HP: The Wizard Who Paints with Magic

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Troll: I Came Quietly, Just as I Quietly Died



The pristine brush tip swept through the air.

As if cutting a gash in space itself, countless colors scattered from within. They floated in the air like sparkling stars, resembling countless iridescent celestial bodies.

Hermione was stunned, mouth agape, watching this scene in fascination.

Her concept of magic was still stuck at the stage of "wave wand," "emit light beam," and "hit target."

She had no idea magic could be so beautiful, so miraculous.

In the trio's sight, Ethan's lips curved slightly. Without effort to control it, magical power naturally flowed from the paintbrush.

Painting was, after all, an expression of the soul—leading to the same destination as spellcasting through different paths.

"Whoosh—"

The paint condensed and transformed in midair.

Finally forming palm-sized golden birds.

Their golden bodies shimmered with flowing light, chirping sweetly as they danced up and down gracefully, looking beautiful and adorable.

One even circled around them.

The three little ones unconsciously smiled.

Harry's round glasses reflected the birds' images, reminding him of the flying motorcycle from his dreams—magical and fantastical, his only comfort in dreary reality.

However, soon enough, the troll's heavy roar yanked Harry back to his senses.

The massive creature over three meters tall was less than ten steps away!

Close enough that Harry could see the boils growing on the troll's head, could see those angry, greedy, bean-sized eyes.

"ROAR—!"

The troll excitedly raised its club, ready to smash these four little beans into pulp.

In its eyes, these four creatures holding little sticks had no resistance whatsoever—one bite each, crispy and crunchy.

Not to mention those chattering birds flying around—not even enough to fill the gaps between its teeth.

The troll's barren brain directly ignored them.

"Ethan!"

Faced with the threat, Harry gripped Ethan's robes tightly, holding his wand in one hand, his mind completely blank.

They should run.

But how could they leave Ethan alone?

Ethan must have noticed they were missing and came looking for them specifically!

Ron had completely closed his eyes, huddled behind Ethan, muttering, "Crazy, all crazy."

Whether he trusted or distrusted Ethan was unclear.

The moment the club was raised high, Harry's body moved faster than his brain.

He leaped in front of Ethan, spreading his arms wide to face the descending club directly.

...What am I doing?

Time seemed to slow down.

Harry stared blankly at the bowl-thick club, involuntarily imagining himself being beaten into "Harry sauce."

He should have forcibly dragged Ethan away.

Even standing out like this, he couldn't block anything.

In the end, he still couldn't protect anyone.

Though he saw the troll, a blindingly sharp green light flashed before Harry's eyes.

The next second—

"Go."

A light rebuke sounded behind Harry, cool as spring water.

In his peripheral vision was a white paintbrush stained with paint, its tip pointing directly at the troll!

...

Meanwhile—

"What? You're saying Mr. Vincent is missing?!"

Professor McGonagall stopped abruptly, staring at the girl before her.

Ravenclaw's next prefect candidate, Penelope Clearwater, nodded anxiously:

"Sorry, Professor. When I noticed, Ethan was already gone."

"..."

Professor McGonagall held her forehead, feeling her head buzzing.

This child, Ethan, was really too unruly...

Come to think of it, she hadn't deducted points from Ravenclaw yet.

Professor Snape said sarcastically from the side:

"Perhaps our great Mr. Ethan Vincent thinks he can take on a troll single-handedly, so he ran off to deal with it alone."

"After all, he did take down the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, didn't he?"

For some reason, Professor Snape was the most relaxed one at the moment, showing no urgency whatsoever.

Professor McGonagall glanced disapprovingly at her colleague.

She couldn't agree with Snape's irresponsible statement.

Student safety was paramount.

However, everyone knew that, according to Professor Quirrell, the troll should be in the dungeons.

Ethan running elsewhere certainly wasn't to duel the troll—

"ROAR!"

An inhuman roar came from the other end of the corridor.

Everyone froze.

Snape's leisurely smile also stiffened.

They looked at each other, all showing panicked expressions.

Penelope, Robert, and Sean also exchanged surprised glances.

—That was clearly the troll's voice!

It wasn't in the dungeons but had come upstairs!

The missing Ethan might really encounter it!

"Heh, fool."

Sean chuckled quietly, imagining that arrogant brat lying in the hospital wing for ten days or half a month.

"Quick—go!"

Professor McGonagall immediately shouted, running as fast as possible.

Professor Snape, who had been so relaxed moments before, now looked grim.

The professors and several Ravenclaw upperclassmen immediately rushed toward the sound's source.

When they turned the corner, gasping for breath, an incredible scene appeared before them.

—Golden meteors.

Several golden meteors pierced through most of the corridor!

Like golden arrows, their trailing flames carried an inviolable sacred momentum, pinning their target firmly to the wall at the far end!

BANG!

The deep sound was like beating drums, the shock waves making everyone's hearts tremble.

Stone fragments scattered, dust rose!

The rushing air currents swept up their hair, forcing them to close their eyes.

"This—this is—"

Prefect Robert struggled to open his eyes.

Looking into the dust, his eyes gradually lit up with surprise and joy.

An unexpected yet reasonable figure appeared before everyone.

Flowing black hair, cobalt-blue eyes.

Brilliant paint swirled around him, adding color to this pale moonlit night.

The boy stood tall, his right hand pointing straight ahead, feet naturally positioned one in front of the other.

Like a knight pointing his sword at an enemy, his cold, heavy gaze revealed unwavering will.

Though someone stood in front of him, there was no doubt—at this moment, he was the guardian of these three children!

"How was that? Did you see clearly, Miss Granger?"

A gentle voice sounded.

Ethan Vincent lowered his paintbrush, which transformed back into a wand in his hand.

He turned to smile at the dumbstruck girl:

"Do you understand now how much magical power can affect a spell?"

In front of Ethan was the troll, firmly pinned to the wall with its granite-like skin directly pierced through!

Hermione's eyes were wide as saucers.

Her usually quick-thinking classroom brain was now too sluggish to function.

Looking at the wrist-thick penetrating wounds, she had only one thought:

This is "Avis"?

More like cannons and artillery!

Coach, don't lie to me!

Meanwhile, at the corner, seeing this scene and the troll hanging by a thread, Sean's face turned completely black.

He actually defeated the troll...

And with a single killing blow.

Who exactly was the monster standing here?!

Sean didn't dare turn to see his colleagues' expressions.

Even without looking, he could feel Robert and Penelope's naked, mocking gazes, making his face gradually burn with shame.

[Chapter Complete]

***

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