Halloween
Any nervousness or anxiety about the previous day was worth it when the group heard Malfoy got another detention from Flich for giving him 'Flase information' and 'wasting his time'. He also lost points for his house because of his trouble.
In the meantime, Rosie informed Neville and Ron about the package. She didn't see it but knew it was important. It seemed to have been moved from Gringotts to Hogwarts, and they spent a lot of time wondering what could possibly need such heavy protection.
“It’s either really valuable or really dangerous,” said Ron.
“Or both,” said Neville.
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 further clues.
Hermione showed not even the slightest interest in what lay underneath the dog and the trapdoor. Neville agreed with her, while he wondered about the package he wasn't interested in getting anywhere near that dog again.
Hermione wasn't speaking to any of them after their adventure, which Ron saw as a blessing and Rosie was inclined to agree with him. While she did care for Hermione, she had such a tone that it reminded Rose of her aunt when she bossed her around.
About a week later, Rosie got a surprise in the morning mail. 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.
Rose was just as interested as everyone else to see what was in this large parcel, and was amazed when the owls soared down and dropped it right in front of her, knocking her bacon to the floor. They had hardly fluttered out of the way when another owl dropped a letter on top of the parcel.
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
Now Roselyn was glad she opened the letter first before the parcel. But she was barely containing her glee. She heard the Nimbus Two Thousand was the fastest broom on the market.
“A Nimbus Two Thousand!” Ron moaned enviously when he read the note. “I’ve never even touched one.”
"That's the fastest on the market!" Neville said sharing Rosie's excitement, Rosie quickly snatched the parcel off the table and raced to an empty room to open it Ron and Neville on her tail.
But before they could reach the second flight of stairs, they were blocked by Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy snatched the package from Rose 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, Evans, first years aren’t allowed them.”
"Actually, this is a reward from Professor McGonagall. She said that she wanted me to hone my skills on a broom so that I could try out for the Gryffindor team." Rosie lied. She knew that the team hadn't won many games since Ron's brother Charlie graduated. And she was determined to keep her position on the team a secret to give them an advantage in the Quidditch Cup.
“And it’s not any old broomstick,” Ron added, “it’s a Nimbus Two Thousand. What did you say you’ve got at home, Malfoy, a Comet Two Sixty?” Ron grinned at Rosie. “Comets look flashy, but they’re not in the same league as the Nimbus.”
"Really? Preferring flash over Skill Malfoy? Keep that up and you won't make the Slytherin team." She added, as Ron burst out laughing and Neville tried to snuffle his laugh.
Before Malfoy could do anything, Professor Flitwick appeared through a doorway. “Not arguing, I hope?” he squeaked.
“Evans’s 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, Miss. Evans. And what model is it?”
“A Nimbus Two Thousand, sir,” said Roselyn, fighting not to laugh at the look of horror on Malfoy’s face. "And it's really thanks to Neville here that I got it so thanks, Neville." The boy flushed not expecting that, but he responded.
"Uh, y-your welcome Rosie?" Trio then headed upstairs, smothering their laughter at Malfoy’s obvious rage and confusion.
“Well, it’s true,” Rosie chortled as they reached the top of the marble staircase, "If you hadn't had that accident I wouldn't get this broom or my spot in the team."
"I really didn't do anything though," Neville said, still blushing at being the reason Rose got a new broom and a spot in the Gryffindor team.
“So I suppose you think that’s a reward for breaking rules?” came an angry voice from just behind them. Hermione was stomping up the stairs, looking disapprovingly at the package in Rosie’s hand.
"More like getting rewarded for helping a friend." Rosie corrected, but Hermione just marched away her nose up.
Rose had a bit of trouble keeping up with her classwork. As her mind traveled to her Nimbus hidden under her bed, or to the Quidditch field and how she would do on the team and games.
She scarfed down her dinner, along with Ron and Neville. As they raced to the dorms. The boys waited in the common room while Rosie raced up the stairs to get the parcel from her room. The trio stared amazedly at the broom sprawled on the table.
“Wow,” Ron sighed,
The broom looked amazing, Sleek and shiny, with a mahogany handle, it had a long tail of neat, straight twigs and Nimbus Two Thousand written in gold near the top.
As seven o’clock drew nearer, Rosie left the castle and set off in the dusk toward the Quidditch field. He’d never been inside the stadium before. Hundreds of seats were raised in stands around the field so that the spectators were high enough to see what was going on. At either end of the field were three golden poles with hoops on the end. They reminded Rose of the little plastic sticks Muggle children blew bubbles through, except that they were fifty feet high.
