A ruined Hogwarts

The sun has already set below the horizon, and a few stars are shining in the sky like a blue-black velvet curtain. The silver moon hangs sideways, echoing the light coming from the castle window.

After the little wizards in the study group walked out of the gathering classroom, they separated from each other tacitly, came to the auditorium in twos and threes, and ate dinner naturally.

"Harry, you have to go to dinner and behave naturally. I don't know if people from the Aether Society are paying attention to you, but there is no doubt that if they find that you are unusually absent from the dinner, they may Plan ahead..." Harry mechanically stuffed baked potatoes into his mouth, straightening his back, and kept echoing Hermione's instructions in his heart.

His eyes drifted to the teacher's desk involuntarily. The professors came together tonight, and they looked the same as usual, but there was no sign of Dumbledore, which made Harry feel empty. Only then did he realize that Dumbledore's existence had always given him a lot of confidence. Once the old man was gone, he turned out to be so powerless.

Fortunately, he still has a group of friends who are willing to help him, even if they risk their lives...

Thinking of this, Harry felt uneasy and guilty again. They didn't know that the enemy might be Voldemort... He couldn't help but glance at Owen who was slowly cutting a piece of sauce steak. This guy still looked delicate and calm, and after noticing He looked back and smiled at him as if nothing had happened.

Harry gritted his teeth and puffed out his cheeks and glared. He was also caught off guard by something that happened before, and he was led astray by Owen. After finally having time to calm down and think carefully, he decided to tell the story about Voldemort. Such concealment and deception seemed to him a very shameful thing, and he could not forgive himself.

After making up his mind, his heart that had been brooding suddenly relaxed a little, but then fell into the empty space lightly. He knows that some people may stay away from him because of this, and the harmonious and pure friendship in the past may never exist again, but that is better than letting them take risks with him without knowing anything.

Harry stuffed a mouthful of potatoes into his mouth, his expression fierce and determined, and he felt so uncomfortable that he was about to cry. He suddenly felt that the days spent by the members of the study group together were so wonderful, and even Draco's endless provocations against Hermione and Neville seemed to no longer be a headache for him, but became extremely precious. .

Owen wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin gracefully and glanced at the unpredictable expression on Harry's face with interest. Although he had never learned Legilimency, he could guess what was going on in this guy's mind. A young wizard of this age couldn't hide anything in his mind.

"Tsk, it's a pity that it's too late to consider such a heavy topic now." The corners of Owen's mouth raised slightly.

Hagrid actually knew that Voldemort was coveting the Philosopher's Stone and accidentally let it slip. This matter was actually outside of Owen's plan. An ethereal society that had never been heard of was enough as an imaginary enemy for the young wizards. If the opponent was Voldemort, it would be too heavy for them.

There is no way, Voldemort's reputation is too great, especially the young wizards of this generation who have grown up listening to each other's horrific legends. Even the few young wizards from pure-blood families in Slytherin only know this name. There will be more fear and awe.

Using Voldemort as an enemy to test friendship seems to Owen to be an interesting and cruel thing.

At that time, Hermione and Neville will most likely continue to help Harry. After all, one of them is from a Muggle family and does not have a deep understanding of Voldemort's fear, and the other has a grudge against the other party. But how will the Slytherins choose? It must have been an inner torture. On one side are sincere friends, on the other side are deep fears, emotional impulses and rational denial intertwined, it will be a painful choice.

Friendship is a tough and fragile thing. It can only be indestructible after experiencing hardships and tests together. However, the friendship between the members of the study group at this stage is obviously not that pure.

There is no doubt that there may be people who will impulsively continue to help Harry, and there may be people who will wisely protect themselves and choose to withdraw from this adventure.

However, it would be such a heavy and painful thing to abandon a friend who has helped you a lot because of fear. Those who retreat will inevitably fall into self-blame and regret in the future. Their conscience and sensibility will always remind them how despicable and shameful their retreat is. If they cannot get out, this may be the beginning of their degeneration.

