The paper Lee Jordan handed over with trembling fingers was coarse, its edges frayed as if hastily torn.
The handwriting on it was nearly manic, slanted and jagged. A crooked arrow, drawn as if with every ounce of effort, pointed toward the dark green Forbidden Forest outside the window.
Next to the arrow were four words, written in the frantic, dancing script that was the trademark of the Weasley twins:
"The Final Secret."
Alan's pupils constricted to dangerous pinpoints in an instant.
Within his mental palace, this phrase triggered the highest-level alarm. The Final Secret… This was the codename he, Fred, and George had used when decoding the diary, referring to the core magical information encrypted under layers of "garbled symbols."
The diary.
It was that diary.
The cold realization hit him like a bucket of ice-cold water, instantly soaking every limb and sinew. The "023 program" hidden beneath its black cover—the lingering echo of Tom Riddle's mind—had already begun to act. It did not attack directly. Instead, in a more insidious, unsuspecting manner, it had found the twins' weakness and lured them in.
"We have to tell a professor immediately!"
Lee Jordan's voice was choked with panic. His face was pale, and the fingers clutching the note were white with the force of his grip.
"No. It's too late."
Alan's voice was emotionless, like a frozen lake. At this moment, his brain entered overdrive, stripping away all emotions, leaving only ultimate, icy logic.
"If we go to any professor now, we'll need to explain the full context, wait for their understanding and confirmation, and then have them organize a response. Optimistically, that process takes at least half an hour."
His gaze pierced through Lee Jordan, as if he were looking at a complex timer.
"The twins have been missing for a full two days. Forty-eight hours. We do not have half an hour to waste."
In a flash, a clear, efficient, and even ruthless plan formed in his mental palace.
"Lee, follow my instructions."
Alan's tone left no room for discussion; it was pure logic-driven command.
"You—right now, at the fastest speed you've ever run in your life—go to Professor Flitwick's office. Slam this note onto his desk and tell him the Weasley twins were lured into the Forbidden Forest by a dangerous magical diary."
He paused, each word sharply enunciated.
"Remember. Repeat three times: 'The Diary'! Professor Flitwick knows exactly what it is. Then, stay there and wait for his next instructions. The rest is my responsibility."
Intimidated by the powerful aura emanating from someone far beyond his years, Lee Jordan nodded almost instinctively, then shot off like an arrow released from a bow.
The moment Lee disappeared from view, Alan did not pause.
His body reacted before thought, legs exploding with incredible force, sprinting toward the edge of the Forbidden Forest with the precision of a hundred-meter dash.
He knew well that, in the complex environment of the Forest, a professor who only knew combat spells was far less valuable than a living database.
Hagrid was that database: an irreplaceable guide integrating topographical maps of Hogwarts, an encyclopedia of magical creatures, and decades of field exploration experience.
"The twins went into the Forbidden Forest?"
Hagrid's massive, fan-like hand pushed open the door. His furry face was written with uncontainable worry, voice deep and rumbling like distant thunder.
"Oh, Merlin's beard! This is definitely not a good time to go in there!"
"Why?"
Alan's question was short and precise, instinctively capturing the key information hidden in Hagrid's words.
"Purple Ashwinders!"
Hagrid anxiously rubbed his hands together, massive frame looming at the doorway.
"I don't know why, but lately the Ashwinders in the Forest have been unusually active! They're running everywhere, laying eggs everywhere—it's extremely dangerous!"
Purple Ashwinders!
The term instantly surfaced in Alan's mental palace.
[Species: Purple Ashwinder]
[Origin: Born from high-level dark magical flames]
[Lifespan: One hour]
[Traits: Extremely dangerous; contact causes burns and curses]
[Associated Items: Shed skins are core materials for high-level Revealing Potions and various rare memory potions; extremely valuable.]
Revealing Potions… remember…
The logical chain snapped perfectly into place.
Alan's chest felt as if ice had exploded inside it. He completely understood. The diary, that "program" created by Tom Riddle, had exploited the twins' desire for wealth and prank materials…
It didn't need a complicated curse. All it required was a bait the twins couldn't resist—something that promised immense profit.
The shed skin of a Purple Ashwinder was that bait.
A perfect, deadly trap, designed to lead them step by step into the deepest reaches of the Forbidden Forest.
At that moment, a hoarse, piercing cry tore through the air.
Alan's pet raven, Nightraven, which had been circling above his head, dove like a bolt of black lightning. Its talons released a small, tattered piece of deep-red fabric, which fluttered down at Alan's feet.
It was a corner of a Gryffindor robe.
Alan's breath caught. He immediately recognized the edge of the fabric, embroidered with a tiny golden "W"—the Weasley twins' signature mark of identity.
He crouched, pinched the piece of cloth between two fingers, and brought it close to his nose.
A strange, unique scent, a mix of heat and ash, hit his nostrils.
It was the pheromone of a Purple Ashwinder.
Every clue, every deduction, was confirmed in that instant.
"Hagrid, I need your help!"
Alan lifted his head. His gaze was sharp as a surgical scalpel, filled with unwavering determination.
"I need your hound, Fang!"
He knew that Fang, though timid, had one of the finest noses in the entire Hogwarts castle—a biological tracker of unmatched caliber.
"Lee has already gone to alert Professor Flitwick," Alan's voice was calm and steady, carrying a decisiveness beyond his years, as if he were the adult giving orders.
"We must go in now! Time won't wait for us!"
He gave Hagrid no chance to object, pressing the piece of cloth against Fang's snout by the fireplace.
"Fang, smell this!"
The usually lazy dog, mouth drooling all over, stiffened the moment it detected the distinct scent. Its fur bristled violently, a deep, hostile growl issuing from its throat. Then, with a sudden turn, it bolted toward the depths of the Forbidden Forest, barking furiously, the sound echoing like thunder.
Alan didn't hesitate for a second.
He followed Fang like a bullet shot into the darkness, charging headfirst into the ancient, mist-shrouded forest—a place brimming with endless dangers and unknown secrets.
~~----------------------
Patreon Advance Chapters:
[email protected] / Dreamer20