Halloween
But I see her
In the back of my mind
All the time
Like a fever
Like I'm burning alive like a sign
Did I cross the line?
October 1991
Malfoy couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw that Harry, Charles and Ron were still at Hogwarts the next day, looking tired but perfectly cheerful. Indeed, by the next morning the three boys thought that meeting the three-headed dog had been an excellent (and dangerous) adventure, and they were quite keen to have another one.
In the meantime, they sat wondering what could possibly need such heavy protection.
“It's either really valuable or really dangerous,” said Ron.
“Or both,” added Harry.
“Probably both,” finished Charles.
But as all they knew for sure about the mysterious object was that it was about two inches long, they didn't have much chance of guessing what it was without any further clues.
Neither Neville nor Hermione showed the slightest interest in what lay underneath the dog and the trapdoor. But Ella was.
She was looking at the Gryffindor table, and Charles noticed it. He wasn't able to recognize the expression on her sister's face. She was furious ? He needed to talk with her immediately. But now, all they really wanted now was a way of getting back at Malfoy. They didn't care about the fact that Hermione was refusing to speak with them, but she was such a bossy know-it-all that they found this as an added bonus. To their great delight, just such the perfect thing arrived in the mail about a week later.
As the owls flooded into the Great Hall as usual, everyone’s attention was caught at once by a long, thin package carried by six large screech owls. It was impossible not to be as interested as everyone else to see what was in this large parcel, and when the owls soared down and dropped it right in front of him, knocking Harry’s bacon to the floor, everyone in the gryffindor’s table started looking. They had hardly fluttered out of the way when another owl dropped a letter on top of the parcel while Charles and Ron received letters from their respective families.
He had a letter from his dad, one from Moony and one last from Quality Quidditch Supplies, which was probably from his last order. He was much more interested in what was inside the big package Harry received.
Harry ripped open the letter first, which was lucky, because it said:
DO NOT OPEN THE PARCEL AT THE TABLE.
It contains your new Nimbus Two Thousand, but I don’t want everybody knowing you’ve got a broomstick or they’ll all want one. Oliver Wood will meet you tonight on the Quidditch field at seven o'clock for your first training session.
Professor M. McGonagall
Ron and Charles were probably not supposed to read either, but their friend didn’t even bother in hiding it.
“A Nimbus Two Thousand!” Ron moaned enviously. “Didn’t you order one a couple of months ago?”
“Yeah, for my birthday. It’s at home locked and safe.” started to feel a bit awkward for Ron remarking that, it was his friend’s moment, and also felt bad for Ron being the only one not having a proper broom.
They left the hall quickly, wanting to unwrap the broomstick in private before their first class, but halfway across the entrance hall they found the way upstairs barred by Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy seized the package from Harry and felt it.
“That’s a broomstick,” he said, throwing it back to Harry with a mixture of jealousy and spite on his face. “You’ll be in for it this time. Potter, first years aren’t allowed them.”
Ron couldn't resist it. Oh please don’t
“It’s not any old broomstick,” he said, “it’s a Nimbus Two Thousand. What did you say you’ve got at home, Malfoy, a Comet Two Sixty?” Ron grinned at Harry. “Comets look flashy, but they’re not in the same league as the Nimbus.”
“What would you know about it, Weasley, you couldn't afford half the handle,” Malfoy snapped back. “I suppose you and your brothers have to save up twig by twig.”
Harry and Charles were standing just looking at each other and his friend arguing with Malfoy, not knowing what to do.
Before Ron could answer. Professor Flitwick appeared at Malfoy’s elbow.
“Not arguing, I hope, boys?” he squeaked.
“Potters’ been sent a broomstick. Professor,” said Malfoy quickly.
“Yes, yes, that’s right,” said Professor Flitwick, beaming at Harry. “Professor McGonagall told me all about the special circumstances. Potter. And what model is it?”
