Chapter 241: Ministry Rumors! Sirius Black Appears!
As the sky gradually darkened and night draped itself across the heavens, the train let out a thunderous roar. Clack-clack, clack-clack, gradually coming to a halt.
Arriving at Hogwarts.
Ethan and Luna had already changed into their school robes ahead of time. The black cloak wrapped warmly around their bodies, the Ravenclaw blue eagle emblem stitched on their left chest, fluttering majestically. Their luggage, under the guidance of magic, wobbled down from the racks above, landing in their hands.
Not bothering with Michael, who was hurriedly changing into his robes, Ethan gave a sharp "whoosh" as he pulled open the compartment door.
In an instant, as if pressing pause, the crowded, noisy corridor suddenly went silent. Face after face twisted to look at Ethan, as if an octopus had suddenly appeared in the compartment.
"Ethan! Wait for me—"
Michael had just poked his head out when he was frightened by this eerie atmosphere, his neck rigidly retracting.
The next second, a series of chaotic sounds erupted. The originally packed crowd split open like the parting of the Red Sea. Every face bore palpable expressions of fright. They seemed to wish they could compress their bodies into paper-thin sheets, directly clearing out a grand boulevard for Ethan.
Ethan raised an eyebrow, nodding in satisfaction. "Not bad. Saves me from using left-right separation."
He glanced at the trembling Hufflepuffs nearby, then slowly revealed a kind, benevolent smile.
Hufflepuff Students: !!!
The poor things' eyes rolled back as they nearly fainted.
Mama, didn't you say Hogwarts is the safest place? (QAQ) Between fugitives and accomplices, are they harboring Dark creatures here or something?!
The innocent, pure-hearted Hufflepuffs felt genuinely deceived.
The students' gazes followed Ethan as he passed, tense and uneasy. Surely Ethan and evil attract each other.
Reaching the doorway, Michael finally couldn't help himself. He twisted his head and bellowed at the others, "The Prophet fooled you idiots with just a few words! Think about how just and righteous Ethan is! Consider all the—all the—"
Michael got stuck. In his mind, phantom images of faces twisted in agony flashed past, along with Hogwarts being blown up twice.
"Come on, keep going. Why did you stop?"
Ethan's warm, harmless words sounded from behind, brushing against Michael's ear. A chilling aura washed over him, goosebumps erupting across his neck.
Damn it, there's something dirty there.
Sweat beads rolled down Michael's forehead. He swallowed hard, forcing out the words through his clenched throat. "Either way! Ethan did many righteous and glorious things! You all figure it out for yourselves!"
Everyone fell silent.
The only brightness they could recall was that all-encompassing radiance from the second year.
In the silence that followed, a voice suddenly rang out from outside. "I believe in Ethan."
It was Penelope, the Ravenclaw class president, who had exited the train early. Her gaze fixed firmly on Ethan. Her words exuded composure and stability.
"Although Ethan's thought process is admittedly unconventional, I believe Ethan would absolutely never collude with evil forces. Ethan is just a third-year student. How could he possibly be involved with a fugitive like Sirius Black, who's killed countless people? The Prophet just likes to spout nonsense."
Ethan: "Maybe, though?"
Penelope: "..."
Penelope's smile stiffened. "You really do like to joke, Ethan."
Ethan's eyes curved meaningfully, as if his head was full of mischievous schemes. Under his senior's gradually terrified gaze, Ethan suddenly broke into a brilliant smile. He lifted that innocent little face and said, "Thank you for trusting me, Senior Penelope."
"N-no problem, that's what I should do."
Penelope's face flushed slightly. That doubt from moments before also vanished completely. That's right. A child with such good judgment as Ethan wouldn't suddenly announce that he and Sirius Black are good brothers.
Ethan: "Speaking of which, next year when I'm a fourth-year, I should become a prefect. When that time comes, I'll need your guidance, Senior."
Prefect—Penelope: "Huh?"
Ethan turned his head. "Hagrid's calling us. I'll head over first."
Saying this, he grabbed Luna's hand and bounded toward the constantly shouting Hagrid, leaving Penelope alone and desolate in the cold wind.
Maybe I should apply for an off-campus internship next year.
