"The troll has been killed!"
That night, the news spread like wildfire across Hogwarts!
The next morning, even the most sleep-loving students didn't bother washing their faces before rushing out, still yawning, to the courtyard.
It was November, and frost covered the ground of Hogwarts. Stepping on it made a crisp crunching sound, and the cold wind seemed to seep into the bones.
But nothing could dampen their enthusiasm.
In the courtyard lay the headless corpse of a troll, its body stiff and glistening with frost. A crowd of curious students gathered around it. Filch had nailed a wooden sign in front of the body, briefly explaining the events of the previous night.
"...Mr. Vaughn Weasley and Mr. Ron Weasley were each deducted 10 points for leaving the Great Hall without permission. However, upon encountering the troll, they displayed courage, composure, and teamwork. Mr. Vaughn Weasley ultimately slew the troll with the support of Mr. Ron Weasley, using exceptional spellcasting. As a result, Slytherin has been awarded 30 points, and Gryffindor, 20."
This dry official statement did little to satisfy the excited curiosity of the students.
Fortunately, it was Halloween. No classes. Plenty of time to gossip.
The lively Gryffindor students had been preparing since last night and were now hosting a celebratory 'breakfast' in their tower. The jubilant Weasley twins had even sent invitations to the other houses.
As they welcomed students, they cheered proudly: "Our little brother killed the troll!"
When students from other houses poured into the Gryffindor common room, Percy Weasley stood at the entrance, wearing his prefect badge and greeting everyone with a beaming smile.
"Thank you for attending my brothers' victory celebration."
"Yes, yes, Vaughn and Ron are brilliant—just like me. We're all the pride of the Weasley family."
The Gryffindor common room had been cleaned efficiently. Long tables were pushed together, and the Hogwarts house-elves had outdone themselves preparing a feast.
One of the tables was especially crowded. Students with pies and buns in hand listened eagerly as Ron Weasley—the hero of the night—vividly recounted the battle.
"It was at least twenty feet—yes, I know trolls are only twelve feet tall! I meant visually! When something that huge charges at you, it looks way taller..." His face flushed with excitement, eyes gleaming, Ron launched into the tale:
"Then Vaughn yelled 'Reducto!' and cast a powerful curse—BOOM! The troll's club shattered into flying splinters, and its mountain-thick skin burst open, debris flying through the air. The troll roared in agony, like this—'AAARGH!'"
The younger students gasped in awe, caught up in the thrill of the moment.
Even the older students were captivated—after all, Ron was talking about spells they themselves had learned.
Although... the spell effects Ron described were a bit hard to picture.
A curious young wizard asked admiringly, "Ron, what spell did you use?"
Ron puffed out his chest. "Oh, it was incredibly powerful—" He made up something on the spot. "The troll went blind all of a sudden!" Then, swiftly redirected the story to Vaughn using a Blasting Curse again.
In Ron's version, the whole battle was epic—the troll terrifyingly strong, Vaughn fiercely determined, and with Ron's brave assistance, a powerful spell finally blew the monster to bits.
As for why the troll's body in the courtyard was mostly intact?
Well, clearly the professors had reassembled it! Except for the head, of course—because "Vaughn was so furious, he blasted it into a thousand pieces. Totally unrepairable."
Meanwhile, Harry and Hermione sat quietly in a corner. They had only returned from the hospital wing that morning. Madam Pomfrey had given Harry a large glass of calming draught to soothe the aftereffects of his intense headache.
At first, Harry listened with interest, but Hermione whispered, "Ron's exaggerating."
Harry disagreed. He leaned in and whispered, "But you saw it too—how powerful Vaughn and that dark wizard were."
"That's because Vaughn is powerful," Hermione replied. "But he definitely didn't fight like Ron says—it was over too fast."
Harry's excitement faded. He nibbled his bread in silence, one hand rubbing his forehead. After a long pause, he asked,
"Hermione... why do you think Dumbledore told us not to talk about what happened on the fourth floor?" He'd been pondering it all night, and still had no answers.
He had so many questions.
Who was the man in black robes? Why did his scar hurt when he saw him? Why had that man called out to a "master" when Vaughn overwhelmed him? And how was he able to sense the man's thoughts?
He wondered if it was a curse.
But Madam Pomfrey had thoroughly examined him last night and found no trace of dark magic. She thought the trauma had made him hallucinate.
Harry wasn't so sure.
Hermione thought for a moment, then set down her book. "Dumbledore probably didn't want to cause panic. He wants to investigate quietly."
"Why?"
"It's obvious, Harry. If a dark wizard really infiltrated Hogwarts, Dumbledore would've sent professors to search the castle—unless he suspects the intruder was a professor."
Harry froze. The man in black robes... a professor?
It was a wild idea. But the more he thought about it, the more sense it made. So... which professor?
Names flashed through his mind—and then he landed on one: Snape.
He said it aloud to Hermione, but she immediately snapped, "Impossible!"
"Hermione, you always treat teachers like saints. Snape hates you."
"But last night, Snape was in the basement with Dumbledore. How could he also be on the fourth floor?"
"When Professor McGonagall sent us to get Madam Pomfrey, she said the basement was like a maze. They must've gotten separated. And Snape was the last to arrive at the Headmaster's office."
Hermione looked troubled but insisted, "Still... no way!"
She hesitated, then picked up her book again and muttered, "Do you remember the spell Vaughn used yesterday? Sectumsempra?"
Of course, Harry remembered—it had sliced right through the dark wizard's Shield Charm. It was awesome.
Hermione said, "I probably shouldn't say this, but... Vaughn told me Snape taught him that."
She stuffed her books into her bag and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Harry asked.
"To see Vaughn. One of you is bragging, the other is accusing a professor, and neither of you bothered to visit him!"
Feeling guilty, Harry quickly grabbed a piece of bread and hurried after her.
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P@atreon/Arvinstorm (30+ Advanced Chapters)