Chapter 11 Potions
The first day at Hogwarts had passed, and Moon was still struggling to adapt to this world full of magic.
He still had no good solution for the system quest to go to the Restricted Section.
The Potions Class classroom was located in the dungeons of Hogwarts Castle, and the air was filled with a mixed scent of herbs and magic Potions.
Tables all around were covered with various Potion bottles and herbs, with colorful liquids shimmering inside the bottles, looking at first glance like mischievous pixies dancing at the bottle mouths.
The classroom was silent, as if every inch of air exuded a mysterious magic.
"Bang!"
The door opened.
Professor Snape walked into the classroom, his black robes gently swaying in the air.
His gaze swept over the students, "Today, we begin to study Potions."
His tone was deep and threatening, "Potions is a precise science, and a rigorous art. You do not need to wave your wands. You will only deal with ingredients, reagents, and your brains. Any slight oversight could make your Potionexplode."
The atmosphere in the classroom immediately became serious and heavy.
The students sat up straight, seemingly not daring to even breathe.
Snape's voice carried an undeniable authority: "Today, we will learn the Cleaning Potion, a simple yet crucial Potion. It can remove dirt from objects, and although it doesn't seem complicated, you must complete every step accurately."
Moon nodded silently, thinking to himself, "Cleaning Potion? Dish soap?" He hadn't expected the first class to be so practical.
"Before we begin," Snape's voice rang out again.
He walked to the front of the podium and began to observe each student, "I'm going to test your knowledge."
He fixed his gaze on Harry, a sneer playing on his lips, "Potter, can you tell me what happens if I add powdered asphodel root to an infusion of wormwood?"
Harry suddenly felt like he'd been slapped unexpectedly, his mind a blank. "Uh… I'm not sure, Professor." He lowered his head, afraid of drawing Snape's attention again.
Snape showed no expression, merely giving him a cold glance: "It seems you don't even know these most basic herbal facts."
He turned to the class, "The reaction of powdered asphodel root and an infusion of wormwood produces a deadly poisonous gas, enough to kill."
After he finished speaking, his gaze rested on Harry again, "Next time, Potter, you had better be prepared to answer."
"He's just looking for trouble." Ron muttered under his breath, clearly displeased with Snape's badgering of Harry.
"Just listen carefully." Moon whispered reassuringly. The root of Snape's animosity towards Harry wasn't anything Harry had done wrong.
Snape's hostility stemmed more from his hatred for Harry's father, James Potter.
Snape showed no intention of stopping.
He continued to question the class, trying to test the students' knowledge with a series of questions.
Each time, his gaze would subtly fall on Harry, as if waiting for Harry to make another mistake.
Snape coldly scanned the class, "Now then, who can tell me what bezoar is used for in Potions?"
At this, Hermione raised her hand again, a glimmer of hope in her eyes, but Snape completely ignored her, turning instead to Harry and asking, "Potter, do you know the use of bezoar?"
Hermione was displeased with Snape's behavior.
She knew she could answer correctly, but Snape never gave her a chance.
Harry was clearly stumped; he hesitated for a moment: "Uh… is it… is it used to make Potions?"
"Wrong." Snape's tone showed no softening, "Bezoar is a common ingredient in Potions, used to increase the efficacy of a Potion, especially in healing and antidote Potions." He finished speaking, scanning the class again, and continued in a threatening tone, "Potter, remember, next time you're like this, you might not just get the answer wrong."
Hermione's brows were tightly furrowed, her face showing clear displeasure.
She could answer all the questions, but Snape ignored her every time.
She could clearly feel Snape deliberately picking on Harrywhile ignoring her raised hand.
This made her feel particularly unfair, and her inner anger was almost about to erupt.
Moon quietly observed all of this.
He knew that Snape wasn't a bad person, just deeply troubled by past hatred.
Moon remembered from the original plot that Harry's father, James Potter, had bullied Snape during their school days and eventually stolen Snape's lifelong love, Lily.
Harry's eyes were exactly like Lily's, which made Snapeunable to resist looking at Harry every time.
But Harry also looked too much like his father, making Snape's attitude towards Harry very complex.
Moon sighed, feeling a touch of sympathy for Harry.
He knew that Harry was unaware of these complex emotions, but when facing Snape, Harry was undoubtedly the easiest target.
Moon gently adjusted his herbs, continuing to focus on brewing his Potion.
As the class drew to a close, Moon activated the system scan again. This time, he didn't focus on Potion recipes but turned his attention to everything around him.
Today's Potions Class was not just about making basic Potions, but also an initial understanding of the entire magic world.
[Target Name]: Cleaning Potion
[Inherent Properties]:
1. Cleaning Effect: Effectively removes dirt from objects, widely used in household chores and daily magic.
2. Basic Potion: One of the foundational recipes for many Potions, suitable for beginners.
3. Auxiliary Property: Can carry a slight purifying effect, removing certain low-level magic contamination from objects.
Through the scan, Moon discovered that this basic Cleaning Potion seemed to be related to some more complex magic Potions.
The system's scan could not only find useful properties but was also crucial for exploring the magic world.
Moon thought to himself, he should open the system scan more often in the future, as many hidden secrets might be concealed in small details.
As Potions Class ended, students packed up their things, preparing to leave.
Harry and Ron were clearly indignant about Snape's provocations, especially Snape's prejudice against Harry, which left both of them unable to calm down.
"That's just too much, Snape." Ron said through gritted teeth, "He always picks on Harry, he's such an annoying guy."
"Ignore him, Ron." Moon patted Ron's shoulder, "Snape's hostility actually has nothing to do with Harry himself."
"Nothing to do with me? Do you know something, Moon?" Harry grabbed Moon's arm. Snape's targeting was too hard to bear; he didn't want to go on like this.
"Calm down, that's a bit uncomfortable." Moon looked at Harry's hand helplessly, signaling him to let go first.
"Ah, sorry, Moon," Harry released his hand and apologized, "I really want to know why."
"Because of your father."
Chapter 12 Preparing to Go to the Restricted Area
Life at Hogwarts gradually became more orderly these past few days.
Harry felt helpless after learning the reason for Snape's animosity towards him.
Moon spent all his free time in the library when he didn't have classes.
Even after some time at Hogwarts, his system still hadn't completed loading.
[Host Information
• Name: Moon White
• System Level: 1
• Age: 11 years old
• magic Power: 60
• Talent: Alchemy
• Talent Duplication Chances: 0
Spells Mastered
• Levitation Charm
• Alohomora
• Lumos
• Repairing Charm
• Stunning Spell
• Petrificus Totalus
Wealth
• Account Balance: 35,000 Galleons.
Mission List
• Current Mission: Sign in at the Hogwarts Library Restricted Section.
• Reward: White Talent Duplication x1.
]
Moon had considered forcing his way in, but after scanning the Restricted Section, he decisively gave up.
[Target Name]: Library Barrier
[Talent Characteristics]:
1. Basic Sealing Barrier: Blocks unauthorized personnel from entering specific areas, commonly used to protect confidential information.
2. Light-Sensitive Alarm: When the barrier is triggered, light flashes, warning nearby people.
3. Low-Level Defensive magic: Limited to beginner use, requires sufficient magic power and skill to successfully breach.
After observing for a few days, he discovered that entry into the Restricted Section could be gained with a key.
The key to the Restricted Section was kept by Madam Pince, the librarian.
Madam Pince was a somewhat gaunt, elderly lady with a strict and rigid personality.
She would meticulously question every student entering and exiting the library.
Without a teacher's permission for the Restricted Section, students would be driven away by her even if they just approached it.
The quiet of the library made one feel a bit dazed.
On the bookshelves, thick books were neatly arranged, almost completely blocking the warm sunlight from outside the windows.
The end of each row of shelves was piled high with ancient texts and materials related to magic, and the air was filled with the scent of paper and ink.
Moon sat at a table by the window, flipping through a book on 'Magical Botany'.
He had almost finished reading its contents.
However, he wasn't simply there to read, but rather to observe and learn more about the library and the Restricted Section.
Whenever he turned a page, his eyes would involuntarily glance towards Madam Pince at the entrance.
Moon knew that to enter the Restricted Section, he had to understand Madam Pince's routine.
Just as he was secretly observing, Harry, Hermione, and Ron suddenly walked over, their expressions a mix of excitement and nervousness.
