A/N: Hello my lovely readers! Happy Birthday to me equals a chapter for you! I am happy to say I am back! I had a bad fall that badly sprained both my left wrist and my left ankle and cut up my left knee. I have spent the last weeks laying in bed with my wrist and ankle propped up on pillows and not able to do anything but read and watch tv. Not a bad deal unless you like me and can't stand not being able to do things. Anyways my wrist is better so I am at my computer with my ankle on a pillow so I can get back to you guys and this story! Now onto the important stuff! Also, a lot of people had problems with how Hermione was dressed when she went to stark tower. I just want to point out that it was Snape that transfigured her clothes, He is a man with limited exposure to appropriate dress attire for girls Hermione's age. So, with that he changed her clothes into something HE guessed was appropriate. It was done on purpose, but it was not as if I was suddenly trying to age Hermione older than her years. That was why she gave snape the eyebrow. Now enough explaining and on to the story!

Xx H.G. 5 weeks later xX

Hermione was just finishing the last touches on her mid-term project for the collage 2 months early. She was just installing the last of the run software for the top half of LAIL's body, that Hermione had placed on the top of one of her dad's DUM-E body's so it could move around the lab and help her even thou the bottom half was still being worked on.

While the software was installing Hermione looked around her lab remembering how her master had asked for one almost as soon as she had the walls up without any of the equipment unloaded. The Lab was well lit and ventilated, sectioned off was a room just for magic testing a room for potions and then the main room for her muggle/mundane projects. Of course, her master would have one with the room for potions as the large room with better ventilation then her main room and like Hermione's it would be powered by a mini-arc reactor.

There was a beep in the background taking Hermione out of her thoughts. "Alright, looks like she is ready. Moment of truth. LAIL download a copy of yourself into the body!" Hermione said with a clap of her hands.

Xx Later that night xX

Hermione had just finished writing the report of her progress and sent it to MIT before walking back into the castle. LAIL was set to run diagnostics on her new body before getting ready to shut down for the night.

Today was a mandatory feast according to the Headmaster and not even her master could get out of it. Hermione herself couldn't understand why the hall was decorated in Halloween decorations. So, when she made it up to the head table to sit next to her master she asked.

"so Master, what is up with the decorations? I thought that the wizarding world would celebrate Samhain or something like that. Halloween seems very muggle."

"You would be right my apprentice, the wizarding world used to celebrate Samhain. But a lot of dark witches and wizards including the last dark lord started using it as an excuse to kill others to use as the Samhain sacrifices instead of fresh apples and grains from the harvest. So, the celebration of this holiday became taboo. Even those that celebrate it correctly started to be shunned and so it became a practice to celebrate in secret if you chouse to continue."

Snape said before taking a bite of his lamb chop. He swallowed before continuing.

"Although celebrating is considered a taboo now the house elf's still honor the old ways as you can tell by looking at our table."

He said as he waved his hand over the food spread out in front of him.

"as you can see, we have lamb, bread made from fresh harvested grain, apples and assorted nuts. All are normal to tribute to the old gods. Normally it would be offered up to a bonfire, but if you would like to save a small amount of each item you eat and when we get back to our rooms you may offer it to the fire in our hearth. Although I don't celebrate normally as your master, I will not stop you from learning the ancient ways."

Hermione nodded before taking a little extra food so she could make the offering. Hermione wanted to make sure she got the whole magic experience. After her plate disappeared and dessert appeared on the tables, she noticed something was off.

"master, where is professor Quirrell? He isn't here and the headmaster made this feast mandatory, or we would be in our quarters eating and working like normal." Snape opened his mouth to answer her but almost as if he were summoned the hall doors were thrown open and in came a yelling Professor.

"TROLL! IN THE DUNGEON! TROOOLL! IN THE DUNGEONS! Thought you ought to know!" he finished before passing out on the floor causing hysteria.
"SILENCE!" the headmaster bellowed before resuming at a normal tone. "everyone will please not panic. Now prefects, please lead your houses to your dormitories. Teachers will follow me to the dungeons."

The students all stopped panicking as the prefects all started calling out to them to line up and follow them. All except Hermione who quickly grabbed her master's arm.

"Master, the Slytherins and Hufflepuffs dorms are in the dungeons! The headmaster is sending them into danger without thinking about it. Would it not be safer to keep everyone here and bolt the doors till the troll is dealt with?"

"fair point well-made apprentice." Was all he said before turning to the headmaster. After a quick word and the headmaster paling slightly before nodding a second statement was made.

"A MOMENT PLEASE! It was brought to my attention that I had a momentary lapse in judgment, all houses will stay here as sending 2 of them out will put them in harm's way. All teachers besides Professors sprout and Flitwick will follow me to the dungeons to be rid us of the threat while the prefects will meet with the 2 professor and take a roll to be sure we have all students accounted for."

The headmaster finished his instructions before walking out of the hall with the other teachers, Snape turned to her before walking out with the others. "take charge of my snakes, oh and because Albus won't do it 20 points to Slytherin for protecting your fellow students."

Quickly standing after her master left Hermione walked over to professors sprout and Flitwick. Addressing them with a nod.

"professors, my master told me to take care of his snakes so I will check in with their prefects and report back to you. That way you only have to deal with me instead of 6 more people reporting."

"Thank you, Miss Stark." Was the only response Hermione got before she was walking over to the Slytherin table.

All the snakes looked up to the end of the table where Hermione now stood before addressing them.

"Professor Snape wanted me to take charge of his Snakes as he went troll hunting. As such I need all prefects to take a head count and report any missing students to me. I would give you any information I have but its not much more than you already know at the moment so it wouldn't be worth it. Anyway, we are the pinnacle of what a house should be so, sure not to panic. Act as if you all have just been granted a longer dinner. Gryffindor is supposed to be the house of the brave, show them we do their house quality better than them."

Hermione's off the cuff pep-talk seemed to work in calming the snakes as all the students sat back down as the prefects started walking around making sure all years were present.

After 10 mins the 7th year prefect walked up to Hermione. "all students accounted for besides 2 that seem to be in the hospital wing as of this afternoon."

"Thank you, Heir Rowle, I will go report this to the professors and see if I can't get us some more information. Keep the snake pit in control until I get back." Hermione said to him with a wink before walking off to the professors to report.

As it turned out that Ron Weasley had been in the bathroom when the troll was announced and had returned before any damage could be done, and professor Quirrell had woken up just after the other teachers had left and went to follow them. Weird that. Seeing as he fainted from seeing it earlier. But whatever.

Not long after the professors returned with minor damages and the school was finally allowed back to their rooms. Hermione finished the night with the ritual offering she had talked to her master about then went to bed.

A/N: I know 2 author notes in one chapter. Gross right. Well, here is the thing, I am just saying thank you for putting up with my clumsy self… I know that you have all been waiting for chapters and I have wanted to write forever. Also 1 year spent on this story! WOOOT! See you in the next chapter!