Under Elrond's care, the affected students recovered steadily.They only needed regular check-ups; otherwise, they were free to attend classes, walk around the grounds, and even participate in Quidditch.
According to Elrond, the lingering corruption would be completely purged within two months, leaving no lasting damage.
Hearing this, Sylas finally exhaled and bowed his head gratefully.
"Thank you, Lord Elrond. Truly. Without you… I don't know how I would explain this to their parents."
Elrond shook his head gently, brushing aside the gratitude. Instead, his voice turned earnest and firm.
"What are you planning to do about Saruman? As long as he's hiding among the students, none of these children are safe. We must find him as quickly as possible.
If he does something reckless, we may not have time to undo the consequences."
He paused, then added quietly:
"Arwen is aware something is wrong at Hogwarts. She is pretending not to know, for your sake, but I can feel her worry. If this drags on, it will affect her recovery."
Sylas felt a stab of guilt.
Arwen had always been perceptive.
She must have sensed something the moment he urged her to stay in Rivendell for the remainder of her pregnancy.
She had simply chosen to cooperate, so he wouldn't carry the burden alone.
"Lord Elrond, I give you my word, I will end this quickly. Saruman won't remain hidden for long. The Marauder's Map will be finished within a week. Once it's done, no matter where he hides, we will drag him out."
Elrond's expression softened with relief.
"In that case, I will stay and help. The sooner the map is completed, the better."
Sylas brightened immediately.
"That's excellent. With your help, Lord Elrond, we can finish the map far faster."
During the creation of the Philosopher's Stone, Elrond had taught himself advanced alchemy and runes; in many areas he had already surpassed Sylas.
With him assisting, the map might take half the time, or even less.
Elrond then said gravely,
"But until the map is complete, we must protect the students as much as possible. We must guard against Saruman without alerting him."
Sylas, Gandalf, and Galadriel agreed at once.
At Elrond's suggestion, the three wielders of the Elven Rings worked together to weave the strongest defensive magic Hogwarts had ever seen.
Galadriel, using the Ring of Water, Nenya, drew upon the waters of the Black Lake to form a vast protective barrier.
Not only could no outsider enter, but no one inside could leave, ensuring Saruman couldn't escape.
Gandalf channeled the Ring of Fire, Narya, into every flame in the castle. Wherever firelight touched, it brought courage and clarity to the innocent, and searing agony to the wicked.
To anyone tainted by evil, the flames burned like sunlight on an Orc's skin.
Elrond, drawing on the Ring of Air, Vilya, and using the fruit of the White Tree from Sylas's garden, brewed a powerful protective potion.Borrowing the idea from Saruman's own poisoning methods, he infused the potion into the students' daily drinks.
Anyone who drank it gained a thin veil of Vilya's protection, harmless and undetectable, but strong enough to repel dark influences.
If Saruman was possessing a student, the potion would cause intense internal pain.
To Sylas's frustration, no one showed any reaction.
Either Saruman refused to drink anything given to students, or he was hiding the pain extraordinarily well.
Even so, Sylas was certain Saruman felt it.
The entire castle was now blazing with light, fireplaces lit in every dormitory and common room, candles and chandeliers burning day and night in the Great Hall.
Every flame had become an extension of Narya's power. Anyone corrupted would feel a deep-burning torment just by being near it, their strength drained away.
No matter who Saruman was pretending to be, he couldn't avoid the firelight blazing throughout the castle.
Like a creature of darkness forced beneath the sun, he had to endure the constant burning pain while struggling to hide his weakness from every watching eye.
Outside the castle, Galadriel's barrier sealed Weathertop Peak completely.
Meanwhile, Sylas, working side-by-side with Elrond, was racing to finish the Marauder's Map.
Saruman, hidden somewhere among the students, must have sensed the tightening noose.
That night, Professor Luke, the Charms master, arrived on his usual patrol of the second floor.
The corridor was dim. Too dim.
His heart sank when he spotted two students lying motionless on the cold stone floor. A nearby portrait was slumped within its frame, unconscious under a spell.
Luke's face changed instantly.
He rushed over, knelt beside the students, and checked their breathing.
Both alive. Both knocked out by magic.
Drawing his wand, he flicked it sharply.
"Rennervate!"
A soft glow washed over them. Their eyelids fluttered.
One of the students woke fully and struggled into a sitting position, dazed.
"P-Professor Luke? What… happened to me?"
Luke steadied him by the shoulder.
"Easy. Tell me what you remember. Did you see who attacked you?"
The boy opened his mouth to answer, but suddenly froze, eyes widening in absolute terror as he stared past Luke's shoulder.
Luke reacted instantly.
He spun around and fired a spell with lightning reflexes.
"Expelliarmus!"
A crimson flash burst down the corridor, lighting every stone.
But there was no one there.
Only empty shadows.
Luke turned back, confused, ready to press the boy again, but a spell struck him in the back at point-blank range.
He didn't even have time to gasp.
His entire body froze mid-movement, his wand dropping from stiff fingers as petrification locked him in place.
Only his eyes remained alive, wide, horrified, disbelieving.
The awakened student stood up calmly, expression suddenly cold and wrong. He lifted his wand and stunned the second unconscious boy with disturbing ease.
Then, with a slow, almost playful walk, he approached the immobile Professor Luke.
"Professor…" he whispered, tilting his head as if savoring the moment.
"Don't be afraid. I'm just borrowing your body for a little while."
...
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