NOVEL WEB Chapter 106: Trolls
In the Great Hall, the students sat at long tables, enjoying their Halloween feast. The decorations still floated in the air — carved pumpkins, fluttering bats, and glittering candles — as laughter filled the room. Plates clinked, and chatter echoed off the high, enchanted ceiling.
Suddenly, the large oak doors slammed open. Professor Quirrell came sprinting into the hall, his turban askew, his face pale with terror.
"TROLLS — IN THE DUNGEONS — TROLLS — IN THE DUNGEONS — thought you ought to know," he gasped, before collapsing to the floor in a dead faint.
Chaos erupted instantly. Students jumped from their seats, screaming and shouting, fear spreading through the hall like wildfire.
But among the panicked crowd, Cael sat calmly, watching the scene unfold. His eyes narrowed as he thought to himself, And now Dumbledore will say, 'Go to your dormitories,' but I don't know if that's such a smart decision. If there are multiple trolls inside the castle, it'll be dangerous anywhere.
Just as he expected, Dumbledore rose from his seat, his presence alone enough to quiet some of the noise.
"Professors," he rumbled, his voice steady, "lead your Houses back to the dormitories immediately."
Cael raised his eyebrows, amused. So no prefects to escort students? Interesting, he thought as he stood, blending in with the other Gryffindors.
Professor McGonagall appeared, her face stern. "All Gryffindors, follow me," she ordered. Then she turned, adding, "Gryffindor prefects, stay at the back and make sure no one is missing."
The students filed out of the Great Hall, hurrying through the corridors. In the confusion, no one noticed that three boys weren't among them.
some professors stayed behind, preparing to deal with the trolls near the first-floor corridors.
Once the Gryffindors reached their common room, Percy Weasley stood by the fireplace, calling out names to check that everyone was present.
"Harry Potter," Percy called.
There was no response.
"Harry Potter?" he repeated, louder this time. The room fell quiet as everyone looked around, but there was no sign of Harry.
Neville, trembling, spoke up. "R-Ron is missing too."
Percy's face darkened. He hurried upstairs to the dormitory, but when he returned, his expression told them everything — the boys weren't there.
"They didn't come back with us," Percy muttered, worried.
Dean Thomas, leaning on the arm of a chair, added, "I didn't see them at dinner either, but earlier, I heard Potter saying something about making Malfoy pay for something."
Percy's eyes widened with concern. "I'll inform Professor McGonagall. The rest of you stay here. If anyone leaves, I'll make sure you regret it." With that, he hurried out of the common room.
Cael settled onto a sofa, his expression thoughtful. Interesting… Hermione is here in the common room, so the plot has changed more than I thought. But even without Hermione, Potter's gotten himself wrapped up in something big. Maybe destiny's pulling the strings to make sure everything plays out as it should.
Some students drifted off to bed, but others, like Hermione, Cael, and the Weasley twins, stayed near the fireplace, too restless to sleep.
Hermione approached Cael, worry in her eyes. "Cael… what do you think they're outside for? What if something's happened to them?"
Cael smiled faintly at her kindness. Even after the way they treated her, she still worries for them. She's got a good heart.
"Don't worry," he told her softly. "Nothing will happen to them. Dumbledore's here."
Hermione nodded, hugging a book to her chest. She sat down, flipping through its pages, though her eyes barely focused on the words.
Fred Weasley slid onto the sofa beside Cael. "You think something shady's going on, Cael?"
George chimed in, frowning. "Ron would never miss a feast. Something's not right."
Lee Jordan twirled his wand between his fingers. "I bet Slytherins are behind this troll mess," he said darkly.
Fred nodded. "Yeah, probably trying to hurt Potter. They've been after him since day one — last time, we stopped them."
Lee leaned in. "We'd better make plans—"
But his words were cut short as the common room door burst open. Percy stumbled inside, pale, covered in sweat, his hands shaking.
"Paper— I need parchment — I need to write to Mum and Dad," he stammered, his voice weak.
Fred jumped to his feet. "What's happened? Percy, what's going on?"
Percy's voice dropped, trembling. "I think… I think Ron is dead."
George and Fred froze in shock. "What are you talking about? Are you mad?" George demanded.
Fred's face paled. "Don't joke about that, Percy — not about Ron."
Cael's heart skipped as the weight of the moment sank in. Something huge had happened. But before he could ask a single question, a sharp, cutting voice rang out from behind Percy — and the room went silent.