Hogwarts: What are the four great masters doing?

Then Ryan's expression became sad again.

But the next moment, his sorrow came to an end.

Because Hufflepuff hugged him.

"Always keep smiling and hopeful, my child."

Just as she had done when they first met a thousand years ago, she embraced her disciple and earnestly advised him, "Even if you face the deepest darkness, you must remain like this."

Ryan didn't understand her.

"...Will we meet again, Sensei?"

He just asked.

"of course."

The Hufflepuff answered him without hesitation.

Her figure finally disappeared at this moment.

"We told you that, didn't we?"

But her remaining voice lingered at the top of the giant tree for a long time.

"My disciple, we will meet again."

And heard this familiar answer.

Ryan also showed a relieved smile on his face.

As in the past, he would still choose to believe his teacher.

then...

In the giant tree at the center of this great nursery, Ryan Elias closed his eyes.

He felt within himself—the seeds of life were taking root within him.

The magic of life flowed through him.

He has found the treasure left by his teacher, which belongs to him.

And now, he will complete his 'transformation'!

Chapter 96: The Bizarre Adventures of Peter Pettigrew! (5.3K words, third update)

When Harry came to the room at the end of the fourth floor of the castle.

He saw the three-headed dog Fluffy sleeping in the corner of the room, with a harp placed in front of it.

Beneath it, the mysterious trapdoor had been opened.

"Oh no—Quirrell has gone in!"

Ron exclaimed, which instantly woke up Harry, who was still a little dazed.

"That green light just now... there's no mistake!"

"It's him! That's the guy!"

Then Harry trembled all over.

He couldn't tell why—fear? Anger? Hatred? Excitement?

Or maybe both?

Anyway, at this moment, he can be sure.

"Quirrel... he works for Voldemort! It's Voldemort who wants the Philosopher's Stone!"

He didn't notice that when he said this, Ron's expression beside him suddenly became a little gloomy.

Harry just stared at the open trapdoor, making up his mind.

He didn't know why Voldemort wanted the Philosopher's Stone, but...

"We must not let him succeed... absolutely not!"

He clutched his pocket watch tightly to his chest and walked to the trapdoor.

He saw dense vines below, but there was a big hole in the middle of them!

"It's the devil vine..."

Harry took a deep breath. "They're destroyed. Quirrell must have gone down."

Ever since he saw Ryan's use of magical plants that night in the Forbidden Forest, he had recently made up for his lack of knowledge about magical plants, so he immediately recognized the devil's vine.

Then he and Ron jumped down directly.

But what weighed even heavier on Harry's heart was...

After jumping down the trapdoor, he did not see Quirrell immediately.

Quite the contrary—he saw countless flying keys, flaming doors with potion bottles placed in front of them, and giant magic chess pieces.

Harry understood that these were probably the levels set by the professors - they had made preparations long ago to prevent the enemy from getting the Philosopher's Stone directly.

But now, without exception... every level has been breached.

Harry saw that the countless flying keys were all rusted, the fire on the flaming door where the potion bottles were placed was almost gone, and the huge magic chess piece was shattered and broken.

This made Harry certain that Quirrell...or Voldemort had passed all the levels.

So his steps became more hurried, and he soon arrived at the innermost room.

Then, Harry saw a mirror that was very familiar.

"Mirror of Erised?"

He walked over to the mirror that he had been obsessed with.

But now, he looked in the mirror—his parents were still there, and he still loved them.

But he is no longer obsessed with it.

Then...

He saw the image in the mirror.

"..."

The next moment, he put his hands in his trouser pockets, a look of surprise on his face.

"Great!"

He looked around and saw no other suspicious people.

"Quirrel hasn't succeeded yet!"

he said excitedly.

"Why do you say that?"

But Ron beside him asked doubtfully: "I didn't see anything."

"It's right here with me... Ron."

Harry certainly wasn't on guard against Ron, so he immediately pulled something out of his trouser pocket.

It was a stone—a fiery crimson, a wonderfully alive crimson.

Harry held it, feeling it warm and light, like a beating heart.

then...

"Magic stone."

Ron uttered a low murmur.

His voice was full of greed.

"Oh, Harry, show me..."

He said this, then reached out to grab the Philosopher's Stone.

But it was at this moment...

Harry suddenly noticed that his friend's face had become a little pale, and... seemed a little rounder!

And from Harry's pocket watch, the voice of his parents suddenly reached his ears!

"Harry! You're dangerous!"

"Harry, get away from him!"

Harry saw the scale on the pocket watch - it said [Extreme Danger]!

So, Harry almost instinctively wanted to put away the Philosopher's Stone... but it was too late!

Ron's right hand grasped his collar.

In front of him, Ron's face became extremely gloomy: "Give it to me, Harry."

There was a foul smell, and Harry thought it was the smell of rat!

But his reaction was not slow, and he immediately began to try to raise his wand.

but...

"Oh, really... just as reckless as your father..."

Ron grinned and sneered, which made him look more like a rat.

"We are friends, aren't we? Friends should understand each other—I have to do this, otherwise I won't feel good... You should bear the consequences for me."

"Except your weapons!"

As he said this, he took out a magic wand with his left hand and ejected a stream of magic power.

Harry's wand was then knocked away.

Ron's hand reached for the Philosopher's Stone: "Give it to me! Harry Potter...Ahhhhhh!"

His originally smug smile turned into a wail of fear and pain the next moment.