Chapter 4: The Troll Incident
Professor Quirrell came sprinting into the Hall, his turban askew and terror on his face. Everyone stared as he reached Professor Dumbledore's chair, slumped against the table and gasped "Troll – in the dungeons – thought you ought to know." He then sank to the floor in a dead faint. There was uproar. It took several purple firecrackers exploding from the end of Professor Dumbledore's wand to bring silence. "Prefects," he rumbled, "lead your houses back to the dormitories immediately!"
That didn't make sense to Harry. They were all safe where they were, and Professor Quirrell had seen the troll in the dungeons. But that didn't mean it was still there. He had to do something. Despite his fear of having everyone's eyes on him, he stood up and shouted "Wouldn't it make more sense for us all to stay in here, sir?!" You could have heard a pin drop. Professor Dumbledore, along with everyone else, stared at Harry. His face growing red, he carried on. "Professor Quirrell said the troll is in the dungeons. But that was when he saw it. It doesn't mean it's still there! Besides, if it is still in the dungeons, I'm pretty sure that's where the Slytherin dormitory is." His piece said and his face feeling hot enough to fry an egg on, Harry sat down. Then he was worried, even more than before. Professor Dumbledore got up from his chair, and slowly walked down to stand over him. Harry's heart was pounding in his chest, as Professor Dumbledore reached out… and shook his hand!
Professor Dumbledore announced to the speechless school "Twenty-five points to Gryffindor, Mr. Potter, for seeing something with your youthful mind something that my old one had overlooked. Heads of House, please count your students and ensure that they are all present." The register took a while, but when Professor McGonagall discovered Hermione Granger wasn't in the Hall, she went off like a shot to find her. Eventually, it was announced that the troll had been dealt with. When Professor McGonagall discovered that it was because of Ron that Hermione had been in the toilets crying instead of at the feast, she gave him a week's worth of detentions.