Chapter 45: The Blame Is on Snape
Hermione told Harry and Ron that Fluffy was guarding the Philosopher's Stone, and both were shocked after learning about its properties.
"No wonder Snape wants to steal it," Ron said nonchalantly. "With that stone, you'd have endless wealth."
"And a long life," Harry added.
Hermione silently rolled her eyes. These two were truly blaming Professor Snape at every turn!
"Ahem! Now we know that Fluffy is guarding the Philosopher's Stone, and..." Hermione paused slightly. "And someone wants to steal it."
"Correction, not just'someone', but Snape," Ron said.
"We don't have one hundred percent proof right now that Professor Snape wants to steal it. Almost everyone wants the Philosopher's Stone, don't they?"
"What more proof do we need?" Ron sneered. "He practically has his motive written on his face.
Besides, we saw him cast a jinx on Harry during the Quidditch match. Doesn't that prove it?"
Harry also nodded. Currently, Snape was the only suspect, and he was always making things difficult for him. If it wasn't him, who else could it be?
"Alright!" Hermione looked at the confident expressions of the two in front of her and could only shake her head, pretending to give in. "Snape wants to steal it, so the first hurdle he has to pass is Fluffy.
And getting past a Cerberus is very dangerous, so we need to keep a close eye on Hagrid. Once someone, no, once Snapesubtly tries to ask Hagrid about this, then..."
"Then it means he's going to act!" Harry's eyes lit up. He suddenly felt that Hermione wasn't just a bookworm; her analysis was also incisive.
"Exactly!
Not only that, but that thing is too precious. There must be more than just Fluffy guarding it. Dumbledore must have set up other obstacles.
And Snape might even be involved; otherwise, there's no way to explain how he knows about the Philosopher's Stone."
Ron was instantly amazed. "I always thought you could only draw inferences during exams, but I didn't realize you considered so much. It would be a real shame if you didn't become an Auror after graduation."
Hermione's face showed a hint of embarrassment. This was all Aaron's analysis; she was just explaining it by imitation.
But now, all the "credit" seemed to be falling on her, which made her a little uncomfortable.
"Let's not talk about that for now.
In short, the situation isn't as bad as we thought.
At least for a short time, the Philosopher's Stone won't be in any danger."
"That's good!" Harry breathed a sigh of relief. "Let me go over our current plan. First, keep a close eye on Snape."
"Understood!" Ron immediately agreed. "That's easy; he's the one we see most every day."
Hermione rolled her eyes but also nodded.
"Second, find a way to figure out from Hagrid who else is involved in protecting the Philosopher's Stone.
If Snape wants to get it, he'll definitely try to break through the other obstacles. Knowing this will allow us to understand his progress."
"Third, still Hagrid. We need to constantly pay attention to whether he tells anyone else how to get past Fluffy."
"Don't forget the fourth point," Hermione reminded them. "We need to prepare for exams."
"Exams?" x 2.
Harry and Ron exchanged glances, immediately feeling overwhelmed.
They weren't good students, and exams were a necessary hurdle in life for them, and the most difficult one.
"It's not that bad, Hermione," Ron said sheepishly. "The holidays just ended; exams are still hundreds of years away!"
"We still need to prepare a study plan," Hermione's tone was unchallengeable. "We've already wasted too much time on Nicolas Flamel.
If we don't catch up on our lessons, we might not even pass the final exams."
"You wouldn't pass?" Ron sounded like he'd heard the funniest joke. If it weren't for the Library, he would have burst out laughing.
Harry was also stifling his laughter. "Hermione, besides Aaron, you're the least likely to fail at Hogwarts.
You know everything; you don't need to study at all."
"I don't need to study?
It seems you've forgotten that Draco and I have a bet!
If I lose, Aaron will have to pay a favor on behalf of his family.
Although my understanding of the Magical World isn't as good as yours, I know how important such a bet made in a family's name is.
