"Damn it! I knew it wouldn't be this simple!"
Hidden deep within the shadows of a distant corridor, Voldemort's expression had become utterly grim.
If Snape had been the only obstacle tonight, Voldemort might still have risked making a move.
But now?
Not only was Snape standing guard near the hidden chamber, but Harry Potter and two members of the Weasley family had somehow become involved as well.
If anything happened to any of them tonight, Dumbledore would tear Hogwarts apart searching for the culprit.
And in Voldemort's current weakened condition, directly facing Dumbledore would be no different from suicide.
"W-What should we do, Master?" Quirrell stammered nervously. "Should we perhaps… wait until they leave before trying again?"
That cowardly tone instantly made Voldemort even angrier.
"You fool!" Voldemort hissed furiously. "How long do you think a troll can delay Dumbledore?"
"By the time they leave, Dumbledore will already be hunting us down!"
Quirrell immediately shrank back in terror.
Voldemort slowly forced himself to calm down.
At this point, there was only one remaining possibility.
"I can only hope my dear disciple manages to obtain the item himself…"
Then Voldemort's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Although, judging from his personality, I doubt he'll remain obedient forever."
From the very beginning, Voldemort had recognized something familiar in Lucien.
Ambition.
It hid beneath the boy's calm eyes just as it once had in Voldemort's own.
The difference was that Lucien possessed far more advantages than Voldemort ever had at that age. Wealth, intelligence, social influence, political backing—Lucien had everything.
And unlike Voldemort's younger self, Lucien was far better at concealing his true thoughts.
Without hostages like Hermione and the others, Voldemort would never fully trust him.
Still…
Compared to Dumbledore, Lucien at least remained negotiable.
If Lucien obtained the Philosopher's Stone, Voldemort might still have opportunities later.
But Dumbledore?
Dumbledore would never give him even the slightest chance.
"We're leaving," Voldemort said coldly.
"This operation has failed. We'll find another opportunity."
Outwardly, he instructed Quirrell to retreat.
But internally, another thought had already formed.
Quirrell's body was deteriorating too quickly.
At this rate, he might not survive long enough for Voldemort to obtain the Philosopher's Stone.
They needed another solution.
A new vessel.
…
Third floor corridor.
Snape stared at Harry and Ron like a predator examining prey.
"Professor…" Percy began nervously.
"I was not speaking to you, Mr. Weasley."
Snape cut him off instantly.
Percy nearly choked.
He desperately wanted to help Harry and Ron explain themselves.
Anything would do.
At least say something!
Even nonsense sounded better than complete silence!
Harry hesitated under Snape's terrifying stare for several long seconds before finally collapsing beneath the pressure.
"Professor…" Harry stammered weakly. "We—we saw Lucien come up here, so…"
"Hmm."
Snape let out a cold laugh.
"Then perhaps you would care to explain where exactly Mr. Grindelwald is now?"
Harry froze immediately.
"We… we lost him…"
"Mr. Potter," Snape sneered, "Mr. Grindelwald is not like you. He does not spend every hour of the day wandering aimlessly."
"We saw him come up to the third floor ourselves!" Ron blurted out angrily.
Snape's eyes immediately locked onto him.
"Then perhaps you can point him out to me now, Mr. Weasley."
Ron instantly went silent.
Of course he couldn't.
Snape's expression became even colder.
"So."
"Our two brilliant detectives possess no evidence whatsoever."
His voice dripped with mockery.
"For trespassing in a restricted area and falsely accusing a fellow student…"
"Gryffindor loses ten points."
Ron immediately looked outraged.
But before he could protest—
"Ten points each."
Ron's face went white.
Even Harry looked like his soul had left his body.
Percy instantly shoved both boys behind him before either of them could say something even stupider.
"Professor Snape, I'm terribly sorry," Percy said quickly. "I'll escort them back to Gryffindor Tower immediately."
Without waiting for permission, Percy grabbed both boys and practically dragged them away.
