Chapter 105 - Troll

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Harry's eyes narrowed slightly as he observed Ron, who seemed to be avoiding his gaze. Sensing there was more to the story, Harry decided to investigate further. He stood up and walked over to Fred and George, who were eagerly anticipating the effects of their prank.

"Thanks for the juice, boys. But I thought we had a silent agreement," Harry said, addressing the twins.

Fred met Harry's gaze with a hint of defiance. "What deal, Potter?" he asked, his tone playful yet challenging.

Harry's smile didn't waver. "Standing out of each other's ways," he replied, maintaining his calm demeanor.

George smirked, feigning ignorance. "We don't know what you're talking about, Potter."

Nodding, Harry left them to their machinations. The twins, believing they had won this round, snickered and waited with bated breath for their prank to unfold.

Harry then made his way to the Ravenclaw table, where Padma Patil was seated among her housemates. "Hello, Ms. Patil. I have a question if you don't mind me interrupting," Harry said politely, capturing Padma's attention.

Padma looked up, her expression one of mild surprise. "Of course, Potter. What can I help you with?"

"I heard about an incident in Charms class today involving Ms. Granger and Mr. Weasley. Do you know anything about it?" Harry inquired, his tone earnest.

Padma nodded, her expression turning serious. "Yes, from what I heard there was a bit of a commotion. Mr. Weasley made a thoughtless comment about Ms. Granger's eagerness to answer questions. It upset her, and she left the class in tears."

Harry's frown deepened. "I see. And you heard she's in the first-floor bathroom?"

"Yes, that's what I heard," Padma confirmed.

Thanking Padma for the information, Harry made his way back to the Slytherin table, where he resumed his seat. Pansy Parkinson, eyeing him with a mix of curiosity and displeasure, asked, "Done mingling with the enemy, Potter?"

Harry, with a hint of amusement in his voice, replied, "For your information, Ms. Parkinson, I was gathering intelligence for a bit of... retaliation."

Draco Malfoy, his interest piqued, leaned in. "Retaliation for what?" he inquired.

Harry's smile broadened as he subtly gestured towards a group of older Slytherin students seated further down the table. As if on cue, their heads transformed into large pumpkins, causing a wave of gasps and laughter to ripple through the Great Hall.

Tracey Davis, her eyes wide with realization, hissed, "The Weasleys!" She and the others turned their gaze towards the Gryffindor table, only to see Fred and George Weasley, now also sporting pumpkin heads, looking around in confused horror.

Raising his cup in a mock salute to the twins, Harry gulped down the remainder of his pumpkin juice. He had recognized the distinct smell of Pompion Potion earlier, a concoction he had brewed countless times and was intimately familiar with. When he visited the Gryffindor table, he had given the Weasley twins an opportunity to reconsider their prank, but their determination to target him had sealed their fate.

As the Great Hall erupted into laughter and commotion, Nigel chimed in Harry's mind. "Ah, Master Harry, engaging in the fine art of pumpkin diplomacy, I see. How... festive of you."

Harry suppressed a chuckle at Nigel's remark, his focus remaining on the scene unfolding around him. The Slytherin students, initially shocked, were now reveling in the spectacle, their laughter echoing off the stone walls.

Pansy, recovering from her initial surprise, smirked at Harry. "Well played, Potter. I didn't think you had it in you."

Draco Malfoy, always keen to witness a good prank, clapped Harry on the back. "That was brilliant, Potter! The Weasleys won't forget this one."

Tracey, still chuckling, added, "You certainly know how to make an impression, Potter."

Harry smiled, pleased with the outcome. "It's Halloween, after all. A little bit of mischief is to be expected."

Nigel's voice piped up again, his tone conveying mock disapproval. "I must say, Master Harry, that was a rather... explosive response. Do remind me to never get on your bad side."

Harry mentally rolled his eyes at Nigel's comment, choosing to focus on the festivities. The Great Hall was alive with energy, the students enjoying the Halloween feast amidst the backdrop of floating jack-o'-lanterns and magical decorations.

Professor Snape, making his way through the chaos, approached the Slytherin table with a stern expression. His gaze fell upon Harry, and for a moment, there was a flash of something akin to amusement in his eyes.

"Potter, I trust you had nothing to do with this... spectacle?" Snape inquired, his voice low and controlled.

Harry met Snape's gaze, his expression innocent. "I assure you, Professor, I was merely a spectator in this evening's entertainment."

Snape nodded and said, "I expect you to be as uninvolved when it involves our house in the future as well." Harry grinned, "I shall do so, sir." As Snape left, the doors of the Great Hall burst open, and Professor Quirrell came sprinting in, his turban askew and a look of sheer terror on his face. The entire hall fell silent as he reached Professor Dumbledore's chair, slumped against the table, and gasped, "Troll – in the dungeons – thought you ought to know." He then collapsed in a dead faint.

Chaos erupted in the hall. It took several loud, purple firecrackers from Professor Dumbledore's wand to restore silence. "Prefects," he commanded in a deep voice, "lead your houses back to the dormitories immediately!"

As the students began to stir, Harry's thoughts immediately turned to Hermione. She didn't know about the troll, still distraught in the girls' bathroom. Making a quick decision, he slipped away from the crowd, retrieving two items from his inventory: an Invisibility Ring and an Enchanted Mirror for Distant Viewing. Whispering "Hermione Granger" to the mirror, he added under his breath, "I hope you are not in an inappropriate position, Ms. Granger."

The mirror's surface shimmered, revealing Hermione sitting on a toilet seat in the girls' bathroom, her eyes red from crying. Harry sighed in relief at her clothed form and quickly made his way toward her location.

As he navigated the corridors, invisible to the naked eye, Nigel's voice echoed in his mind. "Off to play the knight in shining armor, are we? Do remember, Master Harry, trolls are notoriously foul-tempered and not particularly fond of invisibility tricks."

Harry quickened his pace as he saw the troll lumbering through the corridors in the mirror's reflection. "Well, Nigel, I always wanted a pet. This one's a bit larger and uglier than what I had in mind, though," he quipped under his breath.

The image in the mirror showed the troll nearing the girls' bathroom, and Harry's heart raced with urgency. He was aware of the danger but determined to save Hermione from the monstrous creature. As he approached the bathroom, he removed the Invisibility Ring and sent both the ring and the mirror back to his inventory, drawing his wand.

Stepping into the bathroom, Harry's eyes immediately locked onto the troll, which was swinging its club in a mindless rage. Spotting Hermione crouched under the sinks, he shouted, "Look over here, you giant oaf!"

Hermione's head snapped up at the sound of his voice. "Harry!" she cried out, recognition clear in her tone. She quickly dodged under the sinks, narrowly avoiding the troll's club as it smashed into the porcelain.

The troll, now aware of Harry's presence, turned its attention towards him. Harry, wand at the ready, kept his eyes on the creature, trying to think of a plan. "Nigel, any bright ideas? Preferably ones that don't involve getting squashed by a troll," he said, his voice tinged with sarcasm.

"Ah, Master Harry, I see your charm with the ladies extends to trolls as well." Nigel responded dryly.

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