Lucien returned with the notebook and handed it calmly to Percy.
Strangely enough, despite being his own property, Percy suddenly felt like the notebook was burning his hands no matter how he held it.
The mocking looks from the surrounding Slytherins made his face heat up with embarrassment.
After all, Ron had repeatedly caused trouble for Lucien, yet Lucien had never once demanded compensation or retaliation.
He had merely borrowed a few notes.
And now Percy himself had come all the way to Slytherin House to personally retrieve them like some suspicious investigator.
For the first time in his life, Percy genuinely regretted acting impulsively.
Then he met Lucien's clear, calm gaze.
And somehow felt even guiltier.
"Um… Lucien," Percy stammered awkwardly, "actually, I'm not in a hurry anymore. If you haven't finished reading them yet, you can keep them longer…"
"Tch."
Alexia crossed her arms disdainfully nearby.
"You already came all the way here asking for them back, and now you're pretending to be polite? How hypocritical."
Percy's expression became even more uncomfortable.
"You misunderstand," Lucien said calmly before Percy could embarrass himself further.
"I already told Fred and George I planned to return the notes soon anyway. Percy coming here personally just saved me the trouble."
Those simple words immediately eased the atmosphere considerably.
Percy looked at Lucien gratefully.
"I… I still have some additional notes," Percy said quickly. "I'll sort them out tonight and bring them over tomorrow."
Then he hesitated awkwardly.
"If… if Ron…"
The words caught in his throat.
What exactly was he supposed to say?
Watch out, my idiot younger brother has been stalking you?
Or perhaps:
Sorry in advance because my brother just falsely accused you in front of Professor Snape?
Percy would rather throw himself into the Black Lake than say either of those things aloud.
He was absolutely certain that if such a story spread, the entire school would hear about it within forty-eight hours.
"See you tomorrow," Percy finished stiffly before retreating almost immediately.
After he left, the remaining prefects also gradually returned to the common room as curfew approached.
The moment Lucien entered, Draco rushed over excitedly.
"Lucien! You're coming tomorrow, right?"
"Tomorrow?" Lucien blinked. "What's happening tomorrow?"
Draco looked utterly betrayed.
Before he could answer, Daphne sighed helplessly from nearby.
"Tomorrow's the Quidditch match between Slytherin and Gryffindor," she explained. "It'll be Draco's first official appearance."
"He's been bothering everyone for days trying to make sure we attend."
"Lucien," Draco complained dramatically, "how do you not know something this important?"
Lucien shook his head helplessly.
"You forgot," he reminded him calmly, "I can't even ride a broom properly."
"Why would I care about Quidditch?"
Draco immediately froze.
"Oh."
His expression turned awkward instantly.
"Lucien, I didn't mean it like that, I just—"
"I know."
Lucien patted his shoulder casually.
"It's fine. I'll still come support you tomorrow."
Only then did Draco visibly relax.
Meanwhile, Lucien quietly remembered another detail from the original timeline.
Tomorrow should have been the day Quirrell secretly tried to curse Harry's broom during the Quidditch match.
Except now, Harry wasn't even the main Seeker anymore.
Would things still unfold the same way?
…
The next morning, the atmosphere inside the Great Hall was noticeably tense.
For Hogwarts students, Quidditch was serious business.
And because House points were tied closely to Quidditch victories, the rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor felt especially intense today.
Even students pretending not to care were secretly cheering for their own house.
Since it was Saturday and nobody had classes, the excitement throughout the hall was almost explosive.
When Lucien arrived at the Slytherin table, Marcus Flint and several other team members were already gathered together discussing tactics loudly over breakfast.
Meanwhile, over at Gryffindor table, the mood looked considerably less cheerful.
Another chunk of ruby gems had vanished from Gryffindor's hourglass overnight.
Harry and Ron sat with their heads lowered, desperately trying not to attract attention.
Unfortunately for them, Snape had no intention of letting them hide quietly.
"Good morning, Potter."
Snape's voice drifted smoothly across the hall.
Harry instantly stiffened.
"Considering your remarkable bravery exploring restricted areas on the third floor," Snape continued lazily, "I assume a simple Quidditch match should pose no challenge whatsoever."
"Even against Slytherin."
Then Snape paused deliberately.
