บท 74: Suspicions and Planning

During lunch Harry had updated Ron and Hermione about Fluffy and how he was suspicious that he was guarding the Sorcerer's stone. He refrained from saying anything else during the lunch and told them that he would tell in the evening.

After lunch they had gone back to the classes and Harry had made his way to the common room to write the letter to Vernon. As he stepped through the portrait hole, he immediately spotted Fred and George Weasley slumped on their usual seats on the sofa, looking unusually exhausted. Harry approached them to see what was going on.

"Hey, you two look like you've been through the wringer," Harry said, taking a seat in the chair nearby.

Fred glanced up with a weary smile. "Harry, thank Merlin you're here."

"Yeah, mate, can you hit us with that energizing charm of yours?" George added, looking drained.

Harry nodded, casting the charm with a flick of his hand. Almost instantly, color returned to the twin's faces and they sat up straighter.

"Thanks, Harry," Fred said, stretching his legs. "We really needed that."

"What's got you two wiped out like that?" Harry asked.

George sighed, "Balancing our school stuff with developing our prank products is bloody exhausting."

"Yeah, " Fred continued. "We're running ourselves ragged trying to keep up."

Harry felt a pang of guilt. He had promised the twins that he would help them with their assignments but had completely forgotten. "I'm sorry guys. I said I'd help, but I haven't been around much."

Fred waved his hand. "Don't bear yourself up, Harry. You've helped us more than anyone else. We couldn't have gotten this far without you."

"Still," Harry insisted. "I don't have classes anymore, so I can take on your assignments. Let me handle it."

The twins exchanged a surprised look. "Wait," George said, "you don't have to go to classes anymore? What's that about?"

Harry smiled, "I'm working on a personal project and got permission from Dumbledore to not attend the classes for the rest of the term."

The twins whistled in awe. "Leave it to you to get special privileges from Dumbledore," Fred said, shaking his head in amazement. "Alright, if you're sure you can handle it, we'll leave it to you."

"Oh please, it's gonna nothing at all," Harry smirked. "Give me whatever you need to be done right now, I'll help you finish it by tonight. Also, can I see one of your previous assignments? I want to make sure I get your writing style right."

Fred told him the topics of their pending assignments. Then the twins dug through their bags and handed Harry a couple of parchment. "Here's the one we finished for Charm during the holidays," George said. "Thanks again, Harry."

"No problem," Harry replied. "Don't forget to take it from me before going to bed."

"We won't," The twins said as they got up and left the common room. Harry skimmed through the parchment to get fa grasp of their writing style. After getting a good idea of how they wrote, he headed towards his dormitory. He set the parchment on his bedside table.

He brought out two sets of quill from his pouch and set them down next to new parchments. Harry thought about how he could go about tackling this situation. He could use a charm to make the quill write out what he dictates but he would have to sit down and dictate it. Also the current charm would not allow the quill to write in a specific writing style.

Harry sighed as he knew that there was no other way to go about it other than creating the spells he wanted himself. So he sat down on his bed and drew the curtains. Elythral sensing the need materialised in his hand. After making sure that no one could disturb him, Harry thought about the Arithmantic equations he would need to devise this new charm. Each writing style had its own structure, tone, and pace, which could be represented through a combination of runes and Arithmantic values.

He decided the runes for the charm which would make the quill write in a specific writing style. Kenaz(ᛃᚢᛋ), Ansuz(ᛒᚱᛟᚦ), and Raidho(ᛃᚨᚺ). Next he did the necessary Arithmancy calculations to determine the incantation structure. After a few minutes of calculation, he came up with the incantation: "Scripto Auctor". He finalised the spell by merging the Runes and Arithmantic equations along with the incantation.

"Now that that's done. I need to make up a spell to connect my mind to the quill." Harry muttered. "How do I go about linking the quills to my mind? I need it to pluck out relative information from my mind without me having to think about it."

Harry thought it out for a while. It was a rather complex problem since it was almost as if the quills had a mind of their own and would only be taking out relative information. He also had to set proper limitations to the spell. It could easily jump from one related topic to another. After a taxing half hour, Harry finally had the spell ready. "Cogitomotus" was the incantation he set to the spell. The spell only linked the quill to mind temporarily, allowing it to access knowledge on a particular and write it down, without him having to think about it constantly.

"Ok...now for the moment of truth." Harry pointed his wand at the quills and muttered, "Scripto Auctor." The quills glowed briefly and then sprung to life hanging above the parchment. He then muttered, "Cogitomotus," causing a silvery thread of light emerging from his mind and merging with the quill. The connection pulsed once before settling, indicating that the spell was in place.

