Written In The Stars -[Harry Potter xFem!Oc]

Chapter Eleven: A Troll In The Dungeons.

Hermione didn't show up for the rest of the day, Parvati and Lavender told her, moments before entering the Great Hall for the Halloween feast, that they had seen her in the girl's bathroom crying, but she wanted to be left alone.

Harry and Ron walked past, looking at her with the same embarrassed expression. Mel ignored them.

The girl entered the Great Hall and felt miserable at the fact that not even the Halloween decorations helped her feel better -not that they weren't impressive- she just felt like a terrible friend.

"Are these seats taken?" Harry asked shyly.

"No, but I prefer them that way," She answered coldly.

"I'm sorry," Harry sat down anyway, "I know that we were mean, please don't be upset-"

"It should be Ron the one who's sorry," She said, peeking over his shoulder to see the redheaded boy next to him, "and he should be apologizing to Hermione, not me."

"I am sorry!" Ron scoffed, "But you can't deny that she's bossy and has no friends!"

"One can't go around saying rude things about someone that they don't know," Mel scowled, "say you're sorry and then I'll stop nagging!"

"I just did!"

"To Hermione, not to me!"

"Guys!" Harry cut their argument short, "I don't think Hermione will come tonight, and Ron can't go to the girl's toilets to apologize, right?"

Mel pondered.

"I guess," She grumbled, "...I guess there's not much he can do tonight, but he does have to promise he'll apologize tomorrow"

"Ron, can you please?" Harry asked with exasperation.

"Fine. But don't expect me to be her friend, Mel. I don't like her."

"As long as you keep things civil," She said, "I won't insist"

They were about to start eating when Professor Quirrel came sprinting down the hall. He reached the teacher's table and said:

"Troll – in the dungeons – thought you ought to know" 

He fainted.

Dumbledore had to shoot several purple firecrackers to control the fuss.

"Prefects," He rumbled, "lead your houses back to the dormitories immediately!"

"Follow me! Stick together, first-years! No need to fear the troll if you follow my orders! Stay close behind me, now. Make way, first-years coming through! Excuse me, I'm a Prefect!" Percy shouted as he guided the children towards the Gryffindor tower.

"How could a troll get in?" Harry asked as they climbed the stairs.

"Don't ask me, they're supposed to be really stupid," said Ron, "Maybe Peeves let it in for a Hallowe'en joke."

"Someone should have noticed," Mel argued, "aren't trolls supposed to be big?"

They passed several groups of students, suddenly, Harry grabbed their arms and stopped them.

"I've just thought – Hermione."

"What about her?"

"Oh no!" Mel covered her mouth in anguish, "She doesn't know about the troll!"

A horrible second pass, Ron finally spoke up:

"Oh, all right," He said through greeted teeth. "But Percy'd better not see us..."