The reasons why Su Li now found herself having just faced a troll and was now standing with Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Albus Dumbledore were too numerous and too complex to be explained away so easily.
It began when she was only 5, when her father decided to send her to live with her aunt in China, who trained her in the art of dueling and armed combat, both magical and non-magical. Such a life had been demanding, but certainly one she would have chosen for herself. As her aunt always claimed, fighting was in her blood.
Then just as she was growing used to the idea that this would be her life, even planning to attend a magical school there and hone her skills when her father decided that after the last 6 years of not even bothering to write her or contact her in any way that she was somehow now valuable enough to him to keep her at home and create a marriage contract between her and one Theodore Nott, so that he could finalize a business deal he had made with Nott's father.
She felt it completely unfair, but she knew it would do no good to argue, her aunt had taught her to strike at the right moment, and wait patiently. She also originally figured she might as well give Nott a chance.
Of course, within just 5 minutes of meeting him for the first time, after he insisted that she should be fatter and have wider hips to produce a good sized heir for him, get her breasts magically enlarged later on since Chinese witches were usually rather small in that department, even if he lamented at the high cost it would be, and also cut her hair and leave it no longer than chin length since he liked it that way, she had had enough of him.
When he had gotten to asking why her feet were not bound like a good Chinese girl, she was ready to smack him, regardless of her not being supposed to do anything to him just yet.
Fortunately he had been spared by his father popping in directly afterwards, otherwise he would likely have a permanent red hand print shaped scar on his cheek.
In that time he had basically insulted her in so many ways beginning with the idea that he thought himself entitled to force her to do anything, especially when it came to her body.
She liked her body the way it was, she liked being in shape, her breasts were fine to develop naturally even if they were small; she absolutely would never dream of cutting her hair that short; and she found foot binding a barbaric practice that even her father, as uncaring a parent as could be would never have allowed be done on her.
This was only the beginning of only a few short months of a relationship with Nott that was anything but enjoyable. Fortunately he visited her only seldom and each time she would just nod along to whatever he was saying while imagining sticking her dagger in front of his throat and then start telling how she expected him to behave towards her.
Yet she had so far resisted while she waited for the right time and the time came only a few short hours before when Nott had told her that he would be fighting Harry Potter in a duel and that she was expected to support him at said duel when he won.
After trying to ascertain just how he was so confident he would win, and after he wouldn't tell her, she decided she had to find out for herself.
Whatever Nott had had planned couldn't be good, so she was even more on high alert than usual, keeping both of her daggers stuffed down her robes, as even if they were not needed, their presence helped her feel more secure.
That was when during the feast Professor Snape had come in to inform everyone that there was a troll in the dungeon.
She put two and two together, she wasn't sure how, but the troll was somehow related to Nott and his plan for Harry Potter.
In an effort to protect perhaps her only chance at getting out of her undesirable relationship with Nott, she'd run down to the dungeons as fast as she could to intercept the troll.
Now here she was, a dead troll next to her, and the headmaster in front of her, having just told him her name.
She immediately noticed that Dumbledore recognized who she was, not by her face, but by name, either because he knew her father, or because of her betrothal to Theodore Nott.
"Ms. Li," Dumbledore finally said, "how did you manage to take down this troll?"
He knew that he was probably asking how she had the abilities necessary to take down a troll, but she decided to ignore that and focus on exactly how she had done it.
"Took it out the best I could Professor by stabbing its legs," she replied calmly, "I couldn't let the troll get any closer to Hermione or Harry, and I didn't finish him off, Harry used one of my daggers to stab it through the eye and kill it."
She had to admit that she found Harry killing the troll to be very attractive, even if it was a weird reason to be attracted to someone.
What could she say? She was a rather weird girl who valued a person who could hold their own in a fight.
"Well let me at least look you over for any signs of damage," Dumbledore suggested as he did a diagnostics spell quickly on them.
"You all seem to be fine," he announced afterwards, "Madame Pomfrey might be able to do a better job than I could but I would say that you are all okay, however I would recommend that you each receive a calming draught to help you feel better after this traumatic experience."
"I'm fine," Harry told him, "but Su or Hermione might want one."
"You're absolutely right Harry," Dumbledore agreed, "wouldn't want you being too calmed down before your duel, how about a calming draught for you two ladies and a strong pepper up potion for you, you must be tired after having to scrub floors and fight trolls."
"I should be okay Professor," Harry reassured him.