Owen actually doesn't mind having a few more people accompany him into the darkness, and is happy to watch a fun show. But the problem is, that would make things a lot more complicated. The human heart is often more unpredictable and will only lead to many twists and turns.

The study group will fall apart because of this, and those who shrink will become unstable factors and a time bomb in the future. Because only a group of people going on an adventure can keep secrets from each other, but when a few insiders become outsiders, things only get troublesome.

"Oh, I have good intentions for a harmonious relationship between classmates and pure friendship." Owen muttered in his heart, silently breaking off a piece of chocolate and putting it into his mouth. Although he mostly just hates trouble.

After finishing their meal, the students left the auditorium in twos and threes, until almost everyone left. Several people in the study group looked at each other from afar, and each stood up and headed for the corridor outside.

A group of people gathered in a deserted corridor. Owen said cheerfully, "Then, let's follow the plan." After saying that, he took Harry away who was about to speak.

"Owen, let me go! I have to tell the truth!" Harry struggled.

"Sometimes, there's nothing wrong with a white lie, Harry." Owen looked at him with dark eyes, and his dark eyes made Harry panic for no reason.

"Look, they all know that this is about your life. If you tell them that this matter is related to the Dark Lord..." Owen said in a low voice, "If they choose to help you, they will also be in a difficult situation in the future. In the long-term anxiety, tortured by fear day and night..."

"They don't have to do anything, this matter has nothing to do with them!" Harry said stubbornly.

"Tsk tsk, what do you mean, let them stand by and watch knowing that you might die, making them ungrateful and betraying their friendship?" Owen said lazily, "Yes, you may feel better this way, but they will only be tortured day and night. Inner torture, do you want this?”

Harry opened his mouth and looked at him speechlessly. He didn't think that much at all, he just wanted others to be safe.

"In fact, it doesn't matter who the enemy is. As long as we secretly get the Philosopher's Stone, keep each other's secrets, and keep it secret, the people in the Aether Society will not know who has ruined their affairs." Owen said slowly.

"In this way..." Harry pondered with a troubled expression, seemingly convinced. After a long time, he suddenly looked at Owen with some resentment and said: "After all, if you didn't tell others about this matter, there wouldn't be so many things happening now..."

"But you might die." Owen raised his eyebrows, "Do you really want to die?" He narrowed his eyes, and then said in a playful tone: "Or you can think of it this way, when I heard this, After getting involved with the Dark Lord, I felt very conflicted. I wanted to help you but I was also scared...so I chose to drag a few more people into the water."

Harry was moved and speechless as he watched Owen laugh as if he had remembered something funny. He couldn't even tell whether Owen's words were true or just trying to fool him. He sighed deeply, feeling so tired.

"That's it." Harry suddenly wanted to show off. He decided to give up thinking and felt how happy it was to be a simple reckless man like never before.

"What are you whispering secretly?" Others caught up from behind, and Hermione looked at the two of them suspiciously. The keen little witch noticed that these two guys seemed to be hiding something from them.

"Harry is being pretentious. He doesn't think he should take you on an adventure." Owen said with a smile.

Harry deadpanned. Yes, you are right, I am so pretentious.

"It's our choice, Harry." Hermione stared at Harry's expressionless face, feeling even weirder. She shook her head and stopped delving into it. She took a deep breath and said, "Okay, it's almost time. We should go over there."

As she spoke, she unconsciously stroked her long, fluffy brown hair, and then clasped her hands together. It could be seen that her heart was filled with tension and fear.

"Let's go over our plan one last time." On the way to the restricted corridor on the fourth floor, Owen said unhurriedly, "We'll go in and get the magic stone. Daphne, you and the others will wait outside the corridor for the time being. An hour and a half."

"Whether we can get the magic stone or not, we will try to get back within an hour and a half. If we fail to come out, there is a high probability that we are in danger or trapped. At this time, you need to find the professor. Rescued.”

