Halloween Trouble

On Halloween night, Hogwarts Magic School held a grand feast.

In the dining hall, countless Pumpkin Lanterns of all shapes and sizes floated lazily through the air, giving off a mysterious yet warm glow.

The Weasley twins had cleverly dressed themselves as Vampires. Their realistic fangs and sinister outfits made them especially terrifying, and they used the look specifically to frighten the students around them.

For a time, laughter rose and fell throughout the Great Hall.

The professors sat together, chatting happily and enthusiastically.

Only Professor Snape, though seated among them, seemed distracted. His face was dark and brooding, utterly out of place amid the cheerful atmosphere.

"Youth is wonderful," Professor McGonagall said, watching the lively students with affectionate eyes and a trace of wistfulness on her face. "I used to wonder to myself what life would be like if I had a child..."

"You would certainly be an exceptional mother," Wes comforted her sincerely.

"Oh, please." Professor McGonagall waved a hand gently, looking helpless. "Children do not like me. Those naughty little ones would probably run as far away as they could the moment they saw me."

"Most children do not understand that strictness is also a profound kind of love. Once they enter society and endure life's hardships, they will surely be deeply grateful for your teachings."

Wes said it partly as sincere praise and partly to flatter the professor.

"Since when did you become so good with words?" Professor McGonagall teased, the corners of her lips lifting. "I wonder how many girls you have fooled with that silver tongue of yours."

Wes merely shrugged, looking composed and unruffled.

"No way!" Professor McGonagall covered her mouth in surprise, her eyes wide. "Wes, you have never even been in a relationship?"

At Hogwarts, many young wizards began their first romances by the age of fifteen or sixteen.

Someone like Wes was as rare as a Unicorn from legend.

Some of the professors even looked at him with sympathy.

"There is no need to pity me." Wes calmly cut off a small piece of steak and spoke at an unhurried pace. "The world of magic is so vast, and it is worth spending my whole life exploring."

Pomona Sprout actually began to cry when she heard that. Choking back sobs, she said, "Poor Wes, never having tasted the sweetness of love."

Dumbledore suddenly interjected, "Would you like Severus to brew you some Love Potion?"

"Shut up, Albus!" Professor McGonagall rebuked him sternly. "Do not make such absurd suggestions again."

Wes set down his knife and fork and sighed softly. "Headmaster, I am also skilled at brewing potions. Though I cannot compare with Professor Snape, the Potions Master, I know perfectly well that Love Potion is an illegal potion."

"Is that so?" Dumbledore put on an aggrieved expression and muttered, "Once a person gets old, their memory just keeps getting worse."

Wes did not believe a word of Dumbledore's nonsense.

Just as the professors were enthusiastically discussing which good girl to introduce to Wes—

Professor Quirrell suddenly rushed into the Great Hall in a panic.

His large turban sat crookedly on his head, and his face was filled with terror.

"Troll! There is a Troll in the dungeon!" After saying that, his legs gave out, and he toppled headfirst onto the floor, fainting on the spot.

In an instant, the Great Hall descended into chaos.

Professor Dumbledore had no choice but to use magic and roar at the top of his lungs before everyone finally quieted down.

He quickly ordered the prefects to escort students of every year safely back to their dormitories, while the professors were to accompany him to investigate the dungeon.

Once all the students had left, Dumbledore led the professors hurriedly toward the dungeon.

Before they could enter it, they heard fierce sounds of fighting coming from the girls' bathroom.

The professors immediately changed direction and hurried toward it.

The moment they approached, a nauseating stench hit them—a rotten, pungent odor like filthy socks mixed with an uncleaned public toilet.

Everyone knew it was the unbearable smell unique to a Troll.

The professors swiftly drew their wands and readied themselves.

Upon entering the girls' bathroom, they found it completely smashed to pieces and in utter disarray.

A massive Troll lay limply on the floor.

Hermione sat on the ground with tears still glistening on her face, while Harry and Ron stood around her, continuously comforting her in soft voices.

"Oh, my goodness." Professor McGonagall could not help crying out. "Can someone tell me what exactly happened?"

Seeing this, Wes waved his wand and cast a spell. A powerful whirlwind swept in, gathering up the concentrated stench and smashing open the window.

Only then did everyone let out a relieved breath.

Ron had not yet fully grasped the seriousness of the situation. Excitedly gesturing with his hands and feet, he proudly recounted the entire story of how he and Harry had heroically rescued the damsel in distress.

What greeted him was Professor Snape's merciless verbal assault. "Are your heads filled with bezoars? In all my years, I have never encountered students as idiotic as you."

Professor McGonagall looked equally stern as she began severely reprimanding the three of them. "Why did you not inform a professor immediately? Do you think we are not worthy of your trust?"

Hermione stood up timidly, sobbing as she choked out, "I accidentally brought the Troll here."

"If they had not found me in time, I would definitely be dead by now. When they arrived, the Troll was about to swallow me whole!"

"Miss Granger, I had thought you were the most worry-free student in this year."

Professor McGonagall's disappointed tone made Hermione lower her head in shame.

"Because of your reckless actions, Gryffindor will lose 5 points."

Professor McGonagall mercilessly made the decision to deduct points.

The three of them immediately looked crestfallen upon hearing that points had been taken away. Hermione in particular blamed herself deeply, tears welling in her eyes.

"However, as first-year students, you showed remarkable courage in fighting a Troll. In light of your outstanding performance, Harry and Ron may each earn 5 points for Gryffindor."

At those words, the three instantly went from sorrow to joy and excitedly high-fived one another in celebration.

"All right, check yourselves for injuries."

Pomona Sprout stepped forward and carefully examined all three of them. Once she confirmed that they were unharmed, she told them to return and rest.

Waves of foul odor continued to emanate from the Troll's body. In only a short while, the pungent smell had once again filled the entire room.

Professor McGonagall and several other professors simply could not endure the nauseating stench and hurried away one after another.

At that point, only Wes, Dumbledore, and Snape remained.

"What are you still doing here?" Snape looked at Wes with undisguised disgust.

Wes remained calm and replied evenly, "I wanted to see whether there is anything I can help with."

Yet his eyes remained fixed on the Troll's body.

After all, many parts of a Troll could serve as valuable raw materials for alchemy and potions. It was rare to come across one, and Wes could not help feeling tempted.

But Snape had always been highly wary of Wes.

"You are not needed here. Leave immediately."

Dumbledore, who had remained silent until then, also spoke up to send him away. "Could you give us a little private space?"

Wes had no choice but to leave reluctantly. Before departing, he added, "I can purchase Troll materials at a high price. If it needs dissecting, I can help with that too. Trust me, I have plenty of dissection experience."