Chapter 4
Disclaimer: None of these characters are mine, they all belong to JK Rowling
As September bled into October, Hogwarts buzzed with the excitement of Halloween, its stone corridors humming with whispers of parties, costumes, and enchanted treats. Yet, amid the growing anticipation, Hermione Granger found herself in a strange sort of limbo. After her magical outburst in the Slytherin common room, the older students gave her a wide berth, either out of respect or caution. For Hermione, that was both a relief and a burden.
Daphne Greengrass, Blaise Zabini, and Tracey Davis tried pulling her into their social circles, but she found solace in quieter company. Luna Lovegood's eccentric musings offered a welcome balance to her insatiable hunger for knowledge, their conversations often drifting into magical creatures and far-off wonders. And then there was Theodore Nott—unexpected, quiet, but always present. Their interactions were limited to the library, where they exchanged thoughts on schoolwork, theories about magic, and occasionally, silent companionship.
The brisk October air carried the scent of pumpkin spice and the promise of darker things. Hermione focused heavily on her studies, particularly excelling in Potions and Defence Against the Dark Arts. Luna often joined her in the library, transforming their study sessions into something much more imaginative, making even the dullest essays feel lighter.
"Are you excited for the Halloween feast?" Luna asked one afternoon, her silvery eyes wide with anticipation as she sat beside Hermione. She twirled a quill absentmindedly, her blonde hair falling in messy waves around her shoulders.
Hermione glanced up from her essay on the properties of asphodel, her brow furrowed. "I suppose," she replied, though her mind was preoccupied with Professor Snape's upcoming potion exam. "But I'd rather finish this assignment. Snape's been particularly short-tempered lately, and I'd rather not add to his list of targets."
Luna giggled softly, her laughter like chimes breaking through Hermione's concentration. "Oh, he glares at everyone. I'm sure he's secretly impressed by you. After the feast, we can visit the Thestrals. They love stories, you know."
Before Hermione could respond, Theodore Nott appeared at the edge of their table. His usually calm expression was slightly off, his brow furrowed in thought.
"Hermione," Theo said quietly, his eyes scanning the library for eavesdroppers. "We need to talk. It's about Draco."
Hermione's stomach tightened. Draco Malfoy had kept his distance since their confrontation in the common room, but she had no illusions that he'd simply let things be. "What about him?"
Theo leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper. "He's planning something for the Halloween feast. He's plotting with Pansy and the others to publicly humiliate you. They're angry a Muggle-born has risen so high in Slytherin." His tone was grave. "He wants to tear you down."
Hermione felt a knot tighten in her chest. She had expected some form of retaliation, but the thought of being publicly shamed in front of the whole school made her blood run cold. "What exactly is he planning?"
"I don't know all the details, but it's bad. He's going to use your heritage against you. You need to be ready."
Luna, usually dreamy and detached, leaned forward, her gaze suddenly sharp. "Why are you telling her this?" she asked. "You and Draco have been friends since you were little. Why help her?"
Theo hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "Draco... he's not the same. His father's been pressuring him, and he's changing in ways I don't like. This plan, it's cruel, and I won't stand by while he ruins everything for you—or himself."
Hermione studied Theo's face, trying to read his intentions. He was difficult to decipher, his dry humor and quiet demeanor often masking deeper emotions. But there was a sincerity in his eyes that made her trust him. "Thank you, Theo," she said softly, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her.
The Halloween feast arrived in all its grandeur. The Great Hall was bathed in flickering candlelight, with floating pumpkins casting eerie shadows over the walls. Hermione dressed carefully, choosing a deep emerald green dress that matched the Slytherin colors. She had no intention of letting Draco ruin her night, but Theo's warning echoed in her mind, sharpening her instincts.
As she sat with Luna at the Slytherin table, she could feel eyes on her—Draco's eyes. Across the table, he lounged with his usual entourage, his smirk growing wider with each passing second. Something was coming.
"Looks like Theo wasn't lying," Luna whispered, her usually light voice now firm. "He's going to make his move."
Hermione's jaw clenched. "Let him try. I won't give him the satisfaction."
The feast continued, the noise of laughter and clinking goblets filling the hall. Just as the desserts appeared on the tables, Draco stood, raising his goblet dramatically. "A toast!" he called out, his voice cutting through the noise. "To the brightest witch of our age, Hermione Granger!" His tone was saccharine, mocking.
A few Slytherins laughed, but most of the hall had gone quiet, sensing the venom in his words.
Hermione kept her eyes on her plate, forcing herself to stay calm. She couldn't let him win. Not like this.
Draco wasn't done. He reached into his robes, pulling out a crumpled piece of parchment and waving it in the air. "But wait! I have something even better. A little letter from Hermione's family. Care to enlighten us, Granger? or should I do the honours."
Hermione's heart stopped. That letter—it was personal, written by her parents. The thought of Draco reading it aloud for the whole school to hear filled her with cold dread. But before Draco could go any further, a loud, echoing crash rang through the hall, shaking the very walls of Hogwarts.
