Quirinus Quirrell, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts—someone who was supposed to be a role model for students—had been frightened into such a state by a troll, and had even fainted in front of everyone.
Can you believe it?
But the truth was laid bare for all to see: the exceedingly frail Quirrell lay there before everyone, once again confirming his reputation as a useless coward.
Maybe Quirrell really was a coward—or maybe this was exactly the effect he wanted.
Upon hearing that a troll had entered the school, the Great Hall instantly descended into chaos. Terrified students scrambled to leave, many wishing they could go straight home.
Eda genuinely hoped that in their panicked rush, the stampeding students might each give Quirrell a good stomp—preferably enough to send him to meet Merlin.
Unfortunately, not only did the students fail to hear her wish, even Merlin ignored her plea. Quirrell remained untouched.
Dumbledore had to fire several bursts of purple sparks from his wand before the chaotic Great Hall fell silent again.
"Prefects," Dumbledore said in a low voice, "immediately lead your houses back to their dormitories."
Upon hearing the headmaster's orders, the Head Boy and Girl, along with the prefects, began guiding their respective houses out of the hall. Percy on the Gryffindor side acted with practiced ease—it looked like he'd rehearsed for this in private.
Back in Eda's first year, it had been Charlie who led Gryffindor back to the dorms. This year, it was Percy instead. But the broad-shouldered Charlie had certainly inspired more confidence than Percy did.
As they moved with the crowd toward the tower, Eda asked, "How could a troll have gotten into the school? Those magic wards outside aren't just for decoration."
"Maybe Quirrell let it in," said Fred. "Personally, I'd rather believe it was Peeves, but unfortunately, he doesn't have the guts."
"Clearly someone's trying to stir the waters," George analyzed. "The students are sent back to their dormitories, the professors are off dealing with the troll—whoever's interested in what the three-headed dog is guarding, this is the perfect opportunity."
Eda agreed with the twins' analysis. She said, "Yeah, that's what I was thinking too. If no one let it in, then with that dumb brain of its, a troll wouldn't even know which way Hogwarts's doors open."
The crowd reached a fork in the corridor, where Gryffindor and Hufflepuff students had to go their separate ways. Eda spotted Harry Potter and Ron in the crowd—they were pushing their way through the group, trying to sneak out.
Eda turned a blind eye to their very Gryffindor behavior and didn't report them, because she was about to do something Gryffindor-worthy herself.
She gave the twins a look, then quietly slipped away from the line. Fred and George, understanding her signal perfectly, ducked down and followed her out of the crowd, heading toward the 3rd floor.
None of the three had the slightest interest in the stinky troll. What they really wanted to know was who was heading to the 3rd floor. Eda and the twins moved quickly, worried they might be too late—and it'd be awkward if they didn't even catch sight of anyone.
None of them even considered the possibility of danger. Eda trusted her own strength, and the twins trusted ...Eda's strength.. ehm.
Besides, they'd known Eda long enough—she'd "tormented" them plenty. Maybe she wasn't absurdly powerful, but she could definitely hold her own.
Just as they approached the right-side corridor on the 3rd floor, they heard the deafening roar of the three-headed dog. Its howl was filled with fury—clearly, someone had trespassed into its territory.
Eda waved her wand and directly blasted the door open. What they saw was the three-headed dog, Fluffy, using its massive paw to attack a man dressed in black. The man's leg was injured, making it hard for him to move.
"Professor Snape!"
The three of them—Eda, Fred, and George—exclaimed in unison. Their mouths hung so wide in shock that they could practically fit a dragon egg inside.
The figure before them stunned Eda and the twins. They hadn't come here to see Quirrell; instead, they saw a battered and disheveled Snape. They had planned to ambush Quirrell, not witness a greasy old bat in a brawl with a stinky three-headed dog!
They came to gank, only to find their own teammate—what a letdown.
Dumbledore trusted Snape greatly, and had even told Eda personally that he'd entrusted Snape with watching over certain things. Eda believed that Snape's presence here wasn't with ill intent. Like her, he must have come to keep an eye on Quirrell.
Besides, if Snape really wanted to bypass Fluffy, he could've just killed the dog outright.
Even Eda could manage that—there was no reason Snape couldn't. But Snape was clearly only defending himself, with no intention of harming Fluffy.
As Snape battled the three-headed dog, he noticed the three of them standing dumbfounded at the door.
His face darkened further—though it was unclear whether he was angry at Eda for wandering off again, or simply embarrassed that students had seen him in such a sorry state.
"Help him first!" Eda was the first to snap out of it.
She conjured a guitar and began to strum. She had learned a little long ago, but had since forgotten everything—her playing sounded worse than beating cotton.
To human ears, it was pure noise, but to Fluffy? It was heavenly music.
The beast, moments ago in a rage, began to doze off. All six of its eyes slowly shut, and it no longer paid attention to Snape or the twins who had just entered the room.
The twins supported Snape from either side, helping him out despite the injured leg—but their faces were filled with barely concealed disgust. They should be grateful Snape didn't see their expressions.
Eda didn't lower her wand; it was always wise to stay on guard. She asked, "Professor, what are you doing here?"
"The same reason you're here—that's why I'm here," Snape replied curtly, stowing away his wand and beginning to examine the wound on his leg.
Just looking at the injury made one wince; Fred and George couldn't help but frown. Snape was in a truly sorry state this time.
He'd been bitten by a three-headed dog, and worst of all, it had happened in front of students. If even one of them blabbed, Snape would face total social humiliation. The two of them decided to not say anything—
"Professor, you actually got bitten by a three-headed dog? No way! Who even gets bitten by a pet like that!" Eda, who was technically Snape's top student, had a real knack for sarcasm too.
This, right here, was karma.
Snape felt it keenly.
That damn girl didn't even offer to check his wound—instead, she came at him with this nonsense?
"Shut up!" Snape snapped viciously. "Do you want to face three cauldrons again?"
"Quirrell wasn't here after all. So what was his goal tonight?" Fred interjected, trying to change the subject. "Some kind of Halloween surprise?"
Snape had already pulled himself together and returned to his usual venomous self. "That's not your concern. If you don't want points deducted, get back to your dormitory. Now."
"If you tell me what the three-headed dog is guarding, I'll head back right away," Eda said. She wasn't as intimidated by Snape as she used to be, which gave her the nerve to bargain.
"No comment. Why don't you go ask the Headmaster?" Snape snapped. His dignity had already been shattered tonight; there was no point trying to act superior.
If Dumbledore were willing to tell Eda, would she even need to ask Snape? Would she have needed to trick that naive Hagrid?
Eda knew full well she wouldn't get anything out of these people—they all clammed up the moment she started asking questions.
"Professor, need us to help patch up that wound?" Eda asked sweetly. "Don't worry, the three of us aren't ...UP to anything."
Even Fred and George couldn't keep a straight face at that. Eda practically had revenge written all over her face. Forget Snape—if it were Hagrid standing here, he wouldn't dare let Eda help.
"No need. You three return to your dormitory at once, or Gryffindor will lose thir—"
Snape didn't get to finish his threat before Eda cut him off. "I saw Harry Potter didn't return to the dorms. He's probably gone to find the troll!"
"And what does that have to do with me?" Snape replied coldly. "If I catch him, Harry Potter can expect to be expelled." He added, "Now, the three of you—return to your dorms. Immediately!"
With that, Snape didn't spare them another glance.
He turned and hurried off, moving so fast it was hard to believe his leg was injured. Frankly, he probably couldn't walk that fast even when he wasn't hurt.
"Why'd you suddenly bring up Harry?" Fred asked, puzzled. "You haven't mentioned his name in over a month."
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