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Chapter 29: Giant Monster

In the girls' bathroom, Hermione was immersed in sadness when she heard two gentle knocks on the stall door.

"Hermione, is that you?"

"Who's there?" Hermione choked out. "Are you here to mock me too?"

"I'm Padma Patil," Padma said softly. "The Halloween dinner has already started, Hermione. Wade and Michael are waiting outside—they're worried about you."

"You should go to the dinner. Don't worry about me! Let me be alone for a while," Hermione stubbornly replied, wiping away more tears.

She had cried so much that her tears should have dried up long ago. Yet, she remained hidden here, feeling too sad to face others' eyes. But hearing her friend's concern and receiving comforting words caused fresh tears to well up again.

Padma placed her hand on the stall door gently. "Hermione, I know what awful things Weasley said. But I don't understand why you'd let the unfair judgment of a foolish boy make you so sad, ignoring the friend who truly cares about you. Everyone says you're the brightest witch of your age. Can't you recognize what truly matters?"

Hermione's sobs ceased, and she fell silent for a long while.

"Let me share a secret—those who talk behind your back are often driven by insecurity and jealousy. If you're smarter, better, and outshine them in every way, they'll try to hurt you with hurtful words. If you let this break you and push away your friends, then they've won," Padma said. "The best response is to ignore their words, shine bright, and not dwell on their negativity. And if you don't feel content with that, punch them right back! After all, you're a lioness of Gryffindor, right?"

*Squeak—*

After a moment, the stall door creaked open.

Hermione emerged with red eyes, her voice hoarse from crying. "I'm not the brightest witch—Padma, you're the smart one."

Padma smiled and hugged her tightly.

...

Wade and Michael had waited in the corridor for a while and finally spotted two girls coming out of the bathroom. They had overheard Padma's advice to Hermione but chose not to mention it.

Michael opened his arms teasingly. "Do you need a warm hug, Hermione?"

The brown-haired girl wiped her eyes, embraced Michael with a force that might crack ribs, released him dazedly, then turned to Wade and hugged him just as tightly.

"Thank you—sorry," Hermione whispered.

Wade ruffled her hair silently.

"No need to apologize, but I'm starving and dying to get to the Halloween dinner. I hope they haven't polished off the dessert yet!" Michael joked, rubbing his belly. "Otherwise, we might have to sneak into the kitchen for a bite."

Curious, Padma asked, "Where's the kitchen at Hogwarts? I've never seen it."

Michael perked up. "The kitchen's well-hidden. We only know because of Theo and the others—"

Wade interrupted, raising his hand and quickly drawing out his wand.

"What's wrong?" Michael asked quietly.

Wade whispered, "Didn't you hear that?"

Michael didn't respond, for they all saw it—a massive, gray-green hand gripped the wall just around the corner, accompanied by a faint rumble from an unseen source.

Everyone's faces drained of color, and Padma gasped, "Merlin—what a beast—"

A colossal creature lumbered into view.

It stood twelve feet tall, its head almost brushing the ceiling, its bulk suggesting a weight of at least two tons. Its skin resembled a toad's, its massive body with a round belly and a short, nearly bald head. It emitted a foul stench, arms almost touching the ground, wielding a club-like tree trunk.

"Incredible... a troll in the castle—how is this possible?" Padma turned pale, her legs trembling, supported by Hermione.

The monstrous giant noticed the group, its small eyes gleaming with cruel anticipation. Lifting its ponderous legs, it advanced toward them, brandishing its massive club.

Trembling, Hermione aimed her wand at the troll, unsure of which spell to use.

Michael cast spells rapidly. "Petrificus Totalus! Petrificus Totalus!"

Yet, his incomplete mastery rendered the spells as effective as raindrops on rhinoceros hide. Wade raised his wand, recalling every spell he knew.

Though armed with many spells, the troll's resilience and physical might nullified even adult wizards' spells. It was a creature with no intelligence or magical prowess, its danger level akin to XXXX, alongside Thunderbirds and Sphinxes.

When Wade had first watched "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," he had doubted this classification. Now, facing a monster taller than a house, he felt an oppressive sense of suffocation.

*Boom!*

A bucket struck the troll's head, thrown by Harry, who suddenly appeared. "Why are you all standing around? Run!"

Startled awake, Michael spun around, seized both girls, and sprinted. Wade stepped forward, wand raised. "Avis!"

A flock of twittering birds burst from his wand, fluttering into the troll's face. The simple-minded creature roared, swatting clumsily at the birds with its massive hands.

Seeing this tactic work, Michael and the others joined in. "Avis!"

Their spells, however, fizzled, mere sparks diverting the troll's attention momentarily.

Wade's dozen birds swirled around the giant. The monster roared, a terrifying sound, smashing nearby decorations with its club. Yet, the agile birds kept it distracted, though their numbers dwindled rapidly.

"This spell will only hold it for ten seconds!" Michael shouted.

Wade vigorously waved his wand. " Lubrico!"

Suddenly, the ground beneath the troll turned dangerously slippery. It slipped and crashed heavily, its colossal form shaking the floor, club flying out of its grip.

Hermione, looking on the verge of fainting, summoned her courage. Raising her wand, she cried, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

The club soared into the air, then plummeted, striking the troll's head with a resounding clang. The creature shook, struggled, and bellowed in an attempt to rise. Gritting her teeth, Hermione maneuvered the club to strike again, and again...

The troll finally collapsed unconscious.

Hermione stopped, breathless, turning to find everyone staring at her in shock and awe.

"What's wrong?" She feigned nonchalance, though her cheeks reddened. Glancing at Padma, she said, "Well, punching felt pretty satisfying, just like you said."

Padma was speechless—this, was this what she had taught her?

She hesitated to meet Wade and Michael's eyes.

"Harry—troll! There's a troll loose in the castle—go back to your dorms! A giant—"

Ron's voice echoed as he rushed over, abruptly falling silent at the sight before him. Taking a deep breath, he asked blankly, "What happened?"

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