Things seemed to be going from bad to worse only a few feet away from them, and Ben felt like he ought to go and do something helpful — but in all the chaos, it was hard to tell what would even be useful. Were the Ministry types still trying to distract the troll? Where were they luring it to? The troll was in between him and them, so if he tried to get to them (which he wasn't even sure he could manage, given that he hadn't tried standing since being kicked) he would likely ruin whatever plan they had already.

While he was still pulling himself up into a proper sitting position and trying to reappraise himself of the situation, the girl beside him made a rather ridiculous comment, which he couldn't help but laugh at. The laughing soon turned to coughing up more bits of blood, though he tried to recover himself as quickly as possible. "That's the least of our problems," he remarked, just as the troll picked up a child and then unceremoniously flung him in their direction.

"That might be," Ben said, shoving the girl out of the way of the incoming student.