A/n:

Hi guys.

I want to tell you that ever since I started writing this fanfic, I feel intellectually growing, and my English proficiency has also improved. I really enjoy thinking about the story structures and the presentations in my spare time. I hope you can enjoy my work as much as I do writing.

On the other hand, I do understand there might be similarities between my story and other fanfics, as right now I am only rewriting the original story. However, I do have different plans on how the story would go. As for the story in the first year, rewriting will be the majority as I want to have more in-depth character development.

But as mentioned, this is something I enjoy doing, and I am going to write for myself;)

Neither Harry nor Ron had seen Hermione since their departure from the training ground. Despite only knowing each other for two months, they were confident that Hermione would never skip class. So when Hermione failed to show up at the next lesson, they knew something was off.

Unfortunately, they couldn't skip class to look for her, and as time went on, they got carried away with the lesson. Not to mention how mouth-watering the Halloween feast was, their worries soon faded. Knowing that she was not comfortable with flying, they assumed that she could've simply gone back to her dormitory to rest.

Everyone was gathering at the Great Hall for the Halloween feast. Pumpkins were hanging from the misty ceiling, and bats were gliding around them, filling the Great Hall with a festive atmosphere. The long dining tables were filled with delicious food and desserts. Students were stuffing their faces with candies and chocolates, while the professors were enjoying the divine meal with great wine.

While Draco was enjoying his time with his friends, a young witch hopped over and squeezed herself between Draco and Blaise Zabini.

Pansy Parkinson was a naive, pretty girl who had a crush on Draco since the first time they met. Since then, she had been following Draco everywhere, trying to catch his attention. Draco didn't mind having a girl in their group. After all, Pansy was a pretty witch, and the other boys enjoyed her presence as well. She had become the little sister in the group, though she wished to be more to Draco.

Pansy sat down next to Draco and leaned towards him. She said to Draco with a mischievous smile, "I saw something pathetic but satisfying."

That's a weird combination, Draco thought. He waited for Pansy to continue while trying to guess what she saw.

"I saw Granger locking herself in a cubicle and crying in the girl's bathroom. Thought you might want to know about the bossy little rat's weakness." Pansy said.

Upon hearing the news, Crabbe and Goyle gave each other a fistbump and cheered for each other. The others were still confused about the situation. It was Theodore Nott who broke the silence and asked Crabbe and Goyle, "What did you do?"

Goyle giggled, "We overheard that she was afraid of heights before the flying class."

Draco remembered them telling him this information before the lesson started, but he didn't really care. Now recalling the secretive looks from Crabbe and Goyle in the training ground, he was sceptical about what they were going to say.

"Seeing her making herself look like an idiot during class, we try to take it up to another level during self-practice," Crabbe stepped in and continued. "We jinxed her broomstick. Didn't think it was going to work, but it did! It flung around uncontrollably. It was hilarious!... Well, but then she fell. We may or may not have caused it, I guess."

"She fell facedown just like the chubby kid with the Remembrall. She just ran straight away, crying before Madam Hooch could even notice. I don't think she broke anything, though. So... everything is fine," Goyle recalled.

"You two are crazy," Theo commented with repulse and ate his meal quietly.

Pansy laughed as she listened to the story and prated about the incident. Others, including Draco, didn't say anything. Pansy noticed his quiet response and found it unusual. "What's wrong, Draco? Don't you find it funny and satisfying? She's always so bossy and cocky. She totally got it coming, but you don't seem to enjoy it."

"No, I'm just... hungry, and I have a tiring day," Draco replied, trying not to make a scene.

When Neville lost control over his broomstick and fell with a broken wrist, he couldn't help but laugh at Neville's silly expressions. Neville always got into different kinds of trouble, and they were all amazingly hilarious.

But the image of Hermione falling from the broomstick was somewhat different. Although Draco didn't like her and possibly hated her for her insufferable talents and attitude, he never thought of actually hurting her. He never had the intention of hurting anyone. He fooled and joked around in the hope of annoying others and messing with them but never hurting them physically.

Draco could still remember the first time he got up on a broomstick and the complicated feeling of falling when he flew too high. He honestly thought he was going to die. He was lucky that his mom was there to cast Arresto Momentum before his body could touch the ground and break into a million pieces. It took him a good solid month to find the courage to get back onto the broomstick. The fact that Hermione once fell miserably and was therefore scared of height struck him hard. He wouldn't want to go through that. He swallowed the bitterness when the thought of her being thrown around in the air crossed his mind.

The feast was joyous and delightful until Professor Quirrell rushed into the Great Hall. He scrambled to the centre of the hall, took a few breaths to find his voice and gasped, "Troll - in the dungeons - thought you ought to know."

