of him. Before he could register if he had actually done it, his partner raised his wand, casting the knock back jinx's quickly. The spell shot forward, striking his shield and fizzling out upon impact Harry breathed a slight relief. He didn't want to end up like many of the others in his class who are currently being sent flying backwards across the classroom.

"Impressive."

Awkwardly Harry replied. "Umm thank you. Your turn then."

The boy raised his wand, the way he held it was off. Less like a wand and more like he was holding a pen, as if he was about to draw. The movement lacked the harshness that Harry had used and as a result the slight shimmer that appeared from his wand seemed to lack the strength Harry had. Raising his own wand Harry, with tight fluid movement cast the knockback jinx. The speed at which it flew from his wand always impressed Harry since no one else in the class's spells travelled as quickly as his own. The spell shot forward, slamming into the shimmering shield and breaking it. Harry watched as his partner was sent flying backwards, before he slammed into the wall he seemed to slow. Turning to look behind him Harry saw their defence professor standing with his wand pointed at Blaise.

"Impressive Mister Potter, not only did you perform the spell for the first time but you managed to break through this young man's shield. However I must caution you on your power."

"Sorry professor."

"Do not apologise for being powerful, it is unbecoming of someone from your noble house. I simply mean that not every spell you cast must be done so with the full extent of your magical talent. Learn to control it and you will quickly grow into an impressive wizard." The defence professor's words made Harry uncomfortable, he wasn't used to praise of any kind, especially not from teachers, though he was slowly getting more used to it at Hogwarts.

"Thank you Professor, were you in Slytherin when you attended Hogwarts?"

"No, I was a Ravenclaw though later in life I became close to a Slytherin who taught me the importance of his house's values. Now try again but this time without breaking your partner." Quirrel turned and walked away at this leaving Harry and Blaise to resume their practice, though not before Harry apologised to Blaise for almost sending him into the wall, a fact which the young man seemed weirdly calm about.

LINE BREAK

"Harry, are you okay?"

Neville asked quietly. Since he knew what today meant for Harry, Neville had decided to try and keep an eye on his friend as much as possible which to Neville's shock had not actually been needed until now. Throughout the day Harry had seemed completely fine with it. Acting like his usual self. However the way in which his friend had fled from the great hall had been worrying. The feast had been going well and Neville had watched as Harry had laughed and joked with Ron and Hermione. However when the evening post arrived Harry had gotten something from one of the owls which had caused him to run out of the main hall.

"I didn't know they died today until I found out about Hogwarts."

The world made Neville freeze.

"I am sorry."

"Why are you apologising? You didn't kill them."

"No but I am sorry that it happened."

"So am I Neville."

"Why did you run out like that?"

"A stupid prank, I knew that some of my house didn't like me but I didn't expect them to go out of their way to be so cruel."

"What happened?"

"I got a card, happy orphan day it said."

"Oh."

"Yeah, I just had to get out of there. Do you know how many people have come over to me and thanked me, for what Neville? I didn't do anything, I was a baby who just woke up at night to a dead mum and a dead dad and ten years of misery. Why am I being thanked for something which took everything from me."

"I understand Harry."

"How?" The bitterness in Harry's voice was clear yet Neville didn't back down, instead for the first time in his life he told someone about his parents.

"One week, to the day, my mum and dad were taken by surprise and tortured to the point of insanity. I was hidden upstairs in the cupboard when it happened. They currently sit in the Janus Thickey Ward for permanent curse damage. They have no idea of anything that goes on around them."

"Oh."

"I am not telling you this to in any way take away from what you're currently experiencing but so you know I mean it when I say I understand. Since I was a kid adults have told me that my parents were hero's, that I should be proud of them. Yet whenever I see them all I can think is that I would rather have cowards who can hug me for parents than hero's who can't recognise me."

"It's not fair is it Neville."

"No, it isn't."

The two boys stood in silence in the empty corridor. Neither wanted the other to see the tears freely falling down their cheeks. Harry was the first to move. Neville could see him moving out of the corner of his eye, jolting slightly as he felt Harry hand come down on his shoulder.

"Guess we just have to stick together then. No point is both suffering alone. Next week why don't we hang out. Just us. Make a rubbish day slightly better for you."

"I would like that Harry. Thank you. Next year we can do the same thing today."

"Sure, would you be offended if I said I wasn't looking forward to it."

A hoarse laugh escaped Neville's lips. "Not at all because I am dreading next week."

A loud roar broke the two boys out of their slightly manic laughing. Harry's head snapped to the left and Neville felt his hand go rigid. "Nev trolls aren't a thing in the magical world are they?"

Feeling his stomach drop from beneath him Neville looked up towards where Harry was fixed looking at. "they are."

"So is that?" Harry asked

"Yup." Was all Neville could think to reply

"Well this is exactly how I expected today to end."

"Harry!" Harry forced himself to look away from the Troll which had stopped at the end of the corridor and looked behind him to where he had heard Hermione's voice coming from.

She stood there about as pale as Harry probably was. Ron was next to her and had his wand in his hand. Next to his two best mates were two boys Harry vaguely recognised but who Neville clearly did.

"Dean, Seamus. What are you doing?"

"We saw you run out the hall and then when Quirrell told everyone about the troll we realised we couldn't just go back to the common room without getting you first."

"We are here for the same reason Harry." Ron shouted.

