Halloween
The next few weeks at Hogwarts went by fairly quickly. Harry was starting to realize how much he still remembered, since it took himself no time at all to finish his homework each evening. I could probably ace my OWL's this time, he thought. Harry and Draco's first Quidditch practice went without flaw. They were both brilliant at their positions. Finally, Halloween came around, but so did thoughts of Harry's parents.
"You know, I didn't even really know when they died until I saw their Gravestones. I realize so much now. Every year I always celebrated Halloween with so much cheer, not knowing just a decade before, I lost my parents." Harry thought aloud.
"Perhaps it was for the best. Seeing as you were always happy on Halloween. Remember third year when you spent the afternoon with Professor Lupin?" Hermione reminisced.
"Yeah, I suppose it was his way of making sure I wasn't alone. Though he wasn't aware of that I had no clue about their death day." Harry grumbled. Draco sat there quietly, not having anything to add to conversation.
"Well we should head off for charms, we wouldn't want to be late. If I remember from last time we're practicing Wingardium Leviosa again and this is the perfect time to gain back the points we always loose from potions. I know Neville doesn't try it but he really needs to be more careful, especially around Professor Snape." Hermione rambled.
"I never knew you worried so much about house points before, Granger. " Draco drawled.
"I do!" Hermione said quickly, "I am just thinking ahead, if we don't get involved with Norbert again, we actually have a chance of winning the cup without cheating. I'm only worried since we hopefully won't have get points from Dumbledore for bravery again." She explained.
Harry agreed and they walked towards their last class before lunch. As things played out, Hermione found herself correcting Ron again
"Stop right there, Weasley, that's not how you say, you are going to poke someone's eye out. It Win-gar-dium Leviosa, you have to make the 'gar' long."
"if you know everything then why don't you do it!" Ron bit back.
The trio all performed it perfectly.
"Oh! Well done Mr's Potter and Malfoy and Miss Granger, 15 points to Gryffindor" Professor Flitwick cried. Everyone could see Weasley was in a bad mood after that. As they were walking back to Gryffindor tower, Ron was talking to Neville Longbottom and Dean Thomas, and the trio overheard a bit of conversation.
"She's such an insufferable know-it-all! She'll always be alone for that. I bet Harry and Malfoy only are around her for pity. She's a disaster honestly, if she wasn't Harry and Malfoy's charity work, she wouldn't have any friends at all." Ron berated
Hermione listened and willed the tears not to come. She noticed they were walking past the second floor girls bathroom and excused herself. She tried not to let it get to her this time but it didn't work. Even though she knew he was evil, or at least was going to be, she also still remembered loving him, as friend and more. While she was gone, Draco stopped and turned to Harry.
"She looked up set, should we go after her?" He asked
Harry looked thoughtful, "Probably not, I mean in times like these she just likes to be alone. Trust me I learned from experience, she wants to be alone. Though I don't really understand why that upset her so much." He explained and whispered, "Ron's evil, why would she care what he thinks." Draco rolled his eyes.
"Perhaps because she used to love him. I'm just saying although I've always hated the weasel, doesn't mean you two always have. I'm surprised you wouldn't be more offended. I say if she doesn't come around by dinner, we go look for her." Draco suggested. Harry nodded in agreement.
"I Guess I just know she needs time alone, and that Ron was going to say those things no matter what I did, I don't know why. Anyway we should hurry up, I'm starved!" Harry commented. He also felt like he was forgetting about something, but ignored it and headed with Draco to the Gryffindor tower to place their things before lunch.
Finally, dinner rolled around, and the great feast was about to begin. They still found no sign of Hermione anywhere but that was forgotten and replaced by the excitement of the feast. As they walked in, they stopped in awe of the decorations. The two boys had forgotten how amazing Halloween was at Hogwarts. Harry smiled towards Draco and they rushed to sit down and dive in. Suddenly when Quirrelmort rushed in shouting about a troll in the dungeons, Harry remembered what he had forgotten earlier.
"Uh-oh." Harry said as he recalled where the troll was, and that they were going to look for Hermione before dinner.
"What oh? What is going on?" Draco asked, very confused, also forgetting the situation.
"Hermione!" Harry exclaimed.
"Hermione what? She's probably at Gryffindor tower studying something or other." Draco shrugged off
"No she isn't." Harry stated in worry.
"How do you know." Draco questioned.
"Because this is exactly what happened last time. That's why me and Ron ended up fighting the troll." Harry explained
"You mean you did not go looking for it?" Draco wondered
"Of course not! We weren't idiots!" Harry declared. Draco was about to contradict him but Harry interrupted, "Shut up. We never really went looking for danger purposefully, and anyway, we don't have time for this. Hermione's in danger!" Harry shouted as he ran off in the direction of the second-floor girls' bathroom. Draco, somewhat reluctantly, followed him.
