Chapter 10

        The next little while was pretty uneventful. I did well in all my lessons. Played a couple pranks with the twins. I did, however, over hear a conversation between Neville, Seamus, and Dean about the mysterious sweet deliverer.

        Soon enough it was Halloween morning. I woke up feeling excited. I had read today's chapter last night and was extremely excited. This was it. This was the night with the troll.

        In Charms, we got to practice Wingardium Leviosa. I'd already practiced it a bit in the dorm when I was by myself. I'd figured it out without too many problems. I was excited to show Professor Flitwick my new skill.

        We all got paired up. I got paired up with Neville. Hermione had been looking at me hopefully, but had instead been paired up with Ron just like in the book. She looked angry and I couldn't help but smile a bit. This boy who she was so upset about being paired up with was going to be her husband one day.

        Neville began to try doing it. He tried over and over again, but nothing was happening. I watched silently, too shy to say anything. On the next table over, Ron was flailing his arms while shouting, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

        "You're saying it wrong," Hermione snapped at Ron. "It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long."

        "You do it, then, if you're so clever," Ron snapped.

        I rolled my eyes as Hermione began to roll up her sleeves to say the spell. I pointed my wand at Neville and I's feather, swished my wand, and said "Wingardium Leviosa!" Not a moment later, Hermione said the same. Both our feathers were soon hovering four feet up.

        "Oh, well done!" Professor Flitwick told us as he clapped happily. "Everyone see here, Miss Granger and Miss Blake have done it!"

        The rest of the class, I tried to help Neville cast his spell correctly. I think by the end of the class I might have seen the feather quiver, but that might just have been hopeful thinking. I wished Neville good luck and quickly left. I cursed myself silently. I might have been able to help him more if I hadn't been so shy. When I said I had tried to help him, I had really just reminded him what Flitwick already told us. Maybe if I had just been a bit more willing to talk to him, I could have done a little bit more good.

        I walked out with Hermione into the crowded corridor. As we walked, I heard Ron's voice float over to us from just in front of us.

        "It's no wonder no one can stand her. She's a nightmare honestly."

        Hermione teared up at this and pushed through them and ran off. I hurried after and glared harshly at Ron as I passed. He looked a little uncomfortable when he noticed what he had caused, but didn't say anything. I rolled my eyes as I walked after Hermione. Boys were so clueless sometimes. Especially Ron with his emotional range the size of a teaspoon.

        She ran to the bathrooms and wouldn't come out. Class would be starting soon so I was forced to leave her. As soon as classes were over, I rushed to the feast. I quickly sat down and as soon as the feast appeared a piled a plate full of food and left. I was disappointed that I was going to miss Quirrel's big entrance, but I couldn't just leave Hermione by herself. I entered the bathroom and knocked on the stall door that I could hear Hermione softly crying behind.

        "Hermione," I called out. "I brought you some food."

        I heard the crying slowly stop, and then a choked, "I'm not hungry."

        "Come on, Hermione," I insisted. "You need to eat. Don't listen to Ron. Boys are just idiots sometimes. People like you. I mean, I like you don't I?"

        I heard silence, and then the soft clicking of a lock. She opened the stall door and I could see her tear streaked face. She quietly took her plate and sat with her back against a wall. In between mouthfuls she said quietly, "Thanks, Kendra."

        I smiled as I sat down next to her. "That's what friends are for."

        I knew the troll was coming soon, but I didn't even know if I would be able to change the events. Besides, this is how the Golden Trio is formed. I wouldn't want to ruin that. So instead of warning of the troll that would soon be joining us, I just silently let her eat her food.

        It hadn't been too long, when we heard a huge bang from the door. Hermione and I's heads jerked up to see the huge, hulking troll. It was even uglier than it had been in the movies. I covered my mouth to stop a frightened yelp from escaping. Hermione held nothing in as she let out an ear-piercing scream. Luckily we were on the opposite side of the room, but he would soon reach us.

        He slowly lumbered towards us, knocking off sinks as he went. I quickly stood up and held my wand out. Hermione quivered in fear behind me. I piece of pipe flew towards Hermione, but I was able to block it. As it hit my arm, I yelped in pain. There was definitely going to be a bruise there in the morning.

        I glanced at the door behind the troll to see Ron and Harry standing there. Harry grabbed a tap and threw it as hard as he could against the wall. The troll stopped just a couple of feet from me and turned around, staring stupidly at Harry. I quickly grabbed Hermione's arm and tried to pull her towards the door.

