Harry gripped his broomstick tightly in the sky, his heart pounding wildly.
The Golden Snitch was right in front of him, its wings beating rapidly as it darted up and down.
The Slytherin Seeker had spotted the Snitch as well and was charging over from the other direction.
Harry suddenly dove, stretching his arm forward.
The Golden Snitch was right at his fingertips, and he could feel its faint vibrations.
"I've got it!"
Harry raised his right hand high, the Golden Snitch struggling in his palm.
The entire stadium erupted in thunderous cheers, while the Gryffindor students jumped up and down like mad.
"Gryffindor wins!" Lee Jordan's voice had gone hoarse.
Although he was the commentator, as a member of Gryffindor, he felt immensely proud.
"Final score: Gryffindor, 210 points; Slytherin, 60 points!"
"Slytherin, if you're bad, practice more!"
"Jordan!"
"Sorry, sorry, Professor McGonagall. I got too excited."
Charlie clapped excitedly as well. It felt just like the first time he had watched a match.
The heated atmosphere infected everyone present.
After the match ended, Harry found the others. They had already agreed to celebrate at Hagrid's Hut.
Charlie had not originally planned to go, but then he remembered Harry saying that the thing hidden on the Fourth Floor had been retrieved from Gringotts by Hagrid.
It was the perfect opportunity to go to Hagrid's place and pry out some information.
That damned Three-headed dog had not given them the slightest chance, so he would have to think of another way.
Thus, he happily walked with them toward Hagrid's Hut.
Hagrid's Hut was as warm as spring, and the fire in the fireplace was blazing brightly.
Hagrid poured hot tea for everyone and brought out some Rock cakes he had made himself.
Charlie looked at the biscuits, which were hard enough to kill someone, and silently pulled his hand back.
"Harry, you were brilliant today!" Hagrid said excitedly, his beard trembling.
"That move where you caught the Golden Snitch was exactly like your father!"
Harry scratched his head shyly.
"Something went wrong in the middle, actually. My broom suddenly went out of control."
"What?" Hagrid's eyes widened.
He had not noticed anything unusual at all and had assumed Harry was showing off his skills.
Ron said indignantly:
"It must have been that bastard Malfoy who had someone cast a curse."
"He threatened Harry before, too."
Hagrid was so furious that his beard stood on end.
"What a nasty piece of work. How dare he sabotage the match!"
Hermione frowned in thought.
"I think we should tell a professor. Something like this is too dangerous."
Harry nodded in agreement.
Just as everyone was seething with righteous anger, Charlie suddenly leaned close to Harry's ear and lowered his voice.
"Harry, you said the thing on the Fourth Floor was something Hagrid retrieved from Gringotts, right?"
Harry froze for a moment, then nodded.
A sly glint flashed through Charlie's eyes.
"Hagrid's here now. Let's see if we can get him to talk."
"Isn't that a little wrong?" Harry hesitated.
"Hagrid's been so good to us..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Harry turned around and asked directly:
"Hagrid, what is the Three-headed dog on the Fourth Floor guarding?"
The teacup in Hagrid's hand nearly fell to the floor.
"How do you know about Fluffy?"
His eyes widened, his face filled with shock.
"Fluffy?" Ron repeated curiously.
"That's the name I gave him." Hagrid looked a little nervous.
"I bought him from a Greek fellow. I raised him from when he was small, just like his mother."
"Let's talk about what he's guarding."
Hagrid grew nervous again.
"Whatever you do, don't go poking around what he's guarding. Forget you—"
"That's Professor Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel's..."
Halfway through, Hagrid suddenly realized he had let something slip.
He hurriedly covered his mouth, his eyes filled with regret.
Harry and the others exchanged glances. None of them knew who Nicolas Flamel was.
But Charlie's eyes lit up.
"Nicolas Flamel?"
Charlie pulled a Chocolate Frog Card from his pocket.
It was a card he had collected on the Hogwarts Express.
The card showed a portrait of Professor Dumbledore, with words printed beneath it.
