The Hidden One

In the middle of the night, all the students were woken up and gathered in the Great Hall.

Most of them were even just wearing pajamas, and they gathered together in a daze, not knowing what was going on.

Sean didn't stand on the stage with Professor McGonagall. He quietly returned to the student group, whispered an explanation to Hermione and Daisy who were unaware of the situation, and then began to observe the people around him.

Professor McGonagall gathered everyone together for two purposes. The primary purpose, of course, was the safety of the students. The person who cast the Imperius Curse might still be mixed in with the faculty or even the students, and it wouldn't be safe if everyone slept separately.

Another concern is that Sean and the professors are worried that there might still be students under the control of the Imperius Curse.

So now a long line has formed in the Great Hall, and Professor Flitwick stands beside a dividing line with his wand in hand. His task is to check if any other students are under the influence of the Imperius Curse.

Fortunately, for a master of spells, it is not too difficult to tell whether a junior wizard has been controlled if one is willing to do so.

So now the students are talking in hushed tones, like travelers queuing to buy tickets as they undergo inspection.

The professors were all on high alert, keeping a close watch on the students to prevent any of those under the Imperius Curse from causing trouble. At Sean's suggestion, the Prefect and the Head Girl/Boy also mingled in the crowd, observing everyone's movements.

The line moved forward slowly, and most of the students had already been checked.

Sean turned his gaze to the other side, where the new teaching assistants were subtly surrounded by several professors, and every now and then one of them would be called out by a professor for a talk.

Recently, it has been suggested that the new teaching assistants at Hogwarts are the most likely candidates to be Dark Wizard.

The most suspicious person is undoubtedly Max Dawson, Durmstrang's new assistant coach.

Max Dawson wasn't even there, Sean knew he was most likely with Snape, who was also absent.

To be honest, before, Sean wouldn't have been so sure about Snape —after all, Lily hadn't died.

After learning of Daisy's existence and that Snape was originally a member of the Marauders, Sean was no longer worried.

Snape would be on high alert for any situation that might harm Little White Flower, whether psychological or physical, coupled with his usual vengeful nature.

The unfortunate Dark Wizard he encountered when buying candy for Daisy is a perfect example of this...

The team slowly advanced and soon reached Sean's side.

Professor Flitwick waved his wand at Sean symbolically, then winked at him.

Sean understood immediately and walked out of the student group, then approached the teaching assistants.

Professor McGonagall stood beside him, gently waving her wand to create a barrier around them that shielded them from eavesdropping.

"How is it, Professor?"

Professor McGonagall frowned. "Everything is normal so far."

Sean frowned upon hearing this; the fact that everything was normal was the biggest abnormality and the worst news.

That would prove that the Prophecy received from Trelawney might have been sent out of Hogwarts, but that doesn't make sense.

Sure enough, Professor McGonagall continued, "Miss Brown was thoroughly examined. She has just regained consciousness and has no recollection of what she did. Professor Flitwick used more advanced magic to examine her, and her Imperius Curse was recast today."

"That person is still at Hogwarts ..." Sean said in a low voice.

"Yes, Hogwarts is currently in a completely closed state. No one can leave without Professor Dumbledore's permission, of course—" Professor McGonagall glanced at Sean.

I'm the exception...

Sean chuckled dryly, then habitually began to think. He and Stephanie had access to the Room of Requirement, and they could receive notifications of who entered Room of Requirement, but no strange people had entered recently.

Moreover, just in case, Sean had completely renovated the room he frequented and stored the Vanishing Cabinet in it. No one else could access it without his permission.

"What about the Dementor? Professor, you know I've never really trusted these Non-Being."

Professor McGonagall shook her head as well. "I don't trust them either. That's why Hogwarts has its own magical protection around the perimeter. The Dementor are actually just acting as border guards. Even if the Dementor betray us and allow anyone to come and go freely, Hogwarts ' magical protection will be able to detect it. But so far, no one has left or come in."

That proves that person is still inside the castle...

"Where's Max Dawson, Professor?" Sean glanced in the direction of the teaching assistant.

"After you first suggested that possibility, I instructed a few ghosts to keep an eye on him. Although we can't guarantee 24/7 monitoring, he's behaved normally for most of the time we can monitor him. However, because he hasn't caused any problems, the monitoring intensity may have been reduced in the last two weeks. So, Professor Snape has already interrogated him alone, and I believe we'll have results soon," Professor McGonagall explained to Sean.

"Where are the other teaching assistants?"

"There are no problems at all; they are trustworthy people."

Sean rubbed his temples, a slight headache forming. The faculty was fine, and there probably weren't any students with that kind of ability...

You should know that the person hiding in the shadows can detect Sean hidden under the Illusion Charm, and can even evade Sean's detection and Dave's brain-drilling radar.

Even if it's intentional against unintentional, such people are at least at the level of elite Auror, and there are no students with that kind of strength yet.

Sean glanced at the student line that was slowly shortening, and one of the Slytherin students made him frown.

I almost forgot about this person... The cold-looking Slytherin student in front of me is the one who contacted Dumbledore back then.

He represents those Returners...

Dumbledore wanted him not to investigate the other party, and Sean agreed at the time.

But in the current situation, he might be playing the role of contacting the Returners...

Finally, Sean turned to Professor McGonagall and said, "Professor, could you perhaps inquire about Roland Joseph of Slytherin privately?"

"Mr. Joseph?" Professor McGonagall frowned. "He's not a very sociable student; he's a loner. What did you find out?"

"It's not this time, it's something that was off about him before. I think it's necessary to investigate him carefully," Sean said.

