Halloween arrived at Hogwarts with a strange kind of magic that seemed to fill every corner of the ancient castle.
The sky outside the tall windows had turned the color of deep indigo long before the feast began. Heavy clouds rolled across the Highlands, swollen with rain, while distant thunder rumbled like the low growl of some sleeping giant.
Inside the Great Hall, however, the mood was joyful.
Hundreds of floating pumpkins drifted beneath the enchanted ceiling, glowing softly like lanterns in the twilight sky. Some were enormous, the size of cauldrons, while others were tiny and zipped playfully between the enchanted candles that hovered in the air.
Bats made of shadow flitted through the rafters.
The long house tables were laden with food that looked even more spectacular than usual.
Roasted pumpkins glazed with honey.
Golden breads infused with herbs.
Steaming bowls of thick autumn stew.
Candied apples glittering like jewels.
Many of the dishes had been added recently thanks to the rediscovery of Helga Hufflepuff’s cookbook, and the entire castle seemed to agree that the meals had never tasted better.
Students laughed and chatted loudly as they filled their plates.
It was the kind of evening that made Hogwarts feel less like a school and more like a home.
At the Slytherin table, Mira Silverthorne sat beside Draco Malfoy.
Her silver-white hair was tied neatly in a bun, the delicate hairpin Draco had given her catching the candlelight like polished silver. Her luminous, teal-colored eyes sparkled as she watched the enchanted pumpkins float overhead.
Pip the Niffler sat in her lap, nibbling happily on a small sugar-glazed chestnut.
Draco leaned back slightly in his seat.
“I must admit,” he said, eyeing the dessert table thoughtfully, “Hufflepuff’s cookbook was an excellent discovery.”
Mira smiled faintly, “I think Helga would have liked seeing everyone enjoy her recipes.”
At the Hufflepuff table, Cedric Diggory laughed with his friends while discussing Quidditch practice.
He was already taller than many of the older students, his sandy hair slightly messy from the windy weather outside.
At the Ravenclaw table, Isolde Silverthorne—Mira’s half-veela sister—sat with her housemates, her blonde silver white hair shimmering softly under the floating candles.
Even the professors appeared relaxed.
Professor Sprout was cheerfully discussing new herb blends with Professor Flitwick.
Professor McGonagall watched the hall with quiet satisfaction.
Severus Snape sat with his usual stillness, though his eyes occasionally flicked toward Mira as if unconsciously keeping track of her presence.
At the head of the hall, Albus Dumbledore smiled warmly over the spectacle.
It was a perfect Halloween feast.
Until—
Suddenly, the doors to the Great Hall slammed against the stone walls with a thunderous BANG.
Every student turned.
Professor Quirinus Quirrell stumbled inside.
His face was pale with terror.
He staggered several steps forward.
“T—T—TROLL!” he gasped.
The word echoed through the Great Hall.
Students blinked in confusion.
“T-TROLL!” Quirrell shrieked again, “TROLL IN THE DUNGEON!”
Gasps erupted across the room.
Quirrell swayed dramatically, “Thought you would know…”
And then—
He collapsed.
His body hit the stone floor with a dull thud.
For a single, suspended moment—
The Great Hall was silent.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Then chaos exploded.
Students screamed.
Chairs scraped violently across the floor.
Hundreds of voices shouted at once.
The floating pumpkins bobbed wildly as the sudden surge of panic rippled through the room.
But above the uproar—
A voice thundered like a command of magic itself.
“SILENCE!”
Albus Dumbledore stood.
Lightning flashed across the enchanted ceiling.
Thunder rolled through the sky above the Hall.
The booming sound seemed to ripple through the castle itself.
Every student froze.
The noise stopped instantly.
Dumbledore’s blue eyes swept across the room.
His voice, calm yet powerful, carried effortlessly to every corner, “Everyone will please not panic.”
His gaze shifted briefly toward Quirrell’s unconscious form before returning to the students.
“Prefects will lead their houses back to their dormitories.”
A distant rumble of thunder rolled again across the ceiling.
“Teachers will follow me to the dungeons.”
The professors immediately stood.
Snape moved swiftly toward the doors.
McGonagall raised her wand.
Flitwick hopped down from his chair with surprising speed.
Sprout hurried to assist the stunned Quirrell.
Then students began moving quickly, gathering into their houses as prefects stood and began organizing their groups.
At the Slytherin table, Gemma Farley rose.
The third-year prefect moved with swift authority.
“First years with me. Everyone, stay together.” Gemma ordered.
Draco leaned toward Mira.
“Well,” he muttered, “that ruined the pudding.”
But Mira wasn’t looking at the desserts.
Her luminous teal eyes had narrowed slightly.
She was thinking.
Fast.
She turned toward Gemma, “Prefect Farley?”
Gemma glanced down at her, “Yes?”
“The Slytherin common room is in the dungeons.” Mira spoke calmly.
Gemma nodded, “Yes.”
Mira gestured subtly toward the Hufflepuff table, “And so are the Hufflepuff dormitories.”
Gemma blinked.