“A Nimbus Two Thousand, sir,” said Harry, fighting not to laugh at the look of horror on Malfoy’s face. “And it’s really thanks to Malfoy here that I’ve got it,” he added.
Charles, Harry and Ron headed upstairs, smothering their laughter at Malfoy’s obvious rage and confusion.
“Well, it’s true,” Harry chortled as they reached the top of the marble staircase, “If he hadn’t stolen Neville’s Remembrall I wouldn’t be on the team. ...”
“So I suppose you think that’s a reward for breaking the rules?” came an angry voice from just behind them. Hermione was stomping up the stairs, looking disapprovingly at the package in Harry’s hand. And by her side, Ella stood with her arms folded. She was staring at Charles with annoying and disappointing eyes.
Why is she being like this? He thought.
“I thought you weren’t speaking to us?” said Harry.
“Yes, don’t stop now,” said Ron, “it’s doing us so much good.” Ron please shut up.
Hermione marched away with her nose in the air. Ella tried to follow her, but Charles stopped her before it, grabbing her arm.
“Not you,” said Charles. “We ought to talk.”
“No.”
“Why are you following her like a dog?”
“ ‘Cause she tells me the important things…”
“What the- what are you talking about? I always tell you everything. ”
“No, no you don’t”
“Then what. Tell me one thing I haven’t told you.” he snapped
“Well, I don’t know.. Maybe about that stupid 3 head dog, or that Malfoy actually tricked you all into a duel or–”
“It’s not that big of a de–”
“It is for me! We used to tell each other everything ! What changed?”
“ You tell me! You’ve barely spoken to me since the first week ! You’re all the time with Granger now and you don’t even glance at me. I’ve tried, Ella, I really tried. But you’re not helping either. Now if that was your problem with me stop playing the victim and we can talk later.”
He turned his back and did not look behind.
What was she even saying? Although they did tell eachother everything, he didn’t have to. It was not an obligation to tell her his secrets.
They have never fought before, it was the first time in their entire life.
He wanted to fall down on his knees, but he didn’t. He wanted to cry, but he didn’t. He wanted to turn back and hug his fucking sister, but again, he didn’t.
Far away from the girls, he looked back and realized Ron and Harry were still there behind him. He also realized he was walking really fast and they were struggling to follow him, so he stopped.
Ron gazed with his eyes wide with wonder. He had never seen Charles and Ella fighting before, maybe because they didn’t really until now. On the other hand, Harry was a bit confused by the situation.
“Charles,” started Ron. “Are you alright? I know you had never– that you and–”
He was clearly as uncomfortable as he was.
“Don’t worry about it”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” it was Harry who talked now. He had talked with him about his sister and how close they were.
Charles nodded. Harry put a hand on his shoulder, giving him a warm smile.
The classes allowed Charles to clear his mind and concentrate on the lessons.
In the evening, they bolted their dinner and rushed upstairs to unwrap Harry’s broomstick.
“Wow,” Ron sighed, as the broomstick rolled into Harry's bedspread.
The Nimbus looked amazing and wonderful, sleek and shiny under the warm light. It had a mahogany handle, a long tail of neat, straight twigs and Nimbus Two Thousand written in gold near the top.
At seven o’clock, Harry left the castle and went to his first Quidditch practice at the stadium.
Charles and Ron were alone in the boys bedroom, so the brown haired boy decided to read and answer the letters that he received that morning.
He grabbed the old one from Moony that he didn’t got the chance to read it yet.
Dear Charles,
I’m really glad you made friends, it’s really important to have so. Guess Sniv Severus didn’t change at all, hope he’s not that hard with you because of your dad; you see, we didn’t really get along.
Now, about your dream, I don’t think it’s much to worry about except for the fact that it caused you pain. It’s probably a psychological thing, don’t worry much about it. I’ll keep in contact.
Your Uncle Moony
Charles now decided to read the other two. One was from his dad and the other from Moony. He wondered what he would have to say. Actually, he was curious of both but more about his godfather.
