Outside in the courtyard, daytime. Oliver and Harry appeared carrying a heavy trunk between them. Their hands were streaked with dirt. They put it down.
"Quidditch is easy enough to understand," said Oliver as he gestured to the Quidditch pitch in the distance. Pointing to the three hoops that served as goals, he continued, "The chasers try to put the Quaffle," and he handed a bright red one to Harry, "through these goals. The keeper, that's me, defends them." He tossed the ball back to Harry before indicating two squirming objects chained down at mid-pitch with his chin.
"And those?" asked Harry.
"You better take this," said Oliver as he reached out with a calloused hand and pressed a small bat into Harry's palm. The weight of the wood felt reassuring as he gripped it, ready for what was to come. With a mischievous glint in his eye, Oliver bent down and plucked a ball from the crate at their feet. The leather was worn and scuffed, but it held promise, tension coiled inside like a tightly wound spring. Oliver drew back his arm and released the ball with an angry growl; it soared up towards the clouds, distant and unreachable. Together the two boys watched it disappear into the horizon, feeling the thrill of the game that lay ahead.
"Careful now, it's coming back," said Oliver.
The balls come whizzing down, and Harry cracks at it with the bat. The ball soars off through a statue and lands about twenty feet away in the grass. It lands right next to a giant stone hand sticking out of the ground.
Oliver shouted, "Not bad, Potter. You'd make a fair Beater!" As the black ball shot towards Harry at an alarming speed, Oliver lunged forward and caught it just before it sailed out of the box, tumbling back onto the ground with a breathless thud.
Harry looked bewildered. "What was that?!" he asked.
"That was a Bludger - nasty little buggers," Oliver replied. Then he smiled confidently and handed Harry a walnut-sized golden ball. "But you are a Seeker, and this is all I want you to worry about for now…The Golden Snitch."
"I like this ball," said Harry, admiring its shimmering golden exterior.
"Ah, you like it now. Just wait. It's wicked fast and damn near impossible to see" Oliver warned him as he tossed the quaffle into the air. The wings suddenly unfolded from the sides of the ball and it shot up towards the sky, spinning like a top.
"What do I do with it?" asked Harry, his eyes wide in amazement.
"You catch it. Before the other team's Seeker. You catch this, the game is over. You catch this, Potter, and we win." Oliver replied with an encouraging nod of his head.
Harry followed the quaffle with his gaze as it fluttered around like a hummingbird before finally settling down a few feet away from him.
"Whoa!" he exclaimed.
Professor Flitwick, an exceptionally short wizard, is teaching his class atop a stack of books in order to see over the classroom furniture. The books wobble and sway as he paces back and forth, conducting the lesson with expert precision. Despite his diminutive stature, Flitwick exudes confidence and authority, his piercing blue eyes scanning over each student as he speaks. He seems to be equal parts teacher and performer - every gesture carefully choreographed to keep his students engaged. As he reaches for a piece of chalk to write something on the blackboard, one of the books shifts beneath him and he nearly loses his balance. His students hold their breath as he regains his footing with the nimbleness of a cat.
Professor Flitwick stepped back from the chalkboard and surveyed the room of students. "One of a wizard's most rudimentary skills is levitation, or the ability to make objects fly. Uh, do you have your feathers?" Hermione waved hers in the air and grinned proudly as Professor Flitwick nodded his approval. "Good. Now, don't forget the nice wrist movement we've been practising. Swish and flick! Wingardium Leviosa! Off you go then."
The classroom filled with a flurry of motion as feathers gently lifted off their respective desks and floated around the room.
The class, true to the teacher's word, began to speak. The students stood on their toes and moved their arms in a wave-like motion to their feathers.
"Wingardium Levio-saaa," said Draco, waving his wand in an uncontrolled flail.
Iris furrowed her brow and channelled her energy into the incantation "Wingardiam Leviosa," and the white feather twitched but didn't levitate.
