Killing the troll!

Author's Note: I appreciate your feedback on this fight scene, as it is my first attempt at writing one. While it may be brief and anticlimactic, rest assured that future battles will become more challenging.

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As Aaron approached, he saw the troll enter the girls' bathroom. A moment later, a high-pitched, terrified scream rang out.

"Aaaaaah!!!"

Definitely Hermione, Aaron thought as he sprinted into the bathroom. Inside, he found shattered debris scattered across the floor and Hermione huddled on the ground, tears streaming down her face. The troll raised its club to strike her, but Aaron quickly waved his wand. The club was ripped from the troll's grasp, hovering above its head.

"Get up and move!" Aaron shouted. Hermione stared at him, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. Shaking his head, Aaron dashed forward and stood protectively in front of her, his wand still aimed at the floating club.

"It's just a troll, not a big deal. You'll be safe," he reassured her with a small smile.

To demonstrate the ease of the situation, Aaron waved his wand again, transforming the club into a spear. Although trolls were highly resistant to direct magic, there were alternative methods for dealing with them, and this was one. As the transformation completed, the troll gazed upward in confusion.

"Fall!"

Aaron swung his wand downward, and the spear plunged towards the troll, piercing its eyes.

"Agh!"

[Ding! Congratulations on completing the task, host!]

The troll emitted a brief scream before collapsing, blood pooling around its head. Aaron, a mere first-year student, had successfully defeated an XXXX-rated magical beast. After giving the fallen troll a final glance, he turned to Hermione, gently patted her shoulder, and asked with concern,

"Hermione, are you alright? Did you get hurt?"

She looked up at him, her eyes still red from crying. Aaron frowned and lightly pinched her cheek between his thumb and index finger.

"Ouch! What was that for?"

"You weren't responding, so I thought I'd snap you out of it. It worked pretty well, don't you think?" he said, offering a faint smile.

"So, are you okay?" he asked again, genuine concern lacing his voice.

"Y-yes!" she stammered, her cheeks flushed.

"Whew! That's good. As long as you're alright, everything is fine."

Hermione gazed at Aaron in a daze, her mind racing with questions: "Why are you here?", "How can you cast spells without chants?", "Did you come here to look for me...?" But she couldn't find the words to ask. Instead, she mustered the strength to express her gratitude.

"T-thank you for saving me, Aaron. I don't know what I would have done or what would have happened if you hadn't arrived in time..."

"Don't worry about it. I heard from Parvati that you had locked yourself in the girls' bathroom and wouldn't let anyone in. I was concerned and wanted to check on you – and drag you back to dinner," he explained.

As he spoke, he approached her and pulled her into a sudden embrace.

"A-Aaron! W-what are you d-doing!?" she stammered.

"You must have been scared, right? But it's alright. Nothing will happen, and you're safe. As long as we're friends, I'll always be there for you. If something's bothering you, you can always reach out to me. Don't hide in the bathroom," Aaron reassured her, gently patting her head and back.

Hermione buried her face in his chest, not wanting him to see her current expression. Her cheeks were flushed, and tears welled up in her eyes. She had always tried to maintain a strong front, feeling isolated in this unfamiliar place where she had no friends. Even those she believed to be friends didn't seem to reciprocate the sentiment. When she overheard Ron speaking about her behind her back, she couldn't take it anymore, and she sought refuge in the bathroom, determined to be left alone. But when Aaron told her he saw her as a friend and came to help, she was overjoyed.

As she tightened her embrace, she couldn't help but smile. The warmth and comfort of Aaron's hug made her want to stay there indefinitely. But reality often denies such desires. Once Aaron sensed she had calmed down, he broke their embrace, eliciting a reluctant groan from Hermione.

"Are you alright now?" he asked.

"Yes, thank you," she replied.

"Don't worry about it. Just remember, I'll always be there for you, okay? And don't pay attention to what others say about you; they're just jealous of your abilities."

"Yes, thank you. I'll come to you with my problems in the future, then. You said it yourself, so don't get mad when it gets annoying," she teased.

"Don't worry. If it's you, I won't see it as an annoyance, so don't be concerned."

She nodded, looked down, blushed slightly, and whispered softly, "Really, thanks, Aaron..."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing!" she exclaimed.

Just as he was about to inquire further, he heard footsteps approaching.

"What's going on in here?" asked Professor McGonagall, who had arrived first, followed by Professors Flitwick, Snape, and Quirrell.

Upon seeing the dead troll and the unharmed Hermione, Professor McGonagall was stunned. Quirrell, even more shocked, approached the troll, shrieked, and promptly fainted. Snape remained silent, his gaze fixed on Aaron.

"Mr. Aider! Care to explain what's going on in here?" McGonagall demanded angrily. Although Hermione was beside him, her eyes still red from crying, Aaron appeared composed and unharmed, so the professor directed her question at him.

"I was looking for Hermione since she didn't show up at the feast and encountered the troll entering the bathroom. I dealt with it accordingly," Aaron explained calmly.

"Just happened to encounter it?" She didn't believe him one bit. "Why are you here when there is a troll on the loose instead of leaving it to the professors? Do you know how dangerous that is?"

"Please, Professor, it's my fault. He came looking for me," Hermione interjected. "I came looking for the troll. I thought I could defeat it on my own because, you know, I've read all about them." She stammered, uncomfortable with lying.

Aaron glanced at her, shaking his head inwardly. So this part didn't change, he mused.

"If Aaron hadn't found me, I'd be dead by now. He didn't have time to let anyone know because when he arrived, the troll was about to smash its club down on me," she finished.

"Silly girl, how can you try to defeat a troll on your own? You're just a first-year student. No first-year could defeat a troll," McGonagall scolded.

"Oh?" Aaron made a slight noise, amused by her statement. There is a first-year who could defeat a troll right here, ma'am! But she continued without acknowledging him.

"I'm very disappointed in you, Miss Granger. Because ofyour reckless behavior, Gryffindor will be deducted 10 points. You'd better go back to the Gryffindor tower," she admonished.

With her head down, Hermione left, ashamed of the trouble she had caused for her house by losing points.

"As for you, Mr. Aider, I will award 20 points to your house for your bravery and willingness to help a fellow student in need. I will inform Professor Dumbledore. You may go now."

Aaron nodded and left for his dorm. When he arrived, he immediately went to his bed and lay down.

"Finally, time to see what my rewards are. I can't wait to see what bloodline I got."

System! Show me my rewards for the task of killing the troll! he shouted in his mind.

[Yes, host.]

As Aaron eagerly awaited the information about his rewards, he couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment. Not only had he saved Hermione, but he had also proven his abilities, even if only to himself. He knew that the challenges ahead would become more difficult, but for now, he allowed himself a moment of pride and satisfaction.

Little did Aaron know that the events of that night would be the beginning of a strong and lasting friendship with Hermione. In the days, weeks, and years to come, they would face countless challenges together, always supporting each other and growing stronger as a result. As Aaron lay there, reflecting on the night's events, he couldn't help but smile, knowing that he had found a true friend in Hermione Granger.