Harry Potter's Lost Sisters: The Philsopher's Stone

Chapter 8: Halloween

Harry and I met Wood down at the Quidditch Pitch that evening. He was carrying a large crate which I presumed held the Quidditch balls.

"I'm going to teach you the rules today because we won't have that much time to practice," he informed us.

 "I already know the rules," I said. "I can tell Harry."

"Okay, I'm going to quiz you." During the quiz time, Harry's head went back and forth between Wood and I while, fascinated but I'm sure he didn't understand. "Okay, go ahead."

 "Basically, there are eight players on each team," I explained slowly. "Five balls are used in the game. Three of the eight players are the Chasers. They play with the Quaffle." Wood brought the red ball out to show Harry. "They pass it to each other and shoot it through those hoops - you see them there? And if they succeed they earn ten points for there team. It's a bit like football, but way more epic."

"What's football?" Wood asked.

 "Do you want him to know the rules or not?" I asked. He nodded glumly. "Let me explain then!"

"So eight players on each side, three Chasers who play with a Q-Quaffle. They get it through the hoops to score?" Harry recited uncertainly.

 "Yay, you're catching on good big bro!" I said, playfully punching him on the arm. He grinned, proud."Like in football - Wood it's a Muggle sport - there's a Keeper to guard the posts."

"I'm the Keeper," Wood interjected.

 "Yeah whatever. The Keeper try to stop the Quaffle from going in. There's only one of them on each team. Then there's the Beaters. That's Fred and George's jobs see? They use them two black balls. The balls fly around the pitch and don't be alarmed, but they try to knock people off their brooms."

"Have they ever killed anyone?" Harry asked.

"Not in centuries, but don't worry about it, the Weasley twins are like human Bludgers," Wood reassured him.

 "They carry bats by the way. Anyway, the two balls left are the Golden Snitches. They're about the size of a golf ball but a bit smaller. At first sight, they look better than the other balls but when the game starts, it's a pain to have to try and find. That's what we have to do, because we're Seekers. Catch both, the games over and we earn Seventy five points for each Snitch. If someone else on the other team catches the other Snitch, we only get seventy five points, but if a team catches both we earn a hundred and fifty. The game only ends - only if both are caught. It can go on for ages. The record is - a month I think -" 

 "Three months," Wood corrected me. "Okay, so now you know the rules, lets practice these, since we might lose the Snitch." We practiced with golf balls on our brooms (did I mention that they were Nimbus Two Thousands sent from Professor McGonagall) until the sky turned dark blue and the stars winked down at us. The silvery ball hung in the sky, mingled in the mess of stars. "We'll have the Quidditch Cup this year, I'm sure of it."

...

In Charms, Professor Flitwick finally announced that we were going to learn the flying charm (Wingardium Leviosa) and everyone was glad because since he had made Trevor, Neville’s toad, fly around the room we were all dying to learn it. We were put in pairs, and luckily Flitwick put me with my brother but unfortunately for Ron, although I wouldn’t have minded (on the contrary, I would have been glad), he was paired up with Hermione Granger. However hard I tried, I swished and flicked and nothing happened. Ron wasn’t having much luck either.

“Wingardium Leviosa!” he said, now getting so frustrated he seemed to think that if he wacked the feather with his wand multiple times, it would work. Obviously it didn’t though.

 “Stop!” Hermione commanded, grabbing his hand and steadying it. “You’re going to poke someone’s eye out! Honestly… Anyway you’re saying it wrong. It’s Wingardium Levi- oh-sah not Leviosar!”

“If you’re so clever, do it yourself!” Ron said testily. Rolling up her sleeves, Hermione pointed the wand at the feather.

 “Wingardium Leviosa!” she pronounced clearly, and the feather slowly rose into the air.

“Look here everyone, Miss Granger’s done it!” Professor Flitwick squeaked excitedly. Hermione smiled victoriously and Ron looked extremely moody as the rest of the Gryffindor people burst into applause.

…

“I don’t know who she thinks she is!” Ron burst out after class furiously. “It’s Levi –oh-sah not Leviosar! No wonder she has no friends… Know-It-All…” Someone pushed past Ron and I heard a dry sob. It was Hermione.

“Happy, Ron?” I asked furiously. “She’s crying now, good going.” I spent an hour searching for her, eventually Professor McGonagall found me.

“Miss Potter, you should be in class!” she said. “Hurry along now, or it’ll be a detention.”

“Put my foot in detention!” I snapped. “I’m trying to find Hermione!”

“Miss Potter! How dare you – five points from Gryffindor! As for Miss Granger, she’ll be in class, now run along.” Furiously, I went to class and apologized to Professor Quirrell for being late. He didn’t mind, luckily. Hermione wasn’t in class though.

…

“Where’s Hermione?” Harry asked me quietly. It was awkward since I had refused to talk to them all day.

  “I suspect she’s crying somewhere,” I answered, glaring at Ron.

"I heard she was in the girls' bathroom, crying all day," whispered Neville.

 "Well bye!" I said, grabbing my bag and preparing to leave the Halloween feast for Hermione. Just then, Professor Quirrell entered, his turban slanting in an odd angle and his face pale.

"Troll in the dungeons," he panted, and everyone heard him since the hall had turned deadly quiet. "Just thought you'd out to know." He fainted. I stared at him. There was an uproar and everyone tried to run for the exits, the teachers running into the dungeons.

"Where do you two think you're going?" I snapped, grabbing Harry and Ron by the elbows.

 "What?" Ron asked reproachfully, rubbing his sleeve.

"Hermione!" I said, dragging them to the girls' bathrooms. We heard a scream and dashed in. Hermione was cowering against the wall, and all the cubicles had been knocked down by the troll. He swung for her and I yelled at him, "OI PEA BRAIN!" He stopped and turned in our direction. "Hermione run!"But she didn't. "COME ON HERMIONE!" Unluckily, the troll turned his back on us and went for Hermione. Harry ran for the troll, grabbing onto his club and ending up on his shoulder. "Have a nice time up there!" 

 "RON DO SOMETHING!" Harry yelled, as his glasses were knocked askew. Ron grabbed his wand and by the looks of it, said the first spell that came to his head.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" The club was levitated into the air and then fell, hitting the troll on the head and knocking him out. There was at least a five minute silence.

 "Is it dead or-?" Hemione asked.

"Knocked out," Harry said grimly. Teachers came bursting through the doors. Uh oh... we're in trouble.

 "Potter, Potter, Weasley - I - I - EXPLAIN YOURSELVES!" Professor McGonagall panted.

"Well - we er-"

 "Professor McGonagall, it was my fault. Since I read about trolls, I thought I could take it on but I was wrong. If Danielle, Harry and Ron hadn't came in now - I'd probably have been dead." I pinched myself on my arm. Nope not dreaming - Hermione Granger just lied to a teacher.

"In that case - five points from Gryffindor for you foolishness Miss Granger. Go to your dormitory," Professor McGonagall said, also surprised at her. Hermione left, her head hung down in shame. "As for you three- what were you thinking? You could have got yourselves killed. Five points will be added to Gryffindor each. For pure luck." We walked up to the Gryffindor Common room, smiling weakly at eachother.

I think Harry and Ron just made friends with Hermione because we knocked out a troll together!