"Moon, I can't believe it, we almost got eaten by that Three-headed dog!" Harry panted, having just run in from outside, clearly shaken by his recent experience.
"Three-headed dog?" Moon raised an eyebrow slightly.
The plot was developing a bit fast, he thought. Knowing the story, he understood that the Three-headed dog was Hagrid's pet, and Dumbledore used it as the first line of defense for the Philosopher's Stone.
Hermione eagerly added, "Yes! We went to the third floor and almost got eaten by it. That Three-headed dog looked so fierce, it was like a monster guarding a treasure!"
"It really was like a monster," Ron said, his face a bit pale. "It had three big heads, it scared me to death. We had just stepped onto the third floor when that Three-headed doglunged at us, scaring us into running right back out."
Moon's eyes flickered as he quietly listened to their description.
He calmly said, "Why were you on the third floor? Don't you know that place is forbidden?"
"We know," Hermione said somewhat uneasily. "The stairs suddenly malfunctioned, so we had to take a detour through the third floor."
Probably Dumbledore's doing, Moon thought to himself.
"We didn't expect to discover that the third floor seems to hide some secret. The Three-headed dog seemed to be guarding something." Hermione's eyes suddenly lit up. "So we decided to unravel the mystery here."
Moon smiled slightly: "It's good that you're brave enough to explore, but you must be careful. If you're determined to solve it, you can go ask Hagrid to see if he knows anything about it, after all, he knows a lot about magical creatures."
"Good idea!" Harry nodded, clearly agreeing with Moon's suggestion. "Want to come along, Moon?"
They would be fighting the boss soon, and his mission wasn't completed yet; he needed to speed up.
"No," Moon shook his head. "I still have some reading to do. You go find Hagrid first."
Hermione hesitated, seemingly wanting to stay and study, but her mind was filled with the recent Three-headed dogencounter. "Okay then. We'll go find Hagrid, you be careful alone."
Moon nodded slightly, watching Harry, Hermione, and Ronleave the library, silently calculating his next plan.
Moon continued to bury his head in his book, but his eyes occasionally darted towards the entrance.
Madam Pince, the librarian, periodically patrolled the corridor, and with every step she took, Moon would subtly mark the time.
Through his observations, he had already estimated Madam Pince's patrol cycle.
"Every hour, Madam Pince patrols the corridor twice," Moon mused to himself. "This period is the crucial moment for us to enter the Restricted Section."
The system's prompts indicated that the library's protective magic primarily relied on a basic sealing barrier.
These barriers weren't complex, but for ordinary students, breaking them was still difficult.
Forcing a breakthrough would trigger the light-sensitive alarm at the entrance of the Restricted Section — a magicbased on light sensing that automatically activates an alarm when someone crosses the doorway.
He didn't know why Harry had been able to enter so easily with the Invisibility Cloak.
Before long, Harry, Hermione, and Ron returned with excited expressions, having clearly obtained a lot of information from Hagrid.
"Hagrid said the Three-headed dog is his pet," Harry said, a hint of solemnity on his face. "He said that Three-headed dog is very loyal, but it falls asleep quickly if it hears music, and a masked person already knows this information."
Hermione added, "Hagrid also mentioned that what the Three-headed dog is guarding might be related to Nicolas Flamel. I can't remember where I've seen Nicolas Flamelmentioned before." Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "So we came to the library to find information about him."
Moon nodded, thinking to himself, "Nicolas Flamel is the creator of the Philosopher's Stone, but I can guide them a bit to help me complete my mission."
"I think since it's related to the forbidden area on the third floor, this person should be mentioned in the Restricted Section of the library," Moon analyzed matter-of-factly.
"We can try to go in," Moon whispered.
"No, that's against school rules!" Hermione immediately objected.
Ron leaned closer to Hermione and reminded her, "We just went to the third floor, which also violated school rules."
Hermione glanced at the three of them, then reluctantly pulled out a copy of 'Hogwarts: A History'. "I saw a secret passage in here that leads to the Restricted Section of the library."
Harry and Ron exchanged excited glances.
Moon hadn't expected such a pleasant surprise; he shouldn't underestimate Hermione just because she was young.
Even though his mental age was greater than hers, and he had the system, he still couldn't compare to her when it came to reading.
"Then let's try this passage!" Moon looked at the location of the secret passage in the book.
The four of them discussed it and agreed to act that evening.
Chapter 13: Sneaking into the Restricted Area
The nights at Hogwarts were always filled with a mysterious atmosphere, quiet and full of anticipation.
Moon White stood by the window of the Gryffindorcommon room, his gaze fixed on the deep night sky outside.
After classes ended today, he had been in the common room, practicing magic, preparing for his late-night visit to the Restricted Section.
If caught, he would be given detention. He wasn't afraid of detention, but it would delay his next plan.
He hadn't thought much of it when reading the books before, but now that he was at Hogwarts and had read those books, he realized how dangerous it was.
If he didn't seize the time to strengthen himself, he could easily die by accident.
The Gryffindor common room gradually became deserted.
Most students had already gone to sleep, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione quietly came down.
The fireplace flames flickered, casting a faint red glow on everyone's faces.
"Alright, is everyone ready?" Moon whispered, his eyes sweeping over them.
This was his first time sneaking out at night since entering Hogwarts.
The feeling—it was no longer the unease of being in an unfamiliar world, but an excitement that a plan was about to unfold.
"Ready." Harry and Ron replied almost in unison, and Hermione also nodded. Although she looked a bit nervous, her eyes gleamed with curiosity and excitement: "We finally get to do something tonight, I'm a little thrilled."
"Remember, we must be careful tonight," Moon whispered, his gaze serious. "Once we enter the Restricted Section, no matter what happens, we must remain calm. Don't let any unexpected situation disrupt the plan."
"Don't worry, we're ready," Ron tried to lighten the mood, though a hint of nervousness subtly crept into his words. "We're not fools who just barge in."
"Are you sure this Invisibility Charm will work?" Hermionecautiously looked at the wand in Moon's hand. "I've always thought the Invisibility Charm was so complicated, won't there be any problems?"
Moon smiled slightly: "Don't worry, Hermione, I've mastered the Invisibility Charm. As long as there's enough magic, it won't have any problems."
Hermione gave a forced smile, seeming a bit unsure, but she didn't say anything more: "Alright, I'll trust you this once."
"Everyone stand ready. We'll start when you're prepared," Moon said no more, giving a low command.
Moon took a deep breath, gripped his wand, concentrated, and silently chanted the spell: "Invisible and shapeless, coming and going without a trace."
As the wand waved, the four figures gradually became transparent, as if merging with the air, slowly disappearing into the night.
"At least nothing went wrong," Moon sighed in relief inwardly.
He wondered if it was because Alchemy had become his talent. Learning many spells was exceptionally easy for him.
The Invisibility Charm wasn't difficult for him, but every time he cast it, he couldn't help but worry if his magic was sufficient.
After all, this wasn't just disguising himself, but casting the spell on four people simultaneously.
It went smoothly, though.
They quietly left the common room, skillfully avoiding the patrolling prefects.
The corridors of Hogwarts were silent, with only their footsteps echoing on the empty stone floor.
Moon followed closely behind Hermione and Harry, while Ron walked alertly at the rear.
They evaded Filch's patrol and successfully bypassed several older students who were heading somewhere unknown.
"Damn it, there are too many of these portraits," Moongrumbled inwardly. Almost every corridor in Hogwarts had portraits, and some of them had bad tempers, scolding students they saw at night, which could easily attract Filch's capture.
Luckily, he had mastered the Invisibility Charm beforehand, otherwise just traversing these corridors would be troublesome enough.
The corridors gradually grew quieter, and they successfully arrived outside the library.
The two-meter-tall upright grandfather clock stood silently at the bottom of the stairwell corner. This place was rarely visited, making it unlikely to attract attention.
Moon's heart quickened slightly. Tonight, he could finally complete the system's task, gain new talents, and even explore the advanced magic within the Restricted Section.
He remembered that Voldemort's Horcrux was seen and studied in the Restricted Section.
Hermione walked towards the grandfather clock and observed it carefully.
She took a deep breath, waved her wand, and softly chanted the spell: "Aragog!"
The grandfather clock suddenly let out a soft sound, then its form began to distort, gradually disappearing.
Instantly, a dark tunnel appeared before them.
Only those who walked into it would know where this tunnel led.
"This... is this really a secret passage?" Ron's eyes widened, clearly surprised. "It looks just like what the books said!"
