[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-wizard-war-at-hogwarts":3,"chapter-wizard-war-at-hogwarts-wizard-war-at-hogwarts-chapter-16":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Wizard War at Hogwarts",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2357989,4612,"Chapter 16: Suspicious Quirrell","wizard-war-at-hogwarts-chapter-16",16,"\u003Cp>“It worked,” Hermione said, still shaken, her tear-streaked face uncleaned. “I heard you talking about the Levitation Charm, then I saw that pipe hit Harry on the head. I thought maybe I could use the troll’s club.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Hermione—you nearly saved our lives,” Ron gasped, sitting on the floor, himself startled by his own actions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m the one who should thank you,” Hermione said. “If you hadn’t come, I might already be dead.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, by the way, I brought you some food.” At the word “food,” Harry reached into his robe for the paper-wrapped parcel. But as he handed the potato pancake to Hermione, he felt something wrong—when he pulled his hand away from his head, warm liquid trickled down his forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Professor?” Hermione was the only one facing the other end of the corridor. When she spoke, all three turned instinctively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professors McGonagall, Snape, and Quirrell appeared at the far end of the corridor. Upon seeing the scene, Quirrell broke into a run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon he reached Harry’s side, pulled out his handkerchief, and pressed it against the wound on Harry’s head, repeatedly apologizing, claiming it was his fault for letting the troll in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry stared blankly at the crimson stain on his left hand, frightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re unbelievable—why didn’t you stay in your dormitory?” McGonagall snapped. “If not for luck, you’d be dead already!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It wasn’t just luck—they clearly came prepared,” Snape said, examining the fallen troll. “There are traces of various spells on the troll. Of course, the final blow must have come from…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snape glanced around the group, then spoke softly: “Ron Weasley.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?” McGonagall was surprised; in her mind, Ron was not an outstanding student.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I believe they came to rescue Miss Granger, who was trapped in the girls’ bathroom,” Snape continued his reasoning. “Mr. Potter cleverly used a Spark Charm to strike the troll’s eye, leaving it unable to locate the three of them. Miss Zhang used a Lightning Charm to paralyze its movements. Then Mr. Weasley bravely leapt onto its back and struck its head with this metal pipe, successfully knocking it unconscious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>None of those present objected. Harry thought that if the professors learned it was actually Hermione who had felled the troll, after all three of them had fumbled helplessly, McGonagall would surely scold them mercilessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s hard to believe that a few junior students would challenge a troll in such a dangerous manner,” Snape murmured. “I recommend detention.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No—I believe this is the very spirit Gryffindor should embody,” McGonagall said with a smile. “I’m awarding each of you three points. But Professor Snape is right—this was far too dangerous. Next time, don’t rush in yourself—just shout for the Headmaster. Understood?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And Miss Granger,” McGonagall noticed the tear tracks on her face. “No matter what caused your sorrow, remember—you have three friends willing to fight a troll for you. Don’t forget that.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look at me, so foolish,” Quirrell removed his handkerchief, now stained with Harry’s blood. “Ferula.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wand emitted a flash of green light; Harry instantly felt no pain, and the bleeding stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Scourgify,” he muttered another spell, and the sticky sensation vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he tucked the handkerchief back into his robe, Quirrell chuckled self-deprecatingly: “I forgot I’m a wizard—Harry’s little wound didn’t need such fuss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snape snorted. McGonagall turned to the four: “Then you may return. The feast has been moved to the common room.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, Quirrell said letting the troll in was his fault—what did he mean by that?” Hermione asked curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know,” Harry kept touching his head; the wound had vanished too quickly, leaving him uneasy. “All I know is that Quirrell burst in halfway through the feast, saying the troll was in the dungeons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He looked utterly exhausted,” Ron added. “Then he collapsed right after.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did the divination mention Quirrell?” After the troll had been felled by the Levitation Charm, Harry found himself increasingly trusting Zhang Qiu’s predictions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No,” Zhang Qiu flipped through her small notebook, densely filled with square characters. “The divination only warned us to be wary of a ‘double-faced person’—this whole affair is his scheme.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When they returned to the common room, Harry noticed Neville was neither at the feast nor in his dormitory—he felt puzzled. In contrast, Hermione looked downcast, had no appetite, and went straight to her room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regardless of Hermione’s sensitive moods, Harry and Ron were thrilled: tonight’s adventure had been extraordinary, and the outcome excellent—they’d defeated a troll and earned six points for their house.