AS THE DAYS went on, it was getting only somewhat easier to get used to the magical craziness that Hogwarts was created with. There was no gym class required in the school like muggles had but Harry was beginning to suspect that the stairs made up for that as they would stretch and then thin as they were made to reign in their balance all while holding onto their class materials. It was a testimony to both his and Freya's upper body strength as well as Harry tripped into the set of vanishing stairs and after a lot of panicked screaming from both their parts, Freya finally managed to pull him up as Harry successfully clawed his way out too.

"Maybe it's a good thing the Dursley's didn't feed me, huh?" Harry joked once they finally caught their breath, grinning over at Freya before he blinked, seeing her expression. "Hmm, yeah, maybe don't joke about that, huh?"

"Do whatever you feel like, Harry, just know I hate them." Freya stated, sighing as she glared up all the steps that followed. "I'm beginning to loath stairs as well."

"Right there with you," Harry agreed as they straightened up, trudging on.

Doors were a bit annoying now too as if they didn't memorize their directions precisely, they'd be stuck on how to get a door to open, if it was even meant to open at all.

Embarrassingly enough at one point Will Granger happened upon them, hopscotching the correct pattern of the musical staircase path (for rumor had it he had already managed to memorize the whole way of the castle), and jumping to an ending leap to where the two of them were trying desperately to pull open a door.

"That's not going to work," Will noted as the two stopped their efforts and looked to him, tired. "That's a trick door, its actually just a wall disguised as the door you're actually remembering which is a little further down on Thursdays and it'll be in a mood, so you have to say please."

"Ha, but that's where you'rewrong,because actually this is the...the door where you have to kick it down!" Freya said after an afterthought and she seemed to be put off by what she said, hesitating like she knew it was wrong but then looked to Will with a stubborn expression, determined for him not to be right. "Which is fine by me..."

Freya turned to the door, bracing herself.

"Cuz I'm done asking nicely."

And Will and Harry watched as she swung her leg, kicking the door hard.

And Will and Harry winced as Freya let out a hiss of pain, proceeding to hop around on one foot cradling her other, letting out a stream of profanities that would have certainly gotten them house points taken away if a teacher was around to hear.

"I tried to help her," Will noted, irked, and Harry frowned as it seemed like there was a bit of hurt in the boys expression as he looked to Freya who had fallen to the floor - cursing the existence of stairs and doors. "I really was just..."

Will silenced, seeming tired.

Harry frowned before asking, "Would you mind if we follow you the rest of the way?" They looked at one another as Harry shrugged. "We are...very very lost.

That got a short smile out of Will as he nodded. "Sure, if you'd like."

"I wouldnotlike that!" exclaimed Freya, raising her hand as she finally regained her ability to stand as she looked at Will, annoyed. "Harry and I will-"

"I'm following him, Freya," Harry noted, blandly.

""Will follow you, if that's what Harry wants!" Freya finished, looking dejected, but she picked up her school bag anyway, willing to follow. "Lead away, Granger."

Will rolled his eyes, but Harry could have sworn before he turned around completely that he looked a bit happy.

And Harry wondered as they walked if this was the first time since they got here that Will Granger had not walked the castle alone.

It had been a couple more weeks of eventful happenings (such as Harry's first flight on broom and visits to Hagrid) when finally Halloween was around the corner and Harry couldn't believe he'd already been at school that long. Snape didn't get any nicer along with every other Slytherin in his life, but Harry had gained new friends and his friendship with Freya had grown to the point that when he woke up in the mornings she'd already been knocking on his room door.

"We always have to wake up early back at home," She had told him the day he had opened the door to her grinning and unlike him, ready for the day. "Now I just have more of a purpose."

Freya got along with pretty much everyone they met, some easier than others since they knew her brothers, but the one person she couldn't get along with was-

"Ugh, don't you have any girlfriends?" Will grumbled as they all woke up to Freya's routine knock in the morning and Dean opened the door for her. "You know, any of the girls you bunk with so you're not bothering us first thing in the morning?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, does my knocking bother you?" She asked widening her eyes as she finished her handshake with Seamus as looked over at Will with wide eyes. "I mean, it's not like I'm interrupting your beauty sleep. Unless I am and it just doesn't work for you."

"Ouch," Dean muttered as he was hopping around to fit on his sock.

Harry grinned at him shaking his head, despite how the other boys winced sympathetically he knew for a fact they woke up each morning excited to see another match between the two of them.

Will yawned, stretching as he replied back, "Actually Weasley, your mere presence bothers me, it's just that if you stayed in your own room during the mornings I'd have the chance of keeping a sense of peace for more than a minute in the mornings."

Harry laughed as Freya turned to him sharply and he stifled it to a smile as he said, "I'm ready, we should be heading towards the dining hall shouldn't we."

She nodded, saying goodbye to the other boys as they headed off before them, Will walked off with Neville, amd he looked at Freya, still grinning, "Is there a problem?"

"You don't laugh when your friend is teased by the enemy Harry." She said mock grumpily as they walked. "I mean, I'm pretty sure that's a best friend rule."

