Before letting Adam return to his lair, Sean suddenly remembered one last question.
"Where did Quirrell hide the Golden Scepter?"
Adam searched his memory for a moment before replying.
"In the Chamber of Secrets."
Sean wasn't surprised.
Back then, Lord Voldemort had been possessing Quirinus Quirrell, so using the Chamber as a hiding place made perfect sense.
Unfortunately, aside from Harry Potter, no one in the school could speak Parseltongue, and the Chamber itself had already been sealed by Albus Dumbledore.
For now, the Golden Scepter could stay where it was.
Back in his dormitory, Sean had no intention of sleeping.
He sat at his desk and carefully examined the knowledge Adam had transferred into his mind.
A magical array was a combination of etched runic patterns and spell frameworks.
First, the pattern had to be inscribed. Then, the frameworks were used to activate it.
Sean reviewed the required ingredients:
Red fern root powderJuice of the Twin-Life FlowerSerpent FruitThe caster's bloodMorning dewA phoenix feather
The instructions detailed precise quantities and preparation methods.
The first five ingredients were to be brewed into a crimson liquid, which would then be applied using the phoenix feather to draw the array.
"Red fern root powder," Sean murmured. "Professor Pomona Sprout grows several red ferns."
He had even stolen one in first year to make a magic recovery potion.
But Twin-Life Flowers and Serpent Fruit were completely unfamiliar.
Given that the array dated back to nearly 7,000 years ago, there was no guarantee these plants still existed.
Sean scanned the listed quantities.
"Even all of Professor Sprout's plants wouldn't be enough."
He resolved to search for the ingredients during Christmas break in Diagon Alley.
And if necessary, he would look in Knockturn Alley.
That night, Sean once again stayed awake until two in the morning.
Whenever he obtained a new spell, an irresistible urge drove him to study it immediately.
The next morning, Sean returned Harry's Invisibility Cloak.
He had repacked it into the same bundle Harry had used.
At breakfast, he handed it over.
Harry hesitated.
"Could you give it back at lunch instead?"
"I have class right after this. Carrying a package around will attract attention."
Sean nodded.
"Fine. See you at lunch."
Tuesday morning.
Sean had neither Defense Against the Dark Arts nor Potions, which meant he was technically free to carry out Dumbledore's assignment: patrol the school and keep an eye on Draco.
In practice, however, Sean had little interest in playing hall monitor.
He stopped briefly outside Draco's classroom, watched him for two minutes, and saw nothing unusual.
Satisfied, Sean headed to the courtyard.
He sat on a bench in the weak winter sunlight and began practicing the frameworks of the Magic Recovery Array.
He had only been working for a short time when he noticed a woman striding down the corridor.
It was Narcissa Malfoy.
The elegant pure-blood matriarch looked exhausted.
Dark circles ringed her eyes, and worry was etched across her face.
She was clearly running on little sleep.
Sean stood and greeted her.
"Mrs. Malfoy."
Ordinarily, Narcissa was meticulous about etiquette.
Today, she didn't even acknowledge him.
She continued straight to the spiral staircase beneath the Headmaster's office.
Apparently expecting her arrival, Dumbledore had already opened the entrance.
The staircase rotated into view, and Narcissa ascended.
The moment she entered, Dumbledore asked quietly,
"Have you made your decision?"
Narcissa lifted her chin.
"For Draco, yes."
Though her expression was weary, her eyes held unshakable resolve.
One could only imagine how painful this decision had been.
"And Lucius?" Dumbledore asked.
Narcissa nodded.
"It wasn't easy, but we both agreed."
Dumbledore's gaze softened.
He understood what this meant.
The Malfoys were prepared to do whatever was necessary to protect their son.
And that love gave him a path forward.
"All the information is in here," Dumbledore said, producing a rolled parchment from within his robes.
"Will you undertake this, or will Lucius?"
Narcissa accepted the parchment without hesitation.
"I will."
Dumbledore regarded her seriously.
"This will not be easy. It may take two years."
"Until then, I will ensure Draco remains safe and does not come into contact with any Horcruxes."
During his visit to Malfoy Manor, Dumbledore had learned the truth of Voldemort's plan.
Voldemort intended to use another Horcrux to awaken the fragment residing within Draco.
Once the soul fragments merged, they would become strong enough to fully possess him.
As long as Draco was kept away from Horcruxes, he remained safe.
When Narcissa left, Dumbledore escorted her to Draco's classroom.
Professor Minerva McGonagall was in the middle of a lesson.
Seeing Dumbledore and Narcissa at the door, she immediately stepped outside.
"There's no cause for concern," Dumbledore said. "Mrs. Malfoy only wishes to see Draco."
Inside the classroom, students had already noticed them.
Harry leaned toward Ron Weasley.
"Who is that?"
Ron whispered back,
"Draco's mum. You saw her at Flourish and Blotts this summer."
Draco spotted his mother and brightened at once.
Without waiting for permission, he jumped up and hurried out of the classroom.
McGonagall frowned.
"Draco, it is class time. You should not leave your seat without permission."
With his mother present, Draco was less intimidated than usual.
"Mother, why are you here?"
Narcissa smiled gently and lied with practiced ease.
"Board of Governors business. I'm here on behalf of your father to discuss a few matters with Headmaster Dumbledore."
She touched his cheek.
"Now run along. I'll be leaving shortly."
Draco nodded obediently and returned to class.
Watching the exchange, Harry felt a complicated mix of envy and loneliness.
As Dumbledore and Narcissa descended the stairs, they passed through the courtyard where Sean was waiting.
The moment Sean saw them together, he immediately understood.
They were discussing how to protect Draco.
Dumbledore paused.
"Wait here for a moment."
"Yes, Professor."
After seeing Narcissa off, Dumbledore returned and led Sean back to the Headmaster's office.
Sean asked at once,
"Professor, Mrs. Malfoy came because of Draco, didn't she?"
"Yes."
Dumbledore sat behind his desk.
"To protect Draco, she has made a difficult choice. Therefore, I must ensure his safety."
He folded his hands.
"Voldemort lies dormant within Draco. To awaken, he requires other Horcruxes."
"He intends to merge his fragmented soul and eventually seize Draco's body."
Dumbledore's blue eyes grew grave.
"We must find and destroy every Horcrux before that can happen."
Sean put on a troubled expression.
"But Professor, we don't know how many Horcruxes Voldemort created—or what forms they take."
Dumbledore was silent for several moments.
Then he said quietly,
"There may be one person who knows something important."
Sean already knew exactly whom he meant.
Horace Slughorn.
The former Potions Master.
The portly old professor who had once been especially fond of Tom Riddle.
And perhaps the only living wizard who knew just how far Voldemort had intended to go.
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