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"Did Hagrid tell you about the Philosopher's Stone?"
A low voice floated from the front.
Dylan shook his head. "I guessed based on some details Harry told me. Of course, when I visited Hagrid some time ago, he accidentally let something slip, which confirmed my suspicion that it was the Philosopher's Stone."
The last time Neville dragged him to see Hagrid, they had gone to his hut after collecting special nutrients for the flaming thorns. While Neville was retrieving the nutrients, Dylan had chatted with Hagrid, who had unwittingly let something slip.
"This fool," Professor Snape muttered darkly.
"You can't blame him," Dylan said, defending Hagrid. "I think he's been worried about the Philosopher's Stone being stolen. He hasn't been sleeping well and is suffering from insomnia—that's probably why he let it slip."
Dylan had chosen to bring up the Philosopher's Stone in front of Snape because Hagrid had already mentioned it. Though Hagrid never explicitly named the stone, he had stopped mid-sentence, and combined with what Harry had told Dylan, it was easy to deduce that the item Hagrid had taken from Gringotts was the Philosopher's Stone.
By telling Snape the truth now, Dylan hoped to avoid trouble from Dumbledore in the future. He didn't want too much involvement with the headmaster. Moreover, he had no intention of deceiving Harry.
Dylan suspected that many of these events were orchestrated by Dumbledore behind the scenes. Even if that wasn't the case, the headmaster certainly knew what Harry had been up to.
Although Dylan had used blazing flames to obscure any traces of dark magic, he was sure Dumbledore was keeping an eye on Harry's actions. To completely distance himself from the situation, he figured it was best to tell a professor what he knew. And Professor Snape was the perfect choice.
He wanted to present himself as an intelligent but harmless first-year student—someone who knew about the Philosopher's Stone but had no interest in it. A studious and reliable wizard with no ulterior motives.
Of course, Dylan did have some interest in the Philosopher's Stone. But unlike others who sought immortality, he was more interested in researching its properties.
In this world, there were only a few known methods to extend one's lifespan:Drinking unicorn blood—which came with a curse.Creating Horcruxes—which caused the soul to fragment and led to mental instability.Using the Philosopher's Stone—which, while effective, only prolonged life and did not prevent aging.None of these methods were ideal.
However, Nicolas Flamel had successfully created a Philosopher's Stone and had lived a much better life than those who pursued immortality through darker means, such as Voldemort.
If the Philosopher's Stone could be studied further, perhaps a way to prevent aging could be discovered.
Magic was like scientific research—if you worked hard enough, progress could always be made.
As Dylan and Snape approached the bottom of the stairs, they encountered two people.
"Hmm? Dylan?"
Professor McGonagall and Professor Quirrell stood in front of them.
McGonagall looked slightly dazed upon seeing Dylan.
Dylan opened his mouth, about to speak, but Snape interjected:
"He used my potion to kill a troll."
Dylan blinked in surprise but glanced at Snape, who remained expressionless.
Hey, this old guy...
"What?" McGonagall gasped, her usually composed face showing shock. The wrinkles on her forehead smoothed out as her eyes widened. "You killed a troll? Where?"
Dylan pointed toward the underground classroom. "Over there, in the bathroom. Harry and the others are there too."
"What?!" McGonagall's voice rose, and she quickly marched toward the girls' bathroom.
Inside, they found Hermione and Ron standing near the wreckage of the troll.
"I know what I said was harsh. I'm sorry, Hermione," Ron was saying.
The moment he finished speaking, the three students noticed McGonagall rushing in.
They had just begun to greet her when Snape strode in, his face dark and unreadable.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione instinctively shrank back.
"You three are incredibly reckless," McGonagall scolded, frowning as she examined the troll.
The creature's body, once monstrous and imposing, was now nothing more than a charred husk. Its limbs were twisted at odd angles, and its grotesque face was burned beyond recognition. Only its blackened eyes remained intact, staring lifelessly at the ceiling.
McGonagall turned back toward Dylan. "Oh my goodness. This... all of this was caused by you using Professor Snape's potion?"
"What? A potion?" Ron blurted out, stunned.
Before he could say anything else, Hermione discreetly pinched his arm.
Ron winced but remained silent.
Dylan nodded. "Yes. And my fire spell also played a significant role."
Snape stepped forward, pulling a handkerchief from his robes to cover his nose as he examined the troll's remains.
After a long pause, he narrowed his eyes but said nothing.
Instead, he turned his attention to Harry.
"I heard that you brought Hawkwood and Mr. Weasley here?"
Harry blinked, momentarily speechless, then glanced at Dylan.
Dylan, however, stood quietly at the side, his expression neutral.
Harry hesitated before finally answering, "Yes."
Snape's lips curled slightly. "Very well, Mr. Potter. Your reckless actions nearly resulted in disaster. Gryffindor will lose twenty points."
Harry opened his mouth to protest. "But we were looking for Hermione—"
Snape cut him off sharply. "Your classmate was missing, yet you didn't inform a professor. Instead, you chose to take unnecessary risks. That alone is worth another ten points deducted from Gryffindor."
His voice grew colder. "And now you have the audacity to argue?"
Harry clenched his jaw, frustration evident in his expression.
Snape continued, his tone severe. "If you have any further objections, I will personally recommend detention."
Harry swallowed hard, glancing toward McGonagall for support.
Before he could say anything else, McGonagall stepped in. "Professor Snape, I understand that Harry acted irresponsibly, but I will be the one to discipline my students."
Snape narrowed his eyes at Harry but didn't press further.
McGonagall then turned to Harry, her gaze stern. "This was reckless behavior. I expect you to be more responsible in the future."
Harry nodded reluctantly, lowering his head. But out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at Dylan.
Wait—why was he the only one getting scolded?
There were plenty of people involved!
(End of Chapter)
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