The Boy Who Watches

The days at Hogwarts stretched slowly, like autumn leaves flying in the wind. Lessons, classes, homework - all of it created a routine that Itachi took with his usual restraint. However, there was already a sense of Halloween in the air, adding a slight note of excitement and anticipation to the routine of Hogwarts life.

Theodore, anticipating fun and jokes, was especially active these days. He was constantly trying to play pranks on Itachi, trying to get some emotion out of him. Itachi, for his part, remained calm and unperturbed, but in the back of his mind, he was beginning to realize that this holiday was not just an ordinary day of the year.

One day, as they were walking to potions class together, Theodore, suddenly jumping out from around the corner, shouted: "BOO!"

Itachi, slowing his step slightly, didn't show the slightest bit of surprise. He calmly looked at Theodore and said: "Theodore, you shouldn't waste your energy on pointless yelling. You'd better focus on your studies."

Theodore, pouting, replied, "Well, at least I was a little scared! It's Halloween all around, a time of horror, and it's like you're not the least bit scared!"

Itachi shrugged

Another day, as they sat together in the library, Theodore, slipping a drawn spider web under Itachi's book, said: "Look, Itachi! I brought you a surprise!"

Without blinking an eye, Itachi took the web and examined it closely. "Theodore," he said, "a spider web isn't such a terrible sight. It is merely the product of spiders."

Theodore, laughing, said: "Well, yes, of course. But you're supposed to cringe at least a little, aren't you! Or are you not scared of anything at all?"

Itachi, closing the book, replied, "I'm not saying I'm not scared of anything. I just don't show my fear."

During these days, Theodore continued his attempts to tease Itachi, but they were all in vain. Itachi remained unfazed, analyzing each of Theodore's attempts and trying to understand his motives.

At the same time, behind all the banter, there was a sense of tension in the air. The students were discussing the Halloween banquet, rumors that something unusual might happen, and of course, the ever-repeating Hogwarts ghost stories. Itachi, as always, listened to all of this calmly and carefully, trying not to miss a single detail.

He also noticed the strange behavior of some of the teachers, especially Professor Quirrell and Professor Snape, who seemed to be hiding something as well. He realized that he needed to be prepared for more than just possible jokes.

Halloween day began at Hogwarts with joyous excitement. Students, dressed in their best costumes, chatted merrily in the corridors, waiting for the festive banquet. For Itachi, however, this day was just another opportunity to observe and analyze.

There was a festive atmosphere in the Great Hall, the tables were decorated with pumpkins and candles, and the scent of pies and sweets wafted through the air. Gryffindor and Slytherin students sat at their tables, exchanging jokes and laughing, while the professors, dressed in their best robes, watched them with smiles on their faces.

Itachi, sitting at the Slytherin table, watched the scene with his usual reserved and calm demeanor. He saw Theodore chatting merrily with the other students, and Draco Malfoy, dressed in his most pompous outfit, trying to draw attention to himself. He realized that this day was just a masquerade, hiding his true intentions and feelings behind it.

At one point, Itachi noticed Draco Malfoy, sitting at the Gryffindor table, began teasing Hermione Granger, shouting some hurtful words at her. Itachi, watching what was happening, didn't show the slightest bit of interest, but his eyes got a little sharper and he became more attentive. He could see how Hermione, with every word Draco said, became more and more upset, and how her eyes began to fill with tears.

When Draco, with a contemptuous smile, threw a brownie in her face, Hermione, unable to stand it, jumped up from the table and ran out of the Great Hall in tears. All the students fell silent as they watched, but most of them, as usual, only laughed at Hermione rather than supporting her.

Itachi, watching all of this. He realized that there was no room for weakness in this world, and that someone who couldn't stand up for themselves became easy prey for others.

Shortly afterward, when the banquet was in full swing, the Great Hall door opened with a bang and Professor Quirrell burst into the hall, shouting: "A troll! There's a troll in the dungeons!"

All the students froze, watching the professor who was running around the hall like a madman, yelling about a troll. Itachi remained calm as always, but his eyes became even sharper and he began to scan his surroundings. He saw the teachers quickly orienting themselves and trying to organize the students and get them out of the hall, but he also saw some of them, especially Professor Snape, looking suspiciously calm.

