Just then, a sound resembling the roar of a beast reached both their ears.
"Let's go, Professor Snape," Adrian sighed in relief, finally finding a topic of conversation. "Looks like the professors have found the troll."
When Adrian and Snape arrived at the scene, they found that most of the professors were already there. Even Quirrell was present.
Compared to the original story, the plot didn't seem to have changed much.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were standing with heads lowered, receiving a lecture from Professor McGonagall.
When Adrian arrived, Harry looked up at him, seeming somewhat ashamed. But Adrian didn't think there was anything to be ashamed of. Though it was rash, Adrian greatly admired their action. So, he gave Harry a reassuring look.
Many professors were present, and everyone telepathically agreed to leave the task of dealing with the three youngsters to Professor McGonagall.
Of course, leaving it to Professor McGonagall made sense, as she was the Head of Gryffindor House.
While Professor McGonagall was lecturing, Adrian tapped Quirrell on the shoulder.
Quirrell nearly jumped in fright.
"Don't be alarmed, Professor Quirrell." Adrian displayed a friendly smile. "I'm just curious, Professor Quirrell, where did you get the troll from?"
Quirrell's face instantly turned pale, and he stammered: "I... I... th-that troll was f-found in the F-Forbidden Forest. I l-locked it in a cl-classroom."
'The Forbidden Forest?' Adrian nodded.
Indeed, trolls did live in Hogwarts' Forbidden Forest; Adrian had encountered them during his school days.
However, Adrian felt that Quirrell had overacted a bit during the feast.
For someone who could capture a live troll in the Forbidden Forest, to faint because the troll escaped seemed highly illogical.
At this point, Professor Flitwick walked over with small steps and asked puzzledly: "Professor Quirrell, I have a question. How did the troll escape?"
Adrian looked at Professor Flitwick and noticed a disappointed expression on his face.
This was understandable—after all, Quirrell had been a Ravenclaw student, and Flitwick had been his Head of House.
Quirrell hunched his shoulders, his voice trembling and his gaze unstable: "I... I locked the troll in the dungeons, but... but when I went back to check, the troll was gone... there was... there was a large hole in the wall..."
Professor Flitwick's voice rose an octave, his already high-pitched voice becoming even more piercing: "Oh, Professor Quirrell, how could you be so careless..."
Professor McGonagall quickly uncovered the course of events.
It was much as Adrian had imagined—Harry and Ron had gone looking for Hermione, and the three of them had worked together to defeat a troll.
Regardless of how it happened, three freshly enrolled students working together to defeat a troll was commendable.
In the end, Professor McGonagall awarded five points each to Harry and Ron, and deducted five points from Hermione, resulting in a net gain of five points for Gryffindor.
For the three of them, this was probably a good outcome.
For Adrian, it hadn't been a perfect evening. Not only had the original Halloween feast been ruined, but he had also fought with Snape, and the freshly healed scar on his face still ached faintly.
Perhaps he could visit the kitchen again later.
After Harry, Ron, and Hermione left, only the professors and an unconscious troll remained.
This led to the next question: how to deal with this troll?
"Professor Westeros."
Hearing someone call his name, Adrian looked up to find Dumbledore smiling at him.
"The troll is now your responsibility, Professor Westeros," Dumbledore said. "Send it outside or deep into the Forbidden Forest—as you wish, just make sure it's far from the castle."
"It's up to you," Professor McGonagall nodded. "Be careful, don't let it escape again."
The other professors didn't raise any objections either. Adrian could only agree.
Then, before Adrian could respond, Dumbledore announced: "Well, everyone, tonight's matter has been resolved. You've all worked hard; go and rest now."
The professors nodded and gradually left the scene.
As Snape left, he gave Adrian a cold look and said: "Don't do anything unnecessary."
Adrian glared back at him. It seemed Snape still hadn't dismissed his concerns, but this time, Adrian felt that Snape probably wouldn't follow him.
Soon, only Adrian remained at the scene.
'What should I do now?'
Adrian looked at the unconscious troll and nudged it with his foot. The troll immediately stirred, rolled over, and began snoring.
He could still sleep? That's a troll for you.
For Adrian, the troll in front of him had no particular use. No part of the troll's body had any real value. Except for its whiskers, which could possibly be used as a wand core.
But Adrian didn't think anyone would actually use troll whiskers as a wand core, unless that person had a brain like a troll's. Only such a person would be worthy of such a wand.
After casting a Levitation Charm on the troll, Adrian had the Devil's Snare pull the floating troll all the way to the Forbidden Forest.
Around the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Adrian encountered Hagrid.
Hagrid's large figure emerged from the shadows of the Forbidden Forest, carrying a swinging oil lamp.
"I'm patrolling this area," he explained. "Some students might try to sneak out during tonight's chaos."
Then, seeing the troll floating behind Adrian, he exclaimed in surprise: "You found the troll? Thank goodness! Was anyone hurt?"
Adrian smiled, cast a small Blasting Curse at the troll's head to make it sleep more deeply, then said to Hagrid: "Don't worry, Hagrid. No one was hurt, though Harry and the others got a bit of a scare, nothing serious. In fact, they worked together to knock out this troll."
"That's wonderful!" Hagrid was somewhat surprised. "Wait... Harry did that? Huh?"
Adrian nodded, then continued toward the Forbidden Forest with the troll: "I have to go, Hagrid. Dumbledore asked me to return this troll to the Forbidden Forest. I hope I can get back in time for dinner."
"The thestrals can help you," Hagrid gestured for Adrian to follow him. "They're nearby."
Having the thestrals' help would be perfect.
Hagrid led Adrian down a small path toward the thestrals' habitat.
Along the way, Adrian told Hagrid about the events of the evening, while Hagrid answered Adrian's question about why there were trolls in the Forbidden Forest.
"Professor Dumbledore once told me that a former Hogwarts headmaster, several generations back, thought that trolls, after training, could be used to protect Hogwarts. Unfortunately, that proved difficult... these big fellows have almost zero intelligence."
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