Daphne glanced at him with a worried look, then nodded firmly. She knew that they should not rush to seek help from professors because they were not sure which professor they could trust and who would believe and help them. Once the wrong person is found, Owen and his team's operation will fall short. Being caught and punished is a trivial matter, and their lives may be in danger.

Therefore, only when it is determined that Owen and his actions have failed can they seek help from the professors.

"Of course, if during this period you find someone entering the door of the restricted corridor after us, then immediately go to the professor for help." Owen added, "That must be someone from the Aether Society, and we will most likely not be able to deal with it. he."

Daphne and Blaise looked at each other and nodded solemnly.

"Very good." Owen looked at the deep corridor from a distance, listened to the low roar faintly coming from behind the door at the end of the corridor, and said in a gorgeous and passionate tone, "Then, get ready for a wonderful event. Have you taken any risks?"

Everyone: "..."

Quiet.

Neville looked around uneasily and moved his toes slightly, looking nervous. Hermione pursed her lips tightly, looking like a younger version of Professor McGonagall.

"I must be crazy to agree to such an outrageous thing..." Draco kept groping in his pocket, carefully putting all the alchemy items on his body at hand, and then silently put Hermione pushed aside and stood between Harry and Owen.

During the division of labor, Draco wanted to drag Harry and stay outside to wait. It wasn't until Hermione and Neville resolutely stated that they would follow Harry to get the Philosopher's Stone that he felt a strong sense of crisis and felt that his position had been challenged as never before. Draco immediately raised his hand when Owen said he would join.

Owen is not afraid, so why should he be? Draco thought he knew very well what kind of person Owen was. This guy always looked careless, but in fact he never did anything he wasn't sure about or risked his own safety. Since Owen expressed his intention to join, it means there is not much danger.

Draco felt that he was so clever. Thinking of Harry's surprised and moved eyes at that time, and the look of admiration from others, he felt very happy.

"It would be nice if Granger could make a fool of himself..." His gray eyes rolled.

"If we get caught, we'll definitely be expelled." Harry groaned inwardly, feeling like he was leading his friends to a dead end.

"No, my father is a member of the board of directors of Hogwarts. He can handle such trivial matters easily." Draco raised his eyebrows, then looked at Hermione and Neville maliciously, "Even if it must be done If we fire one or two people, it won’t be our turn..."

"Hmph." Hermione hugged her shoulders and snorted, but it was rare that she didn't sneer back at Draco.

"You must be careful..." Daphne held Pansy's hand and said softly. Pansy looked at them with misty eyes, with an expression as if she was about to say goodbye.

After the little wizard passing by had gone away, a group of five people arrived at the door at the end of the restricted corridor. Hermione took a deep breath, pulled out her wand and pointed at the door lock and said, "Open the Alaho hole."

The lock clicked open and the door slid open with a creak. A low roar came from inside the door, and three huge dog heads turned around with bared teeth, opening their bloody mouths and letting out a deafening roar.

"Why don't you let me accompany you?" Owen enthusiastically took out a recorder and played the melody of Hedwig's Variations. Amidst the melodious and mysterious music, the big dog's eyelids drooped almost instantly, and his body began to sway.

Harry stood outside the door and recited "Silent" to prevent the sound of the flute from attracting people passing by. Then he invited everyone to walk in the door without forgetting to close the door.

Draco stared blankly at the huge monster in front of him, hissed, and said in a slightly trembling voice: "You didn't say this dog was big enough to bite our heads off!" Is it too late for him to regret it now?

The sleeping three-headed dog seemed to be disturbed by his voice, and his eyelids suddenly raised, frightening him into silence, and he hid behind Owen conscientiously.

The big dog swayed to the soothing melody and soon lay on the floor, purring deeply.

"This way!" Hermione opened the trap door next to the big dog and waved to everyone.

"I'll go down first!" Harry swallowed and jumped in first, followed by Hermione and Neville. Draco looked at Owen slowly, then at the sleeping big dog, closed his eyes, stamped his feet, and then plunged into the hole.

Owen raised his eyebrows, took back his recorder with a smile, and jumped into the deep, dark hole.