"Oh, forgive me."
"You're merely the reserve Seeker, aren't you?"
"Whether you'll even play today remains uncertain."
Without waiting for a reply, Snape turned and walked away immediately.
Harry and Ron sat frozen in horror.
The two had spent the entire night terrified someone would discover what happened on the third floor.
They had almost managed to bury the incident quietly.
And then Snape exposed them publicly at breakfast.
The surrounding Gryffindors immediately began glaring at them with expressions filled with annoyance and disgust.
If not for Percy's status—and the existence of Fred and George—someone probably would have already hexed Ron into the hospital wing.
Ron, however, had clearly developed much thicker skin over the past two months.
At this point, public humiliation barely affected him anymore.
Once you got bitten enough times, eventually you stopped noticing.
Harry, meanwhile, barely heard the angry whispers around him.
His eyes remained fixed on Snape's injured leg.
Suddenly, his thoughts drifted back toward Gringotts before the school year began.
Hagrid had removed something extremely important from Vault 713 that same day.
Could it be…
Professor Dumbledore hid the item on the third floor.
And Snape used last night's troll attack to try stealing it.
Harry immediately leaned toward Ron and whispered his theory.
Ron's eyes widened dramatically.
"That has to be it!"
"That evil Slytherin and Snape are working together to steal Dumbledore's treasure!"
"We saw Lucien on the third floor ourselves! Snape definitely helped him escape!"
Harry blinked in confusion.
Wait.
I only mentioned Snape.
How did Lucien get dragged into this again?
Still…
After thinking about it carefully, Harry reluctantly admitted Ron's conclusion wasn't entirely impossible.
Lucien really had disappeared mysteriously from the corridor.
And aside from Snape, there hadn't been anyone else nearby capable of helping him escape unnoticed.
"Eat faster," Ron whispered excitedly. "After breakfast we'll go ask Hagrid what they're trying to steal!"
Harry shook his head.
"No. Wood still needs to discuss Quidditch tactics with me first."
"We'll visit Hagrid after the match."
…
At the Slytherin table, Lucien calmly cut into his bacon and eggs with elegant precision.
Then suddenly—
He felt something appear inside his robes.
Lucien's expression didn't change in the slightest.
Without moving obviously, he glanced subtly around the hall.
Professor Quirrell had just passed by the Slytherin table.
Understood.
Lucien calmly set down his knife and fork before quietly leaving the Great Hall alone.
Only after reaching a secluded corridor did he finally reach inside his robes.
There was a folded note hidden there.
It contained only a single sentence.
Come to my office.
The moment Lucien finished reading it, magical flames instantly consumed the parchment entirely.
He sighed softly.
You really just can't behave yourself for even a few days, can you?
By the time Lucien reached Quirrell's office, the room was empty.
He waited quietly inside for several long minutes before the door finally creaked open.
Quirrell stepped inside.
And almost instantly, his entire demeanour changed.
The usual nervous stuttering disappeared completely, replaced by coldness and terrifying authority.
Voldemort had arrived.
"Where is the item I ordered you to retrieve?" Voldemort asked immediately.
"I was being followed," Lucien replied calmly. "I couldn't get it."
The straightforward answer clearly surprised Voldemort.
He had expected excuses.
Arguments.
Perhaps even lies.
Lucien's immediate honesty threw him off balance briefly.
"Being followed is your excuse?"
Voldemort's voice turned dangerous as violent magical pressure slowly filled the room.
Lucien remained completely calm.
"You failed as well, didn't you?"
Voldemort's eyes narrowed sharply.
"How did you know I went personally?"
Lucien smiled faintly.
"You don't strike me as someone foolish enough to place all your hopes on an eleven-year-old child."
"Besides," he continued evenly, "Snape was there."
"If I entered that room, I'd be dead already."
"Snape is my loyal servant!" Voldemort snapped immediately. "If you simply revealed your identity to him—"
"Teacher."
Lucien interrupted him directly.
"You know better than I do that your truly loyal servants are all sitting in Azkaban right now."
....
Join my exclusive P@treon community for 60+ thrilling chapters!
Link: pa*treon.com/MidnightWonder (Remove the *)
If you join now you will get 2 Chapters for free as well.
Don't miss out, join now!