Voldemort's Final Mercy

Just past midnight, four Little Lions sneaked out again.

Hermione's conversation with Cho that afternoon had gone smoothly, far more smoothly than when they had first met.

"Isn't she easy to talk to?"

"Yeah. At least she doesn't pester people with questions. She's really comfortable to be around."

George gave an awkward laugh. "Oh, I'm a little hungry~"

Holding the Marauder's Map, he strode down the castle stairs.

Fred gave Vincent a meaningful look.

"Why hasn't the smoke in the Forbidden Forest fallen yet?"

"Probably because of that anti-intrusion magic."

Hearing them deliberately change the subject, Hermione immediately grew interested as well.

"When you flew out of the school on a broom last time, Professor McGonagall hadn't removed the protective magic yet."

Vincent spotted the flaw. "You think someone tampered with it?"

"Very likely."

Who would leave such a huge cloud of choking smoke in the Forbidden Forest?

Hagrid?

Dumbledore?

"How about we go see whether their location has—"

"Quirrell went out!"

George jogged over, pointing at the Great Hall on the map.

The little footprints beneath the name Quirinus Quirrell were heading straight out of the castle.

"What should we do?" Hermione hurried to the window.

But it was pitch-black below, and the Forbidden Forest was little more than a vague outline.

"He's almost there."

The Marauder's Map could only show the castle and its surrounding area.

Once Quirrell entered the Forbidden Forest, finding him would become difficult.

Vincent frowned as he met three pairs of slightly helpless wide eyes.

They wanted to catch Quirrell, but they were even more worried about being caught themselves.

Yet if they let him enter the Forbidden Forest, they would be terribly unwilling to accept it.

"You guys—I—"

Vincent took a deep breath and fixed the three with a grim expression.

"I'll go