Harry watched in satisfaction as the quills danced across the parchment, writing effortlessly. He could see that the writing style was the exact copy of the twins. Satisfied that the spells were working as he intended, he pulled out another another piece of parchment. He began writing to Vernon about the ingredients he would be needing. He left out the Phoenix feathers and tears as it was not something that could be easily found.

After writing the letter Harry laid back on his bed and sighed. Things were still very boring considering everything. He still needed to push his plan about the Sorcerer stone and Quirrell into action with Ron and Hermione but its just too boring. He could just walk up to Quirrell's office and kill him then and there. True it might be a bit difficult with Voldemort stuck in the back of his head, but what could a soul fragment do to him? Scare him to death?

Does he really need to play by the rules and include Ron and Hermione in this? He was powerful enough to do it alone and he knew that he could get it done. Harry lay on his bed, staring up at the canopy. He had been alone for twelve years in his past life, and even though he had friends and family in this life, he still found it hard to shake the instinct to handle everything by himself. It wasn't that he didn't trust them or value them—he did, more than anything— but a part of him felt he could do it alone, and maybe even should.

He sighed deeply and dismissed those thoughts for now. He should document the new spells he had created. Sitting up he pulled out a new quill from his pouch and a small diary. He quickly cast the Scripto Auctor on the quill so it would write by itself. He then proceeded to cast the Cogitomotus spell to link it to his mind. The quill began writing away on the page of the diary.

Starting from the spell he had modified to scan an entire shelf of books, to the Cogitomotus spell. The quill wrote down about each spell in great detail including the wand movements(not that Harry needed it of course) to the correct pronunciations. As the quill noted away the spells, Harry checked on the assignments of the twins. He saw that the quill was standing still on the paper and peered closer to see what the problem was.

Then he realised that the quills had already completed that assignment. He chuckled as he changed the topics and parchment, and the quills started writing again. He glanced at the clock on his bedside table. It was just 2:04 pm. He had about two hours before Ron and Hermione came back from the classes. What should he do? He then decided that he would just sleep for a while. Drawing the curtains he settled himself for a nap until Ron and Hermione came back from the classes. Harry soon fell asleep to the sound of the quill scribbling away at the parchment.

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Harry woke up to someone shaking him slightly. He opened his eyes to see Ron standing over him. He sat up and stretched, before looking at the quills which stood still over the parchments. He proceeded to cancel the enchantments with a wave of his hand.

"How was classes, Ron?", Harry asked stifling a yawn. Ron groaned, "Same old, same old."

"You want to head downstairs? Hermione is waiting there I think." Ron said as he eyed the parchments Harry rolled up on the desk.

"Sure let me just grab this letter I have to send to Dad," Harry replied as he grabbed the letter he had written to Vernon. After this he followed Ron out of the dormitory and down to the common room.

The common room was filled with all the students trying to catch a break after a long day of classes. Both of them looked around to see where Hermione was, but didn't see her. They figured she must have headed to her dormitory to change, so both of them decided to wait for her. Just as they were about to sit down in an empty couch, Hermione came downstairs, now dressed in casual clothes.

"How was your day Harry?" Hermione asked as she sat down in a chair next to them. Harry smiled, "It was good. Wanna go with me to the Owlery?"

Harry cast a pointed look at them, and they understood that Harry didn't want to talk there.

"Sure, I'll come by too. Haven't seen Artemis in a while," Ron said as he got up. Harry made his way out of the common room, followed closely by Ron and Hermione.

"What did you do after lunch, Harry?" Hermione asked as they walked through the corridors. Harry explained the new spells he had created earlier.

"I made two new spells today." Harry began. "One is called Scripto Auctor, which makes a quill write in a specific style. The other is Cogitomotus, which links the quill to my mind so it can write down relevant information without me having to think about it constantly."

Ron and Hermione's mouth hit the floor at that. They looked at Harry describing how he made two new spells as if he was talking about taking a stroll in the garden. Making new spells was something that was considered so hard that only a handful of people ever give it a try.

Ron asked with wide eyes, "And why did you make the new spells." Harry groaned as he explained that he had found the twins exhausted in the common room after lunch and remembered his promise to help them with their assignments.

"I completely forgot I had promised to help them," Harry explained. "They've been balancing schoolwork and their prank products, and it's wearing them out. I took their assignment topics and headed to the dormitory, but I didn't want to sit and dictate everything to the quills. So, I made those two spells."

As they continued walking through the corridors, Ron and Hermione exchanged unbelieving look behind Harry's back. They were both stunned at the casual way he spoke about creating new spells. After all spell creation was so rare and difficult that only a handful of wizards ever attempted it.

Ron, unable to hold back his disbelief, finally blurted out, "You made new spells just because you didn't want to sit and dictate to the quills?"

Harry who was completely oblivious to the fact that Ron and Hermione's shock, answered. "Yeah, it would have taken too long to sit and dictate. Not to say that its quite bothersome to dictate. Also creating the spells helped me write in the twin's writing style so they don't have to change anything."

