Chapter 35: The Office
Su Yu stayed in the stands until almost noon before Cassandra finally brought the Slytherin Quidditch team to rest.
The morning training was intense; Cassandra had made the team fly who knows how many laps around the pitch and practiced various tactical formations. Even Malfoy was panting, his brand-new green jersey soaked with sweat.
However, a smug smile still hung on Malfoy's face—after all, that moment he hit Wood with his broomstick was enough for him to brag about in the Slytherin Common Room for a week.
Seeing that the time was right, Su Yu sat up from Daphne's lap, stretched, and turned to ask Cassandra if they shouldn't have lunch first. It wouldn't be too late to train after eating.
Kurama chimed in from the side; she had only eaten a dry sandwich in the morning and was already starving...
Cassandra thought for a moment and nodded. The group packed up their brooms and walked towards the Castle, chatting and laughing. Kurama perched on Su Yu's shoulder, her tail dangling in front of his chest, swaying back and forth, while she muttered about what to eat for lunch.
Just as they reached the entrance of the Great Hall, they saw Harry and Ron being stopped by Professor McGonagall, who was assigning them their detention tasks.
When Professor McGonagall saw Su Yu, she told him to come over as well. After all, Su Yu had almost crushed Professor Lockhart's dog-head last time, so he had to serve detention too.
Su Yu walked over dejectedly and told the others to go eat first. Farley glanced at him, said nothing, and pulled Cassandra and Daphne into the Great Hall. Kuramajumped off his shoulder and followed Farley—Su Yugetting detained was fine, but cheesecake couldn't be delayed.
The others weren't worried. Su Yu was the type who went wherever he pleased; worrying about him was less productive than worrying about what to have for lunch. As Blaise left, he smiled at Su Yu, the meaning of the smile being, "Chief, you're on your own."
Professor McGonagall continued from where she had left off with Harry and Ron, "As for you, Su Yu, you will go with Potter to help Professor Lockhart answer his fan mail."
"Ah, no way, can't I go to the Trophy Room and polish trophies?" Harry said desperately.
"Ah, no way, are you really not afraid I'll kill him?" Su Yusaid speechlessly.
"Of course not," Professor McGonagall raised an eyebrow, "Harry, Professor Lockhart specifically asked for you. And Su Yu, Headmaster Dumbledore specifically requested you. The three of you, remember: eight o'clock sharp!"
Su Yu nodded helplessly. Harry and Ron walked into the Great Hall with sorrowful expressions, their steps heavy as if they were heading to the execution ground.
Su Yu, Harry, and Ron all felt their own punishment was the most painful. Harry had to face Lockhart's showing off, Ron had to help Filch polish the Trophy Room, and Su Yuhad to resist the urge to stomp Lockhart's head into the floor. Each of the three had their own misery; none was better off than the others.
Saturday afternoon passed in the blink of an eye.
Su Yu and Blaise went to spy on Theodore dating until past six o'clock before returning, both wearing wicked smiles.
When Theodore returned, he saw Blaise imitating his tone to tease Malfoy. The tone was identical, which infuriated both Malfoy and Theodore. They joined forces and beat Blaise up, but when they saw a first-year Slytherin girl come up to fuss over Blaise, asking if he was hurt, they felt like they had eaten something foul—a total defeat...
Su Yu held Daphne and laughed for a long time.
Five minutes before eight, Harry dragged his heavy footsteps to the corridor of Lockhart's office, with Su Yufollowing behind him.
He watched Harry grit his teeth and raise his hand to knock on the door. Harry's knuckles tapped on the door three times, not very loudly.
The door opened instantly.
Lockhart was inside, smiling at Harry.
"Ah, the little lazybones, you've finally arrived!" he said, "Come on, Harry, come in!"
Countless photos of Lockhart on the table shone dazzlingly in the candlelight. He had even autographed several of them, the handwriting flamboyant, taking up more than half of the photo.
"You can help me address the envelopes!" Lockhart said to Harry, as if this were a great favor to him.
"And what about me? Professor Lockhart?" Su Yu's cold, sinister voice came from behind Harry.
