Chapter 8

Disclaimer:- I still own nothing guys :)

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Halloween in Harry Potter's first year was fascinating. The troll incident, which for all intents and purposes should have broken any bridges for trust and friendships, led to the creation of the Golden Trio. An event that would have a very significant impact on this world. And now, as I sat here, the anticipation seemed even higher, especially after the peaceful last month. By all novel and movie logic, it was about time for something to go wrong. Thankfully, I knew what would happen. Unfortunately, it would be one of those events where I would not be participating. Ravenclaw prefects were mother hens on regular days for us firsties; God knows they would literally march us back to the tower as soon as permission was granted after Quirrell broke the news about the troll.

Harry POV

Harry Potter couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen. It was Halloween today, but unlike others, he was not feeling particularly festive. He sat in the Great Hall, absently pushing his food around his plate as he listened to Ron discuss their theories about the mysterious happenings at Hogwarts. Hermione was conspicuously absent, having run off to the girls' bathroom in tears after overhearing Ron's harsh words about her.

"Do you think she'll be okay?" Harry asked, concerned.

Ron shrugged, looking guilty. "I didn't mean to upset her. She's just so—so annoying sometimes, always acting like she knows everything."

Harry sighed. "We should apologize to her after the feast. It's Halloween; we should all be enjoying it."

Alex POV

As Halloween approached, I noticed that there was nothing common between those three. Hermione was studious and overbearing. Harry was trying to come to terms with his new reality, and Ron was always just there in Harry's shadow. But this had also piqued my curiosity. The search for Flamel and the Philosopher's Stone plot only moved forward post-Halloween events, so I kept my distance, focusing on my own studies and training. However, Harry and Hermione were maybe friends already, as I had seen them interact quite a few times before.

The feast, though, was a grand affair, with the Great Hall decorated with a stunning display of floating pumpkins, bats, and enchanted candles. The atmosphere was festive, yet a sense of unease lingered in the back of my mind. As I enjoyed the feast, I kept an eye on Harry and Ron, noting their tense expressions and frequent whispers.

Hermione POV

Hermione Granger was in the girls' bathroom, tears streaming down her face. She had been hurt by Ron's words, and the isolation of the bathroom offered her a temporary refuge from the bustling Halloween festivities. She had always prided herself on her intelligence and work ethic, but Ron's harsh comments had cut deep, making her question if her efforts were worth it.

Unbeknownst to her, danger was lurking in the form of a mountain troll that had been led into the castle by Quirrell. As she tried to compose herself, the ground began to shake slightly, and a foul smell filled the air. She quickly realized that she was in grave danger, but did not know what it was. As she came out of the bathroom stall, she finally saw the enormous troll that had strolled into the girls' bathroom.

Alex POV

The feast was abruptly interrupted when Professor Quirrell came running into the Great Hall, his face pale and his turban askew. "Troll—in the dungeons—thought you ought to know," he stammered before collapsing. And, of course, he fainted forward.

Panic ensued as students were instructed to return to their common rooms. In the chaos, I noticed that Harry and Ron were missing. They had already run out looking for Hermione. I looked around; I could see the prefects trying to gather all of us and were not focusing in my direction yet. At that point, I had a decision to make: to stay with the pack here and wait to see what happens or use this moment to slip out and try to go after Ron and Harry. I decided to follow Harry and Ron. Such a stupid decision.

Ron's POV

Ron was feeling terrible about his earlier comments. He and Harry had decided to find Hermione and apologize. As they made their way through the corridors, they heard the sounds of the troll wreaking havoc.

"We have to find Hermione and get her out of there," Harry said, determination in his eyes.

Ron nodded, adrenaline coursing through his veins. They ran toward the girls' bathroom, hoping they weren't too late.

Alex POV

I followed Harry and Ron as they headed toward the girls' bathroom. As I turned a corner, I saw them facing off against the troll, with Hermione cowering behind a sink. My heart pounded as I watched the scene unfold.

Harry and Ron showed remarkable bravery, working together to distract the troll. Harry jumped on its back, while Ron tried to use the Levitation Charm to knock it out with its own club. But the spell backfired. I already knew I was going to regret this decision, but I had not come all this way for nothing. This was an opportunity for me to actually come closer to the trio by saving Hermione's life and maybe even becoming friends. Was that selfish? Yes, it most definitely was because the reason I had followed the duo was for my personal gains by coming in direct contact with them. I cast the Levitation Charm on the club, raised it over the troll's head, and then released the spell. It was a chaotic and dangerous encounter overall, but the club did manage to take out the troll.

Hermione POV

Hermione had watched in horror as the troll advanced toward her, but the unexpected bravery of Harry and Ron left her in awe. They were risking their lives to save her, despite her bossiness and know-it-all attitude. When the club finally knocked out the troll, she realized that this was the moment that solidified their friendship.

"Are you okay?" Harry asked, helping her to her feet.

Hermione nodded, tears of relief streaming down her face. "Thank you. Both of you."

Ron grinned sheepishly. "Sorry about what I said earlier, Hermione. I didn't mean it."

Hermione smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her. "It's okay, Ron. Thank you for saving me."