Hermione shook her head in amazement and chuckled, "Harry, you do realize it how extraordinary that is, don't you? Creating spells is very advanced magic and only a few people ever do it."

Harry shrugged as they turned a corner. "It wasn't that difficult. Although it took me a lot more time than I had expected."

Ron asked, "If you don't mind me asking, how long did it take you to create those two spells?"

"It took a whopping half hour. Can you believe how much time it took to make just two spells?" Harry groaned. Ron almost slipped and fell, if not for Hermione to hold him. He looked at Hermione with an expression that said, 'Can you believe this guy right now? I really want to punch him'

Hermione nodded as she looked at Ron. She too felt that frustration but she knew this was not only because he was gifted but also because he researched and learn everything very deeply.

They arrived at the Owlery, and Harry quickly attached the letter to Hedwig's leg. "Take this to Dad, girl," he said. Hedwig hooted softly and took off into the evening sky. Ron was petting Artemis and Hermione was stroking Casper.

Harry turned to them and said, "Okay so we can do this two ways. First we can go to my house and discuss it in my room or else we can go to Diagon Alley to discuss it. What do you guys want to do?"

Ron looked up, "Why not Hogsmeade?"

Hermione replied, "Because any teacher headed down to Hogsmeade might spot us, Ron."

"Yes," Harry replied. "So what do you guys want to do?"

Both Ron and Hermione thought for a while then replied, "Let's go to Diagon Alley."

Harry nodded and extended his hands. "Hold tight." Hermione and Ron each grabbed one arm and held on tight. With a deep breathe Harry turned on the spot. And the trio Apparated away to Diagon Alley.

Harry, Ron and Hermione arrived at the Diagon Alley. Harry had Apparated them right to the entrance of the Diagon Alley and the quickly merged with the bustling crowd. Harry scanned the area for a suitable spot to discuss their plan, and his eyes fell on the board that read, 'The Munchies.'

It seemed like a new shop and had tables and chairs inside from what Harry could tell. "How about there?" Harry suggested, nodding towards the shop.

Ron and Hermione looked at the shop and agreed, and the trio made their way inside. The shop was warm and inviting, filled with savoury snacks and the aroma of freshly baked goods. They quickly took the corner seats and settled in.

Harry started, "So the day I was returning from Dumbledore's office, I ended up in the third floor corridor because of the stairs." Ron and Hermione listened with rapt attention. "So I wanted to get out of it fast, but then I saw someone lurking near the door behind which Fluffy is."

Just as Harry was about to continue, the waitress came by asking them for their orders. Harry looked at her and smiled, "We will take one of everything. Please pack it up and also we would like something to drink right now." The waitress eye went wide as Harry said one of everything, she nodded and practically skipped away to get their drinks.

Hermione turned to Harry, "Okay...continue" Harry nodded, "I wanted to see who it was so I crept closer without revealing myself. What I saw confused me a lot."

"What did you see?" Ron asked. Harry continued, "I saw Quirrell there and he was muttering to himself on how to get past Fluffy." He paused to let that sink in.

Ron and Hermione exchanged concerned glances. Hermione whispered, leaning closer. "Quirrell? Are you sure?"

"Yes," Harry confirmed. "He was clearly frustrated, talking to himself about needing to get past Fluffy. It seems like he's been trying to figure out how to get to whatever's being guarded, which we suspect is the Sorcerer's Stone."

Ron frowned, "But why would he want the Stone?"

Before Harry could say anything else, the waitress returned with their drinks—three mugs of butterbeer. She sat them down with a smile, then hurried off to prepare their massive takeaway order.

Once the waitress was out of earshot, Hermione spoke up. "Why would Quirrell try to get the stone? It doesn't make any sense."

Harry reminded her, "What does the stone do, Hermione?"

Hermione thought about it for a second, "Of course. The stone can grant immortality."

"Exactly," Harry replied. "And if I am sure, then Quirrell is working for someone else. Someone else wants the Stone to get immortal."

Ron asked, "But who would want to be immortal that bad? And why would Quirrell be working for them?"

Harry gave the both of them a pointed look, "Can you think of no one who would want to be immortal?"

Both Ron and Hermione thought for a while then Ron's face went pale. "You don't mean..."

"Yes, I am afraid that's our closest bet, Ron." Harry answered. Hermione looked at both of them with a confused look. "Who are you guys talking about?"

"Voldemort," Harry whispered causing Hermione to gasp. Ron seemed to recoil in fear of the name. He hissed, "Why are you saying the name?"

Harry was pissed, he had never understood why people refrained from speaking Voldy's name when he read the books. Fearing a man is something but fearing to even speak his name was beyond foolish. "Get over it. What is he going to do if I say his name?"

