Shadow Stealth and Stars and Moon Traveling Together

Harry's excitement over becoming Gryffindor's Seeker hadn't quite subsided when a bigger mystery quietly descended. In a corner of the library, Hermione pushed several open, heavy tomes in front of Linley, her brow furrowed.

"Look here, and here!" Her fingertips traced the yellowed parchment pages, her voice kept very low. "Secrets of Modern Alchemy, Studies of the Legend of the Philosopher's Stone, and the appendix of this Illustrated Catalogue of Medieval Magical Items... they all mention the same legendary alchemical master! He dedicated his life to the pursuit of turning lead into gold and the elixir of life, leaving behind countless legends, but the most crucial information—his name—has been deliberately erased from all these reliable texts! Only the abbreviation 'N.F.' remains!"

Linley's gaze swept over the passages blacked out with ink or torn away. The Star Stone in his chest emitted a faint, warning warmth. Such large-scale, deliberate erasure was highly unusual.

"And Hagrid!" Hermione continued, her small face flushed with excitement. "Remember what he said? 'Fluffy' is guarding 'the most important thing in Hogwarts'! What needs to be guarded by a three-headed giant dog? Combined with the lifelong pursuits of this alchemist whose name has been erased..."

"The Philosopher's Stone," Linley calmly finished her deduction. The words seemed to carry a magic of their own, causing the air around them to still for a moment. The ultimate alchemical creation, rumored to turn lead into gold and produce the elixir of life.

Hermione nodded vigorously. "Exactly! Only a treasure of that magnitude would require such stringent protection! And that 'N.F.' is likely the Philosopher's Stone's former owner, or creator! Was his name erased to protect the Stone's whereabouts? Or because of some other danger?"

The clues were like beads from a broken string, pointing in the same direction but unable to connect. As the two fell into thought, Harry and Ron ran over, out of breath, their faces a mixture of the excitement and nervousness of a new discovery.

"You'll never guess!" Ron lowered his voice, his eyes wide. "We were just in the forbidden corridor on the third floor... heard something! It was Snape! He was threatening Professor Quirrell! We heard it clearly! Snape said, 'What have you decided?' 'Don't try any tricks!' Professor Quirrell was stammering in fear!"

"What does Snape want from Quirrell?" Harry added urgently. "It must be related to the Philosopher's Stone! He wants to force Quirrell to reveal how to get past Fluffy!"

Snape's involvement instantly escalated the already murky situation. Hermione's expression grew serious. "Snape... he's always coveted the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor position, but Headmaster Dumbledore gave it to Quirrell. If he really wants to steal the Philosopher's Stone..."

"We have to stop him!" Harry declared, his green eyes burning with determination. "Before Snape succeeds!"

Stop him? Easier said than done. Their opponent was the unfathomable Potions Master, and the guardian was a legendary treasure whose name couldn't even be spoken. The group of four fell into a brief silence, the atmosphere heavy.

A few evenings later, Harry mysteriously found Linley and Hermione, holding a large, well-wrapped object. "Look at this!" He unwrapped it, revealing a fabric that shimmered with a watery, silver-gray sheen, cool and smooth to the touch—an Invisibility Cloak!

"This belonged to my father!" Harry's voice was filled with excitement. "It was sent anonymously for Christmas! With this, we can sneak into the forbidden third-floor corridor! Find out what Snape is up to, and maybe... find the Philosopher's Stone's protective measures!"

A midnight trip to the forbidden area! The suggestion was both dangerous and tempting. Ron was eager, while Hermione was worried, her small face taut. "This is too risky! Violating school rules is secondary; if Snape or Fluffy finds out..."

"We just need to scout, not get close to Fluffy!" Harry insisted. "With the Invisibility Cloak, we'll be careful and won't be discovered! Linley, what do you think?" He looked at Linley, who had been silent.

