December 6, 2025, 2:10 AM
Author: Anonymous
Contributors: Blue Rain, Madou, Xiaoling, Anning, Zero Eight, Little Demon, Koala, Xiaojun, Akiaki
When Ron saw the troll, he couldn't help but plop right down on the floor. His mouth hung wide open as he pointed at the thing, stammering incoherently.
Harry's reaction was a bit milder in comparison.
But it was still his first time seeing such a horrifying creature. He trembled slightly as he instinctively stepped in front of Hermione to shield her.
"Spongify!" Before the boys could even process it, Hermione had already swung her wand—at the ground under the troll's feet.
The troll's footing gave way, and before it could react, half its body sank into the softened mud.
"Petrificus Totalus!"
"Incendio!"
"Incendio—Flame On!" Spell after spell poured from Hermione's wand.
She'd never forget that day—Tom had used these exact two spells. According to him, combining them could unleash massive power!
Maybe it could even take down the troll in front of her.
But Hermione couldn't replicate Tom's version perfectly. The tiny flame slithered like a thin snake, brushing against the troll's skin before fizzling out—it didn't even scratch it.
"Incendio!" "Flame On!"
She tried again, feeling like she'd grasped some trick.
"Hermione, this isn't working! Use Wingardium Leviosa to bash its head with its own club!"
"No need!"
"Incendio!" "Flame On!" Hermione shouted louder.
This time, the flame visibly grew— if the earlier one was a skinny snake, now it was as thick as a bucket!
The massive blaze slammed into the troll's head. Hermione rushed forward, grabbed the club it had dropped, and swung it hard at the creature's skull.
Thud!
A dull crack echoed down the corridor. Blood seeped from the troll's head, and it slumped motionless.
"Hermione..." Harry could hardly believe his eyes.
What had he just witnessed?
He'd always thought of Hermione as kind of fragile—at least physically.
But just now!
She'd lifted that enormous club with both hands.
The handle alone was almost as thick as her head. How did she even manage that?
"Hermione, watch out—" Harry started, but his outstretched hand froze mid-air.
Hermione wasn't paying attention anymore—she'd already charged into the lab.
It was empty, but there was a huge pool of red liquid on the floor.
It smelled like blood—no, it was blood!
Hermione dropped to her knees, reaching toward the massive stain.
So much blood... Tom had to be... in bad shape. Probably worse.
He was the jerk she complained about every day, but seeing all this blood on the floor? She couldn't accept it. It felt like losing a "friend."
This friend was different from Harry and Ron.
With Tom, she could tell him anything—no holding back, no worries. He was like another version of herself.
"Miss Granger, what exactly are you doing squatting in my laboratory? And you lot—I distinctly remember announcing in the Great Hall that everyone should return to their dormitories.
Now, explain why you foolish children are still here. Or perhaps you're hoping I'll praise you for successfully dealing with the troll and being Hogwarts' big heroes?" Snape's sarcastic tone didn't soften one bit, even with the blood everywhere.
"Professor Snape..." Hermione looked up into his deep, dark eyes. "This is Tom's..."
Snape cut her off. "Tom? Clever Miss Granger, do you honestly think this blood belongs to Riddle? Then you're truly foolish beyond belief!
Gryffindor—unauthorized action. Twenty points from each of you!" Snape huffed coldly.
"But... considering your concern for your classmate, fifty points to Hermione Granger. And for resolving Hogwarts' little problem, ten points to each of you."
Harry blinked.
Why did only Hermione get the fifty points?
Hadn't they come to help Tom too? (Though Harry mostly came for Hermione.)
Just then, a hidden door beside the lab swung open. A boy with messy hair stepped out, looking a bit disheveled.
But even so, his emerald eyes and sharp nose kept him looking strikingly handsome.
Less like a hobo, more like some noble kid after an intense workout.
"Hermione—! Professor Snape?" Tom looked puzzled at the pair. "What's going on... my gray wolf blood! Damn it! That bastard!"
