Lorne watched Harry's broom return to normal. Then, as if he had a death wish, Harry let go with both hands, rode the broom forward, and lunged, catching the Golden Snitch in his mouth.
All he could say was that Harry truly lived up to being a Gryffindor. That took courage. As someone afraid of heights, Lorne would never dare do that if he were up there.
"What a spectacular finish! Harry has caught the Golden Snitch, and Gryffindor has won the match! Slytherin's rule-breaking failed to give them an advantage. Justice prevails!"
"Lee Jordan!" Although Professor McGonagall was also extremely excited, she still reminded the commentator not to let his feelings color his commentary too much.
Even if Slytherin really did lack sportsmanship.
Cries of "Gryffindor" and "Harry Potter" rang out across the pitch. Lorne chuckled and turned to look for Hagrid.
After the match, the three youngsters found Hagrid chatting and laughing with Lorne, and the five of them headed out together.
"It was Snape. He was jinxing Harry," Hermione complained to the two adults.
"He also tried to get past the three-headed dog on Halloween to steal whatever was under the trapdoor," Harry added.
Hagrid's expression suddenly grew unnatural, and his beard bristled. "How do you know about Fluffy?"
"Fluffy?"
"The three-headed dog. He's my good dog," Hagrid said with satisfaction. "Now he can even help Dumbledore guard-"
"Guard what?" Harry pressed.
"Stop asking. Don't ask any more questions," Hagrid said, waving his hands repeatedly. "This is top secret. It involves Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel working together..."
Only halfway through did Hagrid notice the three youngsters' eager expressions. He turned to Lorne. "Help me out, Lorne. I'll treat you to bone broth tonight."
"All right, all right." Lorne thought Hagrid had revealed enough. "Trust me, Professor Snape is definitely a good person. You can stop investigating him."
"But..."
Lorne shook his head before they could continue. Unable to get his arm around any part of Hagrid, he could only push him toward his hut.
"Hagrid, do you realize now that you can't keep a secret at all?"
"Nonsense. None of you even know there's a wand under my umbrella... all right, you're not talking nonsense."
Watching Lorne and Hagrid leave, Harry repeated the name. "Nicolas Flamel?"
"I know him. I pulled him in Wizard Legend. His title is the King of Alchemy."
When Hermione finished, Harry and Ron exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Alchemy?"
Lorne had come to see Hagrid this time for some potion ingredients.
"Unicorn saliva and centaur chest hair?" Hagrid looked puzzled. "No one's ever said those were potion ingredients."
"It's a potion recipe I happened to come across. I know this might be difficult, so I only need you to keep an eye out for me. If they ask for anything in return, I'll pay."
These were ingredients for a potion that strengthened one's own soul. Drinking it could rapidly restore a shattered soul, giving it the ability to resist the soul of a parasite.
Of course, having Quirrell's soul fight Voldemort's was not very realistic. If Quirrell had that kind of ability, Voldemort would never have possessed him to this extent.
But what if Voldemort were near death?
What if he had Quirrell drink it after Harry and Voldemort's showdown before the Mirror of Erised?
But that would only solve the problem with his soul. Lorne remembered that Quirrell would drink unicorn blood before long, bringing a curse upon himself that left him weak and half-dead for the rest of his life.
Although the curse could not be broken, he could stop Quirrell. If doing so brought Voldemort's plans forward, it would be the perfect opportunity to show off before everyone and reap a wave of Power of Emotion.
"Centaurs are manageable, but finding a unicorn is a matter of luck. I can't promise I'll run into one."
Hagrid was kindhearted, and Lorne had no intention of taking advantage of him. He took out a copy of The Complete Guide to Breeding and Caring for Fantastic Beasts, which he had bought from the system shop, blacked out every sentence describing the future, and gave it to Hagrid.
"Whether you help me or not, this is for you. This book is perfect for you, Hagrid."
Hagrid burst into hearty laughter after just one look at the title of the book he had received. "Don't worry, Lorne. I'll read it carefully from cover to cover."
It was just before Christmas.
Lorne had no idea how Hagrid had done it, but he delivered both potion ingredients one after the other, all the while praising Lorne's book as the most satisfying gift he had ever received.
Lorne knew he had gotten an incredible bargain. He could only promise himself that once the Magic Mobile Phone was released, he would make Hagrid an extra-large phone just for him.
Hogwarts had a Christmas holiday, and young wizards who did not want to go home could choose to stay at school.
Naturally, Lorne threw himself wholeheartedly into his work, but because he was brewing a potion and the students were going on holiday, he decided not to launch a Christmas event.
Finally, on the day before Christmas, the potion was finished.
Lorne carefully estimated its value-he had bought several books for this, including one about souls and the one he had given Hagrid. Later, he had also bought the 2027 Latest Edition Potions Class Textbook and Detailed Guidelines for Processing Potion Ingredients Related to Defense Against the Dark Arts.
There was also the extra-large Magic Mobile Phone he had privately promised Hagrid, the favor he owed him, and the several months he had spent on this matter.
Once he had saved Quirrell, he had to make him resign from Hogwarts and work for him to repay the debt.
Hermione was going home. Before leaving, she instructed Harry and Ron to look up information about Nicolas Flamel in the Restricted Section. The introduction in the game was still too brief. All they knew was that Nicolas Flamel was a great alchemist, but no one knew what was hidden under the trapdoor.
"She's getting even more reckless than we are now," Ron remarked, his lips twisting.
Harry had never expected Hermione, who had once treated the school rules as gospel, to start taking the initiative to break them. This Hermione really did seem more human.
Ron and Harry were playing Wizard's Chess.
Although they rarely played it now that they had Magic Mobile Phones, Ron had lost none of his skill, taking Harry's queen in just a few moves.
Christmas arrived as expected.
Timing it precisely, Harry said to Ron, who was keeping him company, "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, Harry." Ron was wearing a sweater Mrs. Weasley had knitted herself.
"There are presents for you here, too."
"I have Christmas presents too?" Harry was delighted and surprised. He had never received any Christmas presents, apart from the smelly socks Vernon took off that day and made him wash.
Harry excitedly ran downstairs and unwrapped a parcel. Inside was a garment that looked as though it was made of silk.
There was also a card inside, which read, "Your father left this behind. Now it has been returned to its rightful owner."
Harry draped the garment over himself and looked down. His whole body had become completely transparent, leaving only his head.
"You... you've turned invisible?" Ron was astonished. "That's an Invisibility Cloak, isn't it? That's so cool! Who sent it to you?"
Harry read the card again. "There's no name."