The Harrowing Halloween Part 3

"What on Earth were you thinking of?" Professor McGonagall's lecture greets me as consciousness finally comes back into my grasp. Still a bit groggy, my eyelids stay heavy as I struggle to look around.

I snap to attention after realizing I can't move. My body sits flat in the air as I'm lucky to be able to move my head to see my surroundings. Weasley and Potter stood at the far end of the bathroom, Hermione still in the shadows behind them. With McGonagall in front of them, ready for their reply, Snape examining the troll that's now sprawled out on the floor, and Quirrell sitting in one of the doorless stalls clutching his heart.

"You're lucky you didn't end up like Miss Ollivander over there, or worse! Why aren't you in your dormitory?" Her cold fury could be understood from even my foggy mind.

"Please, Professor McGonagall - They were looking for me."

"Miss Granger!" Professor McGonagall gasped as Hermione came to her feet and left the shadows.

"I went looking for the troll because I-I thought I could deal with it on my own -you know, because I've read about them," Hermione explains as my impaired mind tries to decipher her words. That isn't right, why is she lying? "If they hadn't found me, I'd be dead now. 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."

Snape continued to pierce Potter with his gaze as the two boys did a semi-convincing job of acting as if the story wasn't new to them.

"How can you explain Ollivander's presence, Granger?" Snape spits out as he waves his wand and I float to him. Taking his focus off the conversation, green light begins pouring out of his wand as he waves it over my body. The pain of my injuries starts to soften as the healing magic works weaker than it should. Most of the magic wastes itself by going to my unhealable scars and filling the void in my soul, bracelets now fully broken.

"I-I. She-" Hermione starts to stammer as Potter cuts her off; a cool nasty glare shot at me.

"When we got here she looked like she was with the troll! She was casting a spell before I knocked her out," Words cannot express my confusion over Potter's false narrative as I'm forced to sit there; unable to defend myself.

"You did what!" Professor McGonagall demanded.

"No, Professor McGonagall, you don't understand! Ollivander must have been the one to let the troll in! She was even about to use a Curse on Hermione!" Ron chimed in. I was about to use it on the troll! I wouldn't have tried to use it if it wasn't my only option!

"Not just any curse," a timid voice intrudes on the conversation.

"What?" Professor McGonagall hesitated as all eyes turned to Quirrell; who was no longer cowering in a stall.

Extending my wand that he picked up off the ground to them, a slight smirk snaps across his face and leaves as quickly as it came, "I tested the wand. It was the Killing Curse," His words created a deafening silence at the shock of it. The chill of the room is akin to a student saying Voldemort's name in class.

"Well - in any case…" Quirrell's reveal knocked Professor McGonagall off-balance, "Miss Granger, five points will be taken from Gryffindor for foolishly challenging a mountain troll. 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."

Bowing her head in shame, Hermione carefully steps over the troll and passes me on her way out of the bathroom; giving me a dirty look as she passes.

"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 ten points. Professor Dumbledore will be informed of this. You may go."

"Wait a moment," Snape leaves my side as he stops them from leaving, "Potter, you lose Gryffindor ten points for attacking a student without cause."

"But she was attacking Hermione!" Potter criticized

"No. From your point of view, Miss Ollivander was behind the troll and was casting a spell. By your story, Hermione would have been behind the troll and unable to be hit by the spell. Even if she could have hit her, you had no clue what spell she was casting and if it could have caused her lasting harm," is-is Snape defending me? Professor McGonagall struggled to find a fault in his reasoning as Weasley and Potter fumed.

"But she still tried to use an Unforgivable Curse!" Ron complained until Snape's glare fell upon him, shutting him up.

"And she will be investigated and dealt with. Now, you may go," Professor McGonagall chimes in, trying to seem like a united front with Snape and sending them off.

"I can't believe this! A mere child tried to cast an Unforgivable," Professor McGonagall went on after the two left.

"Was about to," Snape corrected her as examined my wand after taking it from Quirrell.

"What?" Professor McGonagall asked, moving to Snape to also look at the wand. Confused, I tune myself to Mana and look at the wand again. Dark red, almost black, Mana coated the wand as if it was dipped in slime.

"She would have successfully cast the Killing Curse if Potter hadn't intervened."

***

Cold damp wind weaved down the dark valley and gushed past the marble gazebo. Although the rain poured heavily today, the gazebo stayed dry and the grass only smelled as if they were coated with morning dew. Deep white moonlight illuminated the hills as I looked out to the lake and the Forbidden Forest.

I pushed myself to stay at Hogwarts only to be expelled a month later! Or worse, if they find me guilty of casting the Killing Curse I'll be sentenced to Azkaban. Forget Dementors, I don't think I'd last in there with her.

"Always great to take a midnight stroll after a nasty rain," Dumbledore cheers as he takes the seat next to me. His humor would have caused me to laugh if it wasn't for the broken rib that was wrapped a short bit ago. I don't respond, not letting him have the satisfaction of gloating.

"No need to explain what truly happened. I've figured it out by now," his attempt at comforting words only serves to confuse me, "You didn't come to me today for a refill of your Mana beads."

*I found a more trustworthy way of refilling them,* I spit back as he lets out a sigh.

"I Do suppose you deserve an explanation of that artifact. Snape swears Professor Quirrell, or someone else, is after an artifact being housed at Hogwarts. That hallway was guarded by layers of protection before that night. I agreed to lower the protections and inform the staff I was doing so as a way to flush out the one after the artifact."

*Why would I be after an artifact when I only know a vague amount about it?* I ask him directly after his explanation.

A chuckle from Dumbledore greeted my words, "That trap was for the one after the artifact and you just happened to walk in on the hall before they came. I decided to keep it going because I was intrigued. I let my curiosity take the better of me and apologize for doing so."

Wasn't I the same when exploring that hall? What right do I have for being angry at him when I made the same mistake? Have I just been mistaking his wisdom for malice this entire time? Is it wrong of me that I still don't completely trust him?

*I overreacted as well.* The silence that followed made the air seem damp and claustrophobic, *What should I do about Hermione? How can I heal our relationship when she thinks I tried to kill her? Would it be better if I didn't?* I ask in desperation.

"For a strong bridge to be built, both sides need to understand the other; their elevation, how popular it will be, and so on. Even then you can't know how strong a bridge is until it's tested. If it doesn't stay strong, you can try to rebuild it, but a collapsed bridge can't be repaired from only one side. Be careful though, even a strong, unstable, bridge can be repaired. Try not to stay out for long, Minerva would be quite furious if she found out," with a sly wink, he leaves.

Those vague words of wisdom must be Dumbledore's specialty. Knowing the effort it will take for my bruised brain to decipher his analogy, I put it aside and let myself bask in the scenery. Even if it can be quite strenuous, opening my ears, eyes, and myself to Mana can be quite relaxing. Sensing the dark blue, yellow, and hints of faded red Mana approaching, I get up and begin a walk around the grounds.

"I wouldn't go that way if I was you. Hate for you to get killed by the Whomping Willow after managing to survive a mountain troll," Snape snide tone is unmistakable.

It was childish of me to try and run away anyway. I turn to write my response but Snape cuts it off, "Dumbledore's already explained your side of the story to us but there will be an investigation and a hearing."

'Take away my special treatment, throw me to the wolves, I'll even give back the Silver Shield, but please don't expel me, take away my wand, or send me to Azkaban. I just wanted to learn, grow stronger so I can protect others, and become able to use this monstrous existence to help people.'

"I'll help you with creating the potion."