Lockhart was like a rooster being choked by the throat, suddenly stuck and unable to say a word. His smile froze on his face, his eyes widened, and his complexion turned from rosy to pale. He sprang up from his chair instantly, the chair toppled backward and hit the bookshelf, causing a few books to fall. He pointed his wand at Su Yu, his hand trembling, and the tip of the wand was shaking too.
"Don't come any closer!!" Lockhart's voice was high-pitched and thin.
Su Yu looked at Lockhart speechlessly, frowning slightly. "Headmaster Dumbledore sent me here to serve my punishment, Professor Lockhart. What are you doing? Also, what exactly am I supposed to do here? Give me a hint..."
Lockhart's brain had stopped functioning by now. He opened his mouth but couldn't say a word, only making vague "Aba-aba" sounds, his eyes staring straight at Su Yu, his pupils contracted to pinpoints.
Su Yu had no choice but to walk over, grab Lockhart by the throat, and slap him. "What are you babbling about? Did you forget your voice box when you went out?"
Lockhart's head tilted to the side from the blow, and he swayed. He blinked, blinked again, and slowly came back to his senses. He touched his slapped cheek, looked at Su Yu, and then—
"Mr. Sean Foley," Lockhart's voice suddenly became soft and smooth, as if he were a different person, "What a tremendous honor—to have you grace my humble abode, I am truly flattered. I have waited for this day for too long. To be able to host someone of your status and prestige... it's simply unbelievable. Please come in, please don't be reserved. This house, from the moment you stepped into it, can finally be called decent."
His tone was as respectful as if he were speaking to a king; his waist bent at forty-five degrees, his hand gestured into the office, his posture so humble it didn't look like a Professor at all.
Su Yu was angered into laughter. Had this Lockhart been beaten into a system crash? This sounded like authentic London talk. He narrowed his eyes at Lockhart, then also spoke in a pretentious, affected tone.
"Oh, Merlin's beard, look at you, Professor Lockhart, you don't need to go to such lengths to curry favor with me. I know very well how desperate you are to get even a moment of my attention. As for this little room of yours... it has a bit of rustic charm, though the style is really not up to par. If someone prefers to mistake noise for nobility, it could be considered unique. Don't bother putting on an act to impress me; it's a complete waste of effort. Now! Tell me immediately what to do!! I have more decent places to go to, and I have no time to waste another moment in a room full of ambition and mediocrity!"
Harry stood to the side, his mouth slightly agape, his eyes moving back and forth between Su Yu and Lockhart. He felt like the two of them were performing a stage play. He didn't quite understand, but he was greatly shocked—was this the way nobles talked to each other? This gave him great inspiration, though if it could always be like this, he wouldn't have to face Lockhart's torture.
Then, Su Yu's punishment was changed. It was changed to drinking tea in Professor Lockhart's room. Lockhartbrewed the tea himself, using a silver tea set, with his own signature printed on the teacups. His hand was still trembling slightly as he poured the tea, but a smile remained on his face.
As for Harry, he was still helping Lockhart write letters.
Harry looked at Su Yu with grief and indignation. Why does he get to sit with his legs crossed, leisurely drinking tea, while I have to listen to Lockhart's incessant showing off in my ear?
Kurama appeared out of nowhere again, crouching beside him, licking the tea in the cup in small sips. Lockhart even specifically brought her a plate of small cookies.
"The first letter is to Gladys Gudgeon—God bless her—she is my loyal fan." Lockhart handed a letter to Harry, covered in dense writing, the handwriting so flamboyant it was almost unrecognizable.
Time crawled by minute by minute. Lockhart talked non-stop, and sometimes took the time to smile at Su Yu, afraid of disturbing him.
Harry could only answer with constant "Mm, yes" and "Okay," and from time to time, he heard phrases like "Don't take fame too seriously, Harry" or "A celebrity must have the demeanor of a celebrity, remember that."
The candles burned lower and lower. In the flickering candlelight, it seemed as if countless Lockhart faces were also swaying, staring at Harry. When he got to the envelope for "Veronica Smethley," Harry's hand was so sore it felt like he had already written the thousandth envelope. It should be about time to go, Harry thought to himself, let time pass faster...
