Sean had been counting the days.
Finally—
November 15th, Friday.
A full moon.
The first step of becoming an Animagus could begin.
—
After dinner, Sean rinsed his mouth and carefully placed the Mandrake leaf under his tongue.
"…This feels awful."
Even speaking became awkward.
"I have to keep this in my mouth for a month… great."
He kept adjusting its position, trying to make it at least tolerable.
—
The first few days, Cassius laughed at his slurred speech.
But soon—
Sean adapted.
Talking.
Eating.
Living—
With a leaf in his mouth.
—
Meanwhile—
Since that night—
Quirrell had stopped wandering at midnight.
But Sean still checked the Marauder's Map every night.
Until midnight.
Every night.
Nothing.
—
Time passed quietly.
Until—
December 15th.
Exactly one month.
Tonight—
He had to remove the leaf.
But the conditions—
Were strict.
—
Under the full moon:
Remove the leaf
Place it in a crystal vial filled with saliva
Let it absorb pure moonlight
If clouds blocked the moon—
Everything failed.
He'd have to start over.
—
Then:
Add one hair
Add one teaspoon of dew
(collected from a place untouched by sunlight or humans for seven days)
Add a Death's-head Hawk Moth chrysalis
Then—
Seal it.
Hide it in a dark, undisturbed place.
Wait—
Until a thunderstorm.
Only then—
Could he proceed.
—
"Please… clear skies tonight," Sean muttered.
Everything else—
Was ready.
The dew—collected deep in the Forbidden Forest.
The chrysalis—stolen from Snape's stores.
All he needed—
Was the moon.
—
But before nightfall—
Something happened.
Something that nearly made him swallow the leaf.
—
During Potions class—
McGonagall suddenly called both Snape—
And Sean.
They went to the Headmaster's office.
Dumbledore looked serious.
"Haerpo's scepter… has been stolen."
—
Sean froze.
He almost swallowed the leaf.
"That's impossible! You said only someone with pure intent could retrieve it from the Mirror!"
"Yes."
Dumbledore's gaze darkened.
"That is precisely what concerns me."
"Whoever did this… used an unsuspecting student."
—
"…But how did they even know it was there?" Sean asked.
"Only five people knew," Dumbledore said.
"Myself, the three professors—and Hagrid."
"…And I trust all of you."
—
Sean's mind raced.
Quirrell.
Adam.
Ever since Quirrell found Adam—
He stopped moving at night.
Like he'd achieved something.
—
"The enemy is still in the castle," Dumbledore continued.
"The scepter is bound by magic—it cannot leave Hogwarts."
"They may have another goal."
"The students are in danger."
—
"…The Philosopher's Stone?" Sean said.
All three professors looked at him.
Sean quickly improvised.
"Harry asked me about Nicolas Flamel recently. He suspects the Stone is here."
—
Dumbledore nodded.
"He's correct."
"…And now—it cannot remain here."
—
Snape spoke coldly.
"Could it be Quirrell?"
Dumbledore paused.
"Quirrell is acting under Voldemort's orders—to steal the Stone."
"But the scepter… he likely knew nothing about."
"If it were him, he would wait until obtaining the Stone before leaving."
"Still—keep an eye on him."
—
Sean understood.
Dumbledore knew.
He had always known.
He was playing along.
—
But—
There might be someone else.
Hidden.
Watching.
—
"We must not alert them," Dumbledore said.
"Tonight—we remove the protections."
"Tomorrow, I will announce the third-floor room is no longer restricted."
—
Sean inwardly admired him.
Brilliant.
If the enemy was among the students—
They would realize:
The Stone was gone.
—
Then—
Dumbledore dropped the next bomb.
—
"Tomorrow afternoon, I will leave Hogwarts with the Stone."
"Sean—you will come with me."
—
Sean nearly choked.
"…Where are we going?"
—
Dumbledore answered calmly:
"Austria."
"Nurmen—"
"Nurmengard."
—
Sean's mind exploded.
You've got to be kidding me.
We're visiting your ex?
—
Nurmengard.
A prison.
As infamous as Azkaban.
And inside—
One man.
The first Dark Lord.
Gellert Grindelwald.
—
Sean forced himself to stay calm.
"…You're hiding the Stone there?"
"Yes."
"It is very secure."
—
"…Then why bring me?"
Dumbledore smiled slightly.
"Because we need bait."
—
Sean stared at him.
"You're serious?"
"The enemy will try to learn where the Stone went."
"And you…"
"…are the perfect breakthrough point."
—
Sean was speechless.
You old fox… you really said that out loud?
—
"Professor," Sean said slowly,
"isn't this a bit much for a third-year?"
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.
"Are you truly just a third-year?"
"Your magic rivals seventh-years."
—
McGonagall frowned.
"This is too dangerous."
—
"We will protect him," Dumbledore said calmly.
"As soon as the enemy reveals themselves—his role is complete."
—
Sean fell silent.
Thinking.
Calculating.
—
"…Alright."
"I'll do it."
—
Not just for the plan.
But—
To meet—
A legend.
Grindelwald.
—
The decision was made.
Sean left the office, mind in chaos.
But strangely—
He preferred this.
Dumbledore's honesty—
Over hidden knives.
—
That night—
The sky was clear.
The full moon shone bright.
—
Sean carefully removed the leaf—
Placed it into the vial—
And completed the first step.
—
Then—
He hid the vial.
Deep inside—
Merlin's secret chamber.
Safer—
Than anywhere else in Hogwarts.
To Read 60+ ahead advanced Chapters, head over to P@treon
patreon.com/DarkVerse146