"Okay, when Severus returns, I'll have him go find Joseph."

"Um."

The inspection team finally finished, and the students, who had not yet learned what had happened, began to yawn.

Among the teachers standing guard around the Great Hall, Lockhart, who had been listless, yawned. He patted his well-maintained face, revealing a set of white teeth.

"It's over? Oh ho ho, that's great, shouldn't we go back to sleep?"

Professor McGonagall's eyes clearly showed dissatisfaction, though it was unclear whether she was talking to herself or to Sean.

"That guy who doesn't pay attention in class..."

Sean also pursed his lips.

Since Charlotte and Colton became teaching assistants for Defense Against the Dark Arts, Lockhart has become completely ignored. The students aren't stupid; a "powerful wizard" who has written so many best-selling books is being utterly outclassed in teaching by Charlotte and Colton, two wizards who have only graduated three years ago.

Not only in terms of teaching quality, but also in terms of magical ability, the difference was obvious. Lockhart was often the one causing trouble, while Charlotte and Colton were the ones solving problems for the students.

Everyone now knows perfectly well that Lockhart is still the official professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, but the actual professors have become the two new teaching assistants. Lockhart no longer even has the chance to read from the textbook, Charlotte simply doesn't follow the course, Colton always manages to show his understanding with Charlotte in this regard.

However, with Lockhart's self-satisfied smile, neither the students nor the professors moved.

He could only laugh awkwardly twice in the end. "Just like I taught you, as wizards you must always be vigilant. Well done, kids! Haha!"

Then they slunk away.

At that moment, Snape led Max Dawson back through the main entrance of the Great Hall.

The latter's face showed a lot of helplessness, but also some relief.

Snape walked over to Professor McGonagall and Sean and said calmly, "I gave him Veritaserum."

Goodness, I thought it was some kind of inquiry; the method is really simple and crude...

Snape continued, "They all match, no problem, and he was quite cooperative after learning why I came, though not very willingly—"

Max Dawson looked helpless and annoyed. He finally rubbed his hair hard and said, "I shouldn't have gone back to Durmstrang..."

Sean glanced at Snape and winked at his wand.

Snape glared at Sean with a dark look. "Of course I know. We need to check if he's turned the Veritaserum he ingested into something else! Mr. Wallop, perfect timing, we discussed the properties of Veritaserum in the last lesson..."

"That old bat is really vengeful. I was just afraid you'd forgotten to remind you..." Sean muttered to himself, and obediently took a step back.

"Alright, thank you for your hard work, Severus Max. I also appreciate your cooperation. I hope you can understand that, after all, the safety of the students is the most important thing for a school. Two children have already been injured, so we have no other choice."

Max Dawson sighed. "That's why I cooperated... but please don't do it again, Professor. Good heavens, taking the Veritaserum feels awful. I feel like I'm about to blurt everything out."

"I'm so sorry, Max," Professor McGonagall apologized sincerely.

"Huh? The taste has changed?" Just as Sean was about to turn around and leave, Dave, who had been in his arms, had a questioning thought.

"Taste? Tastes like pig brains?" Sean asked in confusion.

"Yes, that person's taste has changed slightly... but overall it's still his original taste," Dave said honestly.

A few months ago, Sean shared the Magical Creature Cultivation Liquid he Lottery Draw with his friends, and after so many days, they have all digested it.

Now, Dave, Pudding, Naja, the Basilisk, and the Great Selma Lake Monster have all gained some increase in speed and strength, and can probably be considered top individuals among their kind.

Moreover, the Magical Creature Cultivation Liquid has a certain probability of enhancing the Magical Creatures's original magical abilities. For example, Pudding's pupils are now more magical. Sean tested it on himself, and even though he was Pride, he still fell into a deep sleep under the hypnosis of the Wampus Cat.

Naja, due to the Occamy's unique abilities, had little room for improvement; in the end, she only managed to grow and shrink faster. The Basilisk itself said that its gaze seemed even more terrifying—but wasn't it still the same: whoever it glared at died?

The Great Selma Lake Monster has evolved even more useful abilities. It was originally able to manipulate water flow and sense the fluctuations in the surrounding water, and now it can even launch water cannon-like attacks from a distance, making it quite lethal even on the shore.

And Dave...

It just goes to show that a foodie is a foodie. Dave's sense of smell for pig brains has become even more sensitive. Not only has it expanded in scope, Dave can also detect the subtle flavors within the pig brains much more clearly...

Now, Dave says Max tastes slightly off, which makes Sean a little suspicious.

Based on my conversation with Dave, the taste of a person's brain is indeed not constant. Under the influence of emotions, physical condition, and psychological state, the taste of brain will show subtle differences.

Max had just been given Veritaserum by Snape, which caused changes in his mood and body, resulting in his brains tasting off, which is actually normal.

But Sean won't miss any suspicious points.

"Dave, smell him carefully. What's the main difference compared to before?"

The Thorn Sheath that Dave had transformed into writhed twice in his arms, as if it were trying to inhale deeply.

"Hmm, the overall taste is still the same, but it feels... a little emptier than before?"

"Hollow..."

While Professor McGonagall was talking to Max Dawson, Sean moved silently to Snape's side and set up a protective barrier.

Snape noticed his movement, frowned, and slightly raised his chin. "Wallerup, are you questioning my Potions skills?"

"No, Professor, I'd like to ask if it's possible that he cast Memory Charm on himself?"

Snape scoffed, "Do you think you're the only one who could think of that? My questions are all sequential, and his memories are also sequential, which proves that his memories haven't been tampered with."

"What if he emptied his memory and then rewrote it?"