Sean stood at the entrance of the stone chamber like a statue.
His body was frozen—but inside, his thoughts surged like a raging storm.
Wave after wave.
This… was far beyond anything he had imagined.
The routinemight feel familiar—
but Herpo the Foul's plan to reclaim the Golden Scepter was on an entirely different level compared to Lord Voldemort.
"Professor!"
Sean suddenly shouted, as if he had just seen salvation.
From above—
Albus Dumbledore descended with Fawkes in hand, alongside Severus Snape and Rubeus Hagrid.
With a flick of his wand, Dumbledore pulled Sean toward him.
"How did you end up here?" he asked.
"I was taken hostage by Coates from the Hidden Valley Forest," Sean replied quickly.
"Professor—inside… that man is Herpo!"
Dumbledore removed the binding spell from Sean.
"Sean," he said calmly, "I need you to complete a task."
Sean froze.
Dumbledore… wasn't surprised.
It was as if—
he had already known Herpo was alive.
"What do you need me to do, Professor?"
"I'll create an opening," Dumbledore said.
"You retrieve the Golden Scepter from the mirror."
"Hagrid will take you away."
Sean wanted to ask—
Do you already know how to escape that barrier?
Or is there some hidden passage in the Forbidden Forest?
But there was no time.
Outside the stone chamber—
Herpo and Coates watched them.
Coates wasn't surprised.
Everything was going according to plan.
"So," Herpo said,
"you are the headmaster of this school—Dumbledore."
"You're clever. Using such a method to protect the Golden Scepter."
"But it won't stop me."
"In Hogwarts' territory," Dumbledore replied coldly,
"I will not allow your scheme to succeed."
"I've seen men like you before," Herpo sneered.
"They all died."
"Your era," Dumbledore said,
"is over."
A blinding beam of magic erupted from his wand.
The highest level of wizard combat—
unfolded before Sean's eyes.
It was a once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity.
But—
he didn't have time to watch.
Seizing the moment while Herpo and Coates were distracted—
Sean slipped into the chamber.
Half a minute later—
he emerged.
Holding—
a golden staff, engraved with ancient runes.
The Golden Scepter.
Herpo smiled coldly.
"Such a good boy."
"You brought it out so quickly."
"Come—give it to me."
For a split second—
Sean felt an irresistible urge to obey.
Like holding a Horcrux.
Like something was pulling at his will.
He instantly activated his Magic vision .
The compulsion vanished.
"Rubeus Hagrid, take him and leave!" Dumbledore shouted.
"Sean! Over here!" Hagrid dove down on Buckbeak.
Herpo's expression darkened.
"Kill them."
"Bring me the Scepter."
"As you wish, my master."
Coates donned the Pain Mask again.
His magical power surged.
Not as violently as before—
but still terrifying.
He mounted his broom and gave chase.
Snape followed immediately—
flying after him.
But Coates—
with the mask's amplification—
had surpassed Snape in raw magical power.
Their skill was comparable.
And distance—
was widening.
Snape's magic ran dry first.
He descended, quickly drinking a potion.
His pursuit—
had failed.
"Where are we going?" Sean asked, gripping tightly.
"To Aragog," Hagrid said.
"His territory."
"He'll protect the Scepter."
Sean's eyes lit up.
That's actually… a perfect plan.
Aragog—
a XXXXX-class magical creature.
Even in old age—
he commanded an entire colony.
A nightmare-level force in the Forbidden Forest.
"Avada Kedavra!"
A green flash tore through the air.
Coates had caught up.
The killing curse struck Buckbeak's wing.
The hippogriff cried out in pain.
Though its resistance saved its life—
flight was no longer possible.
They crashed to the ground.
"Hang in there, Buckbeak!" Hagrid said urgently.
Sean clenched his fists.
Come on… recover faster…
His magic was still empty.
Completely helpless.
Dumbledore had slipped two potions into his pocket earlier.
Sean had already taken one.
Two minutes—
he needed two minutes.
"Take the Scepter and go," Hagrid said, handing him a pair of goggles.
"Aragog won't harm you if you have this."
Sean hesitated.
For one second.
Then nodded.
Staying—
would only make things worse.
"You better make it, Hagrid."
Without looking back—
he ran.
Through the forest.
Toward Aragog's domain.
His chest burned.
He didn't know—
if Hagrid would survive.
Behind him—
Coates was stronger than Snape.
Hagrid…
was in serious danger.
Then—
Sean saw someone else rushing in.
"Mick… Jarger?"
The Greek wizard who had always doubted him—
was sprinting toward Hagrid.
Sean kept running—
glancing back.
Mick raised his wand.
"Blazing Meteors!"
Several fireballs roared toward Coates.
"Mick? What are you doing here?" Hagrid shouted.
"I came when the barrier fell," Mick said.
"…I'm here to atone."
Sean couldn't hear the rest.
He was already too far away.
Coates sneered.
"Thank you for telling me where the Scepter was."
"For a fellow Greek—"
"I'll give you a chance."
"Kneel."
"Serve my master."
Hagrid froze.
"What…?"
Mick lowered his head.
"I'm sorry."
"When he came to Hogwarts… he found me."
"He threatened my family."
"I had no choice."
The truth—
came out.
The night before the potions tournament—
the one who infiltrated the Forbidden Forest—
was Coates.
He got the information—
from Mick.
Later—
Mick himself entered the forest and was injured.
Not out of greed—
but fear.
Fear—
that he had doomed everything.
Fear—
that the Scepter was no longer safe.
He tried—
to fix it.
Alone.
But now—
it was far too late.
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