The slave that Voldemort sensed was, of course, the mouse named Spotted! The small creature trembled with fear, its instincts overwhelmed by the dark aura it perceived.
Strangely enough, this mouse had never appeared in Gryffindor's dormitory. Without ever seeing it, Lin Mei had forgotten the existence of Peter Pettigrew, the Animagus hiding in plain sight. But now, Voldemort, desperate for a host, sought out this insignificant yet crucial figure. If he failed to find a vessel to house his fractured soul within the next few days, he would face total annihilation.
Meanwhile, at Hogwarts, Lin Mei, having lost track of Voldemort, made her way back. Upon arrival, she was met with a sharp gasp from Madam Pomfrey.
"Oh, Merlin's beard, Lin Mei! Are you hurt? What happened to your clothes?" The matron's sharp eyes landed on the tattered fabric of Lin Mei's robes, assuming the worst.
The entire school infirmary was filled with an air of tension, as the four house heads had gathered. Their eyes widened in shock upon seeing Lin Mei's disheveled state.
Madam Pomfrey stepped forward, intent on examining her injuries, but Lin Mei raised a hand to stop her. Professor McGonagall, however, was not so easily deterred. Her stern gaze bore into Lin Mei as she spoke, her voice carrying an air of unquestionable authority.
"Lin Mei, I recall that you were temporarily sent away from Hogwarts on Dumbledore's orders. And yet, here you are—accompanied by an unconscious Harry and Ron. If Hermione hadn't come looking for me, I wouldn't have known anything about what transpired tonight!"
Her piercing eyes darted between the unconscious students and Lin Mei, her displeasure evident. It was clear—if Lin Mei did not provide a satisfactory explanation, Professor McGonagall would not hesitate to issue the most severe punishment, including stripping Gryffindor of its hard-earned points.
Lin Mei turned toward Dumbledore, hoping for assistance, but the headmaster merely looked ahead, his expression unreadable, offering no aid. Realizing that the responsibility of explaining fell solely on her, Lin Mei took a deep breath.
"Professor, you're absolutely right—I should have been outside of Hogwarts. But Voldemort personally led the Death Eaters to attack me, luring Professor Dumbledore away. As for Harry and Ron, they fainted while protecting the Philosopher's Stone."
"However, you need not worry. They're only unconscious, not seriously injured."
The room fell into a stunned silence. The name Voldemort carried weight, an unspoken terror that settled into the very bones of those who heard it. The four house heads exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions shifting from shock to disbelief.
"Voldemort?" Professor Snape's voice cut through the silence, low and cold. He stepped forward, his sharp gaze fixed on Lin Mei. "Are you certain? You do realize that he was declared dead years ago."
Lin Mei met his gaze and nodded. "Yes, Professor Snape. Though he did not appear in the flesh, his presence was undeniable. He attempted to seize the Philosopher's Stone through Professor Quirrell but failed. Harry and Ron protected it at a critical moment, but the encounter left them unconscious."
Snape's eyes narrowed as he seized upon a flaw in her words. "Then why are you here in the infirmary now? Where were you just moments ago?"
Lin Mei hesitated briefly but then chose to tell the truth. Lies only led to more lies, and she had no desire to spin a web of deception.
"After Voldemort abandoned Quirrell's body, his soul fled to the Forbidden Forest. I pursued him but eventually lost his trail."
"What?!" Professor McGonagall's sharp voice rang out, laced with both shock and anger. "Lin Mei, you deliberately entered the Forbidden Forest? Are you aware that students are strictly forbidden from setting foot there?"
Her concern was evident—not just for Lin Mei, but also for Harry and Ron, who still lay unconscious in their hospital beds.
"Professor McGonagall, please, calm down!" Lin Mei quickly interjected. "What you don't know is that none of the creatures in the Forbidden Forest can harm me!"
But her attempt to pacify the situation had the opposite effect. Professor McGonagall's frustration only grew.
"That is not the point! You were chasing Voldemort! Do you have any idea what could have happened to you?"
Her eyes blazed with fury as she spoke, the weight of her responsibility as Gryffindor's Head of House pressing heavily on her shoulders.
"Given the recklessness of your actions, I have no choice—Gryffindor will lose 80 points. Twenty points for each of you!"
Lin Mei's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?!" she gasped.
Her mind reeled at the sudden loss, but one look at McGonagall's expression told her there was no room for negotiation. The consequences of their choices had finally caught up with them.
He knew that if he took the blame for this, his classmates would be rolling their eyes at him by tomorrow!
With no other choice, he could only turn to Dumbledore, the ever-watchful bystander.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, my Head of House is being a little... extreme. Aren't you going to say something in my defense?"
"At the very least, I protected the manor, saved Harry in the Chamber of Secrets, drove away Voldemort's soul, and safeguarded the Philosopher's Stone!"
The frustration in Lin Mei's eyes was barely contained. Even without Professor McGonagall's deductions, Snape would have found a way to strip 50 points from Gryffindor. But he hadn't expected McGonagall to be even harsher, deducting far more than anticipated!
"Professor McGonagall, don't you think the punishment is a bit excessive?" Professor Flitwick finally spoke up, attempting to ease the tension.
He was, in fact, giving McGonagall an out. If the punishment was too severe, the Gryffindor students would surely riot the next day.
Dumbledore cleared his throat lightly.
"Professor McGonagall, while the children did act recklessly, they were ultimately trying to protect the school. You are correct to discipline them, but let's not be too harsh. Let's keep the deduction as it stands and leave it at that. We mustn't break their spirits."
McGonagall said nothing, which was as good as an agreement.
Snape's usual smirk faltered, his expression shifting from smug amusement to silent disapproval. The headmaster had spoken, and that was the final word on the matter.
Lin Mei clapped her hands together. "Alright then! Let's move on to the bigger issue—Voldemort! Since he failed to obtain the Philosopher's Stone this time, he will never have another chance. Without it, he can't create the Elixir of Life to restore himself."
Seeing Lin Mei's serious expression, Professor Sprout, the Hufflepuff Head of House, furrowed her brows. "If he can never get the Philosopher's Stone again, isn't that a good thing?"
Lin Mei shook her head, her voice grave. "Not necessarily. The Philosopher's Stone was merely his fastest route to resurrection. He has other ways."
Dumbledore's gaze darkened. "Lin Mei, do you know something more?"
Lin Mei glanced at the unconscious Harry before answering, "Voldemort has extensive knowledge of alchemy. I'm sure you all understand what that means."
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