Dear Charles,
Hope you’re doing well. Just wanted to check on you, it’s been a while since I’ve wrote you.
Moony told me about your dream, don’t worry about it, I’m sure it’s not a big of a deal, but if it concerns you much we can talk if you’re over for christmas. Don’t feel pressure to come home! If you rather spend your time with Ronald and your new friends it’ll be alright son.
I’m afraid I’m not going to be able to write on Halloween until christmas, as you know, it’s not easy for me that period of the year and with work i’m going to be easy. As so, I would rather you tell me asap if you’re coming home for christmas. Don’t grow apart from your sis, I’ve seen some examples, it only ends with both regretting it. Miss you kiddo x
Your dad, J. Miller
—————————————————————————————————————
Dear Charles
I know it’s weird me writing, but I just wanted you to know that I won't be home for a couple of weeks, you know well why. After I come back you know I need to recover, so, if you write I won’t be able to answer for a while.
Take care of yourself, don’t get into trouble and I’ll write when I can. Don’t worry and write to me if you need, just know I won’t be able to answer.
Your Uncle Moony.
He wanted to write to them both, but he couldn’t bother them. For a month or more. It was fine. He had his sister. Although she was not talking to him at all. It was fine. He was good on his own. If he needed someone he had Ron. And maybe even Harry, by now.
Harry started to be more busy now that he has Quidditch practice three evenings a week. Neither of them could hardly believe that they had been at Hogwarts for two months. They had mastered the basics concepts in all the subjects, so the classes were becoming more and more interesting. The castle became their new home now, and it’ll be for the next six years.
31st October 1991
On Halloween morning the three of the boys woke to the delicious smell of baked pumpkin wafting through the corridors. And to their delight, Professor Flitwick announced in Charms that he thought they were ready to practice making the objects fly, something that all the class had been dying to try. Professor Flitwick put them into pairs to practice. Charles was Harry's partner, and Ron was Granger’s. It was harder to tell whether Ron or Hermione was angrier about this. Hermione and Ella hadn't spoken to either of them since the day Harry’s broomstick arrived.
Charles caught his sister looking at him, but she turned her head and talked with Seamus, her partner.
He rolled his eyes, and Harry noticed that.
“Have you talked to her yet?” the green-eyed boy asked.
“No, I haven’t”
“You should,” Charles looked back at her, but Ella was reading her notes for the class. How long will this last?
“Now, don't forget that nice wrist movement we’ve been practicing!” squeaked Professor Flitwick, perched on top of his pile of books as usual. “Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic words properly is very important, too — never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said ‘s’ instead of ‘f’ and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest.”
It wasn't very difficult for Charles to switch and flicked, his leather move and float for three seconds. But it didn't happen the same to Harry.
“Move your wrist slower” said Charles to Harry, making an example with his own leather.
But before Harry could take it, the smell of something burning caught their attention.
Ella’s leather was moving on the desk, and next to her, Seamus got so impatient that he prodded the leather with his wand and fire it.
Ron, at the next table, wasn't having much more luck.
“ Wingardium Leviosa!” he shouted, waving his long arms like a windmill.
“You’re saying it wrong,” Hermione snapped. “It's Win- gar- dium Levi- o -sa, make the ‘gar’ nice and long.”
“You do it, then, if you’re so clever,” Ron snarled.
Hermione rolled up the sleeves of her grown, flicked her wand, and said, “ Wingardium Leviosa!”
Their feather rose off the desk and hovered about four feet above their heads.
“Oh, well done!” cried Professor Flitwick, clapping. “Everyone see here, Miss Granger’s done it! Oh, and the Miller twins too! Well done guys”
Ron was in a very bad mood by the end of the class.
“It’s no wonder no one can stand her,” the ginger boy said to both of his friends as they pushed their way into the corridors, “she’s a nightmare, honestly”
Someone knocked into Harry as they hurried past him. It was Hermione. Harry and Charles caught a glimpse of her face — she was almost in tears.
