Inside the Slytherin common room, every pair of eyes was fixed on Sean.
The atmosphere was suffocatingly tense.
No one spoke. No one moved. All the younger snakes simply waited for Sean to give an order. The instant he did, they would drag the culprit back no matter where he was hiding.
Sean leaned lazily against the sofa with one leg crossed over the other, though the calmness in his expression only made everyone more nervous.
After several seconds of silence, he finally spoke.
"Marcus."
"Yes, Prefect?"
"What was the name of our previous Seeker?"
Sean already knew the answer.
Ever since arriving in this world, he'd never deliberately made enemies. Most students admired him, even outside Slytherin House. The Weasley twins treated him well enough.
Well… everyone except Ron.
But Ron lacked both the brains and courage to do something like this.
Which meant there was only one likely suspect left.
Marcus Flint answered immediately.
"Terence Higgs, Prefect."
Sean slowly raised a finger.
"That's right."
A cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Bring Mr. Higgs to me."
The moment the order left his lips, the entire common room exploded into motion.
Pairs of Slytherin students immediately organized themselves without hesitation and rushed out of the common room one after another. Within moments, the underground lounge was nearly empty.
That night, Hogwarts Castle suddenly became strangely cold.
Groups of Slytherin students moved through the corridors like trained Aurors, wands drawn as they searched classroom after classroom.
Even the Gryffindors, who usually laughed and joked at every opportunity, sensed something was wrong.
The atmosphere was dangerous.
George Weasley poked his head around a corridor corner and lowered his voice.
"What happened to them?"
Fred glanced toward a group of passing Slytherins and immediately shook his head.
"No idea. But if I were you, I definitely wouldn't provoke them tonight."
George swallowed.
"They look like they want to murder someone."
Fred nodded seriously.
"You're absolutely right. Let's leave."
Not long afterward, a shout suddenly echoed through the castle.
"I found him! First-floor bathroom!"
In an instant, students from every corridor rushed toward the first floor.
Dozens of Slytherins surrounded the bathroom entrance within seconds.
Higgs stood frozen in the middle of the room, his face pale as paper.
The eyes staring at him were terrifyingly cold.
Even some of his former friends looked at him with disgust and hatred.
Marcus stepped forward first.
"Hand over your wand, Higgs."
His voice was icy.
"You know exactly what kind of stupid thing you've done."
Without waiting for a response, Marcus forcefully snatched the wand from Higgs' hand.
Higgs kept his head lowered and said nothing.
Under the escort of nearly a hundred Slytherin students, he was marched back through the corridors like a criminal awaiting judgment.
Far above the castle, two figures quietly observed everything from the rooftop.
Professor McGonagall frowned deeply.
"Professor Dumbledore," she said anxiously, "are we really going to allow Sean to handle this himself? He's still just a child."
Dumbledore calmly watched the procession below.
"This is one of the tests, Minerva."
"A test?"
"The real test," Dumbledore said softly, "is only just beginning."
The old wizard's eyes narrowed slightly behind his half-moon glasses.
"There's a possibility Mr. Sebastian may not return to Hogwarts next year."
Back in the Slytherin common room, the students immediately dragged Higgs forward the moment Sean appeared.
"Prefect, we caught him!"
Charlie stepped forward with a dark expression.
"Higgs," he said coldly, "I hope your family's textile business is prepared for what comes next."
Higgs' shoulders trembled slightly, but he still refused to raise his head.
"Alright, everyone," Sean said calmly. "You've worked hard."
Then he looked toward Higgs.
"Mr. Higgs, come with me."
Sean led him directly into the training room.
The moment the door closed behind them, silence filled the space.
Sean casually summoned a table and chair before sitting down first.
"Please," he said politely, "have a seat."
Higgs sat stiffly across from him without speaking.
Sean rested his chin against his hand.
"Do you understand what you've done?"
Higgs nodded slowly.
"I… cursed you, sir."
"Do you know what that curse actually does?"
Sean's voice remained surprisingly gentle.
Higgs' lips trembled.
"N-no… My friend only told me it would give you nightmares."
Hearing that, Sean narrowed his eyes slightly.
He already knew the curse was far more dangerous than simple nightmares. Otherwise, Dumbledore would never have personally sent Fawkes to intervene earlier.
But magic was deeply connected to intent.
Higgs himself clearly hadn't intended to kill Sean. That was probably why the curse manifested imperfectly instead of reaching its full power.
Still, it had come dangerously close.
"Who taught it to you?" Sean asked quietly. "And what was the incantation?"
Higgs immediately shook his head violently.
"I can't say."
"Can't?"
"I swore an oath." His voice cracked slightly. "I can't reveal who taught me."
Sean's expression didn't change.
"And the spell itself?"
Higgs swallowed hard.
"I… I didn't fully follow the instructions."
Sean stared at him silently.
"He told me nine lives had to be sacrificed," Higgs whispered. "But I… I didn't kill anything."
The room fell quiet again.
After several moments, Sean slowly exhaled.
"Alright, Higgs."
His tone became colder.
"Do you know what punishment you're facing?"
Higgs lowered his head even further.
"They told me on the way here."
His voice sounded hopeless.
"I'm going to Azkaban."
"As the saying goes," Sean replied calmly, "ignorance doesn't erase guilt. Not understanding the consequences of your actions is still a crime."
Higgs' body trembled violently.
"You'll pay for what you've done," Sean continued, "but not in Azkaban."
After saying that, Sean stood up and led Higgs back into the common room.
The instant they returned, every student looked toward them.
Hermione Granger immediately pushed through the crowd and walked up to Sean with a pale expression.
"Sean," she said quickly, "I found information about that curse."
Her face looked unusually ugly.
"It's an ancient curse. One that disappeared a very long time ago."
Sean frowned slightly.
"What does it do?"
Hermione hesitated for a moment before answering.
"It kills entire families."
The common room instantly fell silent.
Hermione continued in a low voice.
"The cursed target's body slowly rots away. They die in their sleep first… and after that, every blood relative dies one after another."
The moment those words landed, Higgs' entire body shook violently.
He suddenly lifted his head, his eyes bloodshot with panic.
"Prefect!" he shouted desperately. "I didn't know! I really didn't know!"
His voice nearly broke from fear.
"I only wanted to prank you! I swear it! I never wanted to kill you!"
Malfoy looked utterly disgusted.
"I'm ashamed to know you, Higgs."
He stepped forward with cold fury in his eyes.
"You can save those excuses for the Wizengamot."
Higgs looked around desperately.
But every face surrounding him was filled with revulsion.
Disgust.
Hatred.
At that moment, he completely understood how hopeless his situation was.
Half the parents of the students standing in this room were influential members of wizarding society. Several of them even sat on the Wizengamot itself.
Higgs knew perfectly well that tonight might be the last free night of his life.
As for escaping?
That was impossible.
.....
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