Chapter 227: Two Days of Vigil
"Headmaster Dumbledore knows, yet he allows the Dark Lord to lurk in the Forbidden Forest... How could he do that..." Hermione's face was ashen, as if something fundamental had collapsed inside her.
"Don't worry, Harry, we are all here. And Headmaster Dumbledore has laid an inescapable net around the Philosopher's Stone; he dares not go for it... But why doesn't he leave? Is he simply reluctant to part with it? ...And what drove him to drink the Unicorn's blood?"
Justin seemed equally shaken by the events of the previous night, but he forced himself to analyze the situation calmly.
Even in Sean's absence, Justin's voice helped the young wizards regain a measure of rationality within the Room of Hope.
"Because he needs to restore his strength... Harry, think. What else did Firenze say?"
His voice was gentle yet firm.
The terror that had gripped Harry all night was pushed back slightly by reason:
"Only someone who has nothing to lose, and everything to gain, would commit such a heinous crime? No, no, no... To save oneself, to slaughter a pure, defenseless life... from the moment its blood touches your lips, you will have but a half-life, a cursed life—I understand!"
"Voldemort—slaughter?!"
After hearing the shocking series of events in the Forbidden Forest, Neville finally lived up to expectations and fainted dead away.
Justin and Harry didn't speak; they simply carried him over to the sofa.
"He hasn't killed the Unicorn yet. His strength hasn't recovered enough."
Suddenly, a calm voice cut through the tense conversation. Instead of being annoyed by the interruption, everyone was simultaneously overjoyed.
"Sean is back!" Ron was the first to shout.
"Sean..." Even Neville's ears twitched, and he groggily climbed up from the sofa.
"Sean, you're back. How was the symposium?" Justin smiled, though it looked strained.
"Sean, where is Headmaster Dumbledore?" Harry asked hopefully. Hermione trembled for a moment at the name but still cast a hopeful gaze.
"I'm fine... but Headmaster Dumbledore needs to preside over the symposium. He won't be back for two days."
Sean's words caused the atmosphere in the room to plummet.
"Headmaster Dumbledore isn't here. If he kills the Unicorn and restores his strength, and Professor Quirrell delivers the Philosopher's Stone... Hogwarts will cease to exist! He'll raze the school to the ground, or turn it into a school for the Dark Arts! He won't spare us, because none of us will condone his atrocities or join his dark forces," Harry murmured in despair.
Sean took his seat at the head of the table. He had confirmed one piece of good news: Professor Quirrell's soul was not yet fully cursed... they still had a chance.
England hadn't seen good weather since April. Rain lashed against the windows, soaking the entire castle from the highest tower to the deepest dungeon.
The atmosphere inside the room was oppressive.
"We won't let him succeed—" Justin said suddenly, his voice filled with unprecedented determination and courage.
"I saw the Centaurs scare him off; he dares not reveal himself! Although the professors might not believe that the Dark Lord is in the Forbidden Forest, we are here! If we can find him and get a photograph, the professors will take over the forest. Until then—
"We will guard the Forbidden Forest. We will protect the Unicorns—we will hold the line and not retreat a single step! We will stand with the Centaurs, and we will stand with Hagrid! My mother says that true nobility never surrenders!"
His incredibly bold words didn't scare anyone in the room.
Neville suddenly began to clap, trembling slightly. Then Ron joined in, followed by Hermione and Harry.
"Sean, we need your leadership. You are the most capable and wise among us. Please, say something," Justin said softly.
Everyone's expectant, fervent, fearful, and panicked gazes fell on Sean. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.
Voldemort wasn't fully present, but the desperate, manipulated Professor Quirrell would come to kill the Unicorn. It would be hard to spot him, because at that moment, Professor Quirrell would essentially be Voldemort in form. But Voldemort hadn't killed the Unicorn yet, and he had only just begun drinking its blood. He was extremely weak. He definitely wouldn't dare expose himself, much less confront the professors directly...
As long as they watched over the Unicorns, a Voldemort without the Stone and without strength would be hesitant to act, fearing the consequences.
Two days. Once Headmaster Dumbledore returned, Professor Quirrell might truly be saved.
After all, the professor still had a Squirrel Biscuit in his possession.
Sean knew the plan wasn't flawless; in fact, there were many variables they couldn't predict. But there was never a perfect plan.
He looked at the pairs of eyes around him—in their hearts, they knew they lacked the power to resist, knew success wasn't guaranteed, and their bodies were still trembling. Yet they didn't back down. They would persevere to the end.
"I will modify the Planning Map. If you discover anything, touch the signal on it, and immediately use the Bowtruckle Biscuit to transform and hide.
"Before nightfall, I will create five modified broomsticks capable of high speed, invisibility, and auto-tracking. Before transforming into a magical beast, you can choose to use the broom to travel, escape, or draw attention.
"Groups of two or three. Stick with Hagrid, or the Centaur Firenze.
"—The Third Round Table Meeting—We hold the Forbidden Forest until dawn."
Sean spoke calmly.
The Room of Hope fell silent for a moment, then erupted in thunderous applause.
And so, the day slipped away in an atmosphere of mingled oppression and excitement.
Justin and the others sought out the professors, but the staff had no interest in their "Centaur prophecies" or "Dark Lord returning" nonsense. Even Hermione got a long, earnest lecture from Professor Flitwick.
By the Black Lake, a fire dragon the size of a young wizard, patterned with Fire Salamander markings, appeared.
Sean poured his magic into it without reservation. The dragon instantly expanded violently, turning into a massive wave of flame.
[You have practiced an Advanced Transfiguration to the Master standard. Proficiency +3000]
Sean cast again. A stone instantly transformed into a stone guardian over a meter tall, moving freely.
[You have practiced an Advanced Transfiguration to the Master standard. Proficiency +3000]
A few seconds later, Sean lowered his wand.
His Transfiguration was nearing the Master level. Although he still didn't think he could stand against Professor Quirrell, he could at least send a signal and stall for a small amount of time.
That small amount of time would be enough for the others to arrive or, in a crisis, ride their brooms to fetch a professor to "catch students breaking curfew in the Forbidden Forest."
This was their backup plan—aside from the four who already had detention, Sean and Neville would have to shoulder the blame for being out of bed in the Forbidden Forest.
Unless absolutely necessary, this plan would not be activated. Wandering the Forbidden Forest at night? Two crimes for the price of one—Hogwarts school rules were not to be trifled with.
Amidst the wind and rain.
In the constantly breaking and reforming mirror of the Black Lake, a pair of calm green eyes was reflected—
Which Unicorn would the weakened Voldemort choose?
It wasn't a hard guess. Hagrid and the Centaurs could temporarily protect the safety of the others.
Sean would guard the injured Unicorn.
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