"Henry, we o take these two items back first. Oh, and could we also borrow the Marauder's Map for a while, please?" Dumbledore asked as if seeking permission.

  It was then that he noticed the rat.

  The rat was missing a finger on its right paw.

  "Headmaster, is that the legendary Philosopher's Stohat grants immortality?" Hoare feigned curiosity as he asked.

  "Oh, yes. It's full of temptation. Immortality fasates people and drives them mad," Dumbledore remarked with a sigh.

  "Just—" Dumbledore held the Philosopher's Stone in his hand, examining it closely. It felt slightly odd, though it looked the same, something just didn't seem right.

  Hoare scratched his head, pretending to know nothing.

  The item was stolen by Scabbers, so if anyone had questions, they should ask it, not the i Hoare.

  Dumbledore and Sook Scabbers and the Philosopher's Stone away.

  They noticed the injuries on Scabbers' legs, which were limp as if they had turned into putty.

  Dumbledore furrowed his brow slightly but said nothing and asked no questions.

  As for Sirius's situation, Dumbledore would certainly not allow one of his most prized former students to suffer unjustly.

  Hoare was reassured.

  He returo his dormitory, where Helena had already returned, full and tent.

  She zily coiled herself like a snake, lying on Hoare's pillow, with some small biscuits made by the house elf for her to gnaw on.

  Hoare opened a drawer and took out a crystal bottle ner than his palm, which looked far more valuable than those used for potions.

  And indeed, it was more precious—an alchemical crystal bottle.

  The tents seemed minimal, yet it was as deep as the o, impossible to fathom.

  Ihe bottle was a small, white mass.

  It resembled a thick white mist, occasionally fshing with golden light.

  Hoare held the bottle up to his fad gently shook it, watg the mist swirl zily inside.

  He couldn't help but smile.

  "Thank you, Sazar Slytherin."

  ---

  Snape and Dumbledore went to deal with Scabbers.

  Hot what he wanted, and now he was wide awake, his mind filled with potion formus.

  He g the cloak on his bed, which he hadn't returo Harry yet, and decided to put it on. ing Helena around his arm, he left the on dormitory.

  The only pce where he could experiment freely at this time was the Room of Requirement.

  Hoare had stored a rge quantity of herbs there for his and the Weasley twins' daily experiments. If he needed rare materials, he previously had to apply to Headmaster Snape.

  After learning the Disillusio Charm, Hoare ofteured into the Forbidden Forest alone, gathering only from the outskirts, but it was more than suffit.

  The fertile nd of the Forbidden Forest even made Hoare sider setting aside a plot frowing some food when he had more free time.

  An instinct from his past life in a.

  As for whether Hoare worried about Hagrid disc his activities, he was not ed at all.

  Hagrid was more focused on magical creatures than herbs, so even though Hoare had nearly turhe forest's outskirts into his own herb garden, Hagrid hadn't noticed.

  However, Headmaster Snape seemed to have noticed something. Though he didn't say it ht, he did remind Hoare not to overdo it and to allow pnts the ce to grow.

  Hoare set up his cauldron, following the steps one by oil the final step.

  It was time to add the energy of the Philosopher's Stone.

  Hoare carefully opehe crystal bottle, reg ara spell, trying to draw only a trace of energy, which he then ied into the cauldron simmering over a low fme.

  Hoare had previously researched information about the Philosopher's Stone.

  It was an artificially created, magifused red sto could be used to brew the Elixir of Life, extending the drinker's lifespan, and could also turn aal intold.

  Some sources suggested that the Elixir of Life actually transformed the dead parts of the body into new ones, extending the life cycle.

  Squibs had magical genes but couldn't produce magic themselves.

  What if the part of a Squib's body responsible feing magic was reset?

  This was why Hoare was so determio experiment with the Philosopher's Stone.

  After stirring clockwise three times, a faint pink smoke rose from the cauldron.

  He removed the stirring rod, and the smoke dispersed, revealing a pale blue potion with a delicate fragrance.

  There wasn't much potion, just enough to fill a crystal bottle the size of a fingernail.

  Hoare estimated that if it met his expectations, this tiny bottle could save a Squib's life, ensuring the drinker fully regaiheir magic. Chargihousand Galleons for it would be justified.

  Now, he just needed a test subject.

  This matter o be entrusted to Professor Snape, as trag the effects on a test subject required effort and wasn't simple.

  And Hoare hated trouble.

  ---

  Squibs.

  A topiot easily discussed in the wizarding world.

  Even wizarding families that accepted Muggles and Muggle-borns didn't readily accept Squibs.

  For instahe Weasley family never spoke of their Squib retive who worked as an atant in the Muggle world.

  From the moment they were firmed as Squibs, they were no longer accepted by their families.

  Some more responsible families chose to send them to live and study in the Muggle world, encing them to ie into Muggle society.

  This was far kihan trying to find them a p the wizarding world, where they were always treated as sed-css citizens.

  And from the moment they ehe Muggle world, they were managed by the Squib Support Association until they tureen.

  In essehey were pletely distanced and abandoned by their families.

  The most painful part for Squibs was that they had no magic but could use magical items ahings invisible to Muggles.

  Hoare wao save them because he had always been afraid.

  Afraid of being abandoned by his family, afraid of leaving this fasating wizarding world.

  Even though his parents assured him he could return to the Weasleys at the Burrow once he came of age, Hoare knew deep down.

  If he were just a Squib, f himself into a pce where he didn't belong would make everyone miserable.

  Hoare wrote on a piece of part, pced the potion on it, a it on Headmaster Snape's desk.

  Thanks to Headmaster Snape allowing him to experiment in the dungeons, he had the freedom to e and go.

  After setting everything in pce, Hoare turo leave.

  Suddenly, the firep Headmaster Snape's office lit up, revealing a face that bore a striking resembo Draco's.

  Huessed this must be the father Draco ofteioned.

  "Severus, I'm sorry to disturb you so te."

  "I've heard rumors. Is he—has he returned?"

  The voice was ster if listeo closely, it carried a hint of tremor.

  "I await your reply."

  "And—something he left with me is missing, I wao inform you."

  0Niffler0