The Great Hall had fallen into an uneasy quiet. Students who were typically divided by house loyalties and rivalries now found themselves huddled together in the middle of the hall, a mix of red, blue, green, and yellow mingling as one. The threat of a troll somewhere in the castle had erased any thoughts of competition or prejudice. The air was thick with tension as everyone clung to each other for comfort, all too aware of the heavy doors at the far end, as if any moment they might swing open and a hulking troll would come crashing through.
The prefects did their best to maintain order, but fear was palpable. Slytherins sat beside Gryffindors, Ravenclaws beside Hufflepuffs, no one caring for house loyalty when faced with the terrifying thought of a troll possibly barging in.
Theodore Nott, seated not far from Hermione Granger, glanced around the room and frowned. "Where's Harry?" he asked, his voice cutting through the murmurs.
Hermione blinked, her mind racing. It hadn't even occurred to her in all the chaos, but now that Theodore had said it aloud, the realization hit her hard. Harry wasn't there.
"Where is Harry?" she muttered under her breath. She looked around frantically, as if somehow, Harry might just appear beside her.
Fred and George Weasley, standing nearby, exchanged a look of panic, the light-heartedness they were known for suddenly vanishing. "Oh no," Fred muttered. "We… we didn't even think. He left after the scavenger hunt."
George looked equally worried. "Today's just not a good day for him…"
Hermione turned sharply to them. "What do you mean? Where did he go? What's today?"
Fred hesitated, but then sighed. "It's Halloween, Hermione. Today's the day… the day his parents were murdered. He never likes to stick around for the celebrations. He only stayed this long because of the scavenger hunt. To help the club."
Hermione's breath hitched in her throat. Of course. She hadn't realized—Harry had never mentioned it to her, but the weight of it was obvious now. No wonder he wasn't here with them, huddling in fear of the troll. The day was hard enough for him without a massive beast on the loose.
"I've got to go find him!" Hermione exclaimed, standing up suddenly, her eyes wide with determination.
Several prefects, seeing her attempt to leave, blocked her path immediately. "You can't leave the hall," one of them said firmly, looking as terrified as the rest. "No one's allowed to leave."
Neville Longbottom, who had been quietly listening, stood up next to Hermione. "He shouldn't be out there alone. What if the troll finds him?" he said, his round face filled with worry.
"Where are you going?" Blaise , a Slytherin fellow Star, asked, stepping closer to them. "Do you even know where Harry is?"
"I think I do," Fred said, glancing at his brother.
George nodded. "Third-floor corridor."
Hermione frowned. "Why there? What makes you think he's there?"
Fred ran a hand through his hair, clearly nervous. "A few weeks back, we heard rumors… rumors about a giant three-headed dog guarding something in that corridor. Me and George checked it out. The rumors are true—there's a Cerberus in there."
"We told Harry about it," George added, his voice grim. "And he wanted to check it out sometime. My guess is, if he's exploring the castle, he'd go there."
Hermione's heart pounded in her chest. If Harry was up there, and the teachers were busy searching the dungeons… "We've got to get him before the troll does," she said quickly, her mind racing. "We'll be back before the professors even think to check that part of the castle."
Fred and George exchanged glances as they reached the far side of the hall, the heavy tension of their plan hanging over them. George turned to the group, his eyes flicking toward Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini, who had both been watching with skeptical interest.
"I think someone should stay behind," Fred said, his voice low but firm.
Blaise crossed his arms, raising a brow. "And why exactly would we be the ones staying behind?"
Hermione opened her mouth, but Theodore Nott spoke first, his voice cool and unbothered. "Because that's what a Slytherin does. We don't jump into danger without a plan. Self-preservation and all that." He smirked slightly. "Besides, someone needs to make sure you all have a chance to slip out."
Fred grinned at that. "Exactly. You two stay here, cause a bit of chaos, and we'll make our escape."
"How exactly are we supposed to cause chaos?" Blaise asked, his brow furrowed.
Without missing a beat, Fred pulled out a large, colorful firecracker from his pocket, a mischievous gleam in his eyes. "This, my friends, is the answer. Just light it up and throw it toward the entrance."
Theodore blinked, his expression a mix of intrigue and concern. "And what if we hit Professor Quirrell? Last I checked, he fainted right in the middle of the hall."
Everyone turned to where Quirrell had collapsed, a pale heap in the center of the Great Hall, when Susan Bones, who had been watching everything unfold from the sidelines, noticed something odd. "He's not there anymore," she said, her voice uncertain as she pointed toward the empty spot.
