SWNOVELXO Chapter 24: Another Lesson
Before Harry could fully recover from the shock of facing the troll, Professor Dracula's calm voice cut through the air, jolting him back to reality.
But Harry's mind was blank. The intensity of the scene moments ago had wiped out any memory of their Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson. He glanced desperately at Ron, who was still pressed against the corner, trying to disappear. Ron just gave him a helpless shrug, clearly unable to help.
A hand went up, trembling slightly.
"Miss Granger, care to answer on his behalf?" Dracula said, turning his attention to Hermione.
Harry sighed in relief but couldn't shake the weirdness of it all—how had the chaos of fighting a troll turned into something that felt like a classroom lecture?
"We... we're supposed to rely on other methods to defend ourselves," Hermione began, her voice shaky but growing steadier with every word. "Like alchemy armor, external tools, or—um—the simplest option: asking for help."
Dracula didn't interrupt, so she pressed on, her confidence growing. "For example, carrying looking glasses to raise an alarm or using the spark spell as a signal. But, uh, the spark spell should only be used with caution, since—"
"Enough," Dracula said, raising a hand to stop her.
"You've got an excellent memory, Miss Granger," he said with a faint smile. But before Hermione could bask in the compliment, his expression darkened.
"Now let me ask you this—did you apply what I taught you?"
Hermione's face fell, and she lowered her head like a scolded child.
Dracula's tone sharpened. "You practiced the spark spell in class, didn't you? Red sparks would've alerted us immediately, and we'd have been here before any of you got into danger."
"Yes, I warned that the spark spell could expose your position or provoke the enemy," Dracula continued. "But I also taught you to analyze the situation. Trolls, Miss Granger, are too dumb to tell the difference. A spark spell would've called for help, and simple delaying tactics would've bought you time until we arrived."
Hermione sniffled and mumbled, "I... I panicked. My mind went blank when I saw the troll..."
"That's why staying calm is so important," Dracula said. "You've simply not faced enough danger. Don't worry; I'll make sure to... broaden your experience."
A sly grin crossed his face, the kind that promised more trouble than comfort.
Harry and Ron exchanged uneasy glances. They didn't know what Dracula had in mind, but they already dreaded it.
"And as for you two," Dracula said, his eyes narrowing as they shifted to Harry and Ron. "Don't think you're off the hook."
Harry straightened up, his nerves prickling under the professor's sharp gaze.
"Your courage in coming to rescue Miss Granger is commendable," Dracula said, his voice calm but cutting. "But wandering into troll-infested corridors without a plan? Utter foolishness. There was a prefect in your group, and you even passed Professor Snape on the way. Why didn't you ask for help?"
Ron shifted uncomfortably and muttered, "Snape wouldn't care. He'd just take points from Gryffindor and leave."
"Professor Snape may be many things, but he wouldn't ignore students in danger," Dracula replied evenly. "And even if he did deduct points, do you seriously think house points are more important than your lives?"
Ron opened his mouth, then closed it again, realizing he didn't have a good argument.
"And let's talk about your battle tactics," Dracula said, now glaring directly at Harry. "What exactly were you trying to accomplish by shoving your wand up the troll's nose? Is that what you think magic is for?"
Harry glanced guiltily at the wand still stuck in the troll's nostril and decided to keep his mouth shut.
"You're wizards," Dracula snapped. "Not circus performers. Act like it."
"As for being unlucky enough to encounter a troll," Dracula continued, his tone almost dismissive, "that's not surprising at all. If you keep putting yourself in risky situations, bad luck is bound to catch up with you sooner or later. It's just a matter of time."
Harry and Ron exchanged uneasy glances before nodding reluctantly, finally convinced. Meanwhile, Hermione, ever the diligent student, had already pulled out a small notebook and was furiously jotting down notes.
The room fell silent, Dracula's words hanging heavily over them.
"Alright then, time to make up for your mistakes! Buckle up!" Dracula declared with a mischief in his eye.
Before anyone could react, he snapped his fingers.
The troll stirred, its massive body jerking back to life.
"A teaching opportunity like this is hard to come by," he added, smirking. "You three—figure out how to take it down!"
"Wait—Professor!" Harry yelped, scrambling backward.
Dracula leaned casually against the doorframe, watching them with a smirk. "Training time. Let's see how you handle it this time without dying.
By the way, the troll's weak spot is its head. Good luck."
As Dracula's words landed, the troll suddenly straightened up, glancing around with a dazed expression, clearly baffled by the situation around it.
Its brain—barely the size of a walnut—wasn't capable of grasping what was happening. Without wasting another moment and without thinking much, it decided to rely on brute force, raising its massive wooden club and swinging it straight at Harry, who was closest.
Harry, with his wand still jammed up the troll's nose, had no way to defend himself. He froze in place, instinctively ducking and clutching his head in terror. Hermione and Ron barely had time to gasp, watching helplessly as the troll's club came crashing down toward Harry.
Just when the club was about a hair's breadth from the lightning-shaped scar on Harry's forehead, the troll froze mid-swing, motionless once again.
"You're way too slow," Dracula's voice broke through, sharp and unimpressed, as he leaned lazily against the doorframe. "At this rate, you'd need a hundred lives just to survive one encounter." He folded his arms, shaking his head disappointedly.
Then, with a pointed look at Harry, he added, "Potter, grab your wand and get ready. Your next lesson starts now."
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