By this time, Su Yu had fallen asleep on the sofa. His head tilted to one side, his mouth slightly open, his breathing light and even. Kurama was also lying beside him, her tail curled into a ball, with her face buried inside. Lockharteven thoughtfully brought a blanket and covered Su Yuwith it. Harry watched this and called him a bootlicker in his heart.
Just then, Harry heard a sound.
This sound was far away, yet felt very close... It seemed to come from the walls, someone was speaking, the voice cold and malicious, making one's hair stand on end and heart skip a beat.
"Come... come to me... let me rip you... let me tear you... let me kill you..."
Harry jumped up. The words "Veronica Smethley" were smeared with ink, and the quill slipped from his hand, falling to the floor.
"What?" he yelled.
"I know!" Lockhart said, completely oblivious to Harry's abnormality, "The number one best-selling book for six consecutive months! Broke the record!" He slapped the table excitedly, then remembered Su Yu was sleeping, and hurriedly lowered his voice, "Also, keep it down, don't disturb the noble student Sean Foley!"
"No," Harry said frantically, "That voice!"
"What?" Lockhart said, confused, "What voice?" He looked left and right, listened, but heard nothing.
"That—someone was speaking—didn't you hear it?"
Lockhart looked at Harry in surprise, "What on earth are you talking about, Harry? Are you a bit tired? Goodness—look at what time it is!" He looked at the clock on the wall and called out exaggeratedly, "We've been working for almost four hours! I can't believe it—time flies, doesn't it?"
Su Yu was also woken up by Harry at this time. He rubbed his eyes and sat up from the sofa, the blanket sliding off him. Kurama also woke up and yawned.
"Is it over?" Su Yu's voice was still hoarse from sleep.
Harry didn't answer. He held his breath, trying to hear what that voice was saying again. But apart from Lockhartchattering away, apologizing to Su Yu—for disturbing his sweet dream, and talking about how he had taken care of him—he couldn't hear anything else.
When Su Yu left with Harry, Harry still felt a bit dizzy.
Su Yu glanced at him. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Harry said, but his face was still pale.
When Su Yu returned to the dormitory, Farley was still waiting for him on the sofa. She was leaning on the armrest, flipping through a magazine. Today she was dressed in a Hepburn-style outfit.
Su Yu lunged at her.
Farley looked at him with disgust and told him to hurry up and wash, pushing his face away with her hand to keep him from getting close. "You smell all like tea, and Lockhart's perfume, it's disgusting."
Su Yu didn't mind, forcibly kissed her, and then trotted off to take a shower. The hot water sprayed from the showerhead onto his face, feeling indescribably comfortable.
After Su Yu came out, wiping his hair, he picked up Farleyagain and began tonight's great battle. Kurama had long since sensibly returned to Su Yu's body.
Chapter 36: Halloween
October at Hogwarts was already bitterly cold.
Cold winds swept through the withered leaves and past the stone walls, the Black Lake was covered in a thin layer of frost, the Forbidden Forest was desolate, and the Castlewas biting cold; frost condensed on the windows of the corridors, and even the roaring fireplaces couldn't keep the chill at bay.
Students wrapped their cloaks and thick scarves tightly around themselves, their breath visible as white mist.
The wind on the Quidditch Pitch cut like a knife, the hot drinks in the Great Hall cooled down in an instant, and the entire Castle was immersed in the crisp, biting autumn cold.
Madam Pomfrey suddenly found that there were more and more people catching colds, keeping her too busy to step away.
Consequently, she specially concocted a pepper potion; although drinking it caused smoke to pour from one's ears for several hours, it was extremely effective and worked like a charm.
Ginny Weasley had always been thin and frail, so her brother Percy forced her to drink some of the potion.
For the next few hours, smoke kept billowing from beneath her bright red hair, and those unaware of the reason thought her entire head was on fire.
When Su Yu encountered her in the corridor, she was walking quickly with her head down, the white smoke spraying from her ears trailing behind her like a thin tail; seeing Su Yu, she blushed and ran even faster.
For several days in a row, raindrops hit the Castle windows day and night like bullets.
The lake water rose, washing away much of the soil from the flowerbeds, and the entire path became muddy.
