Harry Potter and the Cataclysm

"Carnie, is that the troll? Is it… dead?"

"Hermione? When did you get here? How are you walking around without making a sound?" Carnie was startled.

"I could hear the commotion from inside the bathroom, even with the door shut… So this is a troll?" Hermione hesitated to step closer. The creature was terrifying enough when it was alive, and now its head was cracked open with blood dripping everywhere. "How did a troll get into the school? Hogwarts is protected by wards!"

She took a deep breath and, despite her initial fear, noticed something. "Wait… its eyes? They've been punctured?"

Even with all the blood, she could tell that the two holes in its eyes were the reason the troll had gone berserk before being beaten down by Carnie's barrage of club strikes.

"Oh, that? Just a little trick." Carnie waved it off.

"You always say that," Hermione muttered, though there was no arrogance in her voice this time. Instead, she admitted softly, "I work so hard, but compared to you, I still feel so far behind."

"Knowledge is a form of power too! It just hasn't come into play yet. One day, you'll probably end up working in an office, while people like me are out in the field doing grunt work, following your orders."

To his surprise, she didn't lecture him about acting recklessly or not reporting the troll to the professors.

For the first time, Hermione smiled, her eyes still a little red from crying. "Thank you! If it weren't for you, the troll would've made it into the bathroom!"

"How are you so sure the troll was heading for the bathroom?"

"Because duh, it came around the corner and this hallway only leads here. The only places ahead were empty classrooms and the bathroom." Hermione rolled her eyes but still smiled.

Ah. Right. That makes sense.

He couldn't exactly tell her, "I was here for the XP and just so happened to save you in the process."

"Nothing to worry about. We're friends, aren't we? We have been since before the Sorting."

"Hermione! Carnie, you're here too?"

Harry and Ron had finally arrived, looking out of breath.

"You guys? What are you doing here?" Carnie played along, giving Hermione a chance to settle things with them.

"Professor Quirrell said a troll got into the dungeons. We were worried about Hermione, so we came looking for her," Harry explained. Ron stood beside him, his face red with embarrassment.

"I'm… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that stuff earlier."

"It's okay. Thank you," Hermione said, genuinely touched. After an afternoon of tears, she was happy to know they still cared. She gladly accepted Ron's apology.

"Bloody hell, Merlin's stinky socks!" Ron finally noticed the troll lying in the middle of the corridor. "That's a troll?! It's even bigger than Hagrid!"

"Is it dead?" Harry and Ron cautiously stepped forward, curiosity outweighing their fear.

"Carnie! You did this?!" Harry's eyes widened in shock. "How?"

"This is incredible… Trolls have insanely high magic resistance!" Ron added.

"Ahaha… Just a little creative application of Levitation Charm…" Carnie chuckled.

"We should get out of here before the professors arrive!" Harry suggested. "They told the prefects to send everyone back to their dorms!"

"I'm waiting for the professors," Carnie corrected.

Otherwise, how would they know who defeated the troll? That's points up for grabs!

The fight had made plenty of noise, and before long, Professor McGonagall appeared around the corner, followed closely by Snape and a trembling Quirrell.

Quirrell took one look at the troll lying motionless on the ground and immediately let out a weak whimper, clutching his chest as he slumped against the wall.

Snape stepped forward to inspect the troll, while McGonagall locked eyes on the trio standing in front of it.

This was the second time Carnie had seen her look this angry. Her lips were pale, and her expression was ice-cold.

"Explain yourselves! Why are you not in your dormitories?" McGonagall's voice was stern and furious.

"Uh, Professor, I just happened to pass by and saw a wild troll in the corridor… so I took care of it. Isn't it still dinner time? Why would I be in my dorm?" Carnie answered innocently.

Technically, he had skipped dinner, so he wasn't aware of the troll's presence in the school. His delay in returning to the dorms was justifiable.

"And you three? Potter, Weasley, Granger?" McGonagall turned to them, her voice carrying disbelief.

Hermione, the perfect student, out here breaking rules?

"I was coming out of the first-floor bathroom, about to head to dinner, when I saw Carnie taking down the troll!" Hermione quickly explained.

McGonagall's gaze landed on Harry. How was he always in the middle of something dangerous?

Snape cast Harry a sharp, probing look.

"We were looking for Hermione and Carnie. They didn't know about the troll getting into the school," Harry admitted, lowering his voice.

"You should have alerted a professor instead of putting yourselves in danger," McGonagall scolded, though her tone softened slightly.

"The troll was killed by its own club. Likely Levitation Charm," Snape said, kneeling by the body. "Though… I'm curious about the injuries on its eyes. That's no Conjunctivitis Curse."

"Just a little trick, nothing fancy," Carnie said modestly.

"I don't recall any first-year spells capable of doing that." Snape stared at him intently, clearly unconvinced.

"I modified Aguamenti into an attack spell," Carnie explained, flicking his wand. A water arrow materialized and shot forward, embedding itself in the wall before turning into a small puddle.

"Impressive," Snape acknowledged, standing up.

"You've truly surprised me, Carnie. A first-year taking down a full-grown mountain troll on their own…" McGonagall shook her head in amazement. "You have earned Gryffindor thirty points!"

Carnie grinned.

"Now, all of you—back to your dormitories. Severus, please inform the students that the danger has passed. Professor Quirrell, you will handle the troll's remains."

Carnie and the others wasted no time hurrying off, running all the way to the entrance of Gryffindor Tower.

"Carnie! That water arrow attack was brilliant! Can you teach me?"

"Sure. We can practice in the Room of Requirement sometime!"

They exchanged glances, then broke into laughter.

After tonight, they were closer than ever.

"Password?"

"Pig snout!"

The Gryffindor common room was packed.

The food had been moved from the Great Hall, filling the tables with treats and drinks. Pumpkin lanterns floated near the ceiling, glowing under levitation charms. Candles flickered, casting warm light over the crowd.

The room buzzed with excitement as students chattered, laughing and eating.

"You guys disappeared on me! I was about to go looking for you, but then McGonagall stopped me!" Neville squeezed through the crowd, balancing a plate of food.

"Time to eat!" Carnie laughed, pinching Neville's round cheeks before grabbing a plate of his own.

"Time to eat!" Harry and Ron echoed, ruffling Neville's hair before piling food onto their plates.

Hermione chuckled but said nothing, instead following Carnie to grab some food.

Childhood friendships were simple. No complicated words, no unnecessary explanations—just pure, unfiltered camaraderie.

That night, they ate to their heart's content.

By now, everyone knew Carnie had defeated the troll—and won Gryffindor thirty points.

Cheers erupted.

Students lifted Carnie onto their shoulders, tossing him into the air in celebration.

The party went on until midnight, and for once, Carnie had no interest in meditation or training.

Tonight, he just wanted to sleep soundly and dream of something nice.