The grotesque face beneath Quirrell’s turban let out a shriek even more agonizing than when Vincent’s Transfiguration had distorted it.
A surge of dark magic erupted from Quirrell’s body.
Vincent immediately sensed the danger.
The power wasn’t aimed at him directly.
It was trying to invade him.
Without hesitation, he released the torn turban and sprang away.
Quirrell rose helplessly into the air above the raging sea.
He wasn’t flying under his own control.
It looked as though an invisible hand had seized him by the throat and was dragging him upward.
His mouth hung wide open.
An eerie green glow radiated from his eyes.
For a brief moment…
It seemed he was attempting to Apparate without a wand.
The spell never completed.
Crack!
The sharp sound of Apparition echoed through the storm.
Then another.
And another.
Several witches and wizards in dark robes appeared high above the sea.
“Auror Office!”
“Cease all spellcasting immediately!”
One Auror raised a wand.
A flash of magic interrupted Quirrell’s attempted escape.
Several of the newcomers visibly recoiled after catching sight of the grotesque face growing from the back of his head.
Now…
It was Quirrell’s turn to flee.
Unfortunately for him…
He wasn’t nearly as skilled at escaping as Vincent.
He had barely crossed a few dozen feet before a Stunning Spell struck him squarely.
There was no escape.
An inhuman scream tore through the night.
The gray, wraith-like spirit attached to Quirrell’s body ripped itself free.
Lord Voldemort’s soul fled into the air.
At the same moment…
Quirrell’s lifeless body plunged into the sea.
Splash.
Two Aurors immediately dived after him.
Moments later, they resurfaced.
“He’s dead!”
“His life force has been completely exhausted!”
Spell after spell flashed through the rain-filled sky.
Brilliant streaks of red, blue, and gold converged on the fleeing wraith.
Each passed harmlessly through it.
The fragmented soul seemed protected by ancient dark magic.
“No!”
“I was so close!”
“So close!”
The shrill screams echoed across the sea.
Then…
The spirit vanished into the storm clouds.
Vincent silently watched it disappear.
Above him…
Several Aurors immediately gave chase.
Others Disapparated to report directly to the Ministry of Magic.
Only rain remained.
For the first time all night…
The storm felt strangely quiet.
Is it finally over?
The door of the hut creaked open.
Vernon Dursley…
Petunia Dursley…
And Dudley cautiously peeked outside.
Before any of them could react—
Hagrid strode forward.
With one effortless pull…
The door flew completely open.
The Dursleys stumbled backward onto the floor.
Ignoring them entirely, Hagrid reached inside and gently lifted a skinny black-haired boy to his feet.
Round glasses.
Messy black hair.
A lightning-shaped scar.
Harry Potter.
Cradling Harry protectively, Hagrid walked toward Vincent.
His massive frame was still trembling.
“That…”
“…that was You-Know-Who, wasn’t it?”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“Merlin’s beard…”
“He really has returned.”
“Professor Dumbledore must hear about this immediately.”
Hagrid studied the little least weasel carefully.
“You must be an Animagus.”
“There aren’t many of your kind.”
“And plenty never bother registering with the Ministry.”
“Who are you?”
For a moment, Hagrid listed several wizarding surnames.
None meant anything to Vincent.
“But whoever you are…”
“You stood against You-Know-Who.”
“That makes you a friend.”
“I’m Rubeus Hagrid.”
“Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts.”
He hesitated.
“Where did You-Know-Who come from?”
Vincent transformed back into his human form.
Rain immediately soaked his clothes.
“I’m Vincent Eden.”
“I’m from Shropshire.”
“He Apparated there from Albania.”
“Shropshire?”
Hagrid blinked.
“That’s hundreds of miles from here!”
“He tried to kill me.”
“I escaped while slowing him down.”
“Eventually we ended up here.”
Hagrid’s beetle-black eyes became impossibly wide.
“You…”
“…escaped from Shropshire…”
“…all the way to this island…”
“…while You-Know-Who chased you?”
“And then…”
“…I saw you pin him down and scratch him to pieces!”
His voice rose dramatically.
“Merlin’s beard!”
“How did you manage that?”
Vincent rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
“I wouldn’t put it that way.”
“Ninety-nine percent of the time…”
“I was the one being chased.”
Hagrid stared at him.
Then shook his head vigorously.
“No.”
“Don’t be modest.”
“You-Know-Who could kill almost anyone.”
“But you survived.”
“And I saw you fighting him with my own eyes.”
“Aside from Professor Dumbledore…”
“I’ve never seen anything like it.”
He frowned.
“Why don’t I know you?”
“Did you graduate from Hogwarts?”
That…
Was a difficult question.
Vincent hesitated.
Then answered honestly.
“I’m a Hogwarts student.”
“…Just not yet.”
“I’ll be starting my first year this September.”
Silence.
Hagrid froze.
His mouth slowly fell open.
“A first-year?”
“Eleven years old?”
“An eleven-year-old Animagus…”
“…who fought You-Know-Who?”
He looked moments away from fainting.
“Merlin preserve us…”
“Oh dear…”
“Oh dear…”
Just then…
A familiar rushing sound echoed across the sea.
Hagrid’s expression changed instantly.
“The Aurors are coming back.”
“No time to stand around talking.”
He gave a sharp whistle.
Moments later…
A flying motorcycle burst through the rain.
It skidded to a stop beside the reef.
Hagrid climbed aboard.
Harry sat in front of him.
Vincent squeezed onto the front of the sidecar.
As the motorcycle accelerated over the waves, Hagrid suddenly reached down into the water.
A battered birthday cake emerged in his enormous hand.
It had been smashed nearly flat.
Seawater dripped from the icing.
Hagrid looked embarrassed.
“Sorry, Harry.”
“Happy birthday.”
“Things got a bit…”
“…unexpected tonight.”
He placed the ruined cake behind him before pulling a thick envelope from his coat.
He handed it to Harry.
“Here.”
“Your Hogwarts letter.”
“I’m supposed to tell you…”
“…you’re a wizard.”
Harry eagerly opened the envelope.
He read the letter once.
Then again.
Finally…
He looked toward Vincent.
Behind his round glasses, his green eyes shone with admiration.
“Mr. Vincent…”
“Are you really only eleven too?”
“I saw everything from inside the hut.”
“You’re amazing.”
He hesitated.
“Does growing up in the wizarding world make people as strong as you?”
Vincent smiled awkwardly.
That…
Was an even harder question.
After thinking for a moment, he simply laughed.
“Not exactly.”
“But if you work hard…”
“…you’ll become an excellent wizard.”