The Scar Throbbed Faintly, Then a Sudden Change Occurred!

Diagon Alley, Gringotts, underground vaults, No. 687.

The Potter Household's bank vault.

The small mine cart stopped there.

Everyone got off, and the goblin Griphook used the golden key to open the vault door.

A dazzling radiance filled their sight. Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts were piled up like mountains inside the vault, making Harry's eyes light up as he stood frozen in place.

The Potter Lineage had made its fortune through potions and medical techniques. The manufacturing methods for commonly used modern remedies like Skele-Gro and Pepperup Potion were said to have originated with the Potter Lineage.

Harry's grandfather had even created an extraordinarily magical shampoo potion. The company he founded and the income from its patents had made him immensely wealthy. After selling the shampoo company he had established, the Potter Lineage's wealth had reached its peak.

Their knack for making money, combined with their dwindling numbers, had produced the spectacular sight Harry Potter now beheld.

"Fill your pockets, Harry!" Hagrid dry-heaved twice after getting off the cart, then reminded him, "The Potter Lineage's wealth is enough to let you live a rich and comfortable life in the Wizarding World."

Harry did not immediately reach out to take anything. Instead, he turned to Dudley. "Big cousin, you..."

"What do you mean, me? You think I'd stand on ceremony with you, Harry?! No matter how much money you have, you're still my little cousin!"

Dudley unceremoniously reached into the vault, picking only Galleons and casually stuffing two bulging pockets full.

When he was done, he reminded him, "Hurry up and take more too, Harry! Coming to Gringotts is quite a hassle!"

"Huh? Oh! Okay, big cousin!"

Harry answered. He felt not the slightest dissatisfaction at his cousin taking money from his family vault. Instead, he followed his cousin's instructions and quickly grabbed several handfuls of gold coins, stuffing them into every pocket of his clothes.

"What wonderful brotherly affection!" Hagrid's eyes even grew moist with emotion. "I wish I had a brother too."

"Hagrid, don't make such a fuss. You'll have a brother someday. Get in the cart already. Once we finish your errand, Harry and I still need to go shopping!"

Dudley had turned the tables completely, wearing an impatient expression. Anyone unaware of the situation would have thought he did not care at all about what Hagrid had come to retrieve.

"Oh! Right, right!"

Hagrid ignored Dudley's remark about a "brother," thinking Dudley was merely joking to comfort him. He simply climbed back into the cart obediently and clumsily.

After Griphook locked Vault No. 687, he handed the golden key to Harry.

Then the group resumed their previous positions, and the small mine cart started up again, heading toward the deeper vaults.

The distance from Vault No. 687 to Vault No. 713 was not particularly far.

Before long, they arrived at their destination.

The lock on Vault No. 713 was far more secure than the one on Vault No. 687.

Because the key to this vault door was a goblin's finger.

"No one can steal anything from Gringotts' underground vaults!"

An extraordinary confidence appeared on Griphook's wrinkled goblin face. "If anyone other than a goblin touches this door, they'll be sucked inside and locked up tight!

Normally, if no one comes to retrieve anything, we only inspect it once every ten years. Heh heh heh..."

As Griphook's sharp right index finger slid into the vault door's keyhole, the door slowly turned into black smoke, revealing the small space within.

Since this vault stored only small items, the interior had not been expanded much.

Hagrid became unusually serious. After getting off the cart, he strode quickly to the vault and reached his large hand inside.

Standing to one side, Dudley caught sight of what was stored in the vault: a small paper packet tied with kraft paper and hemp string, looking at first glance exactly like the prop he had prepared beforehand!

[Philosopher's Stone Wrapped in Kraft Paper (S-rank)]

The system promptly provided its appraisal. Watching Hagrid carefully pick up the small packet and tuck it into the inner pocket over his chest, even Dudley could not help feeling delighted.

Thank heavens, everything was going smoothly!

"Hiss—"

At that most critical moment, Harry, beside Dudley, covered his forehead and gave a soft cry of pain.

"Big cousin, the scar on my forehead suddenly hurts..."

Seeing the questioning look his cousin gave him, Harry truthfully described what he felt.

Dudley's expression changed slightly. He hurriedly grabbed Harry's hand and wrote a letter in his palm with a finger.

Harry immediately became alert. No matter how much Hagrid and the goblin had bragged about Gringotts' security, it was nowhere near as trustworthy as his cousin's signal.

"Let's go! What's wrong with you, Ha—"

Having retrieved the Philosopher's Stone and turned around, Hagrid faintly saw Harry's furrowed, serious little expression in the dim torchlight.

But the moment Hagrid uttered the syllable "Ha," Dudley deliberately interrupted him with loud laughter.

"Hahahaha... Hagrid! You've still got sandwich crumbs stuck in your beard!"

Teasing him, Dudley pulled Harry over to Hagrid's side.

"Oh, do I? Hahaha..." Hagrid was broad-minded and failed entirely to notice the deeper meaning in Dudley's expression. He stretched out a huge hand and began feeling around in his beard.

Dudley had expected this. Once he drew close to Hagrid, he hurriedly warned in a low voice, "Hagrid, there's a dark wizard not far away. Be careful!"

"Wha..." Hagrid quickly shut his mouth. Startled, he hurriedly swept his round eyes across their surroundings.

Dudley also seized the perfect opportunity while Hagrid's attention was diverted. Using his strongest technique, he held the fake ruby paper packet he had just taken from his coat in his right hand, gave a slight leap, and shot his hand out with the motion. Like a hunting serpent, he was so fast he nearly left an afterimage.

"Stupefy!"

Suddenly, a red flash flew out from the darkness. Already on guard, Hagrid hurriedly scooped Harry and Dudley up in front of him, spun sharply, and used his broad back to block the spell.

The powerful Stunning Spell struck Hagrid's back, making him drowsy for a moment. He yawned, shook his head, and immediately regained consciousness. Then he quickly pulled out his umbrella wand, turned toward the source of the Stunning Spell, and fired a streak of white light.

Hagrid had not spoken an incantation. It was Silent Transfiguration.

"Idiot! That big fool has giant blood and resistance to spells! Use spells meant for other objects against him!"

In the darkness, Quirinus Quirrell, wrapped in a turban and dressed in robes, a hood, and a black cloth mask, reeking of garlic, meekly accepted the Dark Lord's rebuke from the back of his head. At the same time, he used a Silent Shield Charm to block the white light Hagrid had fired.

"Bombarda! Bombarda Maxima!"

Having received guidance, Quirrell immediately cast powerful explosive curses in Hagrid's direction.

A dim yellow light flew from the tip of his alder wand, and deafening explosions and thunderous booms instantly rang out in the distance.

Countless stalactites fell from above. The blasts echoed continuously through the vast underground vaults, the ground shook, and the chain reaction made it seem as though a minor earthquake had occurred.

"Idiot!"

Voldemort's main soul, residing on the back of Quirrell's head, was nearly exploding with rage!

"Get over there and check! If you blew up the Philosopher's Stone, I'll have your life!"