Ron rapidly waved his wand back and forth, as if speed would make up for lack of skill, "Wingardrium Leviosar!" he exclaimed. Hermione stepped in before he could continue with another botched spell.
"No, stop, stop, stop! You're going to take someone's eye out. Besides, you're saying it wrong. It's Levi-o-sa, not Leviosar," said Hermione.
"You do it, then, if you're so clever. Go on, go on," said Ron.
Hermione stood proud and dignified as she slowly raised her wand to shoulder height and sang out the syllables with conviction: "Wingardium Leviosa." A shimmering light encased the feather and it gracefully lifted from its resting place until suspended in mid-air.
A round of applause erupted from Professor Flitwick and the students around them. "Well done, dear! Splendid work!" he beamed.
Ron laid his forehead on a stack of musty books, while Seamus wildly waved his wand in the air. With each pass, he intoned, "Wingard Leviosa. Wingar—" until an incantation finally escaped his lips.
An explosion flares and flashes. Flitwick jolts, as Ron and Hermione turn to the source of the explosion. Iris's eye twitches, as she stares at Seamus without a smile.
"Whoa! Ooh." Professor Flitwick exclaimed as he looked around the room, noting where Seamus had set the feather alight yet again. Smoke was rising from the charred remains of the once-pristine quill, fluttering ashes to the floor.
"I think we're going to need another feather over here, Professor," Harry said, trying not to laugh.
His twin sister Iris snorted in response and shot him a look that said it all. "You think or you know, Haza?" she asked in a mocking tone.
Harry turned to face her, his left eye twitching with annoyance as he processed her words. "Was that comment really necessary Iri?" he snapped.
She raised an eyebrow at him. "What do you think when you decide to state the obvious?" she retorted.
Harry sighed and held back a retort, knowing that arguing would get nowhere fast.
After class Neville, Harry, Ron and Seamus walked through the courtyard. They stopped to say hello to other students who were walking past them or hanging out at tables with their friends.
Ron raised his voice an octave higher and exaggerated Hermione's accent as he spoke, "It's Levioooosa, not Leviosaaaar." He took a step back and returned to his normal tone of voice. "She's a nightmare, honestly! No wonder she hasn't got any friends!"
Hermione rushed past Ron, hugging her books and gripping them hard enough to squish them against her chest as she sniffled in tears.
"I think she heard you." Said Harry
Hermione disappears into the crowd, her eyes glassy from the sting of Ron's hurtful words. As she vanishes, Iris strides up to Ron with fire in her eyes and delivers a resounding slap across his face.
"You absolute prat, Weasley!" Iris snapped, her voice ice-cold. "Harry, let him have it. He needs to hear some hard truths."
Harry raised a hand, his expression solemn. "I won't step in, Iri. This is between the two of you."
"You don't get it, do you?" Iris began, her voice dripping with disdain. "Hermione was trying to support you in her own unique way, and what do you do? You belittle her behind her back. It's cowardly, Ron. And here I was thinking Gryffindors were brave."
Ron's face reddened with a mix of anger and shame. "I'm no Slytherin!"
Iris raised an eyebrow, her gaze piercing. "What you did was cunning, vindictive, and low. Sounds like a snake to me."
As Ron's fists clenched in barely restrained anger, Harry stepped closer, a warning in his eyes. "Don't even think about it, Ron. Iris can handle herself, but you won't like what happens if you cross that line."
Iris smirked, her confidence evident. "Thanks for the warning, Haza, but I've got this."
"I know," Harry said, shooting Ron a pointed look. "But I'm not sure he does."
Iris turned back to Ron, her expression softening just slightly. "Snakes aren't the slimy creatures you think they are, Ron. But your attitude? That needs some serious adjusting. Unless you're okay with being alone because, with that temper and jealousy, no one will want to be around you."
Ron swallowed hard, the weight of his actions sinking in. "I... I'm sorry."
