Halloween night at Hogwarts was always lively — laughter echoing through the Great Hall, the floating pumpkins casting a warm orange glow, and the scent of spiced pumpkin juice filling the air. Students from every house were chattering, celebrating, and trading sweets.
Yet, amid the festivity, Roy noticed something amiss.
He scanned the Gryffindor table, his calm blue eyes sweeping over the crowd. Harry and Ron were seated together, laughing as usual — but Hermione Granger was nowhere to be seen.
Roy's smile faded.
So it's today, he thought quietly. The day of the troll incident.
He remembered what had happened that afternoon. In Charms class, Hermione had tried to help Ron with the Wingardium Leviosa spell — a spell she'd mastered early on. But Ron, too proud and embarrassed, had lashed out after class.
"She thinks she's better than everyone," Ron had said bitterly. "Even Roy doesn't bother with her all the time — and compared to her, Daphne, Cassandra, and Cho are miles ahead. She doesn't even have any friends."
The words had been careless.But Hermione had heard them all.
She'd fled the corridor in tears, brushing past the other students.Harry had tried to stop Ron, but he hesitated. Ron was his first friend, and loyalty clouded his judgment.
Now, as everyone enjoyed the Halloween feast, Hermione was alone — and Roy knew exactly where.
She's in the girls' bathroom, he thought grimly. Just like before.
Roy was about to stand up when the great oak doors of the Great Hall burst open with a thunderous crash.
Professor Quirrell stumbled inside, his turban askew and his face ghostly pale.
"TROLL — in the dungeon!" he gasped, his voice trembling. "Troll — in the dungeon! Thought you ought to know…"
And with that, he collapsed flat on the floor, fainting dramatically.
Screams erupted instantly. Students jumped from their seats, panic rippling through the hall like wildfire.
At the staff table, Dumbledore rose swiftly. His wand released a thunderous BANG! — the sound echoing across the hall, silencing everyone.
"SILENCE!" Dumbledore's voice carried firm authority. "Prefects, lead your houses back to their dormitories immediately! Professors, follow me to the dungeons. We shall deal with the troll."
The students began to move, chattering nervously.
But amid the chaos, Roy didn't move. He watched Quirrell's motionless body — or rather, the dark parasite clinging to him.
So you've made your move again, Voldemort.
As everyone hurried out, Roy quietly approached Quirrell's fallen form. Without hesitation, he pressed his foot lightly onto the back of Quirrell's turban, grinding just enough to make the hidden parasite flinch.
The twitch beneath the fabric was almost imperceptible — but Roy felt it.He leaned down slightly, whispering under his breath:
"Next time, try fainting a little more convincingly."
He lifted his foot and straightened calmly.
At the staff table, Dumbledore had caught the brief exchange.For a moment, the old wizard didn't know whether to laugh or sigh.
That boy… he thought. Even in a crisis.
Raising his voice again, Dumbledore commanded,
"Students — to your dormitories, now!"
The prefects hurried to comply.
Roy turned toward the Hufflepuff table, where Daphne Greengrass, Cassandra Vole, and Cho Chang — who had joined him for dinner — were staring at him anxiously.
"I'm going after Hermione," Roy said firmly, his tone calm but resolute."Roy— the professors said—" Cassandra began, but he interrupted gently."If I don't go, she'll die."
There was something in his voice — quiet certainty, born not from fear but knowledge.
The three girls exchanged worried glances but didn't argue.Daphne nodded. "Be careful."
Roy smiled faintly. "Always am."
He turned and slipped away, blending into the stream of panicked students — but his direction was different. Instead of heading to the dormitories, he took the corridor leading toward the girls' bathroom on the second floor.
He already knew what awaited him there.