All eyes followed her gesture. The space where Professor Quirrell had fainted was indeed empty, as if he had woken up and quietly slipped away in the chaos.
"Well, that solves that problem," Fred said, shrugging. "No Quirrell to worry about. Just light it up when we give the signal, and then make sure to disappear. Should buy us enough time to get out."
Theodore hesitated for only a second before nodding. "Fine. We'll do it. But if this backfires, Weasley…"
Fred only grinned wider. "It won't. Trust me."
With everything set, Fred, George, Neville, Hermione, Susan, and Terry Boot began subtly moving toward the back of the Great Hall, their movements slow and careful so as not to draw attention from the prefects and other students. The tension was palpable, but they kept their pace steady, waiting for the distraction that would give them their opening.
Theodore and Blaise, meanwhile, positioned themselves closer to the entrance, out of sight from the prefects and professors, and waited for the signal.
Fred nodded to them from across the room, and with a flick of his wand, Theodore lit the fuse of the firecracker. Without hesitation, he tossed it toward the entrance of the Great Hall.
The effect was instantaneous.
A massive explosion of light and sound erupted, firecrackers bursting into the air, sending students diving for cover. Screams of surprise echoed throughout the hall as colorful sparks flew in all directions. A cacophony of whistles, bangs, and screeches filled the air, the mayhem completely overtaking the once tense and quiet hall.
The prefects, who had been keeping a strict eye on everyone, immediately turned their attention toward the commotion, rushing to control the chaos and see what had happened.
In the midst of the uproar, Fred, George, Hermione, Neville, Susan, and Terry seized the moment. Moving swiftly and silently, they slipped through the doors at the back of the Great Hall, darting down the corridor and into the safety of the castle's darkened halls.
Fifty seconds was all they needed. By the time anyone noticed their absence, they were already far from the Great Hall, their footsteps echoing in the empty corridors as they made their way toward the third-floor corridor.
Fred let out a small laugh as they ran. "Told you it would work!"
Hermione, breathless but determined, gave a quick nod. "We need to hurry. We don't know how close the troll might be."
Neville, his mind racing with thoughts of what lay ahead, said nothing, but he was grateful for his friends. He wasn't sure what they would face on the third floor, but he knew one thing for certain: he wouldn't be facing it alone.
As the group hurried down the dimly lit corridor, their plan felt like it was going smoothly. They were confident they'd find Harry and return to the Great Hall before anyone realized they had even left. But just as they rounded a corner, they came to a sudden halt, their hearts leaping into their throats.
There, standing directly in their path, were the professors, led by none other than Dumbledore himself. His deep, calm voice was the first to break the silence.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, his blue eyes twinkling with both curiosity and concern. "Didn't I tell you all to stay in the Great Hall?"
Beside him were Professor McGonagall, her sharp gaze narrowing, and Professor Flitwick, looking between them with his usual alertness. Hermione Granger, her eyes wide with guilt, stood frozen beside Neville, Fred, George, Susan, and Terry.
Fred, ever quick with a response, cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Er, well, you see, Professor... Harry didn't know about the troll. He left before Professor Quirrell made his announcement."
George nodded, picking up the explanation. "We, uh, thought it was best to go find him before anything bad happens."
Dumbledore's expression remained calm, but Professor McGonagall's brows furrowed deeply. "Mr. Weasley, that doesn't explain why all of you are out here. You should have stayed in the Great Hall, where it's safe."
Fred hesitated, but then gave a subtle nod toward Harry's absence and dropped his voice to a more serious tone. "It's Halloween," he said. "For Harry, that's not just any ordinary day... it's the anniversary of when his parents were... killed." His words hung in the air, the weight of them softening even Professor McGonagall's stern expression.
The mention of that dark part of Harry's past shifted the mood among the professors. Dumbledore's eyes softened with understanding, and even Professor McGonagall's face showed a flicker of sympathy. Professor Flitwick, standing on his toes, seemed to consider the situation for a long moment.
Hermione Granger, who had been fidgeting anxiously beside Fred, suddenly stepped forward, her voice filled with determination. "Professor, we need to get Harry. He's out there alone and might not know about the troll. We need to make sure he's safe."
Professor McGonagall looked like she was about to say something stern, but Dumbledore held up a hand. "I understand your concern, Miss Granger, and it is admirable. However, it is far too dangerous for you to be roaming the castle with a troll about." He glanced at the rest of the group before adding, "You are students, after all. You should return to the Great Hall immediately."
Hermione looked as though she was about to protest, but Professor McGonagall stepped in. "Miss Granger, I must insist. You have already broken enough rules for one evening. Return to the Great Hall, and we will decide on your punishment tomorrow."