Too eager to fly again to wait for Wood, Rosie hopped on the Nimbus Two Thousand and took off and it was a better sensation than she ever imagined. She dove, swooping through the goals, and speeding up and down the field. The Nimbus Two Thousand turned wherever she wanted at her lightest touch.
"Hey, Evans, get down!" Oliver Wood had arrived. He was carrying a large wooden crate under his arm. Rosie landed next to him. “Very nice,” said Wood, his eyes glinting. “I see what McGonagall meant . . . you really are a natural. I’m just going to teach you the rules this evening, then you’ll be joining team practice three times a week.”
He opened the crate. Inside were four different-sized balls. Now, Quidditch is easy enough to understand, even if it’s not too easy to play. You the basics right?"
"Seven players on each team," Rosie said listing all the things she knew about the sport. "Three Chasers, two beaters, one keeper, and one seeker." She reached into the crate and picked up the Quaffle. "The Chasers try to get the Quaffle through the opposite team's hoops to gain points. Keepers have to block the shots, while the seekers try to catch the Snitch, while beaters keep the Bludgers away from the team and at the other team"
"Woah, you're pretty knowledgeable Roselyn." Wood was impressed by her knowledge.
"My dad was a Quidditch player so I know about the game from him." Rose said, "But what's the point values?"
"Ah, Quaffle is worth ten points through any of the goals," Wood answered as he pulled out the snitch from the crate. "But this is the only thing I want you to worry about, the golden snitch. That's your role," He handed the snitch to her.
Compared to the Quaffle and Bludgers it was tiny about the size of a large walnut. It was bright gold and had little fluttering silver wings.
"While you're pretty smart, but the snitch is the most important ball of the lot. It’s very hard to catch because it’s so fast and difficult to see. It’s the Seeker’s job to catch it. You’ve got to weave in and out of the Chasers, Beaters, Bludgers, and Quaffle to get it before the other team’s Seeker, because whichever Seeker catches the Snitch wins his team an extra hundred and fifty points, so they nearly always win. That’s why Seekers get fouled so much. A game of Quidditch only ends when the Snitch is caught, so it can go on for ages — I think the record is three months, they had to keep bringing on substitutes so the players could get some sleep."
“Well, that’s it — any questions?” Wood asked,
Rose shook her head, as the game was simple to understand but it was another thing to do it.
“We won’t practice with the Snitch yet,” said Wood, carefully shutting it back inside the crate, “it’s too dark, we might lose it. Let’s try you out with a few of these.”
He pulled a bag of ordinary golf balls out of his pocket and a few minutes later, he and Rosie were up in the air, Wood throwing the golf balls as hard as he could in every direction for her to catch. To Wood's delight she caught every single one practically seconds after he threw them.
After half an hour, night had really fallen and they couldn’t carry on. “That Quidditch Cup’ll have our name on it this year,” said Wood happily as they trudged back up to the castle. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you turn out better than Charlie Weasley, and he could have played for England if he hadn’t gone off chasing dragons.”
Two months had practically flown by before Rosie could realize it. She was swamped with homework, Quidditch practice, and writing songs. But she won't trade it for all the money in the world.
The castle was more her home than Privet Drive had ever been. But it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. After getting him in trouble with Flich, Malfoy had peractly made it his mission to mess with Rosie. But he got caught every time, when he fired a leg-locking curse at her causing her to fall down the stairs. Luckily Ron's older brother Percy was there and he caught her.
Malfoy lost house points for that, another time he tried to corner her outside the charms classroom. But the Professor was exiting his class just at that time and caught him causing him to lose more points.
Another he was caught by McGongall when he tried to make her miss up her transfiguration by firing a light stunning charm but he was caught yet again. Every time he tried to get her but was caught either by a perfect or a Professor.
Malfoy's attempts to humiliate Rosie only led to him getting in trouble or humiliating himself. He made his house lose so many points that even Snape's supposed favoritism didn't get back the points. Some of the older Slytherins had pulled him aside multiple times to scold him for losing so many points, and messing with Rosie was too much trouble for what it's worth.
Rosie was thriving, the lessons were getting more and more interesting. But that meant more homework, and she was tired of Malfoy's attempts to bully her. So she hid in the come-and-go room.
She learned of the room through her dad's journal. Pacing in front of the corridor with the ballet trolls three times, a room would appear with whatever you needed. So it became the perfect study room, with plush couches, desks for homework, and rows and rows of bookcases for information.
On Halloween day, Rosie was lackluster. It was the day her parents died, as their entries ended on the day before Halloween, and some research in Diagon Alley gave her parents death day.
She just moved along the castle with a sad look. Neville and Ron were with her the whole day, trying to cheer her up. They shared her candy, Ron told funny stories about his family on Halloween, and Neville let her use his shoulder throughout the day.
