Ever since Mrs. Norris was petrified, the young wizards of Hogwarts had become incredibly jumpy. Although Headmaster Dumbledore had arrived in time that night and confirmed that the cat was merely petrified, not dead, this did not quell the students' panic.
Filch prowled the corridors all day, hunched over with his lantern, staring at every passing student, especially Harry.
> [Warning: Mordor Overseer Patrolling]
> [Threat Level: Low (Physical) / High (Mental Pollution)]
> [Status: Berserk (Bloodthirsty state due to pet damage)]
Filch's wrinkled face transformed in Rove's eyes into the greenish-grey, tumor-covered face of a goblin. In his hand, he carried a bloodstained, spiked whip.
"This is the precursor to the invasion of Mordor's army." Rove lowered his voice, speaking to himself. "First the scouts, then the overseers, and finally the Gaze of Sauron."
Early November in the Scottish Highlands felt like a hole had been punched in the sky; the rain was endless.
This weather should have been perfect for hiding by the common room fireplace with hot cocoa, but in Rove's view, it was the perfect opportunity for reconnaissance. Because only in such harsh weather would the dark creatures lurking in the shadows reveal their flaws.
Rove, wrapped in a heavy yellow cloak, crouched at the base of a wall outside the West Tower of the castle. Rainwater slid down the edge of his hood.
> [Warning: The Shadow is Expanding]
> [Current Environment: Edge of Mirkwood (Alert Mode)]
> [Anomalous Creature Fluctuation Detected...]
Rove narrowed his eyes, peering through the curtain of rain at a strange phenomenon on the muddy grass.
Spiders were there. Hundreds, thousands of spiders, abnormally forming a long, thin black line, crawling out from the castle's stone cracks. They scurried fast, seemingly in a panic.
> [System Judgment: Dark Creatures in Rout (Refugee Level)]
> [Note: They are fleeing an ancient, imprisoned Greater Evil. Even these crawlers accustomed to shadows feel the trembling of their souls.]
"Even the Orc scouts are fleeing?" Rove wiped the rain from his face, his gaze solemn.
To him, these spiders weren't migrating; they were in a full-scale retreat. They had abandoned their long-established nests, frantically fleeing toward the distant Forbidden Forest regardless of everything.
"That explains the attack that night." Rove gripped his wand tightly under his cloak. "Only a true apex predator could instill such fear in these lower dark creatures."
He remembered the "whispers" Harry heard that night, and the writing on the wall.
"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened... that ancient evil has awakened." Rove muttered to himself. "It is no longer safe here. This city wall may have already cracked."
---
Half an hour later.
When Rove pushed open the round wooden door of the Hufflepuff common room, a thick wave of heat carrying the aroma of cinnamon and baked cookies hit him.
The round room was filled with soft yellow armchairs and copper braziers. Lush spider plants and ivy hung from the walls, as if locking summer inside this room. The fire in the fireplace was roaring, and several older students sat around playing Exploding Snap, bursting into laughter from time to time.
> [Environment Switch: Tavern of the Shire / The Last Sanctuary]
> [Comfort Level: Extremely High]
> [Mental Recovery Speed: +200%]
> [Warning: Comfort is vigilance's greatest enemy, but occasional rest is for better fighting]
"Rove! Where on earth have you been?"
A familiar voice rang out, carrying an obvious tone of rebuke. Susan Bones walked over quickly, holding a dry white towel. Her cheeks were flushed red by the fireplace heat, looking like a freshly baked apple pie.
She looked at the boy covered in mud and dripping water, feeling both angry and heartache.
"You look like you've been wrestling trolls in the Forbidden Forest swamp all day." Susan unceremoniously threw the towel over Rove's head and vigorously rubbed his wet hair. "Professor McGonagall only asked you to organize files, not dredge the castle sewers, Mr. Baggins! Are you trying to turn yourself into a mud golem?"
Rove let the warm towel cover his vision, feeling the warmth from Susan's hands. The gentle rubbing slowly relaxed his nerves, which had been tense all afternoon.
"Susan..." Rove's voice came muffled through the towel. "I just saw a migration. Before a large-scale war breaks out, the beasts of the forest are always the first to flee."
Susan paused, sighed helplessly, and pulled the towel down a bit, revealing Rove's sharp eyes.
"You mean those spiders, right?" Susan said softly, her tone devoid of mockery, holding only a long-accustomed tolerance. "I saw them too, on the greenhouse windowsill. Hannah said it was because the weather is too damp, and they wanted to find a dry place. See, everyone is discussing it, but no one thinks it's the end of the world."
"No, it's not the weather." Rove looked at her seriously, no trace of jest in his eyes. "Susan, if one day, darkness truly breaches this wall... if the magic meant to protect us fails..."
He pointed to the wall hung with herbs.
"Promise me, stay close to me. I will lead you through the shadow, just as Sam accompanied Frodo."
The common room suddenly went quiet for a second, save for a crackle from the fireplace log.
Susan's face turned beet red instantly, even brighter than the firelight. She flusteredly avoided Rove's overly intense gaze, and her hand rubbing the towel suddenly applied more force, nearly scrubbing a layer of skin off Rove's head.
"Wha... what are you talking about all day, Rove!" She stammered to hide her panic. "Go change your clothes! If you catch a cold, Madam Pomfrey will make you drink that smoking Pepperup Potion, which tastes more disgusting than slugs! And I won't bring you candy then!"
Rove didn't argue, nor did he dodge the concern. He took the towel, looking at the classmates around him who were oblivious and still laughing.
In their perspective, this was just an ordinary, slightly boring rainy Saturday, their biggest worry being unfinished homework. But on Rove's System interface, lines of text were emerging:
> [Mission Progress Update: Signs of 'Ancient Evil' Awakening Detected]
> [Current Status: Watchman]
> [Evaluation: You have sensed the source of the shadow, but there is still some distance to uncovering the truth. In this foggy moment, you need to protect not just yourself, but this rare tranquility.]
> [System Settlement: Your persistence and nature perception have slightly increased]
> [Reward: Nature Perception (Slight Increase), Susan's Affinity +10 (Even if she won't admit it)]
Rove gripped the towel, feeling the residual warmth.
"I won't let the shadow swallow this place." Rove vowed in a low voice, turning to walk toward the dormitory, leaving Susan standing there, staring at his back in a daze.
Susan hugged the empty basin, watching his back disappear around the corner, the corners of her mouth curling up uncontrollably, revealing two shallow dimples.
"That dummy..." she muttered softly. "Even though he talks nonsense all day about Middle-earth and Mordor, he really is... a reliable person."