"I'm afraid I really must insist Harry," Dumbledore responded, "I can't have one of my students put at any unnecessary risk."
Harry nodded, and drank down the proffered potion without objection, along with both Hermione and Su who drank theirs.
"Wow I feel really energized," Harry admitted, "like a million galleons!"
"It might have been a bit strong," Dumbledore answered, "and one of the side effects is that it might make you feel more energized and stronger than you actually are. It's not dangerous however."
Dumbledore seemed to think that that concluded things but Harry had just one last question.
"Professor, I just have one question," Harry asked, "um I'm supposed to be serving detention by cleaning the bathrooms, and now there's a whole dead troll I have to clean up, so would you mind making sure no other trolls come in until I finish cleaning?"
It was a completely out there joke, especially considering the circumstances, which is exactly what Su liked about it.
She couldn't resist laughing, earning a look of incredulity from Hermione, and a look of amusement from Dumbledore, who chuckled a bit himself.
"That will not be required Mr. Potter," Dumbledore told him, "I would dare say that fighting trolls were not in your job description. You are free to go unless you would really like to stay here and clean up. "
"No Professor, I think I've fought enough trolls for one day," Harry said, still handling everything in stride, "besides I already have an another fighting obligation."
"Of course you'd better go get ready for that, I'll be along shortly myself," Dumbledore told him, "and take 10 points each to both Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, and if you happen to see Argus Filch, tell him to get in here, he has a mess to clean up."
Grateful to leave the carnage behind the 3 of them left the bathroom, poor Hermione looking like a million thoughts were running through her mind, although from what little Su knew about her, she always seemed to look like she had a million thoughts running through her mind
Yet before she got a chance to express them, they passed by the group of teachers who were only just now getting there. Professor McGonagall asked them, "what exactly happened here?"
Harry simply shrugged his shoulders and said, "killed a troll."
Okay, that was seriously attractive too, Su thought, goodness the boy knew knew how to charm her even if he didn't realize it. Acted like it was no big deal, just "killed a troll."
He acted like he really had just been cleaning the bathroom floors, not killed a troll.
"Yep," Su agreed, happily going along with it, "sorry for making you come all the way down here."
The teachers all looked awestruck as they struggled to process just what they had said, but Harry only smiled again, and went over to Argus Filch and handed him the mop that he had picked up earlier.
"Professor Dumbledore wants you to help clean up the mess," Harry grinned wickedly, "thought you might need this."
After that he got up and left, with both her and Hermione following in tow.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Hermione asked, "what on earth was that Harry? We just fought a troll and barely escaped for our lives and you're acting like it was nothing."
"I told you it was no big deal to defend you Hermione," Harry countered, "and normally I would feel out of it too, but ever since I took that pepper up potion I feel great, confident even. Maybe its just a side effect and it'll wear off but I'm hoping it at least lasts until I beat Nott, and make him pay for badmouthing you."
"Is all of this all about me?" Hermione queried, "I told you I'm not worth it."
"I just fought a troll for you and you don't think you're worth it?" Harry questioned.
Hermione seemed unable to reply to that.
"A guy fights a troll for you, and you still don't get it," Su couldn't resist saying, "most girls would get a clue by then."
"I'd like to at least be friends Hermione," Harry offered.
Finally Hermione, after looking at him a moment longer replied with, "very well then, friends."
"An offer of friendship huh?" Su asked, "how do I get one of those?"
"How about I do you one better?" Harry asked, "unless you really want to be with Nott, a marriage proposal?"
Normally a marriage proposal at her young age would have instantly been rejected, but given the circumstances and the all likelihood of such a thing happening whether she wanted to or not she found it flattering that he would at least ask her.
"I accept," she told him.
"Then I shall fight to win your hand," he said dramatically.
Who was this guy? Su wondered, side effect or not, she was seriously crushing on him, a major thing for her as she couldn't think of anyone she had ever really crushed on before, at least no one her age and wasn't a combat expert. The fact that he could very well be her husband made things all the more tantalizing in her mind.
They made their way into the great hall, where the students had apparently all stayed during the duration of the troll emergency. They had wanted to have everyone go back to their dormitories, but Dumbledore had decided that it was safer for them to all just stay there which was probably a good idea.
Had the Slytherins tried to head back to their dormitory down in the dungeons they might have have run right into the troll had they not stopped it in the bathroom.
"Here take one of my daggers Harry to prove what you did," Su suggested, "I can't wait to see the look on Nott's face when he learns you killed the troll, it should totally unnerve him for the duel."
