The Heart Is Not Black or White

Chapter 16

Halloween was sneaking up on me and the rest of the students fast. The year was flying by, and I was having a great time at Hogwarts. Despite Malfoy's arrogance, there were many things to look forward to.

I took a particular liking to Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions. Although I didn't want to say it, Malfoy was also very talented at Potions. Most of my good grades came from being partners with him. I was grateful, but would never let him know that.

Quidditch tryouts had already come around, and I had not made the team. I had a feeling that part of it was because I was a first-year and a girl, but many of the boys trying out for the beater's position were very good too. We had to protect the seeker from getting hit by bludgers. At the trials we had a scrimmage, and the two beaters that hit the most were given a spot on the team. I only missed three out of twenty, and the the two boys put on the team only missed two bludgers. Their names were Lucian Bole and Peregrine Derrick.
When Fred and George heard that I hadn't made it as a Slytherin beater, they nearly made their way down to Marcus Flint and dueled him.

"You're much more talented than those Slytherin trolls," Fred had said.

"Yeah!" George chimed in. "I bet Marcus Flint knew that we trained you and didn't want you stealing all his so-called 'glory'!"

Nevertheless, I was having a great year at Hogwarts. I was sitting down for dinner in the Great Hall with Daphne and Tracey. It was the Halloween Feast, and instead of candles in the sky it was jack-o-lanterns, and there were bats flying around. Students were brimming with excitement, and the ghosts seemed to be happier than ever.

Finally the food appeared. I was reaching for a biscuit, when everyone in the Great Hall started to whisper.

Professor Quirrell had run in, turban and robes askew. He made his way to Dumbledore's seat at the High Table and muttered, "Troll- in the dungeons- thought you ought to know." Quirrell slumped to the ground, unconscious.

Everyone started screaming and rushing toward the door. Even Malfoy lost his cool and was screaming like the sissy he was. I, unlike the other Slytherin girls who were screaming their heads off, was just sitting silently, staring straight ahead. Fear didn't allow me to move. If the troll was in the dungeons, where our common room was, where would we go?

The sound of explosions could be heard from the High Table. Dumbledore had set off firecrackers. Everyone became silent.

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

Prefects could be heard commanding their Houses, especially Percy. The Slytherins were protesting, insisting that they would not go near the dungeons. Of course, Adair Ashworth was able to convince everyone to follow his orders.

When the Slytherins finally listened to his commands, they all sprinted to the common room, not being calm at all. Daphne, Tracey and I were running out of the Great Hall with the rest of the Slytherins when we got cut off by a large crowd of Ravenclaws heading for their common room. When they passed, we continued on our way, but there were no other Slytherins around.

We found our way to the dungeons, but we were alone. We were running through the cold and eerily silent hall when we heard a low growl. Stopping short in our tracks, we pulled out our wands.

"Is... is that the troll?" Tracey whispered.

"We're about to find out," said Daphne with a look of ferocity in her eyes. That girl was brave beyond imaginable. It was a mystery to me and Tracey why Daphne was not put in Gryffindor.

The dungeons were now dead silent and dark. The only sound was our quivered breathing.

All of a sudden, heavy footsteps could be heard coming our way. A big, green, slimy troll could be seen just through the darkness, only ten feet in front of us. We slowly backed away. I tripped on my own heels, losing my footing and dropping my wand. I felt defenseless.
The troll had an oversized beater's bat in his hands, and snot was oozing from his nose. When he spotted us, his footsteps became faster. I held my hands up in fear, shouting, "Stop!"

When I held my hands up, I felt wind rushing out of them. Then the troll was knocked off its feet. Had... had I done that?

The troll was slowly starting to get on its feet, but being a dim-witted troll, it couldn't figure out how to stand up.

"Quick!" Tracey whispered. "I know the other way to the common room. We can outrun the troll, trolls are slow and stupid. Let's go!"

No questions asked, I picked my wand up off the ground and ran after Tracey, Daphne not far behind. I was too focused on getting to the common room to think about the magic that had just come from my hands... not my wand.