"An apology to me isn't what's needed," Iris said sharply. "Find Hermione and make it right. And remember, the world has enough bullies. Don't add to the count."
On that Halloween night, the entire hall glowed green and orange with floating jack-o'-lanterns in place of the candles. Harry notices an empty spot on the bench next to Neville during dinner, and Iris seems to be sitting next to Hannah and Susan.
"Where's Hermione?" asked Harry, his brow furrowed in worry.
"Parvati Patil said that she wouldn't come out of the girl's bathroom," Neville replied with a sigh. "She said that she'd been crying in there all afternoon."
Harry shot a disapproving glance at Ron, who shrugged helplessly in response.
"Good thing my sister tore into him for what he said to Hermione," Harry muttered under his breath.
Suddenly, Professor Quirrell came barreling into the Great Hall, wild-eyed and panting heavily. "TROLL! IN THE DUNGEON! TROOLLL IN THE DUNGEON!" He shouted, gasping for breath. Everyone froze as they watched Dumbledore rise from his seat, deep concern etched across his face. Quirrell stopped and the hall was plunged into utter silence. "Thought you ought to know," he gasped.
Quirrell's face contorted and his eyes rolled back in his head. He fell to the ground with a thud, sending shockwaves throughout the room. Everyone started screaming and pushing each other to get away from him, their faces filled with fear and panic..
Iris opened up their telepathic link and her voice echoed in his mind, "Haza that was awfully suspicious. He was the only one not in the Great Hall."
Harry clenched his jaw and replied, "I know Iri. Hermione doesn't know about the troll. I'm going to get her with Ron."
The moment of silence felt heavy as Iris's words reached out again, "Stay safe."
"SILENCE!" shouted Dumbledore and the hall echoed in the sudden stillness. He scanned the crowd, fear evident in every student's face.
Tonks stood up, her hair a pink halo around her head. "Hufflepuff, follow me." She gestured to the right side of the hall.
A Slytherin Prefect clapped his hands for attention and shouted, "Slytherins—form an orderly line and stay together!" The group quickly obeyed, lining up silently in two neat rows.
Professor Sinistra's eyes widen in disbelief. Her face pales as she walks out through a doorway, her robes swirling behind her. A bit later, Percy, with an air of importance, is leading the Gryffindors down a dimly lit, narrow corridor.
"Gryffindors, keep up, please, and stay alert!" said Percy, casting worried glances around as he walked briskly.
"How could a troll get in?" asked Harry, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Not on its own. Trolls are really stupid. Probably people playing jokes," said Ron, rolling his eyes. Suddenly, Harry stops and pulls Ron aside. "What?"
"Hermione! She doesn't know!" Harry exclaimed, his eyes widening.
They separate themselves from the group. Their feet pounding on the stone floor, they run down corridors. As they start sprinting down a hall, they halt abruptly – a grunting noise echoes ominously from a large shadow on the wall.
"I think the troll left the dungeon!" said Ron, his voice trembling slightly.
"Thanks for stating the obvious, Ron," Harry replied, his voice tight with frustration.
Stealthily, Harry pulls Ron into a recessed doorway; they peer out to see a large, ugly troll lumbering into a room.
"It's going into the girl's bathroom!" said Harry, horror-stricken.
Fumbling around his waist in a panic, Harry soon realizes that his lightsabers are missing.
"Great, my lightsabers are in my trunk," Harry groaned, clenching his fists.
Back in the girl's bathroom, Hermione emerges from a stall, wiping her eyes. She freezes when she sees something. The troll is standing there, its foul stench filling the air. Hermione backs up into the stall just as the troll raises its club and smashes the top part of the stall. Hermione screams in terror. At that moment, Harry and Ron come bursting in.
"Hermione, move!" Harry shouted, his voice cracking with urgency.
The troll, unrelenting, smashes the remaining stalls.
