"I…"
Hagrid opened his mouth, but the rest of his sentence got stuck in his throat. It suddenly occurred to him that he was here on official business for Dumbledore—it wouldn't be wise to stir up conflict.
"…Fine," he grunted stiffly, clearly unwilling. "I'm sorry. Now, can you let us pass?"
Marius Cloud narrowed his eyes dangerously, but he wasn't the type to cling to petty grievances. He simply raised his head and said coldly, "Next time, Hagrid, I suggest you practice your acting before delivering such a half-hearted apology. That performance was truly pitiful."
With that, Marius strode past the red-faced Hagrid without a backward glance, heading toward the front doors of Gringotts.
As he passed the still-dazed Harry, he paused briefly. "And as for you, Mr. Potter," he said softly, "don't be so quick to put your trust in the first person you meet in this world—especially not just because you're new to it. Not everyone deserves that trust."
His gaze slid back toward Hagrid, eyes sharp. "Some people demand respect from others while offering none in return. They think the world owes them for their pain, but don't understand the meaning of humility."
Marius had always been razor-tongued—Lucius Malfoy had learned that the hard way just two weeks ago. Compared to Malfoy, a blunt and impulsive Hagrid didn't stand a chance. By the time Marius was done, the half-giant's veins were visibly bulging on his neck.
Marius, naturally, didn't care in the slightest about wounding Hagrid's fragile pride. He turned and continued toward the entrance.
But just as he reached the threshold, he caught one last muttered complaint from behind.
"You see, Harry?" Hagrid grumbled. "That's what pure-bloods are really like—arrogant, entitled, never following the rules…"
"Rubeus Hagrid."
The name was spoken like thunder. Marius turned, voice laced with icy pressure. It struck like a whip, slicing through the murmurs in the hall and hitting both Hagrid and Harry like a cold wind.
"Would you like to know who really doesn't follow the rules?"
Before the words finished echoing, Marius raised his sleek white wand—and pointed it directly at Hagrid's pink umbrella.
"As I recall, when you were expelled, the Ministry made it very clear you were forbidden to use magic again. But that umbrella… I imagine the Department of Magical Law Enforcement would find it fascinating to examine, wouldn't they? Shall we see if you've been following the rules?"
A cold sweat instantly broke out down Hagrid's back.
He couldn't fathom how this boy—a child who hadn't even officially started Hogwarts—knew so much. Yet Marius had struck dead center on a truth Hagrid had spent years hiding.
The wand fragments concealed within that umbrella had been repaired—and Hagrid had used magic with it. If the Ministry found out, the consequences would be severe. There was no question.
Even Harry was now glancing at Hagrid with faint suspicion.
Panicking, Hagrid waved his arms in explanation. "Oh no, Harry, listen—didn't I tell you before? It's only because I've been doing work for Professor Dumbledore, it's not—"
He stammered for several moments, sweating profusely. But by the time he finally looked up again, Marius was gone.
"…Bloody hell," Hagrid muttered. "What just happened…"
He'd been terrified—completely overpowered by a first-year student.
But what Hagrid didn't realize… was that Marius hadn't left. Not entirely.
As Hagrid blabbered and tried to salvage his image in front of Harry, Marius's keen spiritual senses flared. His mind—already vastly beyond that of a typical boy—prickled with instinctive danger.
And then, a figure stepped through the Gringotts doors.
A cloaked man, his entire body emitting the faint stench of garlic.
Ah. There it is. Marius's eyes sharpened.
The man was trying his best to stay anonymous, but that smell was unmistakable. Marius knew exactly who he was.
Professor Quirrell. Or rather… the vessel currently hosting Voldemort's parasitic soul.
According to his memories from his previous life, Voldemort had tried numerous times to steal the Philosopher's Stone before the school year began. This must be his final pre-Hogwarts attempt.
So… this is the moment.
Marius ducked into a dark corner of the bank, tearing a large strip from the hem of his robe to conceal his face. He tied it around his mouth like a mask, eyes glinting behind the cloth.
In the original timeline, this heist had failed—but with Marius now stirring the waters, he could no longer be certain of anything.
My presence may already have altered key events. For instance—if I hadn't delayed Hagrid with that argument, he might have already retrieved the stone and left.
Now, however, Hagrid was still inside Gringotts, bickering with Harry.
Quirrell was here. The Philosopher's Stone might still be unprotected.
If Voldemort gets his hands on it now, that would completely change the future. That kind of chaos won't benefit me one bit.
Not to mention, Marius wasn't nearly strong enough yet to survive in a world dominated by the Dark Lord. Even if he wanted to play the villain, he needed time—and right now, time was the one thing a resurrected Voldemort would steal from everyone.
Well, I've always enjoyed messing with the final boss early.
His lips curled into a mischievous grin beneath the mask. From within his sleeve, the sleek black wand slid smoothly into his hand.
"Diffindo!"
A sharp beam of light burst forth, shooting straight at Quirrell's back—specifically, toward the hood of his cloak.
CRACK!
The fabric shattered apart like paper, torn to shreds in midair.
And in that moment… the hidden threat had been revealed.
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T/N:
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