The castle's ancient corridors were quiet now, dimly lit by floating torches that flickered as though sensing the tension in the air. Louis, Charles, Harry, and Ron moved quickly, their footsteps echoing softly along the stone floors. The danger was real. Somewhere ahead of them, a mountain troll was loose. And Hermione was alone.
As they turned a corner, Louis looked sideways at Harry and Ron.
"Explain," he said sharply. "How did she end up alone in the bathroom?"
Harry winced. "We… well, we had an argument earlier. She overheard Ron saying something stupid, and she ran off crying."
"We didn't mean it," Ron added hurriedly. "But she never came down for the feast, and when we saw the troll—"
"You waited too long," Louis cut in, his tone stern but controlled. "If anything happens to her—"
"We know," Harry murmured, guilt clear on his face.
They picked up the pace.
Moments later, they reached the girls' bathroom. From the inside came a terrified scream and the sound of shattering porcelain.
Louis flung the door open.
Hermione stood cornered, her wand clutched tightly but uselessly in her hand. Towering over her, the troll roared, its club raised high.
"Harry, Ron—get her out!" Louis ordered, already stepping forward with Charles at his side.
The two boys rushed in, grabbing Hermione by the arms.
"Come on!" Harry shouted, pulling her toward the door.
The troll turned, distracted by the movement. That was all Louis needed.
"Expulso!" he shouted, aiming at the floor beneath the troll.
The explosion rocked the ground, sending rubble into the air and staggering the beast. Charles didn't hesitate.
"Confringo!" he cast, blasting the troll's side. The creature howled, swinging its club wildly.
Louis stepped in, wand swirling with fluid precision.
"Vincula Obscura!" Thick, magical chains erupted from his wand, wrapping around the troll's legs. The beast fought back, dragging itself forward with terrifying strength.
"It's too strong!" Charles called. "It's breaking the binding!"
"Keep it busy," Louis responded, his voice calm.
Charles nodded, casting a barrage of spells—Stupefy, Bombarda, and a shimmering shield charm that blocked the troll's wild swipe.
Louis took a deep breath, focusing. Magic flowed through him like a storm waiting to be unleashed.
"Incisio Profunda!" he called, aiming at the troll's raised arm.
A brilliant arc of blue light sliced through the air, striking true.
The troll roared in agony as its massive arm, severed at the elbow, tumbled to the floor. Unbalanced and bleeding heavily, the creature stumbled backward, crashing to the ground with a thunderous thud.
Breathing heavily, Louis raised his wand again, just in case. Charles moved beside him, eyes still alert.
Then the door burst open.
Dumbledore entered in a flash of blue and silver, followed closely by Professors McGonagall, Snape, and Quirrell. With a single flick of his wand, the Headmaster cast a stasis charm that fully immobilized the beast.
Silence hung for a heartbeat.
"What happened here?" McGonagall asked, aghast.
Louis turned, lowering his wand. "Hermione was trapped. We came to help."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stepped into view.
"They saved me," Hermione said breathlessly. "I—I couldn't move. Louis and Charles… they fought it."
Charles stepped forward. "Louis was the one who took it down. He kept his focus the whole time."
Louis glanced at him, a bit embarrassed. "We all acted. Charles held it off with advanced spellwork. Harry and Ron got Hermione to safety."
Dumbledore looked at them all, his expression unreadable.
"A troll is not easily subdued," he said softly. "Even for a seasoned wizard. The fact that the two of you managed to do so speaks volumes."
Snape's eyes narrowed, studying Louis, but he said nothing.
"Well," McGonagall said, visibly trying to collect herself, "you acted bravely. Foolishly, perhaps, but bravely. Five points each to Harry and Ron for rescuing their classmate. Ten points to Miss Granger for surviving such a dangerous encounter. Twenty points each to Mr. De Versailles and Mr. Blackwood for their outstanding courage and skill."
Charles's face lit up. Louis simply nodded.
"You should all return to your common rooms," Dumbledore added. "We will deal with the troll."
As they exited, the group walked in silence through the corridors, adrenaline still buzzing in their veins. When they reached the Ravenclaw common room, Charles turned to Louis.
"You realize you just outdueled a troll, right?"
"I didn't have time to think about it," Louis admitted. "I just… did what felt right."
The moment they stepped into the common room, a wave of cheers and applause broke out. News had already spread. Ravenclaws rushed forward, asking questions, shaking their hands, showering them with praise.
Louis tried to slip into the background, but Charles wouldn't have it.
"Don't let him disappear!" Charles called. "You lot don't even know what kind of spells he used! I've seen seventh-years mess up high-tier cutting charms. He executed it perfectly."
Louis chuckled softly, a bit overwhelmed.
"Seriously," Charles continued, standing on a chair. "He didn't just wound it—he disabled it. I wouldn't be standing here without him."
The room erupted in renewed cheers. Louis felt a wave of warmth, a different kind of recognition from the fame of the past week. This wasn't about a newspaper article or a published book. This was about real action, witnessed by his peers.
As the night settled, and the excitement died down, Louis allowed himself to sit back beside the fire, Charles beside him, the others gathered nearby. They didn't need to speak much.