The Troll on Halloween

As time passed, autumn deepened. Hogwarts' spires were wrapped in golden fallen leaves, and the air carried the faint scent of pumpkin and spices. In the blink of an eye, Halloween had arrived.

Early that morning, Lin An had noticed that the castle's timeline was still moving along its original course—

Harry had joined the Quidditch team, Neville had fallen and broken a bone during flying class, Malfoy had provoked them into a nighttime duel,

and Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville had encountered the three-headed dog, "Fluffy," after accidentally entering the forbidden area.

Everything was exactly as he remembered.

But tonight was different.

He knew—tonight was the day the troll entered the castle.

At first, he had not intended to interfere.

After all, that "bathroom incident" had been a crucial turning point in the trio's friendship.

However, he ultimately changed his mind.

Hermione Granger—intelligent, brave, and clear-minded.

In Lin An's plans, she would be an important member of the future "elite wizard group."

He needed to give her an unforgettable beginning.

That night, the Great Hall was brilliantly lit.

Jack-o'-lanterns hung in midair, while the tables were piled with sweets and roast meat. The students' laughter never ceased, and the bustle of Halloween nearly concealed the danger lurking in the air.

Lin An sat at the teachers' table, his expression calm as the wine in his silver goblet shimmered with golden light.

At that moment, his wrist moved slightly, and a folded sheet of paper unfolded in his palm.

It was an improved Marauder's Map.

After his Alchemy modifications, it could clearly display the magical coordinates of every living being in the entire castle.

Countless points of light glittered across the map like stars.

One red dot—Hermione—remained in the girls' bathroom.

Another dim, dark point was slowly moving from the direction of the dungeons.

Lin An raised an eyebrow.

"Looks like the story has begun."

He took a sip of wine and rose to his feet.

"Please excuse me. I need to visit the bathroom."

No one was suspicious. It was perfectly ordinary for a professor to leave the table.

He stepped into the dim corridor.

At the same time, that dark red point had already entered the second floor.

Inside the girls' bathroom, Hermione covered her face with both hands and cried softly.

Her reflection appeared on the white marble floor—lonely and stubborn.

A dull tremor sounded outside the door.

"Thud—thud—"

Heavy footsteps drew closer and closer.

Hermione looked up, tears trembling in her eyes.

The next moment, the door was smashed open.

A mountain troll nearly three meters tall squeezed inside, dragging a thick wooden club that scraped with a piercing sound.

A foul stench mixed with the smell of blood filled the entire bathroom.

Hermione backed away in terror until her back pressed against the cold wall.

She drew her wand, but could not remember a single spell.

The troll raised its club, its muscles bulging.

The air seemed to tear apart.

At that instant—

An invisible shield of light appeared before her, accompanied by a sharp metallic clang.

The massive club was knocked back and crashed onto the floor.

"Professor!" Hermione cried.

Lin An walked in through the doorway, looking entirely at ease.

A faint breeze lifted his robes, and the troll's shadow was reflected in his eyes.

"Running around alone is not very wise, Miss Granger."

His tone was calm, yet it made the girl's heart tighten.

"I... I'm sorry, Professor." She lowered her head.

"It's all right. As long as you're unharmed."

Lin An lifted his gaze toward the troll before him.

The creature was pounding its clumsy fists against the shield, producing nothing but dull thuds.

"An interesting life-form," he murmured.

"You mean... the troll?" Hermione asked blankly.

"Yes. Most people only see their violence, yet overlook their value."

Lin An pointed at the magical shield rippling beneath the troll's blows.

"Look—its skin can resist spell attacks and even reflect part of magical power. It is an ancient defensive structure, based on principles similar to Ancient Magic."

"Ancient Magic?" Hermione froze.

"Do you mean the kind Mrs. Lily Potter used to protect Harry?"

Lin An nodded, his voice low. "Yes. That was the Sacrifice of Love, as well as the power of pure will. But Ancient Magic is not limited to that alone—

Some life-forms are born carrying it, such as dragon scales, troll hide, and Phoenix tears."

He paused, his gaze thoughtful. "Imagine it. If we could use Alchemy to analyze that essence and transplant that resistance and power into humans, what would happen?"

Hermione listened in a daze, already beginning to reason through the logic in her mind.

"But didn't you say that Ancient Magic cannot be directly controlled by humans?"

"It truly cannot be 'controlled,' but it can be 'analyzed,'" Lin An said softly.

"Science cannot create a soul, but it can analyze the structure of life. Magic is the same.

We do not need to become God. We only need to understand God's language."

Hermione looked up, and her eyes gradually brightened.

For the first time, she realized that magic could be so rational, so full of logic and order.

Lin An smiled faintly.

"It seems you understand quite well, Miss Granger."

Having said that, he turned back toward the troll.

The club rose once more, but before it could fall, the air suddenly tightened.

Lin An lightly waved his wand and began to chant under his breath.

The club instantly transformed into silver chains, which rapidly wrapped around the troll's limbs.

The creature roared and struggled, but the chains only tightened further.

"Enough."

He flicked his fingers, and the wand gave off a faint vibration.

Soundless ripples spread outward, making the air tremble.

Hermione only felt a distortion near her ears. Then the troll's body stiffened, its eyes rolled back, and it crashed to the ground.

"That was—?"

"A variation of the Sonic Wave Spell," Lin An replied. "It was originally used to amplify sound. I adjusted the frequency so that it resonated only within the target's brain. It would not leak out, nor would it leave any trace."

Hermione stared blankly at the fallen troll, deeply shaken.

"Magic... can be used like that too."

"The limits of magic have never depended on the length of a spell," Lin An said lightly. "They depend on the depth of one's understanding."

He withdrew his wand and turned toward the doorway.

Two figures rushed in—Harry and Ron.

"Hermione! Are you all right?!" Harry rushed forward, his face full of worry.

"I'm fine... Professor saved me."

Lin An smiled and took a step back.

"It seems you have friends willing to take risks for you. That is something worth cherishing."

Harry nodded while catching his breath, and Ron repeatedly thanked him as well.

A few minutes later, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, and the other professors arrived.

They were all shocked to see that the troll had already fallen.

Hermione stepped forward and took the responsibility herself. "I was the one who came in here. The professor only saved me."

Dumbledore looked at her, then turned his gaze toward Lin An.

The latter merely smiled faintly and said nothing.

"Since that is the case, then we shall leave it at that." The headmaster nodded meaningfully.

The night deepened.

The students were sent back to their dormitories.

The lights in the Great Hall flickered.

Lin An walked alone through the corridor, his footsteps echoing across the stone floor.

He murmured, "Hermione Granger—the first chess piece has been placed."

Outside the window, moonlight quietly spilled down, reflected in his calm eyes,

like a silent mirror reflecting the ripples of the future.