Halloween Eve,
Hogwarts
Almost two months had gone by since the Celebrity Downfall — a term used by the entire Gryffindor House to celebrate Black's, and Harry and Draco's, victory over Darcie Malfoy.
Of course, the term meant little in the grand scheme of things.
But, in a school, it was enough to give the students a conversation topic for weeks; especially when Black became the youngest student to become a Quidditch Player.
With Quidditch practice 3 days a week, and what with all the homework they were getting, time flew away.
Another thing that got discussed, on the same par with Celebrity Downfall, was the Pound-for-Pound Gloves of Awesomeness.
The Weasley Twins and Black had already discussed selling the gloves to the less-talented students, along with other items the twins had been working on.
It didn't come as a surprise, given the first-hand trailer shown by Black, that they sold over a dozen gloves on the first day.
Before they could sell the entire batch, though, Umbridge had cracked down on them, confiscating all the gloves.
Still, that had been a minor setback.
However, there was one topic that left both the above-mentioned events in the dirt when it came to whispers.
Gryffindor's Common Room!
It had become the most feared, most exciting, and most entertaining piece of conversation among the students.
From teachers to Professor Dumbledore, all had stepped into the room.
Yet, none could identify the series of oddities that had been going on within it.
At first, it was the rule that you must answer with truth upon being questioned. Then, randomly, you would end up stuck to the ceiling.
If that was not enough, then later the rule became that you must skip a step while walking, while simultaneously all sounds within the room began disappearing.
Students didn't actually fear the imposed rules.
They feared not knowing which rule would be imposed and when.
Over on the dark side, Kai had stopped contacting Voldemort even before the term started.
His decision to let things proceed as naturally as possible was bolstered by the Lucky Intuitions later, too. To get the most natural Philosopher's Stone, the key events of the original timeline must replicate themselves here, he believed.
So, as Black, Harry, and Ron walked into the Great Hall for the Halloween Feast, even Kai had no idea if Voldemort would pull the same trick of bringing a Troll to Hogwarts or not.
With the number of Aurors posted under Madam Villanelle's leadership for the school's safety, it would take some logic-defying coincidences for Professor Quirrell to sneak in Troll in the dungeons to cause a distraction.
For now, the key storyline events had seeped into the deviated timeline like parasites, it seemed.
Hermione, despite being a Slytherin, had tried to correct Ron's levitation spell during the Charm Lessons. It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, not Leviosar, she had said before performing book-perfect magic on the white feather.
Then she heard Ron badmouthing her with Harry and Black.
They hadn't seen her ever since.
"I heard Patil," Harry told them. "She's been crying in the bathroom, I think."
But a moment later, when they had entered the Great Hall, the Halloween decorations put Hermione out of their minds.
A thousand live bats fluttered from the walls and ceiling while a thousand more swooped over the tables in low black clouds, making the candles in the pumpkins stutter.
The feast appeared suddenly on the golden plates, as it had at the start-of-term banquet.
Bam!
They had just helped themselves to baked potatoes when Professor Quirrell came sprinting into the hall, his turban askew and terror on his face.
Everyone stared as he reached Professor Dumbledore's chair, slumped against the table, and gasped, "Were… Werewolf — in the dungeons — thought you ought to know."
He then sank to the floor in a dead faint, a distant howl giving truth to his words.
Aoouuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
There was an uproar. It took several purple firecrackers exploding from the end of Professor Dumbledore's wand to bring silence.
"Prefects," he rumbled, "lead your Houses back to the dormitories immediately!"
Today's a full moon? Black recalled after they had walked out of the Great Hall with others. The minor change in the moon phases in this timeline can result in a greater change in the events. I must be…
"I've just thought — Hermione." Harry grabbed Black and Ron's arms.
"What about her?"
"She doesn't know about the werewolf."
"Oh, all right," Ron snapped. "But Percy better not see us."
Ducking down, they joined the Hufflepuffs going the other way, slipped down a deserted side corridor, and hurried off toward the girls' bathroom.
They had just turned the corner when they heard quick footsteps behind them.
"Percy!" hissed Ron, pulling Harry behind a large stone griffin.
Peering around it, however, they saw not Percy but… Professor Dumbledore.
Black's pupils trembled. Other than the minor change related to the Werewolf, everything was happening as per the original storyline.
Yet here was the Headmaster, obviously tracing the steps that were supposed to belong to Professor Snape.
Black knew what it meant.
This old man has gone insane! He thought, frowning. He's not even giving a student's safety priority anymore. Bet he's going to the 3rd corridor… and… Voldemort doesn't know it. Tch!
Black couldn't afford any disturbance related to Voldemort's actions related to the Philosopher's Stone.
What's the point of coming to Hogwarts, and letting go of the Stone when he had it in his hands if he failed to get the Timeline Artifact as an Item by the end of 1st year?
The Ad Infinitum had already created scenarios that Black didn't like at all. He licked his lips.
Meanwhile, Professor Dumbledore crossed the corridor and disappeared from view.
"What's he doing?" Harry whispered. "Why isn't he down in the dungeons with the rest of the teachers?"
Black saw his chance. "Tell you what?" he said, taking out gloves from his pockets and giving one each to Harry and Ron. "You two go for Hermione. I will…" He pointed his chin where the Headmaster had disappeared to.
Harry and Ron exchanged glances.
"Will you be alright alone?" Harry asked concerned. Ron had already taken the glove.
Black let out a grin. "No Werewolf where I am going at least."
Ron gulped. Harry let out a toothy grin.
Then the boys parted, taking opposite directions.
Slithering along the corridors, Black reached the 3rd floor's corridor like a wraith.
His steps made no sound. His breathing was non-existence. His muscles were squirming under his skin, ready to bury the school deep into the earth, if needed; especially now that he had more power than ever, the Kaiju Blue blood boiling within him.
In his mind, his father's warning remained of the utmost importance, the Ad Infinitum labeling it as one of the top threats to his plans in this Random World.
He reached the door, but there was no sign of Professor Quirrell or the Headmaster.
Black sensed an image manifesting behind him in his mind. A tiny eyeball appeared under his hair and looked at the wizard.
"Mr. Black," Professor Snape said, holding his wand, "is it?"
Black turned around and smiled. "Hello, Professor Snape. Scared of Werewolves, are we?"
Snape's sneer died into a thin line. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his words creeping through the silence like a ghostly whisper.
"I can ask the same question to you, Professor?" Black asked cheekily.
Suddenly, the hair on Black's neck stood up. The Professor had just opened his mouth to retort when his jaw dropped, his pupils shaking.
Snape roared, lifting his wand. "Get down!"
**************
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