Hermione, looked between Ron and Harry. "But...how could Quirrell be working for him? Voldemort's dead isn't he?"

Harry took a deep breath before answering. "No, at least from what I have heard from Dumbledore, Voldemort is not dead. He doesn't have a body currently but he is not dead."

Ron and Hermione seemed to shake in fear. Ron more so than Hermione. "So we have to prevent Quirrell from getting the stone or else..." Ron said.

Harry nodded, "Yes, we have to." Both Ron and Hermione looked quite shaken by the fact that Voldemort is alive. "We have to tell someone, Harry. Dumbledore, maybe? He'll know what to do." Hermione said.

Harry shook his head. "We can't risk it. What if Quirrell finds out we're onto him? We need more proof, and we need to figure out how to protect the Stone ourselves if we have to."

Ron sighed, clearly overwhelmed. "Okay, so what's the plan?"

Harry glanced around before answering. "I don't think Quirrell will risk going after the stone with Dumbledore in the castle. We will probably have to look out for the day when Dumbledore isn't there."

Just then, the waitress returned with their packed order, a massive bag filled with a variety of treats and snacks. She set it down on the table with a cheerful smile. "Here you go! Enjoy!"

Harry took the bag and as he was about to get the money to pay, Ron and Hermione paid the waitress. Harry looked at them, "I would have paid..."

"Oh get over it. You always pay for us", Ron snapped. "Let us pay once in a while."

Harry raised his hand in surrender, "Okay..." The trio headed outside as Harry put the bag into his pouch. Then as they walked by still thinking about everything, Harry decided to give them a little more boost.

"Hey...I just remembered." Harry whispered. "Remember the troll that got into the castle during Halloween? What if Quirrell was the one who let it in?"

Ron and Hermione seemed to think about it then nodded gravely. "It could be...He might have tried to get past the security to get to the Stone while everyone else was dealing with the Stone."

Harry smiled in his mind. He had hooked these two into the plan successfully. He congratulated himself on being able to make up such a story.

"That reminds me Hermione, how is your research going? You were researching into magical cores right?" Harry asked as they walked through the crowd.

Hermione replied, "Its going okay. I still need to do a lot of work. But I think I'll be able to come up with something by next year."

Harry nodded as they reached a small quiet corner. He gestured them to hold his hand. Both Ron and Hermione grabbed hold of his hand and he Disapparated back to the Owlery.

They appeared in the Owlery and descended the steps and started making their way towards the common room. As they walked, Ron asked, "So what should we do now?"

Harry replied, "You can't do anything as of now. I'll keep a lookout for Quirrell, you guys just behave normally for now."

Both Ron and Hermione nodded and followed Harry down to their common room. As they turned a corner Harry suddenly stopped and turned around, "I was just thinking. We got a lot of snacks but how will we divide it? Because if I bring it with me to the dormitory, Hermione wouldn't get it."

Ron and Harry started to think about it while Hermione looked at them as if they are mad. Here they were facing a possible reincarnation of Voldemort and here these two were thinking about how to divide the snacks they got. She shook her head in disbelief.

"I know," Harry suddenly said. "Let's have a picnic on the weekend and we can use these snacks then." Ron thought about and then replied brightly, "Yeah that makes sense. We could do that, this way Hermione won't be missing anything."

Harry nodded, "It's decided then." With that the trio started walking back to the common room again. With Hermione shaking her head in disbelief on how spontaneous Harry was.

As the trio entered the common room, they were greeted by the familiar hum of chatter as the common room was still filled with the students. Harry spotted Fred and George near the window.

He made his way over to the twins, with Ron and Hermione following closely behind. "Hey, Fred, George," Harry called out as he approached. The twins looked up from their conversation and smiled.

"Evening, Harry," Fred said. "What brings you to our little corner of the world?"

Harry smiled back. "Just wanted to let you know that the assignments are finished," he said. "Wait here, I'll grab them from my dormitory."

Fred and George exchanged a quick surprised look, "That fast?" George asked. "Thanks."

Harry nodded and quickly headed up to his dormitory. He quickly grabbed the assignments from the top of his bedside table and made his way back to the common room.

Harry handed the assignments to Fred and George. "Here you go," he said. "Let me know if you need anything else."

Fred took the papers and gave Harry a mock salute. "Thanks, Harry. You're a lifesaver," he said with a wink.

"Yeah, we owe you one," George added, tucking the assignments into his bag. "Let us know if you need any of our... specialized products," he said with a mischievous grin.

Harry chuckled. "Sure, just be sure to tell me whenever you have new assignments." He then turned to Ron and Hermione, "You guys wanna go for dinner?"

Ron said yes immediately but Hermione said that she would like to shower before dinner. Harry nodded and sat down with Ron to wait for Hermione.