Linley's fingers unconsciously stroked the cool body of the Pen of Stars. The Star Stone emitted a steady warmth, not a warning, but more like a... confirmation. The secret of the Philosopher's Stone, Snape's ambition, and that erased name all pointed to a vortex that needed to be uncovered. Waiting passively carried greater risk.

"We can," Linley's voice broke the silence. "But only scouting, no contact."

Harry and Ron cheered. Hermione looked at Linley's calm eyes, her unease inexplicably easing. She took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright... but we must plan meticulously! And..." She looked at Linley, her gaze holding a hint of dependence she hadn't noticed herself. "We'll... go together."

Midnight approached, and the castle fell into a slumber-like silence. The only sounds in the corridor were the occasional crackling of torches on the walls. The footsteps of Filch and his scrawny cat, Mrs. Norris, could be heard intermittently in the distance.

Four figures squeezed under the Invisibility Cloak, their movements becoming clumsy and slow. Harry led, Ron followed closely, Linley was at the back, and Hermione was sandwiched in the middle. The space within the Invisibility Cloak was limited, and the four were pressed tightly together, able to clearly feel each other's body heat and breathing.

Hermione was particularly nervous. She was pressed close to Linley, her back almost against his chest. Linley's steady heartbeat and his clean scent, like a forest after rain (mixed with the faint starlight of the Star Stone), came through the fabric, becoming the only anchor in the darkness, helping her rapidly beating heart calm down slightly. She could feel one of Linley's hands lightly resting on her waist, and through the Invisibility Cloak, that protective posture inexplicably reassured her. A gentle warmth emanated from the Moon White Stone on her chest.

They carefully avoided patrolling suits of armor (enchanted to report any unusual activity) and bypassed the gossiping portraits (their eyes covered with cloth), holding their breath as they waited for Mrs. Norris to saunter past in the adjacent corridor. Every step felt like walking on thin ice.

Finally, they reached the end of the strictly forbidden corridor on the third floor. A heavy oak door was tightly shut, a faint light seeping from the crack. Inside, they could vaguely hear... heavy, wet breathing? From more than one source!

Harry took a deep breath and signaled everyone to stop. He very slowly and silently pushed the door open a crack.

The sight within made the four under the Invisibility Cloak instantly hold their breath!

The room was large and empty. The only "furniture" was in the center of the room, a beast as massive as a small mountain! It had three enormous, grotesque heads dripping with viscous saliva! Six blood-red eyes glowed like burning coals in the darkness, flashing with ferocious light! Its massive body was covered in tangled black fur, and its thick paws were like stone blocks. At the moment, it seemed somewhat drowsy, its three heads drooping, emitting thunderous snores and wet breathing from its throat. And between its massive, pillar-like hind legs, a square opening was covered by a heavy trapdoor on the floor!

A trapdoor! The entrance to the Philosopher's Stone was indeed here!

Just as the four were shocked by the sheer size and ferocity of Fluffy (the Three-Headed Dog), something unexpected happened!

The middle head of Fluffy seemed to sniff an unusual scent (perhaps the magical fluctuations of the Invisibility Cloak, or the scent of the four), and it suddenly lifted its head! Its blood-red eyes instantly locked onto the crack in the doorway! A low, threatening growl rumbled from its throat! Immediately, the other two heads snapped awake, their six eyes scanning the doorway like searchlights! A foul stench wafted towards them!

"Oh no!" Hermione's heart leaped into her throat! Ron was so scared he almost cried out, but Harry clamped his hand firmly over his mouth.

Fluffy's massive body began to turn towards the door, its heavy paws scraping the ground with a grating sound! Its three maws opened, revealing dagger-like fangs, and low growls echoed in the room. It looked like it was about to pounce!

At the critical moment!

Linley moved! His left hand, hidden under the Invisibility Cloak, shot out like lightning. He didn't draw his wand, but tightly grasped Hermione's cool, slightly trembling hand in front of him! Their fingers intertwined!

The moment the Star Stone and the Moon White Stone touched, they simultaneously erupted with a strong warmth, clearly perceptible only to each other! An invisible, gentle, yet powerful energy field instantly spread out from the two of them, like ripples on a lake from a dropped stone!

