In the dungeon, illuminated by the dim light of the magic lanterns, Professors McGonagall, Snape, and Flitwick stood around the bulky container with the defeated troll. A faint odor of damp and earth wafted around. The air, electrified with tension, vibrated with latent suspicion.
- Unbelievable," Professor Flitwick muttered, rubbing his glasses.
Snape studied the container silently, keeping his eyes on it as always. He remembered how Harry Potter had described what had happened, but he found it hard to believe the words of an immature student, especially when such incredible agility and strength were involved. Mere physical strength, even enhanced by magic, could not explain the effectiveness of Itachi's actions.
"Are you sure you couldn't explain their sudden appearance?" - McGonagall asked, turning to Flitwick.
"The troll was in the wrong place at the wrong time. If it had been a random visit, the likelihood that the troll would have been there would have been extremely slim."
Flitwick nodded, but his voice sounded uncertain
"No, Professor. We've checked all the records, but... There is no indication that the troll would have been there."
"And Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger?" - Flitwick reminded,
- they, too, were off their schedule. Their absence when Itachi and Theodore were in the dungeons is very important."
Snape finally spoke, his voice harsh and riddled with disbelief
- Potter, in all likelihood, simply could not convey exactly what had happened. He was obviously impressed that he had been rescued. He is too young and immature to perceive and adequately describe such things. Nevertheless, what he says makes you wonder how deeply hidden this situation is."
- I agree," Flitwick said.
"We need to analyze all the options. And perhaps talk to Itachi and Theodore to get more information.
Suddenly, McGonagall frowned.
"But... What if this isn't an ordinary troll? What if there's something else behind all this?" Her tone became anxious.
At that moment, the door to the dungeon opened quietly and Albus Dumbledore entered the room, his eyes glowing behind his crescent glasses. He looked at everyone present for a long moment, then his gaze stopped on the troll container.
- 'Professors,' Dumbledore said softly, but with unwavering strength in his voice, 'could you please clarify the situation? I heard that something unusual has happened."
McGonagall, as collected as ever, stepped forward.
"Headmaster, we are investigating the circumstances surrounding the appearance of a troll in the dungeon. Students Potter, Weasley and Granger were also there, breaking all the rules, and were rescued by Slytherin freshmen Itachi Uchiha and Theodore Nott.
- That's exactly what worries me," Snape muttered with a dose of acrimony in his voice.
"Itachi Uchiha has shown . unusual abilities. I doubt a freshman could defeat a troll so quickly and effectively.
Dumbledore looked at Snape, as if assessing his words.
- 'I understand your concern, Severus. But perhaps there is something more important here than the talent of one student."
- A freshman's talent beyond that of a first-year," Snape hissed. "Perhaps there is something more here."
Dumbledore shifted his gaze to Flitwick. - Professor Flitwick, what do you have to say about this?
Flitwick, adjusting his glasses, said
"We have discovered that the troll was here for a reason. Its appearance seems to have been planned. As for that student's actions... His skill in magic is questionable, but right now, the safety of our students comes first.
Dumbledore nodded.
'Then we are dealing with more than just an accident. We need to get to the bottom of all this, and do it discreetly. At this point, it's important that the Ministry doesn't find out that the troll was defeated by a newcomer. Imagine what they would start talking and checking if they found out that the students had encountered a troll at Hogwarts, the safest place on earth.
- 'But, Headmaster,' McGonagall objected, 'the truth is the truth. Itachi Uchiha has demonstrated incredible skill, and his feat should be recognized."
- 'Of course, Minerva,' Dumbledore replied, 'but now, in such a volatile time, we must think of the safety of our students. If we reveal the truth, the Ministry will look into every little detail, and then they will dig into Hogwarts, questioning its very safety and how we will protect our children.
Snape added with a chuckle, -And they'll probably accuse us of incompetence and remove us from our posts if they see such a thing. And they're notoriously fond of picking on the smallest details."
McGonagall, with a sigh, nodded.
"Very well, Headmaster, I understand your concerns. But we must not forget that this child was a true hero."
