Chapitre 11: Trick or Troll
In the weeks following Ron's first journey to the third-floor corridor, he quickly slipped into a consistent routine. After an explosive first two weeks, his business died down, as first and second years adapted to their schoolwork. He was still making seven or eight sickles a week, but now he had free time.
Most of this time was spent in the Room, either studying or exploring the Room of Hidden Things. On occasion, he'd even play wizard's chess against the Room, finding it a formidable opponent. While the Room was no Stockfish, it was leagues above Hermione, Blaise and even Ron himself. Under the constant stimulation, he could see his long-stagnant Chess level ticking up.
Other than chess and magic, Ron's time was dedicated to scheming for the Philosopher's Stone. While his canon knowledge gave him an edge, there was still much to consider.
There were seven protections on the stone, one by each House Head, plus Hagrid, Quirrell and Dumbledore. Of them, Ron wasn't worried about Sprout's Devil Snare or McGonagall's chess board. Flitwick's keys and Snape's riddles were also easy enough to prepare for. That only left Fluffy, Quirrel's troll and the Mirror. He already had a plan burgeoning for the latter two, but the former…
"Fweet!"
Playing yet another foul note on his flute, Ron grimaced. How was it he was top of all classes, but couldn't learn to play a ruddy windpipe? Unfortunately, he knew the reason. The panel didn't accept non-magical skills.
At first, Ron had been in denial. It accepted Wizard's Chess and De-Gnoming, neither of which required a wand; why was music different? Just because music was more of a Mugglish skill? Clearly, the panel was racist! Or rather, it was 'magicist'!
Still, he was half-expecting this after he failed to put History of Magic on there. It seemed there needed to be some magical element involved in the skill to qualify for the panel. Alas, with his tone-deaf ears, it would take months to learn a half-decent melody. He could only search for a music-making spell while he catastrophically failed at flute-playing.
Fortunately, his other endeavours were going well. All the material for the year had now been introduced and through points and effort—though mostly points—his worst skill reached White LV2. Charms was still his strongest subject, with the lowest at LV3 and levitation reaching LV7. Mending had reached Green LV5, with his flying and chess also levelling up. Moreover, he'd accumulated over 1500 points.
Ron grinned. This was more like it. This should be more than enough to deal with today's hijinks. Because today was Hallowe'en… and he had a troll to fight!
Departing from the Room, the feast was already in swing by the time Ron arrived. Blaise and a few other friends from Slytherin shifted over for him at once and he quickly filled his plate. Then, they leapt into conversation, about everything from politics to Potions as they enjoyed the night.
With live bats fluttering around, floating Jack-O-lanterns and swooping ghosts—though this was commonplace—Hogwarts took Hallowe'en seriously. Dumbledore even promised a good horror story at the end of the night. But as Ron surveyed the Great Hall, there was a notable absence from the Gryffindor table.
"Where's Neville?"
"You didn't hear?" Blaise asked surprisedly. "Got a detention for giving Malfoy a black eye in the library."
"Neville?" Ron was stunned.
"I didn't think Longbottom had it in him really." Blaise continued. "But Malfoy set him off, insulting you and Granger. Next thing, Longbottom socked him and the blond git was sobbing on the floor. Snape was seething mad. Took 10 points off Gryffindor."
Ron was in disbelief, but Malfoy was only a few seats away, nursing one hell of a shiner as he gave a biased recounting of the story to his gang. Across the hall, the Gryffindors were glaring daggers at him, especially Hermione, who looked as though she might hex him right there.
But then, Ron frowned. He was with Snape? Didn't that mean…
Having a dangerous thought, he flipped open the Marauder's map under the table. His breath hitched. He was right.
Neville and Snape's names were in the Potions' classroom, in the dungeons, while just outside, Quirrell's name rushed past. Moments later, Snape's name was also on the move, leaving Neville alone in the dungeons as he chased after Quirrell. But most ominous was down the hall, right around a corner, where the name 'Mountain Troll' slowly advanced on the class.
"Bloody hell."
Leaping out of his seat, Ron left the Great Hall at once, garnering strange looks from all around him. Blaise quickly followed after him, as did Hermione from across the Hall. But they didn't catch up to him until he was stalled by a changing staircase.
"Come on, come on…" Ron nervously tapped his foot, gaze focused on the map.
"What's wrong Ron?" The duo asked, catching their breath.
"Neville's in danger."
They threw quizzical looks at him.
"How on Earth could you know that?"
"Yeah, he's in the dungeons with Snape."
Ron didn't bother explaining as the staircase before him was finally restored. Seeing him rush on, Hermione and Blaise sighed in frustration, but followed close behind. Once they arrived in the dungeons, a foul scent assaulted their nose.
"Dear Merlin, what is that?" Blaise grimaced.