He also noticed Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, along with a few other students, leaving the hall, but not in the order the professors had instructed. Itachi realized that they were going to do something, and he decided that he needed to follow them.

He quickly exchanged a glance with Theodore, and, as if on an unspoken signal, they left the Great Hall, heading towards the dungeons trying not to draw attention to themselves.

They soon caught up with Harry and Ron, who, as they had suspected, had deviated from the course prescribed by the professors.

They saw that Harry and Ron, along with Hermione, who they had met on the way, had entered one of the empty rooms, and from the sounds coming from there, they realized that they had run into a troll. Itachi, activating his Sharingan, quickly scanned the situation and realized that the situation was critical.

The troll, huge and vicious, had Harry by the legs and was about to swing his huge club. Itachi, realizing that there was no time, rushed forward and, standing between the troll and Harry, shouted a spell, "Brahiam Emen!"

The spell hit the troll's hand holding the baton precisely. The troll, letting out a roar of sudden pain and bewilderment, dropped the baton and let go of Harry. He turned his horrible face towards Itachi, but before he could react, Itachi once again cast a spell to cover the sharingan

"genjutsu!" - he said, and the troll, for a moment, lost touch with reality, falling into an illusion where he was completely disoriented.

Taking advantage of the troll's confusion, Itachi quickly cast the spell "Brahiam Emen!" and aimed at the troll's legs. The spell, worked flawlessly, and the troll's legs instantly gave out and he collapsed to the floor, unconscious.

Itachi instantly deactivated his Sharingan and quickly looked over Harry, Ron, and Hermione, making sure they were unharmed

Theodore, who was watching everything with his mouth open, muttered: "That was... that was incredible, Itachi! You saved them! How did you do that?"

Itachi looked at him and calmly said: "I did what I had to do. We need to get out of here. The teachers are going to show up here now."

Theodore, nodding, agreed with him. He realized that Itachi was right, and that they shouldn't linger here.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione, still in shock, looked at Itachi and Theodore. They couldn't comprehend what had just happened. Their brains refused to believe what they had seen. They had expected anything but that a Slytherin would save them from a troll, and so quickly and efficiently.

"Uh... thanks," Harry muttered, still in a state of shock. "But... why are you here?"

Hermione, who was usually very eloquent, remained silent, looking at Itachi with a confused look. She, like Ron, didn't understand why a Slytherin would choose to help them. All the Slytherins they knew always acted arrogant and mean to Gryffindors, and Itachi seemed to be even more mysterious and aloof than the rest of them.

Ron looked at Itachi with disbelief. "You... you're Slytherins, right?" he mumbled, as if asking what the catch was. "Why did you help us?"

Itachi, without answering their questions, looked at Theodore and said: "We should go." He didn't want to go into an explanation. He realized that they wouldn't understand his motives. He wasn't the type to seek gratitude. He had done what he thought was right, and he wasn't going to explain his actions to others.

Itachi, without waiting for them to come to their senses, along with Theodore, reached for the door to leave the room. They had no sooner taken a step than the door rattled open and Professors McGonagall, Flitwick, and Snape burst into the room, their faces serious and concerned.

Professor McGonagall, seeing the defeated troll and the confused Harry, Ron and Hermione, froze for a moment. Then, her gaze, like a razor blade, turned to Itachi and Theodore.

"Uchiha, Nott," she said in a stern voice, "what happened here?"

Itachi remained calm as always, but his eyes, involuntarily, became a little sharper. He realized that he was in a tricky situation, and that he needed to proceed with caution.

Theodore, slightly nervous, muttered: "We just... we just heard a noise and came to see what was going on."

Professor Flitwick, adjusting his glasses, took a quick glance around the room. He noticed that the troll had been defeated and that Harry, Ron and Hermione didn't seem to be hurt, but he could feel the tension that hung in the air.

Professor Snape, as always, showed no emotion, but his gaze was fixed on Itachi and it seemed as if he was trying to read his mind.

"Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley," Professor McGonagall addressed the Gryffindors, "explain to me what happened here."

Harry, still not fully recovered, told them how they had encountered the troll, and how Itachi and Theodore, had saved them. He also told them that they didn't know why Itachi and Theodore were there.

