Harry leaped onto the treetop, hands clasped behind his back, ready to express his feelings. Instead, he saw Quirrell.
Neither Dobby nor the squid Cthulhu had sent him any updates.
His fists clenched.
The power of [Righteous Qi] and the [Killing Curse] converged in his fist.
The [Hide-and-Seek] skill erased his outline and suppressed his escaping presence.
"Not him."
His fist was already an inch from the back of Quirrell's head, but stopped in an instant.
Even the sound of the rushing air vanished.
The righteous execution was called off when Harry realized the truth.
—Good thing I hadn't loaded the Power of the Exposed Butt.
"Quirrell" continued sneaking forward.
Harry openly circled him, inspecting him, but "Quirrell" didn't notice.
"No flaws, and the magical aura is the same. This isn't just an illusion disguising his appearance. The only thing that could do this so perfectly is... [Polyjuice Potion]."
"Who are you?"
The Boggart's [Fear Reading], only of [Black Iron] rank, became a bridge through which Harry invaded the mind of the "Quirrell" before him.
"Lucius Malfoy. Since when?"
Harry no longer bothered to hide his voice.
[Ding ding ding! ... [Save the Pointy-Faced Finance Minister] ... Reward: Bronze Magic Knowledge · 1]
"Quirrell" turned around, his eyes vacant. His wand flashed green as he whipped it out. "Avada Kedavra!"
"Interesting."
A broad, pale hand blocked the green light that meant instant death. It made a soft pop, and the next moment, the hand was at "Quirrell's" throat.
The wand was knocked away with a sharp crack, and a muscular arm hoisted "Quirrell" into the air.
The power of [Finite Incantatem] and [Righteous Qi] gathered in Harry's palm.
The magic of the [Polyjuice Potion] was treated as [Monsters and Demons] and directly erased.
"Quirrell's" face melted like wax, then reformed as if time were running backward. Platinum-blond hair pushed out from beneath his headscarf.
A pointed face, light gray eyes, and a receding hairline. It was definitely Lucius Malfoy.
"When you see Draco again, you'd better suggest he stop using hair wax. Going bald so young, like you, isn't a good look."
Lucius Malfoy had only just regained his senses when he heard those words.
The iron grip around his neck released him, and he landed on his backside in the mud.
"It's the water quality. Harry Potter!" he replied instinctively, then jumped in fright. Ignoring his embarrassment, he brushed off his behind and got to his feet. "Where are we?"
"As far as I know, those under the [Imperius Curse] watch their bodies carry out the caster's commands as if their souls had left them. Joy wells up from within, letting them surrender themselves, stop thinking, and forget their worries."
"You're quite right, but that person's [Imperius Curse] was more sophisticated. Until you intervened, I believed I was Quirinus Quirrell. I was going to kill... I can't remember."
"An order that makes you disappear the moment you realize who you are. A memory that can accomplish that. The only person who'd do this to you is your old master. But... killing someone in the Forbidden Forest..."
"Dark Lord!" Lucius Malfoy stumbled.
"You just need to go straight to Dumbledore."
Harry had wanted to ask more, but Dobby had already mentioned his name, and Harry felt the call.
Under Lucius Malfoy's astonished gaze, Harry lifted his right foot as if stepping onto an invisible stair. The next moment, he vanished into thin air.
"What is it, Dobby?"
Harry landed as if stepping down a staircase. He looked around and saw that he and Dobby were in an empty classroom.
Even here, he could smell the pumpkin fragrance that filled the air at Halloween.
A Hufflepuff dressed as a mummy was passing by the classroom.
"Professor Quirrell left the castle through the Floo Network. Now he's back," Dobby said hurriedly.
"I see."
Harry tapped the desk.
Voldemort's plan was simple and crude: have the traitor, Old Malfoy, cause chaos while he looked for an opportunity to seize the [Philosopher's Stone].
And punish Old Malfoy while he was at it.
Harry had considered the possibility that Voldemort had traveled through the Floo Network to some unknown place, then set out from there for the Forbidden Forest.
The Forbidden Forest bordered both Hogsmeade and Hogwarts.
And in Hogsmeade Village lived another Dumbledore—Aberforth Dumbledore.
Back in their school days, he'd favored his wand over words and defended his title as dueling king in every duel. He'd even stood toe-to-toe with Grindelwald. He owned the Hog's Head Inn and was the master of the Wizarding World's gray forces.
Aberforth only seemed to have fallen out with his brother, Albus. When Voldemort had come to Hogwarts for a job, Aberforth had been the one to provide information about the men who came with him.
Aberforth had even been one of the founders of the Order of the Phoenix.
Even Voldemort without a body, together with Quirrell, wouldn't be a match for Aberforth.
Harry just hadn't expected Voldemort to go straight after Old Malfoy.
—Who exactly is he trying to kill? Hagrid? Me?
—If I'm the target, then he must have another way to cause chaos.
"Guess I'll just have to deal with whatever comes?" A flicker of displeasure crossed Harry's eyes.
Tap, tap—
A Snowy Owl flapped its wings as it pecked at the window.
Harry waved, and when the window opened, the owl flew over and held out its fluffy little leg.
"A letter from Hagrid?" Harry untied the note and opened it.
[Dear Harry: This little one is a belated birthday present for you. I'm sorry we couldn't meet for the first time on your birthday.]
[I was wondering if you're free to come over and have some tea with me.]
[—Hagrid]
[Ding ding ding! Your loyal bird has come to the side of the Savior Lord. How can you let your faithful bird suffer and shed tears? Use your magical knowledge to improve her. The reward will depend on how well you do.]
"So, you're Hedwig?"
Harry's furrowed brows finally relaxed.
He held out a finger, and Hedwig affectionately touched it with her forehead.
In the original timeline, this loyal Snowy Owl had taken a fatal Killing Curse meant for him.
The protector of children—Hedwig's name meant that—had died on the day Harry was no longer a child.
He wouldn't use [Bird Speech] to grant her intelligence. He wanted Hedwig's true self to come from the time they spent together.
All right, having a pet that could talk was just too weird.
Hedwig might not be as gluttonous and quiet as Arbok.
"Thanks for the present."
After parting ways with Dobby, Harry took Hedwig straight to Hagrid's cabin.
"You're always so quick," Hagrid said, managing a smile.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked, stroking Fang's head. "Is it Aragog again?"
"Yes." Hagrid drooped. "Ever since the start of term, his offspring have been—"
"You mean since the start of term?" Harry asked in surprise.
He remembered that only after taming Arbok had he decided to pursue craftsmanship, laboring tirelessly to maintain the balance of the Forbidden Forest's ecosystem.
"Yes, since the day of the Sorting," Hagrid said with a nod.
"Leave Hedwig here for now. I just remembered something." Harry hurriedly [Walked Down the Stairs].
Deep within the lightless Forbidden Forest.
Above a broad hollow covered in a haze of webs.
Harry appeared out of thin air.
A dense chorus of clicking sounded at once.
A herd of Acromantulas, each as big as a calf, waved their pincers at the prey that had appeared on their webs.
Harry didn't say a word. His emerald eyes turned into amber slits.
"Stop!" An elderly voice trembled with fear. "It's him!"
The clicking stopped, and the hollow fell silent save for their tense breathing.
"Where did your offspring die when the school year began?"
Before you continue