Hermione also covered her nose, eyes focused on a massive set of grimy footprints leading to the Potions classroom. The next moment, a loud shriek sounded out. It was Neville.
Bursting through the door, they were stunned by the scene before him. Inside the Potions classroom stood a twelve-foot-tall mountain troll with stony grey skin, dishevelled rags and an order so foul it was almost visible. In one of its long, muscular arms, the troll held a large club, the size of a grown man, while the other held a screaming Neville, dangling above the ground.
As the trio entered, they glared up at the troll and the troll at them. For a moment, they were all stunned, all except for Ron.
"Let him down!" He belted. "Mucus Ad Nauseam!"
A dark green light flashed from the tip of his wand, shooting up the troll's left nostril and bypassing its magic resistant hide. There was no reaction at first, but seconds later, snot pooled in its massive nose, then it let out a loud sneeze.
"Ahhh!"
Neville plummeted as the troll suddenly released him, but Ron was prepared.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
Cancelling his momentum in mid-air, Ron set him down gently. But by then, the troll's surprise had faded, and it was quickly replaced by anger.
"Raaargh!" The troll roared, snot flying everywhere.
Then, it heaved its massive club, looking to clobber what was nearest to it, namely Neville. But how could Ron allow this? He lashed out with his wand once more, but this time, he wasn't alone.
"Locomotor Mortis!"
"Rictumsempra."
"Enflagrati Caerulus."
Two spell-lights and a jet of blue flames flew at the troll, all bouncing harmlessly off its hide. However, together they were just enough to force out another sneeze, covering Neville in troll snot, but also giving him a chance to scurry over to the trio.
But as they all moved to leave, the troll roared, swinging its club at Neville's cauldron like a baseball bat. The reinforced pewter cauldron was bent into scrap metal, shooting across the room. Ron tackled Hermione aside just as the cauldron soared passed them, crushing against the wall until it was a pewter lump.
"I just repaired that." Ron grumbled.
They abandoned the door, as rushing to it would leave them exposed, instead weaving low through the desks. Trolls were notoriously stupid, so without seeing them, perhaps it would think they were gone. But they weren't so lucky.
Slipping on his mucus-covered shoes, Neville crashed into a nearby chair, alerting the troll to their location. A second later, the enraged troll ripped the door off its hinges, throwing it in their direction. It soared over their hands, snapping in two as it hit the wall, giving them all a shock.
Ron gritted his teeth. Hiding wouldn't work anymore.
"You three, make a run for it and fetch a teacher. I'll distract him!" Ron ordered, then, before they could protest, he leapt out of hiding, dashing at the troll. "Wingardium Leviosa! Wingardium Leviosa! Wingardium Leviosa!"
Casting the levitating charm on any objects in sight, Ron tried launching them at the troll, wanting to knock it out. Alas, White LV6 Levitation didn't have nearly enough power or accuracy behind its attacks to threaten a troll. And try as he might, he couldn't levitate the giant creature's club.
How on earth had canon Ron succeeded? Was his levitation level higher? Or had he just gotten lucky? Regardless, it seemed he was having none of it. Diving aside, he just barely avoided a swing of the troll's club that obliterated a nearby chair. Wood chips and sawdust blasted into his face, obscuring his vision. But just as he despaired, three voices shouted out.
"Tarantellgra!"
"Flipendo!"
"D-diffindo!"
It was Hermione, Blaise and Neville, firing off spells from the doorway. Their attacks did nothing but irritate the troll, but as he looked over his shoulder at them, Ron seized his chance. Throwing 588 Points into Levitation, he watched as his proficiency skyrocketed.
[Levitation Charm (Green) LV3 0/300]
Going through a familiar rush of realizations, Ron pointed his wand at the troll's club.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
This time, he was able to forcefully levitate the club, out of the troll's hands and all the way up to the ceiling. Then, he thrust it down, using gravity and magic to bring it down on the troll's temple with a sickening crunch.
The troll swayed and shook, its eyes going blurry. Ron barely had time to throw himself aside before it collapsed where he'd just been sitting. It was fully unconscious.
Hermione's jaw dropped, as did Neville's.
"Wicked." Blaise gasped.
Moments later, hurried steps sounded as the Professors and Dumbledore rushed in, sheltering the students as they looked in awe at the troll. Among them were the frazzled Quirrell and the limping Snape. They all looked between Ron and the trio at the door.
"Well, I trust you all have a good story to tell." Dumbledore remarked with a twinkle in his eye.
L’AVIS DES CRÉATEURS 
Azrael_Draco
Azrael_Draco We're officially in the all-time rankings baby! Thanks for all the support, really makes it easier to write.
Anyways, believe it or not, we're almost done with book 1. The second half will go by alot faster. Also, for anyone who isn't happy about it being mostly canon compliant, things will really start changing at the end of Book 1 and Book 2 is where canon goes out the window.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone