Time flew by like fallen leaves carried away by the autumn wind. The cold of winter was replaced by the first signs of spring: buds swelled on the trees, and the air was filled with the light scent of blossoming flowers. Hogwarts was slowly waking up from its winter hibernation, and the students filled the corridors once again with noise and excitement.
Itachi and Theodore, meanwhile, were gathering information about the Philosopher's Stone.
Every day, one by one, they followed Harry, Ron, and Hermione, trying to remain undetected. They watched their movements, listened to their conversations, and tried to figure out their plans.
But to their surprise, the Gryffindors seemed to be stumped. They continued to discuss Nicholas Flamel and his connection to the stone, but they couldn't get anything new that Itachi and Theodore didn't know.
And then, one day while Theodore was on duty, he managed to witness a very interesting scene.
He hid behind one of the columns in the library and watched the Gryffindors. He saw Hermione, barely holding a thick book in her hands.
Theodore recognized the book immediately - It was from this book that he and Itachi had learned about Nicholas Flamel's saiyasi with the Philosopher's Stone. He listened to their conversation.
Hermione opened the thick book, and began flipping through the pages quickly.
"Here," she said, "it says here that Nicholas Flamel was not only an alchemist, but also the creator of the Philosopher's Stone, which grants immortality and can turn any metal into gold."
"...I'm telling you it's some kind of mystery," Theodore heard a scrap of Ron's conversation.
"And it's pretty dangerous stuff if it falls into the wrong hands." - Harry suggested.
Theodore, realizing that he wasn't going to learn anything new anymore, quietly left the library. He already knew of the existence of the Philosopher's Stone and that it was connected to Nicholas Flamel. The Gryffindors, on the other hand, didn't seem to have gotten any further in their research. This was comforting on the one hand, but on the other, it made him think that perhaps they were missing something important.
Gathering his thoughts, Theodore decided to head to their secret room, He knew Itachi was probably already waiting for him there.
He left the room and headed towards the stairs leading to the eighth floor. Instead of walking the normal way, he began to walk along the walls, trying to keep in the shadows. He avoided direct glances with the other students, walking past them like a shadow. He noticed many people looking at him, but he tried to ignore it, and kept walking on.
Once he reached the eighth floor, Theodore began to walk along the long hallway. He remembered Itachi telling him that even the paintings on the walls could be watching them, so he tried not to stop in front of them, or make eye contact with them. He realized that these works of art could be reporting everything they see to someone.
He walked quickly but carefully, not making any unnecessary noises. His footsteps were quiet and confident, After passing several empty corridors and abandoned classrooms, Theodore finally reached the right place. He stood in front of the wall where the door to the Ransom Room usually appeared and thought about what he needed.
As soon as he thought of the room they usually practiced in, the door appeared in front of him. He breathed a sigh of relief and carefully opened it, slipping inside.
He saw that Itachi was sitting in a chair as usual, calmly reading a book, and there was not a trace of worry on his face as always.
"Sorry it took so long," he said, trying to catch his breath.
Itachi looked up at him and nodded.
Theodore sat down next to Itachi and sighed heavily, and with a slight wrinkle, he said
"So... this is it. The Gryffindors, it turns out, have finally figured out the connection between the stone and Flamel. Can you imagine how much effort we spent on surveillance, and they, knew less than we did." He grinned, a slight disappointment in his tone.
"So much effort, and in the end... nothing new."
Itachi, not taking his eyes off the book he held in his hands, only nodded briefly.
After listening to Theodore's words he fell into silence for a few moments. He stared at one point, as if pondering some complex puzzle, his gaze focused and his eyebrows slightly furrowed. Theodore, accustomed to his thoughtfulness, waited patiently for an answer without interrupting.
Finally, Itachi broke away from his thoughts and looked at Theodore, his gaze serious, but with a spark of anticipation in it.
"You're right, Theodore," he began, his voice steady and calm. - The frustration is understandable, for we have spent a great deal of energy trying to learn what we already knew. But on the other hand, it may be for the best."
He paused, giving Theodore time to consider his words, then continued:
"Now that they've realized the connection between the stone and Nicholas Flamel, they're likely to want to do something... reckless. They are enthusiastic and believe they are right. Which means we can expect some rash actions from them in the near future."
Itachi leaned forward, and his gaze became more penetrating.
" We have to follow their lead, and not let them make a mistake that could lead to dire consequences." He paused once more, and added
" We must be especially vigilant in the coming week. They may try something at any moment."
Theodore, listening carefully to Itachi, nodded, agreeing with his words.
"Alright," Theodore replied. - I'm ready. I'll keep an eye on them like a shadow."
Itachi smiled slightly and shook his head.
"That's a role I'll take on," he replied. - I'm more competent at tracking, and I'm better at staying undetected."
With that, they ended their discussion, and with a nod to each other, they headed off to class.
Itachi, as always, was performing impressively in his studies.
The boys envied his success, and the girls admired his restraint and, at times, mystery. But despite all the attention he continued to stealthily follow the Gryffindors.
