October 31st, Thursday—Halloween Eve.
This was the night Quirrell would release the troll, causing chaos as a diversion to steal the Philosopher's Stone.
But Sean didn't care about that.
—
Before dinner, Theo found him.
"The Mandrake's mature. Here."
He handed over a small vial containing a freshly picked Mandrake leaf.
"I've registered to study Animagus transformation with Professor McGonagall," Theo added, "but I'm graduating soon. N.E.W.T.s come first."
"Once I'm fully prepared, I'll consider it."
"Thanks," Sean said, taking the vial.
Theo planned to become an Auror. That meant top N.E.W.T. scores—at least five Outstanding or Exceeds Expectations.
He was aiming for eight Outstandings.
No easy feat.
Compared to that, Animagus training wasn't urgent.
—
Sean knew the process well.
From one full moon to the next—an entire month—
He had to keep the Mandrake leaf in his mouth at all times.
No swallowing.
No removing it.
If it left his mouth even once—
He'd have to start over.
"…This alone is going to be a nightmare," Sean muttered.
"And I have to wait until the next full moon… November 15th."
—
At dinner, Sean glanced at the staff table.
Snape was there.
Quirrell's seat—
Empty.
Right on schedule.
—
Over at the Gryffindor table—
Hermione was missing.
Earlier, Ron had mocked her, saying she had no friends.
She was now hiding in the first-floor girls' bathroom, crying.
—
Sean turned to Draco.
"Are you afraid of snakes?"
Draco scoffed. "Our house emblem is a snake. Of course not."
"Brave."
Sean nodded.
"What about trolls?"
"Trolls? Those dumb brutes?" Draco laughed along with Crabbe and Goyle.
—
Suddenly—
The Great Hall doors burst open.
Quirrell stumbled in.
"T-t-troll! In the dungeons!"
Then collapsed dramatically.
Screams erupted.
Students panicked.
Draco's terrified expression was… almost cute.
Sean calmly continued eating his mushroom soup.
"Relax," he said. "Trolls are stupid."
Chris frowned.
"How did you know about the troll beforehand?"
Sean lowered his voice mysteriously.
"Professor Snape told me. You know we're close. The troll's been in the castle for a while."
—
Snape, however, had already sensed something else.
A diversion.
He immediately slipped out the back door, heading toward the third floor.
—
Dumbledore stood up.
"Quiet! Prefects, lead your students back to their dormitories. Professors, with me—to the dungeons!"
—
Meanwhile—
Harry suddenly stopped.
"Hermione! She doesn't know!"
He grabbed Ron and ran back.
—
Sean didn't follow the students.
And he definitely wasn't going to the bathroom to fight a troll.
He knew better.
A troll was classified as XXXX-level.
Even the weakest of that tier—
Was still far beyond him right now.
Thick skin. High magic resistance. Immense strength.
One swing of that club—
Broken bones.
"No thanks," Sean muttered.
"Let the protagonist handle it."
—
Instead—
He followed Snape.
"Sean! Where are you going?" Chris called.
"It's fine. Someone will deal with the troll. I've got something with Professor Snape."
—
Sean ran.
Fast.
He had to stop Snape.
If Snape opened that door—
Fluffy would rip into his leg.
—
Snape stood before the forbidden door.
His wand had already unlocked it.
Just as he reached for the handle—
"Professor!"
Snape paused.
"…Sean?"
"You're just in time," Sean thought.
One second later—
And that leg would've been gone.
—
"What are you doing here?" Snape asked.
"Professor—the troll is in the first-floor bathroom. A Gryffindor girl is there. Harry and Ron went after her. They're in danger."
This time—
Everything Sean said was true.
—
Snape didn't hesitate.
He turned and ran.
—
At the same time—
Quirrell was heading toward the third floor.
They met halfway.
"Professor Quirrell?" Snape frowned.
Quirrell froze, visibly panicking.
"Harry is in danger," Sean added.
—
The three of them rushed toward the bathroom.
Because of Sean's interference—
They arrived even before McGonagall.
—
And what they saw—
A three-meter troll—
Knocked out cold by its own club.
Sean stared.
"…I have to admit…"
"Their luck is insane."
—
"Three Gryffindors," Snape said coldly.
"You're lucky to be alive."
—
McGonagall rushed in moments later.
"What happened here?!"
—
Hermione stepped forward.
"It's my fault. I went looking for the troll. I thought I could handle it. If Harry and Ron hadn't come…"
"I'd be dead."
"Not would be," Snape corrected sharply. "You would have."
He shot Harry a glare.
—
Because of Sean—
Snape's leg was unharmed.
And Harry never suspected him.
—
McGonagall deducted 5 points from Hermione.
Awarded 5 points each to Harry and Ron.
And then—
"To Sean, for informing a professor in time—5 points."
Sean blinked.
"…Didn't expect free points."
To Read 60+ ahead advanced Chapters, head over to P@treon
patreon.com/DarkVerse146