55 The Troll
After a hearty feast that filled his belly to contentment, Luke leisurely ambled back to the Slytherin's lounge. Inside, groups of tightly knit young wizards engaged in animated banter, creating a lively atmosphere pulsating with excitement and camaraderie.
As the Quidditch team captain, Flint, harbored no biases and recognized Luke as the star player. Even seasoned wizards couldn't match his prowess on the broom, positioning Luke as the prime candidate for Slytherin's next Quidditch captain. Spotting Luke, Flint gestured for him to join a chat, but Luke declined, foreseeing a future where his growing strength might hinder his broom-riding ability. Contemplating retirement after the upcoming Quidditch match, he felt the weight of decisions on his shoulders.
---
November drew to a close, and the air chilled, turning delicate snowflakes into feather-light snow. Luke awoke to a world draped in white, the Slytherin lounge lake frozen, blurring day and night distinctions.
Switching on a bedside lamp, he cast a warm light across the dim dormitory. Realizing it was around nine in the morning, relief washed over him knowing he had no classes, avoiding potential tardiness. Dorm mates Malfoy and Crabbe still slept soundly as Luke noticed many Slytherins were already up. He dressed warmly, added a sweater to his wizard robe, and headed to the table.
"One hot chocolate milk and a piece of bread, please," he casually requested from the sparse gathering. It being Halloween, Slytherins had an afternoon herbal class, while lions had a day full of classes. After a simple breakfast, Luke headed to the library, losing track of time in the midst of diligent students.
After Professor Sprout's herbal medicine class, another perfect score – a 10 – added to Luke's achievements. The Hogwarts restaurant transformed into a festive haven for Halloween, with jack-o-lanterns, delectable dishes, and joyous faces. Dumbledore and others awaited the celebration's commencement. Luke greeted, "Happy Halloween!" before being spirited away by the twins to Gryffindor's restaurant, catching a subtle smile from Professor McGonagall.
"Happy Halloween" echoed through the festive air.
....
After Luke strolled into Gryffindor's common room, his eyes scanned the room, harboring a hint of uncertainty.
"Where did Hermione go?" he inquired.
"No idea!" Harry replied, shaking his head with a puzzled expression.
Luke noticed a subtle freeze in Ronald's demeanor when he heard the question.
"Looking for Hermione?" chimed in a young girl from Gryffindor, seated nearby. "Saw her heading to the bathroom, looked like she was in tears."
Luke furrowed his brows in surprise, exchanging glances with Ronald, who avoided eye contact, suggesting he might know what transpired.
"I'll find Hermione; you guys go ahead and eat," Luke announced.
"Need help? We can come along," offered George, only to be hushed by Fred.
"Don't cause a ruckus, mate."
"No, I'll handle it alone," Luke replied.
Just as he approached the door, it swung open from the outside.
"No, no, no!"
Luke's eyes widened as he saw Quirrell entering.
Quirrell's presence meant...
Miscalculation!
Without hesitation, Luke shoved Quirrell aside and rushed to the bathroom.
"Hey, that kid!"
Quirrell, disregarding his assailant, urgently shouted to the puzzled Dumbledore and others, "Trolls! There are trolls in the Hogwarts stairs. You need to know!"
Chaos ensued in the once lively restaurant.
"Luke just ran out!" Harry exclaimed.
....
On the second-floor bathroom.
Hermione emerged with red-rimmed eyes.
Ronald's bizarre comment, fueled by his peculiar behavior after a successful spell class, had stung her deeply, declaring that no one wanted to be her friend except Luke.
Even the Hermione, despite her intellect, was a child at heart, and these words left her feeling deeply hurt.
A loud crash echoed outside, as if something had toppled over.
Startled, Hermione didn't have time to react.
A thick stick appeared from around the corridor...
"Roar…"
Before Hermione could discern, a menacing growl reached her ears.
It was the unmistakable sound of a troll!
Wide-eyed, she opened her brown eyes, disbelief etched across her face. Why are trolls in Hogwarts?
However, Hermione was not one to sit idly by, and she hurriedly retreated back into the bathroom.
Outside, in the corridor, a towering troll with rough skin and a twelve-foot stature marched, wielding a wooden stick.
Each heavy step resonated with a thunderous thud.
This was the troll Quirrell had brought from the Forbidden Forest!
.....
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