A rush of footsteps echoed from the end of the corridor.
> [WARNING: High-Energy Reaction Detected!]
> [WARNING: Lord-Level Units approaching rapidly!]
> [WARNING: Multiple factions converging—The Watcher of Light, The Fallen White Wizard, and The Lurking Dark Host.]
Bursting in first was a pale-faced Professor McGonagall, followed closely by Snape, and bringing up the rear, Quirrell wrapped in his large purple turban.
McGonagall rushed into the room. Her eyes immediately landed on the Troll lying on the floor like a small mountain. Then, her gaze swept over the flooded floor, the shattered sinks, and finally settled on the four first-year students.
Especially on Rove, who was still holding a deformed frying pan.
In Rove's System vision, Professor McGonagall erupted with blinding silvery-white light—the oppressive aura belonging to Galadriel, Queen of the Golden Wood.
> [Detected "The Queen's Scrutiny"!]
> [Judgment in progress... Willpower Check Failed.]
> [Effect: All non-Legendary units enter [Fear], [Silence], or [Guilt] status.]
Harry and Ron hung their heads like Hobbits caught stealing crops. Hermione shrank into the corner, still trembling slightly.
"What on earth were you thinking?"
Her gaze darted between the three Gryffindors and the lone Hufflepuff.
"You're lucky you weren't killed. Why did you think you could take on a fully grown mountain troll?"
Snape stepped out from behind McGonagall. He first glanced at Harry to confirm he was unharmed, then shifted his gaze, staring intently at the frying pan in Rove's hand.
To be precise, he was staring at the dent that perfectly matched the back of the Troll's skull.
> [System Notification: Saruman (Snape) is analyzing your equipment.]
Snape bent down, examined the back of the Troll's head, looked at the pan, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
"I suppose Hufflepuff's kitchen management has become somewhat lax," Snape sneered softly. "To allow a student to bring such a... lethal weapon into the academic area."
Harry looked at Rove worriedly, terrified he might talk back to the Potions Master.
"Professor Snape," Rove straightened his back and replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "as a Hufflepuff aspiring to be a top chef, carrying cookware is perfectly reasonable. Just as you, a great Potions Master, surely have no fewer than three crystal vials hidden in your robes at this very moment, correct?"
Snape narrowed his eyes.
"If you utter one more word of nonsense, Baggins..."
"It was my fault, Professor McGonagall."
A weak but firm voice came from the corner, cutting off whatever Snape was about to say.
Everyone turned around.
Hermione Granger stood up. Although her face was still pale, her eyes held something Rove recognized.
"Miss Granger?" McGonagall looked at her in surprise.
"I thought I could handle it. I've read all about them in books, I knew about them." Hermione lied. For a model student who never broke a rule, this was harder than facing death.
"If they hadn't come and found me, I'd probably be dead now. Harry and Ron saved me. And Rove, he... he protected us with his frying pan."
> [System Notification: Critical Story Branch Detected.]
> [Unit [Hermione Granger] activates skill [Sacrifice] (Taking all aggro for the team).]
> [Judgment: Elven Scholar officially joins the party.]
> [Loyalty: Locked (Admiration -> Life-and-Death Bond).]
Rove looked at Hermione. In this moment, she was no longer the arrogant little girl who only knew how to recite Hogwarts: A History, nor the know-it-all showing off in class. In Rove's eyes, her image overlapped with the Evenstar Princess who gave up immortality to fight alongside humanity.
"This is a companion," Rove said silently in his heart. "Welcome to the Fellowship, my lady."
Professor McGonagall looked at the four of them. Her gaze lingered on Hermione's guilty face and the determined expressions of the three boys. Finally, her gaze softened.
"Well, in that case..." said Professor McGonagall, sighing. "Miss Granger, five points will be taken from Gryffindor for this serious lack of judgment."
She paused, turning to the other three, and waved her wand to clean the filth off them.
"As for you three. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, five points awarded to Gryffindor for each of you. For sheer dumb luck, and for loyalty to a friend."
Finally, she looked at Rove.
"And you, Rove. While I do not advocate fighting with such... items, given that you protected your classmates from the Troll, five points to Hufflepuff."
...
When the professors had finished dealing with the scene and the four students walked out of the girls' bathroom, the corridor had returned to silence.
A strange atmosphere filled the air. It was the unique understanding shared by those who had faced death together.
Rove stopped walking and hooked the deformed frying pan back onto his belt. He turned to face Hermione.
"Your courage is admirable, my lady."
Rove placed his right hand over his heart and bowed slightly, performing a standard Middle-earth knightly salute. His expression was solemn and grave, as if Hermione hadn't just told a lie, but had recited a sacred oath.
"But next time, please do not face the darkness alone. That is the duty of Rangers and Warriors."
Hermione paused, her cheeks flushing slightly. She seemed to want to correct Rove's strange way of speaking, but in the end, she just pursed her lips and smiled.
"Thank you, Rove. And that frying pan... was really cool."
Harry and Ron laughed too.
"Seriously, mate," Ron clapped Rove on the shoulder. "That 'CLANG' move was awesome. Can you teach me? I reckon it's way more useful than a Levitation Charm."
"That is a family secret technique," Rove bullshitted with a straight face. "It requires rigorous potato-peeling training to master."
The four walked side-by-side down the ancient corridor of Hogwarts. Moonlight streamed through the high windows, casting long shadows behind them.
Rove walked at the back, looking at the three figures ahead of him.
On the left was the Son of Destiny burdened with a heavy fate (Ring-Bearer / Harry); in the middle was the clumsy but absolutely loyal companion (Gardener Sam / Ron); on the right was the brilliant Elven Scholar (Hermione). And he, a Hobbit with a frying pan (or perhaps a Maia Berserker disguised as a Hobbit?), was silently guarding this team.
> [System Settlement: The Fellowship of the Ring is officially established.]
> [Achievement Unlocked: [Oath of Blood and Lies].]
> [Team Bond Level: Lv.1 -> Lv.2 (Brothers in Arms).]
> [Reward: Charisma +1 (Your leadership qualities are awakening).]
Rove took a deep breath and clenched his fist.
The team was assembled.
Whether it was Voldemort or Sauron.
Bring it on.
"By the way," Harry suddenly turned back. "Rove, did you say there's double pudding tonight?"
"Of course! To celebrate our survival! Meet in the kitchens later! I'll cook personally—authentic Hobbit midnight snacks for everyone!"