A hurried rush of footsteps echoed through the corridor.
"What's going on? Professor Luke?"
The other professors, led by Vice-Principal Edward, arrived in a flurry.
They saw Professor Luke standing rigidly, two students on the floor beside him, and even the portrait in the nearby frame unconscious.
Seeing the others arrive, "Luke" spoke first, wearing a grave expression.
"I got here just now. Found both students lying here, and the portrait was attacked too."
"What!?"
The professors' faces darkened with concern as they gathered around the children.
To reassure them, "Luke" added, "They're fine. Just stunned by a spell, nothing lethal. I already cast Rennervate. They should wake up any moment."
As if on cue, the two students stirred, opening their eyes with dazed confusion.
"Mr. Damon, Mr. Eric," Edward asked urgently, "do you remember who attacked you?"
Both boys shook their heads blankly.
"Professor, we don't remember anything. We only recall leaving the library… then suddenly we woke up here."
Seeing their confusion, Edward looked toward the unconscious portrait.
With a wave of his wand, he lifted the spell.
The painted knight blinked awake inside his frame.
"Professors? Why are you all gathered here?"
Edward demanded, "Sir Knight, did you see who attacked you, and these boys?"
The knight frowned, thinking deeply before replying:
"I did not see him clearly. Only that the attacker was not tall. Likely… a student."
The professors exchanged troubled looks.
Another dead end.
Just then, Gandalf and Galadriel arrived. Relief washed over Edward.
"Professor Gandalf, Lady Galadriel, you've come at just the right time."
Their brows immediately furrowed.
Saruman had acted again, and far sooner than expected.
They stepped toward the students, examining them with great care.
A heartbeat later, their expressions tightened, both gazes locking on Damon.
Galadriel's voice sounded in Gandalf's mind:
"This child carries the lingering corruption of dark power. He touched the Ring… and he's been partially possessed."
Gandalf's mental reply was grim.
"Saruman must have abandoned his previous host. But who is he hiding inside now?"
As a Maiar spirit without a physical body, Saruman could slip into any vulnerable soul, and once hidden inside a child, not even Gandalf or Galadriel could easily detect him.
Only the Marauder's Map could reveal his disguise.
"All we can do now," Gandalf muttered aloud, "is hope Sylas and Lord Elrond finish the map quickly."
He ordered the professors to escort Damon and Eric to the infirmary at once.
"Possession by Saruman's spirit is no minor matter," Gandalf warned.
"Damon's soul must be stabilized immediately."
"They are both from my house," Luke volunteered smoothly. "I'll take them myself."
No one objected.
"Luke" led the two boys away.
The remaining professors swept the corridor, checking every corner and verifying no students were wandering alone.
Gandalf questioned a nearby portrait again.
"Sir Portrait, who passed here before this incident?"
The knight answered:
"Only two Thunderbird Academy boys earlier, then Professor Luke on patrol, then all of you.
Oh, and someone fired a spell down the corridor just now! A red flash, nearly singed my frame!"
Gandalf froze.
A red spell?
But the boys were hit by Stunning Charms, and Stunning Charms aren't red.
A red flash was the signature of one spell:
Expelliarmus.
And none of the victims had been disarmed.
Something was wrong.
Gandalf's voice dropped sharply.
"Sir Knight… when did you see that red spell? Was it before, or after, Professor Luke arrived?"
The portrait answered without hesitation:
"After Professor Luke arrived, of course."
Gandalf's blood ran cold.
He had suspected something was off since the moment they arrived. But he had focused on the boys, and overlooked the most obvious danger.
Professor Luke had been the first to arrive.
Perhaps Professor Luke's disguise had simply been too flawless.
He showed no suspicious behavior, no panic, no hesitation. Even Lady Galadriel, with her centuries of wisdom, had not sensed anything amiss. And by offering, with perfect timing, to "escort" the students to the infirmary, he had cleverly removed himself from Gandalf and Galadriel's sight before either could study him more closely.
But the moment Gandalf asked the portrait about that red spell, Galadriel instantly understood the implication.
Without exchanging a single word, the two turned and sprinted toward the infirmary.
The professors trailing behind them saw their expressions shift and hurried after them, dread rising in their hearts.
When they reached the infirmary…
They froze.
Students were lying all over the room, unconscious. And among them was Professor Luke, sprawled on the floor like the others.
Lady Amanda was missing.
Gandalf's heart clenched.
"We're too late…"
His face hardened with urgency. He turned to Vice-Principal Edward, who had followed behind.
"Edward, gather every student and send them back to their dormitories immediately. Then organize a full search for Lady Amanda. I suspect Saruman is possessing her."
His voice dropped lower, deadly serious.
"Be extremely cautious. Amanda may attack without hesitation, and the spells she uses could be lethal."
Edward paled, as did every professor present.
Seeing the sea of unconscious students, they understood at once:
Saruman had moved. And he had struck with precision.
Edward nodded sharply and hurried out with the others to mobilize a school-wide response.
Galadriel stepped forward, "If Saruman is wearing Amanda's body, the professors will not be able to stop him alone. I will assist."
Gandalf nodded gratefully.
"Thank you, my lady. Sylas and Lord Elrond are at a critical stage, the Marauder's Map must not be interrupted. The sooner it is completed, the sooner we can expose Saruman's disguise."
A grim light flickered in Gandalf's eyes.
"Saruman must have sensed the net closing around him. That is why he acted now.
We cannot let him escape."
Galadriel swept from the infirmary.
Her vast spiritual power unfurled like a wave, spreading through every corridor, every room, every portrait of the castle in search of Amanda, and the shadow hiding within her.
Meanwhile, Gandalf raised his staff and released a burst of holy light.
A brilliant radiance washed over the entire infirmary like a cleansing tide.
When the light faded, the unconscious students groaned awake, confused.
Professor Luke stirred as well, blinking rapidly.
Gandalf approached him solemnly.
"Luke," he said, "do you remember what happened just now?"
...
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