Bang!
The door to the Potions classroom slammed shut on its own.
Sean stood outside, staring blankly at the stack of ten books cradled in his arms. He was still trying to process how his conversation with Snape had spiraled from a simple check-in on his progress to a discussion of his thesis, then to the gaps in his foundational knowledge, and had finally culminated in this… required remedial study.
Ten books. Each one was thick enough to stop a Bludger. More importantly, this was supplementary material, entirely separate from the texts in the Potions Club. Snape expected him to finish them all within a month. Sean could feel his chances of ever sleeping in again evaporating. He foresaw a future, for the rest of the semester at least, where he would be as busy as a house-elf in December.
"Sigh…"
Heaving a heavy sigh, Sean trudged back to the common room with his new library.
The moment he opened the door to his dorm, he knew something was wrong. He rushed to the small nest he'd made for his pet and found it empty. A quick scan of the room revealed Kulkan hiding in the narrow gap between his desk and the wardrobe. The little snake was coiled tightly, its body rigid with vigilance. Even when it saw Sean, it remained wary, only relaxing after Sean reached out and gently stroked its scales. Kulkan slithered up his arm and onto his shoulder, pressing its head against his neck as if seeking comfort and reassurance.
Sean stroked the creature for a long time, murmuring soft words until it finally calmed down. The Basilisk's rampage had clearly terrified Kulkan. While the small snake wasn't inherently afraid of the larger serpent, the sheer difference in size and age was overwhelming—like a lion cub facing a full-grown hyena, courage was no match for raw power.
The rest of the night passed without incident. By the next morning, Kulkan had returned to its usual curious self. Sean refilled its food and water, then left for the library.
Today was Saturday. The day he planned to make his move. He could feel the constant, amateurish surveillance from Barrett and his cronies. They had even followed him to the library, one of them lurking clumsily among the bookshelves.
Sean paid them no mind. The plan was set. The trap was laid. All he had to do now was lead them into it.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, Andy found him among the stacks.
"Sean, is it just the two of us tonight?"
"Yes, just us."
"What about Blaise?"
"It's Saturday," Sean said with a wry smile. "Do you honestly think he has time for us?"
Andy blinked, then a look of dawning comprehension crossed his face. "I swear, I admire his seamless transitions. The man's energy is truly incredible."
"Perhaps it's another one of his natural gifts," Sean mused.
After a brief chat, they set off. Near the main gate leading to Hogsmeade, Sean pulled the hood of his cloak over his head and downed a vial of Polyjuice Potion, this one containing a strand of hair from one of Andy's friends. By the time he reached the gate for Filch's inspection, the transformation was complete. Drawing on the information Andy had provided, Sean easily passed the check and left Hogwarts, melting into the small crowd of students heading to the village.
Two of Barrett's lackeys followed them, having been sent ahead to scout. Once Sean and Andy were in Hogsmeade, they would signal the others to close in.
Upon arriving in the village, Sean and Andy made a quick stop to acquire the ingredients Harry needed. Then, Sean suggested a drink at the Three Broomsticks.
Andy readily agreed. They found a table and ordered. While Andy was distracted, Sean deftly added a few drops of a powerful sleeping draught to his friend's butterbeer. Shortly after, Andy's head began to nod, and he soon slumped forward, fast asleep on the table.
Barrett's men waited outside, afraid of drawing attention by entering—a caution that played perfectly into Sean's hands. He draped his own hooded cloak over the slumbering Andy. Across the room, Malo, disguised as a regular patron, caught Sean's eye. Malo smoothly approached their table, plucked a strand of Andy's hair, and drank his own vial of Polyjuice Potion.
Under the cover of the cloak, Malo transformed. When he stood up, he was a perfect double of Andy. Together, he and Sean left the pub, making sure Barrett's spies saw them leave Hogsmeade and head towards the dark forest beyond.
Their destination was the same clearing where Sean had dealt with the Dark Wizard the previous year.
Just as they arrived, two sharp cracks of Apparition echoed through the trees. Barrett and a seventh-year Slytherin materialized in front of them. Simultaneously, the air behind them shimmered as Dicky and two others dropped their Disillusionment Charms, blocking their escape.
Sean smiled. "You've come."
The calm greeting wiped the smirks off their faces. Barrett quickly recovered, his expression twisting into a sneer. "I have to say, you're composed. But it's useless now. You're surrounded, Sean Bulstrode!"
"You're right, I am calm," Sean replied, his voice dangerously even. "But you have one thing wrong. I'm not the one who's surrounded. You are."
As the words left his lips, the "Andy" beside him began to change. His body shot upwards, his features twisting and reshaping like clay, quickly returning to Malo's true form.
Seeing him, the color drained from Barrett's face. In that same instant, the forest erupted with the sound of dozens of running footsteps. Dark Wizards, their faces grim and their wands drawn, emerged from the trees, forming a tight, inescapable circle around Barrett and his stunned followers.
The horrifying realization dawned on them. Their carefully planned hunt had become their own execution. And their prey, the half-blood they thought was an easy target, was apparently commanding a small army of Dark Wizards.
"Dicky, what is this?" Barrett hissed, his voice trembling with rage and fear. "Why didn't you tell me this Bulstrode had so many Dark Wizards under his command!"
Dicky was panicking. "I… I didn't know!" he stammered, looking wildly at the menacing figures surrounding them. "That Borell Bulstrode… he never said anything about this!"
"Damn it!" Gritting his teeth, Barrett prepared to Apparate.
But before he could turn, a flash of red light struck him, and he froze, his body locked in place.
Malo stepped forward, the tip of his wand still smoking. "In the presence of the great Dark Lord," he said, his voice cold and commanding, "there is no escape."
Dark Lord? Barrett thought, his mind reeling in confusion. Who?
His terrified eyes darted to Sean.
Him?!
[Chapter Complete]
***
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