firecracker ???

1-9

It was Elestara.

She looked over her shoulder. "Seriously? Now you lot show up?"

Behind her, the troll's roar shook the ceiling.

Draco skidded in behind them. "We need Snape! His office is around the corner—"

"Go!" Elestara snapped. "Go now!"

Draco hesitated, then took off again.

The troll swung. Elestara ducked, stumbling over wet tile. She reached for her wand but had to roll again as the club came crashing down where her head had been.

There was no time to cast anything.

Harry saw it too. Without thinking, he grabbed a pipe off the wall and flung it at the troll. It missed. But it distracted the thing long enough for Ron to shout, "Do something!"

"Like what?!"

"Anything!"

Harry charged.

The next few moments blurred: Elestara scrambling across the floor, Ron yelling, Harry climbing the troll somehow—then jamming his wand up its nose.

It roared, flailing.

Ron yelled, "Wingardium Leviosa!"

The club rose, hovered, then crashed onto the troll's own skull.

Silence.

Then a thud.

The troll collapsed.

Elestara coughed, brushing hair from her face. Her robes were torn. Her braid was loose.

Then the door burst open. Professors flooded in.

Snape, McGonagall, Quirrell, and behind them—Dumbledore.

Draco rushed in behind them, panting.

"She's okay? Lyra!"

McGonagall blinked. "Lyra?"

Draco's face flushed. "Elestara. I meant Elestara. She's fine. I mean—thanks to him."

He pointed at Harry with a glare.

McGonagall stepped forward, her expression unreadable as she took in the shattered bathroom and the unconscious troll.

"What on earth were you three thinking? You could have been killed!"

Harry opened his mouth to speak, but she held up a hand.

"Nevertheless," she continued, voice firm, "it was incredibly brave. Five points to Gryffindor—for each of you."

Draco stepped forward, livid. "What about her? She fought too! She was nearly killed! And I ran to get the professors!"

McGonagall hesitated. "Miss Black should not have left the feast without permission. Ten points will be taken from Slytherin."

Draco gaped at her, betrayed. "You're deducting points from her?"

He turned instantly to Snape. "Professor—"

Snape, who had remained silent until now, narrowed his eyes. "Thirty points to Slytherin," he said curtly. "For quick thinking and for informing the staff."

Draco gleamed.

Snape cast a frosty glare toward Harry, his lip curling just slightly. "And try not to let your heroism endanger others next time, Potter."

They were escorted to the infirmary by Professors Snape and McGonagall, trailed by Dumbledore's silent presence. The corridors felt longer than usual, torches flickering along the stone as if reluctant to light their way.