I'm not a coward, just shy (Hogwarts fanfic)

ch 5- Crash and bang

I got out of the hospital wing a few days later, I had to keep my arm in a sling and there was a small scar on arm,  but it didn't hurt too much. Ever since the attack of the troll Hermione, Ron, Harry and me had become close. Funny how a life and death situations can bring people together. However lately, Harry has been obsessed with that idea that Professor Snape let the troll into the castle and is trying to get something which is hidden on the third floor. It is possible that something is hidden on the third flood but I doubt that Snape would have something to do with it. When I tried to explain this in the nicest way I could over breakfast, He got quite annoyed with me. However his mood quickly changed when a long shaped package landed on the on the jump and making my glasses fall off.

"Damn, Hermione, where are they?" Screwed up my eyes trying to find them back I was almost blind without them.

"They landed in you breakfast, let me clean them" She sighing.

"How could you not see them they were right in front of you" Ron said like I was dumb. I felt myself flush crimson. I shook my head.

"Come on Ron I am not allowed to open this here, We will meet your two in potions" I saw two blobs remove itself from the blurry mass which was students and table.

"Here" Hermione pressed my glasses into my hand. "I have never noticed but your eye colour is very pretty, like golden syrup" she commented, I put on my glasses the world coming back into focus.

"Really, Everyone tells me I look just like my mother, except for my hair colour" I subconsciously rolled a strand of hair between my thumb and finger.

"Well let's go to potions" Hermione stood up for the table shoving a text book inside her bag. I stood up to and followed Hermione to the dungeon.

Potions was rather difficult with one of my hands out of actions, and when Professor Snape saw Hermione cutting up my ginger roots, he told her off a took 10 points from us each, because he said I was making a big deal out of nothing and he said Hermione should keep her nose out of others business. I apologized for my arrogance, so he laid off Hermione and targeted me for the rest of the lesson. When we left the dungeons I could hear the grinding of Ron's teeth and him, Hermione and Harry had a long winded rant about how he was a slimy git and how I shouldn't be a doormat, all the way to Defense against the dark arts.

"C-Come in C-Class" I felt sorry for Professor Quirrell. He had a stutter worst than mine and horribly shy. They say he went to get some experience and had a nasty encounter with a werewolf. He would scream loudly and duck under the desk when a student would howl and it was normally up to me to try and get him out. We learned about Doxies today and the lesson passed quite quickly, Although Harry was falling a sleep. Oliver Wood was working the Gryffindor team every chance he got for their upcoming match against Slytherin.

Class was finally over and we got to go to lunch and we were just entering the great hall when sheering voice made me shiver.

"Well look it's the girl who can't even cut up a root by herself, She will never made a good wife" Malfoy leered, making his goons, Crabbe and Goyle, bark a laugh.

"I would shut your mouth, Malfoy" Harry growled.

"What, are you protecting your girlfriend" I flushed bright red and my eyes pricked under my glasses.

"At least he can make a potion without being a suck up to the teacher".

"You're going to regret saying, I challenge you to a wizard duel, in the trophy room at midnight, they always leave that unlocked"

"Deal, I am his second" Ron grinned.

"Crabbe is my second" He said before walking off. When he was out of ear shot Harry turned to Ron.

"What is a wizard duel and what is a second" Harry was a little panicked not knowing what he agreed too.

"It's when you walk 10 steps apart and take and disarm each other. A second continues if you die" He stated calmly.

"Died!" Harry half shouted.

"Harry" I touched his arm, "I don't think a couple of first years can kill each other, and I am graceful that you stood up for me but you could be in serious trouble if you get caught, and it feels fishy, I don't think he will show, he could tell flinch and get you into trouble".

"How do you know this".

"Gut feeling" I shrugged.

"I agree with Taylor, you shouldn't go" Hermione nodded, nipping at Ron's heels, who was already talking plan of attack to harry.

The day passed with Hermione nagging every chance she got and me just nodding. Once Ron snapped and he said he was protecting my pride. He seemed to know I would feel too awkward to peruse the matter any further. I lay pretending to be asleep, when I heard whispered voices, shuffling and the door to our dorm open and close. I felt for my glasses and put them on and quickly followed, in nothing but a over large t-shirt of Fred's and Pj bottoms. I heard voices from the common room and they sound like they were arguing.

"Then, I am coming with you" A Hermione hissed.

"Me too" They all jumped.

"Taylor go back to bed" Ron hissed.

"No, I have a very bad feeling about this, and I trust my gut" I tried to sound as authorize as possible but it just sounded like a kid complaining to his parent.

"Fine, let's go" Harry give in pushing open the portrait. I shivered at the as the freezing corridor meet my bare skin, part of my wish I has stayed in my warm bed, but I followed the follows. When we got close to the trophy room the hair stuck up on the back my neck.

"Hide quickly" I said, pushing them behind a suit of armor.

"What why?-" Ron hissed and was quickly cut off by my hand. I slowly stuck my head out for the armor and a cat with glowing yellow eyes, it mellowed.

"Yes, My sweet, sniff those brats out, They have to be here" Filch Turned the corner. He sounded like a kid staying up to caught Santa in the act. The cat was coming towards us very quickly, Flinch close on her heels. Thinking on my feet I grabbed the sides of the armor and when the cat was close enough, I send it crashing to the ground. It fallen with a crash which shook the castle.

"Run" I shouted and started running, my bare feet pounding at the rate of my heart. I started to tug on every door we came across. We run up some stairs and I could now hear Flinch behind us. I didn't have a wand or anything.

"Here, Alohomora" Hermione waved her wave at the door lock and it swung open, everyone ducked and the door swung shut. I had a painful snitch in my side and I tasted something coppery. Breathing so hard I thought flinch heard we heard him run past.

"He- framed- us" I gasped.

"Quick thinking there, we were almost caught" harry nodded.

"I am going to trust your gut from now on" Ron sighed but Hermione was silent. She was very pale and was staring in the darkness of the room.

"Hermione, are you alright" I asked

"I think I know why the third floor is off limits this year" she said with a panicked chucked. Then the darkness moved and raised its hackles, growling, showing three sets of large yellow fangs. A pit dropped in my stomach. A huge three headed dog stood in front of us.

"Go" I said. Harry opened the door, Ron just getting open in time for Hermione to shut the door and lock it. We booked it back to the Common room, not stopping to check round the corners. I Gasped off.

"JillyShill" and the fat lady huffed.

"I can't believe you four are out this late." But reluctantly swung open. We climbed though and went to bed no questions asked.