Hermione nodded, her face full of excitement: "Yes, this is it. The secret passage mentioned in the books is right here."
"Great, it actually works!" Harry whispered excitedly, his eyes sparkling with curiosity and anticipation. "Let's go!"
Moon gestured for them to remain quiet; they hadn't entered the Restricted Section yet.
He gently stepped forward, leading the way into the tunnel.
The tunnel was damp and pitch black, but the light from their wands was enough to illuminate the path ahead.
The tunnel was just tall enough for one person to walk, narrow and quiet, with only their footsteps echoing in the empty passage.
After walking for about a few minutes, they finally reached the end of the tunnel.
As Moon stepped out of the tunnel and had just found his footing, the system's notification sound rang out.
"Ding! Mission complete. Reward: White Copy Talent × 1."
Hearing this sound, Moon couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.
He knew he could finally begin the next step of his plan.
During this period of study, he had already discovered the drawback of insufficient magic; many powerful spells required magic support.
This currently left him without any decent offensive means.
In his system scans over the past few days, he had also found that only the Elder Wand's characteristics had the best magic-enhancing attributes.
And Dumbledore's Elder Wand, one of the three Deathly Hallows, was universally acknowledged as the strongest wand in the entire magic world.
Both Dark Lords had confirmed its power.
If he could replicate the characteristics of that wand, he would definitely be invincible among his peers and capable of defeating stronger opponents.
"I wonder if Dumbledore carries the Elder Wand with him," Moon thought, his mind stirring. He recalled that he hadn't scanned Dumbledore yet and wasn't sure if he would keep the Elder Wand in his office.
"This replication must be for the Elder Wand," Moonmused softly. "The system triggers tasks too slowly, and Hogwarts is too dangerous."
Ron turned around and saw Moon standing still. He patted Moon's shoulder, "What are you thinking about, Moon?"
Moon snapped out of it and chuckled softly, "Nothing, let's go."
Chapter 14 Time and Space Manipulation
The air in the Restricted Section was filled with an old, decaying scent; ancient books emitted a faint musty odor, as if time had frozen there.
Candlelight flickered dimly, casting shifting shadows on the bookshelves, making the entire area appear even more eerie and mysterious.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione carefully navigated between the bookshelves, their eyes quickly scanning the spines for any clues related to Nicolas Flamel.
They spoke in hushed tones, as if afraid of disturbing the souls slumbering within the books.
"Nicolas Flamel... Nicolas Flamel..." Hermione murmured, her fingers gliding over rows of book spines, her brow furrowed. "Where in the world is he? Have we been looking in the wrong direction?"
Ron clutched a heavy magic book tightly, seemingly a bit nervous, and his voice was very low: "Perhaps we should first find some books related to magic; maybe we can find a clue about Nicolas Flamel."
"magic books?" Harry frowned. "But we don't even know what he looks like, so how can we find him?"
"We need to figure out who Nicolas Flamel is first," Hermione stopped, her tone resolute. "He must be related to what's being guarded in the third-floor restricted area."
Moon stood by a row of bookshelves, his silver-white eyes particularly sharp in the dim light.
Unlike the others, he wasn't focused on finding Nicolas Flamel, but was silently browsing the books on the shelves; his goal was information related to powerful magic.
His fingers lightly traced over the spines of heavy books: "The Complete Guide to Dark Arts," "The Power of Curses," "Advanced Transfiguration"... The titles of these books exuded a dangerous aura, yet simultaneously emanated an irresistible allure.
"Perhaps there's a description of powerful magic here," Moon whispered to himself. He was eager to understand the limits of magic and find a way to become stronger.
He stopped, his gaze fixed on a very old-looking book, "The Theory of Time magic."
The cover of this book was already yellowed, and the text on it was somewhat blurred, but the special aura it exuded made Moon feel that it was no ordinary object.
Just then, a scream broke the silence of the Restricted Section.
"Ah!" Ron's voice, filled with terror, echoed throughout the entire area.
Moon spun around, only to see Ron clutching a book, his face pale, his finger trembling as he pointed at the page. On the book's page, a ghastly face was staring at him, seemingly about to leap out of the book.
Harry and Hermione were also startled and quickly gathered to look, their faces turning somewhat grim.
"W-what is this thing?" Harry asked in terror, his voice trembling slightly.
"I-it's a ghastly face imbued with magic," Hermione's voice trembled slightly; she gripped her wand tightly, seemingly ready to cast a spell at any moment.
"Damn it, this is ghastly!" Ron's voice also trembled; he tried to throw the book away, but found it stuck to his hand like a magnet.
"Quiet! Do you want to wake up all the ghosts!" a sharp voice came from a distance, accompanied by the flickering light of an oil lamp.
Filch, the bad-tempered caretaker, was approaching them, lantern in hand, his face filled with anger.
His eyes gleamed with vigilance in the dim light, and his footsteps sounded particularly harsh in the silent Restricted Section.
"Oh no!" Harry gasped softly, his face instantly turning deathly pale.
Moon's gaze swept over everyone, quickly calculating a countermeasure. Harry and Ron were too far from him, and Ron was still entangled with the ghastly face; the situation was extremely urgent.
Hermione was closest to him, and he had just seen her wearing a Time-Turner; perhaps he could make use of it.
"Time!" A thought suddenly flashed through Moon's mind; his gaze unconsciously fell on "The Theory of Time magic," and at the same time, he thought of the Time-Turneraround Hermione's neck.
Moon's peripheral vision caught Hermione; around her neck hung a thin chain, at the end of which dangled a small golden hourglass.
That was the Time-Turner!
"System, scan the Time-Turner!" Moon murmured to himself.
[Target Name]: Time-Turner
[Innate Traits]:
Space-time Manipulation: Can briefly manipulate time, achieving time reversal or acceleration.
Space-time Stability: The wearer is unaffected by space-time changes.
Space-time Protection: Can resist attacks from some time magic.
"Space-time Manipulation!" Moon's heart pounded; he unhesitatingly chose to use the white copy talent and copied the "Space-time Manipulation" trait of the Time-Turner.
A strange energy surged into Moon's body; he felt the world around him become blurred, but at the same time, he clearly felt his magic being rapidly consumed.
Moon realized that with his current level of magic, he was not yet sufficient to fully control space-time.
All he could do was briefly pause the flow of space-time in a small area.
His consciousness became exceptionally clear; he could distinctly perceive every minute detail, feel every tiny vibration in the air, and hear Filch's approaching footsteps.
Filch's voice was getting closer; he hadn't fully seen them yet, only heard sounds and realized something was amiss here.
Moon concentrated, quickly mobilizing the faint magicwithin him. He precisely controlled the Time-Space Power, and aimed at the space about one meter around Filch, he whispered: "Space-time pause."
The moment Moon cast the spell, Filch's voice abruptly ceased; his action of holding up the oil lamp was frozen in mid-air, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
The one-meter radius around Filch seemed to have pressed a pause button; all sounds vanished, and only Moon could still move freely, feeling his magic rapidly draining away.
"Is this the power of Space-time Manipulation? It's indeed powerful, but not yet enough to unleash its full potential," Moon felt the power of the space-time pause, and also felt the rapid loss of magic within him. "It seems I need to increase my magic as soon as possible."
Moon immediately condensed his faint magic at the tip of his wand, quickly casting an Invisibility Charm on Harry, Ron, Hermione, and himself.
He didn't have time to undo the Invisibility Charm on himself, so he could only use his remaining magic as much as possible to spread the Invisibility Charm, covering all four of them.
At the same time,
He quickly took the ghastly face book from Ron's hand and stuffed it into his extendable pocket.
After doing all this, Moon pulled Hermione, who was closest to him, and began to retreat quickly.
After confirming they were out of Filch's range, Moonconcentrated and restored the paused space-time.
"Time, begin to flow," Moon murmured; his magic was completely depleted, and a strong sense of weakness surged over him.
Filch's actions immediately returned to normal; he looked around suspiciously, confirming that there was no one nearby.
"Strange? I clearly heard sounds just now. Did I hear wrong?" Filch scratched his head, a bit confused. He held up his oil lamp and shone it around, but found nothing.
He muttered to himself: "Something's not right; some students must have snuck into the Restricted Section."
Filch's face darkened; he raised the oil lamp in his hand and shouted, raising his voice: "Who's there? Come out! I know you're here!"
