Chapter - 016 In the Great Hall, during the feast. Professor Quirrell came sprinting into the hall, his turban askew and terror on his face. Everyone stared as he reached Professor Dumbledore's chair, slumped against the table, and gasped, "Troll — in the dungeons — thought you ought to know." He then sank to the floor in a dead faint. There was an uproar. It took several purple firecrackers exploding from the end of Professor Dumbledore's wand to bring silence. "Prefects," he rumbled, "lead your Houses back to the dormitories immediately!" Percy was in his element. "Follow me! Stick together, first years! No need to fear the troll if you follow my orders! Stay close behind me, now. Make way, first years coming through! Excuse me, I'm a prefect!" "How could a troll get in?" Harry asked as they climbed the stairs. "Don't ask me, they're supposed to be really stupid," said Ron. "Maybe Peeves let it in for a Halloween joke." They passed different groups of people hurrying in different directions. As they jostled their way through a crowd of confused Hufflepuffs, Harry suddenly grabbed Ron's arm. "I've just thought — Hermione." "What about her?" Ron asked, confused by Harry's statement. "She doesn't know about the troll," Harry stated. She has been out the whole time. Ron bit his lip. He was feeling a bit uncomfortable now. He heard from Parvati earlier that Hermione has been crying the whole afternoon. "Oh, all right," he snapped. "But Percy'd better not see us." Both Harry and Ron turned around to leave, but Nicole saw them. "You two better not be thinking of doing something stupid again". She warned them. If they lose more points because of Harry, she might give up on earning any. "Move, we have something to do" Harry shoved Nicole aside and left with Ron. Nicole stood there for a while, shrugged and followed the other Gryffindors. But soon she came back and followed Harry and Ron. Although she knew they were going to do something stupid and probably dangerous, it must be thrilling as the last time, right? and since nobody is going to tell brother, he will not know, right? In the bathroom. After eating their fill, Alex and Hermione were sitting on stools which they made using transfiguration magic. "So tell me something about yourself" Hermione was feeling better. So this was her opportunity to know more about Alex. "Like?" "Okay let's go for a rapid-fire round" Hermione suggested. Alex nodded. Since he was accompanying her, he might as well just put up with it till the end. Because of what he will do today, Hermione might treat Nicole better. Everything, in the end, was for Nicole [sis-con?]. "Let's say what do you like in food," Hermione asked. "Nothing in particular" "Ok, now, Ummm... What about books? Who is your favourite author?" Hermione asked the next question. "Muggle or ..." Alex asked. "Tell me both" "Among muggles, I would say Sidney Sheldon. Heard of him?" Alex said. "Oh My God!! of course, I have heard of him. I have read all his books at least twice" Hermione was excited. They do have something in common. "Among wizards, I don't have a particular favourite but there is one whose autobiographies seems like a work of fiction to me," Alex said remembering a certain someone. "What Makes You Happy?" Hermione asked. "Nicole," Alex said without a bit of hesitation. "What's The Best Gift You've Ever Gotten?" Hermione tried to probe further. What kind of gifts will make him happy? "Nicole" Alex replied with a poker face. "Your dream" Not discouraged Hermione asked again. "To be there for Nicole until she finds someone" Alex replied. Now, this was her limit. How can she do anything if all the answers are going to be Nicole? She even thought that if there was some food or an author named Nicole, he might only be having it in food or reading only her books. "Why are you so obsessed with Nicole?" She asked. "I am not obsessed with her, it's just she is so precious to me that for her, I can go on war with the world," Alex said as if stating some not so hard to prove facts. "Fine, now what about family" Not dwelling anymore on the topic, she tried her luck once again. "Only Nicole" Awkward silence. "Don't you want to ask me anything?" Hermione asked after some time. "Do I have to?" Alex asked. Hermione looked at Alex in astonishment. Is this guy for real? "I have to". As if he suddenly got enlightenment Alex said. "Food?" Alex asked. "Roasted Turkey and chocolates" Hermione replied. In her heart she wanted Alex to take notes of her likes and dislikes. "Books and Author" Alex, on the other