"Help! Help!" shouted Hermione, her voice filled with sheer terror. The boys, desperate, start throwing wood pieces at the troll.
"Hey, pea brain!" shouted Ron, his face red with anger.
Ron's throw is accurate; the wood hits the troll squarely on the head. Hermione escapes from the stalls to under a sink, but the troll spots her and lumbers over, intending to smash her. It cracks the sink and barely misses Hermione. Harry cringes.
"Help!" Yelled Hermione, her voice echoing in the room.
Just then, Iris arrives, her light staff in hand but powered off.
"Why is it always up to me to save you, boys," Iris said, her voice cool and steady.
"Not the time, Iri," Harry snapped back, his eyes never leaving the troll.
"Haza, catch! I will protect Ron and Hermione," said Iris, her voice commanding as she tossed her light staff to Harry.
"Thanks, Iri," said Harry, catching the Light staff gracefully.
With a focused expression, Harry uses his connection to the Force to activate the light staff; with a snap-hiss, two glowing green blades emerge from each end of the handle.
Behind Harry, Iris conjures a large, protective yellow bubble that encases Ron, Hermione, and herself.
"Stop! I don't want to have to hurt you," Harry warned the troll, his voice steady but fierce, pouring his concentration into the Force behind an Animal Bond.
"I think Harry is finally off his rocker," said Ron, his voice shaky.
"Do something," Hermione pleaded, her eyes wide and filled with tears.
"Do not interfere," said Iris firmly. "Harry knows what he is doing."
"Are you sure?" asked Hermione, her voice trembling.
"Positive," Iris replied with unwavering confidence.
Ignoring the peril, the troll gears up its club and swipes at Harry. He leaps to the side, agile and quick. The troll tries to use its club to smash downwards, but Harry blocks it with the Light staff, causing the club to snap in half.
Reacting instinctively, Ron grabs his wand. Under the sink, Hermione waves her hand.
"Swish and flick!" Hermione instructed.
"No, don't! Harry has this under control!" Iris warned sharply.
Harry, hearing Hermione, leaps gracefully over the Troll.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" Ron intoned clearly.
With Ron's incantation, the troll's broken club is lifted from its hand and hovers ominously above its head. The troll looks at its empty hand, then slowly looks up, confused, just as the club comes crashing back down. It strikes the troll's head hard. The troll wavers, then collapses directly into Harry's light staff, causing troll blood to splatter as the staff slices a chunk of the troll.
"Is it dead?" asked Hermione, her voice barely above a whisper, as she slowly emerged from her hiding place.
"Most definitely," said Harry, his voice calm but his eyes reflecting the intensity of the moment.
"Iris why did you have a weapon," said Hermione.
Dim light shimmered on the cold stone floor, reflecting pools of troll blood that had scattered all over. Harry, standing near the lifeless body of the troll, rapidly swished his wand, his robes now pristine and free of any troll blood.
There was a rush of movement and the sound of hurried footsteps. Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, and Quirrell stormed in. Their faces turned pale and eyes widened in shock as they took in the dead troll on the floor.
Professor Flitwick, the tiny charms master, looked puzzled as his gaze settled on the Light Staff, its glow slowly dimming, in Harry's hand.
McGonagall's voice pierced the silence, "Oh! Oh, my goodness! Explain yourselves, all of you!"
Ron stuttered, attempting to form a coherent story, "Well, what it is…"
"It's my fault, Professor McGonagall," Hermione said in a rush, drawing everyone's attention.
McGonagall's eyes, always sharp, fixed on Hermione. "Miss Granger?"
Swallowing hard, Hermione continued, "I went looking for the troll. I'd read about them and thought I could handle it. But I was wrong. If Harry, Ron, and Iris hadn't come and found me, I'd probably be dead."
The stern professor frowned deeply, "Be that as it may, it was an extremely foolish thing to do."
From the corner, a defiant voice piped up, "Or we could just tell you the truth. I'm sure you all are wondering why Harry," Iris paused, pointing, "or 'Haza' as I call him, has my Light Staff."