Hagrid's pumpkins, nourished by the rain, grew wildly, all of them reaching the size of small garden sheds.
Hermione Granger was sitting at the Slytherin table, recounting her recent adventures with her two 'good sons' to Su Yu.
She now came to the Slytherin table as naturally as if she were sitting at her own house table; naturally, none of the Slytherins said anything, and those little lions from Gryffindor certainly wouldn't look for trouble.
Kurama was lying beside her with a piece of cheesecake in front of her, eating it in small bites and occasionally looking up at her.
Hermione said that one night, because Harry had been training for Quidditch in the rain, he had returned soaked and covered in mud.
Then he had run into Nearly Headless Nick, and because they had talked for too long, he was discovered by Filch.
Filch immediately rushed out, berating Harry for dirtying the corridor, and dragged him into his dim office to fill out a punishment slip.
Just as he was about to put pen to paper, a loud noise suddenly came from the corridor—it was Peeves causing trouble.
Filch rushed out in a rage to catch him, and Harry took the opportunity to discover the 'Kwikspell' course letter on the desk, confirming the secret that Filch was a Squib.
When Hermione got to this part, she mentioned that she only found out what the word 'Squib' meant after checking references later.
After Filch returned, he found that the position of the letter had changed and nervously questioned Harry if he had peeked.
Harry denied it, and Filch, fearing his secret would be exposed, hurriedly let him go.
After leaving, Nearly Headless Nick confessed that he had instigated Peeves to create chaos to save Harry, and while Peeves was causing the chaos, he had also smashed one of Hogwarts' cabinets.
Su Yu seemed to understand something upon hearing this.
So that was how the cabinet in the movie that Malfoyspent the whole installment repairing was smashed; poor Malfoy, the Vanishing Cabinets existed in pairs and could enable cross-spatial transport.
Subsequently, Nearly Headless Nick also formally extended an invitation to Harry for his five-hundredth Deathday Party.
This was a grand celebration for the ghosts, and Nearly Headless Nick hoped to have human friends witness his important moment.
Harry readily agreed, and to show his support for his friend, he promised to bring Ron and Hermione along to attend this special banquet.
Hermione also said that after Ron heard the news, he was full of reluctance, complaining: "Who would want to spend Halloween with a bunch of ghosts?"
He would rather go to the lively Halloween feast in the Great Hall; he couldn't muster any interest in the gloomy Deathday Party and was full of resistance.
However, Hermione herself felt a very strong interest, thinking that being able to attend the ghosts' Deathday Party was very special and was very much looking forward to it; as she spoke, her eyes lit up, her whole person leaned forward, and her hand unconsciously grabbed Su Yu's sleeve.
"Su Yu, can you accompany me that night?" Hermione's voice had a "please" tone to it, and she looked at him, blinking her eyes.
Su Yu, helpless, had no choice but to agree to Hermione.
Then Su Yu also told Farley, Cassandra, and Daphne, asking them to return directly to the common room after eating, and he would come back to celebrate with them after attending the banquet.
The three girls didn't have any objections; as long as Su Yucould accompany them when the Slytherin Common Roomheld its Halloween party, that was fine.
Raindrops were still tapping against the windows, and it was pitch black outside, but inside it was both bright and cheerful.
Fireworks emitted beautiful colors as they drifted onto the chairs.
It was Fred and George wanting to see what would happen if they fed Dr. Filibuster's Fireworks to a Salamander.
The Gryffindor little lions were still as energetic as ever, with a large group of people crowding around to look at the Salamander that had already hidden under the table.
Who knew that the Salamander would suddenly fly into mid-air, spinning crazily around the room while spraying sparks and making huge noises.
Percy yelled at Fred and George, his face flushed red: "Make it stop immediately!"
The Salamander was seen flying towards Su Yu's side.
Kurama lifted her head buried in the cheesecake, caramel sauce still stained on the corners of her mouth, her amber eyes staring at the Salamander.
She thought the Salamander was coming to steal her food, so she immediately bared her teeth, and a low, threatening growl sounded from her throat.
Kurama's growl wasn't loud, but the Salamander was so startled that it shivered all over, its sparks spraying sideways.