Roselyn was grateful for their effort but her mood mostly stayed the same throughout the day. Professor Flitwick had announced they would begin to make objects fly. Rosie was paired with Neville and with Ron's displeasure he was paired with Hermonie who equally shared his feelings. Despite being roommates Hermonie hasn't spoken to her since she got her broom.
"Now, don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practicing!" squeaked Professor Flitwick, on top of his stool 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's said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself what a buffalo on his chest."
Rosie quickly got her feather to the ceiling easily, as in the come-and-go room she's been practicing the spells in her parent's books. So she was much ahead of her classmates when it came to Charms and Transfiguration.
After she got her feather of float she began to help Neville with his. "Here, Neville let me." She gently grabbed his wrist and slowly guided it in the proper wrist movement. "Swish and flick, and remember to speak clearly and calmly." Neville nodded, he followed her advice and spoke the incantation.
"Wingardium Leviosa." The moment he said that his feather floated a few inches from his desk. But before he could thank her, there was a loud band beside them. The pair looked over and found Seamus covered in suet with his feather on fire. Rosie quickly put it out by whacking it with her book.
"We, uh might need another feather over here Professor Flitwick," Neville said and no one else spoke about the subject. Rosie was about to start reading over her charms book again when she overheard Ron and Hermonie.
“Wingardium Leviosa!” he shouted, waving his long arms like a windmill.
“You’re saying it wrong,” Harry heard Hermione snap. “It’s Wing-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 gown, flicked her wand, and said,
“Wingardium Leviosa!” Her feather rose about four feet into the air.
By the end of class, Ron was in a very bad mood.
“It’s no wonder no one can stand her,” he said to Rose as they along with Neville pushed their way into the crowded corridor, “she’s a nightmare, honestly.”
Someone knocked into Rose as they hurried past her. It was Hermione. Harry caught a glimpse of her face — and was startled to see that she was in tears.
“I think she heard you.”
“So?” said Ron, but he looked a bit uncomfortable. “She must’ve noticed she’s got no friends.”
"So?" Rose stated, "that doesn't mean you get to be a part!" Rose quickly shoved her way through the crowd trying to catch up to Hermonie. But she lost her, and she couldn't search for her before she had to race to her next class.
She made it within a minute to spare, which was impressive because it was almost across the school guess 'Harry Hunting' came in handy. But Hermonie didn't show up for class or the rest of the afternoon. So Rosie decided to skip the Halloween feast, it wasn't that she wasn't hungry but since you know her parents died on Halloween she didn't really like the holiday.
Halloween used to be her favorite holiday, she got to go trick or treating all be it dressed in a ratty bed sheet in the form of a ghost but at least she got candy, it was many to ones Dudley didn't like but to her candy was just candy.
Rosie had asked her roommates if they saw Hermonie at any point, and they answered they heard her crying in the girl's bathroom. Ron was still looking awkward more so when Rosie shot him a glare. But never mind that she made her way to the bathroom nearest to the charms class.
She gently made her way into the bathroom, and she heard soft crying in one of the stalls. "GO AWAY!"
"Hermonie I just want to talk." Rosie kept her voice level, she knew where Hermonie was coming from. Rosie knew what she was feeling, that pit in your stomach when you realized that no one cared for you. No one has any mind to listen to what you have to say. Roselyn knew that feeling all too well.
"I know what it feels like to be outcasted," She stared, "To feel like no one is listening to you, to be pushed aside, like how everyone's voice is heard but not yours, and how when your trying to help you're advise is taken for granted."
"H-how'd you know?" Hermonie asked, peeking from the stall but staying in it.
"Because, before I came to Hogwarts. I was treated just like that. You're not the only one who felt left out of place." Rosie answered she never shared her treatment from the Dursleys. She learned very early on that no one would believe her when she spoke out.
"But I learned I didn't need to listen to their words. I could just be-be myself, and I found they're just jealous of what I can do." Rosie continued to comfort Hermonie, but that was when Ron and Neville burst in.
"Guys?! What are you doing?!" Rose demanded of them but Ron pushed her towards Neville and banged on the stall Hermoine was in.
"NO TIME! GRANGER, COME ON! THERE'S A TROLL IN THE CASTLE!" Hermoine immediately ran out of the stall. The four first years ran through the halls, trying to get to Gryffindor Tower. But that was when they were hit by a putrid smell.
"Other way! OTHER WAY!" Rosie shouted, she led the others as they ran back the way they came the troll trying to catch the first years. Rose shoved a door to a class open and slammed it shut before the Troll got it.
