Litleo and Ponyta darted back and forth, their swift movements making the mountain troll dizzy. Yet despite its agility, the horse was still a bit slower than the lion cub.
In the chaos, the troll finally found an opening. With a roar, it swung its enormous wooden club—large enough to crush stone walls and smash a calf into paste. The air cracked as the massive weapon came down toward Ponyta!
If that blow landed squarely, even a Pokémon like Ponyta would have trouble surviving it.
After all, Ponyta's level wasn't high yet, and physical defense was her weakest stat. The troll weighed over a ton, and the combined force and speed of that swing would hit with the impact of a speeding car.
Fortunately, at that very moment, the magic within Ron suddenly surged out of control. The boiling energy coursed through him, allowing him not only to cast a spell he previously couldn't, but to do so with tremendous power!
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
Ron waved his old, battered wand. He had merely intended to make the troll's club float. But his magic, in violent flux, amplified the spell far beyond what he expected.
The troll's fist froze midair—its club raised high—but it didn't come down. In fact, even its huge body began to lift off the ground!
Ron's magic couldn't possibly affect the troll itself—it had strong natural resistance to magic—but because the club was enchanted, the floating effect carried the troll upward with it.
Even so, it was incredible. Even Charles, who was hiding in the shadows, was taken aback.
After all, they had just begun practicing the Levitation Charm that very day. In class, only Hermione and a handful of others had managed to lift a feather properly.
And now, Ron Weasley had just levitated a troll weighing over a ton!That was the kind of magical power even a third- or fourth-year student would envy.
Of course, Ron couldn't keep his magic this strong for long. Once the surge subsided, his power would return to normal—though it would probably settle at a higher level than before.
"Aaah—I can't hold it any longer!"
As Harry and Hermione stared in astonishment, Ron suddenly screamed, his face flushed red as if he were straining to lift a mountain with his bare hands.
"If you two have a plan—make it quick!"
Hermione snapped back to her senses. "Right!" She pointed her wand and cast the Levitation Charm again—this time on Pichu. "Pichu! Use Nuzzle on the troll, quick!"
The tiny yellow Pokémon had been waiting for the signal. Like a golden flash, Pichu shot toward the troll, leaving a faint trail of sparks in the air.
"Pichu! Pi-pichu!"
Rubbing the electric pouches on its cheeks, Pichu pounced onto the troll's face and gave it a gentle nuzzle. In an instant, small arcs of electricity raced through the troll's entire body.
Litleo watched Pichu's shining moment with wide, envious eyes.
"Got it!"
"Paralysis successful!" Hermione cheered, pumping her fist.
At that exact moment, Ron's strength gave out. The spell collapsed, and both he and the troll crashed down—hard enough to make the whole corridor shake like an earthquake.
"You sure that worked?" Ron groaned from the floor, barely able to lift a finger. "I mean… that's a huge thing. Pichu's electricity might not even tickle—"
"Nuzzle always causes paralysis," Hermione said confidently—then hesitated. "Probably…"
She knew the troll's resistance to magic was strong. After all, even Litleo and Ponyta's repeated Ember attacks hadn't managed to cause a single burn. So she couldn't be entirely sure whether the paralysis would take hold.
"If it didn't work, then we'll just have to do it the hard way!"
"The hard way?!" Harry shouted.
But they didn't have to.
The troll's movements suddenly grew sluggish. Its massive limbs trembled, and for long stretches, it didn't move at all—frozen mid-motion like a statue.
"It worked! The electricity slowed it down!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Great—so what do we do now?" Harry asked quickly.
The troll was less dangerous while paralyzed, but this wasn't a video game. Paralysis wouldn't last forever; the current would fade soon enough.
"Let me think… Trolls have tiny brains—their weak spot is the back of the head! Do Litleo or Ponyta know any physical attacks?"
"Only Tackle," Ron panted.
"Litleo knows Headbutt," Harry said.
"Perfect! That's stronger than Tackle." Hermione made her decision instantly. "Litleo, get behind it! Aim carefully and use Headbutt on the back of its head!"
Litleo sprang into motion at once.
Harry felt a twinge of jealousy watching his partner obey Hermione's orders so readily—but he had no time to dwell on it.
The troll might be paralyzed, but it was still a threat.
Harry, Hermione, Ponyta, and Pichu drew its attention from the front, dodging its slow, clumsy swings. Meanwhile, Litleo circled behind it, crouched low, and charged forward with all its might.
"Thud!"
The sound echoed through the corridor.
Litleo landed hard, stumbling from the recoil. The attack had been so forceful it nearly became a Double-Edge. Stars swam in its vision—but the troll suffered far worse.
Charles, watching from the shadows, could've sworn he heard bones crack.
Then came a deeper, heavier thud—the troll's body collapsing, eyes rolling back, as it crashed to the floor.
"We… we did it!" Harry gasped in disbelief.
"Hermione, that was brilliant!" Ron said, awestruck. "If you hadn't figured out its weak point—and paralyzed it first—we'd all be dead!"
Hermione's eyes glistened. "You were amazing too… Thank you—for coming to save me."
The touching moment didn't last.
"Miss Granger—what on earth are you all doing?!"
Professor McGonagall's voice rang out, shrill with panic, as Dumbledore and a group of teachers rushed in.
(End of Chapter)