Gemma Farley, the Slytherin prefect, was about to explode with anxiety!
This was her first time leading the new students to Slytherin House.
Everything had started smoothly. Most of these first-years came from distinguished wizarding families and had received proper upbringing. They walked gracefully in perfect formation - children from renowned families like the Malfoys, Notts, and Parkinsons... all prestigious names in the magical world.
She had hoped that successfully guiding these new students and establishing a good rapport would strengthen her authority as prefect. Perhaps after graduation, these connections might help her navigate the magical world more smoothly.
She led the first-years to the hidden entrance of the dungeon, proudly informing them that their common room lay beneath the lake, and announced the password "Pure-blood." Seeing the admiration and respect in the new students' faces made her feel rather pleased with herself.
But everything fell apart during the head count!
One student was missing from their perfectly organized line!
She counted again in disbelief... twice... Indeed, one first-year had vanished!
Her meticulously prepared "Slytherin Prefect's Welcome Speech" - twelve inches of parchment rivaling a full essay, which she had memorized perfectly for this moment - was now useless!
She quickly instructed the deputy prefect to escort the new students to their dormitories while she slipped out through the common room door to search for the missing student.
"Please, for Merlin's sake, don't be lost. I don't want to be the prefect who gets dismissed on the first day of school!" Gemma's inner voice was screaming in despair.
The corridors, staircases, and Great Hall were completely deserted, not a soul in sight.
She had no choice but to hurry to Professor Snape's - their Head of House's - office.
"Enter!"
Despite being from his own house, Professor Snape's notorious reputation made Gemma nervous.
She hastily reported the missing first-year incident.
......
Severus Snape could never have imagined such an absurd situation occurring in his house!
Wandering around on the first night of school - this didn't seem like Slytherin behavior at all. Even those foolish Gryffindors wouldn't show such blatant disregard for school rules!
His face darkened, and combined with his black robes, the atmosphere grew particularly oppressive:
"Miss Farley, I assume you understand that as a prefect, it's your duty to keep watch over the new students and prevent them from wandering off."
Gemma lowered her head in shame: "I'm sorry, Professor, I'll go..."
"Return to the common room," the cold voice commanded from above.
Knowing her Head of House's temperament, she felt relieved, understanding that Professor Snape would take charge of the situation.
Snape had to abandon the potion he was brewing, his unpleasant thoughts about Potter's spawn entering Hogwarts interrupted by this emergency.
The complex emotions of pain, hatred, and guilt vanished as he strode out the door to search the castle.
Stolen novel; please report.
When he reached the Great Hall, a gold and crimson phoenix suddenly appeared before him.
"Severus, please come to the fourth-floor corridor's restricted section."
"Expecto Patronum!"
He impatiently conjured a silver doe, which landed gracefully on the Great Hall floor.
"A Slytherin first-year is missing. I don't have time for your treasure hunt," his deep, hoarse voice responded.
The doe pranced across the room and flew out the window.
......
Meanwhile, Dumbledore had already changed into his nightgown and was preparing for bed.
Old age made one tire easily; some pre-bedtime sweets would help rejuvenate the mind.
He savored a Honey Pop while drinking a vial of dental potion to neutralize the sugar's effects.
However, just as he was drifting off to sleep, he sensed the magical barriers in the fourth-floor chamber being disturbed.
Someone was trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone!
He jolted upright in bed, throwing out his back with a sharp crack.
This timing was completely different from what he had planned!
He had intended to gradually guide Harry to discover the secret of the Mirror of Erised throughout the school year, then place the mirror in the chamber as a hiding place for the Stone.
It was meant to be a long game to lure out the mastermind behind the scenes.
But he never expected someone to make a move on the very first day!
Without even changing out of his nightgown, he grabbed his wand and rushed to the fourth floor, sending Fawkes to summon his trusted ally - Severus Snape.
However, the Patronus brought back another piece of unfortunate news.
His heart sank - the perpetrator must have taken a first-year hostage!
"Please come immediately. The Stone's protective barriers have been triggered. The student is likely inside," he replied at once.
Soon after, Snape appeared before him, his black robes billowing menacingly.
"You'd better have a good explanation for this. A first-year... just arrived today... she knows nothing, hasn't even learned a single spell!"
Dumbledore gave a bitter smile, his white beard twitching slightly:
"I'm sorry... they moved faster than expected."
The two opened the first door to the restricted section but noticed something strange.
"Severus... do you smell something sweet in the air?" Dumbledore cast a stunning spell at Fluffy while curiously sniffing the air.
"I think your brain has been addled by all those sweets if you're smelling sweetness everywhere," Snape said through gritted teeth. "Though there is a meat smell, like dinner's roast."
They both grew serious upon seeing a torn piece of Slytherin uniform in Fluffy's mouth.
"How dare it!"
Snape's hand trembled as he gripped his wand, looking as if he wanted to cast Avada Kedavra on the three-headed dog. His instincts told him Jane Yu had met a terrible fate.
"Calm yourself, Severus."
The blue eyes behind Dumbledore's half-moon spectacles flashed sharply: "There's no blood, just the outer robe."
Snape barely regained his composure as they looked toward the trapdoor, which was indeed open.
"Lumos."
The two slid down the trapdoor one after another, expecting to be caught by the Devil's Snare.
"THUD!" "OUCH!"
They crashed in a heap.
Fortunately, Snape realized something was wrong at the last second and cast a Floating Charm to cushion their fall.
But from that height, he was certain his leg was broken!
Dumbledore wasn't faring any better beside him, groaning and clutching his already-twisted back, which now felt like it would snap in two!
They helped each other up, using the Wand-Lighting Charm to examine their surroundings.
"Devil's Snare ashes." Snape picked up some powder, rubbing it between his fingers and sniffing it. "Some kind of venom completely corroded it."
"What kind of venom?" Dumbledore asked softly.
"I can't be certain, but it must be highly toxic." Snape pulled several potion vials from his robes, collected some powder, and looked regretfully at the remaining ashes.
"There are also some first-year aconite plants here." He pinched off a piece and placed it in a small vial.
Limping along, the two continued deeper inside.
"Filius's obstacle." Dumbledore examined the lock. "Strange, no signs of forced entry, the flying key is still here, no traces of magical unlocking... how was the door opened?"
He was puzzled, his eyebrows furrowing along with his broken nose.
The mystery was deepening.
"Minerva's chessboard... all the black pieces are shattered. How did the intruder escape?"
Then he saw the purple flames at the doorway.
"It seems our uninvited guest hasn't left yet." He waved his wand, making the flames vanish.
Snape went to the table to check his seven potions. The stoppers were all removed, and three bottles were empty.
"Bloody drunkard!" he cursed viciously, seemingly reminded of some distasteful memory. "Drank all the nettle wine, and the forward potion too."
A heavy drinker... carrying mysterious poison... possessing mysterious door-opening abilities - in Dumbledore's memory, he had never encountered such a wizard.
He gripped his wand tightly, preparing to subdue the enemy the moment they entered the chamber, just as he had done so many times before - a simple Binding Charm followed by a Petrification Spell.
"Incarcerous, Petri... Jane Yu?"
The poor old headmaster stood dumbfounded, nearly fainting from shock.
The chamber reeked of alcohol, and there lay just one girl sleeping soundly on the floor, the Philosopher's Stone clutched in her hand!