It flew back crazily while spitting fire, dived headfirst into the fireplace, and refused to come out again.
——
With the arrival of Halloween, the Halloween feast in the Great Hall was filled with all kinds of delicacies.
Hagrid's giant pumpkins had been made into lanterns, with the largest ones big enough to fit three people inside.
It was rumored that Headmaster Dumbledore had also hired a troupe of dancing skeletons to perform.
At seven o'clock sharp, Su Yu, while being dragged along by Hermione, was thinking about what was so interesting about a troupe of dancing skeletons?
What kind of mentality led one to enjoy skeleton dancing?
The corridor leading to Nearly Headless Nick's party was also lined with candles like those in the Great Hall, but these were not as pleasant.
Thin, long black candles with bright blue flames cast dim, ghostly shadows on their faces.
With every step they took downwards, the temperature dropped a little.
Hermione shivered, wrapped her magic robe tightly around her body, and then shrank into Su Yu's arms; Kurama was accidentally squeezed out.
Kurama looked at Hermione with dissatisfaction, then let Hermione hold her so she could keep Hermione warm.
At this moment, they heard a sound like thousands of fingernails scratching against a huge blackboard.
"This couldn't be music, could it?" Ron whispered.
His face was white, and his lips were trembling, not knowing if it was from the cold or fear.
They turned a corner and saw Nearly Headless Nickstanding by the door draped with black and purple curtains.
"My dear friends," he said sorrowfully, "Welcome, welcome... so glad you could come..." He took off his feathered hat, bowed to them, and let them in.
The scene inside was even more unbelievable.
Hundreds of pale, transparent people were floating over the dance floor, waltzing to terrible, hair-raising music.
On the platform under the black curtain, a symphony orchestra was vigorously playing thirty chainsaws, and the chandelier overhead emitted a blue light.
Their breath turned into mist, as if they had walked into a freezer.
"Shall we walk around and see?" Harry suggested, wanting to exercise his frozen, numb feet.
"Be careful not to pass through anyone," Ron said nervously.
They walked along the edge of the stage and saw a group of sullen nuns, a ragged person in shackles, and the plump Fat Friar—a happy Hufflepuff ghost, who was talking to a knight with an arrow through his forehead.
Harry saw the blood-stained The Bloody Baron without surprise—a haggard Slytherin ghost.
However, what surprised the Harry trio was that every ghost greeted Su Yu politely.
The Bloody Baron floated over, blaming Su Yu for not having seen him for a long time, and asked why he hadn't gone to the Forbidden Forest to play recently.
The Fat Friar also came over to say hello, saying that the joke Su Yu told him last time from the East was very funny, and he had laughed for several days.
Even the knight with the arrow through his forehead nodded at Su Yu.
Ron whispered that Su Yu had such good relations with ghosts, as almost every ghost here knew him.
Hermione was still complaining to Su Yu in his arms about how Myrtle always scared people in the girls' bathroom on the first floor.
Every time she went to that bathroom, she had to knock on the door three times first to make sure there was no one inside—no living person—before she dared to go in.
Ron shouted excitedly from the side: "Food is here!"
AI Model: gemini-3.5-flash
Ron and Harry eagerly walked over, only to be frozen in horror by what they saw. A large, rotting fish was placed on a silver platter, a cake burned charcoal-black sat on a tray, a massive block of cheese covered in green mold and crawling with maggots, and a huge tombstone-shaped grey cake. Written on the cake in tar was: Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, died 31st October, 1492.
Harry watched in amazement as a portly ghost approached the table, bent down, and passed through the food, his mouth gaping wide as he swept through a stinking salmon.
"Can you taste anything when you walk through it?" Harryasked.
"Almost!" the ghost replied sadly, and then drifted away.
Ron looked like he was about to throw up. He covered his mouth, his face turning green, feeling his stomach churn.
Su Yu, still holding Hermione, was chatting continuously with several ghosts. He asked The Bloody Baron about Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets, but The Bloody Baron said he didn't know, as he hadn't cared much about the Castle's affairs since his death. Then, out of the corner of his eye, Su Yu spotted Myrtle, who was being teased by Peeves and was now looking to cause trouble for Harry and Ron.