His voice echoed in the quiet Restricted Section, full of deterrence.
Although he didn't see any students, he still didn't give up on the chase.
Filch carefully navigated between the bookshelves, his eyes quickly scanning the spines for any suspicious signs.
He even bent down to meticulously check the corners beneath the bookshelves, afraid of missing any clue.
"Hmph, don't think you can escape my eyes!" Filch's tone was filled with anger and resentment. "Dare to sneak into the Restricted Section, I will definitely catch you!"
He carried the oil lamp, searching the bookshelves row by row; his footsteps echoed in the silent Restricted Section, as if the footsteps of death were gradually drawing near.
At this moment, Moon, pulling Hermione, and the other invisible Harry and Ron, had already arrived outside the library.
"Let's get out of here first," Moon whispered, glancing around, his face slightly pale. "It's not safe here."
"But, Nicolas Flamel..." Hermione was a bit worried; she hadn't found any information about Nicolas Flamel yet.
"Let's get out of here first," Moon's tone was calm, yet carried a hint of undeniable firmness.
The four quickly left the library, disappearing into the night; behind them, Filch was still searching in the Restricted Section.
Darkness once again enveloped them, but Moon's heart was filled with a craving for power and vigilance towards Filch.
"I need more magic, and I need to be more careful," he said softly, his tone filled with anticipation for the future. "This time, Filch certainly won't let us off easily."
Chapter 15: Clues to the Philosopher's Stone
The crackling flames in the fireplace illuminated the slightly weary but excited faces of the four young people.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione had just returned from a perilous journey to the Restricted Section, their physical exhaustion seemingly replaced by inner exhilaration.
The air was filled with the faint scent of toast and old books, a familiar aroma that always brought a touch of warmth.
"It's absolutely incredible!" Ron waved his arms, his freckles seeming to become even more prominent with excitement. His voice trembled slightly.
"Those ghastly faces in that book, did you see them? It was like they were going to leap out of the book! I felt like it was going to swallow me whole!" He hugged his arms, as if still feeling the chilling sensation from earlier.
Harry nodded in agreement, gently touching the lightning scar on his forehead, as if he could still feel the heart-pounding fear from that moment.
His green eyes gleamed with lingering fear. "Yeah, good thing Moon reacted quickly, otherwise Filch would have definitely caught us."
Harry paused, then added with a hint of reluctance, "But why did we search for so long and still couldn't find any clues about Nicolas Flamel?" His eyebrows furrowed slightly, his eyes showing a trace of confusion.
Hermione sat on the sofa, clutching a quill tightly in her hand. Her gaze fell on the dancing flames in the fireplace, as if she was deep in thought.
Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, making her figure appear somewhat slender.
She said with a hint of dissatisfaction, "Perhaps we were looking in the wrong way? Or perhaps the information about Nicolas Flamel is hidden in an even more secluded place?" Her fingers tapped lightly on the armrest, revealing her inner agitation.
She turned to look at Moon, hoping to get some clues from him.
Moon sat quietly in the armchair by the fireplace. He feigned weariness, rubbing his temples, and said calmly, "When I was in the Restricted Section just now, I think I saw a book that mentioned Nicolas Flamel seemed to be connected to... the Philosopher's Stone."
He paused, as if trying hard to recall something, his brows slightly furrowed.
"The situation was too urgent then. I only caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye and didn't see it too clearly, so I don't remember the exact content very well." He deliberately slowed his tone and made a show of thinking, to ensure his words sounded authentic and reliable.
"The Philosopher's Stone?" Harry, Ron, and Hermione's attention was immediately drawn to the words "Philosopher's Stone." Their eyes were filled with surprise and curiosity.
Harry even jumped up from the sofa, asking eagerly, "What is the Philosopher's Stone? And what does it have to do with Nicolas Flamel?" His voice carried an obvious urgency, as if he was desperate to know the answer.
Moon shook his head, feigning confusion. "I'm not too sure either. I just saw the book say something about Nicolas Flamel and the Philosopher's Stone, and it also mentioned something about eternal life."
He pretended to recall, so as to better guide the plot.
"Eternal life?" Ron's eyes instantly lit up like two small light bulbs. His cheeks flushed slightly with excitement. "Can that stone really make people live forever? That's so cool!"
He leaned forward slightly, as if already imagining his life after gaining the ability of eternal life.
Hermione's expression became serious. Her excitement gradually faded, replaced by a hint of sternness and vigilance.
She frowned, saying thoughtfully, "Eternal life... How is that possible? Is this really true?" Deep down, she still seemed unable to believe something so extraordinary. Her scientific mind made her skeptical of such claims.
She remembered having once read a book called 'Legends of magic,' a book that recounted various magic legends and history, which she often read in her leisure time for entertainment.
She immediately pulled out the thick red book from her satchel. The cover of the book was already somewhat worn, and the spine had several large words embossed in gold — 'Legends of magic.'
She quickly flipped through the pages, her finger gliding rapidly over the rows of text, trying to find a description of the Philosopher's Stone.
As she flipped through, she murmured, "I remember, I read this book for leisure before, and it seemed to mention the Philosopher's Stone..." Her voice grew softer and softer, as if she was completely immersed in the world of the book.
Finally, her finger stopped on a certain page. Her eyes suddenly lit up. She placed the book on the table and said excitedly, "Found it! Here it is! 'The Philosopher's Stone, also known as the Sorcerer's Stone, is said to be able to turn any metal into pure gold and create the Elixir of Life.'"
She pointed to the text in the book, reading it out clearly. Her tone carried a hint of excitement, and also a hint of seriousness. "The book says that the Sorcerer's Stone is the ultimate achievement of Alchemy, and only a very few people can master this Alchemy. Nicolas Flamel is one of them."
Harry and Ron listened attentively to Hermione's explanation, both astonished by the miraculous power of the Philosopher's Stone.
"Such a thing really exists!" Ron exclaimed again. He seemed to yearn for the magic of eternal life, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"This is simply too amazing." Harry also found it hard to believe. His brows were tightly furrowed, as if he still couldn't accept that this was true. He subconsciously touched the scar on his forehead, as if he had thought of something.
Moon looked at the excited trio, a slight smile playing on his lips. He knew his guidance had worked. He pondered how to guide the plot development next.
"Then what we saw earlier in the Restricted Section..." Harry looked up, his thoughts becoming clear. "Could it be that Three-headed dog is guarding the Philosopher's Stone? Dumbledore must have put it there to prevent anyone from stealing it."
His tone became firm, his thoughts exceptionally clear.
Hermione also agreed with Harry's speculation. She put down the book, her expression becoming serious. She nodded and said, "It's very possible. Dumbledore is protecting the Philosopher's Stone. That's a truly dangerous thing."
"But why not hide it in a safer place?" Ron questioned, a bewildered expression on his face. "Why put it on the third floor and guard it with such a fierce monster?" He rubbed the back of his head, unable to understand the reasoning.
"Maybe Dumbledore wants to test us." Ron scratched his head, saying casually, "After all, only those who pass the test are worthy of owning the Philosopher's Stone." His tone was light, trying to ease the tense atmosphere, but it sounded a bit unreliable.
"Ron, stop joking." Hermione gave him a helpless look, her voice tinged with resignation. "The Philosopher's Stone is a very dangerous thing. We shouldn't think about it anymore." She didn't take Ron's words seriously.
"Yes, Hermione is right." Moon nodded. He feigned a yawn, a hint of weariness in his eyes. He said softly, "It's getting late now, and we have classes tomorrow. Everyone should get some rest early." His tone became gentle, trying to calm everyone down and end the discussion for the day.
Although Harry and Ron were still eager, their bodies were starting to feel tired. They all got up, preparing to return to their respective dormitories.
Hermione also nodded. She picked up the 'Legends of magic' book, carefully placed it back in her satchel, and then got up to prepare to return to her dormitory.
Before she left, she glanced at Moon, her eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and gratitude.
Moon watched Hermione, Harry, and Ron walk into the dormitory, a slight smile on his lips. A glint flashed in his silver-white eyes.
He mused to himself, "The Philosopher's Stone, Nicolas Flamel, Three-headed dog... These clues have finally appeared. It seems it's time to prepare for the next step of the plan, after all, time is running out."
Chapter 16 The Power of Time and Space
In the autumn at Hogwarts, sunlight streamed through the castle windows, casting dappled shadows on the ancient stone walls.
