The troll roared, swinging its club down onto the same sink Hermione Granger was huddled under. She shrieked, just crawling out of the way in time. He narrowed eyes- what was a troll doing inside of Hogwarts? It was travesty that such a historical school had such poor defences. He twirled his wand, well, they would have to remedy that.
"Ah-hm," he coughed.
The troll swung round clumsily, grunting as it eyed him. It beat its club in the other hand as if trying to intimidate him. Whilst yes, he was re-evaluating his own sense of self-preservation, he was not at all intimidated. He raised an eyebrow, a simple enough gesture, designed for a simple mind- the troll's- to understand. As expected it roared and swung down the club- something he hastily side-stepped.
He went through a hundred spells in his mind before deciding on one that a) would not get him expelled and b) was not going to deplete what was left of his core entirely. A simple severing charm would do it, even if it did have to be a little overpowered.
"DIFFINDO!" All of his effort was thrown into this single spell, though a small part was held back should he need to use it, and the idea of being unconscious in front of a school of those who wished him ill was not something he was eager to achieve.
There was a pause where the spell flew, and all three in the bathroom felt it. And then it hit, exactly where it was aimed. The neck. It was in the brief moment of decapitation that he briefly thought over the idea of becoming an executioner- he certainly would be good enough at it. The insufferable girl let out a horrified scream as the head became detached from the body- each falling at their own rate. The head lolled first, scattering across the bathroom floor. Then the body fell heavily against the stone with a thud and a disturbance in the dust.
"You- you killed it."
Slipping his wand up his sleeve, he inclined his head. "I presume you do not need any help in making your way to the hospital wing?"
She gaped. "How can you be so calm?!"
He looked up at her. "Should I be anything else? Miss Granger, it was a kill or be killed situation. What did you expect me to do? Be killed?" He sneered the last question mockingly.
"Well…of, of course not," she stuttered, "But…"
He couldn't help the amused smirk. "Oh I see, the little mudblood thought that the eleven-year-old everyone else had labelled as a murderer when he was six would be fretting over the idea of killing another sentient creature? I see how your logic works, it's very thorough." He rolled his eyes, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be going…"
"You most certainly will not!"
He repressed a sigh, his whole body tensing and a scowl forming on his cool mask. He turned, coming face to face with Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape and a shaking Professor Quirrel. He couldn't help but narrow his eyes at the last one. He would find out his secret soon enough.
"Professors," he acknowledged tightly.
"What are you doing outside of your dormitories?" Professor McGonagall demanded shrilly, looking somewhat shaken at the scene she had walked into.
"I'm sorry, were we meant to be there?" he asked, genuinely confused, "I thought the feast would still be going on…"
"Due to the wanderings of a stray troll, students were asked to go to their dormitories, Mr Peverell-Slytherin," Professor Snape said slowly, "Which begs the question, why you are not in your dormitory?"
"I was not at the feast, and therefore not aware of the demand, sir," he said simply, "I was just heading to said feast when Miss Granger's shriek spiked my curiosity."
"Spiked…your curiosity?" Professor Snape repeated. He paused, gradually forming an invisible smirk. "It seems we have an accidental hero in our midst."
He just about refrained from sneering. "I think not. Kill or be killed. As you can see, I chose the first option."
Professor McGonagall turned her attention to the shaking lion. "And you Miss Granger? What were you doing outside of your dormitory?"
Granger stumbled for a few moments. "I never made it to the feast. I wanted to spend some time alone…"
"And naturally, the lavatory was your first choice," Snape drawled sarcastically.
Granger blushed. "Well…I…"
"Do not fluster the girl, Severus," McGonagall said sharply. "She's been through quite the ordeal." She turned her sharp eyes onto Harry. "Ten points to Slytherin Mr Peverell-Slytherin for aiding a fellow student, accidental or not. Quirinius, if you dispose of the body, I will be taking Miss Granger to the hospital wing."
"O…of course M…Minerva," Quirrel stuttered, not missing the narrowing gaze of the single boy he had slipped up in front of.
"If I may return to my dormitory then, Professors?" he said curtly, reminding them of his own presence and desires to leave their presence as soon as possible. Though he would not admit it, he had expended far too much magical energy in one night and was longing for the comfort of a bed.
"You may," Professor Snape answered, stepping aside from the door.
He walked past without a hesitation. The second he stepped into the safety of no-prying eyes, he slumped and allowed the exhaustion to mark his features. Yes, it had been a long night.
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