Chapter 120: Crisis
"She would not even tell you lot. No wonder…" Ron said to the girls as they struggled through the crowded corridor.
"If you lived with her, you would know. She is like a nightmare," a Gryffindor girl with golden hair said irritably.
Someone bumped into Harry, then hurried past them.
It was Hermione.
Harry caught a glimpse of her face. He was surprised to see she was in tears.
"I think she heard you," Harry said. Ever since the girls had said those cruel things, he had felt terrible.
Even Ron looked stunned.
"So what?" the girls said, though they showed a trace of unease.
"I suppose she has noticed she has not got any friends!"
…
Halloween was certainly very interesting.
Especially knowing Ron and the others were unlikely to clash with Hermione now.
Shawn entered the Great Hall and saw the dazzling Halloween decorations – a thousand bats fluttering from the walls and ceiling, and another thousand swooping over the tables like low black clouds, making the candle flames inside the pumpkins flicker.
The golden plates first served many desserts, just as at the start‑of‑term feast.
Shawn sat at the edge of the remote Ravenclaw table, waiting for Hermione, Justin and Neville.
Then he saw Professor Quirrell walk out of the Great Hall. He was shaking and walking quickly, as if he had to deal with homework or something.
He often forgot to do things like this, then left in a hurry.
At the staff table, Professor Snape watched his departure coldly.
Of course, there was another pair of eyes below the staff table watching the same thing.
Neville had already taken his seat. Justin, Shawn knew, was busy in the kitchens. But where was Hermione?
Shawn scanned the long tables. He was certain Hermione was not in the Great Hall.
A group of ghosts were emerging from beneath the Hall, passing through.
They discussed the delights of lunch: maggots, rotten fish, burnt cakes, mouldy cheese, and so on.
In the wizarding world, people could become ghosts after death. Ghosts lost many of the living's pleasures, like eating.
But if food was in an extremely rotten state, when even the living would be knocked out by the smell, ghosts could taste these things.
So beneath Hogwarts' Great Hall, there were often ghost gatherings.
Behind the passing ghosts were two people Shawn had not expected.
"Shawn, we came to find you because…" Ron hurried over. Halfway through, he did not know how to continue.
"Hermione is very upset, because when Ron asked those Gryffindor girls about the notes, they said a lot of mean things," Harry said, not distorting the facts. He spoke each word clearly.
"We are very sorry. We have been looking for her. We finally learned that Hermione is closest to Parvati Patil, but…"
"Parvati Patil would not talk to us or tell us where Hermione went."
"I understand," Shawn said, nodding.
"This has nothing to do with you, Harry, and Ron. Thank you for telling me. I will find her."
Harry and Ron had been somewhat anxious, but hearing Shawn's words, they breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Especially when Shawn said he would handle it, Harry and Ron's worries vanished instantly. It was as if the moment Shawn said it, Hermione had already appeared in the Great Hall.
But perhaps only Shawn knew it would not be that simple.
Whether it was some strange force of fate correcting itself or something else, Hermione still had not come to the feast.
What worried Shawn even more was: if Hermione was not in that original lavatory, but had chosen another corner or somewhere else, where would things go from there?
Finding Parvati Patil became Shawn's only thought.
At the Gryffindor table, Shawn moved swiftly. He found the surprised Parvati Patil without effort.
"Excuse me, but I would like to ask…"
Before Shawn could finish, Patil covered her mouth in surprise. A circle of students around her looked over.
"Of course, I know what you want to ask, Mr Green. Hermione is crying sadly in the girls' lavatory. She would not let anyone comfort her," Parvati Patil said, heavily emphasising the word "anyone."
"Can you tell me exactly where?" Shawn breathed a small sigh of relief. His tone was gentle but firm.
"I would be happy to. The lavatory on the fourth floor," Parvati Patil said helpfully.
Neville at his side wanted to go too, but Shawn made him stay with just one sentence.
"If both of us go, who will tell Justin, who will be looking everywhere for us soon?"
And so Shawn left the Great Hall alone.
Neville remained in place, at a loss, until—
Professor Quirrell came sprinting into the Great Hall. His turban was askew and his face was full of terror.
Everyone stared at him. He walked to Professor Dumbledore's chair, leaned against the table, gasping, and said, "Troll – in the dungeons – thought you ought to know."
Then he collapsed on the floor in a faint. The Hall erupted into chaos.
Professor Dumbledore had to make purple firecrackers explode from the end of his wand several times before everyone quieted down.
"Prefects," he said in a low voice.
"Lead your houses back to the dormitories immediately!"
Neville was already frozen in shock. It was still some time before the feast was to begin. Justin had only just returned from the kitchens when he heard this shocking news.
"A troll… Merlin's beard, they say trolls are usually twelve feet tall and weigh a tonne! Neville, we need to leave quickly! Wait, where are Shawn and Hermione?" Justin said, panicked but still organised.
"Hermione… on the fourth floor. Shawn… went to find her," Neville's voice grew quieter and quieter, but his eyes grew redder.
"I… am not leaving."
His body was shaking, but it could not hide the determination radiating from him.
"Then what are we waiting for?" Justin said without a moment's hesitation. Neville was startled. He looked at Justin, who was trembling just as much.
The same fire burned in both their eyes.
At the edge of the Gryffindor table, Percy was shouting, "Follow me! Stay together, first‑years! As long as you do what I say, you need not fear any troll! Now then, stay close behind me. Make way, first‑years coming through! Excuse me, I am a prefect!"
"Are they mad?" Ron's lips trembled. In his great fear, he even tried to crack a joke.
"Shawn and Hermione… do not know about the troll yet," Harry said suddenly.
"Then let us go," Ron said, biting his lip. After a few seconds of silence, he saw Harry's surprised look.
"What, Harry, you think I am a coward?"