hand, asked casually. "The same as yours". Hermione said with a blush. "What makes you happy?" "Being the top scorer in exams". Hermione replied with pride. "What's The Best Gift You've Ever Gotten?" Now Hermione felt something was a miss. Weren't these questions were the ones she asked. In the same order too. "Admission in Hogwarts". Hermione replied stealing glances at Alex. "Your dream" "To be someone like professor McGonagall". "Family?" "Father, Mother and me". Hermione said. Silence again fell in the bathroom. Alex kept staring at Hermione waiting for her to get up first so that they can leave. Hermione, on the other hand, was in hope that maybe Alex was thinking of questions to ask. "Nothing else?" After some time when Alex did not ask anything, she asked. "But you also asked these things only". Alex said. Hermione was amazed. Although this guy has changed a lot in front of her, he was still far from being normal. The first time they met he threw her out of the compartment without a single word. Suddenly Alex turned and looked towards the bathroom door with seriousness. Hermione looked at him then towards the gate. She has seen this face before. The face without emotion, his grey eyes focused. It was just like when they faced the three-headed dog. That time all of them were too scared to focus on something else but she saw it, just for a moment. "What is it?" Hermione asked. "Shssssh... something huge is coming," Alex said while placing his fingers on his mouth. "Huge?" "Possibly a troll" Alex guessed. "Why would a troll roam around in Hog..." Hermione could not finish her words when she saw a twelve feet tall troll standing by the gate. its skin was a dull, granite grey, its great lumpy body like a boulder with its small bald head perched on top like a coconut. It had short legs thick as tree trunks with flat, horny feet. The smell coming from it was incredible. It was holding a huge wooden club, which dragged along the floor because its arms were so long. It peered inside. Hermione could hear a low grunting and the shuffling footfalls of gigantic feet. It waggled its long ears, making up its tiny mind, then slouched slowly into the bathroom. As soon as the troll came inside the door slammed shut. Hermione let out a loud shriek in fear. Hermione began to shrink against the wall opposite, looking as if she was about to faint. "Why are you so scared of this thing?" Alex asked 🤔 confused. He could easily kill this guy. He extended his hand towards her. "...." Hermione thought that having hallucinations. She was hearing and seeing unreal things. Alex was looking at her without a shred of worry on his face. But what was surprising for Hermione was she indeed felt a sense of security from him. She was about to grab his hand. While the two of them were having their moment. The door sprang open and Harry along with Ron came inside. They were followed by Nicole. They looked at Alex, Hermione who was shrunk in a corner and then towards the troll who ignoring everyone else was busy bolting the food floating in the air. Ignoring Alex and others Harry and Ron focused on the troll. "It's our time to shine". Ron said. All these times he felt inferior to Alex but today he can outshine him. "Confuse it!" Harry said desperately to Ron, and, seizing a tap, he threw it as hard as he could against the wall. "Oy, pea-brain!" yelled Ron from the other side of the chamber, and he threw a metal pipe at it. The troll didn't even seem to notice the pipe hitting its shoulder, but it heard the yell and paused turning its ugly snout toward Ron. The snot flew from the troll's nose and covered Ron. Ignoring Ron the troll began gulping again. Pretty soon the troll, Ron and Harry engaged each other. Hermione came out from below the sink and was standing beside Alex. Nicole, on the other hand, was not concerned about the troll but was fully focused on Alex and Hermione. Soon Harry was hanging upside down and Ron was shouting without being of any help. "Expelliarmus" Alex mumbled. The club flew from the troll's hand and passed by Ron's face and stuck in the wall behind him. Ron 😱😱 almost peed his pants with fear. "Petrificus Totalus" Alex mumbled once more and the troll came to a standstill. Just as Alex thought everything was over, he heard footsteps closing in. A moment later, Professor McGonagall had come bursting into the room, closely followed by Snape, with Quirrell bringing up the rear. Quirrell took one look at the troll, let out a faint whimper, and sat quickly down on a toilet, clutching his heart. * * *