Chapter 95 - Calm before the Storm
The days after the eventful and shocking night in the Forbidden Forest passed peacefully. There were no more attacks, no more strange events and no more surprises.
Now everyone's attention was on only one thing.
Exams.
Every corridor was full of students carrying books, notes and rolls of parchment. Some were reading while walking. Some were quizzing each other. Others looked like they would faint from stress.
Even the students who usually ignored their studies were now cramming up as much as possible before the exams.
As for me, my attention was on the O.W.L.s. Although I was only in my fourth year, I would be taking the same examinations as the fifth years, including Percy's class.
It was a little strange sitting beside students a year senior than me, but none of them questioned it anymore.
The written papers came first for each subject and then the practical examinations.
Everything went smoothly for me. The theory papers were easy enough as I had already memorised and understood them well before the exams. The practical tests were also great as my months of preparation finally paid off. I answered every question calmly and completed every spell without any mistakes.
By the time the last examination ended, I was confident I had done very well in every subject.
Harry and the trio's exams also went much better than they had in the original story.
Because I had pushed him to study throughout the year and instilled in him to always be serious about the studies since he was a child, he was less distracted and much better prepared. He was a little nervous before every paper, but once he started writing, he settled down quickly.
Ron had also improved.
He still complained about studying almost every day, but Harry's habits had rubbed off on him. His exams were far from perfect, yet they were certainly not the disaster they could have been like in the original story.
Hermione, as always, was brilliant.
If anyone deserved full marks in every subject, it was her. She remained the brightest student in her year, perhaps even among all four houses.
Still, while everyone else was thinking about exams, I kept an eye out on someone else.
Professor Quirrell.
Every day he looked weaker than before. His face had become even paler than before. Dark circles had appeared under his eyes. His hands trembled slightly whenever he held his books. The strange smell of garlic around him had also become stronger.
Perhaps it was simply his quirk or perhaps he was trying to hide another smell. The smell of decay coming from the body that Voldemort was parasitising.
Since the unicorn in the Forbidden Forest had survived, Quirrell had failed to get its blood and his body had not recovered at all.
After that night, I had confirmed and checked from Hagrid that there had been no more attacks on unicorns.
The centaurs had increased their patrols. Hagrid himself kept a closer watch on the forest. Even the professors were more alert than before.
Quirrell had lost his chance to hunt. Without unicorn blood, and with Voldemort inside, Quirrell's body's condition seemed to worsen by every passing day.
That no innocent Unicorn had been injured ave me some relief, but not much because I knew another event was coming, the hunt for Sorcerer's Stone.
Once the examinations ended, I decided it was finally time to prepare for the inevitable. This time I would not allow Harry, Ron, and Hermione to walk into danger alone.
Before I could even begin looking for them, I saw them running toward me from the corridor.
It was Harry and behind him came Ron and Hermione. All three looked extremely anxious.
Before Harry even reached me, I already knew that they had likely figured if out.
"Arthur!" Harry called, breathing heavily. "Arthur, you have to help us!"
"What happened?"
"Voldemort... he's going after it!"
"Going after what?"
"The Sorcerer's Stone!"
He finally stopped in front of me, trying to catch his breath.
I raised a hand.
"Harry. Calm down."
He took one deep breath after another to catch his breath. Only after he had calmed a little did I nod.
"Now tell me everything."
Harry spoke quickly.
"We finally found out what Fluffy is guarding."
"Hermione discovered it," Ron added.
Hermione nodded.
"It's the Sorcerer's Stone. The one Nicolas Flamel created."
"It can make someone immortal," Harry said.
"And it can make loads of gold," Ron added immediately.
I smiled a little.
"That seems to be the part you like most."
Ron scratched his head.
"Well... gold is useful."
I laughed softly.
"I can't argue with that."
Then I became serious again.
"And who do you think is trying to steal it?"
Harry answered without hesitation.
"Voldemort."
I tilted my head.
"Oh? And how is Voldemort inside Hogwarts?"
Ron answered immediately.
"Snape."
I sighed in exasperation.
"Ron."
"What?"
"How many times have I told you to stop accusing Professor Snape without proof?"
"But everything points to him!"
"Everything obvious points to him," I corrected.
Ron looked confused. Harry and Hermione also frowned.
I continued, "Think about it. Professor Snape is always watching Harry. He acts suspiciously. He frightens students. Everyone already suspects him."
"Exactly. He is the one," Ron said.
"No," I replied. "Exactly the opposite."
The three stared at me.
"If something looks too obvious, you should ask yourself why."
Hermione became thoughtful. I could almost see her mind working.
I continued, "Sometimes the real answer is standing quietly beside the obvious one."
Harry blinked.
"I don't understand."
"Neither do I," Ron admitted.
Hermione looked like she was close to figuring something out, but she remained silent.
I decided not to push further.
"Never mind that for now."
I looked at Harry.
"What do you want me to do?"
Harry answered immediately.
"We're going to the forbidden corridor."
"We're going to reach the Stone before Voldemort."
"And stop him," Ron finished.
I folded my arms.
"Did you tell any professor?"
Harry nodded.
"We told Professor McGonagall."
"And?"
"She said the Stone is perfectly safe."
Ron spoke again.
"But Professor Dumbledore isn't even here!"
That caught my attention.
"He isn't?"
Hermione answered.
"Professor McGonagall said Professor Dumbledore had urgent Ministry business in London. He won't return until tomorrow."
For a moment I became thoughtful. 'So the fake message plot had worked, again.'
Just like in the original story. Tonight really was the night.
I looked back at the three of them.
"So your plan is to reach the Stone before the thief does."
Harry nodded firmly.
"Yes."
I looked at each of them before asking quietly,
"And if the thief is already there before you... what exactly are you planning to do?"
The three of them fell completely silent.
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End of Chapter 95 - Calm before the Storm