Chapter 5: All Hallow's Eve
Disclaimer: Harry Potter, Merlin and their characters do not belong to me, sadly.
The morning passed by as normal – if you count having candy at breakfast as normal. It wasn't too bad, dealing with the slightly more-energetic-than-usual children. No, the problems started after lunch, and the second dose of candy. There was little to no concentration that afternoon.
After the pure chaos of his first class, Merlin decided he'd had enough. The order to stand was greeted with confused excitement, which grew when Merlin's magic moved the desks and chairs out of the way.
Merlin sighed.
"I should have expected this but, no matter. Given the current...inability to concentrate on books and lectures, lets try a more practical approach, hmm?" he smiled at the curious third-years. "Does anyone have a favourite battle?"
"Battle of Minas Tirith!" an enterprising Gryffindor called.
Merlin chuckled.
"I was thinking of actual battles, Mr. Jordan, not fictional."
"So the Hornburg's out, then?" Jordan asked.
Merlin nodded.
'Fraid so."
The students exchanged blank looks. Seeing this, Merlin sighed.
"Surely you've heard of some battles?" before suppressing a groan when the answer came back negative. "Very well. Let me see, how about Agincourt?" Merlin nodded to himself, before dividing the class into English and French, carefully putting a mixture of the two Houses.
The rest of Merlin's classes passed in much the same way, until the final bell rang. To say he was relieved, would be to call the sky blue. Now if only the feast would be over quickly...
The headmaster couldn't have been more cliché if he'd tried. Live bats fluttering round the Hall, candles in pumpkins, etc. Merlin was not impressed. Samhain was a time for remembrance, not candy and frivolity!
The feast had barely begun, however, when the doors burst open to admit a terrified Quirrell.
"Troll! Troll in the dungeons!" he yelled. "Thought you'd like to know." he then collapsed.
Merlin frowned. Why was Quirrell in the dungeons? And, wasn't he the Defence teacher? Further thought on the matter was put on hold, as the Hall exploded.
Dumbledore seemed to watch the students panic for a moment, before rising, firing purple sparks from his wand.
"Silence!" he ordered. "Prefects – lead your houses back to the dormitories immediately! Teachers, follow me to the dungeons." That said, he started moving for the door.
Arthur's eyes hardened.
"HALT!" he roared, easily heard over the noise of benches and nervous whispers.
Dumbledore whirled around.
"Yes?"
"Students will stay here. Where we know the troll isn't. Prefects, conduct a head-count. Anyone missing, alert the teachers. I suggest the House Heads remain here, and watch over their Houses, while the rest of us track down the troll." Arthur explained, the other teachers nodding and agreeing before the headmaster could protest.
That sorted, the teachers headed off, separating into pairs, with Merlin wasting no time transfiguring Arthur a sword once out of sight of the others.
Arthur grinned sharply.
"Remind me to keep Excalibur on hand in the future."
Merlin snorted.
"Not sure I think much of the 'famous Hogwarts wards', especially if they let in things like trolls. This way." he added, his magic locking onto the troll.
Arthur frowned.
"Good thing we got the kids to stay in the Hall – the dungeons are that way." he pointed in the opposite direction.
Merlin nodded grimly.
"What's the headmaster playing at?"
Turning the corner, they were greeted by the stench of old socks, rotting fruit and a blocked toilet. Realising they were close, they quickly shifted into combat positions.
Around the next corner could be heard the sound of shuffling feet, and grunting. Can't forget the grunting. From the noise, it seemed to be heading away from them. Hurrying along, they were just in time to see it enter a door.
"Girl's bathroom." Arthur breathed. "Nice, close quarters."
Nodding, Merlin began inching forwards, only to stare in horror when a high-pitched scream rang out. Gritting his teeth, Arthur charged.
"Oi!" he yelled, hoping to draw the troll's attention from the small first-year.
Planting his left foot, Arthur spun, dodging the troll's club, and swiping at the side. Ending his attack in front of the girl.
"Stay down, and don't look." he ordered, before quickly raising his sword, catching the wooden club easily. "Merlin!" he yelled.
Almost instantly, several bolts of blue lightning slammed into the troll's back. Letting out a pained roar, the troll attempted to turn, only for Arthur to spin his sword round and slash it's stomach. As the troll released a surprised grunt, Arthur completed his spin, taking the troll's right hand with him.
The moment hand and club hit the floor, a wave of fire slammed into the grey-skinned creature. Seeing this, Arthur spun his sword up into an arc, before slamming it into the ground, raising a golden shield which rebounded the flames right back at the troll.
Arthur kept the shield up til the flames died down, leaving a few scattered ashes as the only evidence of the troll having been there.
"You two alright back there?" Merlin called cheerfully, letting his magic dissipate, his eyes returning to their normal blue.
"Just about." Arthur replied, turning to the first-year behind him. "A trip to the infirmary should be in order, I'd imagine." he added, helping the terrified girl up, only for her legs to give way. Shrugging, he lifted her up onto his hip, before walking out of the bathroom.
"I've let the others know it's safe." Merlin grinned, falling into step beside him. "Ah, hello, Miss Granger. I'd have thought you would be at the feast, no?"
Granger shook her head.
"No, Sir. I-I didn't, I didn't feel like going." she finished in little more than a whisper.
Merlin nodded.
"I see. Did you want to talk about it?"
Granger blinked, before shrugging.
"Ron was being mean again, teasing and stuff. Sir, what was that?"
"That, Miss Granger, was a troll, that somehow managed to get in." Merlin hummed.
Arthur nodded.
"Probably someone's idea of a joke. Here we are – Madam Pomfrey, we have a young lion cub in need of at least a calming draught, and possibly a dreamless sleep."