Forever... Always

Year 3 - Troll In The Dungeons!

I woke up early this morning. I couldn't fall asleep last night for hours because my brain was too busy thinking about how I'm starting one of the first steps to becoming an Animagus today. I had to get up early anyway to go see Professor Sprout before my lessons to get the mandrake leaf. I got dressed in my robe and brushed my teeth and hair. I tied my hair into a loose low ponytail with a few small strands pulled out to frame my face. After all that, I snuck quietly out of my dorm and out of the common room. Now I had to get to the Herbology class.
"Good morning Professor." I said warmly as I entered the class. Professor Sprout is always in her class sometime before breakfast to care for the plants.
"Ah, good morning Rayne. How are you?"
"Excited and a bit tired I must admit."
"Why's that?" She asked without looking up from the mandrake plant she was watering.
"I couldn't sleep. I'm sure the longer I'm awake I'll become more lively."
"Maybe breakfast will help dear. Come here, will you?"
I went to where she stood and she instructed me on how to remove one leaf without damaging the entire mandrake. I removed the leaf successfully and she congratulated me. I then put the leaf in my mouth and thanked her for her assistance.
"Don't forget dear. Do not swallow it or remove it or you'll have to start over."
"Thank you for the reminder Professor. I'll be careful."
"I'll see you in Herbology. Now go eat something dear."
I left and was now on my way to the Great Hall. I'm usually hungrier on days I don't get as much sleep because I need the energy from something. I was distracted by the thought of how I'll eat without swallowing, removing or damaging the leaf, when I bumped into someone and accidentally made them drop their books.
"Watch where you're going you stupid Hufflepuff." He said in a sour squeak. "Oh, it's you." He added with a snarl.
"Oh it's you Ferret. I'm sorry. I was rather distracted by my thoughts. Let me help you gather your books." I said kindly. He obviously didn't take the kindness well because he got feisty really quickly.
"How dare you call me Ferret! Who even are you? Probably just some lousy Hufflepuff that no one cares about. That's why you're wandering the halls this early by yourself." He hissed and then laughed turning to the two boys standing behind him.
"You earned yourself the nickname Ferret. Also, I thought you'd never ask my name. I'm Rayne Dutchman." I said, handing him one of his books. "I'm sure now that you know my name, you'll find out soon enough that more people know of me than you. Now, if you don't mind, the next time someone offers you help and an apology for an accident, do not insult them or assume you know anything about them." I said getting up and starting to walk off towards the Great Hall.
I saw Geogre coming from the other side of the hall and took this as an opportunity to escape Malfoy.
"My father will hear about this, you filthy, worthless mudblood!" Draco called after me, but unluckily for him, George heard what he'd said.
George was furious and would probably rip Draco's face off if he could. He charged towards Malfoy and I realized that if I didn't stop him, no one would.
"Oh look, yet another Weasley." Draco chuckled. "Come to do Dutchman's bidding, have you?"
"You arrogant little git! You'd better watch yourself, mAlfoY!" George said mockingly. "Learn your place or I'll beat it into you. I'll beat you so bad you won't be able to tell your father about it."
"George, that's enough. He's not worth the trouble." I said taking his hand and trying to lead him away.
"Aw, his girlfriend is defending me. How sweet, isn't it boys?" Draco said turning to the two boys still standing behind him.
"I was trying to be kind, but you just don't know when to shut it, do you?" I said as I approached him and punched him in the gut. "Thought your parents would have taught you better. That was a warning Ferret, next time it'll be your 'pretty' face."
He groaned and snarled at me one last time before George and I disappeared down the hall, still holding each other's hands.
"What in the bloody hell happened that led to you being in the situation?" George asked as we got closer to the Great Hall.
"I bumped into him. I was distracted by my thoughts on my way to breakfast and I didn't see him there."
"That's not the way from the Hufflepuff common room though. I've never seen you come from that hall."
"I got up early and took the long way to waste more time." I said, trying to sound convincing so that I don't have to lie about seeing Professor Sprout and my plans to become an Animagus.
"You shouldn't do that again. Are you still hungry? I already ate before I came looking for you because Cedric told me he hadn't seen you this morning when he arrived in the Hall."
"I've definitely lost my appetite. Can we just go to the library for a bit before our lessons?"
"Oh, yeah. Let me get Fred and Cedric." He said as he turned to enter the Hall before I grabbed his hand again.
"Can it just be us two for right now? I don't want to worry them this early."
"Alright."
We walked to the library, still hand in hand. We sat in a far corner between the bookshelves. I grabbed a book about Knarls and sat down beside George, putting my head on his shoulder.
"What's that one about?" He asked, pointing at the other book at my side.
"Animagi."
"Why did you grab that one?"
"I think it'll be an interesting read, don't you?"
"I suppose."
We sat there reading for a while, until we checked the time.
"I've got to go, I've got double Potions this morning. I'll see you later Jelly bean. And thank you for helping with Draco this morning."
"Not a problem Winnie." He said turning bright red and then turning away. "See you later."
