The Mysterious Man Who Went for a Walk

As Glen's words fell, the room fell silent.

Sometimes, we simply had to admit that some people were born geniuses.

One simple question, without a single embellishment, was enough to shift everyone's attention.

"Of course not, Mr. Howard." At a moment like this, Professor McGonagall actually smiled—a rare occurrence.

As it turned out, when people were furious enough, they really couldn't help laughing.

"Hogwarts has always put student safety first. We wouldn't put a Troll in the Sorting Ceremony, let alone set a dangerous Troll as your final exam, even when you were about to graduate!"

"What if I asked to face one?"

"Absolutely not," Professor McGonagall said firmly.

"Really?"

"Absolutely!"

"Then there you have it."

At that, Professor McGonagall frowned.

"There you have what?"

"If we're not allowed to face a Troll, then why did you put one in the Underground Classroom?"

Faced with this sudden, nonsensical question, Professor McGonagall, still fuming, was stunned.

She wanted to say that it had been an unexpected incident.

But answering this simple, straightforward question would inevitably lead to more complicated ones. For instance: if students weren't allowed to face Trolls at school, how had one suddenly appeared inside Hogwarts? And downstairs, no less...

Seeing the stern professor regain her composure as she considered the question, Glen didn't press the matter. Instead, he explained what had happened in the Underground Classroom before the Troll arrived.

"...You weren't at the Feast this evening. You were studying here instead?"

"Yes. I'd originally planned to attend, but I got so caught up studying that I lost track of time."

As a student who respected his teachers, Glen generally didn't lie to professors—not because he wouldn't, but because it wasn't very effective.

Rather than make up a lie, it was far more useful to present the truth in a different, carefully selective way.

"So, Miss Granger, when you heard about the Troll, you came here alone to face it and save someone?" Professor McGonagall said thoughtfully.

She had pieced that answer together herself from Glen's explanation, and it sounded very convincing.

"Huh? Er, yes." Hermione looked up and nodded blankly.

Professor McGonagall's expression remained stern, but she was no longer as angry as before.

After asking Harry and Ron a few more questions, she felt she had gotten the full picture.

"All right. For this, Gryffindor will lose five points as punishment for failing to seek a professor's help in an emergency..."

At this, Harry and Ron exchanged a look, seeing the same helplessness in each other's eyes.

But then Professor McGonagall's tone changed, and the hint of a smile touched her lips.

"Still, I have to say you were lucky. Not many first-years can take on an adult Troll. You've each earned five points for Gryffindor."

Nothing was more in keeping with Gryffindor than standing up for a friend.

The unexpected praise made Harry blush, especially since he felt he didn't deserve the points. They had nothing to do with defeating the Troll.

But Professor McGonagall soon wiped the smile from her face and ordered them to leave.

"If none of you are hurt, you'd better get back to Gryffindor Tower at once. The students are enjoying the Halloween Feast in their own common rooms."

"Mr. Howard, you can go back as well. I'll inform Professor Dumbledore about this..."

"Wait, Professor McGonagall. I have something I'd like to ask the students in my House," Professor Snape suddenly said.

His black eyes moved from Harry to Glen.

"Could you tell me how you defeated the Troll?"

At the question, even Professor Quirrell stopped sobbing quietly and looked over.

"It's not difficult." Glen nodded and drew his wand from his sleeve.

Since it wasn't school property, there was nothing to worry about.

"Wingardium Leviosa."

The spell lifted the club in the Troll's hand into the air.

This time, however, it didn't lift the Troll along with it—the creature was in a deep sleep and could no longer keep its grip on the club.

"No, that's impossible. If that's all you did, the Troll wouldn't have suffered injuries this severe," Professor Quirrell blurted out, his words stumbling over each other.

A former top student who had graduated from Hogwarts, and now the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor, he knew more about dangerous Magical Creatures like Trolls than most people.

After one quick look, Quirrell had decided that even if the Levitation Charm were dispelled on the spot, letting the enormous club fall straight down wouldn't do much damage to the Troll's thick-skinned body.

But he soon regretted saying that.

"Descendo!"

An explosive boom burst through the Underground Classroom. The already sleeping Troll sank into an even deeper sleep.

Professor Quirrell's eyes widened.

"What happened? Is everyone all right?" A shrill voice rang out from outside the classroom before its owner appeared.

Professor Flitwick, wand in hand and sweating profusely, hurried inside.

"I heard the Troll smashing things upstairs. What's the situation now..."

When Professor McGonagall told him what had happened, Flitwick wasn't angry. On the contrary, his eyes lit up.

Even when Professor Quirrell tried to stop him, he stubbornly insisted that Glen demonstrate the spell again.

"Brilliant teamwork! Exactly! Two simple spells working together can produce amazing results!"

He sounded so proud, it was as if he were telling the other professors, "I taught him that!"

"Glen, for your outstanding performance, I'm awarding Slytherin five points!" Professor Flitwick said happily.

Professor Snape glanced at Harry by the doorway, his sharp gaze as piercing as a knife.

"If points can be awarded for doing nothing, then I don't think it's unreasonable to give the main contributors a few more. Fifteen points to Slytherin!"

As Gryffindor's Head of House, Professor McGonagall said nothing.

As far as she was concerned, it was only fair. Besides, the students being unharmed was already the best possible outcome.

"Oh..." Professor Quirrell looked at the Troll, which was barely breathing, and gave a muffled whimper. No one could make out what he was saying.

By the time they returned to the Slytherin Common Room, the students were chatting and enjoying the Halloween Feast they'd barely gotten to eat earlier.

When Blaise heard that Slytherin had earned even more points, he stared at Glen Howard in disbelief.

"Twenty points?! You said you were going for a walk this morning. Where exactly did you go?!"