"Thanks but did you guys stop to figure out what to do if we ran into the troll." Harry asked, he looked back towards the beast which seemed to be slowly making its way towards the children. Harry and Neville quickly moved backwards meeting up with the others.

"Should we run?" Dean asked.

"Yes, of course we should run. None of us know how to deal with a troll. Especially one that is armed."

"We can't."

"Why can't we do that Ron?"

"Stairs are gone."

He was right, they all looked over to where the staircase leading back to the main hall should be and it was gone.

"Brilliant."

"Why do they have moving stairs?"

"Well technical…"

"Not right now Hermione. Fun facts after we are done with the troll." Harry agreed with Ron, facts after troll.

"Anyone got any ideas on how to stop this thing?" Dean asked, the troll was getting closer.

"Trolls are really tough, almost all spells don't work on them." Hermione replied. "However we could maybe use the shield charm, just to hold it off a little."

"On three then, all at once. It should make our shield stronger." Harry drew his wand and he heard the others behind him do the same.

"One." The troll was closer now, Harry could smell it and had to stop himself from gagging.

"Two." They all raised their wands and pointed them straight ahead. He could hear Dean and Neville practising the incantation and Seamus praying that the spell wouldn't explode which worried Harry that this was something he thought might happen.

"Three."

All at once they shouted Protego and the air between them and the troll was filled with a silver hue. The beast raised its wooden club and slammed it hard down onto the shield yet it held.

"It worked." exclaimed Ron.

"Yes but we can't hold it forever, Harry can you blast it back like you did to Baise in defence?" Hermione asked, her words came fast as they usefully did when stressed.

"I mean this thing is a bit bigger than he was so I don't think so."

"Neville could help, he sent Lavender flying in defence as well." said Dean.

"Why don't we all do it?" Asked Seamus.

"Because unlike Harry who can pull off the spell every time, me and Hermione might fail, which right now would mean we get splatted. Plus we should probably hold up the shield just in case." Ron said. "However if this does work we need to run, I think going under the troll while it is off guard and try and get to safety."

The troll had taken another swing at this point and Harry could see that the shield was weakening, they wouldn't be able to take much more of this so Rons idea was probably the best bet of getting out of here alive.

"Okay, Nev you ready?"

"Not really."

"Now." Harry and Neville both shouted the knock back jinx's incantation. Two jets of light flew from their wands and slammed into the troll, which had been mid swing. This meant it was already slightly off balance which is what Harry had been counting on. It staggered backwards, dropping the club and the moment the club hit the floor Ron shouted for them all to run. Dropping the shield charm the group of terrified children sprinted past the troll which was focused on reclaiming its weapon. The rush of adrenaline meant no one noticed the two teachers which had appeared at the end of the hallway; they were running too until Hermionie ran full speed into Professor Snape.

"What are you idiots doing?"

"Severus, maybe deal with the brats after the troll." Quirrel interjected. his eyes focused on the beast which was now heading there way, wooden club once again in its hand.

"How? The headmaster is the one teacher within this school who is strong enough to defeat it with his magic. Even combined we would fare better than the children but not by much."

Harry noticed a flicker of anger flash between Quirrell's eyes before he spoke "There is one spell which would end our issue. Do it Severus."

The colour seemed to drain from Snape's face as he heard this. A slight tremor ran through his hand as he raised his wand at the beast which was almost upon them. "Mister Potter, I would recommend looking away." Harry, confused at Snape's words, chose to ignore him completely. "Fine. Avada Kedavra." A flash of green light flew from his wand, it hit the troll with very little impact yet as soon as it made contact with the beast, the troll crumpled, as if the strings which had been holding it up were cut.

"Thank you Severus."

The pure hate in Snape's eyes as he looked at Quirrell was clear and the potions professor made no attempt to hide it. "You six, 100 points each from your houses for your foolish and idiotic actions today. Return to your dorms immediately and do not utter a word of what you saw to anyone, if I find out you have done then you will spend the rest of your time within these hall in detention."

The rattled first years nodded and quickly moved on. A shocked silence fell over the group as no one seemed to want to talk about what they had just seen.

"That was the…."

"Yes Ronald it was."

"Merlin's beard. Harry you okay?"

"No, not really but I will be." The silence returned until they arrived at the main staircase. "Thank you guys for coming after me, I know you mainly came for Neville but I don't think we would have made it out without you guys."

"No problem. Look, can we meet up tomorrow and talk?"

"About what Seamus?"

"Just, us three have been working on something and I think we could use your help."

"Oh sure, why not meet in the library tomorrow after classes are finished." Hermione replied, her interests in what they needed help with clearly had peaked.

"That works, thanks. see you guys tomorrow." And with that the group parted.

Dear Reader,

Apologies for the disappearing act I pulled but being home from University took much for out of me than I expected and left me with a lot less time to write. I do hope you can forgive me for this and for the fact that instead of the two chapters I promised to return with I only have one to offer.

I am back at uni now and finishing chapter 9 was the first time I have been able to write since I left so I do need to catch up on chapters which should have been finished by now. This should be the last time I am unable to publish so don't worry about such a thing happening again.

I am conflicted about this chapter, it is one which I already have lots of ideas for how to rewrite it and think it will be the most different come the changes I plan to make between the end of book one and when I start to publish book 2. So if you feel let down by it then don't worry, it will be better. However if you loved it then I would appreciate a review on why you enjoyed it.

From Paddington123