Myrtle hovered over Harry and Ron's heads, her tears falling drop by drop onto their hair and shoulders. Peeveswas making faces nearby, making Myrtle cry even harder. Harry and Ron stood in the middle, shivering and stammering, not knowing whether to comfort Myrtle or drive Peeves away.
Su Yu couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the two boys. Hermione also poked her head out of Su Yu's arms. Seeing the miserable state of her two "sons," she slipped out of Su Yu's embrace and went to rescue them, carrying Kurama with her.
By the time the orchestra began to play again and people returned to the dance floor, the teeth of the three children were chattering. Hermione was a bit better off since she was still holding Kurama, but Ron was nearly frozen stiff, his lips purple, huddled into a ball like a frostbitten quail.
The three of them decided to leave, walking toward the door together while smiling at every spirit they passed. On their way out, Hermione dragged Su Yu along. Su Yu had been enjoying his conversation—The Bloody Baron was just about to tell him an interesting story about Slytherin—when Hermione's hand tugged at his sleeve.
Seeing Hermione shivering from the cold, Su Yu had no choice but to pick her up and leave with Harry and the others.
A minute later, they hurried back into the corridor lined with black candles.
"Maybe the pudding isn't finished yet," Ron said hopefully, heading toward the stone steps of the Great Hall.
Then, Harry heard that voice.
"...rip... tear... kill..."
It was the same voice—the cold, bone-chilling voice he had heard in Lockhart's office. He stumbled and stopped, leaning his hand against the stone wall, listening with absolute concentration, his eyes staring into the dimly lit corridor.
"Harry, what are you do—"
"It's that voice again—don't speak—"
"...so hungry... for so long..."
"Listen!" Harry said urgently. Ron froze on the spot, staring at Harry.
"...kill... time to kill..."
Su Yu aimed a massive Susanoo fist directly in the direction Harry was listening to.
The entire Hogwarts Castle shook. A huge hole was blasted into the wall, rubble and dust cascading down to reveal an empty room behind it. Inside, there was nothing but an overturned table and a few broken chairs.
Hermione's mind went blank for several seconds in his arms. Once she snapped out of it, she asked, "Why did you break the wall, Su Yu! Harry might just be hallucinating, you know? What do we do now? What do we do..." She scrambled out of Su Yu's arms in a panic, her mind racing to remember how to cast the Mending Charm, raising her wand only to lower it, then raising it again.
Harry was also startled; he hadn't expected Su Yu to attack directly. But the voice was still there, though growing fainter. Harry was sure of where it was going—upward.
Su Yu couldn't help it either. He didn't have the Byakugan. If he had the Byakugan, that snake wouldn't have survived past Chapter Two.
"This way," Harry shouted, running up the stairs. He dashed up the granite steps to the first floor, with Ron and Hermione following closely behind. Su Yu strolled after them; after all, he still hadn't found that diary, so Hermionewas still in some danger.
"Harry, what are we do—"
"Shh!" Harry pricked up his ears. Far away, on the floor above, and growing fainter, he still heard that voice: "...I smell blood... I smell blood!"
"It's going to kill someone!" Harry shouted, ignoring Ronand Hermione's bewildered expressions as he bolted up the stairs three steps at a time. Amidst the thudding of his footsteps, his ears were still carefully tracking the sound. Harry dashed up to the second floor, with Ron panting behind him, while Su Yu leaped over holding Hermione, landing in the final, empty corridor.
"Harry, what on earth is going on?" Ron wiped the sweat from his face with his hand. "I can't hear anything..."
Suddenly, Hermione, still in Su Yu's arms, pointed down the corridor and gasped.
"Look!"
Something was glowing on the wall ahead. Step by step, they walked slowly into the dimly lit corridor, their eyes wide.
On the wall between two windows, words the size of footmarks, smeared across the surface, shimmered in the flickering light of the torches.
"The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the heir, beware!"
"What's that—hanging underneath?" Ron said, his voice trembling.
They moved forward slowly. Suddenly, Harry's foot slipped, and he almost fell—there was a large puddle of water on the floor. Ron and Hermione caught him.
