Chapter - 017 Seeing the troll standing still, while Harry was hanging upside down the three professors panicked. Professor McGonagall was about to cast a spell when Alex interrupted. "Professor, it's petrified". Only after hearing that the three teachers noticed that the troll was not moving at all. Snape looked around a saw the club the troll might be holding stabbed on the wall behind them. "What on earth were you thinking of?" said Professor McGonagall, with cold fury in her voice. Harry, who was still upside down, wished that someone might help him get down. "You're lucky you weren't killed. Why aren't you in your dormitory?" "And you, Mr Ashbridge I never expected this from you". Professor McGonagall didn't forget to express her disappointment in Alex. Snape gave Harry a swift, piercing look. Then a small voice came out of the shadows. "Please, Professor McGonagall — they were looking for me." "Miss Granger!" Hermione, who was behind Alex all this time, came in front. "I went looking for the troll because I — I thought I could deal with it on my own — you know because I've read all about them," she said. Ron dropped his wand. Hermione Granger, telling a downright lie to a teacher? "If they hadn't found me, I'd be dead now. Harry stuck his wand up its nose and Ron distracted it, and Alex unarmed it before petrifying. They didn't have time to come and fetch anyone. It was about to finish me off when they arrived." Hermione continued. She helped Harry, Ron and Alex get out of the trouble. Ron tried to look as though this story wasn't new to him. "Well — in that case . . ." said Professor McGonagall, staring at the three of them, "Miss Granger, you foolish girl, how could you think of tackling a mountain troll on your own?" Hermione hung her head. Alex was confused, what was the need to lie. Everyone here knows that Hermione was the last person to do anything against the rules, and here she was, pretending. "Miss Granger, ten points will be taken from Gryffindor for this," said Professor McGonagall. "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." Hermione left. Professor McGonagall turned to Alex and Ron. But seeing Harry still upside down she was a bit startled. "Ahh... Sorry, Mr Potter let me help you". With a snap of her fingers, Harry was back on his feet. Though he felt a bit dizzy. "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." Professor McGonagall said to Harry and Ron. Both of them hurried out of the bathroom. Professor McGonagall saw them leaving. Now only she saw Nicole standing by the gate. Now it was something difficult for her to handle. "Miss Ashbridge, what are you doing here?" she asked. "Relax professor, I was not part of this. I am just a spectator". Nicole replied. She didn't seem to be in the mood to argue with her. "So you may go now". "Yes," Nicole gave one last glance to her brother and left. Alex felt something was different about his sister. She looked a bit troubled. Professor McGonagall was also astonished, it was the first time she handled Nicole so smoothly. Turning towards Alex, Professor McGonagall first looked at him for a while. "Mr Ashbridge though I can neither punish you nor reward you, I would say, it's not like you to break the rules". "Professor..." Alex tried to explain. "But the use of magic you have displayed is outstanding". Professor McGonagall continued while looking at the troll. She was pleasantly surprised. "Minerva, if I may". Snape interrupted. "Sure go ahead". Since he was the head of Alex's house, it was only right for him to handle the matter. "Ashbridge, care to explain why these are floating around, and I don't think we have stools in our bathrooms". Snape asked while pointing towards the food and stools. Alex explained everything, being as brief as possible. He told the truth, why bother lying, it was not like anyone did anything wrong. It was their affair, that they fought, and Hermione chose to be in the bathroom. Professor McGonagall looked at the stools and. "Finite" the stools turned back to two turkey legs. Professor McGonagall was astonished. A perfect transfiguration. "Five points to Alexender Ashbridge for a perfect transfiguration". Professor McGonagall said unable to hide a rare smile on her face.

"Ashbridge come with me". Snape left with Alex, leaving Professor McGonagall and Professor Quirrell, who was still squatting on the ground to deal with the troll. Though Professor McGonagall didn't want Alex to leave, yet she could not stop Snape from taking someone of his own house. "Hey what do you think Ashbridge was doing there?" Ron asked Harry after they reached their room. "I don't know". Harry replied. "But man he sure is strong". Ron complimented. Harry looked at Ron displeased. The sour seeds of rivalry have been planted. Hermione was sitting by the window when Nicole entered the room. She was smiling ear to ear despite losing points, it was not like her. Nicole saw Hermione smiling and don't know why, but felt sour in her chest. She approached her and stood beside her. "You look happy for someone who just got into trouble". Nicole said. "Ahh... It's nothing like that". As if caught doing something indecent, Hermione got scared by the sudden utterance. But after she saw Nicole, she felt relieved. "Don't you have anything to say to me?" Nicole said, ignoring the barrage of emotions on Hermione's face. "Like what?" Hermione asked. "I don't like to beat around the bush. What was my brother doing there?" Nicole came straight to the point. Ever since she saw her brother and Hermione in the bathroom, she has been feeling something she never felt. She felt a bit of anger towards her brother, a little towards Hermione and many more emotions. "H...He... brought food for me". Hermione felt nervous, more nervous than any she ever felt for any exam. "Why?" "He said it was his way of showing gratitude". Hermione remembered the words of Alex. "Gratitude for?" "For being your good friend". Hermione replied and continued, "Being your friend certainly has its perks". "Are you telling the truth?" Nicole asked. "Of course. But why do you sound jealous?" Hermione asked. "I am not, it's just that I found it odd for my brother to be alone with a girl". Nicole justified, but inside she found it rather strange for her to be angry. "Well, you don't need to be jealous. Your brother certainly loves you the most". Hermione said. "How do you know?" And then Hermione recounted what happened in the bathroom. Snape and Alex were walking down a corridor. "Looks like you are enjoying your time in Hogwarts". Snape said, pointing towards the little date he had with Hermione. "Yes, if you remove the learning part, it's better than I expected". Not getting the subtle meaning behind Snape's words, Alex replied. "You seem to care about that girl Hermione". Snape tried a direct approach. "It's all in the end for Nicole". Alex replied. "Last time you said you are going to be strict with Nicole, and now you sound just the opposite". Snape said while pointing out Alex's double whammy behaviour. "I heard this in the past somewhere that 'The boys are to beaten and girls are to be adored' ". Alex said. "So?" "I can be occasionally harsh on her, but in the end, she has to be adored". Alex said. "Well, she is your sister, you can do whatever you want. Now since I know you can defeat a troll easily I don't feel good rewarding you points. But since I have to, I award you five points". Snape felt defeated by this sis-con brother. He could only talk about something else. "Yes professor". "You can go now". Snape gestured him to go. When Alex returned to the Slytherin common room, it was already past midnight. The common room was empty except for Daphne, who was sleeping on one of the armchairs. Alex walked up to her, and shook her awake. "Ummm... you are back". Daphne said while rubbing her eyes. "Why are you sleeping here?" Alex asked confused. No books were lying around so she didn't fell asleep while reading. "I was waiting for you. I didn't see you return, so I was a bit worried". Daphne said. Alex stared at her amazed, and along with that, he felt a tingling sensation in his heart. It was hard for him to explain that, but he did feel it. "Now that you are back, I should get going. We will talk tomorrow". Not waiting for Alex to reply, she left. While Alex could only stand there, staring in the direction Daphne left. * * *