"I was laughing at what you said."

"I wasn't even talking by then, Harry Potter."

"Um, maybe I got what you said a little bit too late, Freya Weasley."

She rolled her eyes good naturally as she shoved him with her shoulder, "Whatever."

"Anyway, Will isn't even my enemy, I've already told you that."

"Yeah, but he's mine making him yours. Bloody Hell Harry, what if I buddied up with Malfoy?"

"Then we'd have to send you to Madam Pomfrey's to get you checked now, wouldn't we?"

She laughed out loud as they walked into the dining hall and Harry felt a rush of pleasure, he liked being the one to make her laugh for a change, it made him feel like he was contributing more to the friendship of the two. They sat down beginning to eat as they began a conversation with Dean on how Quidditch was much better than soccer when a flock of owls came through and dropped a package on the table and Freya gave a slight gasp of excitement, "Harry, look1"

Harry grinned taking a guess on what it was, his broom! It had seemed like forever ago since Professor Mcgonald had asked him to join the quidditch team.

"I can't wait for Malfoy to find out, he'll be livid! Show him to trick us as he did." Freya said giddily as she smiled bigger still and looked at Harry. "Oh, and that Will Granger! Can you imagine the turn of events if you actually listened to him when he told you not to get on that broom?"

She has a point, Harry thought as he nodded in agreement taking hold of the package. Still, he glanced back at Will who as usual had his nose in a book as others chatted around him, Will was right as well...just because nobody else follows the rules as he doesn't mean that's not the right thing, right?

"What's with the glum face!?" Freya exclaimed taking him away from his thoughts. "Come on, let's go open it up before we have to get to classes!"

Both grinning in excitement, they exited-Freya grabbing them both another slice of toast before they ended up bumping into Malfoy.

"Watch where you're going, Potter." Malfoy spat before looking at the box in Harry's hand and his eyebrows furrowed. "That's a broom, oh you're done for now Potter, first years aren't allowed."

"Actually, he got specific permission from the headmaster!" Freya said as if she couldn't keep it in any longer, "Because he's going to be on the team."

Malfoy blinked in such confusion that Harry laughed as he said, "In a way Malfoy, I must thank you." Grinning he continued, "If it weren't for you, Professor McGonagall would have never seen my potential."

With that, both Harry and Freya left Malfoy fuming as they laughed.

"That was brilliant, Harry, but you know even without Malfoy you would have shown her your potential eventually. You would've shown'em all." Freya noted confidently as she nudged him slightly, laughing as they reached the Fat Lady. "You have far too much to not have."

And Harry grinned, knowing it was far to cheesy to admit to her that her words made him fly higher than he knew his new broom ever could.

Freya and Will's relationship had been on edge since the beginning, but since the night of the conned duel, they've both been especially done with the other.

"Ugh, you feel kind of sorry for him when you see he doesn't have any friends," Freya complained to him after Transfiguration where Will had been the only one to change his string to a needle. "But then you get to know him and realize why."

Harry turned to, he didn't really know, laugh? Scowl her? Roll his eyes? But before he could someone pushed past them and as Harry looked he caught a glimpse of Will Granger's eyes which seemed to burn with angry tears before he ran off.

"I think," Harry muttered to her as they walked in silence "that he heard you."

Freya bit her lip looking guilty before she shook her head and straightened herself up defiantly.

"Well, he wants to know it all doesn't he?" She replied stubbornly glancing back at where Will had run off, "Well...now he knows what people think of him, that's all. I've helped him, mind you."

Yet despite her words, and to Harry's relief and satisfaction, he caught Freya glancing back with flashes of guilt and worry-almost as if she'd drop everything right now to run to the boy she'd hurt and if not say sorry, at least say something close to it.

"Come on Harry...maybe I'll um talk to Will later and say something...kinder." Freya glared at him as he smiled at her. "What? I didn't say I was going to apologize, that would be like...admitting something."

"What, like you're a good person?"

"No, I know that already. More like Granger may realize I actually care somewhat about his feelings."

"Well, you are the one who just told me you'd help him learn everything."

"Learning can be done little by little, Harry," Freya noted as they rounded the corner, glancing back once more as if Will would appear and turning to look forward again when he didn't. "Little by little..."

Will didn't turn up to the last two classes and by the time they were all eating in the dining room, Freya was biting her lip hard as she tapped her finger impatiently on the table. "Maybe he has a thing against Halloween?"

"I think he just has a thing against you, Freya."

"Everyone does at some point, but they aren't hiding about it!"

"That's because, sadly, we live with you, Fickle," Fred interjected reaching over her to grab a strip of bacon.

"Nobody was talking to you, Fre-"

She was cut off as Hall's doors burst open and Professor Quirrell came running in gasping for breath. It went silent as every head turned towards him and looking up at them all Quirrel cried "THERE'S A TROLL IN THE DUNGEON!" before fainting.