Snape watched the three disappear down the corridor before finally turning his eyes slowly toward the distant shadows where Quirrell had been hiding moments earlier.
His gaze became thoughtful.
…
On the way back to Gryffindor Tower, Ron continued ranting nonstop.
"Snape definitely hid him!"
"That evil Grindelwald goes to Snape's office every single day! Merlin knows what disgusting things they're secretly plotting together!"
"Enough, Ronald!"
Percy finally snapped.
"Have you caused us enough trouble already?!"
"Do you have any idea how long it'll take Gryffindor to recover those points?!"
"We're Gryffindors!" Ron argued stubbornly. "We can't just stand around while evil Slytherins—"
"Did you even find him?!"
Percy cut him off furiously.
"I followed you halfway across Hogwarts and never saw so much as a shadow of Lucien Grindelwald!"
Harry quietly lowered his head.
Unlike Ron, he had already started doubting himself.
Could they really have misunderstood Lucien?
Percy rubbed his forehead tiredly.
Truthfully, he felt too awkward to properly scold Harry. But Ron was his younger brother, and Percy had absolutely no hesitation disciplining him.
Especially after Molly specifically told him to keep an eye on Ron during her last visit.
If she learned Ron had provoked Lucien again…
Percy honestly suspected she might drag him home personally.
After all, compared to Lucien, Ron really did seem hopeless sometimes.
"Percy, we really saw Lucien go toward the third floor!" Ron insisted desperately. "Ask Harry if you don't believe me!"
Percy looked toward Harry suspiciously.
Harry remained silent.
That alone already told Percy enough.
"I'll take both of you back to Gryffindor Tower first," Percy said firmly. "Then I'll investigate this matter myself."
The moment they entered the common room, they spotted Fred and George sitting beside a large box of brightly coloured sweets while chatting excitedly with several students.
The instant they noticed Percy, both twins immediately hid the candy behind their backs.
"Oh look," Fred announced dramatically, "our glorious prefect has returned!"
"With Harry and Ronnie too!" George added.
"So…" Fred grinned wickedly. "How many points did Gryffindor lose this time?"
The common room instantly turned silent.
Dozens of students began staring at Harry and Ron with hostile expressions.
Percy immediately interrupted before things worsened further.
"Enough."
He glanced toward the twins.
"The troll situation's been handled?"
"Professor McGonagall sorted it out personally," George replied. "We were about to ask whether tonight's party should still continue, but…"
He gestured helplessly around the room.
"Looks like nobody's in the mood now."
Percy nodded absently before suddenly remembering something.
"Didn't you mention recently that Lucien wanted to return some notes he borrowed from me?"
Fred blinked.
"…Probably?"
"Excellent."
Percy immediately grabbed onto the excuse.
"You two watch Harry and Ron. Make sure they don't leave the common room again."
"I'm going to collect the notes."
Without waiting for further questions, Percy turned and headed straight toward the Slytherin common room.
During the walk there, countless thoughts raced through his mind.
Harry and Ron might be reckless idiots sometimes, but they wouldn't randomly wander into a restricted corridor without a reason.
And Ron, despite being brainless, wouldn't continue insisting Lucien had been there unless he genuinely believed it.
Whether for Gryffindor's reputation or simple peace of mind, Percy needed to confirm things personally.
When he finally arrived outside the Slytherin common room, he discovered several Slytherin prefects standing guard outside the entrance.
Among them stood Lucien himself.
The moment Percy appeared, the atmosphere instantly became tense.
"Percy?" one Slytherin prefect sneered. "What exactly are you doing here?"
Gryffindor and Slytherin prefects rarely spoke peacefully.
Percy ignored the provocation entirely and looked directly at Lucien instead.
"Lucien," he said calmly, "Fred and George mentioned you'd been trying to return my notes recently. Since you're here tonight, I thought I'd collect them now."
Lucien instantly saw through the excuse.
....
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