Dumbledore looked at the troll container and said slowly
- This incident raises questions that we must find answers to. All of them. How the troll ended up in the castle, who sent it there, and how we keep our students safe without giving in to provocation. We will have to keep a close eye on what is going on. For the moment, all the laurels of victory will be given to us, but the investigation will continue in silence."
The tension in the dungeon was rising.
Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape, and Flitwick stood around the dungeon's troll container, flooded by the dim light of the magic lanterns. A tense silence, broken only by the rustle of their robes, pressed down on them. The headmaster squinted his eyes and studied the contents of the container.
"That troll... it's like he's frozen," Flitwick said, running a finger over the troll's pale, marble-like skin.
"His bones... as if they were ... missing."
Snape, clearly not believing his eyes, took the initiative. He pulled a small vial of shimmering golden liquid from his pocket. Muttering an incantation, he applied a few drops to the troll's skin. The liquid, slowly absorbed, left thin glowing lines on the skin, like veins.
- Unusual magic," he muttered in a strained voice.
"This liquid shows some kind of magic working on the troll, but this... This is atypical. It's not direct violence, but... It's as if something inside has changed."
McGonagall, watching the results carefully, stepped closer to the container. She swung her wand and cast the Revealo Corporis spell, designed to detect internal structures. Through the translucent magical shroud enveloping the troll, its internal organs became visible. - Look," she said, pointing her wand at the troll's legs.
"His bones... Like they're... Gone. It feels like someone removed them."
Flitwick, lifting his glasses, scrutinized the image. He used his own spells to get a more detailed view of the troll's bone structure. After a few seconds, he recoiled, his face expressing horror.
- I'm afraid this is it," he muttered.
"The Brahiam Emendo spell is a spell that can remove bones but does no external damage. But such a spell requires just incredible knowledge of anatomy, it's... It's terrible."
Dumbledore stepped closer to the container, his gaze filled with concern. He ran his wand over the troll's body again, this time casting a more complex spell designed to read the history of magical effects.
- Yes, that's it," he confirmed, and his voice was filled with heavy deliberation.
"Brahiam Emendo's spell... But... how? That spell is practically inaccessible to first-year students."
There was a tense silence in the dungeon, full of suspicion and unspoken questions.
Dumbledore picked up a magic book and began looking through it for information about the spell. Snape continued to study the troll incredulously, as if expecting to find hidden traces of magical interference or some clue.
- Finding such information may take some time," Flitwick remarked, pausing.
"We need to determine how the troll was immobilized and under what conditions. It also has implications for the safety of Hogwarts students."
McGonagall tapped the table.
"It's important to make sure that such a spell doesn't fall into the wrong hands, but of course it's also important that the child who was able to perform it was clearly not just a freshman."
Flitwick pointed to a barely visible spot on the troll's body.
"Perhaps some special method unknown to us was used to disarm the troll. That may be a clue."
Dumbledore bowed his head.
"This is not a simple case. We need to determine exactly what was done to the troll, and how... Perhaps a spell we don't know about. We need to check its magical imprint."
Dumbledore stepped away from the container and summoned a magical glowing disk that hovered in the air. He placed his hands on it, and the disk began to shimmer with different colors, as if there were thousands of fireflies dancing in it. Then he pointed the light from the disk at the troll, and thin lines, not normally visible, began to appear on the surface of his skin.
- It's his magical imprint," Dumbledore explained in a thoughtful voice.
"It shows the flow of magic around him, as if he were a fingerprint unique to every magical being. But here... Something is clearly wrong. It's... weak and distorted. It's as if it's torn, as if it's been violently ripped out, but there's no sign of outside interference."
McGonagall stepped closer, her eyes scrutinizing the glowing lines.
"Could this spell have left traces? Let's try another spell to see if there are any signs of manipulation."
She raised her wand and cast a more complex spell, Analisys Magica, designed to analyze the magical imprint in detail. A translucent sphere appeared around the troll, made up of many glowing threads. These threads moved and intertwined like snakes, displaying the troll's energy field.
Snape looked at what was happening.
- 'Looks like magical exhaustion,' he hissed.
