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Stupefy!"
A beam of red light shot straight at Marcus.
With a quick flip, Marcus rolled over and dodged the attack.
The spell struck the stained-glass window behind him, shattering it into countless pieces.
"Protego!"
Dust filled the air.
Marcus couldn't see who his attacker was.
Instinctively, he put up a shield, gripping his wand tightly and staring at the broken wall ahead.
A Killing Curse was already brewing at his fingertips, ready to fire at any moment.
He didn't know who was attacking him.
Someone skilled in magic was surely a wizard, but riding a horse suggested they were cooperating with the Knights.
Whoever it was, Marcus was prepared to strike mercilessly!
However—
The voice that came from behind the broken wall was the last one Marcus expected.
"Marcus, I don't want to hurt you. If you truly still have free will, I urge you to turn back."
It was Devlin!
As the dust settled, Devlin easily dismounted from the pony.
Wearing slippers from the hospital wing, he strolled into the bathroom, wand in hand.
Several tall figures wielding sharp blades and spears followed closely behind him.
—
After his wild ride, Devlin's first destination was Professor McGonagall's office.
After all, Dumbledore was rarely seen, and tracking him down in a specific location was almost impossible.
But McGonagall, unless teaching, would at least be at her office.
As soon as Devlin saw her, he delivered a single, urgent sentence:
"Professor Quirrell is a dark wizard. Marcus may have been Imperiused!"
He didn't directly claim that Voldemort was possessing Marcus.
First, it would be hard to explain how he knew about Quirrell's possession without raising suspicion.
Second, he still wanted to save his friend if possible.
Without waiting for her response, Devlin mounted his pony again and raced toward the last place he had seen Marcus—the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom—leaving Professor McGonagall stunned.
When she snapped out of it, she muttered in exasperation,
"Alexander! I must enact a school rule next semester forbidding horse riding on school grounds!"
Turning briskly, McGonagall hurried toward the Headmaster's office.
"Regardless of whether it's true or not, this must be reported to Albus immediately!"
While riding at full speed, Devlin overheard McGonagall's exasperated shout and couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth.
"Why does that sound like something Umbridge would say?"
The pony was remarkably fast.
Within a minute, Devlin arrived at the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
He quickly dismounted, brandishing his wand.
"Stone Guardians, move out! Seal off the Slytherin common room!" he commanded.
He was certain Marcus hadn't gone to the dining hall.
The Slytherin common room was the only other logical place he could be.
Since he had no time to get there himself, he would send the Knights ahead!
After giving the command, Devlin carefully tapped his wand against his head, feeling a thick, invisible liquid cascade over him.
Disillusionment Charm!
Instantly, he vanished into invisibility and slipped into the classroom.
It was empty.
Neither Quirrell nor Marcus was there.
Devlin meticulously searched the first floor and, finding nothing, ascended the staircase to the office on the second floor.
This time, he didn't barge in.
Instead, he calmed his breathing, entering a meditative state to scout the room remotely.
Devlin could now achieve Zen-like concentration in an instant!
Within a single breath, he extended his senses through the black door, probing inside.
The office was empty.
Teaching aids were neatly arranged.
Test papers from the latest exam were stacked on the desk.
The only oddity was a piece of parchment where Quirrell had hastily begun writing before abandoning it—his quill lay discarded on the floor.
But...
"Hiss! This is... Soul-Locking Potion? What is Quirrell planning with this? And there's more..."
As a [Potion Spirit Body], Devlin immediately recognized the potion's presence.
Soul-Locking Potions were typically used by dark wizards to create Inferi.
While finding such a thing in Quirrell's office wasn't exactly shocking, Devlin could faintly detect additional, unfamiliar substances within it.
Unfortunately, the traces were too weak for him to fully identify without more time.
If he had another minute, he could surely figure it out!
But time was precious!
Confirming once more that the office was empty, Devlin didn't hesitate.
He leaped down from the second floor, casting a Levitation Charm to slow his descent at the last moment.
Landing steadily, he remounted the pony and galloped toward the Slytherin common room.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
The sound of hooves pounded through the castle halls like frantic drumbeats.
The violent bouncing made his inner thighs ache fiercely, but Devlin gritted his teeth.
"Damn it, is this the price of riding a horse for the first time?" he muttered.
Suddenly, the pony jerked its head around sharply, nearly throwing Devlin off.
Alarmed, he yanked the reins—and then, to his utter shock, the horse's head spoke.
"Devlin, Quirrell has been controlled by us, but Marcus was not found in the Slytherin common room. How's your side?"
It was Professor McGonagall's voice!
Devlin's heart sank.
"Professor, I didn't find Marcus here either. I already checked the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom—no one."
"In that case, do you know where else he might go? Also, don't act alone—he's very dangerous now!"
McGonagall's voice was filled with concern—not just for Devlin's safety, but for the safety of the entire school.
Devlin's eyes lit up as inspiration struck.
"I'm heading to the Prefects' Bathroom! That's the only other place he might be!"
He tugged sharply on the reins, sending the pony racing in the opposite direction.
"Professor, meet me there as soon as you can!" he shouted.
The horse's head replied one last time,
"Understood. Don't be reckless! Wait for backup!"
The pony's head returned to its normal position as Devlin passed a team of Stone Knights running toward the Slytherin side.
Devlin smirked slightly, and once more swung his wand through the air.
"Stone Guardians! Follow me!"
In an instant, seven Stone Knights fell into formation behind him.
Under the bright midday sun, seven armored knights, a determined rider, and a speeding pony thundered through the castle corridors, charging toward the Prefects' Bathroom.
The sound of hooves echoed like thunder throughout Hogwarts.
—
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