The person is at Hogwarts, but the system is in Middle-earth!

A series of hurried footsteps came from the end of the corridor.

[WARNING: High-energy reaction detected!]

[Warning: Lord-level units are rapidly approaching!]

[Warning: Multiple forces are converging—the Watchers of Light, the fallen White Wizards, and the lurking Dark Host.]

Leading the way in was Professor McGonagall, pale-faced, followed by Snape, and lastly Quirrell, wearing a large purple turban.

Professor McGonagall rushed into the room and the first thing she saw was the giant, as big as a small mountain, lying on the floor. Then, her gaze swept over the puddles and the broken sink, finally settling on the four first-year students.

Especially Luo Wei, who was carrying a deformed frying pan.

In Rowe's system vision, a blinding silver-white light erupted around Professor McGonagall, the oppressive aura of Galadriel, Queen of the Golden Forest.

[The Queen's scrutiny has been detected!]

[Judging in progress... Willpower check failed.]

[Effect: All non-legendary units will be afflicted with [Fear], [Silence], or [Guilt].]

Harry and Ron lowered their heads, like little hobbits who had done something wrong. Hermione huddled in the corner, her body still trembling slightly.

"What are you guys thinking?"

Her gaze shifted back and forth between the three Gryffindors and one Hufflepuff.

"You were lucky this time you didn't get killed. How could you possibly think you could handle a fully grown mountain behemoth?"

Snape stepped out from behind Professor McGonagall. He glanced at Harry to make sure he was alright, then his gaze shifted to the frying pan in Rowe's hand.

To be precise, it was about staring at the indentation that perfectly fit the back of the troll's head.

[System notification: Saruman (Snape) is analyzing your equipment.]

Snape bent down, examined the back of the troll's head, then looked at the frying pan, and his lips twitched.

"I think there seems to be some oversight in Hufflepuff's kitchen management."

"They actually allowed a student to bring such a weapon into the teaching area."

Harry looked at Rowe with concern, fearing that he might talk back to the Potions professor.

"Professor Snape," Rowe straightened his back and answered neither humbly nor arrogantly, "it's perfectly reasonable for a Hufflepuff aspiring to be a top chef to carry cooking utensils with him. Just as a great Potions Master, you must be hiding no fewer than three crystal bottles in your robes right now, right?"

Snape narrowed his eyes.

"If you utter another word of nonsense, Baggins..."

"It's my fault, Professor McGonagall."

A faint but firm voice came from the corner of the wall, interrupting Snape's words.

Everyone turned their heads.

Hermione Granger stood up. Although her face was still pale, there was something familiar in her eyes that Rowe recognized.

"Miss Granger?" Professor McGonagall looked at her in surprise.

"I thought I could handle it. I've read about them in books, and I know them well," Hermione lied. For a model student who never broke the rules, this was worse than death.

"If they hadn't come to find me, I might be dead by now. Harry and Ron saved me, and Rowe, he... he protected us with his frying pan."

[System notification: A critical storyline branch has been detected.]

[Unit [Hermione Granger] activates the ability [Sacrifice] (takes all threat for the raid).]

[Verdict: The Elf Scholar has officially joined the team.]

Loyalty: Locked in (Admiration -> Life-or-Death Bond).

Rowe looked at Hermione, and in that moment, she was no longer the arrogant little girl who could only recite "A History of Hogwarts," nor the studious girl who raised her hand high in class to show off her knowledge. In Rowe's eyes, her image overlapped with that of Princess Twilight Star, who gave up immortality to fight alongside humanity.

"This is my partner," Rowe thought to himself. "Welcome to the expedition, madam."

Professor McGonagall gazed at the four of them, her eyes shifting between Hermione's guilty face and the resolute expressions of the other three boys, before finally softening.

"Well, that's how it is." Professor McGonagall sighed. "Miss Granger, because of your stupidity, Gryffindor has lost five points."

She paused, then turned her gaze to the other three, waving her wand to cleanse them of the filth.

"As for you. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, each of you will earn five points for Gryffindor. For your amazing luck, and for your loyalty to your friends."

Finally, she looked at Lo Wei.

"As for you, Rowe. Although I don't advocate using that kind of thing to fight, given that you protected your classmate from the troll, Hufflepuff gets five points."

……

When the professors finished dealing with the scene and the four students walked out of the women's restroom, the corridor had returned to quiet.

A strange atmosphere filled the air. It was a tacit understanding born from sharing life and death experiences.

Lowe stopped and hung the deformed frying pan back on his waist. He turned to look at Hermione.

"Your courage is admirable, madam."

Rowe placed his right hand on his chest, bowed slightly, and performed a standard Middle-earth knightly salute. His expression was serious and solemn, as if Hermione had not just lied, but had recited some sacred oath.

"But next time, please don't face the darkness alone. That is the duty of a ranger and a warrior."

Hermione paused, her cheeks flushing slightly. She seemed to want to correct Lowe's strange way of speaking, but in the end, she just pursed her lips and gave a smile.

"Thank you, Rowe. And that frying pan, it was really cool."

Harry and Ron laughed too.

"Seriously, man," Ron patted Rowe on the shoulder, "that 'Duang' move was so cool. Can you teach me? I think it works way better than the Levitation Charm."

"That's a family secret technique," Rowe said with a straight face, "and it requires rigorous potato-peeling training to master."

The four walked side by side down the ancient corridors of Hogwarts. Moonlight streamed through the high windows, casting long shadows on them.

Luo Wei walked at the back, looking at the three figures ahead of him.

On the left is the chosen one burdened with a heavy destiny (Harry the Ringbearer); in the middle is his clumsy but absolutely loyal companion (Sam the Gardener/Ron); and on the right is the exceptionally intelligent elven scholar (Hermione). And he, a hobbit wielding a frying pan (or perhaps a Maiar berserker disguised as a hobbit?), is silently protecting this group.

[System Result: The Fellowship of the Ring has been officially established.]

[Achievement Acquired: [Oath of Blood and Lies]]

[All characters' bond level: Lv.1 -> Lv.2 (Fighting side by side).]

[Reward: Charisma +1 (Your leadership qualities are beginning to awaken).]

Luo Wei took a deep breath and clenched his fist.

Everything is configured.

Whether it's Voldemort or Sauron.

Bring it on!

"Oh, right," Harry suddenly turned around, "Love, you said there would be double pudding tonight?"

"Of course! To celebrate our survival! Come to the kitchen, see you there! I'll personally cook you an authentic Hobbit supper!"