She locked the door, but banging was heard as the Troll tried to get the first years inside. "WHAT DO WE DO? WE'RE TRAPED!" Ron screamed, his heart pounding in his chest.
Rosie's green eyes scanned the room at lightning pace before spying a lance by a suit of armor. "I've got an idea! Guys, you have your wands right?!" The others nodded, "Okay I need you to levitate that lance. While I'll accelerate it!"
"What?!" Hermoine questioned, but Neville quickly cut it.
"NO TIME!" he shouted, as he levitated the lance Hermoine quickly following. But Ron was having trouble getting his magic to work. Rosie wasted no time the moment the lance was in the air, she cast the Acceleration charm over and over again.
"ACCELERO MOMENTUM! ACCELERO MOMENTUM! ACCELERO MOMENTUM! ACCELERO MOMENTUM! ACCELERO MOMENTUM! ACCELERO MOMENTUM! ACCELERO MOMENTUM! ACCELERO MOMENTUM! ACCELERO MOMENTUM! ACCELERO MOMENTUM!" With each incantation, the lance was picking up speed, but Hermonie and Neville were quickly losing their grip on the lance.
"RON!" Hermonie screamed, her feet skidding against the floor. "WHISH AND FLICK!" Ron didn't even think, he followed her guidance and successfully cast the spell and with his magic's grip, the three had an easier time holding the lance. The door was giving way, but four of them barely noticed as they focused on their magic.
*BAM*
"NOW!" On Rosie's command, the first years let their magic go.
*BOOM!*
The sound was heard all across the castle, as the lance shot forward and straight through the troll. Its organs and blood were sprayed all across the wall with the lance halfway embedded into it. There was a moment of silence before the troll's body slumped over. The first years' skin was pale as paper they all held onto each other in fear and horror as they shuffled from the room.
Their faces were in horror as they stared at what they had done. So much in shock they didn't hear foot steps approaching them.
"CHILDREN!" They all turned to find Professor McGonagall running toward them, her face was plastered with fear. She reached them frantically searching for injuries as some of the troll's blood had splattered on them. "Are you all right?! What in the name of Merlin happened!"
As McGonagall was checking her lions for injuries the other teachers that ran with her were staring in shock at the bloody display of the troll.
"Minvera, I know you are worried about them but we need to get them to the Hospital Wing." Dumbledore placed a hand on the professor's shoulder, and she quickly agreed with him. She along with the headmaster escorted the lions to the Hospital Wing.
The group of first years was slowly claiming down, by the time Madam Pomfrey examined them the adrenalin had worn off. "No injuries, thank Merlin. But they all have mild magical exhaustion."
"What I want to know what in Merlin's good name happened!" McGonagall said, as she turned to the first-years. They didn't answer at first but Hermoine spoke up.
"M-my stomach was upset, s-so I hid in the bathroom after charms to w-wait it out." She stuttered, clutching the hem of her sleeves.
"I-I was i-in there hel-helping her." Rosie followed,
"T-T-They w-weren't in the g-g-g-g-great hall when Professor Quirrell a-announced the troll." Neville was the most nervous of them all, and seeing this Ron quickly chimed in.
"Me and Neville tried to get my brother Percy, but we couldn't find him or any other perfect in the confusion." The redhead explained, "We knew the girls were in the bathroom, so we ran to warn them. We tried to get back to the towers professors—we really did! But we got cut off by the troll! And Rosie came up with the plan to use the lance. We had the lance levitate it, and she accelerated it."
"And how did you do it, Miss Evans? I know Professor Flitwick only just taught you the levitating charm?" Their head of house asked the girl, she knew Rosie was smart that much was clear in her classwork. She took to the material faster than anyone in the class and even helped those struggling.
"I-I learned it, f-from the books in th-the library." Rosie had learned of the spell from the library but she practiced it in her study room.
"Well, I suppose some points are in order." The headmaster finally spoke up, "To Miss Evans, take 30 points for excellent use of spells above your year level, for staying calm under pressure, and for caring for another student's well-being. To Mr Longbottom and Weasly, 20 points for rushing to help other students in the face of danger."
"But I will have to take 10 points from Mr Longbottom and Weasly for failing to inform a teacher or a perfect about Miss Evans and Granger." Professor McGonagall might have taken some points but they still earned Gryffindor some points for the house cup.
With that, McGonagall led all to their dorms, with some urging she pushed them into the common room and ordered them to bed before leaving to help the other teachers with the troll's corpse.
The kids were silent, as they all but collapsed into the couches of the common room. There was a very long awkward pause none of them looking at each other, they all said “Thanks,” and hurried off to their rooms.
But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend. There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them. With her, they formed the Pride.