Chapter-16: Punishment and Friendship

Harry was very scared when he saw the fuming face of Professor McGonagall. A thought scared him if he was expelled from the school and he had to go back to the Durseleys. Thus he prayed, that nothing bad happen to him that night.

"What on earth were you thinking of? And.." Before Professor McGonagall could say something, she noticed Neville who was fainted on the other side of the room. She immediately got to action and went to the poor boy, with Quirell behind him.

Seeing them, Ron replied, "Professor, he just fainted after Ronan killed the troll," Professor McGonagall didnt say anything just ascertaining the boy was fine. While Snape moved towards the troll, with a flick of his wand took out the sliver spike that was embedded in the troll's head.

"How did you manage to kill the troll, Johanson?" Ronan had stood up by then, with his face's color to his original shade. "I transfigured a piece of wood into a spike and then with my.. Then I just sent it hurling towards the troll's head, killing it."

Professor McGonagall returned and saw the spike floating in the air, "You were able to transfigure a wood to such an extent?" she looked rather astonished at the moment, with her anger slowly receding. But then her anger returned and she asked them the million galleon question, "You're lucky you weren't killed. Why aren't you in your dormitory?"

Before Harry could think of an excuse, a small voice came out of the shadows, "Please, Professor McGonagall… they were looking for me."

"Miss Granger!"

Hermione then continued, "I went looking for the troll because I.. I thought I could deal with it on my own… you know, because I've read all about them." Ron and Ronan, and him as well dropped their mouth. Hermione Granger, telling a downright lie to a teacher? This was an unprecedented occurrence.

"If they hadn't found me, I'd be dead now. Harry, Ron, and Neville distracted the troll, while Ronan performed transfiguration and killed it. They didn't have time to come and fetch anyone. It was about to finish me off when they arrived."

All three of the boys got the message loud and clear, they tried to look as though this story wasn't new to them.

"Well… in that case…" said Professor McGonagall, staring at the four of them. "Miss Granger, you foolish girl, how could you think of tackling a mountain troll on your own?"

Hermione hung her head. All the three boys were speechless. 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 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." And with that, Hermione left.

By the time Quirell was able to get Neville to regain consciousness, they came and joined them as well. Professor McGonagall finally turned towards all of them. "Well, I still say you were lucky, but not many first-years could have taken on a full-grown mountain troll. You each win your respective house five points. Mr. Johanson would be awarded an extra 10 points for displaying such impressive transfiguration. Also, Professor Dumbledore will be informed of this."

Then she turned towards Neville, "Mr. Longbottom and Mr. Johanson you two will accompany me to see Madam Pomfrey. While Mr. Weasley and Potter you may go."

Harry and Ron both hurried out of the chamber and didn't speak at all until they had climbed two floors up. It was a relief to be away from the smell of the troll, quite apart from anything else. "We should have got more than ten points," Ron grumbled.

After a few seconds of silence Ron spoke, "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 locked the thing in with her. Also, it was Ronan who saved us," Harry reminded him. They then reached the portrait of the Fat Lady, and after telling her the password, they 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. Then, none of them looked at each other, they all said 'Thanks', and hurried off to get plates.

But from that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend, along with eccentric Slytherin Ronan Johanson. There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and killing a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.

***

It was due to Professor McGonagall's insistence that Ronan and Neville go to Madam Promfrey, did the talks about him defeating the troll spread throughout the school. By the time the 1st week of November rolled around, the whole school was gossipping about what happened that night. Draco was busy convincing his fellow Slytherins that there was no way in hell, Ronan could have defeated the troll. But no one believed him.

Slytherins' points jumped by 15 points after the night of Halloween, it convinced a few Slytherins. But the first Friday of November confirmed the rumors when Professor Snape snapped at Neville. That poor boy had very abysmal potion-making skills, and this particular day he had managed to blow up his cauldron.

Sneering Snape refuted the boy, "If you can use your brain while defeating a troll, surely you could use it during the class."

And that was it, after hearing Snape's remark, Draco started maintaining some distance between them, which he appreciated truly. He had already told Pancy, Daphne, and Blaise about what happened that night, but he felt that he didnt believe the story fully. But after Snape's remark, so that they were impressed, would be an understatement. They started begging him to teach them some magic, after all, defeating a troll in just the first year of magic studies was a spectacular feat.

