Chapter 55: Caught Again
Snape was convinced that the culprits responsible for his stolen collection were among the intruders, but their connection to Voldemort remained shrouded in mystery.
"It can't possibly be that imbecile Quirrell, but who could it be... and where are they hiding? Could it be another professor?" Snape pondered, retracing recent events, a weariness settling over him.
Suddenly, an inexplicable chill coursed through him. Snape's eyes snapped open, and his wand was instinctively raised.
The flames in the fireplace surged and flickered before transforming into an eerie emerald green hue. Several ghostly apparitions materialized from the wall. Upon spotting Snape, they appeared momentarily surprised, then a bone-chilling cold emanated from them.
Frost Nova!
A standard spell associated with undead spirits, causing minimal harm. It emitted a coldness akin to what Dementors exuded unintentionally.
A frosty layer rapidly spread from Snape's lounge, accompanied by an eerie, freezing sound.
"Expecto Patronum!"
The moment Snape perceived the chilling presence, he cast the Patronus Charm without hesitation. A radiant doe leaped from the tip of his wand, its light intensifying. The ghosts were not inherently afraid of the Patronus Charm, but the warm, protective aura it exuded made them uncomfortable. The spirits emitted harsh, discordant screams and retreated into the wall.
The cold gradually dissipated in the room, but Snape's complexion remained ashen.
"What in Merlin's name? How did Dementors infiltrate Hogwarts?! How did they breach the walls? What's happening here?" Snape's thoughts raced, but he couldn't dwell on it and dashed out with his wand in hand.
The few "Dementors" hovered in the air and made a beeline for the fourth floor.
"The fourth floor?" Snape's expression darkened as he recalled the Philosopher's Stone. His apprehension grew, and he swiftly followed their path.
Meanwhile, Harry and Ron had reached the fourth floor from the eighth floor and cautiously approached the innermost room. Two ominous, dense black mists billowed like boiling liquid, each adorned with grotesque masks, creating a profoundly eerie atmosphere.
"If they run into Filch while he's patrolling, it'll scare the life out of him," Ron muttered, eyeing Harry's tense demeanor.
Exiting a room, they noticed that the lock above remained intact. Harry deliberated for a moment before drawing his wand.
"Alohomora."
But the lock remained stubbornly unyielding. Unbeknownst to them, when Snape had examined the secret room earlier, he had observed the lock and suspected his collection's theft. He had reinforced the lock with multiple anti-theft and anti-unlocking spells, rendering conventional unlocking spells ineffective.
"Can't open..." Harry's voice held a note of disappointment.
"Am I really that far behind Hermione?" he mused.
"Anyway, we're just here to check if anything's missing..." Ron's response was nonchalant. He placed his ear against the door and continued, "Listen... I can hear that big dog purring."
Intrigued by Ron's statement, Harry leaned in as well, trying to discern the noises coming from the room.
Before they could investigate further, Snape's emotionless voice interrupted them from behind.
"I think you two should explain why you are here!" Snape demanded.
Harry was convinced he was hearing things and turned to Ron with disbelief.
"I actually heard Snape's nasty voice..."
"I think I heard it too... what the hell..." Ron replied. Suddenly, he froze, and the two black mists on their faces quivered violently. The ghostly visages on their masks turned abruptly.
Snape, wand in hand and wearing an indifferent expression, confronted Harry and Ron.
When Snape had pursued the ghosts to the fourth floor, Artel had summoned them back. Snape hadn't seen any ghosts when he reached the fourth floor, and the chilling aura he had sensed earlier had vanished. He assumed the spirits had moved to a different part of the floor.
As Snape was preparing to leave, he heard the incantation at the end of a corner corridor. The voice sounded distinctly like Harry's.
Curiosity piqued, Snape stealthily approached to investigate. However, just as he witnessed the two swirling black mists, he almost became the unintended target of a spell when Ron suddenly exclaimed.
"Snape... Professor," Harry and Ron responded with a sense of resignation.
This was their second night out, and now it was the second time they had been caught. The first encounter had been with Professor McGonagall, and now, it was Professor Snape who had apprehended them.
"Remove those ghosts from your faces!" Snape commanded, having identified the two intruders.
Harry and Ron quickly complied, unmasking themselves and revealing their true identities.
"Mr. Harry Potter, Mr. Ron Weasley, you'd better explain why you are here on this eventful night," Snape demanded, his gaze cold and unforgiving.
His mind was abuzz with questions. What connection did Harry have with the Dementor from earlier? Where had the Dementors gone? Were they merely a ploy to lure him in, setting the stage for catching Harry and Ron on their unauthorized nighttime adventure? The answers to these questions remained elusive, and Snape was determined to uncover the truth.
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