"Are you all right, Hermione?" Harry asked worriedly. "Did you see the troll just now?"

"What... I mean, of course not." Hermione shook her head and said, "The troll is at least ten feet tall, and it stinks. I would definitely run away if I saw it."

"That's true." Harry scratched his head and felt that his question was a bit stupid.

If they really encountered a troll, Hermione and Kyle wouldn't be able to just sit there like nothing happened.

No matter how good they were, they couldn't deal with a monster that was more than ten feet tall.

it's out of the question.

Harry sniffed and said, "I'm glad you're okay. Let's get out of here as soon as possible."

He didn't know if it was an illusion, but he had been able to vaguely smell a foul odor since just now, which made him feel very uneasy.

Maybe the giant monster is nearby and may come over at any time.

"I think you're getting too nervous, Harry. Maybe there isn't a troll at all."

Ron was not so worried. He thought for a moment and said, "This is probably a joke that Professor Quirrell used to liven up the atmosphere. Maybe the professors will come to inform us to return to the auditorium in a while.

Don't forget, this is Hogwarts... Dumbledore is here."

"You're right."

After hearing Dumbledore's name, Harry felt relieved, but he still felt something was wrong.

"Forget it, let's go back quickly..."

Harry said, "At least until things are clear, we can't let the professors see us here, otherwise we will definitely be deducted points."

Afterwards, the three of them walked quickly towards the Gryffindor Tower.

Along the way, Harry and Ron were discussing what happened to Snape just now, and they agreed that he went upstairs to the restricted area.

Hermione didn't say a word, but followed silently, seeming to be thinking about something.

When they were about to pass through the corridor, she suddenly asked, "Did you two come to see me just now?"

"Yes, we heard from Parvati Patil earlier that you locked yourself in the washroom."

Harry said, "You didn't go to the banquet in the Great Hall, so you certainly don't know about the troll. We just wanted to tell you."

"But now it seems that it was just a false alarm." Ron shrugged.

Hermione nodded slightly.

After a long while, she whispered, "Thank you..."

"Nothing, this is what friends do."

"Just don't lecture us next time."

"Hey, Ron..."

"Okay, I won't tell you."

…

The three of them left the corridor and continued walking towards the stairs, but just as they turned the corner, they heard voices coming from the front.

"I don't see any trolls, Professor."

Not far away, Kyle was among a group of professors, and explained innocently, "And there was a reason why I didn't attend the banquet in time."

"Then tell us what's going on."

Snape said in a long tone: "How important is it that you can forget even the Halloween party?"

Hearing this nightmare-like voice, Harry shuddered subconsciously, turned around and wanted to run.

But this is obviously impossible.

"You three, come here!"

Snape gave Harry a quick, threatening look, and the excuse he had just prepared was instantly forgotten.

Harry looked at the ground, his mind went blank. No matter if he was deducted points or put in detention, he just hoped to leave here quickly.

At this time, Hermione whispered: "Please don't do this, Professor McGonagall, they are looking for me."

"Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagall frowned.

Hermione walked forward and said with her head down, "I came here to find a troll. I want to see what it looks like... I've only read about them in books, so I'm very curious about them."

Ron's eyes widened. Hermione Granger actually lied to the professor?

"They came to me because they were worried about my safety."

Harry and Ron tried hard to act as if they were already familiar with the story.

"If that's the case..." Professor McGonagall stared at them and said thoughtfully, "Miss Granger, you silly girl, a real troll is much more dangerous than you think. You should be thankful that you didn't encounter it."

"Yes, you are right..."

Hermione dropped her head.

Harry was speechless. Hermione actually lied and said she had broken the school rules to get them out of trouble.

It was like Snape started handing out candy to everyone, it was unbelievable.

"Miss Granger, Gryffindor will be deducted five points for this incident." Professor McGonagall said, "I am very disappointed in you. Now you'd better hurry back to Gryffindor Tower."

Then she looked at Harry and Ron.

"It's you two again. I remember that the detention you had when you went to the eighth floor to dismantle your armor in the middle of the night hasn't ended yet. You actually violated the school rules again?"

"No!" Ron explained with a red face: "There is something hidden in that armor, I saw it..."

"But at the time I only saw you destroying it, and there was nothing in it."

Professor McGonagall shook her head and said, "Well, I don't want to pursue this matter any further, and it won't happen again.

In addition, because of your actions in helping Miss Granger today, the previous detention has been cancelled and you can leave now."

Harry and Ron were overjoyed and hurried past the professor and went upstairs without saying a word.

Kyle wanted to follow, but Snape stood in front of him.

"I don't think I heard your explanation."

Looking at Snape who was like a stumbling block, Kyle was puzzled.

No, Harry is already here, why is he still holding on to me?

Changed your heart to Lily so quickly?

Kyle had no choice but to return to his original position and said:

"Because Professor Sprout gave me an armored pumpkin shell as a reward, I have been studying it in the dormitory and forgot to go to the banquet."

"Heh, Armored Pumpkin..." Snape moved his nose and said, "Since you have been in the dormitory all the time, why do you smell like a troll?"

"Is there?"

Kyle remained calm and said, “I think it’s probably the smell of compost… you know, the stuff that’s everywhere in the greenhouse.

Of course, if you don’t believe me, you can take my robe back and examine it carefully.”

As he said this, he was about to take off his robe.

Kyle knew well that he had used the cleansing spell on himself before, so there was no way there could be any bad smell.

Snape was lying to him.

(End of this chapter)