Chapter 39: The monster is coming!

As night fell, the Gryffindor common room was warmly lit, filled with laughter and chatter. Harry and Ron sat together, excitedly discussing the upcoming Halloween feast, while Lin Mei remained by the window, immersed in the soft glow of the moonlight, flipping through "The Complete Collection of Ancient Magic Patterns."

To him, nothing was more thrilling than uncovering the secrets of magic.

"Lin! Come on, we're heading to the Great Hall for dinner! It's Halloween, and the feast is going to be amazing!"

Lin Mei, still in his growing phase, never skipped meals—no matter how engrossed he was in his studies. With a hint of reluctance, he closed the book and followed Harry and the others toward the Great Hall.

The moment they stepped inside, the rich aroma of food filled the air.

The long tables overflowed with an incredible spread—roast beef, grilled chicken, pork ribs, lamb chops, steak, sausages, bacon. Boiled potatoes, golden fries, pudding, peas, carrots, savory gravies, and tangy tomato sauces completed the feast.

Lin Mei's eyebrows twitched.

And this was just the main course—desserts were still to come.

Ever since arriving at Hogwarts, he had been indulging in these extravagant meals daily. At first, he didn't mind the free food, but now…

He definitely noticed something strange.

He hadn't been eating excessively, yet somehow, the extra fat on his body was very real.

Could it be that Hogwarts' food contained some mysterious weight-gaining magic?

No matter how much he tried to control his portions, it felt like some unseen force was quietly converting every calorie into extra pounds around his waist.

Of course, this could also just be part of growing up. After all, he was rapidly adapting to life in this magical world.

"Hey, Lin! Why are you just standing there? Come try this pumpkin juice! I heard this year's batch is extra sweet!" Ron called out, holding up a golden goblet filled with the festive drink. His face was full of anticipation.

Lin Mei smirked, shaking off his thoughts. Complaining could wait. Tonight was about enjoying the festival.

He walked over to the table and carefully selected his meal—a perfectly roasted chicken breast, some fresh vegetables, and a small drizzle of fragrant gravy. Enough to enjoy the flavors without going overboard.

Laughter and conversation filled the air as students celebrated. Floating candles cast a warm glow, and enchanted ghosts drifted through the hall, occasionally chuckling as they interacted with the students.

However, Harry suddenly noticed something missing.

"Wait… where's Hermione?" he asked, frowning.

Lin Mei, calmly chewing on a piece of broccoli, replied without looking up, "If you had a strong sense of self-esteem and someone humiliated you in front of a crowd, saying you had no friends… you'd probably be crying in a bathroom too."

A heavy silence followed.

Neville hesitated before speaking. "Parvati said she saw Hermione in the girls' bathroom. She hasn't come out all afternoon… she's been crying."

Ron froze.

Lin Mei's words had already made him uncomfortable, but now, with Neville's confirmation, guilt hit him like a brick.

Lin Mei patted Ron on the shoulder. "If you're a man, you own up to your mistakes. Don't let misunderstandings and guilt fester overnight. Hermione is a good person—she deserves understanding and respect."

Ron hesitated, then nodded. "You're right, Lin. I should go apologize. I just… I don't always think before I speak."

Lin Mei simply nodded.

But at that moment, a loud crash interrupted them.

The Great Hall doors suddenly burst open!

"TROLL! THERE'S A TROLL IN THE DUNGEON!"

Professor Quirrell stumbled inside, screaming in terror, before dramatically collapsing in a dead faint.

Lin Mei raised an eyebrow.

"With acting skills like that, it's a shame he's not in show business. And this guy teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts? Over a troll? Seriously?"

Before Lin Mei could say anything, the entire Great Hall erupted into chaos.

Students screamed, dishes clattered, and the once joyous atmosphere turned into pandemonium.

Amidst the chaos, Snape slipped away—heading for the third floor.

Harry and Ron spotted him, and a seed of suspicion was planted.

"Silence!"

Dumbledore's voice boomed across the hall. With a flick of his wand, brilliant fireworks exploded near the enchanted ceiling, demanding everyone's attention.

"Prefects, lead your houses back to the dormitories immediately! Professors, follow me to the dungeons!"

Then, just as he turned to leave, Dumbledore suddenly looked back.

"Also—Lin Mei! Help check on the students!"

Lin Mei blinked.

"Huh? Me? Why? What did I do?"

The confusion on his face was obvious.

Why had Dumbledore singled him out?

His eyes darted to the side—and Quirrell was gone.

"Ah… so that's it."

Lin Mei instantly understood Voldemort's plan.

Voldemort, in his weakened state, couldn't risk an open confrontation with the professors. But by causing a distraction, he could move unnoticed.

"And he's using a troll as cover. Classic."

Lin Mei smirked.

"Well then… time for me to move, too."

If Voldemort wanted to break into the chamber where the Philosopher's Stone was kept, his best bet would be to create chaos—and what better way than unleashing monsters within Hogwarts?

But Dumbledore wasn't easily fooled.

He must have anticipated this move. So why, then, had he led all the professors to the dungeons?

It seemed… he was deliberately luring Voldemort into a trap.

Lin Mei followed the first-year Gryffindors toward their dormitory, his thoughts racing.

"Lin, wake up! Stop sleepwalking and check how many trolls have entered Hogwarts!"

Compared to Alein, the entity inside him, Lin Mei's sensing abilities were far weaker.

He yawned in irritation. "I'm warning you—don't act recklessly. If all the attributes in my body go out of control, things will get ugly!"

Alein scoffed but stayed silent.

Lin Mei nodded to himself.

Trolls weren't exactly intelligent creatures, and dealing with them wouldn't be difficult.

"One troll, five meters ahead, around the corner," Alein's voice echoed in his mind.

Lin Mei stiffened.

"That close?"

A horrid stench hit his nose.

A wave of nausea rolled over him, and he immediately grimaced—there was no doubt that smell belonged to the troll.

Unfortunately, the creature had already heard the hushed voices of the students.

With a low growl, the troll lurched forward, its massive club dragging against the stone floor.

"Ahhh!"

The screams of the young wizards filled the corridor.

The troll perked up at the sound, its small eyes lighting up with excitement as it raised its club—ready to crush the terrified students.

Percy Weasley, as the senior prefect, was supposed to be the one leading the first-years.

Instead, he froze in place, his mind blanking out as the troll loomed dangerously close.

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