Slaying the Mountain Troll

The first-years poured onto the stairs. Harry and Ron slipped out of Percy's sight, took a corridor, and happened to see Professor Snape heading for the fourth floor. Then they ran into a troll. They lured it into a room and locked the door, only to realize it was the girls' bathroom!

"Help! Professor McGonagall, help!"

Hermione's terrified scream came from behind the door. The two boys froze in panic!

"What are you standing around for? We have to save her! Alohomora!"

The lock sprang open, and Robin Sear strode into the girls' bathroom. The troll reeked. It stood about twelve feet tall, its pointed head nearly piercing the ceiling. With granite-gray skin, it looked as though it had just crawled out of the earth. Beneath its elephantine legs were huge, calloused, flat feet. It swung a thick wooden club, smashing stalls and sinks!

"Robin, save me!"

Hermione huddled in a corner, her face streaked with tears. She looked utterly helpless!

"Don't be afraid. Trolls are famously stupid!"

Thud! Thud!

The sound of hard candies striking the wall caught the troll's attention. It stopped and clumsily turned its pointed, cocoa-bean-shaped head. Its ugly little eyes found Robin. After a few seconds' hesitation, it advanced, swinging its huge club!

Robin drew his wand, aimed it at the club, flicked his wrist, and said, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

The club shot into the air. The troll shook with rage and stamped its broad feet so hard the lights swayed!

"Robin, don't go! Don't leave me here alone!"

Hermione had collapsed to the floor. Her voice shook with fear!

Thud! Bang!

The troll's fists were like sledgehammers, leaving a dent with every blow. Robin backed away on tiptoe, dodging the attack. Suddenly, Harry rushed in, leaped onto the troll's neck, and jabbed wildly with his wand.

Squish!

Ugh. He'd stuck it up the troll's nostril!

The troll roared in pain and thrashed, flinging Harry off. "Ron, go get Dumbledore or Professor McGonagall!"

"O-okay!"

Ron looked at Hermione's pale face. After hesitating for several seconds, he turned and sprinted away. He silently vowed to bring help back as fast as he could!

"Huff! Huff!"

The troll's brain seemed inversely proportional to its size. Its nose hurt, but it had no idea what to do about it. It huffed and smashed things at random, venting its fury!

Thud! Bang!

A massive fist was about to crash down where Hermione lay. Robin waved and shouted, "Hey, you big stupid pig! Your enemy's over here!"

The troll turned clumsily, its little eyes drawn to Robin once more. Huffing and puffing, it moved noticeably faster than before!

When the fist came within half an inch of his forehead, Robin thought, Now. Beneath his black wizard's robe, he raised his hand in a flash.

Squish!

Against the half-wand infused with Phoenix Fire, granite-hard skin might as well have been tofu.

Squish!

The wand sank into the troll's arm. It roared at the searing pain. Its enormous body thrashed a dozen times before it fell face-first with a thunderous boom!

"Is... is it dead?" Hermione asked softly, curled up on the floor.

"I think so!"

Harry stepped forward and yanked out his wand. The gray, sticky slime on it turned his stomach. He wiped it, washed it, then brought it close for a sniff. The stench made his eyes water!

"Oh, my goodness, Robin! You killed a troll—and a Mountain Troll at that! That's incredible!"

With the danger gone, Hermione recovered some of her nerve. She walked up to the troll and praised him sincerely.

Robin wiped the blood from his wand and said mildly, "Oh, it died of stupidity."

It was true. Mountain Trolls were enormous and strong enough to rip a giant tree out of the ground unaided. But they were so stupid that any mole could fool them.

In a cramped space with nowhere to retreat, though, their sheer fighting power was off the charts!

"Oh, my goodness! What have you all done?"

Professor McGonagall rushed into the bathroom with Ron in tow, frowning as she demanded an answer.

"A t-troll! Ah, a troll!"

Professor Quirrell cried out in terror. He trembled and shrank into a corner, clutching a corner of his scarf in his small fist. He looked even more frightened than Hermione.

But Robin knew Professor Quirrell's nerves and fear were an act. He was the one who had brought the troll into the lower floors, hoping to draw attention away while he stole the Philosopher's Stone from beneath the Living Wood on the fourth floor!

Snape approached slowly. "The troll's dead."

"Dead?! What on earth were you four doing?"

Professor McGonagall's thin lips went white with anger!

"Professor McGonagall, it was because—"

Three of the four were boys. How could they let a girl take the blame? Robin cut in. "Professor McGonagall, we'd read about trolls in books. We got curious and slipped away from the group! Killing the troll may have been our fault, but in that situation, were we supposed to stand still and let it smash our heads in instead of fighting back?"

"And with a brain that small, how did the troll get into the castle? I think Hogwarts needs to find out what happened and post a notice promptly!"

"Robin Sear, I'm not just your Transfiguration professor. I'm also the Deputy Headmistress. Is that any way to speak to me?"

Now even the brim of her hat trembled with anger!

Snape took a long stride and stepped in front of Robin. "McGonagall, Robin is right. What matters now is finding whoever let the troll in! Hermione, Harry, Ron, Robin: five points each for leaving your group to seek out the troll. But Harry and Robin showed extraordinary courage and quick thinking with magic by killing an adult troll as first-years. Ten points each! Now, your prefects are waiting in the common room. Go enjoy the Halloween Feast!"

The rewards and penalties were fair enough. McGonagall let out a long sigh but offered no objection!

On the way back to the common room, Ron complained with a pout, "That's not fair. After the penalty and reward, Slytherin gained five points, but Gryffindor lost ten!"

"Professor Snape has always played favorites! When we passed the Griffin, I saw him head for the fourth floor. He must have let the troll in. He was after whatever's under the Living Wood. Yes, that's it!"

Harry sounded certain.

"No, Harry Potter, you've got it wrong. Snape is a professor of great integrity!"

"Robin, weren't you..." Harry turned to him in shock!

"Robin Sear, just because Snape favors you doesn't mean he's a good person!" Ron protested.

"I know Professor Snape isn't nice, but I agree with Robin. He'd never steal something Headmaster Dumbledore keeps under such close guard!" Hermione said, lifting her chin!

"If it were me, I'd suspect the first person who spotted the troll. Here, Hermione, you dropped your pouch!"

The dark red pouch held some sweets and a little mirror. Inside the mirror was a hidden family photograph. "Oh, my goodness, when did I drop it? Robin, you're my lucky star! Thank you!"

Her hug was soft but enthusiastic, and it ended as quickly as it began. Before Robin could react, Hermione was already half a yard away, tucking the pouch away and patting it to make sure it was secure!

Uh, never mind. When in Rome, respect the customs of the Western magical world. "Ahem! I've returned your pouch. I need to get back to Slytherin for the feast. Harry, what I said just now wasn't a wild guess!"

With that, Robin turned and left.