True to form, the troll was just about to enter into the girls' bathroom when Harry and Draco arrived. The boys looked at one another and Harry nodded. Both boys ran into the restroom right as they heard a scream come from Hermione.
"She knew this was going to happen. You'd think she wouldn't be surprised." Harry told Draco as they took in the sight. There, huddled in one of the stalls, sat Hermione, fumbling for her wand. Harry jumped on the troll's back and began trying to take it down. Draco, thinking quickly, used the spell they had "learned" earlier that day. He levitated the troll's club and knocked it out. Harry slid off the troll's back just as the professors arrived. For the first time, Harry noted how pleased Dumbledore seemed.
"What were you children thinking?" Snape berated. "Of all the insane things…"
"Professor Snape, I believe these are my charges." Professor McGonagall interrupted. She turned back to the children. "What were you children thinking? Of all the insane things you could have thought up to do on this night, you chose to fight a troll?"
"We didn't choose to fight it. Weasley said something stupid that upset Hermione and she needed some time to be alone. She chose this room. It just so happened that her time in solitary was interrupted by the troll. Harry and I remembered that Hermione had come in here, and so we came to warn her about the troll and get her back to safety. We thought the troll was where it had been sighted and therefore we could make a quick escape back to Gryffindor tower. We were wrong. The implications of this statement can be considered later. The point of the matter is we only came here to get Hermione to safety, not to fight a troll." Draco laid out smoothly. He would make a great defense lawyer. Harry thought to himself as he beamed with pride at his best friend.
"Well, if that is the case, I award you twenty points each for sheer dumb luck." Professor McGonagall awarded. "Though I must impress upon you the severity of your actions. You could have been killed."
"Duly noted." Draco agreed. Harry wondered when they had assigned Draco as their spokesperson, and then questioned why they never thought to have a spokesperson before. This was great! They could get out of so much trouble now!
"I now think it is time for three young Gryffindors to go to their common room." Dumbledore suggested. Hermione, Harry, and Draco began to file out.
"Of all the things you could have done, you jumped on his back?" Draco asked. "You do realize you have a wand. You're a wizard, use it!" Draco was about to further his lecture when he heard someone call his name.
"Mr. Malfoy, a moment please." Snape called to him. Harry and Hermione looked apologetically at Draco as they continued on. Hermione began to berate Harry for not letting her handle the troll. After all, she reasoned, she was a fully trained witch. Draco rolled his eyes and turned toward his godfather. Professor Snape led him to an abandoned classroom and let him in. "Mr. Malfoy…" Snape began.
"Oh, is that still my name? I thought father would have disowned me by now." Draco interrupted sarcastically. Professor Snape sneered at Draco and Draco responded. "Sorry, Uncle Sev."
"Draco, what were you thinking? You could have gotten yourself killed!" Severus scolded, arms crossing, brow furrowing in concern.
"An early Christmas present for Mother and Father." Draco mumbled. Severus softened his features and bent down a bit to look into his godson's eyes.
"Draco," Severus sighed. "I know this is difficult. I know that this is a hard time for you. I need you to know that I do not agree with your father's sentiments. The hat clearly wanted you in Gryffindor, so that is where you belong. I do not hold that against you. However, just because you are in Gryffindor does not mean you must lose the Slytherin traits I know you have. It also does not mean you have to place yourself in mortal peril. Try and be more careful." Severus pleaded with his godson. Draco averted his gaze.
"Of course, Uncle Sev. I'm sorry. I was just worried about my friend. She was in danger. I needed to help her." Draco defended. Severus nodded.
"And how could you have done that without placing yourself in danger?" Severus asked. Draco considered this.
"I could have gone to a prefect or staff member and told them of a missing student. Then, I could have gone safely to my common room and let them handle it." The blond boy replied, looking sorrowful.
"That is right, Dragon. You could have told anyone of us. That is what we are here for. Remember that next time." Severus commanded. Draco nodded his head in understanding. Severus looked around. "It is time for you to go back to your common room. If you ever feel you are in danger, Draco, contact me. I am here to help."
"Even though Mother and Father have all but disowned me?" Draco questioned. Severus nodded.
"Especially since I know their affections have changed for you." Severus explained. Draco smiled.
"Okay, Uncle Sev. I'll go up to my common room now." Draco hugged his godfather. Severus resisted at first, but then gave in to an awkward hug. Draco smiled and turned to leave.
"Oh, and Draco?" Severus stopped him. Draco turned and looked expectantly at his godfather. "Remember it is Professor Snape here." Draco smiled, nodded, and left, the cares of his day gone.
When he got to the common room, he was less than shocked to see Hermione still berating Harry. Harry had his nose in a book, completely ignoring the brunette who seemed adamant she could have handled the troll herself. Draco rolled his eyes. Those two, he thought as he headed up to bed.