“I think she heard you,” said Harry.
“So?” said Ron, but he looked a bit uncomfortable. “She must’ve noticed she’s got no friends.”
Before Charles could even say something, they heard another feminine voice.
This time it was Ella, who also listened and saw the situation. She scowled at Ron, “I hope someday you'll start thinking about the stupid and cruel things you say, Ronald.” She started to make her way into Hermione’s, but she turned back her head and added “And one more thing, Hermione has friends, because she has me!” Ella finished and ran, trying to catch Hermione.
“She’s right,” said Charles. “It was unnecessary. And don’t get me wrong I can't stand her either.”
Hermione didn't turn up to the next class and wasn't seen all afternoon. Even Ella appeared only at breakfast time. That's weird, Charles thought.
On their way down to the Great Hall for the Halloween feast, Harry, Charles and Ron overheard Parvati Patil telling Lavender that Hermione was crying in the girls’ bathroom and wanted to be left alone, except for the Miller girl. Ron looked still more awkward at this, but a moment later they had entered the Great Hall, where the Halloween decorations put Hermione out of their minds.
A thousand live bats fluttered from the walls and ceiling while a thousand more swooped over the tables in low black clouds, making the candles in the pumpkins stutter. Those were Ella’s favourite animals.
She must see this! Said Charles in his head, but when he looked around the Great Hall, Ella wasn’t anywhere to be found, not even at the Hufflepuff table. Suddenly, the feast appeared on the golden plates, as it had at the start-of-term banquet.
When they tried to eat their dinner, Professor Quirrel came sprinting into the hall, his turban askew and terror on his face. Everyone stared as he reached Professor Dumbledore’s chairs, slumped against the table, and gasped, “Troll – in the dungeons – thought you got to know.”
He then sank to the floor in a dead faint.
There was an uproar. It took several purple firecrackers exploding from the end of Professor Dumbledore’s wand to bring silence.
“Prefects,” he rumbled, “lead your Houses back to the dormitories immediately!”
Percy was in his element.
“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!”
“What do you mean a troll?!”
“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 Halloween joke.”
“So this time was a good one” finished Charles.
They passed different groups of people hurrying in different directions. As they jostled their way through a crowd of confused Hufflepuffs, Charles didn’t see his sister in there. He started to worry. Oh wait…
Suddenly, Harry grabbed Ron’s and Charles’s arm.
“I’ve just thought – Hermione.”
“What about her?”
“She’s with Ella,” said Charles.
“So what?”
“They don't know about the troll!”
Ron bit his lip.
“Oh, all right,” he snapped. “But Percy’d better not see us.”
Ducking down, they joined the Hufflepuffs going the other way, slipped down a deserted side corridor, and hurried off toward the girls’ bathroom. They had just turned the corner when they heard quick footsteps behind them.
“Percy!” hissed Ron, pulling Harry and Charles behind a large stone griffin.
Peering around it, however, they saw not Percy but Snape. He crossed the corridor and disappeared from view.
“What’s he doing?” Harry whispered. “Why isn’t he down in the dungeons with the rest of the teachers?"
“Search me.”
Quietly as possible, they crept along the next corridor after Snape’s fading footsteps.
“He’s heading for the third floor,” Harry said, but Ron held up his hand. “Can you smell something?”
Charles sniffed and a foul stench reached his nostrils. A mixture of old sucks and the kind of public toilet clarily no clean. He scrunched up his face in disgust at the stench.
And then they heard it – a low grunting, and the shuffling footfalls of gigantic feet. Ron pointed – at the end of a passage to the left, something huge was moving toward them. They shrank into the shadows and watched as it emerged into a patch of moonlight.
It was a horrible sight. Twelve feet tall, its skin was dull, granite gray, it's great lumpy body like a boulder with its small bald head perched on top like a coconut. It had short legs thick as tree trunks with flat, horny feet. The smell coming from it was the most disgusting one that Charles had ever smelled. The troll was holding a huge wooden club, which dragged along the floor because its arms were so long.
