Hermione had not hesitated for long. When the troll came swaying toward her with its club raised, she switched the weapon to automatic mode and pulled the trigger at its head.
It was an instinct forged through long hours of weapons training. The moment she felt herself in danger, her mind went blank. She could only rely on her body's memory, remembering nothing but to raise the gun and fire.
As massive rounds flew from the muzzle, amid flashing muzzle fire and gun smoke, the troll's head exploded like a watermelon. Its knees gave way, and it crashed to the ground with an earth-shaking thud.
Hermione did not release the trigger until the drum magazine was empty. Even after leaving a large patch of black holes in one corner of the bathroom, she stood there in a daze, seeing nothing but red before her eyes.
It was the color of the troll's blood mixed with brain matter. The entire world seemed to have changed.
It was not until a large hand rested on top of her head and gently stroked her hair that she gradually snapped out of the weapon's roar.
"Well done. You saved your classmate and yourself."
"Waaah!"
Hermione dropped the gun, turned around, and threw her arms around the professor's leg as she began to cry. She had never even killed a bunny, yet the professor had insisted on making her kill a troll.
She felt so wronged that she did not know why she wanted to cry so badly.
"Here, have a Chocolate Frog. And don't wipe your snot on my trousers." The professor bent down to pick up the weapon, then pinched Hermione's little nose and held a box of chocolate in front of her.
"No! I want to! You big meanie!" Hermione twisted and