"Again you did most of the work," he reminded her.
"You killed it in the end though which means its your kill, so go and claim credit," she answered.
Upon opening the doors, Harry held the still bloody long dagger aloft and said, looking pointedly at Nott, "that would be how you kill a troll, who's next?"
Several students actually fainted and the rest broke out in whispers, or outright asked him what happened.
He ignored all of them, however, as he didn't seem to want to brag about it, just unnerve Nott. Another plus to be added to her growing list of observances about Harry.
To her great delight, Nott certainly looked unnerved, especially when Harry held the still bloody knife and pointed it at him and said, "let's duel."
Nott looked like he was stalling as he practically whined, "well, Dumbledore isn't here yet."
How pathetic, she thought, already enjoying just how scared he already was.
"I'm here now," Dumbledore informed him as he came in behind them, "what do you need me for?"
"Well in light of my opponent having had to fight a troll which is sure to have exhausted him, I'm prepared to cut him some slack and forgo the duel," Nott suggested.
There were many boos at this, no one was fooled into thinking that Nott was being magnanimous in letting Harry off the hook, he was now scared he was going to lose.
"I'm afraid you already made a wizard's oath to duel him," Dumbledore said, "so if you wish to let Mr. Potter to not have to duel you that can be arranged, as long as you present to him the things that you wagered, namely your marriage contract with Su Li, and a promise to no longer antagonize that of Mr. Potter or those he considers his friends. Don't worry I can take care of the formalities for you."
Dumbledore seemed to be enjoying this, as he was already acting like Nott had already forfeited, but Nott finally realized he couldn't back out now.
"Wait no," Nott said, realizing that he was now trapped, "of course I'll duel him."
He stepped forward, trying to regain what little confidence he still seemed to have and allowed Dumbledore to create the dueling field for them.
"Now then are the contenders ready?" Dumbledore asked.
When both Harry and Nott nodded, Dumbledore said, "you will then bow and then the duel will begin. Now go."
Nott and Harry bowed and then the duel immediately began.
It became obvious that this would be way different than Harry's first fight, she had been concerned that Nott's dueling experience that she knew he had received at the hands of his uncle might clinch things for him, but she needn't have worried, Harry seemed a natural duelist, and he obviously had done plenty of training since then.
They circled the dueling arena, each casting a spell while trying to avoid the ones cast by their opponent. It was obvious that Nott had some skill and training as well, but it soon became very evident who was the better duelist. Harry was moving as fast, and casting spells as fast as any professional duelist, he must be on some kind of adrenaline rush this time, because this duel was totally different from the last one. Each spell that came near him he easily dodged, and was able to fire off more spells than Nott.
Nott in fact was kept busy just avoiding spells, most of which he barely managed to dodge.
However much the duel might seem secure, she knew that it could change at any moment, just one lucky hit from Nott could effectively end the duel.
She wished that there was something that she could do other than just stand there, but she knew that it was in Harry's hands now, and fate.
It was at that moment, however, that Nott made his move, or rather someone else did it for him. While everyone had been busy watching the duel, Blaise Zabini got up behind Pansy who was standing at the very edge of the dueling arena, and shoved her into it.
In that one brief moment as Pansy tried to figure out what happened and who shoved her, Nott made his next move, proving that he had obviously been planning this himself, and hit Pansy with a cutting hex, hitting her cheek, causing blood to begin forming from the wound.
The wound was not very bad, as it was a spell designed only to mildly injure, not kill or cause permanent harm but it had its desired effect.
Harry looked over to see if she was all right, forgetting about Nott for a second, and that was when Nott fired off another spell at him.
Since he was still concentrated on Pansy, he didn't have a chance to react, as he got hit with the spell. She knew that it was probably a stupefy, which should have knocked Harry out. She winced, expecting him to fall, but then to her complete and utter amazement, he seemed to just shrug it off, looking slightly unsteady for a second, but otherwise okay.
Nott looked shocked that his spell hadn't worked, he obviously had been counting on this one opportunity to get in the one spell he would need to take him out.
Instead now Harry looked furious as he realized what Nott had probably done, he could understand Nott trying to hit him, it was a duel after all, but to put one of his friends, and future wives in danger just for a cheap, underhanded trick was something else.
Nott was forced to back peddle, desperately trying to get as much ground as he could between him and Harry.
