103 Second Time

"Where are the two of them?" Artel inquired, noting the absence of the usual trio. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were typically inseparable.

Gore, the remaining member, looked a bit embarrassed as he explained, "Oh, Malfoy mentioned something off about Harry lately, so he and Crabbe went to check. I... I tripped and twisted my foot going downstairs, so I came back to rest."

Artel gave Goyle an approving thumbs up, acknowledging his sensible decision. Goyle, with a shy smile, gestured towards the dessert on the table, "Want some?"

"Forget it, I'm full," Artel replied, rolling his eyes playfully. He returned to the bed, retrieving the second notebook of Saruman's experiments.

Thanks to the bonus from Sauron's necromancer talent, Artel had thoroughly understood the first experimental notebook. Only Snape, apart from him, might achieve such comprehension in a short time.

The second notebook proved more challenging, even for Artel. Sauron's extraordinary talent extended beyond magic, encompassing alchemy as well. After all, Sauron created the Supreme Lord of the Rings.

Reading through the notebook, Artel focused on a particular potion – a soul medicine capable of fusing memory fragments. Saruman's experiments suggested that this potion could convince someone that a specific memory was their own.

Artel contemplated potential uses for the potion, yet acquiring the necessary materials posed a challenge. Many items were unfamiliar to him, but he meticulously recorded them on a list for Lucius, unsure of when he could gather everything.

The morning passed as Artel immersed himself in reading and research.

....

By noon, Artel joined the students in the Great Hall for lunch. Hermione spotted him and waved, joining him with a plate of sumptuous food appearing before them.

As Harry and Ron burst into the Great Hall, they spotted Artel and Hermione.

Ron, panting from their rush, gulped down a glass of juice, sighing heavily with relief.

"Ron, Harry, what's got you both in such a state?" Hermione inquired, her brow furrowed with concern as she ate beside them.

"It's nothing," Harry replied dismissively, shaking his head. Hermione shot him a knowing look but didn't press further.

Ron cast a hesitant glance at Hermione before leaning in, his voice lowered to a whisper.

"We... we went up to the fourth floor."

"The fourth floor?" Hermione's sharp tone betrayed her immediate concern, mindful of the fifty points she'd lost before. She fixed Harry and Ron with a piercing gaze. "Why? And what were you thinking? If you get caught, Gryffindor will be the laughingstock of the school again!"

"No, it's not what you're thinking," Harry interjected quickly, stealing a glance at the Great Hall's entrance to ensure Snape wasn't lurking nearby. Satisfied, he continued, "We saw Snape sneaking up to the fourth floor, so we followed."

"I swear, it was really Professor Snape, and he was up to something... suspicious," Ron chimed in, eager to corroborate Harry's account.

Originally planning to enjoy a leisurely weekend, Harry and Ron's curiosity had been piqued by Snape's clandestine behavior. What had started as innocent curiosity had led them to witness Snape's peculiar actions: sneaking into Quirrell's office, conversing with Hagrid, and ultimately venturing to the headmaster's empty office before heading to the fourth floor. Despite their best efforts to remain covert, Ron's accidental noise had alerted Snape, prompting a hasty retreat to avoid detection.

After Ron finished recounting their adventure, Snape himself entered the Great Hall, casting a lingering gaze at Harry and Ron before departing without a word.

"I think he might have caught on," Ron muttered, his expression soured. Artel couldn't help but marvel at the eleven-year-old's furrowed brow, a testament to the weight of his concern.

"It's fine, he doesn't have any proof," Harry reassured, shrugging off Snape's scrutiny. His recent mastery of the invisibility cloak had kept him one step ahead of detection, much to Filch's frustration.

"Maybe Snape was just checking something," Neville whispered from the sidelines, attempting to ease the tension.

"You don't understand, Neville. There's definitely something off about Snape. Remember how he was injured by that giant dog on Halloween? I think he's hiding something," Hermione interjected solemnly, her tone tinged with unease.

Neville Longbottom, felt an uncomfortable tension between Professor Snape and his house. As a student, he felt it was his duty not to be overly suspicious of his professor, despite Snape's frequent targeting of Gryffindor.

Meanwhile, Harry and Ron exchanged glances and sighed, feeling a sense of isolation amidst the revelry. They were heroes, but they were also alone and often misunderstood.

Harry tried to boost his spirits, reminding himself of his fame as Harry Potter and his determination to stop Snape and expose any conspiracy.

The mood at the dinner table remained somewhat somber, but it was soon interrupted by the arrival of an owl bearing a letter.

Ron received a copy of the Daily Prophet from Weasley's owl, but found nothing of interest in it. He sighed in disappointment, hoping the wizard who attacked the Ministry of Magic would be apprehended soon.

Shortly after Harry and Ron left the table, Artel noticed Professor Quirrell entering the Great Hall. Quirrell appeared exhausted, with no visible wounds, leading Artel to suspect that he might have been punished by Voldemort.

Artel couldn't help but suppress a smile at Quirrell's disheveled appearance. He finished the last piece of roast meat on his plate and left the table.

....

Over the next few weeks, Artel spent most of his time studying Saruman's notes, researching new spells, and learning about the wizarding world.

....

As the weekend approached, Quirrell carefully retrieved the dragon egg from Lucius Malfoy and Apparated to Hogsmeade without saying goodbye. He headed straight for the Bar, where he knew Hagrid often went to drink.

Artel, who had been observing Hagrid, anticipated Quirrell's move.

He was ready and waiting near the bar. When Quirrell arrived at the bar, disguised in a black robe and clutching the dragon egg.

Artel suddenly appeared in front of him in Saruman's form.

Quirrell was taken aback by Artel's sudden appearance. Artel wasted no time, extending his hand and saying, "Mr. Quirrell, we meet again. I believe you have something for me."

.....

Hey everyone, 

Exciting news! Tonight at 8pm, I'll be releasing the new chapter titled "Welcome To... The World Of The Undead" on my P*atreon. If you're eager to dive into the story, make sure to join the King tier to get access to this. Don't miss out on this opportunity!

Join now to get exclusive access: 

pa#treon.com/KittyLovesMilk (Remove the #)

See you there!