HP: Wormwood and Lightning Wood

Harry remained uneasy during this time.

The sleeping potion that West concocted allowed him to sleep well at night, but his scars would still ache during the day.

"It's like a warning." Harry unconsciously rubbed the lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead, lost in thought.

A fine, tingling pain was spreading down his skull. "Honestly, West, I have a feeling this is a harbinger of impending danger," Harry said, a shadow falling over his emerald eyes.

West put down his book. "Are you using scars for divination, Harry?" He slowly rolled up his completed paper. "I told you, instead of worrying about that, think about the paper Professor McGonagall assigned."

He knew Harry was concerned about the Philosopher's Stone, Quirrell, and Voldemort, but what did it have to do with Harry? He was just a first-year student.

These matters should be left to Dumbledore and Professor Snape.

Draco, who was poking at his pudding with his silver fork, looked up when he heard their conversation. "Harry, West is right, this isn't your concern."

Harry remained silent. He saw an owl flapping its wings across the sky, a note in its beak.

He seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly leaped up.

"Where to?" West asked.

"I'm going to find Hagrid!" He grabbed the red scarf from the back of the chair and rushed out of the auditorium in a few moments.

"Merlin's beard!" Ron mumbled, his mouth still stuffed with sausage, as he chased after Harry. Draco cursed and pushed aside the bench, running after Harry as well.

The three figures hurriedly ran down the grassy slope.

Hermione sat comfortably beside West, sighed, and then flipped through her notes. "Oh, boys."

It was almost lunchtime when the three of them returned to the auditorium, and none of them looked too good.

"Merlin, we've run into Professor McGonagall." Ron said with a mournful face.

"Is that the point, Weasley?" Draco spread his hands in displeasure. "The point is, Hagrid told a stranger how to deal with that Cerberus!"

Draco tugged at his tie, muttering in annoyance.

West narrowed his eyes. Sure enough, Hagrid's mouth was not tight at all.

Those who know that Hagrid wants the dragon egg are probably quite familiar with him, and are very likely from Hogwarts; he also wants to get the method to deal with Cerberus, so who else could it be but Quirrell?

"McGreyson said Dumbledore won't be at Hogwarts tonight," Harry said gravely, having guessed who had tricked Hagrid into revealing the secret. "Quirotto will be going through the trapdoor tonight—"

Hermione gasped. "Harry, what can we do—" She paused, noticing the black robes that had appeared beside them.

"Professor Snape," everyone greeted politely.

Snape was a little puzzled. Why did these young wizards not seem so afraid of him anymore?

"What a touching tea party," he said in a smooth tone.

The four small figures couldn't help but freeze.

"You shouldn't be indoors in this weather," Snape said with a strange smile.

"We were just talking about the Philosopher's Stone, Professor," Harry said, taking a deep breath and mustering his courage.

The air suddenly froze.

Snape glared at West, suspecting that he was the one who had leaked the information.

"..." West was leaning to one side, blinking innocently.

Okay, he did tell Harry, but he swore to Merlin that even if he hadn't, Harry and Hermione and the others would have been able to find out everything.

"Enough, this is not something you should be worried about," Snape said with a grim face.

"But Quirrell is going to steal the Philosopher's Stone!" Harry exclaimed hastily, "For Voldemort!"

"No one can steal it; it is under tight protection and absolutely safe," Snape said, echoing Professor McGonagall's words.

"Harry Potter, you arrogant savior," Snape said impatiently, bending down. "I warn you, no nighttime outings, or I'll personally expel you. Have a good time."

After saying that, Snape glared at West again, and West secretly mouthed, "It has nothing to do with me."

"..." Snape didn't bother to say anything and strode towards the faculty lounge.

"It's alright, Harry, you know," West patted Harry on the shoulder, "Professor Snape was worried about you, afraid you'd get hurt."

Harry groaned in frustration, "This concern is too much for me to bear."

Ron nodded in agreement.

"But the professor is right, don't even think about using the trapdoor." West became serious. "Anyway, it's none of your business."

"How can it not concern me!" Harry rarely argued with West, but this time he spoke unusually loudly and angrily. "If Quirrell gets the Philosopher's Stone, Voldemort will come back! He killed our parents! Have you forgotten?"

West's face darkened. "So what are you going to do? You're just a first-year student. If you really ran into Quirrell, do you think you could beat him?"

"Do you believe he can kill you?" West asked, somewhat angrily.

"So you don't want revenge?" Harry glared at him angrily, his eyes wide.

"Now is not a good time for revenge," West said.

"But I can't just stand by and watch it all happen! The worst that can happen is death! If...!"

West's action abruptly interrupted Harry's words.

"Don't say things like that." His face darkened completely. He grabbed Harry's sleeve, stared at him, and his eyes burned with rage.

The remaining three people watched with trepidation.

Draco, fearing that West would really beat Harry up, gritted his teeth and grabbed his arm.

Hermione said softly, "Calm down, can't we talk this out?"

Ron nodded vigorously in agreement.

West took a deep breath and looked into Harry's eyes.

Harry was a stubborn child from a young age. He seemed very obedient, but in reality, no one could change his mind once he had made up his mind.

"Are you sure you want to go?" West asked through gritted teeth.

"Yes!" Harry's eyes lit up. "Tonight! I'm going to use the Invisibility Cloak."

West loosened his collar, gave a cold laugh, and said, "Whatever." Then he turned and left.

Harry stood there, stunned.

West was furious. He strode through the castle’s dark corridors, his chest heaving with rage.

He took several deep breaths to calm down.

Harry's impulsiveness was one thing, but I never expected him to be so impulsive as well.

How could Harry bring himself to say something like "the worst that can happen is death"? Has he forgotten he has an older brother?

West was feeling upset and unconsciously wandered into the cellar.

He opened the cellar door and found Snape organizing potions.

Hearing the noise, Snape looked up and saw it was West. He scoffed, "I think Mr. West has forgotten basic manners; he doesn't even know to knock before entering a professor's office."

West, unusually, did not smile; instead, he looked dejected, causing Snape to swallow back his next sarcastic remark.

West is usually so mature and composed, but today he showed a rare hint of negative emotion, making him seem like an eleven-year-old child.

"...What's wrong with you?" Snape asked in a low voice when he saw West standing still.

"Professor," West looked up, looking dejected, "I had a fight with Harry."

"...Two stupid trolls." West's words made Snape grit his teeth. After all, it wasn't a big deal to him. Was it really worth West coming to the cellar with such a resentful look on his face?

West also realized that Snape might not want to hear these things.

He wiped his face and said, "Professor, I suspect Quirrell has already met Voldemort."

Snape's pupils contracted sharply, and he took a few steps forward. "What did you say?"

His approach was incredibly intimidating, yet he froze under the boy's calm gaze.

"In the Forbidden Forest, I saw Voldemort's face," West paused, a look of disgust on his face, "and strangely enough, I smelled Quirrell on him."

Snape's dark eyes gleamed, as if he were deep in thought.

West then asked, "Professor, Dumbledore knew Voldemort was at Hogwarts, yet he still left."

He stared at Snape. "What's your plan?"

Snape stiffened, then waved his hand. "You don't need to worry about these things. Go back to your dorm."

West looked at him for a long time before finally nodding, "...Alright."

"...Don't let your stupid brother go out tonight," Snape suddenly said in a hoarse voice.

West gave a helpless smile; he couldn't stop Harry. However, he could knock Harry unconscious.