Harry, however, kept getting closer and closer, firing off spells so fast Nott was barely avoiding them, with no time to couterattack. Finally, Nott got hit, a disarming spell that knocked his wand right out of hands. Harry decided to continue pressing the attack however, and nobody tried to stop him either, many students still enraged at Nott for pulling such a cheap underhanded trick as the one he had just pulled.
She at least recognized the significance of what spells he used next, a paint spell that put a dollop of orange paint on him, first to one leg, then the other, then just above his eye, and finally his cheek. Each as a reminder, at least to himself of the places where the troll had gotten hit, and then Pansy, both he considered Nott responsible for. The fact that he would use a non-harmful paint spell showed that he would not descend to such low tactics.
She couldn't help but think once again just how awesome she found him. It would be good to be betrothed to him she thought.
Such a destiny was confirmed with his last hit, launching a stupefy at him and knocking him out.
The audience all broke into cheers, minus many Slytherins who all booed. There was one Slytherin who cheered the loudest, however, which was Pansy, who went and gave Harry another hug.
Of course she was then followed by Susan who hastened to do the same, along with Hannah and Hermione.
Su allowed this all to happen, as Harry's well wishers crowded around him, before to her surprise Harry said something to the crowd which immediately formed a pathway between him and her as he walked over to her.
"Well I guess you won me fair and square," she announced smiling once he had gotten close enough, "what are you going to do with me?"
"I don't know," he confessed, suddenly seeming a bit dazed and tired finally.
"What no witty remarks?" she asked.
"Nope, just hope you can be happy with me, that's all," he said.
She was touched that he would say that, wanting her to be happy.
"Then I hope to make you very happy," she told him.
"How would you do that?" he asked.
"By doing this," she told him, as she gently leaned over and kissed him gently.
The kiss only lasted for a fraction of a second, but it was certainly enjoyable at least to her.
Harry, on the other hand, looked like he had just gotten hit over the head, seeming completely unsure just how to react. She was a bit afraid that she had done something wrong, but then she noticed he had a grin on his face.
"It'll be awhile before you earn one of those again," she informed him, "so you had better make sure to make me really happy again."
She grinned again and left him standing there, and walked away, also leaving behind a somewhat shocked crowd.
Her friend Padma asked as she passed by her, "did you just..?"
"Yes I sure did," she confirmed, "I just kissed Harry Potter."
DUELDUELDUELD
The aftermath of the duel with Nott and the slaying of a troll put Harry on a new pedestal as far as most of the students and faculty were concerned, and Harry was already resenting his new increased fame.
He was so tired of everyone congratulating him and was just wishing things would go back to normal or at least more normal for being a wizard in a magic school anyway. He would have thought that Flitwick would have at least cut him a break for having won the duel, but instead he seemed even more determined to have him practice even harder, and claim that he had apparently been holding out on him if he was able to win the duel even after having slain a troll.
Even he wasn't sure just how he had won the duel so easily however. Perhaps it had been just the adrenaline already pumping through him after fighting the troll.
In any case, Flitwick now seemed to expect him to do just as well in all of their duels, something he was having trouble matching, but certainly trying his best, even if he was always exhausted afterwards.
As for Nott, while he strongly suspected Nott of having conspired to somehow get the troll into the school, he had no proof, and so finally was forced to let the matter go. He also suspected Malfoy of at least putting him up to it, but he also had to let that matter go as well.
There were however upsides to his duel with the troll and Nott. First Hermione was now a friend of his, and was a huge asset in helping him with his studies, particularly the written parts that he didn't like nearly so much as the practical. With the amount of dueling practice and additional exercise he was doing, he didn't have as much time as most of the other students to get homework done.
The second upside and definitely the most valuable in his opinion was that he had found a dueling and exercise partner. After questioning Su about how she had known how to take on a troll like that, and learning that she already had a great deal of not only physical combat but magical as well he had gotten her to join him in one of his dueling lessons and see if Flitwick thought she was good enough to teach.
After testing her to find out how good she was, Flitwick looked like Christmas had come early.
"I am so looking forward to the dueling championships this year," he announced, so excited he hadn't even thought to ask her if she even wanted to participate.
He rather liked being Flitwick's protege even if it did require some extra effort, and he knew he was going to need it regardless. He had absolutely no doubts that while he was now laying low, Malfoy was still plotting to get Pansy back, his ego simply wouldn't let him quit.
Whenever such a time arrived that he decided to strike he wanted to be ready, he would make sure of it.