Professor Quirrell's voice rang out above the noise. "Troll! Troll in the dungeons!"
Pandemonium erupted. Students screamed and scrambled from their seats as the teachers rushed to control the chaos. In the commotion, Hermione bolted from the table, her heart pounding in her chest, trying to escape both the humiliation and the danger of the troll. She didn't know where she was running to—only that she had to get away.
She found herself in the second-floor girls' bathroom, her hands shaking as she splashed cold water on her face. But before she could steady herself, a low, guttural growl filled the air. The troll was close—too close.
The door creaked open, and the hulking figure of the troll lumbered into the bathroom, its foul stench filling the room. Its massive club dragged along the stone floor with a sickening scrape.
Hermione froze, her mind racing, but her body refusing to move. This was it. She was trapped.
Back in the Great Hall, Luna grabbed Draco by the collar, her usual airy demeanor gone. "You're going to help us find Hermione, now," she demanded, her eyes flashing with an intensity Draco had never seen before.
Draco sneered, but when Theo joined her, his voice firm and unyielding, Draco hesitated. "You caused this, Malfoy," Theo said sharply. "You're going to help fix it."
Grudgingly, Draco agreed, and the three of them rushed toward the second floor, where they suspected Hermione had gone. Bursting into the bathroom, they saw the troll looming over Hermione, its club raised menacingly.
Theo acted first. "Expelliarmus!" he shouted, sending the troll's club spinning across the floor.
Luna followed quickly with "Stupefy!" but the troll barely flinched, its thick skin absorbing the spell.
Draco stood frozen in the doorway, his eyes wide with fear, until Theo barked, "Malfoy, now!"
Summoning all his nerve, Draco raised his wand. "Impedimenta!" he yelled, his spell slowing the troll's movements just enough.
Hermione snapped out of her trance. "Stupefy!" she shouted, aiming for the troll's chest. The combined force of their spells sent the troll stumbling back before it collapsed, unconscious.
Breathing heavily, the four of them stood in stunned silence, their hearts pounding in unison.
"Are you alright?" Theo asked, his eyes filled with concern as he approached Hermione.
Hermione nodded, though her legs felt shaky. "I am now. Thanks to you all."
Before anyone could offer an explanation, Hermione took a deep breath and stepped forward. "This is my fault, Professor," she said, her voice steady despite the knot tightening in her stomach. "I wanted to prove to everyone that I was a powerful witch—that I could take on the troll by myself. I was wrong. If it hadn't been for Theo, Luna, and Malfoy, I'd be dead."
McGonagall's stern gaze softened ever so slightly; her lips pressed into a thin line. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled with an unreadable expression; his hands folded calmly in front of him. But it was Snape, standing behind the other two professors, who remained unmoved, his sharp eyes narrowing as he observed the group.
"Foolhardy, Miss Granger," McGonagall scolded, though there was no malice in her tone. "You're lucky to be alive. All of you are."
Dumbledore nodded gravely, stroking his beard. "Indeed, it was a dangerous situation, but you worked together. That is commendable, though reckless."
Snape's dark eyes flickered between Hermione and Draco. "There's more to this, I think," he said quietly. He stepped forward, his black robes billowing behind him. "I know you have lied, Miss Granger, though I do not know why."
Hermione swallowed hard, but before she could answer, Theo spoke up, his voice calm but firm. "It was your first rule, Professor," he said, glancing at Snape. "Outside of our house, we are united."
Snape's eyes flashed in surprise, but he said nothing more. Instead, he turned abruptly, his voice cold as he addressed McGonagall. "I'll escort them back to their dormitories, Professor, after you've finished."
McGonagall nodded, giving them all a stern dressing down about safety and responsibility, though there was an undercurrent of relief in her voice. Once she had finished, she motioned for them to leave.
As the group dispersed, Snape led the three Slytherins toward the dungeon, while Hermione lingered for a moment longer. She turned to Luna, pulling her into a quick, grateful hug. "Thank you again," she whispered, her voice soft but sincere.
Luna smiled dreamily. "Trolls are interesting creatures, but I think it's best to avoid them next time."
Hermione chuckled lightly and, after one last glance at the unconscious troll, made her way back toward the Slytherin common room. She was halfway up the stairs to the girls' dormitory when Draco appeared at her side, his face unusually serious.
"Granger," he said quietly, stopping her in her tracks. "Thank you... for what you said back there. I don't know what Snape would've done if he knew I was the reason you were in there."
Hermione paused; her expression unreadable as she met his gaze. Then, slowly, a cool smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "Oh, Draco," she whispered, leaning in just enough for only him to hear. "If I were you, I'd lose that letter you were going to share with the school tonight... or else it won't be Snape you'll need to worry about."
Draco's eyes widened, a flicker of fear crossing his face, but Hermione continued, her voice low and dangerous. "The worst thing he can do is call your mummy. I, on the other hand, am not so tied up with rules." She leaned back, her smirk sharpening. "Take this as your final warning. Leave me alone. Accept that your position in this house has changed, or else."
Draco's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. The power had shifted—and they both knew it.