Re:HP-A New Life

Chapter 32: Chapter 31



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Chapter Thirty-One: The Troll in the Dungeon

The Great Hall was alive with the hum of students enjoying the Halloween feast. The tables were piled high with all manner of festive foods: roasted meats, pumpkin pasties, and cauldrons of steaming hot cider. The air was filled with laughter and chatter, the warmth of the celebration a stark contrast to the chill autumn wind outside. For Harry Potter, sitting at the Slytherin table, this was a starkly different experience from the Halloweens of his past. In the previous timeline, Halloween was a day of sorrow—the anniversary of his parents' deaths. But now, with his family alive and thriving, it was simply another day.

Harry glanced across the hall at the Gryffindor table, where Rose sat surrounded by her friends, Hermione and Ron. She was laughing, her cheeks flushed from excitement. Harry couldn't help but smile softly, seeing his sister so carefree and happy. The sight filled him with a sense of contentment, a reminder of how much things had changed.

Suddenly, the doors to the Great Hall burst open with a resounding crash, silencing the lively crowd. All heads turned to see Professor Quirrell stumble in, his face pale, his turban askew. His eyes were wide with terror as he staggered forward, gasping for breath. "Troll! In the dungeon!" he cried, his voice shrill and panicked. "Thought you ought to know!" With that, he collapsed in a dead faint on the stone floor.

For a moment, there was stunned silence. Then, chaos erupted. Students screamed, leaping from their seats, their faces etched with fear. The professors quickly moved to calm the pandemonium, their wands drawn, eyes scanning the hall for immediate danger.

Harry remained calm amidst the chaos, his eyes darting to the Gryffindor table. Rose was still there, safe and unharmed, though her face mirrored the concern of those around her. With a subtle movement, Harry raised his hand under the table, performing a silent spell to check if any students were missing from the hall. He felt a slight tension ease from his shoulders when his spell confirmed that everyone was accounted for.

Professor Dumbledore's authoritative voice boomed across the hall, bringing instant silence. "Prefects, please escort your houses back to their dormitories immediately. Teachers, follow me to the dungeons. We must ensure the safety of all students."

The prefects quickly sprang into action, organizing their housemates and leading them out of the Great Hall. The Slytherin students moved swiftly and quietly through the dimly lit corridors, their footsteps echoing in the silence. The atmosphere was tense, the younger students clinging to the older ones, eyes wide with fear.

As they turned a corner, a massive figure loomed ahead—a mountain troll. It stood nearly twelve feet tall, its skin a rough, stony grey, and its eyes small and beady. It gripped a giant club in its thick, muscular hand, swinging it menacingly.

The prefects halted, raising their wands in a feeble attempt to protect the students. They cast spells at the troll, but the creature's thick hide rendered their efforts useless. The spells fizzled out on contact, only serving to irritate the troll further. It let out a low, guttural growl, advancing on the group.

Harry stepped forward, his expression calm but resolute. He knew that revealing his true magical capabilities would raise too many questions, but he also knew he had to act quickly. Drawing his wand, he focused on the troll's club. With a flick of his wrist, he cast the Levitation Charm.

The club wrenched free from the troll's grip, hovering in mid-air for a moment before Harry sent it flying down the corridor. The troll, momentarily distracted, turned to follow its weapon. Seizing the opportunity, Harry directed the club back at the troll with another flick of his wand. The heavy weapon hurtled through the air, striking the troll squarely on the forehead with a resounding crack. The creature swayed on its feet, then collapsed to the ground in a heap, unconscious.

The corridor fell into a stunned silence. The students, who had been cowering behind the prefects, now stared at Harry with a mix of awe and disbelief. The prefects themselves seemed at a loss for words, their wands still raised but forgotten in their hands.

Before anyone could speak, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor. Professors McGonagall, Slughorn, Snape, and Dumbledore arrived, their faces etched with concern. McGonagall's sharp eyes immediately took in the scene—the unconscious troll, the scattered students, and Harry standing at the forefront.

"What happened here?" she demanded, her voice stern but laced with concern.

One of the prefects stammered, "Th-the troll, it—it came out of nowhere. W-we tried to stop it, but—"

Harry stepped forward, his voice steady and composed. "The troll was in our path. I used a Levitation Charm to disarm it and knock it out."

McGonagall's stern gaze softened slightly as she regarded Harry. Her lips pursed in thought before she nodded. "Well done, Mr. Potter. Your quick thinking likely prevented serious injuries."

Slughorn beamed, his eyes twinkling with pride. "Quite impressive for a first-year, I must say."

Snape's expression was as inscrutable as ever, though his dark eyes lingered on Harry for a moment longer than necessary.

Dumbledore stepped forward, his gaze filled with a mix of admiration and curiosity. "Indeed. A brave and resourceful act. Thank you, Harry."

Harry inclined his head slightly, his face remaining impassive. "Just doing what I could to help."

The professors quickly took charge, ensuring that the troll was securely dealt with and guiding the students back to their dormitories. As Harry walked back with the Slytherins, he couldn't help but glance over his shoulder at the professors. He knew that tonight's events would raise questions, but for now, he was content knowing that everyone was safe.

Later that night, as he lay in bed staring at the canopy above, Harry reflected on the events of the evening. The Halloween that once brought him sorrow had become a night of bravery and camaraderie. And though the path ahead was uncertain, Harry felt a renewed sense of purpose—a determination to protect those he cared about, no matter the cost.


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