The air was filled with a peculiar scent, a mix of old books and fresh grass.
Ever since his adventure in the Restricted Section that night, Harry had been like a top wound up with adrenaline, going to the Quidditch pitch early every morning to practice.
He wielded his Nimbus 2000, carving agile arcs in the air with such vigor that it seemed he might dismantle the entire Pitch.
Moon felt as if Harry had a perpetual motion machine, never seeming to tire, constantly jumping around; he couldn't understand what was so fun about that broom.
Hermione, on the other hand, remained a diligent bee, spending every day in the library, voraciously learning all sorts of magic knowledge.
Her figure was always weaving between the bookshelves, constantly flipping through thick tomes, her focused gaze seemingly capable of seeing right through the books.
She always wanted to master more knowledge, as if knowledge was her everything. Moon sometimes thought she was like an emotionless learning machine.
The world of a top student was truly terrifying.
Ron, as usual, enjoyed his leisurely time, playing Wizardchess with Harry every day, battling fiercely on the board until the sky and earth blurred.
Or he would chat about various trivial topics with everyone in the common room.
He was like a person living in the moment, always happy every day, his smile seemingly infectious to everything around him.
He never seemed to have worries, adopting an indifferent attitude toward everything; truly a carefree fellow, but this was also his most endearing quality.
He was no longer the character with little presence, as he was in the movies.
Meanwhile, Moon was busy exploring the 'anomaly' occurring within him.
Ever since he encountered Time-Space Power, his magicseemed to have become 'modified,' not only greatly increasing in power but also coming with various strange'side effects.'
The Levitation Charm no longer simply made objects float; instead, it could control objects to leap through the air, almost like spatial teleportation.
He tried casting the Levitation Charm and watched a quill jump through the air, its figure flashing by, its trajectory almost impossible to catch.
Alohomora could directly tear open magic seals, its power comparable to an 'electric saw.'
He pointed his wand at a tightly closed door, and the lock was instantly shredded, the doorframe even cracking due to the spell's shockwave—the destructive power was astonishing.
Sneaking around was no longer an option.
Repairing Charm now seemed more like Time-Space Magic.
When he placed a broken, floral vase on the table and lightly tapped it with his wand, the vase seemed to travel back in time; not only did it return to its original state, but even the missing patterns appeared to be re-engraved by time, looking brand new and flawless.
The Stunning Spell, on the other hand, could hit targets at different points in time, making it impossible to guard against.
He pointed his wand at a distant wooden stake and cast the Stunning Spell; indentations appeared on the stake, along with a ripple-like wave, as if it had struck the timeline itself.
As for his Petrificus Totalus, it could directly trap enemies in a Time-Space current, making them endlessly repeat the same actions in their consciousness, caught in an infinite loop.
He hit a scarecrow with Petrificus Totalus, and the scarecrow was instantly petrified, its figure blurring as if constantly jumping between different timelines, looking very strange.
And the most special of all was his Invisibility Charm.
Under the influence of Time-Space Power, the Invisibility Charm seemed to have been given new life; he could blend more perfectly into his surroundings.
The invisibility effect had far surpassed that of an ordinary Invisibility Charm; his figure seemed to vanish directly from this world.
Even his aura could not be detected; he could even use the Invisibility Charm to switch his body back and forth between different timelines, making his actions even more unpredictable.
There was also the 'Time-Space Pause,' which he found very tricky; it was one manifestation of the 'Space-time Manipulation' ability he gained in the Restricted Section.
When used, his body seemed to become a corner of time, able to control the speed of the river of time, and even, for a short period, stop the flow of Time-Space in a small area.
However, it was not without cost; each use made him feel his magic rapidly draining, and its duration was very short.
He was currently unable to fully control this powerful force.
But compared to before he gained Time-Space Manipulation, he had become much stronger.
"Awesome, now I can beat ten of my former selves," Moonthought, a slight smile playing on his lips.
His magic value had also surpassed the 100 mark during this period of practice, equivalent to a 3rd-year student.
Moon opened the system panel.
[Host Information
• Name: Moon White
• System Level: 1
• Character Age: 11 years old
• Character magic: 101
• Character Talents: Alchemy, Space-time Manipulation
• Duplicate Talent Count: 0
Spells Mastered
• Levitation Charm (Time-Space Variation)
• Alohomora (Time-Space Variation)
• Lumos (Time-Space Variation)
• Repairing Charm (Time-Space Variation)
• Stunning Spell (Time-Space Variation)
• Petrificus Totalus (Time-Space Variation)
• Invisibility Charm (Time-Space Variation)
Wealth
• Account Balance: 3500 Galleon.
Task List
• (No current tasks)
Skill List
• Time Perception (Level 0)]
[Skill Name: Time Perception
Skill Level: 0
Skill Effect: Possesses a faint perception of the flow of time, allowing for short-term predictions of impending events; effect enhances with skill level.
]
Looking at the system panel, a hint of helplessness flashed in Moon's eyes; no new system tasks had been triggered, and after trying many methods, he could only give up.
He wasn't quite sure about the appearance of Time Perception; the system didn't answer when asked, so he had to let it go.
Time Perception allowed him, when concentrating, to feel the flow of time around him and vaguely see some blurry images, which seemed to flicker continuously.
Like constantly switching TV screens, stabilizing and fully mastering Time Perception required more knowledge in this area.
So he put all his energy into understanding Time-Space Magic, meticulously studying various magic tomes, trying to find more information about Time-Space Magic within them.
He often went to the library, reading various books on Time-Space Magic.
But he found that Time-Space Magic was like a bottomless black hole, full of the unknown and mysterious.
Moon also consulted Professor Flitwick about some questions regarding Time-Space Magic; Professor Flitwickseemed to have a good understanding of Time-Space Magic, explaining many theories about it, which greatly benefited him.
Hermione also began to appear frequently in the library; she seemed to be studying Time-Space Magic as well, almost as if competing with him.
Harry and Ron, meanwhile, were still preparing for the Quidditch match; they seemed completely immersed in the competitive atmosphere.
Chapter 17 Giant Monster Attacks
The Hogwarts feast was as lively as ever, with laughter and the clatter of cutlery intermingling, and the air filled with the aroma of roasted meat and the sweetness of butterbeer.
Harry was vividly describing today's Quidditch training, his tone filled with excitement and pride.
Ron, while devouring a chicken leg, kept cracking jokes, making everyone laugh; he truly was a cheerful fellow.
Moon watched their boisterousness, but a subtle unease gnawed at him; beneath a calm surface, undercurrents often hid.
Just then, the Great Hall doors were violently flung open with a 'bang', like a bomb, instantly drawing everyone's attention.
Professor Quirrell, as if he had encountered something terrifying, stumbled in.
His face was ashen, his forehead covered in beads of sweat, and his lips trembled slightly with fear.
"T-Troll! In the dungeons! There's a Troll!" Professor Quirrell's voice was filled with a tremor; he seemed to have used all his strength, and after speaking, his body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground, his consciousness slowly fading.
The entire Great Hall fell into a dead silence; everyone froze, the smiles on their faces instantly rigid.
"It's here after all!" Moon whispered in his heart, a strange feeling instantly surging within him.
His gaze quickly swept across the hall, but he noticed that Hermione was not at the Gryffindor table.
He took a deep breath, trying to keep his emotions stable, not allowing unease to get the better of him.
"Harry, where's Hermione?" Moon asked Harry in a low voice, his tone calm with a hint of urgency.
Harry scratched his head, looked around, and didn't see Hermione. He said with some uncertainty, "Isn't she supposed to be reading in the dormitory? She's been like this lately, always going back early to review her lessons."
His voice held a touch of confusion; he thought Hermionehad most likely gone to the library or returned to her dormitory, as she was always a model student who loved to study.
Ron, however, stammered, "Uh... we had a bit of an argument, about the Quidditch match, and about studying and stuff..." His eyes darted around, as if he felt guilty.
Moon immediately understood that things were far from simple.
"And then, Hermione got angry and ran off?" Moon's gaze turned icy, his tone growing several shades heavier. His lips pressed together tightly, forming a cold, hard line. A pang of guilt began to stir in his heart; why did he just stand by and watch things follow the original plot?
Ron said uncomfortably, "Maybe... yeah." His eyes flickered, and his voice was hesitant, like a child who had done something wrong and was afraid of being scolded by his parents.