It stopped next to a doorway and peered inside. It waggled its long ears, making up its tiny mind, then slouched slowly into the room.
“I think we’ve found it” whispered Charles.
Harry nodded and muttered. “The key’s in the lock, we could lock it in”
“Good idea,” said Ron nervously.
“Yeah, nice one mate”
They edged toward the open door, mouths dry, praying the troll wasn’t about to come out of it. With one great leap, Harry managed to grab the key, slam the door, and lock it. Their plan was successful. For now…
“Yes!”
Flushed with their victory, they started to run back up the passage,but as they reached the corner they heard something that made their hearts stop – high, petrified screams coming from the chamber they’d just chained up.
“Oh, no,” said Ron, pale as a ghost.
“It’s the girl’s bathroom!” Harry gasped.
“ The girls! ” Charles finished.
Charles forgot about his anger with Ella, and sprinted back to the door and turned the key, fumbling in his panic. The other two boys followed him behind and helped him pull the door open and they ran inside.
Hermione was shrinking against the wall opposite, looking as if she was about to faint. Ella was shaking Hermione's body and trying to stay calm, but she was as scared as the other girl. The troll was advancing on their, knocking the skins off the walls as it went.
“Confuse it!” Harry said desperately to Charles and Ron, and seizing a tap, he threw it as hard as he could against the wall.
“I don’t bring my wand with me!” realized Charles when he was looking for his wand in the pockets of the robes.
The troll stopped a few feet from Hermione and Ella. It lumbered around, blinking stupidly, to see what had made the noise. Its mean little eyes saw Harry. It hesitated, then made form him instead, lifting its club as it went.
“Oy, pea-brain! Yelled Ron from the otherside of the chamber, and he threw a metal pipe at it. The troll didn’t even seem to notice the pipe hitting its shoulder, but it heard the yell and paused again, turning its ugly snout toward Ron instead, giving Harry and Charles time to run around it.
“Come on, run, run !” Harry yelled at the girls, Charles trying to pull them toward the door, but Hermione couldn’t move, she was still flat against the wall, her mouth open with terror. Ella put one of Hermione’s arms around her shoulder, trying to carry her.
“Take my wand, it’s in my pocket!” Ella advised Charles, making a lot of effort trying to carry her friend. Charles nodded and borrowed Ella’s wand as fast as he could.
The shouting and the echoes seemed to be driving the troll berserk. It roared again and started toward Ron, who was nearest and had no way to escape.
Harry then did something that was both very brave and very stupid: He took a great running jump and managed to fasten his arms around the troll’s neck from behind.
Charles almost screamed when he saw Harry hanging there and sticking a long bit of wood up its nose. Fucking amazing.
Harry’s wand had still been in his hand when he’d jumped – it had gone straight up one of the troll’s nostrils.
Howling with pain, the troll twisted and flailed its club, with Harry clinging on for dear life; any second, the troll was going to rip him off or catch him a terrible blow with the club.
Hermione had sunk to the floor in fright and Ella fell with her; Ron pulled out his own wand – not knowing what he was going to do he heard himself cry the first spell that came unto his head: “ Wingardium Leviosa !”
The club flew suddenly out of the troll’s hand, rose high up into the air, turned slowly over – and dropped, with a sickening crack, onto its owner’s head. The troll swayed on the spot and then fell flat on its face, with a thud that made the whole room tremble. Charles had taken his friends out of the way just on time before it crashed them down.
Harry got to his feet, shaking and out of breath. Ron was standing there with his hand still raised, staring at what he had done.
It was Hermione who spoke first.
“Is it — dead?”
“I don’t think so,” said Harry, “I think it’s just been knocked out.”
“What the actual fuck.” said Charles
As he spoke, Harry had bent down and pulled his wand out of the troll’s nose. It was covered in what looked like lumpy gray glue.
