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A Different Halloween / Ch-ch-changes... and a Decidedly Different Halloween / Quidditch is Life
Harry and Ginny gradually become closer, as she opens up to him in her letters. Ron is a little perturbed, especially when Harry confirms that he thinks Ginny is pretty special, but Ron accepts that they're just going to wait and see what the future brings.
Harry's mediation, and his dedication and encouragement in all their studies, results in a much more amiable relationship between Ron and Hermione, ensuring that Ron doesn't upset her on Halloween. However, she instead overhears Draco and Pansy making crude insinuations about her accepting 'favours' in exchange for doing her friends' homework, which results in her tearfully shutting herself in the bathroom anyway. Harry is greatly alarmed by history trying to repeat itself, but Professor Snape doesn't permit them to stay and comfort her, insisting that they return to the Great Hall for the feast. As soon as Professor Quirrell announces the troll's presence, however, Harry immediately leads Ron and Neville back to rescue her — with mixed results, as the troll proves to be resistant to his spells, and the fight leaves Harry delirious with a badly broken arm, though he does succeed in killing the troll.
In the aftermath, Hermione publicly slaps Draco hard enough to knock him over, and begins joining the boys in their daily exercise. She also approaches Harry to cautiously question how he was so prepared for something bad to happen on Halloween, and Harry admits that he is keeping things from her, but that he can't tell her yet.
Professor Quirrell attempts to unseat Harry from his broom during Quidditch, as per canon, but Harry is prepared and dispels the jinx himself, easily winning the match.
Tropes That Appear In This Chapter:
- Armor-Piercing Response: When Snape tries making Harry and Neville look like bad guys after publicly defeating the troll, Harry loses his patience and calls him "Snivellus."Harry: Snivellus, shut your trap.
- In Spite of a Nail: While Harry manages to keep Ron and Hermione's vitriol from escalating, Hermione still ends up upset in the bathroom, leaving her in danger by the troll running loose.
- Mundane Made Awesome: One of the most effective spells used on the Troll is Neville's Tickle Charm.