He could feel the atmosphere around Moon change, seeming to become dangerous.
Moon didn't press further; he knew the most important thing now was to find Hermione.
"Now, prefects of each house, please lead your students back to your respective dormitories immediately," Dumbledore stood up and said in his steady and powerful voice.
His voice was filled with a calming power that could make people feel at peace. His every move revealed his confidence in controlling everything.
However, a hint of worry still showed in his brows, as if he was concerned about something.
Before Dumbledore's voice could even fade, Moon had already rushed out of the Great Hall, his movements as swift as lightning, like a black flash, instantly disappearing from the hall.
He had to be fast, he had to be fast; he vaguely sensed an ominous aura.
Harry and Ron exchanged glances, immediately realizing something was wrong.
Without thinking much, they followed Moon's steps and rushed out of the Great Hall.
Although they weren't entirely sure what was happening, they instinctively felt that Hermione might be in some danger.
They also felt uneasy, as if something terrible was about to happen.
Moon ran quickly through the dim corridors of Hogwarts, the air filled with an ancient and mysterious aura. The cold stone floor allowed him to clearly feel the tremors from below, the heavy and chaotic footsteps of the Troll.
He pushed his speed to the limit; his figure was like a streaking bolt of lightning, flashing through the corridor.
His eyes constantly scanned his surroundings, wanting to find Hermione as quickly as possible.
He remembered that Hermione's original hiding place was in the girls' bathroom.
When Moon arrived at the bathroom door, he indeed heard suppressed sobs and intermittent weeping from inside. This was the most familiar sound to him these past few days; that small, faint crying was coming from Hermione.
He immediately pushed open the bathroom door.
What met his eyes was Hermione's heartbreaking figure. She was huddled alone in the corner, tears soaking her clothes, and her swollen eyes showed the injustice in her heart.
Her hands were tightly clasped around her knees, and her head was buried deeply between them, looking exceptionally small and helpless. Moon's heart was filled with pity and deep self-reproach.
"Hermione." As soon as Moon called out to Hermione, he heard her say in a choked voice, "Don't come over! I don't want to talk to you guys right now; you don't understand me." Hermione's choked voice was full of grievance and sadness; she was clearly still angry, but her heart was filled with loneliness and helplessness. Moon felt a pang of guilt; his concern was still not enough.
Before he could respond, a deafening sound erupted from outside the bathroom; the ground seemed to tremble. He was now certain: the Troll had arrived!
"Damn it!" Moon cursed, immediately pointing his wand at Hermione.
A flash of light appeared at the tip of his wand; he knew he had to act immediately.
"Invisible, without form, coming and going without a trace," he whispered.
As the spell was cast, Hermione's figure quickly became transparent, as if merging with the air, eventually disappearing completely.
From the corner of his eye, Moon noticed Hermione looking a bit stunned, but she obediently stood up, preparing to leave, clearly aware of the tense situation.
"I'll get you out of here. After that, hide well!" Moon also covered himself with an Invisibility Charm to avoid being detected by the Troll later. "I'll lead the Troll away. Remember, don't come back here," he said quickly, his tone serious and firm.
"Okay..." Hermione's voice sounded very suppressed.
Just as Hermione turned to walk towards the back door, the Troll violently smashed open the bathroom door. The door shattered into Diffindo, scattering everywhere, kicking up dust and water, and making a huge noise.
Moon quickly leaped to the side, dodging the impact with good balance. He knew every second counted now; he had to be fast.
Outside, the Troll was swaying its massive body, roaring furiously.
Its eyes were lifeless, and it let out angry growls.
It raised its enormous club, wanting to smash everything in front of it into pieces.
As it looked around, it realized that the little boy who had been standing there a moment ago was gone, leaving only a floating club in mid-air, which greatly confused it.
"Roar!" The Troll roared, shaking its massive head, looking around, and began to search for its club.
Moon, using the Levitation Charm, controlled the Troll's club, making it slowly sway in front of him.
He emerged from invisibility; he knew he had to divert the Troll's attention and completely rescue Hermione before he could do anything else with peace of mind.
"Dunce, are you looking for this?" Moon's figure appeared at the bathroom entrance, and he mocked the Troll with a cold tone.
The Troll spotted the suddenly appearing Moon and also saw the floating club in front of him.
It immediately roared and turned to charge at Moon, waving its huge fist, wanting to tear this little fellow in front of it to shreds. The force of its anger seemed to affect even the air, creating a whistling sound.
Moon clearly felt Hermione's presence leave, and after confirming her safety, a smile appeared on his face. Now, it was time for the "show" to begin!
Chapter 18: Fighting Giant Monsters
Inside the enormous restroom, the Troll's deafening roars seemed to tear the roof off.
Its thick limbs stomped heavily on the ground, one after another, making the surrounding air feel oppressive.
With a pair of murky eyes, it stared intently at Moon, having locked onto this puny human, wanting to tear him to shreds to retaliate for the mockery it had felt earlier.
Moon showed no fear at the Troll's enraged appearance.
His eyes, in the dim environment, shone like stars; he gripped his magic wand tightly, urgently needing a battle to test the practical effects of his magic spells.
This Troll was an excellent test subject. He vaguely knew that he seemed to be attracting the attention of important figures in the magic world.
But he also understood that excessive worry was useless; only personal strength was paramount.
The Troll strode forward, charging at Moon like a whirlwind, its massive body in the dim light, like a moving giant tower, was terrifying.
"It's time to test the results of my practice these past few days!" Moon muttered, a cold smile playing on his lips, his magic power surging wildly within him, and a powerful airflow began to form around Moon, making him appear even more ethereal and mysterious.
He immediately launched an attack.
His body flashed, cleverly dodging the Troll's first wave of impact with the help of the Invisibility Charm's unique properties; his figure constantly switched between solid and ethereal, like a ghost, making it impossible to pinpoint his true location.
While dodging the Troll's attacks, he began to assess its strength.
Although this Troll was huge and incredibly strong, its movements were very slow and clumsy. He found that the Troll did indeed have a special magic resistance, making it very resistant to ordinary magic.
However, it was not a true Wizard after all; no matter how high its magic resistance, it had its limits.
"It seems ordinary magic spells aren't very effective against this guy." Moon's mind quickly pondered methods to deal with the Troll; the limited effectiveness of ordinary magicmeant he had to use his mutated magic spells to inflict greater damage on the Troll.
He concentrated his magic power at the tip of his magicwand, taking a deep breath. Since ordinary magic spells were ineffective, it was time for something more potent.
He softly chanted the spell: "Vanishment Charm."
As the spell was cast, the Troll's wooden club, which he controlled, seemed to vanish, appearing silently above the Troll's head.
The huge club slammed into the Troll's head.
With a "bang," the Troll immediately let out a painful roar, and a clear bloody mark instantly appeared on its head.
It widened its eyes, looking around angrily, trying to find out who was attacking him, but found no clues.
It began to search everywhere, like a headless fly, smashing through one restroom stall after another.
The Troll was very irritable, but fortunately, its intelligence was indeed not high.
It looked around with its head down but still couldn't find its weapon; it didn't even realize the weapon was still beside him.
It roared again, then raised its thick arm and continued to wave it wildly around.
Moon looked at the Troll, which was acting like an idiot, a smile on his face. He injected more magic power into his magic wand, deciding to give this Troll an even harsher blow.
He chanted another spell: "Petrification Curse!" He cast the Petrificus Totalus on the Troll again, adding Time-Space Power.
The Troll was instantly petrified, unable to move.
Moreover, some spacetime cracks appeared on the surface of its body, and these cracks continuously devoured the magic power from the Troll's body.
Moon found that he was slowly mastering the use of Time-Space Power and understood the principles of these mutated magic spells.
Time-Space Power could not only enhance his magicattacks but also cause spacetime disturbances to the object of the magic, achieving unexpected effects.
He saw that although the Troll couldn't move, it was still struggling to escape the spacetime Ban, its eyes darting around, seemingly unafraid of this spell, knowing that ordinary Petrificus Totalus posed no threat to it.
He shook his head slightly, knowing that Petrificus Totaluswas not enough to completely control the Troll, so Mooncast another spell, the Stunning Spell!
The Stunning Spell itself would not cause much harm, but with the enhancement of Time-Space Power, the situation was completely different.
This time, he aimed his magic wand at the Troll's body and cast "Space-Time Stun."
