Since the beginning of May, Harry suddenly felt his scar begin to ache dully. And this pain had a tendency to grow increasingly intense.
Wednesday.
After finishing a Defense Against the Dark Arts class, the pain became almost unbearable for Harry.
And that evening at bedtime.
"How many potions have you drunk?!"
Ron sat on the edge of the bed, staring in disbelief as Harry downed bottle after bottle of potions as if they were water.
Soon, empty bottles covered Harry's bedside table.
"Wideye Potion, Blood-Replenishing Potion, Calming Draught, Anti-Swelling Solution... and Invigorating Draught?"
Ron identified the labels on each empty bottle one by one, then turned to Harry: "Are you sick?"
"My head hurts terribly,"
Harry frowned, painfully supporting his forehead, putting down the Beauty Potion in his hand—no matter what, this bottle probably wouldn't help with his headache.
"Stop drinking," Ron sighed with relief when Harry stopped taking potions. "If your head hurts, I suggest you visit Madam Pomfrey tomorrow. She'll definitely have a way to cure your illness."
"I suppose that's the only option," Harry sighed, then lay flat on his bed.
Soon, Ron's snores filled the room.
While lying there, Harry found the spot on his forehead that hurt—it was his lightning-shaped scar.
Since he could remember, this was the first time his scar had caused him such suffering.
Strange... and weird!
Harry felt that even when Dudley had beaten him black and blue, it hadn't hurt this much.
Finally, after about an hour, Harry fell into an uneasy sleep. Today, he had a dream after a long time without one.
The dream came suddenly and felt real. In the dream, he seemed to become another person. He was crouching in front of a soft, warm object, but he couldn't identify what it was.
Then, something slid down his throat—thick and warm, yet bringing a shuddering chill.
Before Harry could taste it, he suddenly felt his consciousness begin to blur, as if being dragged into darkness.
Then, a huge castle appeared in his vision—it was Hogwarts Castle, he couldn't mistake it.
Harry's gaze turned to his own hands and found that they looked like a piece of porcelain that had been shattered and then hastily reassembled, covered with spiderweb-like cracks.
"No time left... must... quickly..."
"When I return... this world..."
The raspy voice reached Harry's ears intermittently.
Next, the scene changed again, and a giant monster with three heads suddenly appeared in front of him.
"!"
Harry bolted upright in bed, gasping for breath, his forehead covered in cold sweat.
His pajamas were soaked with sweat, sticking to his back. A bone-chilling coldness crept up his spine.
Instinctively, Harry touched his forehead—his lightning-shaped scar was burning with pain, as if someone were repeatedly pressing a hot iron against it.
The vision from his dream had been so real, as if it had actually happened.
'No, that's not right!
It did happen!
The Philosopher's Stone, the scar...'
Harry suddenly realized something, his pupils contracting sharply.
A terrible thought struck him.
'Someone was going after the Philosopher's Stone! And that person's identity was likely closely connected to the scar on his forehead.'
Harry remembered what Hermione had said before, that the Philosopher's Stone might have other undiscovered effects.
'The Stone might be able to bring that person back!'
The bedside clock already showed one o'clock, but Harry couldn't wait until dawn. He needed to notify a professor now!
Harry carefully climbed out of bed but knocked over the empty potion bottles on his bedside table as he turned.
"Harry?" Ron's groggy voice came from behind. "Are you alright?"
Seeing this, Harry quickly said: "Voldemort's follower is planning to steal the Philosopher's Stone. We need to tell a professor."
"Oh, you said Volde-"
"!"
Ron's eyes instantly widened to their limit as he sat bolt upright, all drowsiness gone.
In the moonlight, his face became as pale as Harry's.
"Wait, what did you say?" Ron asked in terror. "Are you saying... You-Know-Who?"
Harry nodded gravely, "Vol... You-Know-Who might be stealing the Philosopher's Stone right now. The Stone could allow him to rise again."
Ron's mouth opened and closed, and finally, he said numbly: "Has your headache driven you mad? Or are you sleep-talking?"
"I'm not joking!" Harry said as he pulled his robe over himself.
Seeing this, Ron also scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over his own pajamas.
After they both quickly dressed.
"I'm going to tell Adrian about this," Harry said solemnly to Ron. "Are you coming with me?"
"Of course,"
Although Ron felt Harry was talking nonsense, he nodded.
Then, Harry took the Chomping Cabbage 'Guru' from the windowsill and his Invisibility Cloak from under the bed, and headed for the door.
Ron hurried after him.
'Guru' had no idea what was happening before being picked up by Harry.
When they passed through the Gryffindor common room, they were surprised to find a lamp still lit.
Hermione was curled up in an armchair by the fireplace, with a heavy copy of "A History of Magic" open on her lap.
Hearing the noise, she suddenly looked up, her eyes were wide in confusion.
"Harry, and Ron?" she looked puzzlingly at the sneaking Harry and Ron. "What are you two up to at this hour?"
Harry, seeing it was Hermione, relaxed slightly.
"We should be asking you that," Ron said. "What are you doing in the common room?"
Hermione put the book on the table, shrugged, "As you can see, I'm reviewing History of Magic. You know, final exams are next month, and I need to make the most of my time."
"Reviewing? But it's one o'clock in the morning!" Ron exclaimed.
"I know," Hermione glanced casually at Ron, nodding. "That's why I was about to go to bed."
Then, Hermione changed the subject, "So what are you two doing? Sneaking out? I don't recommend-"
"No,"
Harry quickly shook his head, then briefly explained to Hermione about the dream he'd just had and his plan to inform Adrian.
Hermione was silent for a moment, then looked at Harry and said: "It's just a dream."
Obviously, she thought Harry's words were somewhat absurd.
"I'm sure it's not that simple," Harry said firmly. "It was something that really happened. If you're willing to believe me, come with us."
With that, Harry and Ron turned and headed for the door. Seeing this, Hermione could only follow along.
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