Chapter 72: Harry's Judgment and the Harp

After the exams, Harry and Ron joined the crowd outside, basking in the brilliant sunlight.

They descended slowly, reaching the lake, and plopped down under a tree.

Nearby, a giant squid lazed in the warm shallow water, while the Weasley twins and Lee Jordan gently played with its tentacles.

Since the exams ended, Harry had been feeling uneasy, and his scar had been hurting.

Ron suggested seeing Madam Pomfrey, but Harry saw it as an omen, a warning that danger was approaching.

He couldn't shake the feeling that he had forgotten something important.

He recalled Hagrid, the secrets about the trapdoor at the end of the corridor, information about Nicolas Flamel and the Philosopher's Stone. 

He remembered the day in the Forbidden Forest when Professor Quirrell mentioned the blood of a unicorn and the dark wizard attacking the creature.

"It's Voldemort. He wants the Philosopher's Stone," he suddenly exclaimed, startling Ron.

"Could you not say that name!" Ron whispered.

"Voldemort is alive, but he's weak," Harry continued excitedly, "He wants the Stone to regain strength. That's why he went after the unicorn in the Forbidden Forest."

"What—Voldemort is still alive?" Ron couldn't believe it.

Suddenly, Harry got up. "Where are you going?" Ron asked, puzzled.

"I just remembered something," Harry said, his face turning pale. "We need to find Hagrid immediately."

"Isn't it strange to you guys?" Harry, running down the slope, said, "Hagrid's greatest wish is to have a dragon, and a stranger just happens to have a dragon egg in their pocket?

How many people walk around with dragon eggs? That's against wizarding law! Don't you think it's too lucky that they found Hagrid? Why didn't I think of this before?"

When they reached Hagrid's hut, they learned that Hagrid had indeed revealed how to deal with Fluffy to the person who gave him the dragon egg.

Hagrid then looked terrified. "I shouldn't have told you this!" he blurted out. "Forget what I said! Hey, where are you going?"

Ron and Harry ran towards the entrance hall, bumping into Alaric, Hermione, and Cho Chang on the way. 

They had just been to the Forbidden Forest to see if they could find any trace of the injured unicorn. The two girls were excitedly discussing the beauty of the pure and gentle creatures.

Penelope didn't join them. Ron's brother, Percy Weasley, had asked her help for something important.

"Why are you all in such a hurry?" Hermione asked curiously.

Seeing the three in front of him, Harry brightened, and he quickly explained his entire theory.

"My perspective aligns with yours," on the way back to the castle, Alaric told them.

"I believe Voldemort is indeed plotting a resurrection, but as for the identity of the puppeteer behind the scenes, I still adhere to my own view—Snape is innocent. The dark wizard I drove away is definitely not Snape."

"You said that name," Hermione screamed.

"That's too dangerous."

"I'm not afraid of Voldemort," Alaric snorted coldly and proudly said, "He's just a dying wizard now. If we're afraid because of a name, how can we fight him? "

Of course, he was not afraid; a few days ago, he had dealt with Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest.

"You're right," Harry agreed with Alaric, as he was the second person, besides himself, who dared to speak that name. "We need to maintain courage."

However, when Alaric led them to the entrance of Dumbledore's office and opened the entrance, they found that Dumbledore was not there.

Suddenly, a voice behind them said, "What are you five doing in the headmaster's office?"

It was Professor McGonagall, holding a stack of books in her arms.

However, from Professor McGonagall, they learned that Dumbledore had been urgently summoned to London by a letter from the Ministry of Magic.

Harry told Professor McGonagall about his speculation regarding the Philosopher's Stone, but she didn't believe them, and they had to leave disappointed.

On their way back, they ran into Professor Snape, who was wearing a strange smile and seemed to be in a good mood.

So Harry decided to get the Philosopher's Stone ahead of time.

Ron, Hermione, and Cho Chang all thought it was a crazy idea and that they would be expelled if they were caught.

But on this point, Alaric expressed his agreement.

"Although I don't think Snape is the real culprit, I do believe there is such a person.

He wants to get the Philosopher's Stone to resurrect Voldemort. If they really succeed, what should we do? Hogwarts might not even exist by then. Now are you still worried about being expelled?"

His words, logically sound, made the other three feel ashamed, and they all expressed their willingness to join this mission.

They agreed to act that night, but there was an unexpected incident in Gryffindor.

Neville Longbottom discovered their plan and tried to stop them but was knocked down by Harry. Ron clumsily tied him up with a curtain, wasting a considerable amount of time.

When they reached the entrance to the room, Alaric, along with Hermione and Cho Chang, was already waiting.

They opened the door to the room, and immediately, a low growl filled their ears. Although the large dog couldn't see them, its three noses were madly twitching and sniffing in their direction.

"What's that thing by its feet?" Hermione asked in a hushed voice.

"Looks like a harp," Ron said. "Definitely left by Snape. Do any of you know how to play the harp?"

Everyone looked at each other, wondering who could play.

In the end, Alaric had to step forward. There was an old harp in the Wool's Orphanage, and he had taught himself to play during his boredom.

He cradled the harp, gracefully plucking the strings. The melody was delightful, and the lingering sound was profound. 

The others showed expressions of enjoyment, with Hermione and Cho Chang looking at him as if he emitted a radiant light.

After the melodious music ended, Alaric set the harp aside and bowed to them.

"The girl with the chestnut hair, thank you all."

The four of them involuntarily applauded.

However, for Fluffy, the beautiful melody was another matter.

As soon as Alaric played the first note, the dog's eyes started drooping.

With the end of the song, Fluffy's barking ceased. It swayed a few times, knelt down, and then collapsed onto the floor with a thud, fast asleep.

So they all walked around the sleeping dog and arrived at the trapdoor.

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