Hogwarts.
Along the path within the school grounds.
Candlelight flickered, casting faint shadows on the walls. The air held a subtle tension, as if something wasn't quite right.
"Nice new hairstyle, Tonks."
A tabby cat Patronus turned its head to the newly graduated Auror.
Tonks forced a small smile.
"Thank you, Professor."
"Did Dumbledore tell you we were coming?"
Moody followed closely behind the Patronus conjured by Professor McGonagall. His natural eye was focused on the cat, while his magical eye roamed, scanning every corner of the surroundings.
"No. Hogwarts' protective enchantments were triggered. Our sentries spotted you the moment you disembarked."
The cat's gaze held steady as it turned again.
"Yes, it's a very advanced Transfiguration. Only someone from within Hogwarts could have cast it."
Moody nodded at the assessment, then continued his questioning.
"So, what's the current situation with the Dark Wizard? And where are you now?"
The Patronus slowed its pace.
"I'm in the Slytherin common room. We're trying to capture the Dark Wizard's assistant. It's… a current student, though we haven't located them yet."
The spectral tabby paused and turned with a serious expression—uncannily human.
"Now that the Dark Wizard has been subdued in the dining hall, what are you planning to do? Take him away immediately?"
At that, Moody sneered slightly.
"Take him away? Then we'll never get answers. The Ministry's terrified of the term 'Dark Wizard'—they'll shut the case down just to avoid headlines."
Though the situation seemed under control, Moody didn't lower his wand. Instead, his grip tightened. He took the lead, striding down the corridor toward the dining hall.
He had been a student at Hogwarts—he knew exactly where to go.
Tonks followed close behind, visibly anxious.
"By the way," she said quietly, "to ensure the interrogation goes smoothly… the Potions professor is at the school, right?"
Moody looked back at the Patronus.
Professor McGonagall answered immediately.
"Yes. The Potions professor is still Snape. He should have Veritaserum on hand. He's in the dining hall now, monitoring Quirrell."
With that, the two Aurors and the Patronus moved quickly through the halls, arriving at the great doors to the dining hall.
Without hesitation, Moody pushed the doors open—
—and froze.
Inside was chaos.
Tables overturned. Dishes shattered. Magical residue lingered in the air, sharp and acrid. The scent of recent spellfire burned their nostrils.
At the farthest table, a wizard lay slumped in purple robes. His scarf had been torn away, discarded nearby.
Standing beside him was a tall wizard in long black robes: Severus Snape. His expression was unreadable, but a flicker of disdain passed over his features when he saw Moody.
"Aurors? The Ministry is acting unusually fast," Snape said dryly.
"They were summoned by Dumbledore, Snape," McGonagall's Patronus replied curtly. "Where's Filvius?"
Snape gestured lazily toward the man on the table—Quirrell.
"He went to retrieve something this 'guest' will need. Veritaserum. Flitwick encountered some magical beasts last weekend and borrowed it. I just had it returned."
McGonagall snorted.
"Hmph. Very convenient."
Moody stepped further inside, still aiming his wand at Quirrell. He kept Tonks well back, at least five meters from the prone man.
"If you don't want to end up with an eye like mine," he muttered, "keep your wand ready and stay sharp."
Tonks nodded, eyes fixed warily on Quirrell.
Moody moved closer, scanning Quirrell's face.
Then he frowned. Deeply.
Something was wrong.
"Are you sure he's alive?" he asked, voice low.
Both Snape and McGonagall snapped their heads up.
"Why do you ask?" McGonagall pressed.
Moody's ruined nose twitched.
"I don't know… but there's a lingering trace of the Killing Curse."
Everyone froze.
Moody bent down, lifted Quirrell's chin with his wand, and tilted his head.
Then, they all saw it.
A grotesque burn scar stretched across Quirrell's head, twisted and raw—as though scorched by cursed fire. Its form… nearly resembled a face.
"That's—" Tonks gasped.
Even Snape drew in a sharp breath.
"It's possession," he said at last, "but clearly neither host nor entity was willing."
"Who could it be?" McGonagall asked. Her voice had grown tense.
Moody's eyes were cold and calculating.
"I'm not sure. But it was someone powerful. And they've already left this body… which means—"
He paused, eyes narrowing.
"They're still in the school. They've probably possessed someone else. The assistant is our prime suspect."
Suddenly, Moody straightened and shouted,
"Expecto Patronum!"
From his wand erupted a burst of silvery-white light that coalesced into a one-eyed silver fox. Its tail quivered as it shone with a sharp, cold aura.
"Everyone stay on alert!" Moody barked. "There's a dangerous Dark Wizard still within Hogwarts. He could be possessing anyone! Lock down the castle—no one in or out!"
His fox Patronus immediately split into over a dozen identical copies, racing off through the corridors to alert the other Aurors.
Moody turned sharply to McGonagall.
"Professor, evacuate the students. Get them somewhere safe. Anyone still in the corridors must be warned immediately!"
The Patronus nodded and dissolved into a trail of white mist.
Tonks stepped closer.
"Sir, are we heading out to catch the Dark Wizard now?" she asked.
Moody shook his head grimly.
"It's pointless. We don't know who he's in. It could be anyone. That's why we—"
He didn't finish. He just pointed his wand toward the entrance.
"Accio, Filvius Flitwick!"
Bang!
There was a thud just outside the door.
A familiar voice groaned in protest.
"Alastor! If you summon me with that spell one more time, I swear I'll hex you into next week!"
Professor Flitwick entered, rubbing a large bump on his forehead and holding a small vial.
Moody ignored the complaint.
"No time. We need to find out who the entity is possessing. Accio Veritaserum!"
The potion flew into Moody's hand. He immediately turned and aimed his wand at Quirrell.
Just as he prepared to cast the revival charm, Snape intervened.
"He's unconscious. It'll take two of us to wake him—and don't even think about pouring all that in his mouth."
Snape snatched the vial.
"That much Veritaserum will kill him. Have you forgotten what happened seven years ago?"
Moody didn't argue. Just shrugged, his expression unreadable.
The next second, both men raised their wands.
"Ennervate!"
"Ennervate!"
A flash of light shot from their wands and struck Quirrell.
The truth would come out now—one way or another.
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