This energy field was not an attack, but more like an extremely refined "soothing" and "concealing" effect. It cleverly mimicked the "calm" aura of the surrounding environment, carrying a natural tranquility from the stars and moonlight.

Fluffy, about to lunge, suddenly froze! The ferocity in its three massive heads was replaced by a hint of confusion and bewilderment. Its huge nostrils twitched, as if trying to discern the fleeting "threatening" scent, but it was disrupted by the gentle, calming energy field. Fluffy let out a few confused snorts, like sneezes, and its massive body turned restlessly in place twice. Finally, soothed by the continuously radiating tranquil power, its three heads slowly drooped again, its heavy eyelids began to droop, and the thunderous snores resumed.

The crisis was averted!

Under the Invisibility Cloak, the four breathed a sigh of relief as if they had collapsed, their cold sweat almost soaking through their undershirts. Hermione's hand was still held tightly by Linley. She could clearly feel the warmth of his palm and that undeniable sense of strength, as well as the synchronized throbbing of the Star Stone and Moon White Stone, a feeling of surviving a near-death experience. She even forgot her shyness, instinctively gripping his hand tighter, as if it were her only support.

Harry carefully closed the door crack, and the four, like startled rabbits, retreated from the forbidden corridor as quickly and quietly as possible. Only when they returned to the safety of the Gryffindor Tower, behind the Fat Lady's portrait, and pulled off the Invisibility Cloak, did they dare to breathe heavily.

"Merlin's beard! That scared me to death!" Ron collapsed onto the common room carpet, his face pale.

"That monster... it was terrifying..." Harry said, still shaken, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

Hermione leaned against the cold stone wall, her chest heaving, her small face still pale. She looked at Linley, her gaze complex, filled with lingering fear, gratitude, and a hint of an inexplicable flutter. In that life-or-death moment, he had held her hand, and he had invoked that wondrous power... calming the beast's fury.

"Thank you, Linley," Hermione's voice trembled slightly. Her gaze fell on their hands, which had been clasped moments ago and had now let go, her fingertips seeming to still retain his warmth.

Linley merely nodded slightly, his breathing also a little rapid. The warmth of the Star Stone had not yet fully subsided. Forcibly resonating the two stones to create such a wide-ranging calming field had consumed considerable energy.

"We found the entrance! The trapdoor!" Harry became excited, temporarily suppressing his fear. "It's right under Fluffy's feet! But... how do we get through it?" Thinking of those three ferocious dog heads, his enthusiasm was instantly extinguished.

"Music!" Hermione suddenly remembered, her eyes lighting up. "Hagrid said! Fluffy has a fatal weakness—he falls asleep when he hears music! He put it to sleep with a broken accordion last time! We just need to play music before we go in!"

This crucial piece of information was like a ray of light in the darkness!

"That's great!" Ron jumped up. "I have a Muggle tape recorder! Fred and George modified it, it's loud enough! We can record something!"

The plan seemed to have found a breakthrough. But amidst the excitement, a bigger question surfaced.

"But..." Harry frowned. "What's under the trapdoor? How will Snape, or anyone else who wants to steal the Philosopher's Stone, get past Fluffy? Do they have musical instruments too?"

Hermione and Linley exchanged glances. This question went to the core of the matter—the protection measures for the Philosopher's Stone were far more than just Fluffy. Beneath the trapdoor, more complex and dangerous trials, personally set up by the Hogwarts professors, must be hidden. And the person coveting the treasure had clearly already obtained some key information.

The thrill of the midnight excursion had temporarily ended, but the undercurrents surrounding the Philosopher's Stone were just beginning to surge. Linley's gaze drifted to the deep night outside the tower window. The Star Stone in his chest emitted a steady warmth, as if silently responding to the approaching storm. And the girl's gaze beside him, filled with reliance and trust, became the clearest guide in this fog.