The Great Hall doors burst open.
Professor Quirrell stumbled in, face pale, turban askew.
"T–T–Troll! In the d–dungeon!" he shrieked dramatically—
—and promptly collapsed.
Silence.
Then chaos.
Students screamed. Benches scraped. First-years panicked.
Lucien, however, sighed.
"…He really doesn't have good acting skills," he murmured.
Tonks snorted.
Susan covered her mouth.
Cedric coughed to hide a laugh.
Akeno's shoulders shook.
Lucien stood up.
Calm. Unhurried.
He walked over to Quirrell's "unconscious" body and—without ceremony—
placed his foot firmly on Quirrell's back.
For just a fraction of a second—
Something old and terrified flinched beneath the skin.
A presence recoiled.
Lucien leaned down slightly, eyes sharp.
"…Pathetic," he whispered.
Then he stepped back, turned, and returned to the Hufflepuff table as if nothing had happened.
Sitting down, he added casually:
"That's how you sell a performance."
Tonks immediately pulled out parchment.
Cedric nodded seriously.
Susan actually wrote it down.
Akeno smiled fondly.
👀 The Professor Table
Snape's lips twitched.
Dumbledore covered his mouth with one hand, eyes sparkling.
Minerva McGonagall pinched the bridge of her nose—
but even she failed to hide the faint curl at the edge of her mouth.
Dumbledore rose, staff tapping once.
BOOM.
"Silence!"
The Hall stilled instantly.
"Prefects," Dumbledore commanded,
"escort your houses to their dormitories."
"The professors and I," he continued calmly,
"will take care of the troll."
Lucien tilted his head slightly.
Sure you will.
🧠 Silent Warnings
As students filed out, Lucien closed his eyes.
His voice echoed gently across the castle—telepathically.
Hermione. Penelope. Clara. Katie. Angelina.
Evelyne. Daphne. Cassandra.
Susan. Akeno. Tonks.
Stay in your dorms.
Lock the doors.
Don't come out until this is over.
One by one, he felt their responses.
Nods. Relief. Warmth.
Trust.
🦁 The Canon Diverges
Lucien's eyes followed two familiar figures slipping away from the crowd.
Harry.
Neville.
"…Of course," he muttered.
He lowered his voice.
"Darkrai."
The shadows beneath his feet shifted.
Red eyes opened in the darkness.
Yes, Master.
"Protect my brother. Harry. Neville. Ron," Lucien ordered calmly.
"Follow them."
"Only interfere if necessary."
A pause.
"If not… return."
As you command.
The shadow melted away.
🌙 Hufflepuff Dormitory
Later.
Lucien lay in his private room, curtains drawn, wards humming softly.
Akeno curled against his chest, arms wrapped around him.
Alolan Vulpix nested comfortably between them, tails glowing faintly.
Lucien's breathing slowed.
The castle trembled faintly in the distance.
A troll roared.
Somewhere, a dark lord panicked.
Lucien slept.
Unbothered.
🌑 Elsewhere…
Darkrai watched from the ceiling.
Harry raised his wand with shaking hands.
Neville stood firm.
Ron trembled—but stayed.
The troll loomed.
And the shadow waited.