[24] Wandless

The scraping sound came closer.

Hall spun around. A troll. It was enormous, dragging its club across the stone floor, filling the corridor with a high-pitched screech.

It saw Hall and charged.

Hall ducked behind a pillar. The troll lost sight of him and began pounding the ground in fury. Hall gripped his wand, waiting for an opening.

"Henry?"

The pillar he'd chosen was right outside the girls' bathroom. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were all there, peeking out.

"Ron, you idiot —" Hall started.

Ron's shout had already attracted the troll's attention. The three of them looked up at the twelve-foot monster looming over them.

"Merlin..."

"Run!" Hall yelled.

They bolted into the bathroom. Hall spun, pointed his wand, and cast "Petrificus Totalus!" The troll's hand went limp, hanging uselessly at its side. Enraged, it charged after them.

"What do we do?!" Ron paced frantically. "That's a troll!"

"Where are the professors?!"

Hall ignored them and rummaged through his robes. His wand was a secondhand piece of junk — unstable, its power nearly depleted. He'd used it too hard. He needed something else.

His fingers found a bag. Potions. Hagrid had requisitioned them from the Potions department to blast the troll.

He pulled out the bag. "We'll use these."

Inside were seventeen glass bottles of cloudy liquid.

"What are they?" Ron squinted.

Hall grinned. "A whole year's worth of failed Potions homework."

The trio stared at the bottles in their hands, remembering every cauldron explosion they'd witnessed. They shuddered.

"Hide in four corners," Hall ordered. "When the troll enters, throw them all at once."

The troll smashed through the door. They waited, holding their breath. Three, two, one.

"NOW!"

Four vials flew. Sixteen more followed. The potions exploded across the troll's body. Its skin sizzled and melted.

But it wasn't enough. The troll grew angrier, swinging wildly.

"This won't work," Hall muttered. He gathered the remaining bottles with a silent "Accio" and floated them above the troll's head.

"Diffindo!"

The bottles shattered. Potion rained down on the troll's face. It screamed, clutching at its eyes, and collapsed.

"Is it safe?" Ron peeked out.

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Hall held up a hand. "Someone's here."

Ron pointed to the farthest stall. Below the door, a pair of black boots was visible.

Hall raised his wand. "Confundus!"

An explosion rocked the room.

The troll came for them.

The explosion threw Hall against the doorframe. He struggled to stand and peered out.

"Merlin..."

The troll had grown. It had swollen to double its original size, bursting through the ceiling. It was stuck — half its body on the upper floor, half below — but it was still swinging its club.

The trio pressed in behind him, gaping.

"Merlin's stinky socks."

"Merlin's beard."

The troll's ears were sensitive. Every sound drew its attention. Hall needed a silent solution.

"Exchange for wandless magic and silent spell."

[Ding]

[Wandless magic and silent spells are additional talent abilities. Cost: 100 Galleons. Proceed?]

"Yes."

[Ding — Panel Update]

B-Rank Abilities: Spells {Wandless Magic, Silent Spell} (Patronus Charm, Basic Transfiguration Charm {Self-Learned}, Petrificus Totalus, Finite Incantatem, Silencio, Immobilising Charm, Trip Jinx, Leg-Locker Curse, Confundus, Alohomora, Wingardium Leviosa, Accio, Diffindo, Lumos, Reducio)

Available Galleons: 2,398 Galleons, 6 Sickles, 23 Knuts

"Harry, Ron, Hermione — stay hidden."

Hall raised his hand. No wand. A beam of golden light shot from his palm, striking the troll.

"Reducio!"

The troll's body began to shrink. It glowed with golden light, folding in on itself until it was barely waist-high. Its club shrank to match.

"Wandless magic," Hermione breathed. "I've read about it. Only a handful of wizards can do it."

The troll, now tiny, turned to run. Hall levitated its own club and struck it twice on the head. The troll spun and collapsed.

"What happened here?" Professor McGonagall's voice cut through the chaos.

"Professor McGonagall!"

The trio rushed out, covered in dust. Professor Snape and Dumbledore followed behind her. Dumbledore was limping — bitten by the Cerberus, Hall realised.

"You dealt with the troll yourself, Henry William?" McGonagall's expression was severe.

"Henry used wandless magic!" Hermione blurted out.

McGonagall's eyebrows rose. She turned to Dumbledore and Snape, who exchanged a look.

"Leaving Gryffindor common room without permission — Slytherin loses five points each," McGonagall said. "But for your bravery — Harry, Ron, Hermione, Gryffindor gains five points each."

She turned to Hall. "And you, Henry William. For your excellent wandless magic and courage in rescuing your classmates — Slytherin gains fifty points."

Hall smiled.

But the creature was not finished.

After McGonagall left with the trio, Hall was alone with Dumbledore and Snape.

"Henry, your wandless magic is impressive. Did someone teach you?"

Oh no. Suspicion again.

"I read it in a book. It was an emergency. My first time using it."

Snape's face was cold. "Our valiant Mr. William is very lucky. Pity — you should have been a Gryffindor."

An insult. Impulsive. Thoughtless.

"Severus, it's late. Take Henry back to rest."

Snape turned and limped away. Hall followed, noticing the blood seeping through his robes from the Cerberus bite.

Dumbledore knew about the Cerberus. He was going to place the Mirror of Erised there. Why didn't he warn Snape?

Hall pulled a pale white potion from his robes. "Professor, this is a healing potion I developed for large wounds. Would you consider testing it?"

He phrased it carefully. If he'd directly offered it as treatment, Snape's pride would have refused.

Snape took the bottle without a word. He examined it, then pocketed it. "I trust Mr. William knows the way back."

He strode off before Hall could reply.

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