Chapter 36: Harry Potter Fears No Voldemort, and Neither Does Leon Shelby of the Peaky Blinders

Chapter 36: Harry Potter Fears No Voldemort, and Neither Does Leon Shelby of the Peaky Blinders

Meanwhile, Leon was engrossed in testing various spells, even experimenting with new combinations.

"Avis!"

The Bird-Conjuring Charm. It summoned a flock of birds. A cloud of black ravens erupted from the tip of Leon's wand, swirling together like a dark storm cloud.

"Oppugno!"

The Oppugno Jinx. It directed conjured creatures to attack a target.

The ravens instantly formed ranks and, moving almost too fast for the eye to follow, dived towards the troll, their sharp beaks tearing into its flesh. Upon impact, the ravens dissolved into wisps of smoke.

So, when Harry, his voice choked with tears, screamed Leon's name and charged recklessly down the corridor, this was the scene that greeted him.

"Harry! Wait for us!" Ron and Hermione shouted, panting as they caught up. When they saw what Harry was staring at, they too froze in stunned silence.

The three children stared at the bloodied, barely breathing, and utterly silent troll, their eyes wide with shock.

"Merlin's beard..." Ron stammered. "You took down a troll... by yourself!"

Leon casually waved his wand, muttering "Scourgify." Pink, foamy soap bubbles appeared out of thin air and began scrubbing the troll's body. In moments, the creature was considerably cleaner. The charred patches of skin were less noticeable, and the chunks of blasted flesh were washed away. Apparently, soap in open wounds stings quite a bit, because the troll finally passed out.

"Self-defence," Leon said coolly. "Purely self-defence. What are you three doing here?"

Only then did Harry snap out of his shock, his face filled with awe. "Professor Quirrell said there was a troll in the dungeons. Dumbledore told everyone to go back to their dormitories. But then I remembered you didn't know, so..."

"My thanks, Potter," Leon clapped Harry on the shoulder, then looked at the other two. "And thank you as well, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger. It seems I shall have to put some serious thought into your Christmas presents."

"Really?" Ron's eyes lit up. "Could I get a suit like Harry's? My robes are so old..." He grinned. "I'll get you a great present too! Something you'll really like!"

Hermione, however, looked embarrassed. "We didn't actually do anything..."

"Courage isn't only praiseworthy when it achieves something," Leon said, his voice serious. "What matters is the decision made in that moment."

Harry and Hermione looked thoughtful. Ron just looked blank.

"Oh no! Harry, Ron, we need to go!" Hermione suddenly yelped. "The professors will be here any second! We're supposed to be in our dormitory!"

"I bet if we get caught, Gryffindor will lose points because of us!"

Harry and Ron jolted back to reality and immediately turned to flee.

But it was too late.

"You guess correctly, Miss Granger," Professor McGonagall's voice, trembling with fury, echoed down the corridor. "I require an explanation!"

She didn't give them a chance to speak, launching into a tirade, her anger and fear impossible to hide. Leon had never seen the normally stern professor so furious. Her lips were pale.

"That was a troll! A dangerous creature that even senior students would struggle to subdue! How dare you..." Professor McGonagall's chest heaved. She glanced at Leon, then at the unconscious troll. "You were lucky it didn't kill you... Now, one by one, explain to me why you were not safely in your dormitory!"

Anyone who has ever owned a cat knows not to provoke one when its fur is on end. Anyone who has ever known a woman knows not to provoke one when she is furious. Professor McGonagall was currently both.

The three Gryffindors hung their heads, utterly terrified and unable to speak.

Leon sighed and stepped forward. "Professor, as you know, I was just leaving Professor Flitwick's office. Today was my last day of detention."

Leon still felt a twinge of regret about that. Professor McGonagall looked visibly relieved.

"I was heading down to the Great Hall for a bite to eat when I encountered this... creature. It attacked me on sight. I had no choice but to defend myself. Thanks to Transfiguration, I was able to turn its weapon into a rope and subdue it."

Professor McGonagall nodded, accepting his explanation. She looked at the rope binding the troll, a flicker of admiration in her eyes. "Non-similar object transformation... very impressive Transfiguration, Mr. Shelby." Her anger seemed to be fading slightly. "I will confirm your story with Professor Flitwick. If it is true, your bravery will earn Slytherin twenty points."

Beside him, Hermione blinked, her eyes wide with envy.

"As for these three," Leon continued smoothly, seeing his chance while the professor was in a better mood, "they are my friends. They knew I was with Professor Flitwick and came to warn me about the danger. They are Gryffindors, after all." He subtly pleaded their case.

Professor McGonagall was clearly moved. Her gaze on Harry, Ron, and Hermione softened. But ultimately, she held firm. "Your intentions may have been noble, but that does not excuse putting yourselves in mortal danger! Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, Gryffindor will lose fifteen points for your recklessness."

Like a farmer herding chicks, Professor McGonagall shooed the four students away, ordering them back to their dormitories immediately.

Hermione's face was thunderous as she muttered "fifteen points" under her breath. Harry looked at Leon with hero-worship, desperate to hear every detail of his fight with the troll. Ron pouted, mourning his abandoned chicken leg.

They reached the point where the corridors diverged. Leon needed to head down to the dungeons, while the Gryffindors needed to head up to their tower. With their minds full of different thoughts, the group split up.

Walking back towards his dormitory, Leon reviewed the situation. If everything had gone according to plan, while he was dealing with the troll, Snape should have been confronting Quirrell on the fourth floor.

After tonight, Dumbledore's suspicions that Voldemort had survived would likely be confirmed. Tom Riddle, the greatest Dark Wizard in history, would soon begin reaching out to his loyal Death Eaters, preparing for his return.

Leon tightened his grip on his wand. He felt a thrill of anticipation for the danger, and the opportunity, that lay ahead.

The Peaky Blinders were never afraid.