But Dumbledore, ever the gentle voice of reason, spoke again. "Perhaps it would be better if they came with us." He gave McGonagall a meaningful look. "The troll is still at large, and if we were to send them back on their own, it could put them at greater risk. It would be safer to keep them close until we've located the troll."
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, clearly torn between following Dumbledore's advice and wanting to maintain strict discipline. But eventually, she relented with a sharp nod. "Very well. You may come along... but you are to stay behind us at all times. Do I make myself clear?"
The group nodded in unison, relief washing over them. Dumbledore turned and led the way down the corridor, his robes flowing gracefully as he walked. Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick flanked the students, ensuring they stayed in line as they ventured deeper into the castle.
The weight of what they had almost done hung over them, but the fact that they were now part of the search for Harry gave them a sense of purpose. Hermione, still anxious about her friend, stayed close to the professors, her mind racing as they moved through the halls.
Somewhere out there, Harry was facing a danger none of them could fully predict. But now, with the professors leading the way, they had a better chance of finding him before it was too late.
As both the students and professors followed the loud thud echoing through the castle, their footsteps quickened with urgency. The sound had come from the left wing, where the chaos of Halloween night seemed to have intensified. Turning the corner, they all came to an abrupt halt, staring wide-eyed at the scene before them.
There, lying on the cold stone floor, was a massive mountain troll. The beast's head lolled to the side, a large club discarded near its limp hand. But most shocking of all was Harry Potter standing next to the unconscious creature, his wand raised and his face pale but determined.
The group, teachers included, stood frozen for a moment, processing the incredible sight. Then, without hesitation, Hermione Granger broke from the group and rushed towards Harry, throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly.
"Harry! I was so worried!" she cried, her voice trembling as she began to sob into his shoulder.
Harry, looking rather awkward and surprised, gently patted her back, trying to offer some comfort. "It's all right, Hermione. I'm not hurt."
Hermione pulled back slightly, wiping away her tears with a trembling hand, but stayed close to Harry as the rest of the group gathered around.
Fred Weasley was the first to break the stunned silence. "Did you... did you kill the troll, Harry?" he asked, sounding genuinely impressed as he stared at the enormous creature on the ground.
Before Harry could respond, there was a sudden bubbling noise, followed by a loud pop. Everyone turned their gaze towards the troll, whose enormous chest rose and fell with labored breaths. A large bubble formed around the troll's nose and popped again, revealing that the creature was very much alive, though clearly worse for wear.
Terry Boot, watching the scene with wide eyes, let out a nervous laugh. "It looks like the troll has a cold," he said, pointing to the ridiculous sight of the bubble forming with each of the troll's snorts.
Dumbledore, his usual calm demeanor slightly cracked by the shock of seeing Harry in such a situation, stepped forward. His eyes twinkled with a mixture of surprise and amusement as he looked at the young wizard.
"I didn't realize we were hosting a troll at tonight's Halloween party, Professor Dumbledore," Harry said with a half-smile, his voice dripping with sarcastic humor.
Professor McGonagall, still in a state of disbelief, quickly recovered her composure. "We most certainly were not," she said, her tone sharp but with an underlying hint of worry. "This was a highly dangerous situation, and you—"
She trailed off as Dumbledore gave her a slight, calming look. The headmaster then turned to Harry. "You handled yourself remarkably well, Mr. Potter. But I believe it's best we return to the Great Hall. There's no telling if any more surprises await us tonight."
Harry, Hermione, and the rest of the group nodded. Together, they followed the professors back through the winding corridors of the castle, heading towards the safety of the Great Hall. As they walked, the weight of what had just happened began to sink in.
Once they arrived at the Great Hall, the students were instructed to return to their respective common rooms, though the air was thick with the promise of excitement for the next day. Fred and George, never ones to miss an opportunity for some fun, exchanged glances.
"Well, well, well," Fred said with a grin. "It seems we have a new hero on our hands."
George nodded enthusiastically. "Looks like tomorrow's going to be quite the day. We'll have to come up with some proper verses about Harry's little troll adventure."
Fred put a finger to his chin, already beginning to craft a rhyming couplet. "How about... 'Harry Potter, brave and bold, faced a troll, despite the cold'...?"
The group laughed, even Harry, though he knew the Weasley twins were not going to let this moment pass without making it the talk of the school.
As they made their way back to their respective common rooms, the weight of the night's events settled on them, but they knew one thing for sure: by morning, the story of Harry Potter and the troll would spread like wildfire across the entire castle.