"Who did it?"
Dumbledore thought for a moment. "I suspect Jerry, but Quirrell was the one who got attacked. I don't know whether that was a coincidence or whether Jerry knows something."
After hearing Dumbledore's vague answer, Snape left the Headmaster's Office. He intended to ask Jerry himself.
Clap, clap, clap.
Once everyone had left, applause sounded from a dark corner of the room.
An old man in a black high-collared coat stepped out of the shadows. His short white hair was neatly trimmed.
Despite his age, he looked full of energy.
"Albus, it seems I was right to entrust Jerry to you. Look how remarkable he is now. Neither of us had that kind of strength at his age!"
Dumbledore did not seem surprised to see him. "Gellert, don't forget our agreement. You cannot see Jerry without my permission."
"Of course, Albus. I've never forgotten our agreement."
Dumbledore ignored that. "Did you find anything useful?"
Grindelwald frowned. "Very little. I found an abandoned Apostles base, and their damaged records contained runes that seemed to refer to a sacrifice."
"You mean Jerry is the Apostles' sacrifice?"
Grindelwald shook his head. "No. From what we learned earlier, Jerry holds an extremely high position among the Apostles. He can't be the sacrifice. Besides, they've already found him, yet their search for a sacrifice hasn't stopped. It's grown more frequent."
"To be honest, Albus, I have a bad feeling. They may be looking for a sacrifice for Jerry. You know what that would mean."
Dumbledore's frown deepened. "How sure are you?"
"I don't know. By the way, have you made any progress studying the magic that protects the Apostles' minds?"
Dumbledore sighed. "None. I've never seen anyone outside the Apostles use that magic, and there's no record of it even in the Library's Restricted Section."
After they had talked for a while, Dumbledore said, "It's getting late, Gellert. You should go."
"Albus, look outside. Do you really have the heart to send a hundred-year-old man out into the night? Your place looks comfortable enough. Why not let me stay just this once?"
Dumbledore ignored him. "Gellert, it's time for you to leave."
"All right, all right. Still as heartless as ever, Albus. Goodbye!"
With that, Grindelwald left by Apparition.
Late that night, in Quirrell's office.
"Ah! Mercy, Master!"
Quirrell lay curled on the floor, clutching his head with both hands. His face was full of fear and helplessness.
Voldemort's rasping voice came from the back of Quirrell's head. "I'm so fucking dead!"
Before the words had faded, a gray light appeared and struck Quirrell. He screamed in agony again, the sound chilling to the bone.
Early the next morning, Jerry had not yet entered Hogwarts' Great Hall when the Weasley Twins rushed up to him. "Hey, Jerry! We heard all about it. Troll slayer! Nicely done!" Everyone still eating breakfast turned to look at Jerry.
Jerry rubbed his nose awkwardly and gave an embarrassed smile, then hurried to the long table and sat down.
As soon as he did, Harry grinned at him. "Jerry, thanks to the Weasley brothers spreading the word, you're famous at Hogwarts now!"
"I don't like being famous. I'd rather keep a low profile!"
Harry nodded in wholehearted agreement. He knew the feeling all too well.
Before long, Hermione arrived at the Great Hall. She sat beside Jerry and said, "Sorry, Jerry. Now everyone's talking about you because of me."
"It's fine, Hermione. Being famous has its advantages!"
Harry: "???"
That wasn't what you said a moment ago!
Soon the professors arrived for breakfast, and Jerry made a point of checking on Quirrell.
Quirrell looked utterly exhausted and listless. Dark circles showed beneath his eyes, which were red and bloodshot.
Tsk. Voldemort must have given Quirrell plenty of "rewards" last night. Jerry was afraid Quirrell might drop dead right at the professors' table before breakfast was over.
That night, in the Gryffindor girls' dormitory.
Parvati Patil said, "Hermione, what's been going on with you these past few days? You keep spacing out."
"It's nothing! I was just thinking about Transfiguration."
Parvati Patil clearly did not believe her. "I don't think you were thinking about Transfiguration. You were thinking about Jerry Green!"
Hermione blushed. "Of course not. I really was thinking about studying!"
At Parvati's words, Hermione's other two roommates hurried over, suddenly excited. "Really? Hermione, are you in love? Is it Jerry Green from Slytherin? Oh my gosh, tell us everything!"
The three girls surrounded Hermione.
"N-no! I don't think so?"
Her answer only made Parvati and the others more excited. "Have you started dating?"
Hermione answered shyly, "I—I don't know. We go to the library together every day after class to read, anyway."
Parvati shook her head. "Apart from the library, have you spent time alone together?"
Hermione thought for a moment. "I think so. Jerry and I often take walks by the Black Lake. Does that count?"
Her roommates nodded furiously, then pressed on. "What else? How far have you two gone?"
Hermione shook her head again and again. "Nothing much! We just hold hands sometimes. You're making far too much of this!"
Parvati said, "Hermione, don't let your guard down. If you two weren't together all the time, I'd have asked Jerry out myself. Those Slytherin bitches won't hold back for your sake."
Another roommate chimed in, "Parvati's right. An older girl in our house told me her boyfriend was—"
"Oh my gosh! This is too good! A Slytherin student falls for a Gryffindor student. Rival houses, professors standing in their way, friends who misunderstand them, an agonizing choice—where will their love lead? Will he chase her while she runs, or will she find there's no escape..."
Hermione: "..."