The Great Hall instantly erupted.
Ten Galleons wasn't a small sum for most students, and one hundred Galleons was an astronomical fortune, especially for families like the Weasleys.
Neville was the first to stand up.
"I-I'll go with you!"
His voice trembled, but his determination didn't.
Nothing else to say, loyalty!
The Weasley twins exchanged a glance and grinned at the same time.
"Sounds fun," Fred said as he stood.
"And there's money involved," George added, face lighting up with excitement.
No sooner had the twins spoken than more students began responding.
Ernie and Justin exchanged looks, then got to their feet as well, backing their housemate without hesitation.
"Charlie, Hufflepuff would never let you face danger alone!" Ernie declared loudly.
"That's right! We're one house!" Justin added firmly.
The atmosphere in the Great Hall ignited all at once.
Gryffindors rose in waves, they were born for adventure. Hearing something this exciting? Of course they were joining.
"For Hogwarts!"
"For the Philosopher's Stone!"
"For a hundred Galleons!"
The shouts came one after another, the scene growing increasingly chaotic and heated.
Hufflepuffs weren't backing down either. They were known for unity and loyalty, and Charlie was well-liked across the board.
Even Ravenclaw, normally concerned only with academics, had a few students stand up, though most were clearly motivated by the 100-Galleon reward.
Only Slytherin remained silent.
They were cautious by nature, and most of them weren't short on money.
The ones who were short on money saw that no one else in their house moved… so they quietly stayed seated.
Within moments, more than thirty students had gathered behind Charlie, mostly Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, with a handful of Ravenclaws.
Charlie nodded with satisfaction.
This number was more than enough.
In a corner, Percy Weasley's expression twisted with horror.
As Gryffindor prefect, he absolutely couldn't let this many students charge into something dangerous, especially when his own little brothers were part of the mob!
Percy tried to step forward and stop them, but one look at the excited crowd, and at Charlie standing confidently on the table, and he knew he alone had no chance of stopping anything.
"Merlin's beard, they've all gone mad!"
Grinding his teeth, Percy spun around and sprinted out of the Great Hall.
He had to get Professor McGonagall.
Only she could put an end to this disaster.
Charlie, of course, noticed Percy's departure.
Ron had told him about his overly strict older brother, the model student who loved nothing more than reporting things to teachers.
But that was exactly what Charlie wanted.
If he wanted the professors to intervene?
Then the situation needed to be turned into a full-blown crisis.
"Students!" Charlie called out again, voice ringing through the hall.
"Time is short, let's move out!"
"For Hogwarts!"
The mob of thirty-plus students marched out of the Great Hall in formation, charging toward the fourth floor.
Other students in the corridor froze as they passed.
"What are they doing?"
"Are they going to the fourth floor?"
"Isn't that off limits?"
Whispers filled the hallway as Charlie's group disappeared around the corner.
Meanwhile, Percy arrived at Professor McGonagall's office, panting heavily.
"Professor!" He banged on the door.
"Something terrible has happened!"
McGonagall opened the door and saw his panic-stricken face.
"Mr. Weasley, what on earth is the matter?"
"Charlie says someone is trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone!" Percy blurted out.
The moment McGonagall heard the words, her temples throbbed.
How… how did everyone suddenly know about the Stone?
So much for secrecy.
"Don't fret, Mr. Weasley," she said, forcing calm into her voice.
"The Stone is well-protected. Nothing will happen."
"But Professor!" Percy grew even more frantic.
"Charlie took dozens of students to the fourth floor!"
"WHAT?!"
McGonagall's expression changed instantly.
Dozens?!
What was Charlie trying to do?!
Internally, she let out the silent shriek of a chicken being strangled.
On the fourth floor corridor, Fluffy was sprawled across the trapdoor, dozing out of boredom.
The three heads took turns staying awake, one drooling, one dozing, the middle one keeping lazy watch.
Suddenly, soft rustling came from inside the wall.
All three heads lifted at once, six eyes narrowing toward the sound.
A black serpent slithered out from a pipe, its scales gleaming coldly in the torchlight.
It was Voldemort.
Fluffy tilted his heads, confused.
Hagrid said no humans should pass, but, this thing wasn't human.
Voldemort spat out a delicate silver whistle, the device Snape had prepared for him.
Once activated, it played automatic hypnotic music, crafted specifically to incapacitate Fluffy.
He blew it gently.
Soft, enchanting music filled the corridor.
Fluffy's six eyes instantly glazed over; all three heads sagged simultaneously, and his giant body collapsed with a thud.
Loud snores echoed through the hallway.
Satisfied, Voldemort tucked away the whistle and slipped down through the trapdoor.
The Stone would be his soon.
Ten minutes later, chaotic footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Fluffy awoke groggily, only to see an enormous crowd charging straight toward him.
"Merlin's pants, that dog is HUGE!"
"It has three heads, what kind of breed is this?!"
"Hurry! Figure out how to get past it!"
Fluffy snapped awake fully, all three heads roaring in unison.
The deafening noise made several timid students collapse outright.
But before panic could set in fully, the Weasley twins pulled out a music box.
They opened it.
A lullaby played.
Oh come ON.
I literally JUST woke up!
Fluffy's roars cut off immediately.
All three heads dropped again.
Charlie led the group through the remaining challenges with ease.
Having gone through them once already, this time everything went smoothly.
They soon reached the final chamber.
Seven bottles sat in a row, each filled with a different potion.
Only by choosing the correct potion could one pass through the cursed flame into the next room.
But with so many people, one bottle was nowhere near enough.
Charlie stepped toward the purple fire covering the doorway, studying it carefully.
He had noticed it last time,
This wasn't some mystical barrier, just ordinary magical fire.
The potions were nothing more than fire immunity draughts.
After drinking them, one could walk through unscathed.
Charlie raised his wand, aiming at the flames.
"Aguamenti!"
A powerful jet of water blasted from his wand, drenching the purple fire.
Water clashed against heat, hissing violently as steam filled the chamber.
Moments later, the flames sputtered out completely.
Charlie lifted his arm and shouted:
"Forward!"
"Advance for your King!"
<><>---------------------------------------
200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters
40 Advanced Chapters on p(a)treon
p(a)treon.com/Aaltairr
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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.
It's Peak.
Give it a chance and you won't be disappointed