Cedric Diggory was already organizing the Hufflepuff students nearby.
Mira continued, “If the troll is in the dungeon levels, both houses are heading directly toward it.”
Gemma’s expression shifted.
She had not considered that.
“The library is closer.” Mira spoke again, her voice steady.
Draco immediately understood.
His eyes widened slightly.
Mira looked toward Cedric, “What if we gather both houses there?”
Cedric turned toward her, “Why?”
Mira met his gaze, “A truce.”
The word hung in the air.
Gemma raised an eyebrow.
Mira continued calmly, “Until the troll is dealt with, we should stay somewhere safer."
Cedric considered this.
Then he nodded, “That’s reasonable.”
Gemma looked between them.
Then she gave a sharp nod, “Fine.” She raised her voice, “Slytherins—change of plan. We’re heading to the library.”
Cedric mirrored her, “Hufflepuffs with us. Stay together.”
The two groups began moving quickly through the castle corridors.
The Hogwarts library was enormous and dimly lit, towering shelves stretching upward like the trunks of ancient trees.
The smell of parchment and ink filled the air.
Gemma and Cedric ushered the younger students inside.
“Everyone toward the back,” Cedric instructed.
Students clustered between the tall shelves.
The room quickly filled with whispers.
Draco stood beside Mira near the entrance.
Pip peeked nervously from Mira’s pocket.
“You think the troll’s down there?” he asked quietly.
Mira closed her eyes briefly.
She was listening.
Not with her ears.
With something deeper.
Her magical senses stretched outward through the castle.
Searching.
Feeling.
Then—
Her eyes opened, “It moved.”
Draco blinked, “What?”
“The troll.” Mira clarified.
Gemma turned, “You can sense that?”
Mira nodded slowly, “It’s not in the dungeons anymore.”
Draco frowned, “How do you know that?”
Before Mira could answer—
A massive roar echoed through the castle.
The sound shook the library doors.
Students gasped.
The troll was very close.
Mira turned instantly, “Everyone, hide.”
Gemma and Cedric reacted immediately.
“Back shelves!” Cedric called.
“Move!” Gemma ordered.
Students scrambled behind towering bookcases.
Mira looked at Draco, Cedric, and Gemma, “Do you know the Slumber Spell?”
All three nodded.
“Of course,” Draco said.
Mira drew her wand, “Then be ready.”
The roar sounded again.
Closer.
Heavy footsteps shook the stone floor outside the library.
BOOM.
BOOM.
BOOM.
Something massive struck the corridor walls.
The library doors rattled violently.
Students held their breath.
Then—
CRASH.
The doors exploded inward.
A twelve-foot mountain troll burst into the room.
It stank of rot and mud.
Its gray skin was thick and scarred.
Tiny eyes glared beneath a heavy brow.
In one massive hand it carried a stone club.
The smell alone was horrifying.
Draco grimaced.
“Merlin’s beard.”
The troll roared.
Bookshelves trembled.
Students whimpered behind the stacks.
Mira stepped forward.
Draco, Cedric, and Gemma moved beside her.
Four wands rose.
The troll lumbered toward them.
Then—
“Soporatus!”
Four spells fired simultaneously.
Silver-blue light struck the troll squarely in the chest.
The creature froze.
Its massive eyes blinked slowly.
Its club slipped from its hand.
Then—
The troll collapsed.
The entire library shook as its enormous body hit the floor.
Silence fell.
Then—
The library doors burst open again.
The professors rushed into the library.
McGonagall entered first.
Her eyes widened at the sight of the unconscious troll.
Behind her came Snape, Sprout, Flitwick, and finally Dumbledore.
They stopped.
Taking in the scene.
Students hiding behind shelves.
Four students stood before it with raised wands.
McGonagall’s eyes widened, “Why are you in the library?”
Cedric stepped forward respectfully, “Professor, both Hufflepuff and Slytherin dormitories are in the dungeon levels.”
Gemma nodded, “So we moved everyone here instead.”
Sprout looked visibly relieved, “Oh thank goodness.”
Snape’s gaze swept the room quickly, checking the students.
His eyes briefly rested on Mira.
Then he gave the smallest nod.
Dumbledore stepped closer to the unconscious troll.
Then he looked at the four students, “Who cast the spell?”
Draco gestured slightly, “All of us.”
Dumbledore smiled, “A combined Slumber Spell.”
Flitwick looked impressed, “Excellent spellwork.”
Dumbledore turned to the gathered students, “Tonight, these four students demonstrated remarkable bravery and cooperation.” His voice carried clearly through the library, “Mira Silverthorne. Draco Malfoy. Cedric Diggory. Gemma Farley.” He raised his hand, “I award fifteen points each.”
Students began murmuring excitedly.
“For bravery.”
“For unity.”
“And for choosing protection over panic.”
The murmurs grew louder.
Mira glanced at Draco.
He smirked faintly.
“Not a bad Halloween,” he said quietly.
Pip chirped happily from Mira's shoulder.
Behind them, the troll snored loudly on the library floor.
And Hogwarts would remember the night when two rival houses stood together—and defeated a troll.
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