The months rolled by until December came and he suddenly began to worry about Christmas break, and if anyone sle would also be staying at Hogwarts for Christmas. He chose to ask Su what her plans were after one of their practice duels.
They both were gasping and wheezing at the time, they both were evenly matched when it came to magical dueling, and she had just as much endurance and strength as he did. Their win to lose ratio was about even for both of them, even though neither of them had ever been able to win against Flitwick, who was still so annoyingly good and experienced, using spells and techniques they couldn't dream of using just yet.
"I thought for sure I had you," Su claimed, gasping, "it looked like my stupefy hit you point blank."
"You should have, I only just got my shield up in time," Harry told her.
Su gave him the look that she had only reserved for him. He knew after she kissed him that she liked him, but exactly how much he wasn't sure, or just why. Yet every time he won a duel against her, instead of being upset that she lost, she gave him that look, one he had come to recognize that it meant he had done something she liked.
He had no idea about romance or how to act, even when these moments came so he chose to just take it in stride and pretend he hadn't noticed. While he liked Su, and he knew that they were going to get married, everything else he wasn't really sure how to handle, and it was made more complicated with the fact that he had two other girls he was also engaged to, who he also was trying to have relationships with without messing them up.
"So what are your plans for Christmas break?" he asked.
"I don't know," she admitted, "my father I'm sure couldn't care less if I stayed at Hogwarts, or Azkaban Prison for the Christmas holidays for that matter, he's already made it painfully clear that he's not happy with me that I ruined his business deal with Nott's father."
"You didn't do anything though," Harry exclaimed.
"Not in his eyes," she replied, "in his eyes, I've...brought shame upon the entire Li family."
He had already heard about the rather abysmal relation that Su had with her father, but he hadn't realized that it was this bad.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" he asked.
"I didn't want you to feel guilty," she responded, "I can deal with the shame, I've never really felt I owed my father anything, he certainly has never given me anything, other than do the one good thing he's ever done for me and sent me to live with my aunt. Besides if it means getting out of having to marry Nott, I'd take the shame in a heartbeat. So no Harry you have no reason to feel guilty, I'm grateful to you."
He looked at her a moment longer, still concerned, but wasn't sure exactly what to say.
"So what are you planning to do over the Christmas holidays?" she asked, "I know you live with your Muggle aunt and uncle, but you haven't really said anything else about them, are you going to stay with them over the holidays?"
"Let's just say that my aunt and uncle are much like your father," Harry admitted, "they wouldn't really care where I stay for the holidays either."
"Then I suppose its settled then," she informed him, "we'll spend Christmas together here."
"That would be fantastic," Harry agreed, grateful that he wouldn't have to spend Christmas alone.
"Are you going to check with Pansy and Susan and see what their plans are?" Su queried.
He could tell that Su was trying to be gracious in asking this herself, he knew she liked spending time with him, but also recognized he had obligations to his other two betrothed as well. One of his greatest concerns was that they would all get along with each other, so far they had much to his relief.
"Yes, I was already planning on it," he replied.
"All right well go find them then," Su told him.
After telling Pansy that he and Su would be staying at Hogwarts over Christmas, she immediately announced that she would be staying too. He suspected from what he had gleaned from her home life that she probably could have gone home for Christmas, but preferred spending it with him. Pansy, like Su, seemed fond of him, and at least a good friendship had emerged between the two of them.
Once she had spoken with her, he went to go talk with Susan, who he suspected would be going home for Christmas to spend time with her aunt, but he figured he might as well make sure at least.
When he finally found her in the library, he asked her about it.
"Yes actually I was meaning to talk to you about that Harry," Susan told him, "you see my aunt was wanting to get to know you better and offered to have you come spend the holidays with me. I know that you were probably wanting to go spend time with your own relatives, but I thought I would at least offer."
"Actually I was planning to stay here for Christmas," he told her, "but I'm not sure if I could take up your offer otherwise, as I already told Su and Pansy that I would be staying here with them."
"Well if they and you would like, they could both come with you," Susan suggested.
"Are you sure that there would be room, and how would your aunt feel?" Harry asked worriedly
"I'm sure she wouldn't mind," Susan answered, seeming unconcerned, "we have a more than big enough house for everyone, its basically empty anyway as my aunt and I are the only ones currently living in it right now."
That sounded perfect to him, even though he wouldn't be spending it with his actual family, he would at least be spending it with his future one.