There were no secrets at Hogwarts.
Especially when one of the people involved had a big mouth. Ron had five exceptionally brilliant older brothers and a little sister doted on by the whole family.
As the sixth child, he received little attention.
After coming to school, his grades were only slightly above average. Then there was Hermione, the little witch who kept stealing the spotlight, while his best friend was the Boy Who Lived.
He had become practically invisible.
That was why Ron could not possibly pass up an opportunity to show everyone he existed.
Still, he had some principles. He told the story mostly as it had happened, with the biggest change being that he omitted the part where he had shut himself in the bathroom.
So by the next day, the entire school knew.
Gryffindors did not create gossip. They merely spread it.
The Weasley twins had deliberately waited for Wayne at the entrance to the Great Hall. The instant he stepped through the doorway,
they used magic to blast flower petals into the air and cheered:
"The hero who defeated the Troll is here!"
Thunderous applause erupted from the Gryffindor table. A young wizard had faced a Troll alone and become a hero who saved the school. Showing off like that was exactly what the little lions loved most. Wayne's old face reddened. This was fucking social death.
Everyone in the Great Hall, including the professors at the High Table, was staring at him. Wayne shot Ron, who stood beside Harry, a vicious glare before saying to the twins:
"Let's make a deal. Beat Ron up, and I'll give you a bottle of Potion of Thought."
"What are you talking about?!" George looked furious. "Ron is our little brother, our blood brother!"
"Two bottles!" Wayne immediately raised