They approached the words, their eyes fixing on a dark shape hanging below. They recognized what it was instantly and jumped back in unison.
Mrs. Norris, Filch's cat. She was hanging by her tail from the torch bracket, her body stiff as a board, her eyes wide and glassy, completely motionless.
They froze for several seconds. Su Yu narrowed his eyes at the cat, suspecting everyone—who on earth had taken that diary? And brought it to Hogwarts? Without Ginny this time, who could it be?
Ron said, "Let's get out of here."
"Shouldn't we try and help—" Harry stammered.
"Trust me," Ron said. "We don't want to be found here."
But it was already too late. A rumble like distant thunder told them the feast had ended. From both ends of the corridor they were in, the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs echoed. Happy, well-fed people were talking loudly, their laughter and chatter mixing together and reverberating down the corridor. Moments later, students came flooding in from both sides.
The moment everyone saw the cat hanging upside down, all noise ceased. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Su Yu stood in the middle of the corridor as the crowd quietly pressed forward to read the terrifying words on the wall.
In the silence, someone shouted.
"Enemies of the heir, beware! You'll be next, Mudbloods!"
At this moment, Malfoy stepped out of the crowd. His usually pale face was flushed red as he said helplessly, "Chief, how many times have I told you? Don't kill in broad daylight... uh... kill cats... I mean, even if you did kill it, there are so many people watching. The impact is really bad, and it hurts your majestic image, you know?"
Theodore also stepped forward. Pushing up his glasses, he spoke slowly, "The Chief didn't kill this cat. I killed it just now when I came out. The Chief just happened to see it too." His expression was calm, and his voice was quiet.
A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
Blaise walked over, clutching his forehead in pain, and smacked both Theodore and Malfoy on the back of their heads. "Did you two eat so much that you left your brains in the Great Hall and came out with food instead? Forget about killing a cat—even if the Chief killed a person, would he bother writing and drawing on the wall? Wouldn't it be better to just have Kurama eat them to destroy the evidence?"
Kurama, who was in Hermione's arms, immediately blew her top upon hearing this.
She grumbled angrily in Hermione's arms, "Bullshit! I don't eat human meat, let alone cat meat! Stop blaming everything on me!"
Farley, Cassandra, and Daphne also walked over to Su Yuat this point, asking if he was alright. The four of them pulling at each other made the students from other houses twitch their mouths—if they had known this would happen, they wouldn't have eaten so much earlier; looking at this now made them want to throw up.
"What's going on here? What's going on?"
Unsurprisingly, the students' shouts attracted Filch's attention. He shouldered his way through the crowd. When he saw Mrs. Norris, he fell back, a look of sheer horror on his face.
"My cat! My cat! What's happened to Mrs. Norris?" he shrieked.
Then, his eyes bulging, he turned his gaze onto Harry.
"You!" he shrieked. "You! You've murdered my cat! You've killed her! I'll kill you! I'll—"
Chapter 37: Chamber of Secrets Mystery
"Argus!"
Headmaster Dumbledore arrived on the scene, followed by a group of Professors. He quickly unhooked Mrs. Norris.
"Come with me, Filch," he said to Argus Filch. "You too, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger. Mr. Sean Foley, what about you? Where do you want to go?"
"I'll just tag along," Su Yu said directly, then turned to look at the girls. "Alright, my lovely girls, take the Slytherinstudents back to the Slytherin Common Room and wait for me. I'll go take a look and be back in a while."
Farley glanced at him without a word, then pulled Cassandra and Daphne away. Daphne looked back at Su Yu as she left, and Su Yu nodded at her.
Lockhart stepped forward, appearing particularly eager. "My office is the closest, Headmaster—just upstairs—please feel free to use it—"
The silent crowd of students quickly parted to let them pass. Lockhart followed closely behind Dumbledore, walking with excitement and self-importance, while Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape followed hurriedly behind.
As they entered Lockhart's dark office, Harry saw the curly-haired Lockhart in the paintings scrambling to get out of the way. The real Lockhart lit the candles on the table and stepped aside.
