December arrived and covered Hogwarts beneath a thick blanket of snow.
The castle looked peaceful under the pale winter sky.
Its towers and courtyards seemed almost sacred in the morning light.
Since Colin Creevey’s petrification, the self-proclaimed Heir of Slytherin had fallen silent.
No further attacks had occurred.
This development surprised Leon.
Based on what he remembered from the original story, another student should have been attacked soon after the Duel Club incident.
Nearly Headless Nick had also been caught in the basilisk’s gaze during the same event.
Leon could no longer remember every detail.
He was certain that the attack should have happened before the Christmas holidays.
Yet the term had ended without another incident.
Most students had already packed their belongings and returned home for Christmas.
Did my presence change the course of the story?
It was the most likely explanation.
Leon had introduced an entirely new system of magic to Hogwarts.
Harry, Hermione, and several other students had already awakened D&D classes.
Gilderoy Lockhart had never become the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
Harry’s Parseltongue ability had also remained hidden from the rest of the school.
Each change could have altered the original sequence of events.
The lack of another attack was good news.
Leon had no reason to complain if the future continued moving in a safer direction.
He had also kept a close watch on Ginny Weasley.
The youngest Weasley had become quieter since the beginning of the year.
She spent much of her time inside the library or reading alone in a corner of the Gryffindor common room.
Her sudden dedication to studying was so intense that even Ron found it unsettling.
If the situation remained stable, Dumbledore might eventually discover a safe method to separate Ginny’s soul from the diary.
Leon could then destroy the Horcrux with [Disintegrate].
If even Dumbledore failed to sever the connection, Leon still had one possible solution.
Once he reached level thirteen, he would gain access to the seventh-circle spell [Sequester].
He might be able to place Ginny into magical suspension and temporarily isolate her soul from outside influence.
That could create an opportunity to remove the diary without allowing the fragment inside to retaliate.
Leon opened his D&D Panel.
[Level: 11—66%] Since the battle against the mysterious girl, his progress had increased by only ten percent.
Most of that experience came from teaching students at Hogwarts.
His duel with Snape had provided roughly three percent.
The pace was painfully slow.
Leon closed the panel and looked down at the large cage beside his feet.
A heavy black cloth covered it.
Loud clicking and scraping noises came from inside.
He tapped the cage lightly.
The young Acromantula had officially retired from its short career as a Defense Against the Dark Arts training partner.
Leon was returning it to Hagrid.
A bright fire burned inside Hagrid’s hut.
“I knew you were a good little fellow!” Hagrid used a towel to wipe the Acromantula’s mouthparts while avoiding its excited pincers.
“Look at you, Spindle.
You’ve put on weight!” The young spider clicked happily.
“It seems he enjoyed school,” Hagrid said.
Leon’s mouth twitched.
Spindle may have enjoyed himself, but the students certainly had not.
Hagrid handed Leon a large cup of hot tea.
“By the way, Hagrid.
Did you receive the Adventurer’s Record I sent you?” “Of course I did.” Hagrid grinned and took a long drink from his own cup.
“I’m a level-three Druid now.
Not bad, is it?” “That is excellent progress.” Leon leaned forward with interest.
“Does that mean you have unlocked [Wild Shape]?” “That’s right!” Hagrid straightened in his chair.
A proud smile spread beneath his tangled beard.
“Congratulations.
What animal did you choose?
A bear?
A wolf?” “No, no.
Those are far too ordinary.” Hagrid waved one enormous hand.
“I chose something much stronger.
It’s sturdy too.
Quite adorable once you get used to it.” He glanced around the small hut.
“I can’t show you here.
There isn’t enough room and someone might get frightened.
I’ll take you into the Forbidden Forest next time.” Leon studied Hagrid’s delighted expression.
Hagrid’s understanding of the word adorable was very different from that of any normal person.
Perhaps his Wild Shape was not an ordinary animal at all.
It might be a magical creature native to this world.
That possibility fascinated Leon.
Druids drew power from nature.
In the Forgotten Realms, they often joined circles such as the Circle of the Land, Circle of the Moon, Circle of Stars, or Circle of Spores.
The natural laws of the Harry Potter world were different.
Hagrid’s connection to magical creatures could have created an entirely new path.
The Circle of the Forbidden Forest?
Leon almost smiled at the thought.
“Speaking of the forest…” Hagrid’s voice interrupted him.
“Something has felt wrong lately.” Leon placed his teacup on the table.
“What do you mean?” Hagrid’s cheerful expression faded.
His thick eyebrows drew together.
“Ever since I became a Druid, I’ve been able to sense more from the plants and animals.
Not words exactly.
More like emotions.” He stared into the fire.
“Starting around the middle of last month, I began feeling fear.” “Fear?” “Yes.
The trees are frightened and the ground feels restless.” Hagrid spread his huge hands.
“Aragog has refused to leave his hollow.
His children have also become unusually agitated.” Aragog was the leader of the Acromantula colony and Spindle’s father.
“It isn’t only the spiders,” Hagrid continued.
“Last week I saw a group of Hippogriffs fighting with several Thestrals.
Merlin’s beard, those creatures normally leave each other alone.” Leon frowned.
The basilisk had not stopped moving through the castle or the surrounding grounds.
It had only stopped attacking students.
Its presence was disturbing the entire ecosystem of the Forbidden Forest.
A knock sounded against the hut’s wooden door.
“Who would come out here in this weather?” Hagrid rose and opened it.
Ginny Weasley stood outside.
Her red hair stood out against the snow.
She wore her Gryffindor robes and looked unusually pale beneath the winter sky.
“Ginny!” Hagrid stepped aside.
“Come in and warm yourself by the fire.” He looked toward Leon with obvious delight.
“Can you believe it?
She’s been visiting for tea quite often.
She loves hearing my stories about the Forbidden Forest.” Few students had ever shown much interest in Hagrid’s stories about dangerous creatures.
Almost no young girls had willingly listened to him describe his so-called adorable monsters.
Ginny looked past him and saw Leon sitting beside the fireplace.
Her expression changed for only a moment.
“I can’t stay today,” she said with a polite smile.
“I only came to say hello.
I need to return to the castle and study.” She turned before Hagrid could answer and hurried away through the snow.
Hagrid scratched his head.
“What got into her?” He looked disappointed.
“I saved some rock cakes for her.” Leon watched Ginny disappear into the distance.
Her visits to Hagrid were strange.
He considered the matter for several minutes but could find no clear connection between the girl, the diary, and the Forbidden Forest.
Ten points in Wisdom really isn’t enough.
The thought left him frustrated.
Leon remained in the hut for a while longer and listened as Hagrid discussed several magical creatures.
By the time he left, evening was approaching.
He brushed the snow from his cloak and entered the castle.
A loud argument echoed through the first-floor corridor.
“Potter and Granger disguised themselves as Crabbe and Goyle!
They entered our common room and tried to spy on us!
I saw them change back!” Draco Malfoy’s voice carried around the corner.
Leon slowed his steps.
At the end of the corridor, Severus Snape stood before Harry and Hermione.
His pale face carried a dangerous expression.
Draco stood behind him with a smug smile and pointed accusingly at the two Gryffindors.