“Well, um,” Harry said nervously, “there was this troll. And… I think we killed it.”
Hermione gasped.
“Oh, we did, didn’t we! I mean, I know we didn’t have a choice, but it was still a semi-sentient being!”
Snape, who had walked past them to examine the fallen beast, snorted loudly in contempt at Hermione’s soft-heartedness.
“Then rejoice, Miss Granger, for your poor innocent victim is not dead. A troll’s regenerative powers are second to none. Your… innovative use of what appears to be Mr. Longbottom’s wand as an excerebration tool has placed the troll in a coma. When the obstruction is removed, the damage will heal itself and the troll will return to life no worse for wear.” Snape turned toward Quirrell, who shrank back from his gaze.
“With that in mind, perhaps Professor Quirrell might see to the troll’s proper containment. As I recall, you have presented yourself as something of an expert on trolls, have you not?”
“Oh, y-y-y-yes, P-p-p-professor S-s-s-snape. R-r-r-right away!”
“But what I wish to know, Miss Granger, Mr. Longbottom, is what on Earth possessed you to go after a troll in the first place!” McGonagall practically shrieked.
“Well,” Harry interjected calmly while brushing dust and debris from his robes, “to be honest, we weren’t actually going after the troll at all. The announcement at dinner said the troll was in the dungeon, not on the first floor. However, Neville… took ill during Charms and was in here when the announcement was made. We just wanted to make sure he was safe.”
“It is true, Minerva, that young Longbottom took ill during my class today,” Professor Flitwick confirmed.
“I allowed him to leave early and did not see him at dinner. I was actually considering sending a prefect to check on him when Quirinus made his announcement. In my distraction, I quite forgot about you, Mr. Longbottom, for which I offer my most sincere apologies.”
“That explains Miss Granger’s presence, Potter, but the Slytherins were instructed to remain in the Great Hall. What are you doing here?” Snape asked harshly. This chapter is updated first at NovelPing.
“Neville is my friend, sir,” Harry said simply.
He did his best to ignore the look of contempt that provoked in his Head of House.
“Ahem,” McGonagall interrupted.
“That’s all well and good, but if I may ask—how did three first-years manage to defeat a troll?!”
“Oh, well, trolls have magic-resistant skin, so none of our spells could hurt it. But then Neville had this absolutely brilliant idea of jamming his wand up the troll’s nose. Once he’d inserted the excerebration tool Professor Snape mentioned, we drove it the rest of the way into its brain with the Levitation Charm we learned from Professor Flitwick.”
“Oh, good show!” Flitwick exclaimed excitedly.
“An awareness of the defensive properties of a dangerous creature. A resourceful use of an improvised weapon. And a creative application of a charm you only learned this week. Plus inter-House cooperation! Well done! I think an award of, say, fifteen points apiece seems appropriate. Don’t you agree, Severus? Minerva?”
Neither of the other two objected (though Harry thought Snape had considered it), and McGonagall said it was time for the three children to return to their dorms.
She would escort Neville and Hermione to Gryffindor Tower, while Snape would take Harry back to the Slytherin dungeons.
But at that point, Neville stepped forward.
“Excuse me, Professor McGonagall. Before we do that, I need to go to the Headmaster’s office—or really any office with a Floo connection. I need to speak to my Gran. Immediately.”
“Mr. Longbottom,” McGonagall replied, “it’s very late. I know this has been traumatic for you, but I think it would be best if you got some rest and contacted your grandmother by owl in the morning.”
“I’m sorry, Professor,” Neville said, a bit more forcefully, “but I really need to speak with my Gran as soon as possible. Also, I would appreciate it if someone with the authority to do so contacted the DMLE and arranged for a couple of Aurors to come to the school so I could make a statement.” New chapters come out on novelping . com first.
A heavy silence descended over the room.
“Mr. Longbottom,” McGonagall said, now with a touch of asperity, “at this point, there is no evidence that the troll’s appearance is anything but an unfortunate lapse in the castle’s wards. The incident will be investigated by the Hogwarts staff, and if it is determined that the troll was brought into the school intentionally—”
“Professor McGonagall,” Neville interrupted, now visibly annoyed with his Head of House, “with all due respect—sod the flipping troll. I want to speak to my Gran, and I want to speak to someone from the DMLE.” As he spoke, Neville reached into his pocket and pulled out his Rememberall, which was now perfectly clear of any redness.
“Because I have just learned that my great-uncle, Algernon Longbottom, Regent for House Longbottom, has tried to murder me.” He glanced significantly at Harry and Hermione before looking back at his Head of House.
“Five times.”
Harry’s eyes widened.
Hermione clapped a hand over her mouth.
“Bloody hell,” she whispered.
Despite his exhaustion, the corners of Neville’s mouth rose into a faint smile.
“Language, Hermione.”