"Voldemort has already appeared. Their actions won't get too far—they can't possibly reach the Philosopher's Stone," George said, his expression serious. Even though Voldemort shouldn't be fully revived yet, who could rely solely on luck? At this moment, the Stone could allow Voldemort to return at full strength, so minimizing unexpected dangers and risks was critical.
"Fortunately, Malfoy's attacks have spread across the school. Dumbledore won't know. We can seize the opportunity at the right moment," Hermione frowned. She didn't want trouble, but this wasn't her decision to make.
News of Voldemort's return left everyone anxious. Compared to Malfoy, Voldemort was far more terrifying. At least Malfoy or Snape wouldn't suddenly burst into a classroom and blow everyone to pieces.
After the gathering, everyone still had many difficult matters to face. Especially Harry, who seemed extremely tense, even a little dazed. His scar throbbed painfully, nightmares continued relentlessly, and he remained constantly on edge, fearing Voldemort might suddenly appear in the classroom. He approached exams with extreme caution, terrified that Voldemort could annihilate everyone.
Everyone tried to reassure him, reminding Harry that such a thing wouldn't happen. Voldemort could not yet confront Dumbledore without a full revival. Even if he were fully restored, he would first need to gather his followers before wreaking havoc again.
Fortunately, the exams finally ended. After checking answers with Hermione, Harry finally breathed a sigh of relief. At least he wouldn't fail or be left behind as younger students caught up with him.
But the post-exam relief didn't last long before Harry made a major discovery.
"Hagrid's dragon egg was given by Voldemort's followers. They used Hagrid's dragon egg to find a way for Fluffy to pass safely. Fluffy falls asleep whenever it hears music," Harry said, lowering his head. Hagrid had been careless, and the situation was frustrating.
"Most importantly, when we went to see Dumbledore, McGonagall told us he had already left for London and wouldn't return until tomorrow at the earliest. We tried to warn her that someone would attempt to steal the Stone tonight, but she simply didn't believe us," Hermione said, sitting on a chair and kicking the floor.
Dumbledore's absence at such a critical time, combined with McGonagall's disbelief, left her deeply frustrated.
"We tried to monitor Snape's actions, but he's too cautious—impossible to follow. He even threatened to expel Harry. McGonagall also treated us like criminals, saying if we were caught, five of us would lose fifty points each," Ron added, delivering even more discouraging news.
"It's not all that bad. The Stone is still protected—by Hagrid's dog, Quirrell's spells, and Snape's potions. And as long as Dumbledore isn't foolish, he wouldn't let it truly leave his control. That's why I think there are other professors still keeping watch," George tried to reassure them, insisting things were not as bad as they seemed.
Hermione's gaze softened, and she began to agree with George. "The teachers have never really believed the Stone could be stolen. It's not just that they don't trust us—they've likely prepared extensive protections."
"Exactly. Even Quirrell and the clumsy Hagrid can contribute to guarding the Stone. There's no reason to exclude the other professors," Ron's eyes lit up with excitement. George's reasoning made sense.
"Honestly, I never really trusted Hagrid's three-headed dog. Quirrell's tricks might protect the Stone. But from the start, I believed there was only one real safeguard: Dumbledore himself, and the way he preserves the Stone," George said, tapping the table softly, revealing his true thoughts for the first time.
Harry turned pale, his eyes burning with anger. "I don't trust them. I'm going to sneak in tonight and get the Stone ahead of time."
"Are you insane? If you do that, you'll definitely be expelled. This isn't a threat—it's more than just losing points," Hermione shouted. She couldn't believe Harry would consider such a reckless plan.
"The professors are stronger than us. The Stone can't be stolen quietly. We can wait for them to act, then help when the time comes," George disagreed with Harry. His approach was too aggressive, too risky.
"Voldemort killed my parents when I was a baby. It was their protection that allowed me to survive!" Harry's scar burned, nightmares haunted him, and the stress of Voldemort's return pushed him close to madness.
"If Voldemort gets the Stone, he will destroy the entire school, killing everyone who opposes him. He will never spare me. I won't go back to the Dursleys obediently and wait for him to find the Stone as he expects. No matter the cost, I will stop him myself."
Harry had already said this. At this moment, as friends, all they could do was offer advice and help.
"That's it. If we get the Stone, it will prove the protections aren't sufficient. Tonight, I'll wait at the trapdoor. Go back and get the Invisibility Cloak. If you're late, tonight's operation is over," George said thoughtfully. He couldn't let Harry act alone, so he had to make a decisive decision.
It wasn't the perfect plan, but George had decided from the start to help Harry, treating him as a friend. He couldn't just watch him take the risk alone.
That night, George didn't have to wait long before he saw the three Harrys rushing toward him. They weren't as skilled as George, who could use illusions to fake resting and move through the school effortlessly.
Harry and the others had to wait until everyone was asleep before leaving the dormitory. On the way, they encountered Neville, who had grown braver lately. He had been trying to make up for his past mistakes, hoping to help the school regain the fifty points he lost.
Seeing Harry and his friends rushing off again, Neville tried to stop them—but it was Hermione who cast a full-body petrification spell, giving them the chance to slip out.
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