Chapter 36: The Toad Revealed
"What?!" Hermione gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. She was no ordinary first-year; her extensive reading meant she understood the profound implications of an unregistered Animagus.
"Keep your voice down!" Solim hissed.
"Are you sure?" she whispered, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and fascination.
"If I were sure, I'd have brought a professor to arrest him already," Solim retorted. "I'm not certain, which is why I need proof before we act."
He leaned forward, his voice low and intent. "But think about it. Neville told me he hardly feeds the thing. What has it been eating all this time? The possibility it's not a real toad is significant." He pulled a bronze Knut from his pocket. "Be careful. Don't act nervous when you see it. This coin has a temporary Transfiguration on it, but it will only last about ten hours. Come to me once a day, and I'll renew the charm. The moment you see that toad, throw this into any fireplace. I'll feel it grow hot and bring a professor immediately."
He had asked Hermione instead of Neville for a simple reason: if Neville could be relied upon for subtle observation, Solim wouldn't have needed to involve her.
"If you can, try to capture it, but don't be obvious. If you succeed, bring it to this classroom. And don't forget to throw the coin before you come, or I won't know to meet you."
Hermione was silent, processing the sheer audacity of the plan.
"Wait," she said, a new realization dawning. "You said you cast a Transfiguration spell? That's... that's NEWT-level magic!"
"Relax, it's not a complete, permanent Transfiguration. That's why it only lasts a dozen hours," Solim said, leaning back in his chair with a dismissive wave. "Now, let's talk about what really happened with you and Weasley."
With a sigh, Hermione reluctantly recounted the story.
Solim clicked his tongue after she finished. "So, he made you cry. Again. On Halloween, he said you had no friends." A cold smirk played on his lips. "Have you ever stopped to think, Hermione? He says you have no friends. Besides Potter, who are his friends?"
"And now he accuses you of running to me with 'secrets'? That Professor Snape is trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone? Not even a troll would believe that. Unless the thief had a death wish or was supremely overconfident, no one would attempt to steal from under Dumbledore's nose."
"It's not that I look down on their deductive skills, but what brilliant plan could they possibly concoct? Report Snape to Professor McGonagall, get shot down, and then run to Hagrid to wheedle the secret for getting past a three-headed dog."
At some point, Draco and Neville had appeared in the doorway, eavesdropping.
"If you want to listen, come in and sit down properly," Solim said, beckoning them.
Draco smirked and shuffled in with Neville, sitting obediently. Solim's recent, rigorous training had instilled a healthy dose of fear in the blond boy.
"By the way," Solim announced with a sly grin, "there's going to be quite a show at the end of the year. Anyone who wants a front-row seat, sign up with me. Tickets are five Galleons. Popcorn is five Sickles a bucket."
Over the next few days, Hermione was a more frequent presence in the Gryffindor common room. She took Solim's warning about the toad seriously, her attention constantly drifting from her homework to scan the room. It was a difficult task, trying to write an essay for Professor McGonagall while surveilling the entire area, but she wasn't alone. Neville, at Solim's request, was also helping to keep a watchful eye on his own pet.
While monitoring the toad, Hermione also noted Harry and Ron's furtive movements. They were constantly sneaking off to Hagrid's hut. Just as Solim had predicted, they had been rebuffed by Professor McGonagall and were now trying their luck with the gamekeeper. Knowing Hagrid's loose lips, Hermione was certain he would inadvertently reveal something crucial, just as he had let slip the name 'Nicolas Flamel' before.
But it was no longer her concern. Solim was right. If they didn't want her help, she wouldn't force it on them. They clearly didn't appreciate it.
She was pondering this, her quill scratching across her parchment, when Neville nudged her.
"Hermione, look. Levi's there," he whispered, pointing subtly towards the entrance to the common room.
Hermione followed his gaze. Near the portrait hole, a listless, oddly proportioned toad was crawling out from the shadows—not hopping, but crawling—towards the gathered students.
"You grab it," Hermione instructed. As Neville moved, she pulled the charmed coin from her pocket, stood up, and casually tossed it into the roaring common room fireplace.
The capture was surprisingly smooth. Holding the toad, Hermione and Neville walked calmly towards the disused classroom, discussing Professor McGonagall's essay as if nothing were amiss.
The moment they crossed the threshold, two figures separated them, flanking them on either side. The toad was knocked from Neville's grasp, landing on the stone floor with a soft plop.
"Professor, now!" Solim barked.
Snape's wand was a blur. "Petrificus Totalus!" he incanted, his voice sharp.
Despite his speed, the spell missed its mark. The toad launched itself sideways with an unnatural agility, evading the jet of light. Even Neville, still sprawled on the floor, understood that no ordinary toad could have dodged a spell cast by a professor. He had learned enough from Solim to recognize the speed of Snape's strike, and the fact that it had failed was all the proof he needed.
As the toad landed from its evasive leap, its form began to shift and swell. By the time its feet touched the ground again, it had transformed into a portly, round-faced wizard.
Without a word, Solim hurled another Body-Bind Curse. Snape was even more ruthless, his wand slashing through the air. The iron chandelier overhead twisted and morphed, transfiguring into a thick python that struck down at the wizard.
It was all for naught. The wizard's wand, now in his hand, moved with practiced ease. A flick dissolved the Transfiguration on the chandelier, and a subtle parry deflected Solim's curse.
CRACK!
The petrified chandelier, released from its magical state, crashed to the floor and shattered.
Solim and Snape stood shoulder-to-shoulder, wands held steady, their expressions grim. They did not attack again. The wizard's effortless defense had made one thing abundantly clear: he was dangerously skilled. The intruder, seeing their hesitation, also held his ground.
Hermione and Neville, finally recovering their wits, scrambled to their feet and raised their wands, but the wizard didn't even grant them a glance.
"Well, this is a nuisance," the round wizard grumbled, brushing non-existent dust from his robes. "I finally find a comfortable posting, and I get found out by children."
"Identify yourself," Solim demanded, his voice cold. "What is your purpose for infiltrating Hogwarts?"
"Granger, fetch the Headmaster," Snape ordered, his black eyes never leaving the stranger. He dared not summon his Patronus; taking his focus off this opponent for even a second could be fatal for the students.
"There's no need for that," the wizard said, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "I mean no harm. And Dumbledore is aware of my presence. It's... customary."
Solim and Snape exchanged a swift, questioning glance.
"Now, shall we all put our wands away?" the wizard suggested, tucking his own wand into his belt.
Neither Solim nor Snape moved a muscle. They were not so foolish as to lower their guard on his word.
"What is your objective?" Snape pressed, his voice a silken threat. "The Philosopher's Stone?"
The wizard chuckled. "Oh, please. And you'd do well not to attempt Legilimency so casually, Professor. It's terribly rude." He had detected Snape's subtle probe with unnerving ease.