Hermione's expression grew increasingly peculiar. Others might not know, but how could she and Glenn not be aware? The Philosopher's Stone was safely stored in the amulet Glenn had given her, which she wore stantly and had ented with an anti-loss charm.

  Hermioouched her chest, firming the amulet was still securely in pce.

  This is getting more and more absurd, Hermiohought as she quietly distanced herself from the two excited boys. The emotional ups and downs had left her thoughts somewhat scattered.

  Never mind, I'll talk to Glenn about it ter and analyze it then.

  After briefly bidding farewell to Harry and Ron, Hermiouro the Gryffindor table, found her girlfriends, saved a seat flenn, and joiheir versation. She temporarily tucked away her plicated feelings and thoughts, her furrowed brows gradually rexing.

  Meanwhile, Glenn had shared his observations and specutions with Dumbledore. Though the headmaster expressed surprise, Gle without showing aio Dumbledore tinue his act, Glenn thought, not believing for a moment that Dumbledore was unaware of Quirrell's movements. He felt the headmaster lotting something.

  Farewell, I'll take my leave.

  Heading downstairs into the Great Hall, both Drad Neville greeted him in turn. Glenn aowledged them with a nod and made a gesture indig evening training would ence, causing their faces to fall immediately.

  Ign their reproachful looks, Glenn walked straight to Hermione's side and sat down. Hermione, who had been teased relentlessly by her dormmates, finally saw her savior. She quickly pushed away Lavender's wandering hands and turo whisper in Glenn's ear, telling him about Harry and Ron's theory.

  "Harry says he knows what's behind that door on the fourth floor - it's the Philosopher's Stone. He saw Hagrid take a small pouch from a special vault at Gringotts before school started. They also found out that Professor Dumbledore and Niel had discussed its prote together, and Dumbledore was to guard it. So they think the fourth-floor corridor and the three-headed dog are desigo protect the Stone," she paused to catch her breath, as speaking so much at once was quite tiring.

  Glenn handed her a gss of pumpkin juice. Hermioook a small sip before tinuing, "Let's set aside the matter of the Stone - you know about that - but why do they think Professor Snape would want to steal it? It's strange. Is it just because Professor Snape keeps targeting Harry in css?"

  Glenn shook his head, equally unsure of the reason.

  But Dumbledore's preparation...

  Glenn poaking Hermione's hand and writing his thoughts on her palm: "I think Dumbledore might have prepared a fake Philosopher's Stone and deliberately leaked information about proteg it. Remember when we visited Nicos before summer vacation? Dumbledore said he had busihere, but he didn't actually do anything."

  "You mean..." Hermione's eyes lit up, clearly following Glenn's logic. She wrote ba his palm: "And the professor specifically returned via Apparition before we left. He might have 'actally' leaked the information during that time."

  "I just remembered something - do you recall that issue of the Daily Prophet we read?" The young girl thought of somethied to Harry's story.

  "The 'Gringotts Break-in'?" Glenn clearly remembered, as colleg information had bee sed nature to him, especially unusual is like this.

  "Yes, and Harry told us the break-in happened shortly after he and Hagrid retrieved the item. It's too much of a ce," Hermione's fingers moved nimbly as she nodded, firming Glenn's thoughts.

  "Dumbledore is fishing," Glenn cluded. "Someone definitely wants the Stone, but it's not Snape. He's probably just an insider who knows about the Sto doesn't know it's fake." Glenn expined hoe had been bitten by the three-headed dog during the troll i.

  "So Quirrell wants the Stone?" Hermione raised an eyebrow. So that was Quirrell's objective.

  She finally uood. She had previously thought Dumbledore wouldn't allow someoh ill iions to teach at Hogwarts, but it art of his trap.

  She then pio Glenn, someuffed up: "You made all these dedus and old me?" Her small hand slipped inside Glenn's robe, lightly ping a bit of flesh to show her displeasure.

  Glenn remained unmoved and spoke softly: "This doesn't us. Knowing would only add to your worries. I didn't want you wasting energy on unnecessary things. You're already busy enough."

  His was evident in his words.

  "Well, I'll five you then," Hermione said haughtily, pretending to be magnanimous. She withdrew her mischievous hand and turned her head away to hide her obvious pleasure.