And unfortunately, Draco has been particularly diligent lately; even Professor McGonagall, who isn't fond of Slytherin, has praised him.
So, do you want to see Draco win?"
Harry and Ron immediately became serious. Malfoy was the person they disliked most, without exception; not even Snape compared.
If Hermione really lost due to a momentary oversight and let him 'get away with it,' they would definitely be very depressed until the start of the next year.
Moreover, if they had to face Malfoy in the future, they would be at an absolute disadvantage because their'strongest' Hermione had lost.
Thinking of this, their eyes were filled with seriousness.
"Hermione, I think what you said makes a lot of sense," Harry said. "Studying is the most important thing for students; we can't neglect it."
"I agree," Ron said solemnly.
Hermione:... She had worked so hard saying all that, and in the end, it was less effective than one Malfoy.
For this, she could only blame herself for choosing friends unwisely.
As a top student, Hermione quickly drew up a study plan for the two of them, generously gave them her own notes, and diligently supervised their studies.
The teachers also cooperated by assigning various homework.'Study hard and strive for progress every day' became their normal state during their free time, which made the two poor students miserable.
But even facing the storms in the sea of knowledge, they still devoted most of their energy to supervising Snape... and Hagrid... A few weeks later, at the gamekeeper's hut.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione came to visit Hagrid as usual. This was their eighth visit to Hagrid in recent times.
The first time they found him, they directly told him that they knew Fluffy was guarding the Philosopher's Stone. Every time after that, they would "casually" mention: Has anyone asked about how to get past the Cerberus?
But each time Hagrid's answer made them feel particularly reassured: "No one knows how to get past Fluffy except for me and Dumbledore, and I would never tell anyone else."
And Snape hadn't shown any abnormalities either. He always had a long face every day, sometimes even appearing particularly irritable, but the more he was like that, the more relieved Harry and Ron felt.
Because this meant the Philosopher's Stone was still safe, and Snape hadn't gotten his hands on it.
This time they planned to ask other questions.
"Hagrid!" Harry hesitated for a while, then asked, "We want to know what other mechanisms are guarding the Philosopher's Stone besides Fluffy."
Hagrid's face instantly became serious. "Why are you so interested in this!
Harry, I'm reminding you very seriously again, this has nothing to do with you."
"So there really are other mechanisms?" Hermione asked. "Like spells, magic, and so on?"
"I can't say that; it's a very important secret," Hagrid frowned. "Of course, I don't know either."
"Uh..." Hermione pondered for a moment. "Then do you know who designed those mechanisms?"
"I do know that; it was..." Hagrid chuckled proudly, then his face became serious again. "You almost tricked me again, Hermione.
It would be very troublesome if I let that slip."
"But it wouldn't be that troublesome!" Harry pleaded. "Please, Hagrid, tell us!
We already know about the Philosopher's Stone; this little bit won't make a difference."
"Don't try that with me, Harry," Hagrid said with a smile, pressing Harry into a chair. "Ever since I accidentally let Nicolas Flamel slip, you three have become more and more lawless."
"But someone is already trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone," Ron interjected. "We're sure it's Snape."
Hermione pursed her lips, wanting to speak but holding back.
She wanted to say 'not sure,' but she didn't say anything.
"Snape?" Hagrid was startled. "I know almost all of Gryffindor doesn't like him, but that's not a reason for you to suspect him.
Besides, Snape is one of the people who designed those mechanisms; he wouldn't possibly steal that thing."
"This is even worse," Harry said with a grim expression. "It would make it much easier for him to steal it.
Hagrid, he really doesn't know how to get past Fluffy?"
"I've said it a dozen times, no one knows except for me and Dumbledore," Hagrid said with some impatience.
"Hagrid, you should still tell us!" Hermione pointed to Ronand Harry. "You don't think they'll give up that easily, do you?"
Hagrid looked at the two of them, saw the determination in their eyes, and sighed helplessly. "Alright! But I have a small condition.
Aaron's pet cat, Abey, you'll help me borrow him."