Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang…
As the troll's painful and pleading screams spread out from the girls' restroom, a continuous and rhythmic series of heavy thuds also echoed throughout the corridor.
Snape and Professor McGonagall, who had been actively searching for the troll, followed the overpowering stench. As they drew closer, they heard the distinct sounds of a struggle coming from the girls' restroom. Simultaneously quickening their pace, they rushed inside, only to be confronted with a sight that astonished them both.
At that moment, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were standing in a corner of the restroom, looking quite dazed and at a loss. Sean, meanwhile, was using the Levitation Charm to control the troll's own massive club, repeatedly bringing it down upon the creature's head and body. It was also clearly evident that the troll was entangled in a thick mass of tough-looking thorny vines.
The poor troll, having endured who knows how long of this torment and beating, was now only capable of producing very weak whimpers. Its face was a bruised and purple mess, covered in blood. Even the normally unflappable and well-informed Snape and Professor McGonagall couldn't help but feel a flicker of pity for the unfortunate creature.
Professor McGonagall had originally been very angry. Her initial intention had been to severely punish the young wizards who had disobeyed the professors' direct orders and gone searching for the troll on their own. But when she saw the scene before her, her emotions became somewhat disjointed.
"Mr.… Mr. Bulstrode," she stammered, "please stop. This troll can no longer offer any resistance."
"Really?" Sean turned his head to look at Professor McGonagall and said, his expression one of serious concern. "But this troll looked really terrifying just now. I think its current appearance is probably just an act."
"Please believe me, Mr. Bulstrode," Professor McGonagall insisted, "the troll's limited intellect makes it utterly incapable of faking anything. You have already subdued it. Please stop hitting it."
While Professor McGonagall was speaking, Dumbledore and Professor Flitwick, along with several other professors, also arrived one after another. They looked at the massive troll lying on the ground, weeping and crying sorrowfully, then glanced at Sean standing over it. They all felt that the scene before them was somewhat incongruous.
However, it was good that the troll had been subdued and that the children present were also unharmed. This outcome, at least, was acceptable to every professor.
After the initial shock subsided, Professor McGonagall regained her composure. Looking at Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Sean, all standing there amidst the wreckage, her anger couldn't help but surge again.
"Just now in the Great Hall," she began, her voice sharp with reprimand, "the professors explicitly told you all to go back to your common rooms and stay there. Why did you take it upon yourselves to come here? You are lucky you weren't killed by this troll!" As she spoke, Professor McGonagall suddenly remembered the troll's rather pitiful fate, and her emotional momentum was interrupted again. The words of reprimand that were about to follow immediately became difficult to articulate.
"Professor McGonagall…" Hermione stepped forward, coming before her Head of House, and said in a low, sobbing voice, "Actually, this whole thing is my fault. I've read a lot about trolls in books, and I thought I understood them enough. But I found out that real trolls are very different from what's written in books. If it weren't for Harry and Ron… and Sean worrying about me and coming here to find me and take me back, then I…"
She took a shaky breath. "They saved me. Harry poked the troll's nose with his wand and was then lifted up by the troll. Ron protected me and led me away from the troll's grasp. Sean came in afterwards and defeated the troll. They saved me."
Hearing Hermione's explanation, the anger on Professor McGonagall's face slightly diminished. Professor McGonagall greatly admired Hermione, a student of excellent character and academic performance. She even saw a reflection of her younger self in Hermione – equally outstanding and eager to learn. Therefore, Professor McGonagall could always be a little more lenient with Hermione.
"Miss Granger, how could you, you silly child, think that way?" she said, her tone softening. "What's written in books is always somewhat different from reality. How could you possibly defeat a mountain-like troll by yourself? For this, I must deduct five points from Gryffindor as punishment for your unauthorized actions. As for the others…"
Professor McGonagall looked at Harry, Ron, and Sean, considering whether she should deduct points from them as well.
At this moment, Dumbledore came before Professor McGonagall and said, his eyes twinkling, "Minerva, don't be too strict with them. While I admit that a certain amount of severity will teach children a lesson and help them grow better, in this particular matter, I think they have already learned their own lesson, haven't they?"
Having said this, Dumbledore looked at Harry and Ron and said, "Harry and Ron dared to search for and protect their friend, and for this, they did not hesitate to confront the troll head-on. For their courage, I think they deserve five points each!"
Dumbledore secretly winked at Harry and smiled at Harry and Ron in an encouraging manner. However, before Dumbledore could finish smiling, Snape interrupted him.
"Dumbledore," Snape said, his tone carrying a rare hint of open dissatisfaction, "I think this troll was primarily defeated by Sean!"
Hearing Snape's words, Dumbledore immediately smiled at Snape and said, "Of course, Severus. This troll was indeed primarily defeated by Sean, but before that, Harry and Ron also took action, which is an undeniable fact, isn't it?"
Snape scoffed at this and did not intend to comment further. It was no secret that Dumbledore favored Gryffindor, and especially after the Savior, Harry Potter, had entered Gryffindor, Dumbledore's favoritism had become even more obvious.
Dumbledore then looked at Sean, his face still wearing that kind and gentle smile, and said, "Sean, defeating a troll head-on in just your first year is something even many adult wizards might not be able to do. For this, I will add ten points to your Slytherin. I hope you won't consider this encouragement. If something like this happens again, I still hope you can listen to the professors and seek refuge as soon as possible."
"I understand, thank you, Professor."
"Mm." Dumbledore nodded, looked at the current situation, and said again, "Alright, Severus and Minerva, the two of you take your students back. We'll handle things here."
Professor McGonagall agreed, and Snape immediately left with Sean in tow.
They hadn't gone far when Snape, in a voice loud enough for anyone nearby to hear and that contained a clear hint of anger, said to Sean, "Sean Bulstrode, I hope that the next time you want to do something, you won't act like a reckless and impulsive Gryffindor, but rather like a calm and wise Slytherin. Understood?"
"I understand, Professor. I'm sorry for worrying you."
"Worry?" Snape snorted derisively. "Don't use your Gryffindor-like brain to guess my thoughts. I'm not worried about you. I'm just afraid you'll deduct points from Slytherin again and delay Slytherin's seventh consecutive championship. That is all!"
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