"But there's something else here... It's as if his magic has been rearranged. It's not just a suppression of power, but something more complex." He pulled out his small vial of shimmering liquid and again applied a few drops to the troll.
"This liquid is sensitive to anomalies in magical fields," he explained as he watched the liquid soak into the skin. "It will tell us if magical interference has taken place."
The liquid, as it was absorbed, began to shimmer and change color, in some places it became darker, as if it had been poisoned, and in other places it became lighter, as if it had been enhanced. Snape, scrutinizing the changes, muttered to himself
- It was as if something was drawing out its power, but selectively, not affecting everything, but only certain areas. This isn't ordinary magical exhaustion. It's like... interfering with the very essence of his magic."
Suddenly Snape pulled away from the troll, his gaze focused.
Wait," he said, and it sounded like an order, breaking the tense silence. All eyes turned to him.
"Perhaps we're looking where we don't need to. That freshman, the Uchiha... I've seen him disappear into the library almost every day. And not just to read, but to study ancient books."
McGonagall looked at Snape in surprise.
- 'You mean he could have learned that spell from books?
- 'That would explain how he knows about Brachiam Emendo,' Snape replied in a calm and judicious voice.
"He obviously has a hunger for knowledge, and I do not rule out that he may have found it in one of the library archives."
Flitwick nodded thoughtfully.
"It's entirely possible that the library could store such information, especially in a locked compartment. But a spell like that... It's not for beginners."
- Exactly," Dumbledore said, keeping his eyes on the troll container.
"Even if he learned this spell from a book, it doesn't explain how he was able to use it with such precision and control."
McGonagall, frowning, said
"Then we must consider all possibilities. Could it be that not only his knowledge, but his use of it is based on some sort of magical artifact? Either... She fell silent, her gaze becoming thoughtful.
- Both? - Dumbledore asked, looking at her carefully.
McGonagall looked around at everyone present.
"Anyway, we've missed another important detail. When I asked Potter how Itachi defeated the troll, he mentioned two spells. He said Itachi first used a spell that damaged his limbs and then some kind of genjutsu that confused him before he finally took him down.
Snape frowned.
"Genjutsu? That's some atypical spell. And besides, we found no trace of such an attack during our diagnostics. The troll showed no signs of being affected by illusions or controlling magic. Only traces of Brachiam Emendo remained on him."
- Exactly," McGonagall agreed.
"That's very strange. Potter was sure of what he was saying and didn't look like he was making anything up.
Flitwick adjusted his glasses.
- 'It is strange indeed. If he had used any kind of genjutsu, it should have left some kind of mark on the troll's magical field, or at least in its mind, but it didn't seem to have done so. It felt like someone had tricked him into showing only the first part, but not the second. "
Dumbledore, deep in thought, nodded slowly.
"This whole thing just complicates things. Why did Potter see two spells and we only detected one?
Snape crossed his arms over his chest.
"We have to analyze everything. Either Potter is wrong or Itachi is hiding something else.
McGonagall sighed.
- 'So we should go back to Potter's statement and question Itachi again, but more thoroughly?
Dumbledore nodded, his gaze thoughtful.
"In the meantime, I ask that you keep a close eye on Itachi Uchiha. I want to be aware of his actions and, if possible, observe him to better understand his motives. But without too much fuss or pressure, of course. Our job is to understand the situation, not to frighten him."
And, Professor McGonagall, I would ask you to give the same task to the living paintings and ghosts. Have them observe him as well, but carefully so he doesn't suspect anything.
The professors nodded, realizing the gravity of the situation.
Dumbledore, after a moment's silence, decided to change the subject.
- Let's leave Itachi alone for now, until we know more. Now back to the question of the troll. How the hell did he get to Hogwarts? That is a serious question, and it needs to be found out as soon as possible."
Flitwick, adjusting his glasses, said
"We've checked all of the troll's movement reports, but there's no indication that he entered the castle through normal passages. That means he may have used some other method, possibly magical.
Snape crossed his arms over his chest.
"Or he was brought here on purpose. Someone could have guided him into Hogwarts using a portal key or some other method of travel.
Dumbledore nodded.