  Glenn cares about me! (＾▽＾)

  "What are you smiling about, Hermione?" Parvati, who had been watg their intimate gestures, asked with a knowing smile, exposing the young girl's delight.

  "I'll~ five~ you~ then~" Lavender imitated Hermione perfectly, though with an even more coquettish tone.

  "Oh, you two!" Hermione excimed in exasperation, immediately getting into a pyful tussle with them. Glenn, seeing his part was done, quietly sipped his tea.

  Quirrell's target is the Philosopher's Stone?

  Glenn didn't dismiss this matter as he had before, but rather took it seriously. Others might not know, but how could he not be clear?

  Sihe real Stone was with him and Hermione, even if Quirrell fell for Dumbledore's trick, as long as he remained alive, he would still be a potential threat.

  Only a dead enemy is a good enemy - Glenn firmly believed this.

  Now the enemy was exposed while Glenn remained hidden, giving him the temporary advantage. If he didn't strike now when the iron was hot and arrange a plete burial service, how could he live up to his assassiy?

  Glenn marked everyone and everything opposing him with a dangerous tag. Though he couldn't uand why Dumbledore, such a powerful wizard, didn't simply take down someone like Quirrell, instead allowing this dangerous individual to roam freely around Hogwarts, expl and gathering information.

  After all, on Halloween, Quirrell had released a full-grown troll to create a diversion and buy time to iigate behind the fourth-floor corridor door. Although he failed due to Fluffy, if that troll hadn't entered him and Hermione, or the professors, but instead met other young wizards, the sequences would have been severe. Serious injuries would have been the least of it - given a troll's destructive power, there might have been fatalities.

  So, was it fear? But here at Hogwarts, with Dumbledore in charge - Dumbledore, Britain's stro wizard, the greatest wizard of the tury - what could possibly make him hesitate?

  The fragments of informatiahemselves in Glenn's mind until suddenly, his pupils tracted as an unlikely but logical thought occurred to him.

  That man.

  Voldemort, not pletely dead.

  Could he be behind this? Coveting the Stone's power?

  Was it possible?

  It seemed pusible.

  After all, the Philosopher's Stone could create the Elixir of Life.

  That would expin Dumbledore's behavior.

  Fear of alerting the serpent in the grass.

  But wasn't this fishing attempt too obvious?

  Could Voldemort not see through it?

  If you really didn't want Voldemort to get the Stone, why not carry it yourself?

  Could a crippled Voldemort really defeat you?

  Never mind, Glenn couldn't fathom Dumbledore's thoughts.

  But it didn't matter. Regardless of who the oppo was, Glenn had made his resolution.

  Since you won't act or tell us the truth, don't bme me for disrupting your pns.

  Glenn's eyes grew cold beh the bck silk. Before, when Quirrell's objective was unclear, he could ignore him si didn't affect him or Hermione. But now, knowing Quirrell was after the Stone, and possibly backed by an not-quite-dead Dark Llenn had no reason to let Quirrell tinue operating at Hogwarts.

  Quirrell had to die.

  But he couldn't act rashly. If his earlier specution was wrong, that would be ohing, but if Voldemort really was bag Quirrell, or if Quirrell was Voldemort in disguise, then ag without a pn would be suicide.

  I need a precise pn, suitable ditions, and ued methods of attack, Glenn immediately determined his general approach to dealing with Quirrell.

  Since raasn't enough, he would have to use strategy, preparation, and equipment te the gap in strength.

  In that case, he'd have to use "that."

  Glenn had established the broad strokes of his pn, but the details needed refining.

  He stroked Hermione's fluffy hair beside him.

  I will protect you.

  Glenn's expression remained calm, betraying none of his thoughts.

  Hermiourned her head curiously but didn't brush away his hand. She had noticed Glenn's increasing tendency to pat her head tely, and since her protests went unheeded, she had given up trying to stop him.

  If you 't fight it, enjoy it, she thought calmly as she tinued chatting with her friends.

  Nearby, Parvati, Lavender, and the irls: Thanks, we're shipping it!

  They smiled knowingly, thinking to themselves.

  If these two don't end up together, we'll eat our hats!

  Slytherin: ?

  What did we do to deserve this? Hm?

  Annou

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