Harry swiftly turned off the Light Staff, its glow ceasing, drawing the room back into dimness.
McGonagall fixed her gaze on Iris, "Miss Potter, then kindly enlighten us with the 'full truth'."
Iris took a deep breath and began recounting the day's events. Once she was done, McGonagall processed the information for a moment. Then decisively, she said, "Mr. Weasley, ten points from Gryffindor and detention with Mr. Filch for bullying. Harry, Iris, you were fortunate. Not many first-year students would take on a mountain troll and live. Fifteen points each. And you both will accompany me."
The professors turned to leave, and the four students remained.
Harry spoke first, shaking his head, "Good to try to get us out of trouble, Hermione, but the truth was better this time."
Ron's voice was a mix of gratitude and guilt, "Mind you, we did save her."
Harry shot him a reproving look, "Mind you, she didn't need saving if you hadn't insulted her."
Iris added with a pointed stare, "Mind you, Ron, you need to tell Hermione something."
All eyes now on him, Ron swallowed hard and mumbled, "I'm sorry."
Hermione, ever the gracious one, simply nodded, "Apology accepted."
Later Satele Shan, Silandra Comoran, Iris Potter, and Harry Potter were in the Headmaster's office with Professors Dumbledore, Sprout, McGonagall, and Flitwick.
"Now Ms. Shan, can you tell us why Ms. Potter has brought a weapon to school?" asked Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling but his voice serious.
"You mean like every person in the school has," said Satele, her posture calm and composed.
"A wand is very different than a whatever that was," Dumbledore replied, his tone steady.
"Yet with a wand, you just mutter two words and then someone is dead," said Silandra, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow.
"It's a Lightsaber, isn't it?" asked Flitwick, his eyes widening with excitement and curiosity.
"How do you know," said Satele, her eyes narrowing slightly in surprise.
"I am a Goblin; I heard stories. But if that is correct, that means that you are Jedi," said Flitwick, practically bouncing in his seat.
"That is correct," confirmed Satele, nodding slowly.
"Then I can trust the Potters with them," said Flitwick, his voice filled with confidence.
"This is a school; surely rules must be in place for this," said McGonagall, her tone stern as she pressed her lips into a thin line.
"Harry has two lightsabers and Iris has a Lightsaber…" began Satele, choosing her words carefully.
"Lightstaff," interrupted Iris, correcting Satele with a slight smile.
"...right, Lightstaff. You would have never known if the Troll would have not attacked Hogwarts," continued Satele, using the recent event to strengthen her point.
Dumbledore leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers and giving Satele a thoughtful look. "A most unusual situation indeed," he said softly. "The safety of our students is our utmost priority. Tell me, Ms. Shan, can you ensure that these... 'lightsabers' will not pose a threat to the students and staff of Hogwarts?"
Satele nodded firmly. "I have trained them in their use," she replied. "Make them tools of defence, not weapons of harm. The Jedi way is one of peace and protection."
Sprout, who had been quietly observing until now, finally spoke up. "In that case, perhaps we can consider this as an extra layer of protection for the school, especially after the recent troll attack," she suggested, looking around at her colleagues.
"Now that that is cleared up, can you tell me what happened that involved a non-intelligent life form attacking?" Satele inquired, leaning forward with a mix of concern and curiosity evident on her face.
"Iris, consider this an AAR," Silandra stated, her eyes fixed on the young woman.
"AAR?" Harry questioned, his eyebrows knitting in confusion.
"After action report," Satele clarified.