Tom panicked a little. He turned and spotted the unconscious troll by the door, its lower half still sunk in mud.
"A troll? What just happened?"
Hermione stuttered, rubbing her eyes in disbelief. This chatterbox couldn't be Tom.
But it seemed... probably... definitely was him.
"You're not dead, Tom."
Tom: "?"
He seriously racked his brain for any recent ways he'd ticked Hermione off. Why was her first sentence wishing him dead?
Meanwhile, the other professors arrived.
Professor McGonagall looked surprised. "Miss Granger, perhaps you could explain what's going on."
...
After hearing Hermione's side, Tom could barely keep from grinning ear to ear.
But with everyone around, he just twitched his lips and stayed quiet.
Hermione actually thought a troll could kill him?
These things were basically toys to him now.
"Hey, stop crying. Everyone's watching." Tom held back his laughter and wiped her face with his slightly dirty sleeve. "You really didn't need to worry about me. Professor Snape's lab is totally safe."
"I was just worried..."
"Worried about what? That Professor Snape would..." Tom's smile froze. "Professor, your leg—what happened?"
He suddenly noticed blood on Snape's black robes around his calf, and the man was limping.
Snape didn't answer, just kept heading out.
"Professor, wait up!"
Tom left Hermione there and chased after him.
"I'm fine."
"Nonsense, Professor—you're bleeding."
"I am not!" Snape yanked his robe to cover his leg. "Tom, don't get too full of yourself!"
"Don't tough it out. You're barely walking straight. Let me take you to the hospital wing."
...
Their voices faded down the hall. Hermione slowly stood up from the floor.
"Children, you need rest now. We'll handle the rest." McGonagall rubbed Hermione's head and sighed heavily, comforting her. "You did very well. But next time something like this happens, I hope you'll trust the professors.
No student will ever get hurt at Hogwarts. Believe in us, okay, Hermione?"
"Yes, Professor McGonagall."
Hermione nodded and left with Harry. (Ron had already headed back earlier.)
"Harry, what's on your mind?" On the way back, Ron noticed Harry's silence and asked.
"Hmm... I'm wondering how that troll got into the castle.
Think about it—Mr. Filch guards the doors. He'd spot a troll coming in right away. But this one appeared right in Snape's Potions lab, meaning it bypassed Filch completely."
Ron caught on, remembering Snape's injured leg. "You suspect Snape?"
"Snape's just one possibility. Lots of people could be suspects. Think about it—Professor Quirrell was the first to spot the troll. Why didn't he deal with it himself? He's the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher! No way a troll should've scared him unconscious.
But it's not them I'm suspicious of..." Harry trailed off, leaving the other two hanging.
"Come on, who do you suspect?"
"Malfoy."
"Draco Malfoy?" Hermione exclaimed. "You're crazy! How could he attack the school? And his skills are..."
Harry shook his head. "Not Draco Malfoy—his father! Lucius Malfoy!
You know Hogwarts has a Board of Governors? They have a lot of power—even Professor Dumbledore has to follow their decisions. And Lucius... he's one of them.
He went to Hogwarts himself, was Slytherin prefect. He'd know the castle inside out!"
"But why would he do it?" Hermione frowned.
"I don't know." Harry's voice dropped. "It's just a guess, Hermione. We need proof—treat it as a reference for now."
Suddenly, he went quiet and grabbed them. "Shh—! Someone's coming. Hide."
"Hide where?"
"Over here!" Harry ducked into the shadows, pulling Hermione and Ron with him.
...
"You say Snape gave you detention?" The voice was unfamiliar to the trio—they all perked up their ears.
"Yes, Father." That was Malfoy—Draco Malfoy.
"Where's Snape now? I'll go with you to see him." The man spoke again.
Harry bravely peeked out just a bit, sneaking a glance.
Clearly a noble—looked a lot like Draco, even leaning on a cane.
His father!
Lucius Malfoy!
But why was Lucius here at a time like this?