The moment Leo gave the order, Harry and the others immediately adjusted their aim.
Harry gripped his Colt tightly and locked his gaze onto the troll's massive hand wrapped around the wooden club. Despite the chaos surrounding him, he forced himself to breathe steadily.
Then he squeezed the trigger.
Bang!
Ron fired almost simultaneously.
His bullet slammed directly into the troll's fingers, tearing open a bloody wound. Dark blood splattered across the stone floor, and the troll's roar grew even louder.
Neville, Hermione, and Charlotte followed immediately.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bullets screamed through the corridor one after another, all targeting the same arm.
The troll's hand jerked violently under the barrage.
For a brief moment, it nearly lost its grip on the enormous club.
Unfortunately, the pain only drove it further into madness.
The creature tightened its grip again and charged forward while roaring furiously, swinging the club with enough force to collapse entire sections of the corridor.
Still, the concentrated fire was working.
Even the troll's thick hide couldn't resist the Equalizers forever.
Under the relentless barrage, two of the creature's fingers finally shattered apart.
Crack.
The troll screamed in agony.
Unable to endure the pain any longer, it finally released the massive club.
The weapon crashed onto the stone floor with a thunderous impact.
Seeing the opportunity instantly, Leo acted.
With a flick of his wand, he cast a levitation charm on the bloodstained club.
The enormous weapon rose violently into the air before hurtling downward toward the troll's head.
Boom!
The impact landed perfectly.
The troll staggered heavily after being struck directly on the skull.
For one glorious second, Leo genuinely believed he had recreated the original troll knockout scene.
Then reality reminded him that life was unfair.
Before he could strike again, the enraged creature raised its uninjured arm and swatted the floating club away.
The massive weapon crashed into a nearby wall, cracking the stone.
Then the troll abandoned weapons entirely.
Its remaining eye burned with pure murderous fury.
Rather than crushing them with the club, it clearly intended to tear them apart with its bare hands.
The creature lunged forward.
The moment everyone realized the troll had discarded all restraint, despair began spreading through the group once again.
Leo's expression darkened.
He was already reaching beneath his robes for one of the explosive rounds hidden in reserve.
Just then—
"Diffindo!"
A sharp voice echoed through the corridor.
The next instant, a crescent-shaped slash glowing with golden light flew through the air and struck directly toward the troll's eye.
The effect was immediate.
The troll froze.
Then its gigantic body toppled sideways.
Boom!
The crash shook the corridor.
Silence followed.
Everyone turned toward the source of the spell.
Leo had already guessed the answer the moment he heard the incantation, so he wasn't surprised when Professor Snape emerged from the corridor like an enormous black bat, several professors following behind him.
Snape strode forward rapidly.
His black robes billowed dramatically with every step.
His expression looked terrifying.
Without wasting time, he immediately grabbed Harry by the shoulder and checked him over.
Although his face remained cold and stern, Leo still caught a brief flicker of concern hidden deep within Snape's eyes.
Next came Draco.
Then Hermione.
Charlotte.
Ron.
Neville.
One by one, Snape checked each student.
After confirming nobody had suffered anything worse than cuts and bruises, he finally turned toward the unconscious troll.
His eyes narrowed.
"Hmph."
His voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Look at the disaster you children have created."
Despite the harsh words, relief lingered beneath them.
"Running around during Halloween and provoking trolls. Did you imagine that was bravery? It was stupidity. Had I arrived any later, you would already be inside the troll's stomach."
Nobody dared respond.
Even Harry lowered his head.
They all understood something important.
Snape had saved them.
Hermione hesitated before speaking.
"Professor, we didn't mean to encounter it. The troll suddenly chased us—"
Snape cut her off immediately.
"No excuses, Miss Granger."
A sharp glare silenced her.
"Perhaps next time you'll avoid running through corridors like frightened chickens."
Before Hermione could say another word, more footsteps echoed nearby.
Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall arrived moments later.
However, before anyone could properly explain the situation, Snape's eyes suddenly shifted toward an empty section of the corridor.
A faint smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Someone appears to have been hiding in the shadows," he drawled. "Did you truly believe I wouldn't notice?"
Everyone blinked.
Meanwhile, Leo's brain froze.
Oh no.
He was still under the Disillusionment Charm.
The moment realization struck, Leo hurriedly dispelled the spell.
Instantly, the horrifying paper-white figure reappeared.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Harry's eyes widened.
Hermione covered her mouth.
Even Professor McGonagall frowned.
Ron, who had only recently survived a troll attack, nearly screamed himself unconscious when Leo's floating horror suddenly materialized beside them.
His face became even paler than the ghost costume Leo had copied.
"What in Merlin's name is THAT?!"
Nearby, Draco looked unbearably smug.
His expression practically radiated satisfaction.
See?
Excellent plan.
Leo scratched awkwardly at the back of his neck beneath everyone's horrified stares.
"I originally just wanted to introduce a new style of horror to Hogwarts for Halloween," he explained weakly. "Then everything became chaotic and I forgot I was invisible."
Snape glanced toward the Colts still clutched in Harry and Draco's hands.
His frown deepened.
"And how effective do you imagine these little toys would have been?" he asked sharply. "Had I arrived any later, you would all be dead."
Dumbledore stepped forward calmly.
"Are all of you alright?" he asked gently.
His blue eyes swept across the children.
Relief softened his expression.
Then his gaze landed on Leo's terrifying costume.
To everyone's surprise, Dumbledore smiled.
"A remarkably creative Halloween disguise, Leo," he said pleasantly. "You've certainly contributed to the evening's atmosphere."
Behind him, Professor Quirrell finally arrived.
Then he saw Leo.
The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor nearly collapsed on the spot.
His face somehow became even paler than usual.
His eyes widened with genuine terror.
"T-this..." Quirrell stammered. "This is horrifying..."
Professor McGonagall shot him a mildly disapproving glance before surveying the damaged corridor.
After confirming no further danger remained, she turned toward the students.
"What were you all thinking?" she demanded sharply. "A troll is not something first-year students should be confronting."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Fortunately, Professor Snape arrived in time. Gryffindor and Slytherin will each lose ten points."
Harry and the others immediately looked miserable.
Hermione opened her mouth.
McGonagall continued before she could speak.
"However," she added, "you did stand together instead of abandoning your classmates."
Her expression softened slightly.
"That courage deserves recognition. Gryffindor and Slytherin will each receive fifteen points."
Instantly, everyone brightened.
Dumbledore then turned thoughtfully toward Quirrell.
"Professor Quirrell," he said calmly, "where exactly did you discover the troll?"
Quirrell swallowed.
"I-I found it near the bathroom," he stammered. "I immediately came to warn everyone."
Dumbledore nodded slowly.
"We will investigate how the troll entered Hogwarts as soon as possible."
At that moment, Leo noticed something strange.
While Dumbledore questioned Quirrell, Snape was staring at the Defense professor with an unusually cold expression.
Something about that look felt suspicious.
Very suspicious.
Soon afterward, the professors began discussing how to handle the troll and investigate the incident.
Meanwhile, under Snape's sharp instructions, Harry and the others quietly departed from the ruined corridor.
As they walked away together, nobody spoke for a long time.
Each of them remained trapped inside their own thoughts, replaying the terrifying events of the evening again and again.
....
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