Norbert the Dragon

Professor McGonagall seemed to think Snape's words were a little too harsh. She shot him a disapproving look but said nothing more, evidently believing it was simply Snape-style "concern."

Madam Pomfrey nodded and said to Skofot, "Professor Snape's words may be harsh, but he is right. You need proper rest and a period of observation."

Skofot finally let out a sigh of relief inwardly and hurriedly nodded. "Yes, Professor, Madam. I will."

Dumbledore took it all in.

He saw Skofot's subtle probing of Snape, and he saw Snape's response—just as sharp as usual, yet perfectly reasonable.

He detected no sense of discord related to memories—

—because even his own relevant memories had been cleverly blurred.

He merely felt that Snape's attitude seemed to reveal that he knew more of the situation than McGonagall and Pomfrey did...

But that could also be explained by Snape simply paying closer attention to, and being more wary of, this boy.

"Very well," Dumbledore finally said, making his decision.

"Mr. Leoqi, you may leave here and return to your dormitory. However, for the next week, you must recover under Madam Pomfrey's daily supervision, and you are not to leave the castle grounds for the time being. We will monitor your condition closely."

The restraints had been lifted. Freedom was within reach.

Skofot lowered his head, concealing the flash of triumph in his eyes, and answered respectfully, "Yes, Headmaster. Thank you. Thank you, Professors."

He had succeeded.

He had bought himself a chance to start over with 900 Emotion Points.

A... fragile balance.

And Snape watched the boy rise from the stone bed, looking unusually docile, his face expressionless as he sneered inwardly.

A fish that slipped through the net?

No. He was more inclined to believe that he had been deliberately left behind... as a watcher, or perhaps the next target.

This silent contest was far from over. It had merely moved deeper into the shadows.

[Emotion Points +80] (From Snape's cold cooperation, inner vigilance, and assessment)

[Emotion Points: 1420/100]

The Astronomy Tower at midnight was swept by a biting wind that made the hems of robes snap and flutter.

Skofot stood alone on the highest platform, not to watch the stars, but simply to enjoy the silence and height, far removed from the bustle below.

He needed to sort through his thoughts and plan his next move.

The Memory Eraser Card's effect seemed perfect, but he knew Snape was still a potential problem.

Just then, deliberately muffled yet still distinct sounds rose from the Spiral Staircase below.

The footsteps were chaotic, mixed with heavy panting and the sound of some... creature flapping its wings and spitting weak sparks of fire?

Skofot frowned slightly, then silently moved into the shadows and looked down.

Harry Potter and Hermione Granger were struggling to carry a huge, constantly wriggling crate, inching their way upward one difficult step at a time.

Through the gaps in the crate, scales could vaguely be seen, along with a restless wing tipped with sharp claws.

A tall red-haired stranger of a wizard—Charlie Weasley—followed behind them, looking nervous as he kept glancing back.

It was the dragon, Norbert.

They really were going to send it away.

Harry stepped onto the platform first. The moment he looked up, he met those calm, unreadable eyes in the shadows.

He staggered in fright, nearly throwing the crate away, and his face instantly went deathly pale.

"Le-Leoqi?!" he cried out, his voice cracking with terror.

Hermione followed close behind. When she saw Skofot, she sucked in a sharp breath and instinctively stepped in front of the crate, as though that could conceal the unmistakable sounds of something alive inside.

"It's that Slytherin..." Harry lowered his voice, speaking to Hermione and Charlie in near despair, his lips trembling. "He'll definitely report us to the professors!"

Ron was not there. Presumably, he had stayed below to keep watch, or had been delayed for some other reason.

Charlie Weasley looked at the suddenly appeared Slytherin boy with his gloomy air, then at his younger brother's terrified friends.

He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something to ease the tension or explain.

But in the end, it only became an even more worried look and an expression of hesitant silence.

For a moment, the atmosphere was exceedingly awkward and tense.

Yet Skofot did not immediately draw his wand or turn around to report them, as they had expected.

He did not even glance at the clearly suspicious crate again.

Under Harry and Hermione's horrified gazes, he slowly raised his head and looked toward the pitch-black sky strewn with stars.

Tonight's moon was clearly a slender crescent, glowing with pale silver light.

Yet as though he had beheld some breathtakingly beautiful sight, Skofot spoke leisurely in a slightly operatic tone utterly unlike his usual style:

"This moon... is so round. Truly round. Mm..."

Harry:?

Hermione:?

Charlie:...

He even nodded solemnly, as though confirming his own "discovery." His eyes stared fixedly as he "admired" that crescent moon, which was absolutely not "round," and his tone was so sincere it was horrifying.

Harry and Hermione both froze, unable to react for a moment.

Hermione was the first to come to her senses. She suddenly understood something and tugged hard on Harry's sleeve as he still stood there dazed, whispering urgently:

"Harry! Quick! He... he's pretending not to see us!"

Harry instantly understood as well. Though he had no idea what Leoqi was up to, getting out of this unscathed was what mattered most right now.

He exchanged a glance with Charlie. The three of them hesitated no longer, nor did they have time to think. They used all their strength to lift the heavy crate, then practically scrambled toward the agreed handoff point at the edge of the platform, their hearts still pounding wildly.

Skofot remained in his stargazing pose, as if he had truly been captivated by that "full moon," completely deaf to the chaotic commotion behind him.

Only after the footsteps and the sound of the crate being dragged had faded on the other side of the tower did he slowly lower his head, a faint, inscrutable curve touching his lips.

Tattling? How boring.

He preferred this sort of thing... the feeling of controlling the situation and watching others fret uneasily right under his nose.

Besides, doing the future "Savior" a favor—or rather, creating leverage over him—might yield unexpected returns someday.

He turned and slowly descended the Astronomy Tower, his figure once again melting into the castle's deep night.

Tonight's wind did not seem quite so cold anymore.

Skofot slowly walked down from the Astronomy Tower. As soon as he turned into the corridor leading to the dungeons, he came upon a familiar sight—

Professor McGonagall stood like an iceberg suppressing its fury before the trembling Harry and Hermione and the bewildered Neville. Beside her stood Filch, gloating, with his swaying oil lamp. Harry's Invisibility Cloak had clearly failed to save them and, unsurprisingly, had been left behind in the tower.