Hogwarts Castle was especially quiet at night.
Slow footsteps echoed across the stone stairs as Snape made his way to the Seventh Floor.
His expression was even more sullen than usual.
The Stone Beast outside the Headmaster's Office had already moved aside.
Snape strode straight up the Spiral Staircase and pushed open the office door without knocking.
Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk, holding a thick, ancient book.
When he saw Snape enter, he slowly raised his head. His blue eyes glinted behind his glasses.
"Severus." Dumbledore gave a gentle nod.
"Coming to see me so late, you must have something important to discuss."
Snape stopped in front of the desk and braced both hands against it.
"Quirrell's been possessed by the Dark Lord."
Dumbledore blinked, his expression instantly turning to one of surprise.
He set down the book and leaned forward.
"What? Are you sure?"
Snape narrowed his eyes and said sarcastically,
"Don't pretend, Dumbledore."
"You knew already, didn't you?"
Dumbledore froze, then gave an awkward cough.
"Severus, you're still as perceptive as ever."
"If you knew, why didn't you deal with him?" Snape gritted his teeth.
"You let someone possessed by the Dark Lord return to the school as a teacher. Do you have any idea how dangerous that is for the students?"
Dumbledore regarded Snape meaningfully.
"Oh, it seems you care a great deal about the students' safety, too."
Snape's face immediately hardened. He took a step back and said coldly,
"I just don't want any students getting hurt and causing trouble for the school."
"And problems at the school could affect me."
Dumbledore wore an expression that said he understood everything.
"No need to explain, no need to explain." The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
"I understand."
Snape narrowed his eyes further.
The Headmaster had that look again... Why did the old man look so much like that Hufflepuff bastard?
Dumbledore sat up straight, his expression growing serious once more.
"It's not that I don't want to deal with Voldemort, Severus."
"It's that I can't."
"I still haven't figured out why Voldemort can't die," Dumbledore continued.
"Although he's only a spirit now, he could regain a body with the right means."
Snape frowned and paced around the office a few times.
The humming of the silver instruments sounded especially clear in the silence.
"So you put the Philosopher's Stone in the school."
"And set up a bunch of child's-play obstacles to lure the Dark Lord here?"
Dumbledore didn't answer, but his silence said it all.
Snape gave a cold laugh and pressed on.
"Then how do you guarantee the Philosopher's Stone won't fall into his hands? With those obstacles of yours?"
He paused, a look of realization flashing in his eyes.
"Oh, wait. Those obstacles weren't meant to stop the Dark Lord, were they?"
Dumbledore remained silent, simply watching him.
Snape paced a few more steps around the office, the pieces in his mind falling into place.
"Those obstacles were meant to test someone, weren't they?" He turned around, his dark eyes fixed on Dumbledore.
"And that person is your way of guarding against the Dark Lord. Let me guess..."
His voice grew even more sarcastic.
"It's Harry, isn't it?"
Dumbledore slowly nodded.
Snape froze.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, all that came out was a derisive laugh.
"Oh, you asked me to protect him, but now you're sending him to his death. Sometimes I really can't understand you, Dumbledore."
Dumbledore stood up and walked around the desk to face Snape.
He looked Snape straight in the eyes, his voice sincere and firm.
"I'm not sending him to his death, Severus."
"Harry will be all right. I promise."
Snape stared at Dumbledore for a long time.
At last, Snape gave a cold snort.
"Let's hope so."
He turned and strode toward the door.
Dumbledore sighed. Sometimes he really understood why the students were afraid of Severus. When he got serious, he was truly terrifying.
Ever since Charlie had amicably mediated the conflict between Gryffindor and Serpent House, he'd become even more famous.
Now, wherever he went, people watched him and whispered to one another.
Students in the corridors would stop and point at him.
At mealtimes in the dining hall, the students in his house would wait for Charlie to take food first.
That evening, after dinner, Charlie returned to the common room.
The warm fireplace crackled, its orange-red light dancing across the stone walls.
Several comfortable sofas were arranged around the fireplace, and the woolen rug felt soft underfoot.
Charlie picked a sofa at random and sat down, planning to let his dinner settle.
A few pretty older girls were sitting on the sofa beside him, talking quietly and glancing his way now and then.
They kept their voices low, but Charlie could still make out a few words.
"His skin is so nice. It looks so soft."
"He's only a first-year..."
Charlie pretended not to hear them, closed his eyes, and leaned back against the sofa.
Just then, Jenny, one of the pretty older girls, stood up and walked over to him.
"Charlie."
Jenny's voice was soft, with the particular air of a fifth-year girl.
She had curly chestnut hair and beautiful light brown eyes.
Charlie opened his eyes and looked at her.
"Senior Jenny, did you need something?"
Jenny sat down beside Charlie and leaned forward slightly.
"How did you get so good at Transfiguration?"
Her eyes glinted with curiosity.
Charlie sighed as if he were burdened by being too talented.
"It's all talent and hard work."
Jenny's eyes lit up. She reached out and squeezed Charlie's shoulder.
"Then could you teach me?"
Her fingers gently kneaded his shoulder.
"I'll give you a massage."
Feeling his shoulder relax, Charlie glanced at Jenny.
It really was comfortable. The day's fatigue slowly melted away beneath her fingers.
"That depends on how well you do, Senior."
At that, Jenny kneaded his shoulder with even more enthusiasm.
Her technique was clumsy, but the pressure was just right, and Charlie couldn't help narrowing his eyes in pleasure.
Just then, the other pretty older girls came over, too.
"I want to learn Transfiguration, too!"
"Charlie, teach us as well!"
"Yes, yes! We all want to learn!"
The girls gathered around him, chattering away. Before Charlie could say anything, they began assigning themselves tasks.
"I'll massage your head."
A dark-haired girl sat down behind Charlie and began gently massaging his temples with her slender fingers.
"I'll do your legs!"
Another girl crouched in front of the sofa and began massaging Charlie's calves.
"Then I'll feed you!"
The last girl fetched a fruit platter from the table and started feeding Charlie fruit.
With treatment this good, what was there to say? Of course he'd teach them.
Charlie accepted their attention without a shred of guilt.
Four pretty older girls fussed over him, drawing plenty of attention throughout the common room.
The girls saw that their plan had worked and began whispering among themselves.
"He's really quite firm."
"He's so nice to squeeze..."
Hah, shallow women. They were just after my body, and they were making excuses about learning Transfiguration.
Charlie listened to their whispers, in a very good mood.
I've worked hard all day. What's wrong with enjoying myself a little?
Besides, getting along so well with all these girls must make my Tyrant Points go up, right?
[His Majesty enjoys the attentions of several beautiful girls. Tyrant Points +2] [Also, Your Majesty, don't expect to do things you can't do at your age. You're only eleven.]
Charlie: "???"
I'm reporting you for slander! What did I ever do to Little Chunan?
Just as Charlie was about to argue with the system, Ernie hurried into the common room.
He saw Charlie surrounded by four older girls, froze for a moment, then hurried over.
"Charlie!"
"Filch is looking for you outside. He says Professor McGonagall's given you detention."
Before you continue