The Fool in Hogwarts

Bonus meter: 384/400 for PS and 15/20 for reviews. Thanks for the support so far, keep it coming (⸝⸝> ω <⸝⸝).

◇◇◇

After the match, Harry went with Ron and Hermione to Hagrid’s hut outside the castle.

"It was Snape," Ron said. "Hermione and I both saw him. He was jinxing your broom."

"Don’t talk nonsense. Why would Snape jinx Harry’s broom?" Hagrid clearly did not believe them.

"Who knows? He went out of his way to mock me before the match." Harry suddenly paused as an image of Snape limping flashed through his mind. "I think he may have tried to get past the three-headed dog on the fourth floor."

"How do you know about Fluffy?"

"Fluffy?" Ron looked bewildered.

"That thing has a name?" Hermione asked.

"Of course. He’s my pet. Bought him from an Irishman. I lent him to Dumbledore to guard..."

"To guard what?" Harry asked urgently.

"I shouldn’t have said that. That’s enough. No more questions," Hagrid said firmly. "It’s top secret."

"But Hagrid, whatever Fluffy is guarding, that’s what Snape is trying to steal."

"Rubbish. Professor Snape is a teacher at Hogwarts."

"Who knows? I saw him jinxing Harry," Hermione said, raising her voice. "I read about it in a book. You have to keep your eyes fixed on the target, and Snape never blinked."

Hagrid looked at the three of them and sighed wearily. "Listen to me, all three of you. This is far too dangerous. You shouldn’t get involved.

"What Fluffy is guarding concerns only Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel."

"Nicolas Flamel?" Harry’s eyes immediately brightened. His instincts told him that once they discovered who Nicolas Flamel was, they would know what Snape wanted to steal.

Hagrid froze, then guiltily turned his face away. "Oh, no. I’ve said too much again."

"Who is Nicolas Flamel?" Harry asked Hermione and Ron. "Do either of you know?"

"No." They both shook their heads, but committed the name to memory.

It was a clue.

After that, the three of them spent every spare moment in the library, not to study, but to search for information about Nicolas Flamel.

They had no other choice. No matter how much they pleaded, Hagrid refused to say another word or offer even the smallest hint, so they could only investigate for themselves.

However, the task proved far more difficult than they had expected. They searched through hundreds of books covering famous witches and wizards from the past century, including Great Wizards of the Twentieth Century, Notable Magical Names of Our Time, and A Study of Recent Developments in Wizardry, yet they still could not find Nicolas Flamel’s name.

Unlike them, Vade continued carefully maintaining the image he had created, though he set aside time every week to practise spells in the room on the eighth floor.

He could now use all manner of basic spells with ease and hit stationary targets without fail. At present, he was working on improving his accuracy against moving targets.

Besides displaying great enthusiasm for Potions, he also showed a strong interest in alchemy and often studied books on the subject in the library.

The only thing troubling him was Daphne. Every time he went to the library, she followed with her homework and notes, showing signs of becoming a top student herself.

"This is far too complicated," Vade complained.

"What is?" Daphne asked.

"Alchemy. To create an enchanted object, even the simplest kind, you need a thorough understanding of the properties of the materials, the meanings of the runes, and the positions and patterns in which they must be carved. If even one element is wrong, the entire attempt fails.

"Besides that, you also have to control the amount of magic you use during the process. More where more is needed, less where less is required, without the slightest deviation. Otherwise, the magical circuit won’t stabilise, and the alchemical creation will remain incomplete. Its effects will gradually fade until it becomes an ordinary object."

"That does sound complicated. Even more complicated than brewing potions."

"It is. Alchemy consumes an absurd amount of money. Ordinary wizards genuinely can’t afford to study it.

"Still, the profits it can produce are far greater than those from potions. Broomsticks are alchemical creations, and even an ordinary broom costs as much as at least ten potions."

"You had better not let Professor Snape hear you say that. He won’t be pleased."

"It’s the truth, but I certainly wouldn’t dare say it in front of him."

"Are you going home for the Christmas holidays?" Daphne asked carefully. She knew Vade had no family waiting for him there.

"I probably will." A complicated look appeared in Vade’s eyes.

He had a very favourable impression of Hogwarts, and Professor McGonagall had said that the school could become a second home.

Many people would not think much of those words, but during the holidays, they carried real meaning for certain students, such as Vade and Harry Potter.

One was an orphan, while the other lived in someone else’s home. By remaining at school, they could at least spend a lively Christmas with the few students and professors who stayed behind.

However, Vade had reasons he needed to leave.

Whether he wanted to purchase alchemical materials or act as a Magician, he had to leave Hogwarts.

On the day the Christmas holidays began, the Great Hall was filled with festive decorations.

Garlands of holly and mistletoe covered the walls, while two rows of towering Christmas trees glittered with candles, shining icicles, and ornaments.

Vade had packed all his luggage and was eating his final breakfast before leaving the school.

At the Gryffindor table, Harry and Ron were playing wizard chess. The rules were the same as ordinary chess, except the pieces were alive, and commanding them resembled directing troops in battle.

Hermione approached with her suitcase just as the queen lifted her chair and smashed a knight in half.

"That’s barbaric."

"That’s wizard chess," Ron said with a smug smile. Chess was the thing he did best.

"Don’t stop searching for information about Nicolas Flamel while I’m away."

"We’ve searched everywhere and still found nothing," Ron complained.

"But there’s still the Restricted Section," Hermione said in a low voice.

"You need a professor’s written permission to enter it. Do you think Professor McGonagall would allow first years inside?"

"Then we’ll have to find another way, such as..."

"Such as what?"

Hermione looked towards Vade, who was eating breakfast at the Slytherin table.

"Ask him to perform a divination."

"Have you gone mad? Moria is a Slytherin, and he’s one of Snape’s favourite students." Ron looked deeply opposed. "I don’t agree."

"Snape may be a bad person, but that doesn’t mean Vade is."

"Hermione, you’re the only Gryffindor who considers him a friend."

"I think it’s worth trying. On Halloween, he was the one who brought Snape to save me. An ordinary Slytherin would never take a risk for a Gryffindor.

"Besides, his divinations really are accurate. He could save us a great deal of time."

"Yes, yes, you have a point. But what if he tells Snape?"

"I don’t think he will. Besides, if you were Snape, would you tell one of your students that you were searching for something connected to Nicolas Flamel?"

(To be continued.)