In the girls' bathroom, Hermione was engulfed in sadness when she heard a light knock on the stall door.
"Hermione, is that you?"
"Who are you?" Hermione said, choking with sobs, "Are you here to laugh at me too?"
"I'm Padma Patil," Padma said gently, "The Halloween feast has probably started, Hermione. Vid and Michael are outside waiting for you—they're really worried about you."
"You, you go to the feast. Don't worry about me! Let me be alone for a while." Hermione stubbornly said, wiping away more and more tears.
She had cried for so long, her tears had long dried, yet she hid here out of grief, unwilling to face others' eyes. But hearing her friends' concern and receiving soothing words inadvertently caused her tears to spill once more.
Padma placed a hand on the stall door, speaking softly, "Hermione, I know what nonsense Weasley said. But I don't understand why you're letting the unfair judgment of a foolish boy upset you and overlooking your friends who truly care for you. Everyone says you're the smartest witch in the whole grade. Can't you tell what truly matters?"
Hermione's sobs subsided, and she remained silent for a moment.
"Here's a secret—those who slander you behind your back often do so out of insecurity and jealousy. You're smarter, more exceptional, and stronger than others in many ways, so they want to hurt you with their words. If you let that truly break your heart and push your friends away, then the bad guys win," Padma said, "The best way is to ignore those who slander you, shine your light, and pay no attention to the shadows in the corners. And if you feel like it, punch them! After all, you're a Gryffindor lion, right?"
"Squeak—"
A moment later, the stall door was pushed open.
Hermione stepped out, her eyes red, her voice still tinged with tears, "I'm not the smartest witch—Padma, you're the truly smart one."
Padma smiled and gave her a hug.
...
Vid and Michael had been waiting in the corridor for quite a while when they finally saw the two girls emerge from the bathroom. In fact, they had heard Padma's words to Hermione, but none of them brought it up.
Michael spread his arms wide, jokingly said with a grin, "Do you need a warm hug, Hermione?"
The brunette girl wiped her eyes and hugged Michael with a rib-cracking force, releasing him as he stood there stunned. Then she turned and hugged Vid tightly too.
"Thanks—sorry," Hermione said quietly.
Vid ruffled her hair lightly, saying nothing.
"No need to apologize, but I'm really anxious to enjoy the Halloween feast now. I hope they haven't finished all the desserts!" Michael said, rubbing his stomach, "Otherwise, we'll just have to sneak some food from the kitchen."
Padma asked curiously, "Where's the kitchen in Hogwarts? I've never seen it."
Michael's excitement perked up instantly, "The kitchen is very hidden, if not for Theo and the others—"
Vid came to a sudden halt, blocking the others with one hand, while his other hand swiftly drew his wand.
"—What's happened?" Michael paused and asked in a low voice.
Vid asked, "Didn't you hear that sound?"
Michael didn't respond, because they all could see it now—a massive gray-green hand had grabbed the edge of the wall at the corner, and a loud huffing sound came from out of sight.
Everyone's face turned pale in an instant, and Padma groaned, "Merlin—what kind of monster—"
A gigantic figure stepped around the corner.
It was at least twelve feet tall, its head nearly touching the ceiling, seemingly weighing at least two tons, with skin as disgusting as a toad's. With a massive body and a portly belly, a bald head sat on a short neck with scarcely any hair. The creature exuded a nauseating stench, its long arms almost reaching its knees, holding a tree trunk-like club in its hand.
"Impossible, there can't be a troll in the castle!" Padma's face was deathly white, her legs weak, and she leaned against Hermione for support.
The troll lowered its head and spotted them, its small eyes brimming with cruel excitement as it lifted its hefty legs and began striding toward them, raising the club in its grip.
Hermione's hand trembled uncontrollably, her wand pointed at the troll, yet clueless on which spell to use.
Michael fired spells in quick succession, "Petrificus Totalus! Petrificus Totalus!"
He hadn't yet mastered this spell; against the troll, it was as ineffective as raindrops on rhino skin. Vid raised his wand, racing through every spell he knew in his mind.
Vid knew many spells, but the troll's high "magic resistance" and superior physique meant even adult wizard spells struggled against it—this was a XXXX-rated creature, equally dangerous as Thunderbirds and Sphinxes.
Though Vid had questioned the rating when reading 'Monsters and Their Origins,' facing an enormous beast taller than a house was nonetheless suffocating.
"Bang!"
A bucket suddenly struck the troll's head, and Harry appeared from nowhere, shouting at them, "What are you doing standing there, run!"
Michael snapped back to reality, turning to drag the two girls away. But Vid stepped forward and pointed his wand, "Avis!"
A flock of chirping birds erupted from the tip of his wand, swarming the troll's face. The troll's simple mind was immediately distracted, and it grunted, trying to swat the birds with its fan-like hands.
Seeing it work, Michael and the others also shouted, "Avis!"
But their spells failed to summon anything, producing just a spark at wand tip, briefly catching the troll's attention.
The dozen or so birds Vid conjured surrounded the troll, as the hulking beast roared and bellowed, reducing the surrounding decorations to shambles with its club, but it was helpless against the nimble birds. However, as time passed, the birds' numbers dwindled rapidly.
Michael shouted, "This spell's only going to hold it off for ten seconds!"
Vid flicked his wand forcefully, "Glisseo!"
The troll's footing suddenly turned slick, causing it to topple unexpectedly; its massive frame hit the ground hard, shaking the entire floor, sending its club flying.
Hermione, looking as if she might faint, gathered her courage, extending her wand, "Wingardium Leviosa!"
The club soared high before crashing down onto the troll's head with a clatter. The troll swayed, attempting to rise with snarls and roars. Gritting her teeth, Hermione wielded the club, striking a second, third, and fourth blow…
Finally, the troll was blissfully knocked out.
Hermione, breathless, stopped, turning to see everyone gazing at her in shock and awe.
"What is it?" she blushed faintly, feigning nonchalance, she said to Padma, "Well, you were right—punching it does feel satisfying."
Padma was dumbstruck, speechless—Did I teach her that?
She couldn't bring herself to meet Vid and Michael's eyes.
"Harry—the troll! A troll got into the castle—get back to the dormitory! The troll—"
Ron ran over, yelling, and then his voice cut off abruptly as he stared at the scene, gasping and asking dumbly, "What happened?"