"Space-Time Stun." His voice was cold and low, and with a flick of his magic wand, a silver-gray light shot out from the tip of the magic wand, directly hitting the Troll.
The Troll's body trembled slightly, and its expression became distorted, seemingly feeling immense pain.
Immediately after, its eyes became dull, and its body kept twitching, as if it were jumping back and forth between different timelines.
Its body seemed to turn into a funnel, endless Time Power washing over it, eroding all its will.
In Moon's perception, the Troll's consciousness was already chaotic.
While attacking with magic, he also absorbed some Time-Space Power, allowing him to control more powerful spells.
This was the mystery of Time-Space Power.
Moon felt the surging Time-Space Power within him and was very satisfied with his strength.
It seemed that after mastering Time-Space Magic, even without those abnormal skills, he could still crush any enemy in a head-on confrontation.
He waited quietly, and when he was sure that the Trollcould no longer pose a threat to him, he began to prepare the final step, lifting the Petrificus Totalus.
When the Troll was released from its petrified state, it collapsed to the ground without suspense, motionless.
Although it was still struggling to get up, its body was already numb. Its brain had been ravaged beyond recognition by the endless Time-Space Power.
Only after confirming that the Troll was incapacitated did Moon dispel the Invisibility Charm.
Just as Moon finished dealing with the Troll, footsteps echoed from the restroom entrance, and a group of Professors rushed over.
The first to burst in were Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick. Professor McGonagall gasped as she saw the Troll, stiff and collapsed on the ground, completely unprepared for such an event.
Professor Flitwick also widened his eyes, seemingly finding what had happened incredibly unbelievable. They focused their gaze on Moon, their shock evident.
"This guy chased me first, so I taught him a lesson and made sure he could never threaten me or other students again!" Moon shrugged nonchalantly, then explained to everyone the reason for his fight with the Troll, trying to make his voice sound lighthearted.
Of course, he couldn't reveal his complete mastery of Time Power, so he focused on his objective; after all, dealing with this Troll required precision and ruthlessness.
"This, this is truly astonishing!" Professor Flitwick still found it hard to believe; he stepped forward and carefully examined the Troll's condition. Upon discovering the spacetime turbulence on the Troll's body, his expression became even more complex.
"To turn this Troll into such a state with magic spells, your magic is truly incredible!" His tone was filled with surprise and admiration.
"You did very well." Dumbledore also arrived at this moment; he did not appear as shocked as the other Professors. His gaze fell on Moon, and a peculiar light flashed in his eyes.
He had long seen through the extraordinary power within Moon.
But he didn't ask anything.
He glanced at the Troll, which was petrified and incapacitated by the backlash of Time-Space Power, and was secretly very surprised.
Such bizarre methods, even he found a bit inconceivable.
What achievements would such a student have in the future?
At this moment,
Moon noticed Professor Quirrell weakly entering the restroom, glancing at the protagonist and then at the Trollwithout speaking.
When he saw Professor Quirrell, his heart sank.
He immediately realized that he might have attracted Voldemort's attention.
He needed to become stronger, faster!
Chapter 19 Friendship of Four
Harry, Hermione, and Ron also followed to the bathroom, and when they saw Moon standing there safe and sound, their racing hearts finally settled a bit.
"Moon, are you alright?" Harry quickly walked up to Moon, scrutinizing him up and down, wanting to make sure he hadn't sustained any injuries, his voice filled with worry.
"We saw you run out and were so worried!" His voice trembled slightly, clearly still a bit shaken, and he clutched Moon's arm tightly, his eyes full of concern and care.
Just now, his heart had been filled with fear and anxiety; he was terrified that his friend might get hurt facing the Troll.
"Moon, are you hurt?" Hermione's voice became urgent, her worry completely overpowering her anger.
"Why did you rush over alone! That was too dangerous, what if, what if… I really…"
She wanted to say more words of blame, but seeing the calm and happy look in Moon's eyes, those words wouldn't come out.
"We should have acted together; I admit I was too willful this time, and such a thing will absolutely not happen again." Hermione's guilt had now surpassed her anger.
Ron finally snapped out of his shock, his tone apologetic, "Sorry, Moon. It's all my fault for being too impulsive, I shouldn't have argued with Hermione." He looked at Moonwith a somewhat self-reproachful gaze, "Thank you for saving Hermione, really, thank you."
He scratched his head, like a child who had done something wrong, nervously rubbing his hands together.
Moon felt their genuine concern, and a warm current flowed through his entire body.
He understood that he was not alone.
He gave a faint smile, "I'm fine."
"I'm not hurt. You shouldn't blame yourselves too much either." His voice sounded calm and gentle.
"Just remember not to be so reckless next time; we should act together." His words also revealed his concern for his companions.
Just then, Professor Snape arrived, belatedly.
He walked into the bathroom, his steps a bit unsteady.
Though he concealed it well, Harry still noticed that he seemed to be injured; a pained expression was vaguely visible on his face.
"Professor Snape came too? He really is…" Moon sighed silently in his heart.
He quickly glanced at Harry, subtly indicating for him not to speak for now.
Professor McGonagall, having collected herself, had a face full of anger, and her voice was filled with sternness: "What is all this! Moon, how could you be so impulsive, so reckless? You absolutely shouldn't have run in here!"
Her tone was serious, but laced with threads of concern; a flicker of exhaustion crossed her eyes, as she felt she was being driven mad by her students.
Seeing the determination and courage her students showed in protecting their friends, she felt both proud and worried.
"Professor McGonagall, it's not Moon's fault!" Hermionestepped forward, saying firmly, her voice clear and tinged with self-reproach, "It's all my fault! If I hadn't lost my temper, they wouldn't have run out with Moon; it's all my fault!"
She looked up, her eyes filled with guilt, tears blurring her vision, and her voice choked up, "I was so wrong! I shouldn't have argued with my friends, and I shouldn't have been so stubborn and run off; letting Moon face the Troll alone… if he hadn't arrived in time, the consequences… I can't imagine."
She buried her head low, her tone sincere and uneasy.
"Thank you, Moon." Her tone became exceptionally serious, every word from the heart, every word clear and sincere; she truly thanked Moon for saving her.
Harry added: "Moon rushed out because he was worried about Hermione; Hermione was just upset for a moment."
Harry's voice was deep, and his tone was full of conviction; his green eyes looked at Moon and Hermione, revealing a friendly light.
He cherished every companion around him.
After listening to Harry and Hermione's narration, Professor McGonagall looked up at Dumbledore, who had remained silent.
After Dumbledore's nod, she took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down, and her tone softened considerably.
"You troublesome little rascals, you really are infuriating."
A barely perceptible smile played on her lips, revealing her inner worry and affection; she fixed her gaze on Moon, sighing inwardly, "I've decided, to punish your impulsive behavior this time, I will deduct five points from each of you!"
She scanned the faces of the four, her gaze lingering slightly when it reached Hermione's face. "However, in view of Mr. Moon's excellent performance this time, effectively preventing the threat posed by the Troll, and successfully ensuring Hermione's safety, I have decided to award Mr. Moon thirty points!"
"Alright, students, it's very late now; please return to your dormitories to rest." Dumbledore still wore a smile on his face; he scanned all the students, but finally his gaze settled on Moon, his eyes full of encouragement and trust, hoping that Moon would go further and further on the path of magic.
He did not expose Moon's lie, nor did he press for more details about the Troll; some things, perhaps, should be left for the young people to handle themselves, after all, the future was theirs!
Moon, Harry, Hermione, and Ron left the bathroom.
When they reached the Gryffindor common room, the other students were already asleep, and only a few dim wall lamps lit the empty common room.
The scent of toast and peanuts still lingered in the air.
Harry immediately ran to the sofa and sat down.
Ron ran to get a large pumpkin cake, cut it into four portions with a knife, and placed them in front of everyone, with his unique smile on his face.
They protected each other in their own ways, and with their companionship, Moon's heart also calmed down a lot.
They chatted casually about various things, some about magic, some about Quidditch, but more often, about their complaints and self-reproach from today.
Moon only casually explained a few things about the fight, his heart filled with worry about what was to come and a longing for greater strength!
Harry seemed particularly focused on his fight with the Troll, "I thought you were so cool when you used the Levitation Charm, making the club disappear out of thin air!" He vividly described the situation at the time,
"You're amazing!"
"Was my movement that obvious?" Moon asked with some surprise, though a look of relief appeared on his face.
