After giving the three troublemakers a good scare, Qin Yu casually flicked his wand, casting a Stunning Spell on the troll—just in case it decided to wake up and stage a classic villain's comeback.
Cautious and thorough—that was his style.
The three boys, who had just been bickering and sulking, froze in shock. They stared, wide-eyed, as Qin Yu performed the spell with effortless ease.
Until now, Qin Yu had always appeared before them as mature, commanding, sometimes even intimidating or wise, but never had they seen him actually cast a spell with a wand. They'd heard plenty about how tricky spellwork was—how it required not just the right words, but the proper wand movement, a clear intent, and plenty of practice. Even the Levitation Charm they'd just learned was still a struggle for most first-years.
But the Stunning Spell—a spell that could instantly knock out a living creature—was far more advanced and aggressive. Compared to the Levitation Charm, it was on a whole different level.
Watching Qin Yu pull it off so effortlessly, right in front of their noses, was like a trio of primary schoolers witnessing a high school senior solve complex trigonometry. They didn't even know what trigonometry was, but Qin Yu handled it as if it were child's play.
It was nothing short of awe-inspiring.
(And for the record, being compared to a high schooler isn't an insult—in fact, as everyone knows, high school is a stage that many never surpass in their lifetimes.)
Truth be told, when it came to spellcasting, Qin Yu was already ahead of many adult wizards. How much stronger was hard to quantify—after all, in the magical world, power wasn't measured by magic alone.
And considering that Qin Yu was only a year above them, Harry, Ron, and even Malfoy felt painfully aware of just how far behind they were.
Of course, these were only fleeting thoughts—nobody else would have guessed. Qin Yu himself certainly didn't care what the three boys thought. He knew his own strengths and weaknesses; nothing to be arrogant about, but no need for false modesty either.
...
The commotion on the first floor quickly caught the attention of the patrolling teachers. Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor House, was the first to arrive.
One glance at the unconscious troll on the ground made her frown. Seeing the three boys—robes askew, faces smeared with dirt—her frown deepened.
Anyone could guess what had happened.
A flash of anger mixed with concern flickered in Professor McGonagall's eyes.
Still, at least everyone seemed unharmed.
"Can someone tell me what happened here?" she demanded, her tone as cold as the dungeons.
This time, neither Harry nor Ron dared to answer. Both shrank back, looking utterly lost. An angry Professor McGonagall was a terrifying sight.
Malfoy didn't dare speak either. After what Qin Yu had said earlier, he was petrified that his unauthorized actions would cost Slytherin precious house points. Still, he knew there was no escaping this.
Let Harry Potter and the Weasley boy take the fall, he thought. I'm just a bystander—a concerned and helpful wizard passing through!
He waited, hoping Harry or Ron would speak first so he could chime in innocently.
But it was Adam who spoke up.
"Professor, it was my fault. I was hiding here, taking a nap. Harry and Ron just came looking for me."
Only then did Malfoy remember Adam was even in the room. He couldn't help but grumble inwardly, Why mention just those two? What about me? What's your game?
"We never meant to fight the troll," Ron added quickly. "But Adam was about to be attacked, so we had to try and save him."
"I'm sorry, Professor McGonagall," Harry blurted, "It's all my fault—I should have told you or another teacher first."
What a way to dodge the real issue, Malfoy thought sourly. They just want to look like heroes.
"And what about you, Mr. Malfoy?" Professor McGonagall's gaze snapped to him.
"I… I was just passing by…" Malfoy mumbled, barely audible.
"Just passing by?" McGonagall's eyebrow arched. She clearly didn't buy it.
Who would believe he'd just happen to stroll past a room with a rampaging troll inside?
Malfoy knew he was caught. He swallowed hard and confessed, "I… I saw Potter and Weasley leave the Great Hall, so I got… curious and followed them…"
"So, you're saying you left the Slytherin group and acted on your own—out of concern?" McGonagall pressed, her tone icy.
Leaving one's house group and acting independently—those were serious infractions.
Malfoy's heart hammered in his chest.
He had no choice but to nod and mutter, "Yes, it was… out of concern…"
The words tasted like ash in his mouth. He felt as if he'd swallowed a doxy—his stomach turned.
As if he actually cared about Harry Potter and the Weasley pauper! He was only admitting it because he had no choice.
Harry and Ron both edged away, grinning in disbelief. No one in their right mind would believe Malfoy cared about them.
Still, given that Malfoy had helped save them, neither was about to say it out loud.
"Qin Yu, you arrived before I did," Professor McGonagall said briskly. "Tell me what you saw."
"When I got here, they'd already knocked the troll out," Qin Yu replied. "From what they told me, Potter and Malfoy grabbed its neck, giving Weasley the chance to cast the Levitation Charm and knock it out with that club." He pointed at the thick wooden club lying beside the troll.
The club was nearly as thick as the troll's head—no wonder it had gone down for the count.
Professor McGonagall nodded, evidently satisfied. She addressed the young wizards: "Trolls may be vicious and destructive, but they're not particularly clever. Targeting the head is an effective way to subdue them."
Before the stunned students could respond, she raised her voice, her tone stern and formal: "However, I must emphasize—I do not recommend any of you risk facing a troll, even as a group of three!"
Harry and Ron both lowered their heads. Malfoy quickly followed suit, burying his chin in his chest.
They all dreaded what would come next.
"Mr. Quinn," Professor McGonagall turned to Adam, her expression grave, "You failed to follow school rules during class and meals, and in doing so, you endangered yourself and your friends. I believe deducting five points from Gryffindor will help you reflect on your mistake."
So the dreaded point deduction had come at last!
Harry, Ron, and Malfoy all felt doomed, their faces twisted in misery.
Adam, however, nodded calmly. "I accept the punishment."
This boy is remarkably composed, Qin Yu thought. I almost forgot he was even here.
Adam paused, glanced around, and added in a gentle voice, "I don't think I'm the main issue here."
He's right—the real troublemakers are those three, Qin Yu thought, amused.
Everyone else seemed to agree, even the newly arrived Professor Snape and a very pained-looking Professor Quirrell.
After a moment's pause, Professor McGonagall turned her attention to the three first-years, choosing her next words with care.
At that moment, all eyes were on Harry and the others. No one noticed the faint white light quietly fading from Adam's eyes—just as no one had noticed it appear in the first place.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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