I was lying on the bed with my arm over my eyes, giving them a bit of rest after the recent conversations with my three main members about expanding our funds and future investments, when suddenly my map vibrated under my pillow.
I jolted upright instantly.
No hesitation.
I tied my hair into a quick bun. I was still in uniform, though without the cloak. The room around me was silent, larger than the normal dorms after McGonagall upgraded it because of my scores, no roommates, no one to disturb. Good.
I snapped my fingers lightly.
"Anubis."
My cat teleported in a jiffy, appearing on the desk with glowing eyes fixed on me immediately. I grabbed the map.
Shit.
I ran out the door so fast the handle nearly slammed into the wall behind me. And I nearly crashed straight into Kathey. "What the hell, Taylen?" she said, catching my arm immediately. "Did you get the ping too? Did you put the charm on that floor?" I nodded quickly, already moving. "Yes. I'm heading there."
A pause.
"Perhaps I'm already late."
Her face changed instantly. Concern. Fear. She already knew where this was leading. "And listen," I added quickly, "in around thirty minutes, call Professor McGonagall, okay?" She looked like she wanted to argue. Wanted to follow me, I could see it.
So before she could speak, I pulled her slightly closer and kissed her softly on the lips. "Listen," I murmured against her forehead, "nothing's going to happen to me, alright?" Her fingers tightened slightly around my sleeve.
"I won't engage with him. I'll just make sure Harry's fine." She looked into my eyes for a long second. Then finally nodded.
I ran. My enhanced body became a blur through the corridors and staircases. Wind rushed past my ears, my loosened tie flying behind me as I jumped entire staircases without slowing down. Portraits shouted in annoyance as I passed, I didn't give a shit .
I finally reached the door and pushed it open , Fluffy was asleep. The giant dog let out a low snore, all three heads twitching slightly. "Good boy," I muttered, patting one of his heads gently before jumping through the trapdoor beneath him.
Darkness swallowed me instantly, Devil's Snare. Of course. I raised my hand. A modified Lumos burst to life, flooding the room with bright white light as the vines recoiled violently.
I tore through them and dashed forward. The room of keys next. Anubis didn't even need instructions. The little menace just vanished with a poof, appeared beside the rusted flying key, caught it cleanly in his teeth, and popped back onto my shoulder proudly.
"Hehe… good cat."
I took the key and unlocked the door immediately. Next room.The chess one.
No shit.
Ron was lying there, unconscious and pale amongst the destroyed pieces. Massive stone fragments littered the floor. I exhaled sharply.
"Bloody hell…" I raised my wand and cast a massive Diffindo slash, cutting apart the remaining pieces still shifting toward me before moving forward.
I picked Ron up carefully. He groaned weakly in my arms, and there she was. Hermione. Eyes wide. Hair a mess. Panicked but trying not to show it. "Taylen?! You?! Why…"
"Just listen," I cut in quickly. "Go ahead. Kathey would already be calling McGonagall."
I handed Ron over to her carefully.
"Just hurry up and inform the Headmaster and Snape. You have the text box, right?"
She nodded quickly.
"Good. Now go."
She looked like she wanted to say more, but the urgency in my voice stopped her. She tightened her grip on Ron and ran. I turned immediately toward the next room. The potion one. Finally. Something worth my brain.
I quickly read through the clue, analyzing the bottles almost instantly before grabbing the correct potion. No hesitation. I drank it and stepped through the black flames. Too late.
I was already too late.
The room smelled burnt. Harry was on the ground, injured and barely conscious. Quirrell's body was collapsing, and Voldemort's soul fragment had already separated.
I wanted to move, wanted to trap it.
But not now.Patience.
I hid myself behind the wall as the transparent form passed through Harry and floated toward the staircase.Then quietly "Masariah." A wandless Egyptian soul tracking spell.Invisible markings latched onto the fragment instantly.
Good.
As soon as it disappeared, I cast a modified Aqua Eructo and extinguished the flames before dashing to Harry's side. "Tay… Taylen?" Harry whispered weakly. "It… it wasn't Snape… it was Quirrell…"
"I know, Harry," I said softly, kneeling beside him. "Now sleep."
But he grabbed weakly at my sleeve.
"Taylen…"
His voice cracked slightly.
"Would… would my parents have been proud of me?"
I looked at him quietly for a moment before placing a hand gently on his head.
"Yes, Harry."
My voice came softer than usual.
"They would."
I smiled faintly.
"Your mother's love… it exists for a reason."
And following that he fainted. Dumbledore soon arrived alongside Snape, both moving quickly through the destroyed chamber. Snape's eyes immediately scanned Harry while Dumbledore looked at me knowingly.
"We need to move," Dumbledore said calmly.
And we headed back up. Harry was soon admitted into the infirmary.
Me and Kathey were then called to the Headmaster's office.There stood Dumbledore.
Snape.
McGonagall.
"What… why are these two here, Albus?" McGonagall asked immediately, eyes narrowing slightly.
"I called them," Dumbledore replied calmly.
Then his gaze settled on me.
"How did you know, Taylen?"
I gave them the explanation. Even if technically… I didn't need to.
"That's because Kathey's a Seer," I said calmly. "She trusts only me with the visions, so we can't exactly tell anyone else that. But I make sure things go smoothly wherever I can."
McGonagall's expression shifted slightly in surprise.
Snape crossed his arms. "She has been accurate more times than I would like to admit," he said dryly. "And Taylen," Dumbledore added calmly, "has become somewhat of an ace for us."
McGonagall looked between them both slowly.
"…I see." "Now, Professors," Kathey spoke up quietly, though her voice carried surprising firmness, "the main topic."
The room focused on her.
"Harry."
She stepped forward slightly.
"We need to see to his care. It's been too long, Professor Dumbledore." I continued from beside her. "I can't watch that kid get ruined anymore."
Silence covered the room.
"He needs a home." Ilooked directly at Dumbledore. "Not a prison." The room fell completely still.
Because they all knew exactly what I meant.
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