Ron Weasley woke up feeling important.
Very important.
Bandaged.
Warm bed.
People coming in to check on him.
Clearly—this meant only one thing.
He was a hero.
"I told you," Ron was saying loudly, waving his arms despite Madam Pomfrey's glare,
"the troll never stood a chance! One spell—BOOM!—straight into the wall!"
The story changed every five minutes.
Sometimes he'd stunned it.
Sometimes he'd outsmarted it.
Once, somehow, he'd wrestled it.
Harry and Neville woke up midway through version seven.
Harry stared at the ceiling.
"…Neville," he whispered.
"Yes?" Neville murmured weakly.
"Am I dead?"
Neville listened to Ron bragging.
"…I think this is worse."
Ron noticed them waking and immediately brightened.
"You should've seen it," Ron declared proudly.
"I told you to stay back while I handled it!"
Harry slowly turned his head toward Madam Pomfrey.
"Madam," he said politely,
"do you have a potion that knocks people unconscious?"
Pomfrey blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
"Preferably fast-acting," Harry continued seriously,
"and aimed at redheads."
Madam Pomfrey pinched the bridge of her nose.
"I do not," she said firmly.
Harry sighed.
"I tried."
Neville pulled his blanket over his head.
🍽️ The Great Hall — The Myth Spreads
By lunchtime, Ron had recovered enough to walk.
And talk.
And talk.
And talk.
At the Gryffindor table, Ron was in his element.
"And then," he said dramatically, standing on the bench,
"the troll charged me—me!—but I didn't flinch!"
The professors watched.
McGonagall's lips twitched.
Flitwick coughed violently into his sleeve.
Sprout stared very hard at her plate.
Snape looked like he was deciding between murder and restraint.
Dumbledore calmly buttered his toast.
No one corrected Ron.
Not a single word.
Lucien, seated at the Hufflepuff table, listened for exactly ten seconds.
"…Fascinating," he murmured.
Tonks snorted into her drink.
Susan was red-faced, trying not to laugh.
Cedric had given up and was openly grinning.
Akeno rested her chin on her hand, eyes amused.
"So," Tonks whispered,
"Ron apparently soloed a troll."
Lucien nodded solemnly.
"Truly terrifying," he replied.
"Someone alert the Ministry."
🦊 Silent Judgments
Around the hall, reactions varied.
Some first-years looked impressed.
Older students looked confused.
Slytherins exchanged knowing smirks.
Evelyne Black watched quietly.
She didn't believe a word.
Neither did Hermione, who had heard the real story from a Ravenclaw prefect who'd been nearby.
Lucien glanced toward the Gryffindor table.
Harry caught his eye.
Lucien gave him a look that said:
I know. You know. That's enough.
Harry smiled weakly.
🌙 Elsewhere, in the Shadows
Bayonetta laughed softly, unseen.
Humans, she mused.
They lie so beautifully when they're afraid.