"Of course!" Ron unhesitatingly affirmed Harry's statement, nodding repeatedly in agreement, his voice filled with awe and excitement, "Just now, I think I saw time stop! How did you do it, it was so cool!" His eyes were full of envy, and at the same time, he felt guilty about his own weakness.
"Not at all, maybe you just saw wrong!" Moon gave a shy smile, "Those were all my illusions; in reality, it wasn't like what you said." He quickly explained.
He knew he couldn't expose too much now and had to hide things as much as possible, otherwise he wouldn't be able to effectively counterattack later, and this was related to his future struggle against Voldemort, so it was better to be careful.
Hermione, by this time, had also calmed down, "You felt a bit strange when you used magic." Although her voice was slightly calm, if one listened closely, a hint of unease and worry could still be heard.
"Anyway, thank you so much for today!" Her heart always felt a bit uneasy.
"Oh, and I was indeed wrong this time." She apologized again. "I shouldn't have only thought about my own feelings; you were all doing it for my own good! I…" She lowered her head, softly blaming herself, "If there's another chance next time, I won't make everyone so worried!"
Moon looked at Hermione, whose face was full of guilt, and a flicker of emotion crossed his heart; her thoughts were so delicate.
"You're not wrong; today's events are all that Troll's fault." He smiled.
Hermione's actions had significantly reduced the guilt in his heart.
He could feel the deep-seated unease and apology in Hermione's heart, but he didn't know how to comfort her.
He just offered a warm smile.
He understood that Hermione would not stop there; she would absolutely not give up her study and pursuit of magic because of a temporary setback—that was Hermione.
After chatting for a while, they each returned to their dormitories.
Moon lay on his bed, his mind still racing.
What had happened today made him feel incredibly exhausted, but it also strengthened his resolve to become stronger.
He knew that the future was full of dangers, and he had to seize the time to improve his strength so that he could better protect himself and his friends around him.
Chapter 20 Suspicion of Snape
The morning sun streamed through the tall glass windows of the Hogwarts Great Hall, painting the long tables with a warm glow and illuminating the students enjoying their breakfast.
The air was filled with the aroma of toast, bacon, and pumpkin juice, and the lively chatter about the upcoming Quidditch match filled the hall with energy and laughter.
Moon and his three friends were eating breakfast and chatting casually.
"The match is today! I can't wait!" Ron exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement. "Harry, you absolutely have to win!" He winked at Harry, cheering on his good friend.
Harry nodded, a smile on his face, though a hint of nervousness flickered in his eyes. This was his first Quidditch match, and he desperately wanted to win, but the immense pressure made him very tense. "I'll try my best."
He tightened his grip on his fork, as if psyching himself up, and gave Ron a determined look.
Hermione carefully cautioned Harry, "Don't get too excited, and be careful! Also, be sure to watch out for the Slytherinteam; they have too many dirty tricks."
As she warned Harry, she took a cup and began pouring him a full glass of pumpkin juice.
"Replenish your energy," she said, her tone full of concern.
Moon watched their interaction, a faint warmth rising in his heart. This was true friendship, with its minor squabbles yet underlying mutual concern.
"Good luck, Mr. Potter."
A cold, low voice suddenly broke the lively atmosphere in the Great Hall.
Snape suddenly appeared beside them, his black eyes still filled with indifference.
"You can face a Troll, so today, you should also dare to face the Slytherin team. I'll be watching you closely, Potter." His words were clearly laced with sarcasm and distrust, and he even added a threat, causing Harry's face to darken.
Then he limped towards the faculty table.
Moon knew that he actually cared deeply for Harry.
But there were too many complex factors involved.
"What an arrogant bat!" Moon grumbled to himself.
Since he was destined to be an enemy of Voldemort, these allies would still be useful. Now he had to quickly improve his own strength.
Harry didn't notice the change in Moon's expression; instead, he noticed Snape's limp.
A flash of anger crossed his eyes, and he abruptly put down his knife and fork.
"I think Snape must have let the Troll in last night!" His voice was no longer calm; he raised it a few degrees, sounding more certain.
Clearly, Snape's unusual behavior made him highly suspicious.
Moon glanced at them, his brows slightly furrowed, but he said nothing, silently listening to their opinions.
He knew it was impossible to change their perception of Snape now.
"What?" Hermione's expression was incredulous; she clearly didn't quite believe this deduction.
"That's too far-fetched! I think it's a bit impossible. He's a Professor, why would he do that? Isn't that just asking for trouble? And how would Professor Snape get involved with a Troll?" She still refused to believe it; she still couldn't believe her Professor would do such a thing.
"I think Harry might be right," Ron said, tapping his chin as he joined the analysis.
"Snape was indeed the last to arrive yesterday, and he was limping. I suspect his leg might have been bitten by the Troll!" He tried to find evidence that fit his logic to prove Harry's statement was correct.
Harry's gaze became more resolute, and his tone grew colder and harder: "And I saw his leg was clearly injured yesterday, very similar to the damage that Three-headed dog on the third floor might have caused!" His voice was filled with anger.
"Snape definitely knows about the Philosopher's Stone! He must be after the Philosopher's Stone, which is why he released the Troll to create a distraction!" Every word he spoke seemed extra forceful.
He felt as if he had grasped a thread, and he also remembered the oppressive feeling of that monster on the third floor!
No wonder yesterday was so strange; then all explanations made sense. It must be Snape who wanted the Philosopher's Stone!
"And Moon also saw the injury on Snape's leg!" Harry then asked Moon, his eyes urgently wanting an answer, because in his perception, Moon was undoubtedly the strongest and most rational among his friends.
Therefore, he eagerly wanted to know Moon's opinion on the matter.
Moon felt the expectant gaze from Harry. He knew he had to give a reasonable explanation now.
Moon frowned, feeling a trace of helplessness.
He knew Harry's judgment was merely his prejudice and speculation about Snape. Although it had some basis, the real enemy was someone else entirely.
Professor Quirrell was the one who wanted to eliminate Harry, always watching them from behind the scenes.
Voldemort on the back of his head was like a sharp blade hanging above, capable of delivering a fatal blow at any moment!
His gaze also swept over Dumbledore, who was happily chatting with several other teachers at the long table, his eyes filled with complex meaning. Dumbledore knew everything but did nothing, seemingly letting events unfold, as if unconcerned by it all.
He had to use all his power to prevent the tragedy of the original story from repeating itself.
"Perhaps, but I think the most important thing right now is today's Quidditch match." He gently changed the subject, no longer discussing Snape.
His words successfully captured the attention of the other three, especially the idea of winning a reward, which made all three of them eager. Harry also temporarily suppressed his suspicion of Snape.
The four began discussing back and forth, as if they had forgotten all the unpleasantness of yesterday.
Just then, a commotion suddenly erupted at the entrance of the Great Hall.
A snow-white owl once again flew into the Great Hall; it flew directly to Harry, dropped a long package in front of him, and let out a clear hoot. Then, after circling once in the air, it accurately landed beside Professor McGonagall, its head gently rubbing against Professor McGonagall's hand, as if seeking her praise.
"What's this? A package so early in the morning?" Ronlooked at the delivered package, his eyes full of curiosity, clearly unable to guess what kind of surprise would arrive at this time.
Hermione was also surprised by such an unexpected package, her eyes full of anticipation. "Is this a new gift?" she murmured to herself.
"Who sent it to me?" Harry, looking puzzled, unwrapped the package. When he saw the Nimbus 2000 after removing the wrapping paper, a look of surprise immediately appeared on his face.
"I've never seen such a beautiful broom!" He caressed the wooden handle of the broom, unable to put it down, his eyes filled with excitement.
Moon glanced at the owl, which had stopped beside Professor McGonagall, and understood everything. "Who else but Professor McGonagall would send you such a precious gift?" He winked at Harry, a sly smile playing on his lips.
Harry seemed to notice something and also looked up in the direction of Professor McGonagall.
The moment his gaze met Professor McGonagall's, Professor McGonagall nodded slightly at him, a encouraging smile on her face, but then quickly composed herself, returning to a serious and earnest expression.
At that moment, Harry fully understood. This was indeed a gift from his teacher.
He quickly gave Professor McGonagall a grateful smile, expressing his heartfelt thanks! He held the Nimbus 2000 in his hand, his face radiant with a bright smile.
He was sure he would win today's match! he secretly encouraged himself.