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Chapter 83: Night Raid on the Library (Second Update)
Chapter 83: Night Raid on the Library (Second Update)
"Jerry, wait a moment, we have something to ask you."
On Saturday morning, after finishing breakfast, Jerry was about to head to the library with Hermione as usual when Harry and Ron called him over.
"What is it?"
Jerry sat down, curious.
Hermione explained from the side:
"Jerry, do you remember the time we accidentally entered the forbidden area on the fourth floor?"
"Of course, you said there was a huge Three-Headed Dog guarding something important!"
Jerry nodded. That day, he had planned to go to the Room of Requirement but had to return due to the unexpected incident.
"Harry says someone is trying to steal the important item Dumbledore is hiding, and that item is somehow connected to a wizard named Nicolas Flamel. He wants to know if you've come across this name while reading in the library", Hermione continued.
Initially, Harry had asked Hermione because she seemed to know everything. However, Hermione had never seen the name in the library books. Knowing that Jerry read more books and of different types, she suggested they ask him, especially since Jerry was aware of their trip to the fourth floor.
"Nicolas Flamel, the creator of the Philosopher's Stone, the alchemist who lived for six or seven hundred years?"
Jerry's interest was piqued, but he didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned to Harry and asked:
"Who is trying to steal the item in the forbidden area on the fourth floor?"
Harry's eyes shifted uncomfortably as he replied:
"Well, I'm not entirely sure, but it's likely the same person who released the Troll on Halloween!"
Jerry's eyes narrowed. He had a pretty good idea that Harry was referring to Snape. However, since Jerry was a Slytherin and Snape was the head of Slytherin, Harry hadn't mentioned it.
What puzzled Jerry was how Harry had managed to pinpoint Snape as the suspect despite the disruptions caused by the Halloween and Quidditch incidents.
After some thought, Jerry concluded that Dumbledore must have subtly guided Harry to this conclusion to help him grow.
Indeed, if Dumbledore wanted to test Harry, he would find a way to steer him toward the forbidden area on the fourth floor, regardless of how Jerry influenced the events.
"How did you find out that Nicolas Flamel is connected to the item in the forbidden area?"
To confirm, Jerry asked again.
This time, Ron jumped in to answer:
"While you and Hermione were reading in the library, Harry and I went to visit Hagrid. Hagrid let it slip. The Three-Headed Dog, Fluffy, is actually Hagrid's pet, and he lent it to Dumbledore to guard the important item!"
Harry nodded in agreement:
"Unfortunately, no matter how much we asked, he wouldn't tell us what the item is."
"I see. I've heard Hagrid's hut is quite interesting. Could you take me there sometime?"
Jerry smiled and nodded again.
"Of course! Hagrid is a great guy and he loves having us over. Jerry, do you know who Nicolas Flamel is?"
Harry couldn't contain his impatience.
"No, I don't!"
Jerry noticed the disappointed looks on Harry and Ron's faces and quickly added:
"But I know where to find information about this person!"
"Where?"
Harry and Ron's hopes were rekindled.
Jerry smiled.
"Since neither Hermione nor I know who Nicolas Flamel is, it must mean that any information about this wizard isn't in the library's regular section!"
"You mean—?"
Hermione seemed to have an idea and turned to Jerry with an incredulous look.
"Yes, you guessed right, it's there!"
Jerry's expression confirmed it.
Harry and Ron were practically on the verge of tearing their hair out.
"Where exactly are you talking about?"
"Library-restricted section!"
Jerry and Hermione said in unison.
"Restricted section! Of course, why didn't we think of that!"
Harry and Ron exclaimed, suddenly understanding. If they couldn't find it in the regular section, it had to be in the restricted section.
"But Jerry, the restricted section requires a signed note from a professor to enter, and you can only borrow one book at a time. Professors won't agree to let us into the restricted section to borrow books!"
Hermione's brow furrowed again.
Jerry lowered his head, looked around, and motioned for the three to lean in closer.
"We can just sneak in at night, can't we?"
"What!"
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all looked at Jerry with disbelief.
In their eyes, Jerry was the epitome of a model student—elegant, polite, and academically excellent, not to mention the best Seeker in Quidditch history.
For such a student to suggest breaking school rules to sneak into the restricted section was as absurd as the top student in the school suddenly suggesting they skip class to go out at night.
Jerry laughed.
"Actually, you don't need to be so surprised. I often wander around the castle at around eleven or twelve at night; it's a special hobby of mine. And you don't have to worry, I have special methods to avoid being caught by Filch and Mrs. Norris!"
He had been thinking about how to clear his name with S.H.I.E.L.D., and now the perfect opportunity had presented itself.
If he remembered correctly, there was a spellbook called Powerful Potions in the restricted section, which contained the recipe and process for the Polyjuice Potion.
Entering the restricted section alone was impossible, but with Harry to take the blame, the risk was much smaller.
"It's too dangerous. If we get caught, we'll all be expelled!"
Hermione immediately cast her vote against it, clearly not approving of breaking school rules.
"We won't get caught!"
Ron thought sneaking into the library at night sounded incredibly cool.
Harry also tried to persuade Hermione.
"Hermione, don't you want to know who Nicolas Flamel is and what Dumbledore has on the fourth floor?"
"Um—"
Hermione began to waver.
At this moment, Jerry added the final push.
"Hermione, trust me, I won't let you get caught!"
"Alright, but just this once!"
Hermione finally nodded, reassured by the most reliable Jerry.
In truth, while Hermione might seem as strict and rule-bound as Professor Mcgonagall on the surface, being sorted into Gryffindor meant she had a deep-seated love for adventure.
In fact, many of the rule-breaking activities in the later parts of the story were initiated by Hermione herself.
(End of Chapter)
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