Chapter 79: Peaceful Years and Moving Forward with Burdens

In the middle of January, there was another heavy snowfall in the castle.

After more than half a month upon his return to Hogwarts, Andy's life was back to the usual peacefulness.

Going to class, reading books, practising magic, and teasing the little witch.

This was the daily routine

However, unlike before the Christmas holiday, Andy would occasionally go to Ravenclaw's library to read books - just as a pastime.

It didn't matter if he could trigger an adventure or not, the key was the love of reading.

Unfortunately, Andy had gone there time and time again, but had not been able to accomplish the 'read all the books in the collection in one night' achievement.

Last week, Andy finally saved up five potential points again and raised the [Transfiguration] talent to level 5.

The increase in talent allowed Andy to become even more comfortable in Transfiguration. Even Professor McGonagall said that Andy could already study higher-level courses.

In fact, Andy had already done so a long time ago.

Professor McGonagall also gave Andy a copy of her notes on biological transfiguration, so that Andy could privately study biological transfiguration on his own.

Andy was as good as gold.

***

However, people's encounters are often not the same.

While Andy's side was having a good time, Harry and Ron were carrying a heavy burden on their shoulders.

Ever since discovering Snape's 'plot' and learning about Nicolas Flamel and the Philosopher's Stone from Andy, Harry had felt like he was carrying a heavy burden.

He felt like he had to do something about it.

It all started a few days ago.

The day after writing to Dumbledore, Harry and Ron received a letter back from Dumbledore.

It had to be said that Dumbledore had gone through a lot of trouble in order to train Harry.

Ever since he learned that Harry couldn't even cast an Unlocking Charm, Dumbledore changed his way of thinking on how to train Harry.

Harry is actually quite talented in magic, but he doesn't like to learn.

Since magic doesn't work, let's build up courage!

In this regard, Harry is really commendable.

This kid looked skinny and cowardly, but he was extremely courageous.

But if you want to fight Voldemort, courage alone is not enough, wisdom and strength must be combined.

So Dumbledore has always wanted to find a few assistants for Harry.

However ...

Look at those roommates of Harry's!

Ron is as reckless as Harry, Seamus is a demolition genius, Neville is an amnesiac, and the remaining one, Dean Thomas, is not on good terms with Harry.

Not to mention the girls' side.

Not a single competent young wizard could be found in the first year of Gryffindor.

Ron's older brothers weren't bad, but the upper and lower grades never played well together.

As for Ron's other friend - Andy Collins.

Dumbledore tried, but Andy wasn't up to it!

These days, Dumbledore hesitated several times on whether to...terminate the plan.

This saviour...it's up to fate from now on!

But Harry didn't think so, he felt that he was carrying a heavy responsibility, he had the obligation to protect the Philosopher's Stone.

After Friday's class, Harry dashed out of the castle, dragging Ron along with him.

"Harry, where are you going?" Ron asked in a hurry.

"To find Hagrid, I thought of something."

Harry said with a serious face, "Although the Ministry of Magic sent people to investigate the third floor of the castle, Professor Dumbledore did not transfer the Philosopher's Stone."  

"You mean..." Ron snapped with a look of realization.

"Exactly!"

Harry nodded excitedly, "Last time Hagrid said that he was also responsible for protecting the Philosopher's Stone and that no one could get past Fluffy. If Snape wants to steal the Philosopher's Stone, the easiest way is to get a way to deal with Fluffy out of Hagrid."

Ron dwelled, "But Professor Dumbledore said that it wasn't Snape who wanted to steal the Philosopher's Stone."

In his reply to Harry and Ron, Dumbledore wrote that someone had indeed tried to steal the Philosopher's Stone and that Nicolas Flamel, the owner of the Stone, had personally entrusted him with the task of protecting the Stone for a period of time.

And it wasn't Snape who had tried to steal the Philosopher's Stone.

"Whoever it is, since he wants to steal the Philosopher's Stone, he'll have to go past Fluffy."

Harry swore, "And the only way he can do that is to get information from Hagrid."

Ron nodded in agreement, then asked with a curious look on his face, "Harry, what exactly is Fluffy?"

Poor Harry and Ron, since the last time they were caught wandering at night and deducted a hundred points, they had a shadow over the third-floor corridor of the castle, so much so that they didn't even dare to take a step into it until now.

Not to mention the three-headed dog, they had never even seen its three hairs.

"Let's ask Hagrid about it later!" Harry said.

The two soon arrived at Hagrid's hut, Harry moved up and knocked on the door, a few barks came from inside and in no time the door opened, and a huge figure pushed his way out.

"Oh, it's you guys, Harry, Ron!"

Hagrid calmed the big dog, Fang, while warmly inviting the two inside, "Come on in, it's cold outside."

Hagrid's hut had only one room, the layout of the room looked a bit cluttered, there were many dried meats and hams hanging by the windows, there was also a fireplace in the room, and the patched bed was placed on the right side against the wall.

"Come over and sit." Hagrid greeted warmly and took some rock cakes to share with Harry and Ron.

The corners of Harry and Ron's mouths twitched.

They had tasted the rock cakes the first time they had been here, and that one time alone, it had almost managed to break their teeth.

"Thanks!" Harry thanked politely but refused to taste it.

"How have you been studying lately?" Hagrid asked.

Ron grimaced bitterly, "Same as always, Snape's just been crazy lately, he deducted over twenty points from us."

Hagrid grunted twice at that, he didn't want to comment on the Hogwarts professor.

"Hagrid!"

Harry asked, "Has anyone approached you lately:"

"Who?" Hagrid looked puzzled.

Harry stated his suspicions before saying with a look of certainty, "If anyone wants to get through the third-floor corridor, the best way to do it would be to inquire from you about a way to get past Fluffy's level."

"This matter has nothing to do with you!"

Hagrid was a little annoyed, "I should never have revealed about Nicolas Flamel. Harry, Hogwarts is safe, no one can steal the Philosopher's Stone and no one can get past Fluffy's level."

Ron looked at Harry, he actually agreed that the Philosopher's Stone would be safe at Hogwarts.

"Hagrid, Professor Dumbledore, has admitted that someone is trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone."

Harry looked at Hagrid with a serious expression, "Hagrid, have you encountered anything strange lately?"

Strange incidents?

Hagrid stared at Harry with wide eyes.

One moment he felt that Harry shouldn't be involved in this matter, and the next he recalled if he had encountered anything strange lately.

"Nope! No strange things!"

Hagrid was a little annoyed by the questioning, and he waved his hand, "If you talk about something strange, the Forbidden Forest has been a little strange lately, but that has nothing to do with the Philosopher's Stone."

The Forbidden Forest!

Harry and Ron looked at each other as they seemed to have discovered something.

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