Boarding the self-driving carriages, they traveled along the evening path upward, arriving at Hogwarts, that majestic castle standing bathed in moonlight. The dim walls glowed with a warm, orange-yellow light from the windows.
However, inside the Great Hall, the atmosphere was extraordinarily heavy.
Dumbledore stood behind the brass eagle lectern. Behind his moon-shaped spectacles, his gaze swept sternly across the faces of anxious, fearful students, and then across the Aurors stationed around the hall, watching hungrily. He opened his mouth in a grave tone.
"Since the beginning of this term, there have been some unpleasant rumors spreading. What I must say is: believe what you think should be believed. Make your own judgments, rather than being swayed by external voices."
Hearing this, Ethan nodded in agreement. In the original story, the Chamber of Secrets in the second year, the Goblet of Fire in the fourth year, and the final battle, poor Chosen One Harry Potter was constantly doubted. As if whatever others said, whatever the Prophet said, he'd believe without hesitation.
Ethan muttered, light blazing in his eyes. "That simply won't do. Besides raw strength, I also need to train their willpower. Otherwise, how will they stand firm amidst future rumors and gossip, maintaining their sense of self? Will they believe anything—even if someone calls them 'World-Destroying Demon King'?!"
Beside him, Michael clasped his hands together, whispering, "Believe in Ethan, obtain eternal life. Amen."
After hearing the Headmaster's words, the students exchanged bewildered glances. In unison, they directed their gazes to that distinguished figure at the Ravenclaw table.
At the Slytherin table, Miss Gemma Farley snorted disdainfully, carelessly raising her goblet for a sip, her red lips stained with a splash of water.
Elsewhere, some students huddled near Malfoy, probing, "Draco, what do you think?"
"Hmm, let me think," Malfoy pondered. "I heard from my father that Minister Fudge is actually quite annoyed by this article. But once it's been published, it's published. Just a publicity stunt at this point."
After all, if something goes wrong, Fudge can simply wash his hands of it and stay above it all. Sirius is, after all, a criminal convicted by the Ministry—no question about that.
Malfoy sighed wistfully, gazing toward Ethan, murmuring, "To truly shake the Ministry's foundation this time is very difficult."
At the Gryffindor table, Hermione was defending Ethan fiercely. But Harry, unusually, had fallen silent.
Ron: "What's wrong, mate? Don't think about Sirius! With Headmaster Dumbledore here, you'll be fine!"
Harry shook his head. Throughout the entire Christmas holiday, his mind kept replaying that name he'd seen on the Marauder's Map. Simultaneously, he recalled the words both Ethan and Dumbledore had just spoken: believe what you think should be believed.
Could there really be a reversal in Sirius's situation?
The young Chosen One fell into confusion.
As time passed, the only thing Harry envied was Ethan's "no-care" attitude. Even being avoided like a plague in the corridors, he didn't seem to mind at all.
Ron: "Come on, everyone was like that before! Who in Hogwarts would dare block Ethan's path?"
Hermione: "Sigh, I don't know what Ethan's been busy with lately. He disappears after class. This was literally a physical disappearance. The moment the bell rang for dismissal and the professor spoke their final word, a portal would open, and he'd be gone. And Professor Lupin and Professor Snape also seem to be running around because of Ethan. I haven't even had a chance to ask them questions!"
Even as she said this, Hermione was actually thinking: If only Ethan would let me handle the matters he's working on.
Ron: "Speaking of which, during the holiday, the Weasley twins dug up a bag of seeds from who-knows-where, insisting they were left by ancestors! They were absolutely thrilled to find Neville and grow them together."
Seamus, their dormmate, also huddled over enthusiastically. "Hey! Have you guys noticed the castle rumbling at night recently? It sounds like it's coming from underground. Some people say it's the ghost of Salazar Slytherin causing trouble!"
Listening to his friends chat, accompanied by the usual, ordinary day-to-day, Harry felt himself gradually returning to a peaceful routine. Ethan must be completely unrelated to this. I should believe in Ethan. As for Sirius, once I find him, we'll duel it out!
However, accidents always happen so suddenly.
Just in Care of Magical Creatures, the fugitive Sirius Black appeared.