The professors, after listening to them carefully, shifted their gaze to Itachi and Theodore. Professor Snape was silent as always, but his eyes were full of suspicion. He sensed that Itachi was hiding something

"Mr. Uchiha, Mr. Nott," Professor McGonagall said, her tone firm but not hostile, "now it's your turn. How did you get here and what do you think happened here?"

Itachi, as always, remained calm. He knew he had to be extremely careful in his answers.

"We heard the commotion and came to see what was going on," Itachi replied, his voice steady and calm. "We didn't expect to see a troll, but we knew we had to act."

"Action?" - Professor McGonagall asked, her eyebrow raised in curiosity. "And how exactly did you 'act', Mr. Uchiha?"

Itachi looked at her without changing his expression and replied, "We used our knowledge and skills to neutralize the troll."

Professor Snape, unable to stand it, hissed: "No need for fairy tales here, Mr. Uchiha. No freshman can defeat a troll. You must be hiding something."

Theodore, sensing the tension, intervened, "Professor, we were only trying to help! Itachi is very talented, and he just did the best he could."

Professor Flitwick, a little surprised by Theodore's words, looked at Itachi, trying to catch some emotion on his face, but as usual, to no avail.

"Used your knowledge and skills?" - Professor Flitwick repeated, squinting his eyes. - "Mr. Uchiha, could you please clarify exactly what knowledge and skills you used?"

Itachi, realizing he had to be very careful, replied, "I studied the basics of magic and combat, and I used my knowledge to protect myself and my friends."

Professor McGonagall watched Itachi carefully, analyzing his every word and gesture. She realized that Itachi wasn't saying everything, and that there was something more behind his calmness and restraint. But she couldn't figure out what it was.

Harry, still not fully recovered, told them how they had encountered the troll, and how this strange Slytherin, along with his friend, had saved them.

The professors, after listening to them carefully, shifted their gaze to Itachi. Professor Snape was silent as always, but his eyes were full of suspicion.

"Mr. Uchiha, Mr. Nott," Professor McGonagall said, "do you have anything to add?"

Itachi remained calm as always, but realized that this was no ordinary day.

Professor McGonagall listened to everyone carefully and looked at the Gryffindors after considering the situation. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger," she said in a stern tone, "you have shown extreme carelessness and recklessness. Not only have you violated direct orders, but you have put yourself in mortal danger. For this, Gryffindor loses fifteen points."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione lowered their heads, realizing that their behavior was wrong. They expected punishment, but they still felt a little guilty.

Professor McGonagall then shifted her gaze to Itachi and Theodore. "Mr. Uchiha, Mr. Nott," she said, her tone softening but remaining stern, "your actions were very timely, and you showed not only bravery, but also incredible skill in magic. For this, the Slytherin gets 15 points for saving lives and 10 points for that incredible feat of defeating a first year troll."

Itachi remained calm as always, but something resembling satisfaction flashed in his eyes. Theodore, for his part, smiled happily, not expecting such an outcome.

Professor Snape remained silent as always, but his gaze was fixed on Itachi. He still didn't trust him, and realized that there was something more behind his coolness.

Professor Flitwick, shaking his head, added: "Mr. Uchiha, you do possess outstanding abilities. I hope you will use them for good."

Professor McGonagall looked at everyone present and said: "Right now, everyone go to your living rooms. And, no more adventures for today. Uchiha and Nott too, may you not be torn with pride!"

After these words, all the students, including Harry, Ron, and Hermione, headed to their respective buildings. The professors, on the other hand, with the help of spells, lifted the unconscious troll and carried it to a special, fortified dungeon designed to hold especially dangerous magical creatures. They realized that it would be extremely risky to leave the troll in an ordinary office

The professors intended to make a thorough examination of the troll there. They wanted to find out how it had gotten to the castle, and who or what had sent it there. It bothered them that the troll was able to get this far, and they realized that it could have been the result of someone's evil intentions.

Itachi and Theodore, along with the other Slytherins, made their way to the living room. They both realized that this day was far from ordinary, and that they needed to prepare for new challenges. Itachi also realized that now, he was the object of the professors' attention, and he needed to be even more careful.