"I have a plan..."
The group didn't need to hear the voice to know who had spoken.
Harley smirked. "Let's steal the keys while they're asleep!"
Ron nodded eagerly. "Good idea!"
Jerry, however, crossed his arms. "Right, and who's going to put those three big babies to sleep?"
A heavy silence filled the room.
Everyone turned to Jerry, who simply spread his hands as if to say, "Well?"
Ted sighed, rubbing his chin. "Harley's plan might actually work... but we need a solid approach. Here's what I'm thinking."
He leaned in, lowering his voice as he outlined his plan and a backup in case things went sideways.
Truthfully, Ted hadn't entirely decided if he wanted to join in on this dangerous escapade. But deep down, he knew the answer. His excitement for adventure had been bubbling under the surface all along.
And besides, he had come prepared.
Potions.
Since Harley spent so much time in detention with Snape, she often had opportunities to gather potion ingredients—sometimes by asking, sometimes by sneaking them out. Over time, she'd built up quite the collection. Snape, perhaps out of grudging amusement, never called her out on it.
Of all the potions Ted had on hand, the most useful for this mission was the Draught of Living Death.
A potent sleeping draught, this potion had existed for centuries. Just a single drop could send a person into a deep, death-like slumber for three days, their heartbeat and pulse slowing to nearly undetectable levels. It was rumored that Juliet from Shakespeare's tale had used a potion of this nature, leading to tragic misunderstanding.
The plan was simple: lure the trolls in with food. Judging by their massive size, these creatures were clearly as gluttonous as they were strong. Getting them to take the bait wouldn't be a problem.
The real challenge?
The dosage.
The amount Ted had prepared was measured for humans—he had no idea how much would be needed to knock out three massive, magic-resistant trolls.
The potion was in a single small bottle, and splitting it three ways made its effectiveness uncertain.
And then there was the issue of food. There wasn't much to go around.
After gathering every scrap of food Jerry and Ron had—some cheese, a few hidden chicken legs—they barely had enough for the trolls to get a decent bite.
Ted made a decision. He'd split the potion into two doses instead of three.
"Ever heard the old saying? Hitting two birds with one stone? Well, we're using two portions of food to knock out three trolls."
The plan was to let the trolls fight over the food. The two strongest would claim the bait and hopefully fall into a deep sleep. That would leave just one troll standing, which the group could take down together.
It was a risky strategy, but their best shot.
Would the trolls fight as expected? Would the potion be strong enough? And what if the plan failed entirely?
Ted's contingency was simple: steal the key as soon as possible. If things went south, the others would move ahead while he found a way to escape and catch up.
The three trolls were young—only eight years old.
That might not seem young, but trolls aged fast. By the time they were a year old, they were abandoned by their mothers and left to survive alone. These three were nearly full-grown.
Captured as infants by Professor Quirrell, they had been subjected to a series of magical experiments.
Out of more than a dozen trolls, only these three had survived.
Quirrell had once been deeply invested in the study of magical creatures, trying to create "improved" monsters.
But after Voldemort latched onto him, the professor lost interest in his experiments.
To the Dark Lord, such research was a waste of time—mere child's play.
Still, the trolls remained.
Dumbledore had insisted that each professor set up a challenge to protect the Sorcerer's Stone, and Quirrell had simply used the creatures he already had.
For six months, the trolls had remained trapped in this chamber, well-fed and cared for. It wasn't a bad life by troll standards.
But today, something was different.
Their master had appeared suddenly, disappearing through the wall in a hurry. And now... the door had opened on its own?
Despite their strength, the trolls were too simple-minded to consider escaping. They had everything they needed here.
Then, their noses twitched.
Food?
A delicious aroma drifted through the air.
Simultaneously, the three trolls sat up, sniffing eagerly. They turned their heads toward the source—a pile of food just ahead.
One portion on the left. One on the right. About twenty meters apart.
It smelled incredible.
Was dinner early today? And why did it smell better than usual?
They didn't think too hard about it.
Their stomachs decided for them.
Before their sluggish minds could process what was happening, their bodies had already moved.
However, dividing two portions of food among three trolls was bound to cause trouble.
The two closest trolls lunged for the same meal, their massive bodies colliding with a force that shook the ground.
