Chapter 10: Halloween Havoc

Harry, after heated arguments with Zabini, often felt he was too stubborn, pushing back too hard against Zabini's cruelty and Draco's indifference to bullying. Despite insults—hero-wannabe, show-off—Harry doubted friendship was possible. Azrael mediated, suggesting, "Make shared rules. Zabini doesn't want to seem soft on Gryffindors; Harry hates bullying. Rules can balance both."

Zabini proposed consulting Slytherins first if Gryffindors act up, emphasizing house loyalty. "Kindness won't earn gratitude from other houses—just exploitation," he warned, genuinely concerned for Harry.

Harry's first real fights came in Slytherin's communal life, unlike his powerless days with Dudley. Persisting that he wanted to befriend everyone, Harry wore Zabini down. "You're a stonehead, Harry," Zabini conceded.

Harry felt he understood Zabini—crass but loyal. "First time I've talked so much with friends," Harry said.

"No way. How friendless were you?" Zabini teased.

Harry doubled down on studies to honor his Slytherin bonds but struggled to earn points in joint Gryffindor-Slytherin classes, except flying.

"Why don't you speak up, Draco? You're smarter than me," Harry asked after Transfiguration. Draco's attitude was hardly diligent.

"It's my job to give others a chance," Draco said loftily.

Harry began respecting individual approaches, as long as they didn't harm others, but saw some stumble in relationships. Eloise Midgeon, a pimple-plagued Hufflepuff, obsessed over her acne. Harry gave her a potion from Snape's class to clear it.

"Harry, no taste. Pick a prettier girl," Zabini scoffed.

Ignoring Zabini's harsh judgment, Harry finished his Potions report. "I'm tired of being judged for scars. If a potion helps, isn't that best?"

"That's not what he meant…" Farkas sighed. Unlike Zabini, Draco, or Azrael's polished English, Farkas' working-class accent made Harry feel at ease.

By October, Harry still couldn't score in joint classes, thanks to Hermione Granger, a prodigy whose precision left little room for others. Teachers had to assign questions to spread points. Slytherin girls mocked her studiousness; Gryffindor girls resented her domineering air. Hermione was isolated.

In the corridor, Harry overheard Ron: "She's a nightmare. No wonder she's friendless."

A disheveled, chestnut-haired girl—Hermione—ran off, clearly distraught. Ron and a Gryffindor boy exchanged awkward glances.

"Look, Gryffindors only show courage to gang up. Their lion symbol—females do the work, right, Potter? Very lion-like, or rather, Weas—" Draco sneered.

"Leave it, Draco," Harry interrupted, dragging him to class. He couldn't openly intervene in Ron and Hermione's issue, unsure how.

That night, Harry confided in his roommates—Zabini, Azrael, Farkas—about helping Ron and Hermione reconcile discreetly.

"Let it be. Without her, we'd score more," Zabini said, flipping through a Quidditch magazine.

"I'm against it," Azrael added gently. "It's another house's issue, not bullying—just teasing. You won't survive Hogwarts fussing over that."

"The cause isn't clear. Meddling risks Gryffindor backlash," Farkas noted.

"True…" Harry admitted. Unlike with Midgeon, the issue was murky.

"Bully Granger. They'll defend her," Zabini suggested, tossing his magazine to Farkas.

Harry glared, unamused. "Were you listening?"

"Gross…" Azrael muttered.

"Handsome mask off, huh?" Farkas added.

Zabini snorted. "You're all like me."

Harry recalled Draco's pure-blood supremacy, excluding Muggle-borns like Hermione. His roommates implicitly avoided her. They hadn't bullied Muggle-borns but overheard seniors' vile remarks in the common room, exchanging glances—like Harry did. Slytherin accepted such students; they were seniors, housemates.

Harry saw his roommates as near-brothers, his first real companions. If they weren't on board, he'd act alone. Farkas and Azrael averted their eyes from Zabini. Harry still wanted to help Ron and apologize for Scabbers.

Professor McGonagall's response was cold when Harry consulted her. "Potter, I'm pleased you treat all students with respect, but Hogwarts tradition expects students to resolve conflicts themselves. That's how you learn."

This wasn't negligence—McGonagall was fair, sometimes aiding students subtly. But Harry found no solution. Imagining scaring the Dursleys in Halloween costumes, he joined most of Hogwarts, including Zabini's group and Draco, in the Great Hall, sharing candy with Farkas.

The doors burst open. Quirrell, often mocked by Slytherins, gasped, "Troll… in the dungeon!"

Chaos erupted. As prefects calmed students, Harry saw Ron and others rush from Gryffindor's table. Approaching a frightened Neville, Harry learned Ron went to save Hermione.

"Zabini! Ron's in danger! Help—" Harry urged.

Zabini froze. Like many Slytherins, he'd scoffed at Sirius Black's heroics but secretly admired him. He saw himself as Harry's guide, poised for glory beside a hero. Yet his feet wouldn't move. Nor would Azrael's or Farkas'.

"Sorry, guys. I might be wrong… but I'm going," Harry said.

Disappointed yet relieved his friends stayed safe, Harry ran alone. Sirius, a larger-than-life figure, made Harry feel guilty for his imprisonment. He couldn't bear his friends suffering like that. (Better I go alone.)

On the third-floor corridor, Harry found Ron outside a girls' bathroom, where Hermione's cries echoed. A troll loomed, unmoving. Ron was luring it away with magic.

"Ron!" Harry called, timing it poorly.

"Harry? Why're you here?" Ron faltered, interrupting his spell.

The troll, ignoring Hermione's cries, stood between the bathroom and Ron. Her voice rang out, "Why did I choose Gryffindor? Ravenclaw would've been better! The Hat suggested it!"

Harry sensed something off—her voice amplified, possibly by Sonorus. A Slytherin girl's prank, perhaps, but the timing felt orchestrated, like someone led the troll here.

Another voice answered Hermione, chilling Harry: "Ravenclaw wouldn't save you from bullying. Nor Hufflepuff or Slytherin. Humans bully to survive… I was Ravenclaw! No friends, no support, only the toilet for peace…"

Hermione wailed, "Lavender and everyone say I'm not Gryffindor enough! I have to be bold, cheerful!"

Harry's heart ached. He knew her pain—Zabini and Draco called him un-Slytherin, despite his pride in his house. Expecting Gryffindors to overperform, fueled by Sirius' heroism and Pettigrew's shame, stirred Harry's guilt.

He and Ron missed their chance to redirect the troll, which now stood still. Waiting for teachers seemed wiser, but the troll roared, ignoring Ron's ineffective spell. It smashed the reinforced bathroom door with its club.

Terrified but determined, Harry and Ron charged the troll.