All the students were screaming in fear the moment Professor Quirrell fainted, and his body slammed onto the ground. Everyone was panicking and didn't know what to do.

"Silence."

The bright and firm voice of Professor Dumbledore echoed through the Great Hall. All the fear quickly disappeared, and students were waiting anxiously for what the Headmaster had to say.

"Prefects, lead your Houses back to the dormitories immediately!"

Then one by one, all students followed their house prefects and walked accordingly to their respective dormitories.

It was a dreadful day for Draco. Harry Potter obviously did not receive any punishment from his flight, with him looking so carefree when he joined the feast. Having the Halloween Feast cancelled was definitely a disappointment. All he wanted now was to get back to his dormitory and stay away from the roaming troll.

Since the first years were sitting in the front of the Great Hall, they were the last to leave, and there was no surprise that the three boys would meet somewhere near the entrance of the Great Hall. Draco couldn't care less about the two boys, but since the queue was long and slow, he couldn't help but overhear what the two were whispering about.

"I don't know. Haven't seen her since flying class. She said she wanted to stay for practice," said Ron with a worried face.

"Do you really think she is in the dormitory?" Harry asked.

"But where else can she be? I mean, if she is hurt, she will be under Madam Pomfrey's care."

Needless to say, the two boys were talking about Hermione's whereabouts. Clearly, Hermione's disappearance was not informed to any professors, and Draco was appalled by their stupidity.

To Draco's displeasure, the queue didn't move, and he was stuck in the presence of the two stupid Gryffindors. His friends were happily chatting with no stress, like there wasn't a troll escaping and roaming around the castle, which he couldn't understand at all. He slowly moved himself to the end of the queue to avoid anyone and enjoy his personal space.

Just when Draco wondered why the queue wasn't moving, Professor McGonagall came and whispered a few words to the house prefects. The prefects nodded and said to the waiting crowd, "Follow me! Stick together, first years! No need to fear the troll if you follow my orders!"

The prefects waved and led the students to the south wing. It caught Draco's attention that the prefects were trying to lead the students away from the west wing.

The troll must be roaming in the west wing, Draco thought. Then a horrible thought crossed his mind.

The girl's bathroom was in the west wing.

No one knew that Hermione was there, except his group of friends, who wouldn't even care if she was in danger or not. But he knew, and he wanted to do something about it.

Draco hated himself for being so nosy and caring, especially towards a muggle-born. But he wasn't heartless nor a killer. If something happened to Hermione because he didn't say anything, he would be the one to be blamed, and he would not forgive himself.

Draco sighed. I am going to regret this.

Making sure no Slytherins would notice, he walked up to Harry and grabbed his shoulder.

"Who... Malfoy? What are you..." Harry was shaken by Draco's gesture.

"Shh, keep it down," Draco looked around their surround. Making sure no one was watching, he continued, "I know where Granger is."

"What? How do you know? What did you do to her?" Ron shot the questions at Draco.

"I didn't do anything, you idiot. Shut up and listen," Draco started to regret his decision. "She's in the girl's bathroom in the west wing. Judging by the professors' and prefects' behaviour, the troll is there too."

The two boys frowned, still processing the sudden information.

"That's all I am going to say, and do not tell anyone," Draco commanded. Seeing no response from the two, he turned to get back into the queue and returned to his dormitory.

After some explanations to the professors, the trio slowly dragged themselves back to the Gryffindor dormitory.

They didn't tell the truth to the professors, of course. They came up with a story that Hermione went to the bathroom when Professor Quirrell arrived at the Great Hall. They were too worried and forgot to notify the professors. Professor McGonagall was shocked by their foolhardiness and their unexpected victory. Knowing that the trio were unharmed, the professors urged them to return to their dormitory.

"What's wrong, Hermione?" Harry asked once they were out of sight of the professors. He noticed her welled up eyes and knew she was crying in the bathroom.

"Someone jinxed my broomstick. It threw me off, and I fell," Hermione replied. She shivered as she recalled the terrifying memory.

"Why didn't you tell Madam Hooch?" asked Ron.

"I was scared, and my anxiety kicked in. I just wanted to hide and cry," she said. The boys understood her struggles and nodded in reply.

They reached their dormitory, and students were enjoying the rest of the feast. Hermione didn't feel like eating after all the chaos and decided to rest early. Before saying goodnight to the boys, she wondered and asked, "How did you know I was there?"

The boys looked at each other, not knowing if they should tell the truth. Hermione saw right through them and said, "Just tell me who."

"Malfoy."