48: Chapter 48 The Transformation of the Trio

The corridor after lunch was packed with students; the Gryffindor side was the loudest.

Ron squeezed out of the crowd, books in his arms, still talking about the Troll from last night.

Hermione held her thick textbooks and frowned, "You've been talking since breakfast, you're practically making up numbers about how many tiles the Troll crushed."

Harry smiled, "Ron, you really have talked quite a bit."

Ron hugged his books tighter, "I'm just correcting people; they're making it sound like I was riding on the Troll's neck."

At the corner ahead, Pansy and a few Slytherin students were blocking the way.

She tilted her chin up, "Look, it's Mr. Weasley, the one who defeated the Troll."

Ron blushed, "At least I was there."

Pansy laughed, "At the scene, in the Girls Bathroom?"

Harry stepped forward, "That's enough."

Hermione pulled him back, "Don't pay attention to them; they want you to take the bait."

Draco happened to come from the other side, with Crabbe and Goyle following behind.

Seeing the three of them, he stopped, "Potter, I heard you need Weasley to protect you now?"

Harry looked at him, "Malfoy, do you want to lose house points again?"

Draco sneered, "I'm just concerned about The Chosen One; after all, even a Troll could force you into the Girls Bathroom."

Ron immediately retorted, "Better than hiding in the Dungeon."

Crabbe took a step forward.

Goyle also frowned.

Hermione opened a book and blocked the way in front of Ron, "Malfoy, if you want to argue in the corridor, I'll go find a prefect."

Draco looked at her, "Granger, have you become Potter's housekeeper now?"

Hermione did not back down, "I'm just reminding you that Professor McGonagall won't be in a good mood today."

Harry added, "Neither will Professor Snape."

Draco's expression changed.

Ron muttered, "Especially when she sees you blocking the hallway."

Just as Draco was about to speak, the sound of pages turning came from behind him.

Allen Potter was leaning against the window, holding a thin booklet, his eyelids half-lowered.

"Draco, let's go."

Draco turned back, "Didn't you hear what Weasley said?"

Allen Potter closed the book, "I heard."

"Then why are you telling me to leave?"

"Do you want to compete with him in the hallway to see who gets more points deducted?"

Draco gritted his teeth, "He's provoking me."

Allen Potter looked at Ron, "He has an audience now, and companions; you won't gain anything."

Ron frowned, "What do you mean?"

Allen Potter looked away, "Exactly what I said."

Hermione stared at him, "What are you reading now?"

Allen Potter shoved the book back into his bag, "Watching you block the way."

Harry looked at him, "Allen, where were you last night?"

The laughter in the corridor died down.

Draco spoke first, "He came back to the Dungeon with us."

Harry didn't look away, "I'm asking him."

Allen Potter picked up his book bag, "Sleeping."

Ron couldn't help but say, "A Troll gets into the school, and you can still sleep?"

Allen Potter looked at him, "Aren't you awake?"

Ron was speechless.

Hermione frowned, "There was someone outside the Girls Bathroom last night."

Draco immediately looked at Allen Potter.

Allen Potter pressed his hand on the edge of his bag, "Did the Professors ask you?"

Hermione said, "They did."

"What was your answer?"

Harry said, "No one."

Allen Potter nodded, "Then stick to that answer."

Hermione looked at him, "That doesn't sound like someone who doesn't know."

Allen Potter glanced at her, "Granger, people who have just been chased by a Troll shouldn't treat every passerby as a suspect."

Ron immediately said, "She was almost crushed, of course she's going to overthink."

Hermione didn't argue, just stared at Allen Potter, "The way the Troll fell last night wasn't normal."

Allen Potter said, "You can go ask Professor Quirrell."

Harry frowned, "Why ask him?"

Allen Potter walked past them, "Because he said the Troll was in the Dungeon."

Draco followed, turning back to tilt his chin up, "Did you hear that? Don't dump your problems on Slytherin."

