Even though Glenn had repeatedly hinted to Hermione that observing Ginny Weasley didn't have to be such a serious task—that she could just keep an eye on her casually—he himself couldn't treat this potentially dangerous instability as a mere prank.
Better safe than sorry. Only by uncovering and exposing the hidden threats lurking in the shadows could Glenn rid himself of the unease gnawing at his heart.
Glenn was a child who lacked a sense of security.
After silently observing his surroundings for a while and seeing no sign of Ginny Weasley, Glenn decided it was time to take action.
Noticing Hermione chatting happily with her friends, her face lighting up with occasional smiles as they shared their girlish secrets, Glenn decided not to disturb her. He extended his left hand from his sleeve, leaving a message composed of magical energy on the table. Casting a Disillusionment Charm, a Silencing Charm, and confirming their effects, he added a Disillusionment Cloak over himself before leaving his seat.
With the cloak draped over his shoulders, hood pulled up, and mask in place, Glenn moved against the flow of students, walking slowly through the crowd without brushing against a single robe. He exited the Great Hall.
Without hesitation, Glenn quickened his pace, heading toward the lower levels of the castle.
The Gryffindor dormitory was on the eighth floor, meaning the Gryffindor students were most likely coming down from above. The lower levels, by contrast, were places they were less likely to appear at this time. Precisely because of this, Glenn chose to start his search there.
It wasn't just a matter of probability. The lower levels had fewer floors compared to the upper ones, and if someone truly wanted to do something nefarious, they'd likely gravitate toward darker, quieter places. The cold, damp, and dimly lit lower levels fit that description perfectly.
Glenn lifted the Silencing Charm and activated his heightened perception, expanding its range. He wasn't looking for detailed information, only for any unusual activity—this approach would save time.
The rhythmic tapping of his cane echoed crisply through the silent, shadowy corridor. The candles along the walls flickered faintly, their wicks crackling softly as their tiny flames swayed. Glenn's thin figure stretched out in the candlelight, his shadow shifting and swaying with each step.
Walking to the end of the corridor, Glenn carefully analyzed the feedback from his heightened perception.
He picked up a chaotic cluster of signals.
It was coming from one of the underground classrooms.
Without hesitation, Glenn began dissecting the information in his mind, following the direction of the signals.
Turning a corner, the atmosphere of the corridor abruptly shifted. The warm orange glow of the white candles on the walls was replaced by small, dark candles. Their flames weren't the comforting orange of warmth but an eerie, flickering blue. The surroundings instantly felt colder and more sinister.
Glenn could feel it clearly: with every step he took, the temperature around him dropped slightly. He knew it wasn't just his imagination—the air was indeed growing colder.
The sounds from the underground classroom grew clearer. The noise was grating, like a group of feral cats scratching at a giant chalkboard, accompanied by the chaotic chatter of various voices. Even Glenn couldn't help but frown at the cacophony.
The distance was close enough. Glenn decided there was no need to approach further—he could already analyze the situation within the underground classroom.
What kind of scene was it?
Nearly all the ghosts at Hogwarts had gathered in this one spot, along with many unfamiliar specters Glenn had never seen before.
He confirmed his suspicion: this was essentially an underworld gathering.
Above the stage, thirty musical instruments floated, playing eerie sounds and trembling as if alive. Below, the ghosts danced elegantly to the waltz, while the surrounding tables were laden with "delicacies"—if one could call rotting food a delicacy. Many ghosts were enjoying the blackened and greenish items with apparent relish.
It was pure chaos.
Glenn also noticed two young boys huddled in a corner, trembling as they stared in terror at the scene before them.
It was Harry and that Weasley boy.
Glenn decided not to linger. Ginny Weasley wasn't here, and staying any longer would be pointless—pure self-torment.
Even as the maddening sounds assaulted his senses, Glenn kept his heightened perception active. Retracing his steps at a faster pace, he left the underworld-like area and returned to the living world, reaching the staircase.
Without hesitation, Glenn ascended the stairs. A flash of black light appeared in his hand, and with a subtle flick of his wrist, he placed a small, translucent, circular device on the wall between the basement and the first floor.
Just in case. To account for any potential oversights, Glenn cautiously installed a warning device at the stairwell leading to the first floor. If any living being passed through, the device would transmit the information to Glenn, allowing him to respond accordingly.
The task ahead was vast: he needed to sweep through the corridors from the first to the eighth floor. Glenn quickened his pace, expanding his heightened perception range once more.
The first-floor corridor… nothing unusual. The sounds from the Great Hall outside the corridor were lively and boisterous. It seemed this year's Halloween feast would be another lively and successful event. Hopefully, the little girl could enjoy herself.
At the staircase, Glenn installed another warning device before quickly ascending to the second floor to continue his search.
Reaching the end of the corridor, Glenn still found nothing. Yet he remained patient, his heart untroubled by frustration.
Then, suddenly and silently, an anomaly arose.
As Glenn was about to head to the third floor, he sensed a distinctly strange movement coming from below, rapidly heading toward a specific point on the second floor.
He immediately locked onto the bizarre signal, narrowing his heightened perception to pinpoint its source.
…It was heading toward a passageway on the second floor…
Glenn began sprinting, casting enhancement spells on himself as he ran. Due to obstacles and a lack of information, he couldn't yet construct an exact image of the source.
Erring on the side of caution, Glenn decided not to approach recklessly. A flash of black light appeared in his left hand as he retrieved a modified Beretta M92F pistol from his black ring. He disengaged the safety and chambered a round.
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