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Chapter 108 — Detention in the Forbidden Forest
Harry sprinted to the library.
Darren, Hermione, and Ron were buried in Astronomy homework when he burst in, breathless, and told them everything he'd overheard — Quirrell crying, Snape threatening him, the footsteps leaving afterward.
"That means Snape only has Fluffy left," Ron whispered. "He can take the Philosopher's Stone any time!"
"He might already know how to get past Fluffy," Hermione murmured, scanning the rows of books. "There must be something here about bypassing a three-headed dog. Someone must've written about it."
Harry hesitated.
He had sworn — absolutely sworn — that he would stop meddling.
So he took a deep breath and said, "Forget it. It's something for Professor Dumbledore to handle."
---
[Ding — The system senses a Holy Father scenario forming. A temporary mission has been issued.]
Mission:
In a hesitant tone, tell Harry:
"This isn't only the Headmaster's business. If Professor Snape steals the Stone, it could ruin the agreement between Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel. What if Mr. Flamel demands compensation? What if Hogwarts has to close?"
Reward if completed:
+2 Plant Affinity Talent
Accept mission?
[Accept!]
Darren accepted immediately.
Harry's adventurous instincts were impossible to restrain, and if Darren didn't lead the conversation, someone else would. Even if the reward was small, a reward was still a reward.
He looked at Harry, composed himself, and asked softly, "Brother… maybe we should tell Professor Dumbledore?"
Harry looked torn.
He remembered how badly Darren suffered every time Snape was involved.
He didn't want Darren anywhere near Snape ever again.
"No, Darren… last time, you were the one who wanted to help."
Harry swallowed. "I forgot the Invisibility Cloak on the roof. If I didn't forget, you wouldn't have been punished."
"With how much Professor McGonagall likes you, she probably would've let you go with a warning. Then Snape wouldn't have—"
"No, really! Professor Snape didn't punish me," Darren said quickly. "He just made me do my homework."
"Who believes that?" Harry muttered.
Darren sighed.
Time to finish the mission.
"Harry… if Professor Snape takes the Philosopher's Stone, and it ruins Headmaster Dumbledore's agreement with Mr. Flamel…"
He hesitated, lowering his voice.
"Mr. Flamel might demand Dumbledore pay him back. Maybe even… force him to close Hogwarts."
[Ding — Mission complete.
Reward acquired: Plant Affinity +2]
Darren accepted the reward graciously and returned to the discussion.
Harry went pale.
"That's impossible. Dumbledore is incredibly powerful."
"Hogwarts is the best school in Britain!" Hermione insisted.
"But Mr. Flamel is over six hundred years old," Darren reminded gently. "He's had centuries to gain influence."
"And the Stone is priceless," Ron added. "Dumbledore probably couldn't afford to replace it."
They went back and forth — one sentence at a time — building a horrifying conclusion:
Nicolas Flamel had more influence, more wealth, and more leverage than Dumbledore.
And if the Stone vanished…
Hogwarts could very realistically be shut down.
"Oh no," Harry gasped. "Darren's right. We have to warn the Headmaster!"
"Yes — now!" Ron said, rising.
But the moment they stood, they froze.
"Wait," Hermione said. "We have no proof."
"Exactly," Ron agreed. "If Snape threatened Quirrell, Quirrell would never admit it. And Filch? Snape could threaten him too."
"Would Dumbledore believe us," Hermione asked, "or his own professor? Especially when Harry keeps arguing with Snape. It'll look like we're trying to get him fired."
Darren hesitated, then whispered, "Then… then I'll go. I don't have conflict with Professor Snape. And if he really wants to steal the Stone, maybe I can give him a chance to rethink it."
Harry nearly fell over.
"Darren — absolutely not!" he burst out. "If you report Snape, he'll know immediately! You'll scare him off — and you might disappear into the Slytherin common room forever!"
Darren blinked.
Harry grabbed his shoulders. "We wait. We get evidence. Then we go to Dumbledore. Safely."
The matter was settled — reluctantly.
---
The next morning, their plans collapsed instantly.
Each of them found a note on their breakfast table:
Your detention begins at eleven o'clock tonight.
Report to Mr. Filch in the entrance hall.
— Professor McGonagall
Harry's stomach dropped.
He had almost forgotten about the punishment entirely.
This was his first detention since starting school.
At eleven that night, Harry, Hermione, and Neville arrived to find Filch waiting — and Darren already there.
But to Harry's shock… Malfoy was there too.
Apparently Professor McGonagall had decided he deserved a share of the night's punishment as well.
"Come with me," Filch said with a cruel grin.
He held a lantern high, teeth bared in delight.
Seeing so many students facing punishment…
Filch couldn't have been happier.
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