Adrian's guess was correct.
Sure enough, halfway through the feast, Quirrell came crashing into the Great Hall, crying out in terror: "Troll -- in the dungeons -- thought you ought to know."
After saying this, he collapsed face-first onto the floor.
The dining hall immediately erupted into chaos, with students' voices rising in discussion.
"Silence!" Dumbledore quickly stood up, pressing his wand to his throat, his voice boomed as he repeated: "Silence!"
The students gradually quieted down.
Professor Flitwick, seeing the situation, paused for a few seconds, then slowly sighed and said to Adrian beside him: "I take back what I said earlier. Quirrell should be more cautious... In any case, a Hogwarts professor fainting at the sight of a troll... it's embarrassing."
At that moment, Adrian suddenly noticed Snape quietly leaving the table, heading toward the exit.
"Prefects!" Dumbledore calmly commanded. "Lead the students back to their dormitories!"
The students immediately took action.
In truth, a single troll wasn't particularly frightening. Not only could the professors handle it, but even some upper-year students could manage one.
But for the safety of the younger students, sending everyone back to their dormitories was the right choice.
Amid the confusion, Adrian scanned the Gryffindor table, searching for Hermione.
After all, in the original storyline, this was where the trio's friendship began, with Hermione waiting in the dungeons' bathroom for Harry and Ron to rescue her.
Indeed, Hermione wasn't there, suggesting the plot was proceeding as normal.
After all the students had left the Great Hall, Dumbledore addressed the staff table: "All professors, go to the dungeons and find the troll."
The professors sprang into action, and Adrian also stood up, following the others toward the dungeons.
Reaching the stairs leading to the dungeons, Professor McGonagall suggested: "Let's split up, everyone. It'll be faster that way. If possible, ask the portraits on the walls about the troll's whereabouts—some portrait is bound to have seen it."
Dumbledore nodded in agreement: "Good idea."
"Ah, yes," Dumbledore seemed to remember something and turned to Adrian, saying: "Professor Westeros, could I trouble you to return to the Great Hall? Check on Professor Quirrell—we can't leave him lying alone on the cold floor."
Adrian naturally agreed. Harry and the others' safety didn't require his concern—with Dumbledore around, that wouldn't be an issue.
He nodded and replied: "Of course, Professor Dumbledore. I'll look after Professor Quirrell."
However, when Adrian returned to the Great Hall, he found that Quirrell was gone.
As expected, Adrian sighed. Quirrell was surely already on his way to the third-floor room.
This was precisely the goal of the chaos he had created—to draw away all the professors so he could attempt to steal the Philosopher's Stone during the confusion.
Adrian immediately set off for the fourth floor.
Dumbledore had clearly instructed him to watch Quirrell, so he couldn't slack off.
Besides, if something unexpected happened and Quirrell actually got the Philosopher's Stone, that would be trouble.
Although Adrian thought the probability of that happening was almost zero.
The fourth-floor corridor was silent, with only the magical torches on the wall casting a faint light, illuminating Adrian's hurried silhouette as he passed.
Just as he was about to reach the forbidden area entrance, he suddenly heard low footsteps from behind.
Adrian immediately stopped, cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself, and hid behind a suit of armor, watchfully looking in the direction of the sound.
A tall figure emerged from the darkness, his black robes casting a large shadow on the wall.
It was Snape!
Adrian's mind stirred as he silently pondered.
It seemed he was also looking for Quirrell.
Snape's expression was stern, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings as if searching for something.
He already had his wand in hand, clearly prepared to cast spells at any moment.
As he passed the armor where Adrian was hiding, Snape's steps suddenly halted.
"Come out," he said coldly toward Adrian's direction, "you rat."
Adrian knew he had been discovered.
He sighed, canceled the Disillusionment Charm, and stepped out from behind the armor.
In reality, he wasn't doing anything sneaky and had no need to hide.
"It's me, Professor Snape," Adrian said calmly, holding his wand but not pointing it at Snape.
Snape's brow furrowed slightly, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes, quickly replaced by coldness: "Ah... I thought as much. What are you doing here, Professor Westeros?"
Adrian shrugged, his tone casual: "The same as you."
Hearing Adrian's words, Snape let out a laugh.
"The same... is it?" He raised his wand, his gaze fixed on Adrian like a hawk. "I am not a thief."
"?"
Adrian was stunned for a moment.
Did Snape think he was trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone?
That was a huge misunderstanding.
Before Adrian could explain, Snape suddenly attacked.
"Expelliarmus!"
With a flick of his wand, a jet of red light shot directly at Adrian.
Adrian's reaction was equally swift; with a flick of his wrist, he precisely deflected Snape's spell.
The red light grazed his shoulder and hit the wall, causing a small explosive sound.
"Professor Snape," Adrian's tone remained calm, though his eyes showed increased caution, "I believe there's been a misunderstanding between us. I'm not your enemy. Let me explain."
Snape lowered his wand, circling Adrian while keeping his eyes fixed on him. "Ah... a misunderstanding, is it? Your behavior doesn't suggest you're trying to clear anything up."
Seeing Snape's unwillingness to believe him no matter what, Adrian sighed once more.
Why was this man so stubborn?
If that's how it was going to be...
Then he had no choice but to fight.
Although Snape wasn't pointing his wand at him and was circling around him, Adrian knew that Snape was on high alert.
Perhaps at the slightest movement from Adrian, Snape's spell would fly at his face.
"Incarcerous!"
Adrian struck first. Several chains shot out from the tip of his wand, like nimble vipers, rapidly coiling toward Snape.
Snape reacted quickly, waving his wand to knock away several chains, but one he hadn't accounted for wrapped around his left arm.
"Sectumsempra!"
A silver flash, and the chain that had wrapped around him instantly broke into several pieces.
"Hmph," Snape sneered, his eyes flashing with contempt. "Professor Westeros, is this your explanation? Using your weak spells to prove a misunderstanding?"
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