The Boy Who Wanted to Live

Halloween

Harry sat at the dinner table staring at his food. The words of his professor had been repeating in his head for weeks now and he still had no idea what she was talking about. Why would he go after a stone? How would any of his friends know the stone existed? What was Snape talking about with the third floor corridor? Why was Snape so scared for him? And why the bloody hell did he feel like since that day he'd been being watched non-stop? 

"Harry you really should eat something" Hannah said, putting her third helping of mashed potatoes on her plate. 

"I'm not really hungry..." Harry mumbled, stirring his peas around his plate. 

Hannah sighed and began to eat once again. Harry looked up and saw Ron walk out of the hall alone. 

"I will..." Harry said, standing up "I will be right back." 

Hannah sighed and watched as Harry ran out of the hall after his friend. Harry called after Ron and jogged to catch up with the red head. 

"Oh, hello Harry," Ron said after Harry tapped his shoulder. 

"Wh-" Harry gasped "Where are you going?" 

"No where" Ron said, shrugging his shoulders. 

"No, Ron. Tell me what you are up to. Please, I don't want you and Hermione to get hurt." Harry said "You're going to the third floor again aren't you?"

"Shhhh, fine I will tell you just be quiet" Ron said, lowering his voice to a whisper "yes, alright? I'm going to the third floor. But, Harry, it's fine alright? I just want to know what's there." 

"No, Ron, it's not fine!" What if he goes? What if he gets the stone? What if he gets hurt? What if he cant get out? What if he dies? "Professor Dumbledore said not to go up there, remember? It's not safe." Harry had heard some kids talking about that earlier that day. 

"Oh, how would you know Harry?"  Ron said, annoyed. "We don't even know what's up there! It's fine!"  

Ron began to walk towards the stairs, but Harry ran in front of him and blocked his path. 

"Ron! Stop!" Harry shouted. "Look! Just don't go up there okay? It's dangerous!" Harry shouted.

Ron ducked his head, and looked around the hallways where people were giving them curious looks. 

"Shut up, Harry. Geez do you want to get me suspended?" 

"Better suspended than dead!" Harry said angrily. "Look I know what's up there and it's not worth it, ok?" 

"Wait? YOU know?! You're yelling at me not to go but you went there yourself?" Ron asked, his ears turning red. 

"No! Okay? I didn't go up there and I can't tell you what it is or how I know just trust me, ok? It isn't worth the risk. It's  not even cool or worth anything." 

"If it isn't cool then why is it hidden? What makes it so dangerous, Harry?" 

"I can't tell you that, Ron." Harry said, quietly.

"Then how do I know you even know what's down there?" Ron said, pushing past Harry. 

"Ron! No! Ron, please don't go! Ron Please!" Harry said, pulling on Ron's robes. 

Ron pulled his obes out of Harry's hand and "squared up" on him, making Harry cringe away. 

"Or what? You going to rat on me? You going to go tell a teacher? What are you going to do Harry? Huh? Huh?" Ron said, stepping closer to the small boy. 

"N-nothing, Ron" Harry replied, looking at the floor. 

"That's right Harry. Because you wouldn't tell on your friend would you?" Ron stepped closer until he was looking down at Harry. 

Harry shook his head, and kept his eyes on his feet. 

"Tell me what is in the third floor corridor." Ron said, angrily. 

"I can't Ron" Harry said quietly "I'm sorry."

"I thought we were friends, Harry" 

"We are friends Ron!" Harry said, tears filling his eyes as he grabbed Ron's arm desperate to try to make him understand. 

"Uh-uh. Friends don't keep secrets, Harry." Ron looked at Harry with disgust. 

"Ron I-I'm sorry!" Harry said, tears falling down his cheeks.

"No! You know what, Harry! If I knew what was in there I would have told you-"

"TROLL IN THE DUNGEON!!!!" 

Harry and Ron's heads both whipped towards the main hall where the feast was happening. 

"THOUGHT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW" Crash!

The hall echoed with the screams of hundreds of children and Harry looked at Ron with fear. 

"Come on," Ron said, looking around with disgust and walking towards an empty classroom. 

"W-what?" Harry asked frozen to the spot. 

"Come on Harry!"  Ron said, pulling Harry into the classroom by his arm and locking the door behind them. "Trolls are disgusting! I don't want to run into it." 

Harry held tight to Ron's arm and whimpered softly, as rows of students passed the door quickly and they were left alone. 

"Ron, shouldn't we-" 

"Shhh!" Ron shushed, Harry as they watched out the window in the door.

"Shouldn't we get a teacher?" Harry asked quietly. 

"Harry if we go out there, we. will. die." Ron said, angrily emphasizing the words. 

"But-" 

"Harry trust me!" Ron said "We should wait, plan. Fight." 

"But what about the others? Hannah? Hermione?" Harry asked. 

Hearing Hermione's name Ron paled dramatically.

"What? What's wrong?" Harry asked, his heart jumping to two hundred beats a minute. 

"Hermione doesn't know about the troll." Ron whispered. 

"What? Why not?" Harry asked, horrified that their friend could be hurt. 

"She was in the bathroom crying during dinner." 

"Why was she crying?" Harry asked.

"I-" Ron shook his head and colour came back into his face "It doesn't matter now. We have to go find Hermione."