Iris took a deep breath, her blue eyes briefly fluttering shut as she recalled the harrowing events. "Well, it started after charms class. Ron insulted Hermione so terribly that she was devastated, spending the rest of the day inside this very bathroom, mourning her hurt feelings. Unfortunately, when Professor Quirrell burst in with a frantic warning about the troll, Hermione was oblivious to the threat lurking close by. My brother, in a rush of panic, grabbed Ron, who had momentarily forgotten about his lightsabers, and they dashed off to Hermione's rescue. I hurried to my dorm, secured my light staff, and made my way to the bathroom. What I saw there was pure chaos. My brother and Ron were desperately trying to distract the beastly troll. Relying on my training, I handed Harry, my light staff, while I used the Force to shield Ron and Hermione inside a protective bubble. Harry's quick thinking and agility came into play, and when he sliced the club from the troll's grasp, Ron's levitation charm made quick work of the creature, knocking it out with a fierce blow to its head. The finishing move came as the troll stumbled directly onto the pointed end of Harry's light staff."
Satele nodded, processing the story. "Well, let's begin with what you both executed correctly," she began.
"Yes, Master Shan," responded Harry and Iris in unison.
"You both wisely recognized and capitalized on your strengths. Harry, with his proficiency in close combat, was aptly armed with the light staff, while Iris, having a more refined connection to the Force, was right in using it for defensive purposes," Satele praised.
A small, appreciative smile tugged at both Harry and Iris's lips. "Thank you," they replied.
Silandra, however, was more critical. "Now, for the feedback. Harry, when facing potential threats, why on earth were you without your lightsabers?"
Biting his lip, Harry admitted, "They were stored in my trunk."
Silandra gave a pointed look. "Remember this – always be prepared. It's better to have them and not need them than to be caught defenceless. And another thing - your acrobatic style may be impressive, but you must always be conscious of your surroundings and the safety of others."
Iris nodded, adding, "Indeed, as Harry leapt over the troll, he inadvertently put us and the others directly in its path."
"So, both of you need to sharpen your situational awareness. Still, given the circumstances, you handled the situation commendably. We will definitely focus on refining these areas in our upcoming sessions," Silandra concluded.
"I understand, Master Comoran. Situational awareness is something I need to work on," said Harry, bowing his head slightly.
"That's right," Silandra replied. "In a battle, knowing where your allies and enemies are is just as important as knowing how to use your weapon. Your actions affect everyone on the battlefield, not just your opponent."
Iris nodded thoughtfully and added, "I think we also reacted rather impulsively. We should have formed a plan before rushing in."
Satele gave an approving smile. "Exactly, Iris. Planning and coordination with your team members can turn a chaotic situation into a controlled one. Remember, battles are won with the mind as much as with the weapon."
Harry looked at Satele and then at Iris. "We will practice that, Master Shan. We'll work on coordinating with each other and being aware of our surroundings."
"That's the spirit, Harry," Satele replied warmly. "And another thing to note is the emotional state you both were in. Did you notice any impact that had on your performance?"
Harry considered this for a moment. "I was worried for Hermione and Ron," he admitted. "It might have made me act more rashly."
Iris chimed in, "And I was angry at Ron for what he said to Hermione. That might have affected my focus."
Silandra nodded solemnly. "Emotions are a double-edged sword," she said. "They can fuel your actions, giving you strength and resolve. But they can also cloud your judgment and lead to mistakes. Learning to balance and control your emotions is a crucial part of your training."
"Yes, Master Comoran," said Harry and Iris in unison, showing their respect and understanding of the lesson they were being taught.
"Very well," said Satele, "let's end today's debriefing here. We will continue your training tomorrow, focusing on these aspects. Rest well tonight. You both did well today, given the circumstances."
Harry and Iris exchanged a glance, their expressions a mix of relief and determination.
"Thank you, Master Shan, Master Comoran," said Iris, as Harry nodded gratefully beside her.
A/N: I know a common critique I am getting with this fic is that it is too close to Cannon, The reason for this is to finish the Philosophers Stone Arc as soon as humanly possible However starting the Next Chapter things will start to slightly diverge from Canon.
Review Please I Try to read and Respond to Every Review.
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PS X: Severus Snapes Trial