Hermione said coldly, "Then don't leave your mouth in the corridor either."

Ron almost laughed out loud.

Draco's face turned green, "Granger!"

Allen Potter stopped, "Draco."

Draco held back his anger, "She's mocking me."

Allen Potter said, "So you're planning to prove she's right?"

Crabbe scratched his head, "What did she say?"

Goyle thought for a moment, "Seems like she said mouth."

Draco glared at him, "Shut up."

After walking a distance, Draco finally spoke, "Why did you stop me?"

Allen Potter looked at the stairs ahead, "Because you can't win an argument against her."

Draco's expression worsened, "I can't win against a Muggle-born?"

"She reads a lot, reacts quickly, and knows when to find a Professor."

"So what?"

"Before, Harry only had fame and luck."

Draco huffed, "What about Weasley?"

"Weasley is familiar with the magic world, has many brothers, and knows his way around the school better than Harry."

Draco was silent for a moment, "Are you saying that now that Granger has joined, they are harder to deal with?"

Allen Potter nodded, "The trouble will increase."

Crabbe asked, "Why?"

Allen Potter looked at him, "Because someone will remind them to bring books, bring brains, and bring reasons."

Goyle nodded seriously, "That is troublesome."

Nott walked out from behind the shadows of a bookshelf, holding an old book.

"I heard you talking about Gryffindor."

Draco frowned, "When were you there?"

Nott closed the book, "Since you almost lost to Granger in the corridor."

Draco's face darkened, "Nott."

Allen Potter raised a hand to stop him, "Let's talk business."

Nott looked at Allen Potter, "You're interested in those three?"

"I wouldn't call it interest."

"Then why are you watching them?"

Allen Potter walked to the window, avoiding passing Ravenclaw students, "Because they go where others dare not."

Nott said, "The Third Floor?"

Draco immediately looked around, "Can you not mention that in the corridor?"

Allen Potter said, "Let's put it another way."

Nott nodded, "That door."

Crabbe asked in a low voice, "Which door?"

Goyle said, "Don't ask."

Draco looked at Allen Potter, "You suspect they will keep investigating?"

Allen Potter countered, "Do you think Granger will let go of an unexplained Troll?"

Nott added, "She asked about violent magic in Defense Against the Dark Arts Class today, and Quirrell avoided it."

Allen Potter looked at him, "You noticed too."

"Quirrell avoided it too quickly."

Draco suppressed his anger, "So Granger will investigate Quirrell?"

Allen Potter said, "She will investigate the Troll, check forbidden books, and look for words Professors let slip."

The voices of Ron and Harry came from the stairs, and everyone fell silent at once.

The three of them walked past the corner.

Hermione held her books and said as she walked, "You two are not allowed to run around tonight."

Ron was dissatisfied, "When did we say we were going to run around tonight?"

Hermione said, "You just asked Harry if that corridor on the Third Floor would still be locked."

Harry whispered, "I was just asking."

Hermione stopped, "Asking isn't allowed either. Until you learn how not to get caught by Filch, you are not allowed to go there."

Ron looked at Harry, "She's bossier than Percy now."

Hermione turned around, "I heard that."

Ron immediately shut up.

Harry saw Allen Potter and slowed his pace, "Allen."

Allen Potter looked back at him, "Potter."

Harry pursed his lips, "Never mind."

Hermione pulled him, "Let's go."

Ron still looked back at Draco, "Malfoy, don't follow us."

Draco laughed angrily, "Follow you? Weasley, has the water in your brain not drained yet?"

Hermione didn't look back, "Ron, let's go."

Once the three of them were far away, Draco said, "See that? Granger is cleaning up after them now, and keeping them quiet too."

Allen Potter said, "That's why I told you not to argue earlier."

Nott looked in the direction they left, "They're going to the Library."

Allen Potter hummed, "Keep an eye on them."

"To what extent?"

