Dumbledore had Hagrid take Quirrell to the infirmary.

  He and Snape escorted Harry and Draco back to the on room, while Hoare went aloo the Headmaster's office to wait for them.

  Ihe Headmaster's office, there was aire wall covered with framed portraits of past headmasters, with their names written below.

  Curious, Hoare leaned in closer, and the former headmasters in the portraits leaned in as well, intrigued.

  By the time Hoare had almost finished examining each portrait, Dumbledore and Snape finally arrived.

  "Headmaster, Professor," Hreeted them.

  "Henry, Severus, have a seat."

  With a flick of his wand, Dumbledore moved two chairs behind them.

  Hoare sat down.

  "Henry, was it you who injured Professor Quirrell?" Dumbledore asked directly.

  "Yes," Hoare admitted without hesitation. "I thought he ossessed by an evil spirit, and I was terrified."

  He trembled slightly. "He was going to kill me... I just happeo have a herb-digging knife in my hand—"

  Hoare didn't o say more; Dumbledore uood what he meant.

  Snape, with a stern expression, said, "Albus, Henry is the victim here. If that's all you wao ask, I'll let him go back to rest."

  "Hahaha, Henry, what were you going to say at the edge of the Forbidden Forest earlier?" Dumbledore, under Snape's gaze, ged the subject.

  "This," Hoare said, taking out his ste bag.

  "Uni blood!?" Snape was ecstatic, carefully taking the heavy, square box from Hoare's hands.

  "And some meat and ans," Hoare added. "All gifts from the uni."

  Hearing it was uni blood and flesh, Dumbledore was also surprised and came over. "Henry, how did you obtain these? You know unis are very averse to humans and won't approach them unless absolutely necessary."

  "Because it felt I ave, so it willingly gifted them to me," Hoare expihe situation.

  "Headmaster, we might succeed," Hoare k was certain.

  At this moment, the two potiohusiasts couldn't wait to set up a cauldron and start experimenting.

  "Ahem, Severus, let's let Henry go back to rest. Tomorrow is not too te," Dumbledore stopped their impulsiveness.

  Hoare raised an eyebrow knowingly and took the initiative to bid farewell.

  It was clear Dumbledore had something to discuss with Snape.

  Hoare deed the headmaster's offer to apany him a alone.

  The potion ingredients were settled, but the Philosopher's Stoill o be obtained.

  One reason was to prove his innoce.

  The other was that Hoare had calcuted that using the Philosopher's Stoo create a perfect, long-sting Squib Potion had a success rate of y pert.

  Yes, Hoare hadn't given up on the perfect version.

  Whether long-sting or short-term, Hoare wanted both.

  The long-sting version would be expensive, requiring only a few uses.

  The short-term version would be cheaper but o be taken regurly.

  This business was worth it.

  -----------------

  The day.

  Hoare handed his formu to Snape.

  Snape po with a furrowed brow.

  Hoare thought there might be a problem. "Headmaster, is something wrong?"

  "Let's try it," Snape said nothing more and took out his personal cauldron.

  Made of pure gold, crafted by dwarves, it was engraved with many magic arrays to accelerate heating and improve potion success rates.

  Hoare was dazzled for a moment before he could open his eyes.

  He silently raised an eyebrow at the golden cauldron before him.

  It seemed Snape had plete fiden Hoare's formu.

  Otherwise, he wouldn't use this precious cauldron.

  Snape hahe matg golden stirring rod to Hoare.

  The formu rovided by Hoare, and Snape knew Hoare had his own calcutions.

  He was fident in leaving the operation to Hoare, while he prepared all the materials as required.

  Hoare was extremely careful in his operation, and after the final infusion of magic power.

  Previously, at this step, the potion would appear light blue.

  But this time, the potion turned silver, like uni blood.

  The batly produced three bottles.

  Hoare carefully sealed the crystal bottles.

  Snape would take otle to Filch to test its effectiveness.

  Once firmed successful, the remaining two bottles would be preseo the board of governors for valuation and then promoted.

  Of course, since Hoare already had a price estimate, this step was directly ged to promotion.

  From then on, Hoare had nothing more to do with it.

  Naturally, Hoare didn't mention the long-sting Squib Potion to anyone, as revealing it would make it obvious he was eyeing the Philosopher's Stone.

  The matter of the Philosopher's Stone was a secret.

  Hoare wao duct other experiments in the dungeo, but the ruthless Snape drove him away.

  Because the annual Quidditch match was about to begin.

  Even She headmaster, rarely gave a very brief pre-match talk to the Slytherin Quidditch team.

  He said something like, although previous results were good, don't get tant. The expectations for this year weren't high, just casually win the championship and make sure to knock Gryffindor off their brooms.

  Of course, Snape didn't say it like that; it was Hoare's own transtion.

  He regretted agreeing to Snape's request to join the Quidditch match.

  Riding a broom was indeed fun, but the repetitive training was mentally exhausting.

  For the past two days, Hoare would colpse into bed as soon as he returo the dormitory.

  Finally, after half a month, the Quidditch match officially began.

  The day before the match, each house annouheir team rosters.

  Slytherin Quidditnouheir new member, Seeker, first-year Henry William.

  Gryffindor quickly followed suit, announg their new member, also a Seeker, also a first-year, Harry Potter.

  When this news came out, Draco exploded, grabbing Marcus Flint's broom and charging toward the Gryffindor table.

  Hoare hurriedly stopped him. "Draco, what are you doing?"

  "That Harry Potter is a traitor!" Draco said through gritted teeth. "He knew all along you were the Slytherin Quidditch team's Seeker."

  "But he never mentioned he was ooo."

  "That Potter! He's been hanging around you a lot tely. I bet he's been spying for information."

  Draco's eyes were red with anger, wishing he could bite Potter to pieces.

  Hoare scratched his head; he had actually guessed it.

  Not to mention that Oliver Wood had beely taking the Bludger box to the small field for training every day, ag all mysterious.

  And as for Harry, he couldn't hide it.

  For the past two days, whenever he saw him, Harry's eyes would keep darting away, making it obvious he was hiding something.

  Moreover, Hoare remembered in the inal story, Harry became a Seeker in his first year.

  Hoare wasn't angry, just felt a bit helpless.

  No matter what he did, the story seemed to return to its inal course.

  The crazed Quirrell, possessed by Number 2, still went to drink uni blood.

  Although there were some minor issues, the situation was still under his trol.

  Starting with winning the Quidditch championship!

  And g the prize money!

  0Niffler0