HP/LOTM: Hogwart's Mind Dragon

Arsesi had been busy gathering intelligence on Lockhart ever since receiving Aiden's orders. Meanwhile, the school's various affairs proceeded in an orderly manner, and the Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff Quidditch match was about to begin.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione left the Great Hall to fetch Harry's gear. Just as he stepped onto the grand marble staircase, he heard it again.

"This time... kill... let me tear... let me rip..."

Harry cried out, startling Ron and Hermione. "That voice!" he exclaimed. "I heard it again just now! Didn't you?"

Ron shook his head, his eyes wide with confusion. Hermione put her hand to her forehead, a look of sudden, dawning realization on her face.

"Harry—I think I've just figured something out!" she announced. "I have to go to the library!" And with that, she rushed up the stairs and disappeared.

"What did she figure out?" Harry asked, feeling flustered.

"It's beyond me," Ron said, shaking his head. "But why does she always have to go to the library?"

"Because that's just Hermione's style," Ron shrugged. "When in doubt, go to the library."

Harry stood there hesitantly, hoping to hear the voice again, but a crowd was surging out of the Great Hall behind him, talking loudly as they headed toward the Quidditch pitch.

"You'd better hurry," Ron said. "It's almost eleven. The match is about to start."

Harry quickly retrieved his broom and ran toward the pitch, but his heart remained in the castle, worried about the strange, hissing voice. The only comfort was that with everyone outside waiting to watch the match, the castle would be empty.

The players walked onto the field to a roar of applause. Wood did a warm-up flight around the goalposts. Madam Hooch sent the Quaffle flying, and the Hufflepuff players huddled together, using the last minute to discuss tactics.

As Harry straddled his broom, he saw Professor McGonagall half-walking, half-running across the field with a giant, magically amplified megaphone. "Match canceled!" her voice echoed across the stadium.

Up in the stands, Aiden stood up and, using a connected rune, checked on the Basilisk. Sure enough, the great serpent was wandering the castle corridors.

'Aiden, I found something,' a message flashed across his monocle. It was from Arsesi.

'What?' Aiden quickly replied.

'Gilderoy Lockhart actually brought an assistant into the school. He applied for free access for him under the pretext of needing material for a newspaper article...'

Arsesi's communication suddenly cut off.

'Arsesi? Arsesi!' Aiden began to run toward the castle, trying to re-establish contact. He used his ability to quickly pinpoint the location of the other monocle. She was still moving, and at high speed, which made him breathe a small sigh of relief.

Finally, Aiden intercepted her at a corner, pulling her into a shared blind spot in their consciousness.

"Phew... phew... that was exciting," she panted, her usual composure completely gone. Footsteps were rapidly approaching down the corridor behind them.

A short wizard wearing a large, purple turban appeared before them.

"It's—" Just as Arsesi was about to speak, Aiden reached out and covered her mouth.

With just that slight fluctuation of energy, the wizard in front of them revealed a sinister smile. He took out a pair of dried eyeballs, lit them with his wand, and began to chant a strange spell. "Offered to my glorious Lord, —■■—, please grant me eyes that can pierce through all illusion."

A strange fluctuation came from some distant, unknown place, precisely attaching itself to the wizard's eyes. In his sight, everything around him turned into a collection of shimmering lines. He scanned the surroundings and finally found a set of lines that were different from the environment where Aiden and Arsesi stood. Although they were extremely blurry, their outlines could just be discerned.

"Haha! I found you," the wizard said, a twisted, sinister grin directed toward their location.

"Arsesi, you leave first," Aiden whispered. She nodded and quickly slipped away.

"Look at you," the wizard hissed. "Such pure power of the mind. If I can... use you, my Lord will surely bestow more blessings upon me! Hahahahaha!"

Believing his opponent was just an ordinary young wizard and that he was safely within the walls of Hogwarts, the careless man casually pulled out his wand and cast a Petrification Curse.

Unfortunately for him, he had not picked a soft target.

Aiden lightly raised his palm, and his long staff materialized. An offensive spell, faster than a Bludger, struck the wizard, and the resulting explosion blew him backward. He displayed an unparalleled ability to fly through the air before crashing heavily onto the ground and rolling several times.

"Cough, cough," the wizard struggled to sit up, coughing up a mouthful of clotted blood. He began to mutter ancient verses, and a strange, ancient rhythm echoed through the corridor. "It does not preach, it does not seek worship, it merely observes the birth and death of all things at the edge of the universe..."

Seeing him begin to cast another spell, Aiden strode forward, grabbed him by the neck, and lifted him into the air. Forcing the wizard to look him in the eyes, a subtle light flashed within Aiden's own, and then he delivered a fierce, physical Stunner to the man's temple.

The wizard fell unconscious, and Aiden's body began to blur as he sank into the man's dream.

On the wizard's island of consciousness, the light of reason was obscured by a thick, swirling mist, and clear thought had been replaced by chaos. From time to time, the roar of monstrous beasts echoed from within the fog. "Reason obscured, is it?" Aiden sighed. "I think I know whose follower he is. Ah, these people really are..." He spread his wings and began to fly toward the dream bubbles that were floating upward.

Entering one, Aiden began to look for the information he wanted. Just as he was sifting through the memories, the sound of a strange, clicking language attracted his attention, and he flew toward that dream.

In the memory, the wizard passed through a dark tunnel and came to a house whose outline was unclear. He pushed open the door and walked in. Inside, a long table was surrounded by people in dark robes, their faces hidden, all sitting in silence.

"Corvin, you're late," the man sitting at the head of the table said.

"Sorry, Speaker," the wizard—Corvin—apologized, lowering his head. "I was held up by my duties for the newspaper."

"Alright," the Speaker continued. "Now that everyone is here, let us begin this meeting. Today's topic is mainly about Councilor Clinere's sacrifice ritual..." The Speaker's narration seemed to drift further and further away, his voice becoming increasingly faint.

"Aiden Prewett." Just as Aiden was concentrating, trying to hear the Speaker clearly, someone called his name from behind.

He turned his head, and suddenly the surrounding scene rapidly turned white. A man in platinum robes stood before him.

"Why is it you again?" Aiden looked at the Director of the Department of Mysteries, his originally beautiful heterochromatic eyes turning into dead fish eyes.

"Careless little dragon," the Director said, his eyes narrowing. "Look where you've gotten yourself lost."

"The Distorted Illusion?" Aiden looked around and understood his situation. "So this person was just bait?" he realized.

"It wasn't aimed at you," the Director smiled. "After all, both our factions touch upon the realm of consciousness, so naturally, we have some special protective measures."

"Then how did you know I would fall in here?" Aiden asked, a little curious.

"Your mass is too large," the Director explained with a shrug. "Every time you approach the Deep Realm, you trigger an alarm, so here we are."

"You?" Aiden looked behind the Director and saw a large group of Unspeakables taking pictures and waving.

Aiden's face turned beet red. (⁄ ⁄- ⁄ω⁄- ⁄ ⁄)

"Alright, I'm not going to waste any more time with you lot," he grumbled. "I'm leaving." The shy dragon quickly fled the Distorted Illusion.

[Chapter Complete]

***

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