"See what books they borrow, who they ask, and where they stop."

Nott asked, "Do I need to tell Malfoy?"

Draco was immediately displeased, "Why not tell me?"

Allen Potter looked at him, "Because you will write to your father."

Draco was stumped, "I won't write everything."

"Wait until you can tell what should be written before you say that."

Nott closed the book, "I want payment."

Allen Potter said, "Flint is still in detention this week, so there will be a spot open on the Quidditch team's training list."

Nott raised an eyebrow, "You can change the training list?"

"I can't."

"Then what are you trading with?"

"Draco can know the Malfoy Family's stance towards the Board of Governors. If there's another issue with Flint's spot, many people would want to hear who is more suitable to take it."

Draco frowned, "You're counting me in again?"

Allen Potter said, "You were already in the game."

Nott glanced at Draco, "Fine, I'll keep an eye on those three."

Allen Potter added, "Don't get too close, Granger will notice."

Nott nodded, "She is indeed harder to fool than Potter."

Draco was unconvinced, "Just a first-year student."

Allen Potter looked at him, "You are also a first-year."

Crabbe whispered, "Draco has more money."

Goyle added, "Money can't make Granger shut up."

Draco couldn't take it anymore, "You two are talking too much today."

Back in the Dungeon, the Common Room was quieter than the corridor.

Pansy was still talking about the Troll, and seeing Draco return, she immediately asked, "Did you run into Potter and the others just now?"

Draco sat on the arm of the sofa, "I did."

Pansy asked, "Is Weasley still bragging?"

Crabbe nodded, "He could brag even if he were sitting in water."

Goyle added, "Granger won't let him."

Pansy frowned, "She's hanging out with them now?"

Draco glanced at Allen Potter, "Apparently."

Pansy scoffed, "What a match: The Chosen One, a pauper, and a Mud..."

Allen Potter looked up, "Don't say that word."

The Common Room went quiet for a beat.

Pansy's expression changed, "Are you telling me what to do?"

Draco spoke first, "He said don't say it."

Pansy looked at Draco, "You listen to him too?"

Draco threw his book on the table, "I don't want to give Professor Snape any leverage, especially now that the whole school is watching what happened last night."

Pansy turned and walked away.

Zabini sat by the fireplace and laughed, "Potter, you certainly know how to make others speak for you."

Allen Potter looked at him, "You could also talk less."

Zabini raised his hands, "I'm just an observer."

Allen Potter said, "Observers live longer."

Nott walked in from the door, "I'm going to the Library."

Allen Potter nodded, "Starting today."

Nott asked, "Only the trio?"

"The focus is on Granger."

Draco frowned, "You really see her as a threat?"

Allen Potter put his bag on the table, "She can turn Harry's impulses into plans, turn Weasley's common sense into routes, and she makes excuses for them."

Zabini interjected, "Sounds like you're complimenting her."

Allen Potter said, "Judgment and praise are not the same thing."

Draco cursed, "Troublesome."

Allen Potter stood up, "So don't put yourself in her hands."

Draco watched him walk towards the dormitory, "If you fall asleep in a strange place again, I won't explain for you a second time."

Allen Potter pushed open the dormitory door, "You will."

Draco gritted his teeth, "Potter!"

The door closed in front of him.

The dormitory was empty, the light from the Black Lake shimmering against the walls.

Allen Potter drew the bed curtains, took out his blackthorn wand, and his fingertips touched the boundary of the Portable Space.

Void raised its head from beside the ebony box, its silver slit pupils aimed at the outside world.

Allen Potter placed the parchment with Harry, Ron, and Hermione written on it next to the stone slab.

"Granger has joined; the variables are increasing."

Void flicked its tongue.

Allen Potter closed his eyes, and the edge of the space pushed outward by half a foot.

"Keep an eye on them."

The tip of the black snake's tail landed on the parchment.

Drowsiness washed over him, and the Portable Space continued to expand in his sleep.