Thanks to the Troll's Assist

Harley silently circled around behind Hermione and gently rested her slender, fair hand on Hermione's head.

"Dear Miss Granger, if something's troubling you, I wonder if I might be allowed to listen?"

As she spoke, Harley gently stroked Hermione's hair.

Unfortunately, Hermione's unruly brown hair had as much character as its owner and refused to lie flat.

But Harley liked it that way. It felt especially nice to ruffle.

And if she managed to straighten it through her own efforts, that would be even more satisfying. Harley had straightened plenty of unruly hair before!

Hermione seemed not to notice the hand on her head. She hugged her knees tightly and refused to look up.

Then the girl's muffled voice sounded. "It's nothing. I'm just a nightmare. Everyone hates me..."

"Who said that?" Harley asked, her tone shifting to one of slight surprise. "How could my adorable Hermione be a nightmare?"

"But... but that's what Ron said..." Hermione's voice remained subdued.

"He also said you're always surrounded by so many people, while I'm always alone, because I'm so annoying..."

"How could that be?" Harley's hand traced circles at Hermione's neck, bringing a gentle warmth.

Her small, cherry-red lips kept blowing softly against Hermione's ear as her other hand gently kneaded Hermione's earlobe.

"How could my Hermione ever be alone? Isn't your very best friend, Miss Harley Potter, always by your side?"

"But..." Hermione raised her head instinctively, but Harley stopped her before she could finish.

"No 'buts,' Miss Granger."

At some point, Harley had moved around to face her. She cupped Hermione's face in both hands and placed her thumbs at the corners of Hermione's mouth, forcing her lips into a smile.

"Remember, I won't let you be alone. I'll always be your best friend, and I'll always be by your side."

"...Really?" After a long while, Hermione finally asked timidly.

"Really," Harley said with a smile.

Hermione fell silent, then suddenly threw herself forward and hugged Harley tightly.

Harley toppled against the door. The door, which had been ajar, slammed shut with a loud bang.

Tears seemed to well in Hermione's eyes again. "Thank you for comforting me..."

Before she could finish, a tremendous crash suddenly erupted at the entrance to the girls' bathroom. The wooden door flew off its hinges and smashed into the stall partition.

"Look out!" Harley instinctively pulled Hermione tightly into her arms and flung something with her left hand.

At the same time, a layer of ice formed around them, shielding them from the partition as it came crashing down.

Dust billowed around them, but Harley could already see what it was, thanks to the eagle-like eyesight granted to her by the Assassin.

It was a colossal creature, twelve feet tall, with dull skin like gray granite.

Its huge, clumsy body resembled a mound of ancient gravel, topped by a tiny head like a cocoa bean.

Harley recognized it at once: a Troll.

The Troll swung its thick arms, trying to clear the dust from the room.

The mysterious Troll had clearly been drawn by the loud crash of the stall door.

Hermione also spotted the Troll outside the door and let out a shrill, terrified scream.

The Troll immediately pinpointed Harley and Hermione by the sound and charged toward them excitedly.

Hermione instantly realized her scream had given away their position. Her legs went limp, and she collapsed into Harley's arms.

Holding Hermione, Harley looked at the stupid Troll before them and smiled.

Even back when she was a Sequence 9, Harley could have toyed with an idiot like this a thousand times over.

But now, she had to thank the Troll for such a timely assist.

"In gratitude, I'll grant you a painless death!" Harley's smile grew ever sweeter, yet sent a chill through the air.

Hermione came to her senses, her face turning bitter. "Harley, I'm sorry. My stubbornness got us into this.

"Run. I'll scream and draw the Troll's attention. I'm so glad to have you as a friend..."

Before she could finish, Harley covered Hermione's mouth.

"How could I leave my best friend behind? I told you, I won't let you be alone."

Harley's voice was playful, yet tender.

"Don't be afraid, Hermione. Watch me. I'll deal with it myself."

As she spoke, Harley snapped her fingers, and a chair of ice formed. She set Hermione on it, then turned to face the Troll.

The Troll was struggling to pull its feet free.

The moment it had locked onto the two tiny figures, thick frost had suddenly formed around its stubby legs.

Its meager intelligence kept it from thinking things through, much less noticing a small mirror glimmering nearby.

So even now, the Troll was still roaring and wrestling with its own feet.

Black, cursed flames began to rise around Harley.

The flames flowed through her hair and curled affectionately around her shoulders, caressing her face as though they were alive and aware.

For some reason, Hermione felt oddly uncomfortable—and not because of the icy chair she was sitting on.

Harley quietly snapped her fingers. The mirror beside the Troll suddenly went dark, and the frost vanished with it.

The Troll didn't stop to wonder why it could suddenly move again. It roared and charged toward Harley.

The bathroom wasn't very large. The Troll reached Harley in just a few strides.

But it couldn't take another step. Strange black wisps coiled around its body, and the Black Flame began to burn its flesh.

Trolls had strong magical resistance, but Harley had cleverly woven the curse into the frost she had created earlier.

As the Troll struggled, it had unwittingly swallowed several shards of ice, carrying the curse into its body and opening a small hole in its defenses.

And this Troll didn't seem to be in particularly good shape to begin with, so Harley broke through its defenses with ease.

Before the Troll could show off its strength and demonstrate its club-swinging skills, the cursed black flames burned through its heart.

THUD! The Troll crashed to the ground.

Harley quietly reached out. The small mirror that had been beside the Troll vanished and flew back into her hand.

Then Harley spun around, tilted her head slightly, and smiled at Hermione. "See? It's over. That was easy."

Hermione was stunned by the swift battle, which had lasted less than a minute. Then she let out a delighted squeal.

Her legs somehow regained their strength. She stood and hugged Harley.

Harley soothed Hermione as if she were a child, gently rubbing her back with a fond smile on her face.

I'd originally planned to make this a little bolder, but I was afraid the censors would come after me.