<h4>Chapter 66: Harry''s decision.</h4>
"Can we ask where Professor Drac is right now?"
Harry and his friends had arrived at the door of the Defense Against the Dark Arts ssroom. They peeked inside cautiously and asked in a low voice.
However, they soon realized that such a soft voice wouldn''t be heard by any of the students in the ssroom.
Inside, the Defense Against the Dark Arts ssroom was inplete chaos, with a lively scene unfolding—
Fred and George Weasley were standing on tables, jumping up and down while waving a set of ck magic warning bells, using them as makeshift instruments; a Gryffindor and a Hufflepuff student were standing face to face, casting spells at each other in friendly duels; many enthusiastic Gryffindor upperssmen were cheering them on with flushed faces, while the Hufflepuff students were enjoying snacks and watching themotion with great interest...
Not all students in the ssroom were disregarding the rules, though.
Among the chaos, a handsome Hufflepuff student was trying to restore order, diligently going back and forth trying to mediate, but with little sess.
"Harry, little Ron, what brings you here?" Fred and George, who were still ying music, saw Harry and his friends and waved their bells excitedly, asking loudly, "Want to join us? This opportunity doesn''te often!"
Ron''s face flushed with embarrassment when he heard his nickname.
"Fred! George!!" He rolled up his sleeves, ready to charge into the crowd and give the two mischief-makers a piece of his mind, but was pulled back by Harry grabbing his hood.
"Ron, don''t forget our real purpose!" Harry shook his head at him.
Hearing Harry''s reminder, Ron reluctantly calmed down, ring angrily at the Weasley twins standing on the tables.
"Senior, can we ask you something?" Hermione quickly stopped the handsome student who was trying to restore order and asked.
"Don''t call me ''senior,'' my name is Cedric Diggory," the handsome student said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead and approached the three, "You three are first-years, right? What''s the matter in a third-year ss?"
"We''re looking for Professor Drac. Isn''t he in the ssroom now?" Harry asked.
He looked at Cedric with deep admiration and a bit of sympathy.
"Unfortunately, Professor Drac just left the ssroom a little while ago. He said he''d be out for a while," Cedric exined, looking puzzled by Harry''s expression.
"Do you know when he might be back?" Hermione asked.
Cedric shook his head.
Harry couldn''t hide his disappointment and, with Hermione and Ron, left the chaotic ssroom.
As they stepped out, they saw an elderly, tall witch striding quickly towards them.
"Um... Hello, Professor McGonagall," the three of them stammered, feeling a bit guilty.
However, Professor McGonagallpletely ignored them and walked straight into the Defense Against the Dark Arts ssroom.
"The castle''s most unruly ss is yours! I can hear you all making noise even from half the length of the main tower away!" she shouted angrily. "And you two again, the Weasley twins! Just yesterday, Mr. Filch caught you wandering the castle at night, and today you dare to lead the disruption of ssroom discipline!"
"You are the worst year I''ve ever taught!"
...
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood shivering outside the Defense Against the Dark Arts ssroom, silently mourning for the third-year students.
At the same time, Harry and Ron were also secretly relieved that their year was not the worst ording to Professor McGonagall, so they could rx a bit!
"Who should we find next?" Hermione asked quietly, breaking their thoughts. "With both Dumbledore and Professor Drac absent, I''m a hundred percent sure Quirrell will try to steal the Philosopher''s Stone today!"
Hermione and Ron instinctively looked at Harry.
His face turned very pale, but his eyes were shining brightly.
"Alright," Harry took a deep breath, "Looks like we''ll have to do as the letter instructed, right?"
"I''ll sneak into the Restricted Section on the fourth floor and try to get the Philosopher''s Stone first!"
"You''re crazy!" Ron eximed.
His shout caught Professor McGonagall''s attention, causing her reprimanding to momentarily pause. Ron quickly covered his mouth.
Harry and Hermione were rmed and quickly pulled Ron away, heading down the marble staircase to the first floor of the castle.
"Harry, you can''t do this!" Hermione said seriously once they were in the quiet entrance hall. "The protections in the Restricted Section are there to guard the Philosopher''s Stone. You''re just a first-year wizard, it''s too dangerous to breach the restrictions!"
"Hermione is right!" Ron added. "Besides, Quirrell might have already entered the Restricted Section. Are you nning to just walk into his trap?"
"So what?" Harry said passionately, "Don''t you understand? If Quirrell gets the Philosopher''s Stone, Voldemort wille back! Haven''t you heard what happened when he wanted to dominate the magical world?"
"If he seeds, Hogwarts will be gone. He''ll either destroy the school or turn it into a ce dedicated to teaching dark magic! Do you really think Voldemort will spare you and your families?"
"If Voldemort returns, all I can do is find a ce to wait for death. I will never join the dark forces! I must get through that trapdoor and obtain the Philosopher''s Stone tonight, and nothing you say will stop me! Voldemort killed my parents, remember?"
Harry finished his long, breathless, and somewhat incoherent speech, ring at them.
"You''re right, Harry," Hermione''s voice dropped.
"Don''t worry, I''ll use my Invisibility Cloak," Harry said, his emotions gradually stabilizing. "Maybe I can get past Quirrell unnoticed and retrieve the Stone."
"But can the Invisibility Cloak cover all three of us?" Ron suddenly asked.
"We... all three of us?" Harry''s eyes widened.
"Oh, don''t be silly, mate. Do you think we''ll let you go alone?" Ron shrugged and put an arm around Harry''s shoulder.
"Of course not!" Hermione added, with a bit of a fiery tone, "Why would you think of leaving us behind and going after the Philosopher''s Stone alone? I''d better go through my books, maybe I can find something useful..."