In the Middle Ages, there was a dark wizard who suddenly thought that if his mental strength became powerful enough to surpass all humanity, he could control the entire world. So he invented a potion that could enhance mental strength.
Though he ultimately died of stupidity, in Snape's words, this potion really did work. Voldemort had used it while training Severus in Occlumency. It had both benefits and drawbacks, but for now, the benefits outweighed the drawbacks.
There should have been an enormous gap between Paul's mental strength level and the Troll's. That way, Paul could control the Troll directly without drinking the potion.
Rudy making the Troll learn its lesson and remember not to pick up helmets of unknown origin made her feel as though she were watching a real-life Barnabas teaching Trolls ballet.
Paul did the opposite. When using the Imperius Curse, his mind would go completely blank, as if his brain had stopped working. Powerful Legilimency could achieve the same effect.
There was potential within the human body. For example, when a mother saw her son about to fall from a building, she caught the falling child with speed and strength beyond that of an Everyman. But this potential usually lay dormant. The abilities humans currently used were only one-tenth of their potential. It was a form of self-protection; if they erupted like that every day, their muscles and bones would not be able to endure it.
Pressure, pain, and having nowhere left to turn could all awaken a person's potential in exchange for strength. Salazar Slytherin liked students like that and called them exceptional.
Godric Gryffindor believed in another way of awakening potential. Muggle-borns also possessed this quality. He and Slytherin had a fierce quarrel, after which Slytherin left a note and departed Hogwarts.
Awakening the