HPS 119

Chapter 119: Crisis

"She wouldn't even tell you guys, no wonder..." Ron said to the girls as they struggled to push their way through the crowded corridor.

"If you lived with her, you'd know, she's like a nightmare," a blonde Gryffindor girl said angrily.

Just then, someone bumped into Harry and hurried past them. It was Hermione. Harry caught a glimpse of her face, he was surprised to see she was crying.

"I think she heard what you said," Harry felt awful ever since those girls had said such mean things. Even Ron was a bit stunned this time.

"So what?" the girls said, though they did show a hint of unease, "I think she must have noticed that she hasn't got a single friend!"

Halloween was certainly quite interesting, especially now that he knew Ron and the others were unlikely to clash with Hermione.

Sean entered the Great Hall and saw the colourful Halloween decorations, a thousand bats flapped their wings against the walls and ceiling, and another thousand, like low-hanging dark clouds, fluttered above the tables, causing the flames of the candles inside the pumpkin lanterns to flicker. Golden plates were first served with a lot of desserts, just like at the start-of-term feast.

Sean sat at the less-crowded Ravenclaw long table, waiting for Hermione, Justin, and Neville. He saw Professor Quirrell leaving the Hall just then, trembling and walking quickly, as if he were rushing off to deal with homework or something. He often forgot things and left in a hurry like this. On the High Table, Professor Snape was watching his departure coldly.

Of course, there was another pair of eyes watching from beneath the High Table.

Neville was already seated. Sean knew Justin was busy in the kitchens, but where was Hermione? Sean scanned the long table, he was certain Hermione wasn't in the Great Hall.

Just then, a group of ghosts was emerging from beneath the Hall, passing right through. They were discussing the delicious lunch, which included maggots, rotten fish, burnt cakes, and moldy cheese. In the wizarding world, when people die they might become ghosts, and ghosts lose many of the pleasures of the living, like eating, but if food is in an extreme state of decomposition, when living people would be fainting from the stench, ghosts can taste these things. Therefore, there was often a ghost party beneath the floor of the Hogwarts Great Hall.

Following these passing ghosts were two people Sean hadn't expected.

"Sean, we came to find you because..." Ron hurried over, but trailed off halfway, unsure how to continue.

"Hermione is very upset because when Ron asked those Gryffindor girls for notes, they said a lot of awful things," Harry spoke every word clearly, without distorting the facts.

"We're sorry, we've been looking for her, and finally found out that Hermione is quite close with Parvati Patil, but..."

"Parvati Patil kept ignoring us and wouldn't tell us where Hermione went."

"I see." Sean nodded, "This has nothing to do with you, Harry, or you, Ron, thank you for telling me this news, I'll go and find her."

Harry and Ron, who had been feeling slightly apprehensive, let out a big sigh of relief after hearing Sean's words. Especially when Sean said he would handle it, Harry and Ron's worries instantly vanished, as if Hermione had already appeared in the Great Hall the moment Sean finished speaking.

But perhaps only Sean knew that things wouldn't be that simple. Whether due to a peculiar form of fate correction or some other reason, Hermione still didn't come to the feast. What worried Sean even more was, 'If Hermione isn't in the usual bathroom, but chose another corner or somewhere else, where will the course of events deviate to?'

Finding Parvati Patil became Sean's only idea.

Sean walked swiftly towards the Gryffindor long table, easily finding a surprised Parvati Patil.

"Excuse me, but I'd like to ask..." Before Sean could finish, Patil gasped and covered her mouth, causing the small circle of young wizards around her to look over.

"Of course, I know what you want to ask... Mr. Green, Hermione is in the girls' bathroom, crying miserably... and she won't let anyone comfort her." Parvati Patil heavily emphasized the word "anyone."

"Could you tell me exactly where that is?" Sean breathed a slight sigh of relief, his tone gentle yet firm.

"I'd be happy to, it's the bathroom on the fourth floor." Parvati Patil was very enthusiastic.

Neville on the side wanted to go with him, but Sean kept him in place with just one sentence. "If both of us go, then who will tell Justin, who will be searching everywhere later?"

Just like that, Sean left the Great Hall alone.

Neville was still standing there, at a loss, until...

Professor Quirrell suddenly burst into the Hall, his large turban askew on his head, his face filled with terror. Everyone stared at him as he walked to Professor Dumbledore's chair, leaned against the table, and gasped, "Troll—in the dungeons—thought you ought to know."

With that, he collapsed onto the floor and fainted. The Great Hall instantly erupted into chaos.

Professor Dumbledore had to make a few loud purple fireworks shoot from the tip of his wand before everyone quieted down.

"Prefects," he said in a low voice, "lead your house students back to the dormitories at once!"

Neville was terrified. The feast hadn't even been going on for very long, and Justin had just returned from the back kitchen when he heard this shocking news.

"A Troll... Merlin, they say Trolls are usually twelve feet tall and weigh a ton! Neville, we need to leave quickly! Oh right, where are Sean and Hermione?" Justin remained somewhat orderly amidst the panic.

"Hermione, she's on the fourth floor... Sean, he went to find her..." Neville's voice grew softer and softer, but his eyes were turning redder, "I... I'm not going..." His body was trembling, yet it couldn't hide the resolution that radiated from him.

"...Then what are we waiting for?" Justin didn't hesitate for a second. Neville was startled, he looked at the equally trembling Justin. The same flame burned in both their gazes.

At the edge of the Gryffindor long table, Percy was yelling, "Follow me! Don't get separated, First Years! You don't have to be afraid of any Troll if you just follow my instructions! Alright, stick closely behind me. Make way, First Years coming through! Excuse me, I'm a Prefect!"

"Are they crazy?!" Ron's lips were trembling, and in his immense fear, he even tried to make a joke.

"Sean and Hermione... they don't know about the Troll yet," Harry suddenly said too.

"Then let's go." Ron bit his lip, silent for a few seconds, then saw Harry's surprised look. "What, Harry, did you think I was a coward?"