Chapter 017
At this point in time, the only one who could hide on the second floor and cry was one of the tro, Hermione.
Regulus had been busy making the "Halloween Iron Golem" and almost forgot about this part of the plot.
Regulus arrived outside the girls' bathroom. though, he shouldn't be here, even if there was no one inside. But now there was someone—a little girl—inside, which was quite rude.
"Disillusionment!" Regulus Black vanished his figure and then pushed open the door to the girls' bathroom.
Arriving outside the stall where the crying was coming from, Regulus gently knocked a few times.
"Who is it? Go away!"
The crying stopped. Hermione was very reluctant to let anyone see her current state. Although many people already knew she was hiding in the bathroom crying, everyone tacitly allowed her to stay here alone. It didn't matter whether it was rejection or indifference; even Hermione herself felt the need for solitude, rather than comfort from others.
"Are you done in there? You can't occupy the bathroom for too long."
A teasing smile appeared on Regulus' face. Normal comforting might not work on Hermione, especially since she was a very calm person. Over time, she would adjust herself, but by then, he wouldn't have anything to do with it.
"Why are you, a boy, in the girls' bathroom?"
"Because the boys' toilets are all clogged."
"There are many empty stalls next to it."
"The toilets next to me are also clogged."
Hermione was about to scream; she had never encountered such a shameless person. Moreover, this male was standing in the girls' bathroom, wanting to come in despite the door being closed. Hermione felt her safety was no longer guaranteed. Who could come to save her!
"Don't you plan to come out now?"
"No! I need a long time. Why don't you find another floor's bathroom?"
"It would take a lot of time to find another bathroom, and I'm afraid I won't last until then."
Hermione had no words to respond; it seemed this person was determined to stay put.
"Alright! It looks like you won't be coming out anytime soon, so I'll just stand outside and chat with you. Standing still shouldn't be a problem."
"But I have a problem. If you stand outside, it might take me even longer."
"Then chatting is just right. Trust me, when a person relaxes, time will pass quickly."
Awkward silence! At this moment, Hermione just wanted to leave this place immediately. Perhaps crying for so long was a mistake.
Going back to the hall to enjoy Halloween treats and chat happily with her classmates, even seeing that annoying Ron would be a thousand times better than being trapped in a bathroom stall.
Miss Hermione was prepared to be a mute bird, not saying another word.
"Since you don't want to talk, then let me speak!"
"I know about you. You performed very well in Professor Flitwick's Charms class; you were the first to cast the Levitation Charm. For this, it's normal for a not-so-good student to see you as an enemy! Only incompetent people are not envied! Your grades are the best in all of Gryffindor, and it's a pity you didn't get into Ravenclaw; that's the best college for pursuing knowledge."
Regulus Black could no longer hear Hermione's crying; clearly, the little girl was listening carefully to him.
"But have you thought about why the Sorting Hat placed you in Gryffindor? Gryffindor is known for courage, while Ravenclaw is known for knowledge. You are a hardworking and ambitious child, and the reason you were placed in the Lion House is that you have the courage to face difficulties. Simply put, you are a hardworking genius, which is different from those talented geniuses in Ravenclaw. Of course, there's no superiority or inferiority between the two."
"So, in the face of those around you—those hostile gazes, isolating attitudes, and misunderstood remarks—the best way to counter those unfavorable situations is through your own actions, your strength, and your achievements. And I believe a Gryffindor student has enough courage to do this. So, stop crying!"
***
Meanwhile professor Quirrell suddenly burst into the hall, warning Dumbledore that a troll was in the school's dungeons, causing the students to experience the story of the big bad wolf eating children. The children were inexplicably terrified and rushed to flee the hall.
Under Dumbledore's reassurance, the upperclassmen from each house returned to their dormitories with their younger students.
Meanwhile, the professors left the hall, each with their own goals and thoughts.
However, Harry Potter and Ron broke away from the group upon realizing that Hermione was alone on the second floor, preparing to inform her about the troll.
The troll: a magical creature with decent resistance to magic, as a humanoid magical being, many parts of its body serve as raw materials for potion-making.
Regulus was even able to repurpose a troll specimen to create the necessary black sand for his skills.
There was no reason to let such a living, moving potion warehouse go to waste.
A faint stench had already wafted in with the footsteps, and the troll, with its large ears but poor eyesight, was drawn to the sound of conversation coming from the bathroom. Originally, it would have been attracted by Hermione's cries, but now it was drawn in by Regulus' voice.
Outside in the corridor, Harry Potter and Ron had also arrived, just in time to see the troll enter the girls' bathroom on the second floor.
"Ron, what should we do? It's heading towards the girls' bathroom."
"I don't know, let's go take a look."
The two bold little lions didn't even think to notify the professors first and recklessly ran over.
"If you don't show up soon, you'll miss the Halloween dinner!"
Regulus turned to see the troll that had just walked in, a cold smile appearing at the corners of his mouth; the timing was just right.
Having tidied her clothes and wiped away her tears, Hermione finally opened the door but saw no one. Instead, a troll stood at the entrance, staring at her with a vacant expression and licking its lips as if it had just seen a Halloween feast.
To the savage troll, the tender little girl in front of it was just a dish! No need for small talk, no need for a date, no need for a confession; just a swift strike to take her home—what a wonderful age this was.
The troll, adhering to the most primitive view of love, launched a fierce pursuit of the little girl.
"Ah!~" Hermione let out a high-pitched scream, preparing to hide back in the bathroom stall to evade the troll's gaze.
But she was uncontrollably grabbed and pulled back into the innermost part of the bathroom.
Regulus whispered in Hermione's ear, "Don't be afraid! Remember to use the Levitation Charm you just learned."
With him present, Hermione wouldn't end up in the same dire situation as in the original story; that would definitely be a stain for a gentleman who was a loli enthusiast.
"Take out your wand and focus on the troll's club."
Regulus set the little girl down and encouraged her on what to do.
Although Hermione still couldn't see Regulus Black, who had used the Disillusionment Charm, she believed in his words from the bottom of her heart.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
Seizing the moment, Hermione accurately aimed at the troll's raised club, and after casting the Levitation Charm, the dazed troll lost its weapon.
"Hermione! We're here."
The two little lions rushed in but found Hermione disarming the troll's weapon with her wand, both of them dumbfounded.
An invisible hand was helping Hermione control the club in the air, and when the troll looked up, it accurately fell and struck its face.
As a species with a small head, after gaining a body resistant to magic, the physical defense of its head was close to zero.
Although the troll was dangerous for children, for adult wizards, it was just something that could be easily dealt with like a flock of birds.
Regulus Black gently nudged Hermione, showing no intention of revealing himself.
Although Hermione didn't know who was helping her, the fact that they weren't showing themselves clearly indicated that they had their reasons.
Therefore, Hermione was ready to take on everything herself.
When Professors McGonagall, Snape, and Quirrell burst in, they saw the fallen troll and the three students.
"Professor! This is all my fault. I was too curious about the troll's appearance, and it seems I've already defeated it." Confident Hermione took all the responsibility.