During Potions, Professor Snape was giving me a rather odd glare. I tried to ignore it while I made my Babbling Beverage. I was precise and diligent preparing my ingredients and mixing them together.
"Dutchman, we'll taste yours on Loriss." Professor Snape stated after we all finished the potion.
Loriss shot me a look and then drank my potion. She started babbling on and on until Professor Snape intervened.
"Hm, that was better than I'd normally expect of a Hufflepuff. This is what you all should strive to accomplish. Five points for Hufflepuff. Class dismissed. Dutchman, stay there, I need to have a chat with you."
Cedric gave me a look of worry, but I told him to head to lunch without me and that I'd be right there.
"Minerva's told me you'd like to become an Animagus, is that true?"
"Yes Professor."
"I suppose you are one of our best students in your year. Why is it that you asked for Minerva's assistance?"
"I'd rather not break rules doing it on my own and who better to ask for assistance than someone who has already completed the transformation themselves?"
"You're rather smart for a misley Hufflepuff. I will assist you with the potion, but just the same as Minerva, I will only be instructing you."
"Thank you Professor. I best be off to lunch, may I leave?"
"Off you go."
When I arrived outside the Great Hall, Fred, Cedric and George were all standing together looking concerned. As soon as they noticed I was there they ran over to me.
"I've gathered you a decent lunch because we need to chat." Cedric said, handing me a napkin with a fair portion of food from the Hall.
We all walked silently to the courtyard and I was getting more and more nervous the closer we got because I didn't know what they wanted to 'chat' about. We sat down, I ate my lunch and then Fred finally spoke.
"What happened this morning? It's not like you to skip meals." He asked, seeming genuinely concerned.
"Well, I may have gotten into a fight with someone..." I said while putting my head down.
"With who? How?" Cedric asked.
"Draco Malfoy. I had bumped into him by accident and um- he ended up calling me a- a- a-" I stuttered, not being able to bring myself to say the word.
"The same slur Sage had called her." George said for me.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Fred asked.
"I didn't want to worry you guys, it was really early and Georgie and I handled it."
"Rayne, you need to tell us when stuff like this happens. We'll stand up for you." Cedric urged.
"I know, I know. I promise I'll tell you if it happens again."
"Alright, let's go to Herbology then we'll have the Halloween feast tonight." Cedric said.
"Can't wait for that delicious food." Fred said, almost drooling.
                    ***
I sat myself down beside Ash and Amber as Cedric already has people beside him. Amber was telling Ash about how Halloween is her favourite holiday and I was listening to Lora, Thornton and Linden who were sitting across from me.
"How long have you two been together now?" Linden asked.
"It's funny you see, time feels like a concept when I'm with her, sometimes five minutes feels like hours and other times several hours feels like only a few minutes." Thornton started saying.
"Seven months." Lora stated, cutting Thornton off.
"You two are a little like Yin and Yang. Thornton loves storytelling and over-elaborating while Lora prefers short and sweet, straight to the point. You compliment each other well." I told them.
We'd just started to grab our food when Professor Quirrell came bursting into the Hall yelling.
"TROLL! IN THE DUNGEONS!" He cried. "T- T- TROLL! IN THE DUNGEONS! Just thought you all should know" He basically whispered before fainting.
Students everywhere started to panic. How did a troll get into the school? What were we to do about it? Everyone was getting up and heading for the doors.
"SILENCE!" Professor Dumbledore boomed. "Do not panic. Prefects lead your houses to your common rooms and teachers, meet me in the dungeons."
We silently followed our prefects down to our common room. Slytherins and Hufflepuffs ended up on the same stairwell heading to the basement, that's about the only time that students weren't silent, nor screaming in panic.
"Glad to see you with the other Hufflepuffs Ash. Don't you dare think of going to see the troll." A girl said forcefully from behind us.
"Just because I'm interested in magical creatures does not mean that I have a death wish." He responded, turning to see Vixen, his Slytherin twin sister.
"Sure." She said rolling her eyes. "You'll have plenty of time sitting around in the common room, send me a note of when we'll study together next. You can come too Rayne."
And just like that, Vixen disappeared into the Slytherin crowd. We got into the common room and I'm rather certain that no one went to their dorms. Only occasionally did anyone go to their dorms and they returned soon after. Professor Sprout came in to tell us the troll has been dealt with and that we should get some rest. Marvolo took the opportunity of the common room clearing to call a quick Quidditch team meeting.
"I know this was probably a terrible time, but I just wanted to thank everyone for some amazing seasons of Quidditch and I hope you'll continue with this even after Vale and I leave. I know it'll be hard without her snacks." He joked. "But in all seriousness. We're gonna make this season an incredibly memorable one. Until then badgers, goodnight."
Today has been strange. From starting the Animagus process, to Ferret and George standing up for me and staying in the library with me. Cedric and Fred being concerned about me, Professor Snape sorta complimenting me and giving me points and a troll in the school. Lastly, Marvolo addressed that this is his and Vale's last year and being one of the most inspirational people I have ever encountered. I'm exhausted, there's no way my brain will keep me up tonight. Not a chance...