The Black Bloodline of Hogwarts

"Deprimo Profundis" is the spell for "Deep Falling Charm," a modified version used in the Hogwarts Duel Club in 1832.

At the time, this so-called modern levitation spell was widely used due to its simplicity and ease of use, and was even abused as a tool for pranks.

A Ravenclaw matriarch deconstructed the spell in reverse and discovered that "making an object rise" and "making it fall" are essentially different waveforms of the same set of gravitational interference commands.

It is said that when she wrote down the derivation formula of the "Deep Fall Spell" on parchment, the ink suddenly seeped vertically into the grain of the wooden table until the floor on the third floor cracked.

The specific casting action for this spell is the opposite of the levitation spell's light, upward staff movement. The falling spell requires the wrist to chop downwards, as if an invisible giant hammer is smashing down on the target's center of gravity.

The effect is that the mass of the object being hit will increase exponentially for a short period of time, but the volume remains unchanged—a feather can crack a spider web on a wooden floor, and a book can bend a bookshelf.

If a spell is cast on an object afflicted with a levitation charm, the two forces will briefly create a static levitation, after which the object will fall downwards at twice the speed.

The magical community still debates whether this spell should be classified as "black magic".

The giant raised its small, nine-headed head in a daze, and the next second, the heavy weapon slammed down on its own bald head with a whoosh.

"Bang!"

The giant swayed a few times, then crashed to the ground, shaking the floor.

Harry and Ron stared in disbelief at the scene before them, completely baffled as to why Ron's spell had suddenly become so effective. Hermione crawled out of the cubicle, pale-faced and trembling, but still managed to look around.

"Stop looking! Let's go!" Harry pulled Hermione up.

The three stumbled out of the corridor, bumping into Professor McGonagall and the others who had rushed over after hearing the commotion. Julien, however, had already disappeared into the darkness on the other side, quietly making his exit.

He knew that Quirrell's plan for tonight had failed. The Philosopher's Stone was intact, and the seal on the stone tablet remained undisturbed. And he himself, in some unknown corner, had become... a Watcher?

He glanced one last time at his friends, who had been sternly reprimanded by the professors yet remained unharmed, and a relieved smile appeared on his lips.

The next morning, the Great Hall of Hogwarts was filled with the usual aroma of toasted bread, smoked bacon, and butter.

But today, even more intense than the aroma of food was the constant chatter: the story of Harry, Ron, and Hermione's daring battle against the trolls, as if cast by a teleportation spell, had spread throughout the entire castle overnight.

"Have you heard? Three first-year students from Gryffindor actually took down a troll!" Hannah Abbott, eyes wide with amazement, exclaimed at the Hufflepuff table. "Ron used a levitation charm to lift the troll's mace and knock it unconscious!"

"And Hermione!" Justin Finley added from the side, "She didn't panic even when she was trapped in the women's restroom, she even instructed Ron on how to cast a spell!"

The Gryffindor long table was filled with jubilation. Percy Weasley straightened his back and recounted his brother's "heroic deeds" in detail to his classmates, his face beaming with pride.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were surrounded by compliments from all the students, their cheeks flushed.

"Headmaster Dumbledore himself added thirty points to Gryffindor's grade!" a senior Gryffindor student shouted. "Now the gap between us and Slytherin has narrowed considerably!"

Amidst the cheers, only the Slytherin table remained silent. Draco Malfoy, his face grim, gripped the silver cutlery so tightly it creaked. He stared intently at Harry, who was surrounded by the crowd, his eyes practically overflowing with jealousy.

"It's just good luck!" he muttered to Crabbe and Goyle, his tone sarcastic. "A Mudblood, a Weasley pauper, and a savior in name only—they actually deserve bonus points?"

Crabbe and Goyle nodded repeatedly, but dared not agree loudly—after all, the incident of the trolls causing havoc in the castle last night had not completely subsided, and they did not dare to question the headmaster's decision in public.

In a corner of Ravenclaw, Edgar Finch adjusted his glasses, glancing suspiciously at Julien, who was leisurely slicing a sausage beside him. "I say, Julien, did you really go to the women's restroom last night?"

Kayson Moretti chimed in, his face full of curiosity: "Yeah! And... how could Ron, who can barely hold a feather steady, possibly lift a troll's spiked club all of a sudden?"

Julien looked up and gave an innocent smile: "Maybe it was an emergency that triggered my potential? As for me," he shrugged, "I probably just got lost and followed the crowd back to my dorm, so you didn't see me."

Edgar wanted to press further, but Kayson pulled him back. "Never mind," Kayson said in a low voice, "maybe he really did have an upset stomach! But speaking of which, Gryffindor's luck is incredible this time, getting thirty points!"

Julien smiled and offered no further explanation. He knew his roommate's suspicions were not unfounded, but some things were better left unsaid.

Since the troll incident, Harry, Ron, and Hermione have become exceptionally close. Past minor squabbles have vanished in the face of their shared life-or-death experience, and the three are practically inseparable.

But they often huddled together in a corner of the Gryffindor common room or a quiet area of ​​the library, whispering about something, their eyes full of mystery.

Julien would occasionally catch glimpses of them huddled together, quietly arguing over a crumpled piece of paper or whispering among themselves over a thick ancient book. He knew they were pondering the three-headed dog guarding the fourth-floor restricted area and what secrets it held.

That afternoon, Julien finished his History of Magic class and was strolling along the path by the Black Lake on his way back to Ravenclaw Tower when he spotted Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the distance. They were walking quickly toward Hagrid's hut at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, their heads down, looking anxious, as if they had something important to ask.

"Looks like they couldn't resist asking Hagrid after all." Julien stopped and watched the three figures disappear through the doorway of the hut, muttering to himself. He knew that, given Hagrid's personality, he would most likely inadvertently reveal more clues about Cerberus and the Philosopher's Stone.

Sure enough, after returning from Hagrid's place, the three of them researched even more frequently. They spent increasingly more time in the library, devouring all sorts of books about magical creatures, ancient treasures, and modern magic masters.

That evening, Julien was in the library researching books on astrological magic when Hermione suddenly approached him quietly, her expression somewhat tentative: "Julien, have you... have you heard of Nicolas Flamel?"

Julien looked up, blinking in feigned surprise. "Nico Lemaître? I know him."

"What! You know? You're not kidding?!" Hermione was genuinely shocked.

"Doesn't everyone know that?" Julien said, pointing to the Chocolate Frog wrapper in his pocket. "Isn't it on the Chocolate Frog card? He's the greatest alchemist, the inventor of the Philosopher's Stone, and he lived for hundreds of years."

Hermione's face lit up with a sudden realization, her eyes instantly sparkling: "That's right! Chocolate Frog cards! How come I didn't think of that!" She quickly said "thank you" and turned to run towards Harry and Ron, who were waiting not far away. The three of them immediately huddled together and began to discuss it in hushed tones.

Julien watched their retreating figures, a faint smile playing on his lips. He knew the truth about the Philosopher's Stone was being revealed to them little by little, but this was the course of fate, and he didn't need to interfere too much.