"We must consider all possible options. This is not just a troll, it is a challenge to our security. Check all the ways the troll could have gotten to Hogwarts, investigate all possible magical paths, and be vigilant."
He looked at everyone present.
"We can't let something like this happen again."
The professors nodded, realizing that this incident was jeopardizing the safety of the entire Hogwarts. They were determined to find out the full circumstances and prevent future threats.
each of them had their own thoughts after the incident.
Professor Minerva McGonagall, known for her strictness and fairness, was giving a transfiguration lesson. Watching the students carefully, she noticed Itachi Uchiha. His extraordinary speed and precision in transforming objects made no impression on her. She had noticed more than once how other Slytherins made mistakes, especially in complex transfigurations, but Itachi seemed to grasp the essence with surprising ease.
Usually McGonagall showed restraint, but she felt a special look on Itachi. The unwavering decency and focus he displayed was different from the restlessness and fidgeting of the other freshmen. She noticed that Itachi was adept at analyzing the transformation processes, as if he could see the invisible threads behind them that bound them together.
"Interesting freshman," she thought, frowning.
"Perhaps he sees farther than most. But caution is his guiding principle."
McGonagall, despite her strictness, began to pay more attention to Itachi. Her wariness was matched by his unusual calmness and, she noticed, his interest in the details of the process, not just the outcome. She realized that Itachi, and his ability to see beyond others was not necessarily to his benefit.
She noticed Itachi scrutinizing the various forms of energy associated with the transformation, as if looking for hidden meaning in them. He noticed details that others missed and asked questions that made her wonder. It was as if he wanted to understand not just how to transfigure, but what it was for.
Professor Filius Flitwick, the small and energetic spell professor, was fascinated by Itachi. It wasn't the speed of learning that surprised him, but the restraint and deep approach to the study of magic that Itachi demonstrated in class.
Flitwick, a master of complex and graceful spells, saw in Itachi a talent that was slow to show itself. Behind the seeming restraint, he sensed great potential power.
Watching Itachi easily master new spells and then study them in detail, Flitwick realized that Itachi was not just copying, but trying to understand the essence. Flitwick, himself a renowned expert on the history of magic, admired the way Itachi picked up on nuances that others missed. He noticed how Itachi analyzed every gesture, every word put into a spell, as if trying to find hidden meanings and secrets in them.
"It's like he's a knowledge hunter," Flitwick thought,
"a hunter after the essence of magic. And that certainly makes him a very special student."
Professor Snape, sitting at his desk in the Potions Room, was gloomily studying the results of Itachi Uchiha's latest experiment. There was a distinct odor of sulfur in the air and an elusive plume of something else, perhaps magnesia, reminding him of the young Slytherin's ongoing experiments. Snape, accustomed to the malicious selfishness and superficial ambition of his students, found something different in Itachi. Something... intimidating.
Snape frowned as he watched Itachi methodically record the results of his experiments in his journal. Snape knew that genius was often based on recklessness and passion, a thirst for discovery that took the student beyond accepted norms and rules. But this restraint, this deliberate calm, made him wonder. Itachi showed not the slightest interest in fame or the empty praise that was so common among many Slytherins. He was focused, cold and, worst of all for Snape, unreadable.
"And what are you hiding, young Uchiha?" - Snape thought grimly, looking at the notes.
"What dark potential lurks behind those cold eyes?"
Snape was impressed with Itachi's abilities. His genius in potions made Snape think of his best students, yet Itachi acted with extreme caution, as if expecting a catch.
Snape saw a dark spark in Itachi, but it was hidden by a layer of caution and prudence that Snape felt was far more dangerous than overt aggression. In these experiments, where Itachi took risks but never crossed the line, Snape saw not just a desire for new knowledge, but a hidden lust for power, not like that of other Slytherins, but far more dangerous because it was disguised as a limitation.
This secret power, hidden under a mask of calmness, frightened Snape, making him wonder if it was dangerous to let it develop.
Snape understood that Itachi could become a powerful mage, but he also realized that in his hands this power could be used to destroy rather than create. It was this uncertainty that made Professor Snape look at Itachi Uchiha with particular suspicion.