"Achieved outstanding accomplishments in alchemy alongside his partner, [Nicolas Flamel], and together created the Philosopher's Stone."
Charlie read the description on the card aloud, his voice growing quieter and quieter.
Hagrid's face grew paler and paler, and cold sweat appeared on his forehead.
"What is the Philosopher's Stone?" Harry asked.
"Don't ask, Harry. Don't ask." Hagrid put on a look of agony.
Hermione immediately piled on.
"I read about it in a book. The Philosopher's Stone contains limitless Magic Power and can grant immortality!"
"Immortality?" Ron sucked in a sharp breath.
"Then could the thing below be the Philosopher's Stone?"
After Ron finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned toward Hagrid.
Hagrid's reaction was the best answer.
He waved his hands in panic, stammering:
"No, no, you've got it all wrong."
"How could it possibly be the Philosopher's Stone? Hahaha..."
Hagrid's laughter sounded worse than crying. Even a primary school student could see how flustered he was.
"Oh my goodness." Hermione covered her mouth.
"It really is the Philosopher's Stone."
"The Philosopher's Stone that can grant immortality." Harry muttered to himself.
"No wonder there are so many protective measures."
Hagrid was completely deflated. He dropped heavily into a chair.
"I really am an idiot!"
After successfully prying the information out of Hagrid, Charlie stopped paying much attention to the thing beneath the Fourth Floor.
This was probably what one might call the sage-like peace that came after satisfying one's curiosity.
Although the Philosopher's Stone sounded impressive, it was not very useful to Charlie at present. He had a system, after all. How hard could immortality be?
[Your Majesty is bragging. Don't drag me into it.]
Charlie rolled his eyes.
"Useless system."
All in all, the thing was under Dumbledore's protection. As a first-year Wizard, he might as well stop thinking about it.
Harry also told Professor McGonagall about the curse.
Professor McGonagall summoned Malfoy and questioned him. After confirming that he had neither cast a curse nor had anyone else cast one, the matter was dropped.
Before long, Christmas arrived, and the school was about to close for the holidays.
Most of the students were preparing to go home for the festivities, and the whole of Hogwarts was filled with a relaxed atmosphere in anticipation of the break.
Charlie was packing his luggage in the dormitory, planning to return to the Orphanage and enjoy a leisurely holiday.
He had not seen Grandma White for nearly half a year, and he was beginning to miss her.
Just then, Billy suddenly appeared, startling Ernie, who was packing nearby.
"Mr. White, Professor Flitwick is looking for you," Billy said respectfully.
Charlie set down the clothes in his hands. "Now?"
"Yes. The professor is waiting for you in his office."
Charlie made a guess. Could the anti-magic vest be finished?
He felt a surge of excitement.
"I understand. I'll go right away."
When he arrived at Professor Flitwick's office, Charlie knocked lightly on the door.
"Come in."
Charlie pushed open the door and saw Professor Flitwick sitting behind his desk, a mysterious smile on his face.
"Mr. White, please sit down."
Professor Flitwick gestured toward the chair opposite him.
Once Charlie was seated, Professor Flitwick waved his Wand, and a drawer in the desk opened by itself.
A cake hopped out of it and bounced over to Charlie.
"Try this cake. It's a new one I bought in Hogsmeade." Professor Flitwick smiled.
Hogsmeade was the largest Wizard settlement in Britain, and students had to be in their third year before they could apply to visit. Charlie naturally had never been there.
Charlie took a bite of the cake. Although it was delicious, he was thinking about the anti-magic vest, so he took the initiative to ask:
"Professor, has Griphook finished making it?"
Professor Flitwick smiled.
"That's right. The thing you wanted is finished."
The mouse author is writing ten thousand words a day, with everything aimed at making the readers happy.
However, the verification period starts tomorrow, so I need to test different traffic pools and will only update four thousand words a day.
Let the ten thousand words rest for a little while. I'll write more when the debut arrives.
Before you continue