Harry found that there were, in fact, many things to do at Hogwarts when he was a student with friends. Between homework, getting in trouble with Ron, classes, and spending time brewing with Severus, Harry discovered that the time really flew, and before he knew it, November had arrived with a flurry of cold and Quidditch. Harry, sadly, had not made the team this year, but was determined to make it next year. For now, however, he was happy just watching the team practices and anticipating the game.
As the school trekked down to the pitch, Harry noticed that Uncle Q wasn't going down with them. In fact, Harry distinctly saw him head back into the castle. Shrugging it off as he had extra work to do, Harry pushed it out of his mind.
He soon realized he shouldn't have.
Just a few moments after the Quidditch game started, Quirrell sprinted onto the field.
"TROLL IN THE CASTLE!!!" he shouted, before falling in a dead faint.
The pitch was quiet for about a millisecond. Then someone screamed.
Everyone was panicking, running, yelling, screaming. Harry seized Ron, Hermione's, and Draco's robes so they wouldn't get separated.
"SILENCE!" Dumbledore's voice had been magically magnified so that it boomed out over the entire pitch, louder than anything. The pitch fell silent.
"Everyone is to wait out here. Players, land and do not leave the ground. Teachers, follow me into the castle to deal with the troll."
"There is no way I'm waiting out here for the teachers to sort this out." Harry said. "Come on."
"Typical Harry." Draco sighed.
The group of four hurried down the stands and towards the castle.
"Did any of the rest of you notice that Quirrel wasn't at the game?" Draco asked.
"Yeah, I did." Harry replied. "I didn't think much of it at the time, but why wasn't he? And the fact that he just happened to be in the same place the troll was... well, it doesn't make sense."
"Unless he let the troll in." Draco pointed out.
"Professor Quirrell would faint at the sight of a troll." Hermione said. "There's no way he let it in."
"But then how did he get down to the pitch?" Harry asked. "If he saw the troll, he would've fainted. We wouldn't know about the troll."
"Come on, Harry." Hermione scoffed. "You've known him your entire life. Would he do that?"
"I don't know." Harry frowned. "He wouldn't before he left to travel the world, but since he got back, he's been... different. He treats the students different. He treats me especially different. He took points off me for calling him Uncle Q, and that's what I've called him since I was three. He didn't use to care, but now... he's just different."
"You mustn't think like that, Harry!" Hermione said shrilly. "He is a Hogwarts teacher! We have to trust him!"
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I apologize to all you readers... I couldn't decide on a way to do the troll, so I am just having it play out however you would like in your own head.
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As Harry headed back down to the Quidditch Pitch, Quirrell stopped him.
"M-may I h-have a w-word, Mr. P-P-Potter?" he asked.
"Uh, sure." Harry said. "I'll either meet you at the pitch or in Gryffindor Tower." he said to Ron, Hermione, and Draco, before turning to follow Quirrell.
"What is it, Un- I mean, uh, Professor?" Harry asked.
"We are going to the forest." Quirrell responded.
"Students aren't allowed in the forest." Harry said nervously.
"I am sure Dumbledore will make an exception." Quirrell replied.
"Um, I'll have to ask Dad..." Harry started backing away.
"Your father will soon have nothing to worry about." Quirrell grabbed Harry's arm, pulling him towards the trees. As he did so, Harry's sleeve slipped, causing Quirrell to have to get a better grip on bare skin. Immediately, he yanked his hand back, shouting in pain. His fingers were blistered and red.
Harry screamed, then turned and ran away.
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