        "Come on Hermione, we need to run!" She refused to move, petrified in place. Ron distracted the troll to another side of the room while Harry ran to me and tried to help me get Hermione up. Our attempts together were no more successful than my attempts alone had been. The troll lumbered towards Ron, so Harry took a running leap onto the troll's back to distract it.

        I pulled out my wand, but I knew Ron had to be the one to take this troll at. I looked over at Ron as he stared at Harry being jerked around by the troll. He took out his wand and pointed it at the troll's club. He cried, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

        The club flew out of the troll's grip and then fell with a satisfying clunk on the troll's skull. He then fell to the ground with a terrificthud. I watched silently and stock still as Harry slowly got up and Ron stared at the fallen troll. He looked like he was still trying to take in the fact that he had knocked out a troll.

        Everyone was silent for a while until Hermione broke the silence.

        "Is it --- dead?"

        "I doubt it," I said. "Probably just been knocked out."

        I took a small step forward and poked it with my foot. Harry then followed my lead and retrieved his wand from the troll's nose.

        "Urh --- troll boogers." He quickly wiped it on the troll's trousers.

        A sudden outbreak of footsteps and slamming caught our attention. Professor McGonagall burst into the room, closely followed Snape and Quirrell. Quirrell took one look at the troll and acted faint as he sat down clutching his heart. I looked away as I rolled my eyes. Unfortunately, I couldn't tell anyone that the supposedly frightened Quirrell was actually the one who let the troll in.

        Snape bent over the troll while Professor McGonagall glared at Ron and Harry angrily. Her glare moved to me for a moment, making me flinch. Her gaze returned to Ron and Harry soon after.

        "What on earth were you thinking of?" Professor McGonagall said with scary kind of anger. I stared at the ground, not wanting to have to meet her eyes again. "You're lucky you weren't killed. Why aren't you in your dormitory?"

        We didn't have to quiver under her glare for much longer, for Hermione spoke up quietly from the shadows behind me. As she spoke, I whipped around to face her.

        "Please, Professor McGonagall --- they were looking for me. All of them."

        "Miss Granger!"

        "I went looking for the troll because I --- I thought I could deal with it on my own --- you know, because I've read all about them."

        There was a clatter from behind me as Ron dropped his wand in surprise.

        "If they hadn't found me, I'd be dead now. Kendra blocked the debris from hitting me, Harry stuck his wand up its nose, and Ron knocked it out with its own club. They didn't have time to come and fetch anyone. It was about to finish me off when they arrived."

        I glanced at Harry and Ron to see them making their best "That's exactly what happened" faces.

        "Well l--- in that case . . ." said Professor McGonagall, staring at the four of us, "Miss Granger, you foolish girl, how could you think of tackling a mountain troll on your own?"

        Hermione hung her head in shame. I looked down, attempting to hide my smile. This was the moment in which the Golden Trio was formed, and I was a part of it. This was so freaking awesome!

        "Miss Granger, five points will be taken from Gryffindor for this," said Professor McGonagall. "I'm very disappointed in you. If you're not hurt at all, you'd better get off to Gryffindor tower. Students are finished the feast in their houses."

        Hermione left as McGonagall turned to Harry, Ron, and I.

        "Well, I say you were lucky, but not many first years could have taken on a full-grown mountain troll. You each win Gryffindor five points. Professor Dumbledore will be informed of this. You may go."

        As we reached in the end of the corridor, I turned to Ron and Harry.

        "Thanks for saving Hermione and I back there," I nodded with a slight smile. I quickly ran ahead to see if I could catch up to Hermione. I reached her just as she was about to enter the common room.

        "Hermione!" I called out. I caught up with her as she stopped right in front of the Fat Lady. "You know, you didn't have to take the blame for us back there. I mean, nobody would have blamed you."

        She looked up at me and smiled weakly. "I couldn't let you take the blame. The only reason any of you were in that bathroom was because of me. Besides, the bit about you saving my life wasn't a lie. That pipe looked like it really hurt," she added, looking worried. "Is it all right?"

        I shrugged. "I'll be fine. Might have a bruise, but nothing more."

        As we walked through the port hole together, I grinned as wide as I could. This was it. This was the beginning of the Golden Trio. Now, thanks to me, it might become a quartet.