Tris had mastered the Preservation Bubble, so the original Bubble-Head Charm was naturally no trouble at all.
One for each of them, and the stench was easily shut out.
"Tris, you're so busy every day. How do you still find time to research obscure spells like these?" Hermione asked, sounding both a little disgruntled and puzzled.
"Time is like cleav... er, water in a sponge. Squeeze a little, and there's always some left," Tris said.
"Really?" Hermione missed Tris's slip of the tongue and looked thoroughly skeptical.
With Bubble-Head Charms around their heads, all four were immune to the assault of the stench. Harry pulled the door open again.
He moved gently, and the door barely made a sound. He first peeked inside, then slipped in quickly. The other three filed in after him.
Tris was last. He hadn't seen what was inside before, and only now got a clear look.
Beyond the door was a hemispherical chamber over ten meters across, with a floor of packed earth. A troll sat in the middle with its back to them, standing two meters tall even while seated. It seemed to be gnawing on something, and a great many bones lay scattered around it.
Beside the troll lay a spiked club over a meter long, presumably its weapon.
Harry turned back and gestured for silence, then pointed left and right, signaling for them to split up.
Hermione and Ron both nodded and headed the other way.
Did this little couple already have such good chemistry?
Following Harry, Tris couldn't help taking another look as the thought crossed his mind.
All four kept as quiet as possible. Their original plan had been to draw the troll's attention and cover for one another, but if they could avoid being noticed in the first place,