“Urgh — troll boogers.”
He wiped it on the troll’s trousers.
A sudden slamming and loud footsteps made the three of them look up. They hadn’t realized what a racket they had been making, but of course, someone downstairs must have heard the erashes and the troll’s roars. A moment later. Professor MeGonagall had come bursting into the room, closely followed by Snape, with Quirrell bringing up the rear. Quirrell took one look at the troll, let out a faint whimper, and sat quickly down on a toilet, clutching his heart.
Snape bent over the troll. Professor MeGonagall was looking at the boys. It was their first time seeing her so angry. Her lips were white. They were clearly losing fifty points for Gryffrndor. Each.
“What on earth were you thinking of?” said Professor MeGonagall, with cold fury in her voice. Charles looked at Ron, who was still standing with his wand in the air. “You’re lucky you weren’t killed. Why aren’t you in your dormitory?”
He wished Ron could put his wand down. They were starting to get piercing looks from Snape, both Charles and Harry.
Then a small voice came out of the shadows.
“Please, Professor McGonagall, they were just looking for us.”
“Miss Granger!”
Hermione had managed to get to her feet at last, with Ella’s arm around her shoulders.
“I went looking for the troll because I– I thought I would deal with it on my own — you know, because I’ve read all about them. And I dragged Ells here with me. She tried telling me I shouldn’t but I didn’t listen.”
Now even Ron dropped his wand. Hermione Granger, telling a downright lie to a teacher? Charles was impressed . But he would never be tired of that.
“If they hadn’t found me. We’d be dead now. Charles helped me and Ells get out of the place when I couldn’t even move, Harry stuck his wand up its nose and Ron knocked it out with its own club. They didn’t have time to come and fetch anyone. It was about to finish me off when they arrived.”
Ron, Charles and Harry tried to look as though this story wasn’t new to them.
“Well — in that case ...” said Professor McGonagall, staring at the five of them. For a moment her eyes softened, like she remembered something, but in just a moment she went back into being angry. “Miss Granger, you foolish girl, how could you think of tackling a mountain troll on your own? And dragging another student with you?” Ella was speechless by her side.
Hermione hung her head. They were all just like Ella, not being able to say a word. Hermione was the last person to do anything against the rules, and here she was, pretending she had, to get them out of trouble. It was as if Snape had started handing out hugs and sweets.
“Miss Granger, five points will be taken from Gryffindor for this,” said Professor McGonagall. “I’m very disappointed in you. If you’re not hurt at all, you’d better get off to Gryffindor Tower. Students are finishing the feast in their Houses.”
Hermione left together with Ella.
Professor McGonagall turned to the three boys.
“Well, I still say you were lucky, but not many first years could have taken on a full-grown mountain troll. You each win Gryffindor five points. Professor Dumbledore will be informed of this. You may go.”
They hurried out of the chamber and didn’t speak at all until they had elimbed two floors up. It was a relief to be away from the smell of the troll, quite apart from anything else.
“We should have gotten more than fifteen points,” Ron grumbled.
“Ten, you mean, once she’s taken off Hermione’s.”
“I expected 50 points from Gryffindor, each,” said Charles. “It’s not as bad, just five points from Hermione.”
“Good of her to get us out of trouble like that,” Ron admitted. “Mind you, we did save her.”
“She might not have needed saving if we hadn’t looked the thing in with her,” Harry reminded him.
“Or made her cry” added Charles
They had reached the portrait of the Fat Lady.
“Pig snout,” they said and entered.
The common room was packed and noisy. Everyone was eating the food that had been sent up. Hermione, however, stood alone by the door, waiting for them.
There was a very embarrassed pause. It was really awkward. Then, none of them looking at each other, they all said “Thanks,” and hurried off to get plates.
But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend. Halloween 1991 was a night that changed Charles’ life completely without even knowing. There are things you can't share without ending up liking each other, knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them. They were about to share even more. It was just a matter of time.