Spreading News

"Someone got into the castle! It must be so! Someone replaced the troll!!" Quirrell exclaimed, his face a canvas of growing fear. He had been certain he'd set a troll loose in the castle's basement, but now, that troll had transformed into an monster.

Someone must have swapped it out!

But for what purpose?

"Oh, Merlin! We must check on the Philosopher's Stone! That must be their goal!" Quirrell reacted with a sudden sense of urgency.

It dawned on him that the intruders were orchestrating a grand diversion, likely aiming to divert Dumbledore and others' attention towards him. They'd use him as a pawn to keep Dumbledore occupied, all while stealthily making off with the Philosopher's Stone!

The culprits who'd made away with Snape's treasures! They were the ones behind this breach!

"The Philosopher's Stone is safe!" Snape sneered. Amid the recent chaos, Snape had ventured to the fourth floor. Someone had indeed tried to seize the opportunity during the commotion to access the secret chamber, but Snape had assumed it was Quirrell.

For that, he'd even been nipped by that accursed three-headed dog.

Snape locked eyes with Quirrell, a dangerous gleam in his gaze.

"Professor Quirrell, your stutter seems to be improving, doesn't it?"

"Huh? I...I'm just...too...excited."

Quirrell stammered, his facade shattered.

"The Philosopher's Stone... all is well...if it's secure, that's wonderful."

Dumbledore fell into contemplative silence. He trusted that Quirrell was not deceiving them about the Philosopher's Stone. But if it wasn't him, was there indeed another threat lurking within the castle?

Were they tied to Voldemort?

And what about Quirrell?

Dumbledore felt a growing sense of perplexity. He cast a profound look at Quirrell and turned to Snape.

"Let's proceed. It appears there are enemies lurking in the shadows that we're yet to identify. I'm going to meet Newt and then head to the Ministry of Magic. Be vigilant about school matters."

"I understand," Snape nodded, his robes swirling as he departed.

Quirrell observed Snape's retreating figure, a fleeting hint of resentment in his eyes before it faded.

"Headmaster Dumbledore, should I return as well?" Quirrell inquired.

Had Dumbledore genuinely decided to leave Hogwarts? Or was it a ruse to throw him off balance? If Dumbledore did leave, it presented an opportune moment to act. However, Snape was complicating matters, and those individuals still lurked in the shadows, their true intentions obscure.

Quirrell felt an urgent need to act, driven by the looming threat of Voldemort's wrath if anything went awry with the Philosopher's Stone.

In a quiet moment, Dumbledore extended a warm and understanding gesture towards Quirrell. His face, still marked by its characteristic kindness, seemed to foster an inexplicable sense of closeness and comfort.

"Well, Professor Quirrell, you may return and rest now. You're not to blame for today's events," Dumbledore reassured.

Quirrell, touched by Dumbledore's words, expressed his gratitude and turned away, his heart somewhat lighter.

As Quirrell departed, Dumbledore's gaze shifted from William's lifeless body to the mysterious depths of the Forbidden Forest, contemplating the various recent disturbances within the magical world.

"Knockturn Alley raided, Snape's collection stolen, the Infernal Corpse lurking in the depths of the Forbidden Forest, the spider creature, tonight's troll incident, the Philosopher's Stone.... Tom is it really your doing?" Dumbledore mused aloud, his eyes scanning the southwestern horizon.

"Or perhaps it's you?" he pondered, his thoughts deep and laden with concern.

Shaking off his contemplation, Dumbledore produced a charmed bag and deftly levitated William's body into it. He wiped a non-existent bead of sweat from his brow and chuckled.

"This thing is heavier than three giant monsters," he quipped.

With a flick of his wand, Dumbledore vanished from sight.

Meanwhile, Artel's attention shifted away from the Isil Hedron, and he let out a relieved sigh.

"Trolls are child's play for Dumbledore. If only he could deal with a Balrog or a Smaug..."

He glanced at the crystal once more, and the image within transformed, revealing a dark and dismal underground chamber.

In one corner of the basement, a huddled figure sat, Gollum, clutching his knees and muttering incoherently.

"My precious... it's Baggins, it's him!"

Artel watched as Gollum's fractured mind battled inner demons. The poor soul seemed to be in a tormented state, grappling with his own madness.

"It's the ring! Hahaha! The ring, eternal! Supreme power! My precious!"

Gollum's ramblings hinted at the significance of the Ring of Power, but his fragmented psyche made it hard to discern the full story. Artel noted that Gollum was no longer in Azkaban, but in some underground confinement chamber at the Ministry of Magic.

It appeared that Gollum might have shared some cryptic information with the Ministry about the Power of Ring, although they likely remained in the dark about Sauron's true identity.

Artel harbored no fear regarding the spreading news of the Lord of the Rings. After all, no one in this world knew the true origins of those legendary relics. If the wizards of this realm took an interest in Middle-earth characters, it could contribute to a broader understanding and appreciation of that fantastical world.

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