A couple of people laughed before coming to the stop realizing he was serious as the teachers all stood up "Prefects, send your first years and the rest of your house to your common rooms and stay there!" Dumbledore ordered as people hurried after Percy who was looking rather excited to once again be needed by the younger class.

Freya was following when Harry grabbed her arm, "What, Harry?"

"Will," Harry whispered urgently as the others passed. "He doesn't know about the Troll."

Freya looked at him for a moment before scowling. Taking a quick look back at where everyone else was exiting she let out a frustrated breath, "If Percy sees us, I'll kill Granger myself."

"Great, let's go!"

(Skip to once they are all in the bathroom with the troll)

Harry and Freya burst in to see the Troll walking clumsily toward Will grunting as Will was cowering in the corner of the sink, looking at the troll with wide eyes.

"Huh, it looks sort of like Crabbe and Goyle, doesn't it?" Freya asked him grinning, the grin fading quickly as the troll heard and looked back at them.

"HEY, over here!" Freya said waving her arms as the Troll had begun looking back at Will. "Lucky thing you're too tall for the bathroom mirrors, eh? You aren't really a pleasant sight to see, and we like our mirrorswithoutthe cracks in it!"

Harry wasn't sure if the Troll really understood her words, but he seemed to understand she was making fun of him as he turned away from Will fully and glared down at her.

"Hey, did um-" Harry stopped realizing he didn't really know what to say before yelling. "You could buddy up with Scabbers with looks like yours! And that's not a compliment, mind you!"

The Troll turned to look at him and as he was distracted, she vaguely heard Freya mutter swish and flick before she yelled, "Wingardium Leviosa!" and they all-Troll included-watched as the Trolls club rose out of his hand higher and higher.

"YAH" Freya cried as she thrust her wand arm down as fast as she could making Harry think of Whack-a-Mole for a moment as the floating club went down fast on the Troll's head.

For a second, the Troll stood there looking confused and Harry feared she had only angered it when the Troll began to sway. Both Harry and Freya ran to Will's side as the Troll fell onto its back with a loud thud, shaking the floor the first time since they'd seen the Troll Freya looked frightened, "Bloody hell, there's no way that nobody heard that."

As if on cue Professor Flitwick, Quirrel, and Mcgonagald rushed into the bathroom with wide eyes. Quirrel fell onto the toilet seat clutching his heart, Flitwick went to go inspect the Troll, and Professor Mcgonald looked at them all with wide stern eyes. "What happened here?!"

"Um, we killed a troll?" Freya said hesitatingly as she looked up from the floor and grinned. "Cool, right?"

"Very NOT cool!" Professor McGonagald replied her voice raising slightly. "And you only knocked it out, Miss Weasley. My god, the danger you all were in, and because why? You wanted to be so disobedient as to-"

"It was me." Will interrupted as both Freya and Harry blinked and looked at him. "Professor, I had read so much about them I thought I could take it on myself...Harry and Freya had no time to call a teacher for help you see. They both distracted it and then Freya knocked it out with its own club."

Harry and Freya nodded as if this was nothing new as Professor McGonagall looked at Will disbelievingly. "Well, that was a stupid thing to do Mister Granger! I'm very disappointed in you. 5 points from Gryffindor, you may make your way to your common room where the others are finishing off dinner."

Will nodded hanging his head as he walked out and after being rewarded 5 points each the two of them followed suit quickly.

"Hey Will, thanks," Harry said grinning at him as they caught up. "A lot."

Will shrugged and for a second, they were all silent as they all walked, but it wasn't a sort of awkward silence, more of a... friendly one he supposed.

"Hey, Harry?" Freya said suddenly, scrunching her brows.

"Yeah, Freya?"

"It must have been my imagination, but did I hear you compare my beloved rat's complexion to a bloody Trolls?"

It was such an unexpected question that both Will and Harry laughed aloud as Freya seemed to be fighting to keep the disapproving frown on her face as her lips twitched.

"Well, he has a point," Will said grinning as they neared the Fat Lady. "And you also have to admit Freya, your rat looks as if it died years ago and is still continuing to decompose."

"Well, you know, William, you aren't exactly the prettiest sight to see either, especially first thing in the bloody morning."

Harry was about to tell the two to stop fighting when he smiled, coming to the realization that the two had said the other's actual name. Freya and Will looked at each other for a long moment before Freya grinned and Harry took that as his cue to ask, "Hey Will, why don't you sit with us during the feast today?"

A look of absolute happiness crossed Will's face before he stopped and looked at Freya with his head cocked. Freya looked at the ground for a moment, her red/brown hair falling into her face as she lifted it up again, fiddling with her fingers as she said lightly, "and maybe, um, you could sit with us again tomorrow too...you know, since Harry seems to want you around."

And at that, Will gave them both a grand smile as he nodded, "That would be gre-"

There was a cough as they all turned to look at an inpatient Fat Lady, "This is sweet and all, but may you all say the password so I may let you in? Come on students, I also have a life."

Grinning at one another, they turned and recited the password in unison.

"Trick or Treat!'"

And it was the first time Harry felt as though it were a truly Happy Halloween.