The Art of Deception

Chapter 16

The next morning, Aurelia, Daphne, and Theodore sat in the Slytherin common room, their usual spot near the fireplace. The room was quieter than usual, the heavy atmosphere from the night before still lingering over them. Aurelia sat forward, her brow furrowed in deep thought, her fingers tapping restlessly on the arm of her chair.

She couldn't shake the image of Harry's words from her mind—the idea of Voldemort, alive again, weak and desperate, feeding off the blood of unicorns. It made her stomach churn with a mix of fear and frustration.

"You know, he's weak," Aurelia said, her voice low but intense, as she looked at her friends. "Voldemort, I mean. He's living off unicorns. It's pathetic. He's not strong. He's just surviving, feeding off these poor creatures... He wants the Philosopher's Stone, doesn't he? He probably needs it. The Elixir of Life will make him powerful again, and if he gets that... he'll be back. Stronger than ever."

Daphne's face immediately shifted, her eyes widening in horror at the mention of the Dark Lord's name. She recoiled instinctively, a slight shudder running through her as she glanced around, almost as if the very mention of him might summon something dark.

"Don't say his name," Daphne hissed softly, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked around the room nervously before continuing, her tone tense. "You know how it is, Aurelia. We don't... we don't invoke him. It's bad luck."

Aurelia raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She understood, of course, the fear that Voldemort's name provoked. But the more she thought about it, the more the pieces seemed to fit together. The mention of unicorns, the strange things they'd seen in the forest, and the ominous presence of Voldemort's followers lurking in the shadows—it all pointed to something bigger. Something dangerous.

Theodore, who had been watching quietly, his eyes glimmering with calculation, finally spoke. "So, you think he's trying to come back? With the Stone?" His tone was calm, but there was an edge to it. He had the same gut feeling that something wasn't right.

Aurelia nodded, biting her lip. "It makes sense. He needs that Stone to come back fully. He needs it to regain his strength, and he won't stop until he has it."

Daphne, though clearly unsettled by the thought of what they were discussing, managed to regain some of her usual composure, crossing her arms and giving a slightly exasperated look. "And what exactly are we supposed to do about it? Are we just going to sit here and wait while he gets stronger?" she asked, her voice laced with both frustration and worry.

Aurelia, without missing a beat, flashed a determined grin. "Obviously not. I say we get the Stone and hide it!" Her words were spoken with the kind of certainty that only Aurelia could muster, her eyes sparkling with an adventurous gleam.

Theodore immediately shook his head, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "No, Aurelia," he said, his voice calm but firm. "We need a plan. We can't just storm in there like your brother would." He raised an eyebrow, his words a pointed reminder of Harry's impulsive tendencies.

Aurelia pouted, crossing her arms in mock offense. "Okay, okay. We need a plan... but I'm still for getting it tonight," she said, her tone playful but insistent.

Daphne shrugged nonchalantly, though there was an underlying edge of concern in her voice. "What about getting it and then giving it to Dumbledore?" she suggested. "He's the one who can handle it. We don't even know what we'd do with it if we took it."

Aurelia paused, considering Daphne's suggestion for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Yeah... that's actually not a bad idea," she said. "We can get it and bring it to Dumbledore. He's the only one who seems to have any idea about the Stone and what to do with it."