Alex POV

Just as I was getting ready to introduce myself, because it seemed that Hermione thought the duo had saved her life, which was very upsetting, I saw Professors McGonagall, Snape, and Quirrell had arrived, looking alarmed and furious.

"What on earth are you four doing here?" McGonagall demanded, her eyes blazing with anger.

Before Harry or Ron could answer, I stepped forward. "It was my fault, Professor. I saw the troll and thought I could help. Harry and Ron came to rescue Hermione when they realized she was in danger."

McGonagall's stern expression softened slightly as she looked at the four of us. "That was incredibly foolish and dangerous, Mr. Phillips. But I must commend you for your bravery."

Snape, on the other hand, looked suspicious. "Five points from each of you for not following instructions," he snapped. "And two points to Ravenclaw for not dying of stupidity and one point each for Gryffindor for SHEER. DUMB. LUCK!!!"

I must add Professor Snape looked like he had sucked on a particularly sour lemon when he was awarding points to Gryffindor. Professor McGonagall looked pissed off at Professor Snape.

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In the aftermath of the troll incident, the bond between Harry, Ron, and Hermione grew stronger, and I found myself gradually being accepted into their circle. They were curious about my advanced knowledge of spells, but I was careful not to reveal too much about my source of knowledge and just tried to pass it off as a Ravenclaw tendency to learn.

As the days turned into weeks, the search for Nicolas Flamel finally started; they must have met Hagrid sometime soon after the incident. I helped them with research, using the Room of Requirement and the library to gather information. I also wanted to try to find the stone myself, but knowing the first guardian behind the doors on the third floor was a three-headed dog kept any such decisions at bay. In the meantime, I was also thinking of getting those three introduced to the study group. I knew Hermione would love it, and personally splitting time with the group, my own training, and the trio was starting to become a burden. Introducing them to the group would at least ensure that anything outside of extremely sensitive things would get taken care of there, and with more people, the group would also get more practice of spells done.

Also, considering how good of a teacher Harry turned out to be for the DA in the fifth year, I could make him take the lead for those sessions, which should free up some time for me.

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The lead-up to Christmas was nothing special, although we redoubled our efforts for searching Flamel, and I finally introduced the trio to the study group. It was not a comfortable meeting, mainly because my friends in Ravenclaw had thought that this group was exclusively for Ravenclaw students, and also I had not informed them prior about this decision. Thankfully, Lisa made the leap of faith and introduced herself, and in return, everyone else did as well. Hermione, Padma, and Lisa hit it off very quickly for their shared love for absolutely inhaling knowledge. The boys, though, were still slightly awkward. I guessed it would vanish in a couple of sessions as we interacted more. I was cornered by Anthony later, who told me to inform them beforehand before doing something like this again, and I agreed to that. It's not like anyone else was on my radar anyway.

So, when Christmas did come around the corner, it felt great. The Great Hall was decorated with twelve towering Christmas trees, twinkling with fairy lights and sparkling ornaments. Snow fell gently outside, creating a picturesque winter wonderland. The atmosphere was festive, yet our minds were occupied with the task at hand.

One evening, as we were huddled in the library, Harry spoke up. "I think we need to find out more about Nicolas Flamel. He's the key to understanding what the Philosopher's Stone is and why it's so important."

Hermione nodded. "I've been looking through the library, but I haven't found anything yet. We need to dig deeper."

"I have a few ideas," I said, glancing at the others. "There's a book in the restricted section that might have the answers we need. But we'll need a way to get it without getting caught."

Ron looked intrigued. "How do you know about this book?"

I hesitated, then decided to be honest. "I've been doing some research of my own. There's a lot about this school that we don't know."

Hermione's eyes widened. "You mean you've been sneaking into the restricted section?"

"Not exactly," I replied. "I've found other ways to get information. But we'll need to be careful. The teachers are keeping a close eye on us after the troll incident."

Harry looked determined. "We'll figure it out. We have to. For now, let's focus on enjoying Christmas." We had left quickly after that, everyone wanting the warmth of the fireplace of their common rooms.

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As the Christmas holidays finally approached and I got ready to take the train back home, I found myself reflecting on the past few months. My magical abilities had grown significantly, thanks to the Room of Requirement and the support of my friends. I had mastered new spells, delved into advanced magical theories, and even started practicing dueling techniques. My confidence was growing, and I felt more prepared for the challenges ahead.

One afternoon, as I was practicing a particularly difficult charm in the Room of Requirement, I felt a sense of accomplishment wash over me when I successfully cast it the first time. The room had become more than just a place to study; it was a symbol of my dedication and determination. I was going to miss this, no matter how short the duration would be.

I also finally understood why Harry thought of Hogwarts as his home. Once you get used to its quirks, it's very difficult to stay away. It almost feels like some higher form of magic that has ensnared you, but all in all, it's just the Hogwarts charm. When I do come back, though, I need to think about the future. Until now, everything has gone as per the Harry Potter universe, but my interaction with the trio must have been the first butterfly effect here. I need to closely watch how long the canon continues, as all my foreknowledge is only applicable until that point. After that, as we say in chess, it's a completely new game.