All the praises that he got were flattering, but the night with the troll was also a wake call for him. Ronan doesn't remember much of the plot of the movies, but he does remember that in the last part of the movie series, during the Hogwarts war, Voldemort somehow manages to recruit many giants and trolls into his army.

On the night of Halloween, he got to his knees when defeated by just one troll. He wonders, what would happen if he find himself fending off against the Voldemort's army, and he is outnumbered.

To make sure that he would be ready when the time came, he had to be ready. That is why he had decided to find out more about his abilities, find out more about his telekinesis. He was willing to bet that there might have been some wizard or witch in the past who had abilities like him. And will find out more about them, and try to then formulate a plan from which he can utilize his abilities to the fullest…

***

As they entered November, the weather turned very cold. The mountains around the school became icy grey and the lake was like chilled steel. Every morning the ground was covered in frost. Hagrid could be seen from the upstairs windows, defrosting broomsticks on the Quidditch pitch, bundled up in a long moleskin overcoat, rabbit-fur gloves, and enormous beaverskin boots. The Quidditch season had begun. On Saturday, Harry would be playing in his first match after weeks of training: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. If Gryffindor won, they would move up into second place in the House Championship.

And put a lot of pressure on Potter, especially when people were telling him that he would be brilliant. There were also people like Malfoy telling him they'd be running around underneath him, holding a mattress. The good thing was that since that troll incident, Hermione had become his good friend, and she would always help him with his homework because with all the last-minute Quidditch practice Wood, the Gryffindor captain, was making them do, he hardly had any time left.

To take his mind off the game, Hermione also lent him Quidditch through the Ages, which turned out to be a very interesting read. He learned that there were seven hundred ways of committing a Quidditch foul. Also, Seekers were usually the smallest and fastest players and the most serious Quidditch accidents seemed to happen to them; although people rarely died playing Quidditch, referees had been known to vanish and turn up months later in the Sahara Desert.

On Friday, the day before his match, the four of them were out in the freezing courtyard during a break, and Hermione had conjured them up a bright blue fire that could be carried around in a jam jar. They were standing with their backs to it, getting warm, when Snape crossed the yard.

Harry noticed at once that Snape was limping. Harry, Ron, Neville, and Hermione moved closer together to block the fire from view; they were sure it wouldn't be allowed. Unfortunately, something about their guilty faces caught Snape's eye. He limped over. He hadn't seen the fire, but he seemed to be looking for a reason to tell them off anyway.

"What's that you've got there, Potter?" It was Quidditch through the Ages. He showed him.

"Library books are not to be taken outside the school," said Snape. "Give it to me. Five points from Gryffindor."

"He's just made that rule up," Harry muttered angrily as Snape limped away. "Wonder what's wrong with his leg?"

"Dunno, but I hope it's really hurting him," said Ron bitterly.

That was supposed to be the end of it, but that evening Harry started feeling restless. He wanted Quidditch through the Ages back, to take his mind off his nerves about tomorrow. Why should he be afraid of Snape?

Getting up, he told Ron and Hermione he was going to ask Snape if he could have it. Ron straight backed off, he didnt want to get near Snape, and so did Hemione. As far as Neville is concerned, he didnt bother to ask the man, he knows that there was no way that he would agree to meet Snape. So, Harry made his way to the staff room.

As he knocked on the door of the staff room, there was no answer. He knocked again. Nothing.

Perhaps Snape had left the book in there? It was worth a try, Harry thought.

He pushed the door ajar and peered inside, and a horrible scene met his eyes. Snape and Filch were inside, alone. Snape was holding his robes above his knees. One of his legs was bloody and mangled. Filch was handing Snape bandages.

"Blasted thing," Snape was saying. "How are you supposed to keep your eyes on all three heads at once?"

Harry tried to shut the door quietly, but, "POTTER!"

Snape's face was twisted with fury as he dropped his robes quickly to hide his leg. Harry gulped, "I just wondered if I could have my book back."

"GET OUT! OUT!"

Harry left, before Snape could take any more points from Gryffindor. He sprinted back upstairs, eager to tell his friends what had transpired just now.