In that time, he had gotten a pretty good idea of them:
He saw Ron as a good fool. Even though Ron came from a pureblood family, Itachi realized that he was far from the arrogance and cruelty that was usually associated with pureblood wizards. He knew that the Weasley family, contrary to most pureblood families, was opposed to old traditions and racial resentment towards Muggleborns, and this trait had been passed on to Ron as well. He was impulsive, often did stupid things, and might not seem very smart, but he had a good and loyal heart beating in his heart.
In Harry, he saw a boy who wasn't stupefied by fame. Itachi watched him with a special interest. He saw that Harry, despite his worldwide fame, remained humble and simple. He didn't boast about his title
"The Boy Who Survived" and didn't let fame cloud his judgment.
He also noticed that Harry was brave and determined, but he was also emotional and impulsive.
Itachi stopped his gaze on
Hermione
In her, Itachi saw a reflection of himself. She, like him, was a muggleborn, a 'mudblood' as some pureblood wizards scornfully called them.
But that didn't stop her from shining in her studies. Itachi saw that Hermione wasn't just a diligent student, she was the second best in the class, always following him. Her sharp mind, inquisitiveness, and pursuit of knowledge fascinated him, though he never showed it openly.
Itachi saw that Hermione didn't limit herself to just theory. She had an excellent grasp of spells and enjoyed putting her knowledge into practice. She wasn't just smart, she was competent and skillful. She wasn't afraid of challenges and always strived for perfection, which couldn't help but inspire respect.
He also noticed that she often looked at him. In those glances he could read not only admiration but also rivalry.
Hermione didn't want to stay in the shadows, she was eager to prove that she was as good as him, and that she was capable of surpassing him. Itachi understood this, and deep down he even enjoyed it a little bit. It was a challenge that made her become a better person.
Itachi, couldn't help but see the irony in that.
Two top students, both 'mudbloods', competing for supremacy in a school full of prejudice and preconceptions. It was another reason for Itachi not to underestimate her. It's clear as day to him, Hermione isn't just a smart girl, she's a strong opponent.
Itachi, as he continued his observations of the Gryffindors, became more and more convinced that Hermione was the biggest threat to him.
At the same time, he thought about the very structure of their team - Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
Itachi saw that their team was remarkably balanced, bringing together all the social strata of the magical world.
Harry, a half-blood, not lacking in nobility, but carrying a heavy burden of fame.
Ron, a representative of a pureblood family with conflicting views and a strong attachment to his friends.
Hermione, a "mudblood", the intellectual engine of the team, able to analyze and strategize. This combination of different, sometimes contradictory, views and beliefs formed a wonderful, unique dynamic that he thought made their team especially dangerous and effective.
Class came to an end, and Itachi continued his stalking of the Gryffindors as he had planned. However, it was getting harder with each step. As he made his way deeper and deeper into the corridors leading to Gryffindor Tower, he realized that his presence here was attracting more and more attention. He was a Slytherin student, and his appearance in these parts of the castle was something unusual. The other students, especially the Gryffindors, cast suspicious glances at him, and he had to maneuver constantly to remain unnoticed.
He could feel the risk of being discovered increasing by the minute. His clothes, his Slytherin badge all gave him away. He had to change his trajectory, speeding up or slowing down his stride to avoid collisions and not cause unnecessary questions. He knew that if he was exposed, tracking him further would become nearly impossible, and that jeopardized his entire plan.
Fortunately, the Gryffindor trio, busy with their own thoughts and plans, never noticed him. They were walking along, chatting animatedly and paying no attention to their surroundings. Itachi, trying to keep his distance, caught scraps of their conversation.
"...At night..." - Harry muttered, his voice quiet and strained.
"...At Hagrid's..." - Ron added, his voice a little louder.
"...We have to be careful..." - Hermione whispered, her tone full of concern.
Itachi frowned. A night meeting with Hagrid? What were they up to there? That seemed suspicious to him. He realized he needed to keep an eye on them through the night.
Itachi, watching the Gryffindors go deeper into the maze of corridors leading to their tower, made a decision.
He didn't want to push his luck and put himself in danger of being exposed. His presence in the corridors of Gryffindor was becoming increasingly suspicious, and sooner or later someone might spot him, and that could put a crimp in his plans.
He stopped at a crossroads, contemplating what to do next. He needed information about the trio's nighttime meeting with Hagrid, but how could he do it without revealing himself? The solution came unexpectedly and, paradoxically, it was dictated by the situation itself. Night surveillance was the most reliable option.
He knew that students were not supposed to walk around the castle at night, and that they could be seriously punished for it. But it was this prohibition that had caught his attention. He realized that it was in the silence of the night that he would be able to act stealthily and effectively. He would not have to fear casual glances and questions. He would be able to move freely through the corridors and keep an eye on the Gryffindors without attracting too much attention.
Moreover, Itachi realized that the ban on night walks wouldn't stop the Gryffindors, and that their nighttime encounter with Hagrid was all the more suspicious. It only piqued his interest and desire to find out what they were up to there.
With these thoughts in mind, Itachi decided to end the day's surveillance. He backed away from the corridors of Gryffindor, and, trying not to draw attention to himself, headed towards his room. He knew he needed to prepare for a night out.