Classes continued, and every day was full—either from studying with Professor Quirrell or helping Pansy with anything I knew. It didn't matter what the subject was, from spells to history. Before I knew it, nearly two months had passed, and today was Halloween.
"After everything we're learning, classes almost seem obsolete," Pansy murmured, twirling her feather through the air with practiced ease.
Draco smirked, though his own feather wobbled slightly before regaining its levitation.
Over the past weeks, Draco had discovered Pansy and me studying together and asked to join us. Pansy had been reluctant to share her time, but she agreed—under the condition that he came alone. No Crabbe or Goyle. "Those blundering fools would only slow us down," she had insisted. Neither Draco nor I had argued. Both Crabbe and Goyle lacked the ambition to truly excel; they wanted superiority without effort. At least Pansy and Draco were willing to work for it.
"It only proves that we're in a league of our own," Draco said smugly.
However, our confidence faltered when another feather floated effortlessly across the room—one controlled by the girl with the untamable hair.
"Very well done, Miss Granger!" Professor Flitwick praised with a delighted squeak.
Hermione smirked at the three of us, clearly pleased that she could match our skill—despite being a Mudblood.
Draco clenched his jaw and attempted to force more magic into his feather.
"Don't push too hard," I whispered. "Ease up, or you'll damage your wand."
His grip tightened in frustration, but he reluctantly followed my advice—though not by much. I sighed internally.
After class, Hermione stayed behind to help Professor Flitwick collect the feathers before hurrying to join Ron and Harry.
"It's Leviosa, not Leviosah!" Ron mimicked in an exaggerated voice.
"She's a nightmare. No wonder she doesn't have any friends."
Harry and the other boys laughed at her expense.
Hermione froze, her triumphant smile vanishing in an instant. The sting of Ron's words cut deeper than she expected. Her throat tightened, and she blinked rapidly to fight back the sudden flood of tears. Without a word, she spun on her heel and rushed out of the classroom, pushing past students with her head down to avoid their stares.
She didn't stop running until she collided with someone, knocking them to the floor.
"I—I'm so sorry!" Hermione stammered, quickly reaching out to help the girl back up.
To her surprise, she recognized the silver-haired Hufflepuff.
"Hermione?" Chiara looked at her with confusion and concern. "What happened?"
Hermione bit her lip. The words She's a nightmare. No wonder she doesn't have any friends echoed in her mind. She turned away, blinking hard.
"I—I have to go."
Before Chiara could say anything, Hermione darted toward the nearest girls' bathroom and locked herself in a stall, where she finally let the tears fall.
The Great Hall – Halloween Feast
The moment we entered the Great Hall, our attention was stolen by the grand feast laid out before us. Floating jack-o'-lanterns hovered above the tables, their carved faces flickering with candlelight. Thunder rumbled outside, rattling the windows as lightning flashed.
None of it mattered.
All eyes were fixed on the long tables overflowing with food—golden roast meats, sugared apples, steaming pumpkin pasties, and towering cakes topped with whipped cream.
Draco practically vibrated in his seat as he listed off the sweets. "Apple pie, pumpkin pie, treacle tarts—oh, and they have Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans!"
Pansy wrinkled her nose. "Those things are disgusting. Who wants to eat troll earwax?"
I shuddered. "Agreed. The other desserts sound great, but I'll pass on the Botts."
Draco sighed. "It's no fun if no one else plays along. What's the point of eating gross flavors alone?"
Pansy and I chuckled.
To my surprise, I had found people I could almost call friends in Slytherin. As long as we avoided conversations about blood purity, they were actually decent company.
From within my collar, Val hissed excitedly. "Ooooh! I wanna try everything! What do all these flavors taste like!?"
I covered my mouth as I whispered back, "I'll share some of my food, but Botts are off-limits."
"Aww…" Val sulked.
I ignored his disappointment as I reached for a jelly-filled pastry.
"Mmm! This is yummy! I like the jelly ones best!" Val chirped, happily devouring the tiny piece I had slipped him.
Pansy smirked and discreetly passed him another treat, laughing softly when he licked her fingers in thanks.
Over time, she had grown more comfortable with Val—even treating him as a pet of her own.
"I'm heading out early," I announced, stacking a few last confections onto my plate.
"Alright."
"See you later."
Neither of them questioned it. I often left the Great Hall early, and by now, they had come to accept it as one of my quirks.
"I think she'll like the jelly-filled ones best!" Val said, his tail twitching beneath my robes.
I smirked. We'll see.
As I walked toward the courtyard, I readied my wand, preparing to shield myself from the rain. But before I could step outside, a shriek pierced the air.
A second later, the ground trembled beneath me.
Then—
A deafening ROAR thundered from down the hall.
I froze. My breath caught in my throat.
"That was—!"
Without another thought, I sprinted toward the noise.
The Girls' Bathroom
Hermione sat curled in the stall, no longer bothering to stifle her sobs. Now that the other girls had left for the feast, she could cry freely without fear of judgment.
A quiet set of footsteps echoed through the empty bathroom.
Then they stopped—right outside her stall.
"…Hermione?"
The voice was soft.
Hermione sniffled and wiped her eyes. "Shouldn't you be with your friends?" she asked, trying to sound normal.
A long silence. Then—
"I… don't really have any other friends."
Chiara's voice was hesitant, as if she was embarrassed to admit it.
Hermione's breath hitched.
"Am… Am I your friend?" she whispered, staring at the small shoes beneath the stall door.
"I thought so…"
Chiara's response was quiet but sincere.
Hermione slowly reached out and unlatched the door.
Chiara stood there, nervously fidgeting with her fingers. Then, hesitantly, she stepped forward and pulled Hermione into a hug.
Hermione clung to her. "Thank you…"
Then—
A shadow fell over them.
Something massive loomed at the entrance.
Hermione looked up—tears still blurring her vision—and felt her stomach drop.
A towering troll, easily ten feet tall, stood in the doorway.
Its beady eyes locked onto them.
With a guttural growl, it raised its enormous club—
And swung.