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first class the next day was Potions. Snape paired students to brew potions. Harry naturally teamed up with Ron. Harry knew that if Ron brewed alone, Snape would deduct points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well done, Potter—Gryffindor one point.” Snape glided past Harry like a bat, then added irritably: “Miss Granger, why are you alone?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I believe I can brew the potion perfectly on my own, Professor Snape,” Hermione replied confidently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me see… Excellent. Gryffindor another point.” Snape was unusually generous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry remembered that Hermione usually partnered with Neville—but where was Neville? Only now did he notice Neville hadn’t come to class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After class, Harry lingered, worried. He entered Snape’s office and whispered: “Professor, I wonder if you’ve noticed…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Longbottom has personal matters. I permitted him one absence,” Snape said without looking up. “If every student who vanishes requires your attention, I’ll start calling you ‘Potterer.’”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry understood the joke. He ventured: “Professor Snape, I’d really like to learn more about my past. You seem to know a great deal…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Snape raised his head. His face was grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ask Professor Binns. I don’t teach history.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry meekly retreated from Snape’s office. He felt Snape knew much—both classroom knowledge and hidden secrets—but it seemed he intended to tell Harry nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he returned to his dormitory, Neville arrived just then, carrying a heavy bundle. Harry asked curiously what it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neville hugged Harry’s neck and whispered: “If you see what’s inside, I’ll give you half.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry’s curiosity deepened. He urged Neville to open the pack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside was a large bundle of rock cakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you were with Hagrid this morning?” Harry tapped the cake’s surface gently with a teaspoon, producing a rhythmic thump-thump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Strictly speaking, I was investigating something,” Neville whispered. “I’m not sure you’d be interested—it concerns the ‘death’ on the third floor.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t want you digging into that,” Harry said urgently. “Dumbledore wants it hidden, which is why he set up such dangerous…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Relax, Harry. I don’t plan to risk my life,” he said. “But someone else does.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good heavens—you mean?” Harry stared at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Professor Quirrell,” Neville said seriously. “Last night, on my way back, I saw Quirrell trying to enter the door at the end of the third-floor corridor—but Snape stopped him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you were with the crowd, wouldn’t everyone have seen?” Harry sensed a growing suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ahem—I first dropped Hannah off at the Hufflepuff common room entrance before heading back,” Neville’s explanation matched Harry’s expectations. “I saw him on the stairs—Quirrell standing before the door. Snape asked what he was doing. He stammered that he was just checking, then they left together.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They must’ve gone to the dungeons afterward,” Harry said. “The troll trapped Hermione in the girls’ bathroom. Luckily, she cleverly used a Levitation Charm to knock it out. Then Quirrell and Snape arrived—oh, and McGonagall too. Quirrell kept apologizing, saying it was his fault.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actually, after they left last night, I went back into that door,” Neville said. “I didn’t notice it the first time, but Ron was right—the three-headed dog is standing right over a trapdoor. And it’s extremely alert—I only glanced once and left.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry thought: if he’d only glanced once and left, he wouldn’t have returned so late. Neville must have tried every possible method to get past it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To understand the dog’s habits, I went to Hagrid this morning. He was extremely wary and told me he’d never discuss this dog with anyone,” Neville said casually. “So nothing happened. We can rest easy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry nodded skeptically, then packed his things and headed to the library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nicholas Flamel?” That night, Harry heard this strange name from Hermione.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, Neville said it’s tied to a major secret, and I really want to help him,” Hermione’s face showed inner struggle. “Harry, Zhang Qiu—I beg you—if you learn anything about Nicholas Flamel, please tell me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I see… I’ll keep an eye out,” Harry’s gaze fixed on her large front teeth, but his mind thought: Neville clearly didn’t come away empty-handed from Hagrid.\u003C\u002Fp>",1417,"2026-06-21T04:54:27.874Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","bb95f73010a793f3ae71a45fd86e1853f0ea6e89d052991e2f67b8cdc9eba5ca","wizard-war-at-hogwarts-chapter-17","wizard-war-at-hogwarts-chapter-15",528,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fwizard-war-at-hogwarts-cover.jpg"]