That voice made Harry's blood run cold.
He snapped his eyes open, and the scar on his forehead began to throb faintly.
"We have to go!" Harry suddenly grabbed Ron and Hermione's arms and pulled them forcefully in another direction.
"Harry, are you crazy?!" Ron stumbled and nearly fell.
"What's going on?" Hermione was completely thrown off by the sudden shift.
Harry didn't stop until they reached a corner. All three of them were gasping for breath.
"I just heard someone talking," Harry said in a low voice, tension brimming in his emerald-green eyes. "They were talking about the Philosopher's Stone, saying they must get it."
Ron's blue eyes widened. "What? I didn't hear anything, Harry. It was completely quiet back there."
"I'm sure of what I heard!" Harry insisted, unconsciously touching the scar on his forehead. "The voice... it was hoarse, and sinister."
Hermione studied him closely, her brown eyes glinting with rational curiosity.
"Harry, are you sure it wasn't a hallucination?" she asked cautiously. "I mean... the exam stress... sometimes people start hearing things..."
"It wasn't a hallucination!" Harry cut her off, his tone sharpening. "I'm telling you, I definitely heard that voice!"
Hermione fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Actually... some sounds can only be heard by people with a specific magical affinity. I've read about that in a book."
Ron turned pale. "Then who would it be? Who would want the Philosopher's Stone?"
Harry's expression hardened. "It has to be Voldemort."
At the name, Ron shuddered from head to toe, his red hair bristling. "Don't say that name," he muttered, panicked. "Wasn't Voldemort already driven off by Charlie? He shouldn't still be at Hogwarts!"
"Do you remember what Dumbledore said?" Harry's voice grew heavy. "He said Voldemort would return. As long as the Philosopher's Stone is still at Hogwarts, he won't give up."
Hermione turned pale. "If that's really true, we need to tell a professor immediately!"
The three of them dashed off toward Professor McGonagall's office.
McGonagall was sorting test papers when she looked up and saw the three of them rush in.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, Mr. Weasley," she greeted them calmly. "What's going on? You all look terribly anxious."
"Professor," Harry said urgently. "I just heard someone talking about stealing the Philosopher's Stone."
McGonagall's eyebrows lifted slightly, her expression turning serious.
"How do you know about the Philosopher's Stone, Mr. Potter?" she asked with a trace of surprise in her voice.
Harry hesitated for a second. "It's a long story," he said firmly. "But please, Professor, believe me, I did hear someone talking about stealing the Stone!"
McGonagall was silent for a moment, her eyes scanning each of their faces.
"No matter how you came by this knowledge," she finally said, "Hogwarts' security is absolutely solid. The Philosopher's Stone is protected by numerous enchantments, no one can approach it easily."
"But Professor," Hermione interjected, "if someone is really planning to steal the Stone, we can't afford to be careless. Please inform Professor Dumbledore, he'll believe Harry."
"Professor Dumbledore left the school this morning," McGonagall said slowly. "The Ministry summoned him for urgent matters."
That sentence drained the color from their faces.
"Dumbledore's not here?" Ron's voice cracked.
"Then what do we do now?"
The three of them looked at each other, at a complete loss.
Hermione gave Harry and Ron a look. They immediately understood her meaning.
Charlie! Charlie would know what to do.
They hurriedly took their leave and ran toward the Great Hall.
Watching them go, McGonagall's composed expression turned somber.
Of course she knew Voldemort was after the Stone. She also knew the voice Harry heard was probably real.
But before he left, Dumbledore had personally instructed her not to intervene too much. He wanted to see what choices the boy would make when faced with danger.
McGonagall sighed softly, concern flashing in her eyes.
She only hoped those children would come through safely.
…
Harry, Ron, and Hermione burst into the Great Hall, panting.
Charlie was at the Hufflepuff table, chatting with Ernie.
Hermione waved urgently. The three of them rushed over.
"What's going on?" Charlie looked up, noting their anxious expressions.
"Something's happened," Harry said in a low voice, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. "We need to talk in private."
Charlie blinked and followed them to a corner behind one of the hall's stone pillars.
"What's with all the mystery?"
Harry took a deep breath and recounted the eerie voice he'd heard in full detail.
Charlie's brow furrowed instantly.
Bloody hell, Voldemort again? Trying to steal my Philosopher's Stone?
"Did you tell a professor?" Charlie asked.
"We told Professor McGonagall," Hermione sighed.
"But she didn't believe us," Ron added, face pale. "And Dumbledore left Hogwarts this morning, something urgent at the Ministry."
Charlie's gaze sharpened.
Dumbledore had placed the Stone on the fourth floor. There was no way McGonagall, as Deputy Headmistress, didn't know.
And she had to know Voldemort was planning to steal it.
So why, when Harry reported suspicious activity, didn't she investigate immediately? Why dismiss it?
Then he remembered the laughably childish traps on the fourth floor:
Devil's Snare. Flying keys. Wizard chess…
Totally useless against adult dark wizards, but a perfectly calibrated challenge for first-year students.
So that's what this was, a setup. A test for Harry.
Fine. Test the kid all you want. But what if Voldemort actually succeeds and my Philosopher's Stone gets stolen?
No. Not happening.
Still… the memory of Voldemort's Avada Kedavra that night sent a chill down Charlie's spine.
He needed backup. Serious backup.
Then, a spark of mischief flickered in Charlie's eyes, and a wicked grin curled on his lips.
If the professors won't act…
Then I'll drag a few dozen students in front of Voldemort and see if they still sit on their hands.
This is what you call: using students to command the professors.
With that, Charlie turned and walked straight toward the center of the Great Hall.
Hermione looked puzzled but didn't say anything, Charlie always had a plan.
With one agile leap, Charlie jumped onto the Hufflepuff long table.
Silverware clanged. A few students nearly choked on their dinner in surprise.
"Everyone, listen up!"
Charlie raised his voice, echoing through the hall.
Instant silence fell.
All eyes turned to him.
Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, every student stopped eating, curiosity lighting up their faces.
"At the start of the term, Professor Dumbledore told us not to go to the fourth floor. Do you know what's up there?"
Charlie swept his gaze across the hall, voice heavy with mystery.
Whispers rippled through the crowd.
"What's up there?"
"I heard it's cursed."
"I bet it's some kind of monster."
Charlie raised his hand and declared, one word at a time:
"The legendary Philosopher's Stone!"
Gasps echoed around the hall.
"No way, the Philosopher's Stone?"
"The one that turns anything to gold?"
"The one that makes you immortal?"
The students erupted in a frenzy of chatter.
Charlie signaled for silence, then continued, voice grave:
"But someone is trying to steal it."
That silenced the hall again.
"As Hogwarts students, it is our sacred duty to protect the Stone!"
Charlie's voice rang with purpose.
"Anyone who joins me, 10 Galleons reward!"
He pulled out a coin pouch and spilled a glittering heap of gold onto the table.
"And whoever catches the thief, 100 Galleons!"
<><>---------------------------------------
200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters
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🚨 TL/N 💥
Hello guys Fanfic recommendation!
Check out my other work:
💥> Naruto: Mind Control (Highly Recommended)
💥> Bleach: Sephiroth Template
If you like smart and strong MC, this fanfic is for you.
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