Chapter 55
Chapter : Reactions, Suspicions, and New Plans
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Hogwarts Students' Reactions
The entire student body at Hogwarts buzzed with excitement and anxiety after the recent events. Rita Skeeter’s article had spread like wildfire, and even those who hadn't seen the chaos of Halloween night were eager to discuss the news.
Conversations filled the halls:
"Did you hear about Potter? He faced the Dark Lord!"
"A troll and Voldemort on the same night? Hogwarts isn’t safe anymore!"
"Potter saved a couple of Slytherins, too. Life debt, you know what that means?"
The talk about Harry being the hero of the night didn’t surprise anyone, but his friendship with Daphne Greengrass had piqued the curiosity of the entire school. It wasn’t often a Gryffindor and a Slytherin formed an alliance, and that was all the more reason for whispers to spread.
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Lucius Malfoy's POV
Lucius Malfoy sat in his luxurious office at Malfoy Manor, reading the Daily Prophet with narrowed eyes. The sight of Harry Potter, the boy who lived, being lauded as a hero again left a bitter taste in his mouth. Worse still was the involvement of his Slytherin house in the form of Daphne Greengrass and her life debt to Potter.
"This complicates things," Lucius mused aloud, tapping his fingers against the newspaper. He had been positioning his influence within Slytherin House for years, and now, Potter had a foothold in it.
He folded the newspaper and stood, moving toward the fireplace. The article also reminded him of the more pressing matter—Voldemort. His return, however brief, had sent a shiver down Lucius' spine. He had once served the Dark Lord, but that time was over, or so he had thought.
"The boy must be watched," Lucius muttered, already forming plans. He would leverage his connections in the Ministry, especially through Fudge, to ensure that Hogwarts remained under control, even if that meant using Draco to monitor Potter’s movements. As for the life debt, Lucius knew how valuable such a bond could be. He’d have to ensure that it didn’t disrupt his future plans.
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Amelia Bones' POV
Amelia Bones, head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, sat in her office reviewing the events of Halloween night. The anonymous letter she had received, warning of an attack at Hogwarts, had saved countless lives, and she was grateful for the intervention.
She had brought Aurors to Hogwarts that night, but still, they hadn’t been enough. Seeing Voldemort appear—however briefly—was a chilling reminder that the Dark Lord had not truly been defeated. This was a wake-up call for the entire wizarding world, and for her department.
Amelia looked over the report on her desk: Hogwarts’ defenses had been breached, a troll had entered the school, and Voldemort had somehow possessed a professor.
"I need more Aurors," Amelia thought grimly. The current force was strong, but they were stretched thin with growing dark activities across Britain. She would have to push for increased recruitment and training. The Dark Lord’s return, even in this form, was a threat the wizarding world could no longer ignore.
And then there was the matter of the anonymous tipster. Amelia had been receiving valuable information for months now, each message proving to be accurate. Whoever this person was, they had insight into events before they happened. She had to find out more about them—perhaps they could be the key to stopping Voldemort before he regained his full power.
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Harry's POV
After everything that had happened, I needed some normalcy. Hagrid’s hut seemed like the perfect place to escape the madness of the castle. Hermione, Ron, Tracey, and Daphne agreed to come along.
As we sat around Hagrid’s table, eating rock cakes (Hermione discreetly pushed hers aside), the conversation naturally turned to the troll and the strange events of Halloween.
“So, you knew something was up?” Ron asked Hagrid, trying to fish out information.
“Well, I might’ve ‘eard somethin’,” Hagrid said, glancing around nervously. “But, I can’t talk about it, see? Hogwarts business.”
Hermione narrowed her eyes, clearly suspicious. “Hagrid, are you hiding something?”
Before Hagrid could answer, Tracey chimed in, “I heard a rumor about a special object being hidden in the school.”
Daphne nudged her, giving her a look that clearly said, Stop talking. But Tracey shrugged. “It’s not like it’s a big secret. Everyone’s talking about it.”
Hagrid looked increasingly uncomfortable, his hands fiddling with his tea cup. “It’s best not to go pokin’ yer noses where they don’t belong,” he warned.
That only made us more curious.
“So, it’s true then? There’s something in Hogwarts? Something that even You-Know-Who wants?” Harry asked, leaning forward.
Hagrid grumbled, clearly frustrated with himself for letting the conversation get this far. “If yeh must know,” he sighed, “there’s a bit of somethin’. Somethin’ important bein’ protected here at the school. But it’s not fer students to worry about.”
None of us felt particularly reassured by that. The fact that Voldemort had shown up at Hogwarts meant that something dangerous was already happening right under our noses. And whatever it was, Harry and I would have to figure it out.
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Alex’s POV: Snape’s Potion Class
In Potions class, Professor Snape’s dark eyes never left me, watching my every move with suspicion. He had always been cold toward me, but now it felt different. His gaze lingered longer, his words sharper.
“McKinnon,” he sneered, as I perfectly brewed a complex potion that most second years struggled with. “Showoff, as usual.”
I kept my expression neutral. Snape was a master of subtlety, and I could tell he suspected something. The events surrounding the Philosopher’s Stone were weighing on his mind, and somehow, I was on his radar.
“You seem to excel in everything,” he remarked as he passed by my table. “Almost... unnaturally so.”
I held back a retort, focusing on my potion. Snape didn’t know what I had done—or at least, he didn’t have proof—but his instincts were too sharp to ignore.
“Perhaps,” Snape continued in his silken voice, “you’ll share the secret to your success with the class? Or do you prefer keeping certain... knowledge to yourself?”
I glanced up at him, forcing a calm smile. “No secret, Professor. Just practice.”
Snape’s eyes narrowed. “I doubt that very much.”
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Harry’s POV: The Aftermath of Halloween
The morning after Halloween was strange. The excitement from the feast had been replaced by an eerie quiet. Everyone was still talking about Voldemort’s appearance and the troll, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something more going on.
I caught up with Alex at breakfast. “Where were you last night?” I asked him quietly, as the rest of the students buzzed around us.
Alex glanced at me, his face calm as ever. “Went back to the Ravenclaw dorms after the chaos. Same as everyone.”
I frowned. “But you weren’t with the Ravenclaws when we were sent back. I didn’t see you.”
He shrugged, nonchalant. “You were a bit preoccupied with Quirrell and the whole Voldemort fiasco, remember?”
I couldn’t argue with that. But something still felt off. Alex was always where the action was, always involved in things. It was hard to believe he had just quietly gone back to his dorm while all that was happening. But then again, he had no reason to lie. Did he?
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Dumbledore’s POV: Reflections on the Philosopher’s Stone
In his office, Albus Dumbledore sat deep in thought, watching the soft flicker of the Phoenix feather quill as it wrote letters on his desk. Halloween had brought with it a fresh reminder of the dangers that still lurked around Hogwarts.
Voldemort had shown himself again, and while the threat had passed for now, it was only a matter of time before he found another way to return. What worried Dumbledore even more was the Philosopher’s Stone. It was still hidden, still protected—but for how long?
“Harry Potter,” Dumbledore muttered, looking into the distance. “You are not yet ready for what’s to come.”
He knew that Harry had seen more than a boy his age should, but Dumbledore also sensed the presence of another—someone who was actively weaving through the events of Hogwarts. Alex McKinnon.
Yes, he would need to keep a closer eye on these students. The game was just beginning.