One of them, a hulking brute with jagged teeth, wasted no time and swung its massive fist into the side of its rival, sending it staggering backward with a grunt. The other troll, dazed but determined, latched onto its opponent's leg and yanked hard, dragging them both down in a tangled mess of limbs and rage.
They rolled across the floor, throwing wild punches, each desperate to claim the food for itself. The air was filled with the sound of flesh meeting flesh, the sickening crunch of blows landing, and guttural snarls that echoed through the chamber. It was a brawl fit for an underground arena, brutal and unrelenting.
Meanwhile, the third troll—massive, broad-shouldered, and covered in thick, rock-like skin—had no opposition. It scooped up its meal and crammed it into its mouth without hesitation, swallowing it whole in a matter of seconds. It barely even tasted it before licking its fingers and turning its greedy eyes toward the other meal still being fought over.
The two battling trolls froze as they noticed the larger troll approaching. In a panic, they each grabbed whatever food they could and stuffed it into their mouths, swallowing hurriedly.
Hermione's eyes widened in alarm. "Oh no! Each of them only ate some part of it!" she whispered urgently.
Ted inhaled sharply, keeping his voice low. "All we can do now is wait and see what happens."
Truthfully, even he wasn't sure how this would play out. The Draught of Living Death was powerful, but these were trolls—massive, resistant to magic, and capable of digesting almost anything. He had no idea how effective the potion would be against them.
The trolls' fight slowed as their limbs grew heavy. Their eyelids drooped. Then, with loud, earth-shaking thuds, they collapsed onto the ground.
The largest troll, the one with the rock-like skin, was the first to succumb, its snores rattling the air like thunder. The other two still shifted slightly, their eyes rolling, trying to fight off the drowsiness.
Ted clenched his jaw. "This is our chance. We have to move now."
He turned to the group. "Harley, Jerry, and I will each take a target. The rest of you be ready to intervene if anything goes wrong.
Use spells like the Slipping Jinx or the Levitation Charm to slow them down—but don't bother attacking them directly. Magic barely works on trolls."
With that, Ted signaled the others to move. They split up, each heading toward their designated troll.
Jerry, light on his feet and eerily silent thanks to his natural agility, reached his target first—a troll with slimy, fish-like skin. The smell alone made him grimace. Even with a Bubble-Head Charm blocking out the worst of it, the sight of mucus glistening over its leathery hide was enough to make him gag.
On the troll's chest, a flat metal plate the size of a palm gleamed dully. Part of the key.
Jerry adjusted his stance, reached out with precise, practiced movements, and carefully lifted the plate, his fingers moving as swiftly as a rogue disarming a trap in a dungeon raid.
Ted, meanwhile, approached the crocodile-like troll. It was barely conscious, its heavy limbs twitching as it struggled to stay awake.
Its massive jaws occasionally flexed, revealing rows of jagged teeth. Ted moved cautiously, raising his wand.
He muttered a Levitation Charm, and the key piece attached to the troll's belt floated upward.
So far, so good.
He quickly cast a Severing Charm to cut the rope binding it, guiding the key piece into his waiting hand. One down.
Harley had the most difficult task—the massive, rock-skinned troll. It was the most deeply asleep, but also the most physically imposing.
Its entire body was covered in a thick layer of salt-crusted armor, making it look like a living statue.
Each breath it took was a rumbling growl, and every exhale sent hot, rank air washing over her.
Unlike the others, she had no convenient way to grab the key. It was attached to a strap around its thick, muscular neck, far out of her reach.
Frowning, she stood on tiptoe and stretched her arm as high as it would go—but it still wasn't enough.
Her eyes flicked to her wand. Carefully, she slipped the tip through the hole in the key piece and hooked it, slowly lifting it off the troll's body.
Ted had just taken a careful step backward, key in hand, when a sharp noise cut through the silence.
The crocodile troll's eyes snapped open, its transparent inner eyelids flickering over its bloodshot gaze.
Then—
"ROOOOAAARRR!"
The beast let out a thunderous bellow, shaking the chamber as it surged to its feet.
_______________________________
Word count: 1628
Comment below on what you think so far.
Also, if you're interested in reading some advanced chapters, you can support me on my patreon.
patreon.com/Rai_jin
Thanks for reading guys.