Dumbledore placed Mrs. Norris on the polished tabletop and began to examine her. Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat heavily on the chairs by the candlestick, while Su Yucontinued to lounge in the chair he had been in that day. The trio watched Dumbledore, exchanging nervous glances from time to time.
Headmaster Dumbledore's long, crooked nose was only a foot away from Mrs. Norris's fur. He was observing her closely through his half-moon spectacles, his long fingers gently probing. Professor McGonagall was also leaning over, squinting to look closely. Professor Snape stood behind them, his body appearing somewhat obscured, with a strange expression on his face, as if he were trying hard not to laugh out loud. Lockhart hovered in the middle, offering his own opinions on the matter from time to time.
"It must have been a spell that killed her—perhaps a Transfiguration Torture Curse. I've seen it used many times. It's a pity I wasn't there, otherwise, I would know a counter-curse to save her—"
Lockhart's commentary was interrupted from time to time by Filch's monotonous and painful sobbing. Filch slumped in a chair beside the table, burying his face in his hands, not daring to look at Mrs. Norris. Despite disliking Filch, Harryfelt a little sorry for him. Of course, he was more worried for himself, because if Headmaster Dumbledore believed Filch's nonsense, he would surely be expelled from school.
Headmaster Dumbledore muttered some strange words to himself while tapping Mrs. Norris gently with his wand, but nothing happened. He continued to observe as if he were enchanted.
"...I remember something similar happening in Ouagadougou, Africa," Lockhart said. "It was also a series of attacks. I've written about the whole thing in my autobiography. I can provide some evidence to help you get to the bottom of the whole thing."
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Lockharthurriedly brewed a cup of hot tea for Su Yu, served it to him, and told him to drink it while it was hot. This sequence of actions almost stumped Headmaster Dumbledore—the old man glanced at Lockhart, then at Su Yu, his mouth twitching slightly, but he said nothing.
After a long while.
Finally, Headmaster Dumbledore straightened up.
"She is not dead, Argus," he said softly. Hearing this, Lockhart, who was counting how many murder cases he had prevented, suddenly stopped.
"Not dead?" Filch asked in surprise, peering at Mrs. Norristhrough his fingers. "But why is she completely stiff and cold?"
"She has been petrified," Dumbledore said. "But as for how she was turned into this state, I cannot say..."
"Ask him!" Filch shrieked, turning his dirty, tear-stained face toward Harry.
"A second-year student could not possibly do this," Headmaster Dumbledore said firmly. "This requires very advanced Dark magic—"
"It was him, it was definitely him!" Filch spat, his chubby face turning purple. "You saw what he wrote on the wall! He discovered—in my office—he knows I am a—is a—" Filch's face twisted with a terrible expression. "He knows I am a Squib!" he finally finished.
"I never touched Mrs. Norris!" Harry shouted in rebuttal, feeling very uncomfortable as he realized everyone was looking at him, including the Lockhart in the paintings. "And I don't even know what a Squib is."
Hermione explained to Harry what a Squib was—she had been too busy talking to Su Yu that day and had forgotten to tell Harry.
Then Filch and Harry argued, and Professor Snapeoccasionally chimed in to kick Harry while he was down, threatening that Harry was not telling the truth and that he shouldn't be allowed to stay on the Quidditch team, and that some of their privileges should be revoked.
Professor McGonagall kept defending Harry on the side. Finally, Headmaster Dumbledore said firmly, "He is innocent until proven guilty," which settled the matter for the night.
Professor Snape looked exceptionally angry, as did Filch. With his cat now petrified, he just wanted Harry to pay the price!
Headmaster Dumbledore told Filch that once Professor Sprout's Mandrake plants matured, an antidote could be brewed, and Mrs. Norris would recover.
"I can do it," Lockhart interjected. "I've surely done it a hundred times. I can brew a Restorative Draught in my sleep."
"Excuse me," Professor Snape said coldly, "but I believe I am the potions master of this school."
Immediately, another awkward silence followed. Su Yualmost laughed out loud—Professor Snape was here tonight to roast everyone and everything. Professor McGonagall, Harry, Ron, and Lockhart had all been roasted by him. Su Yu silently cheered for Professor Snapein his heart.
"You may go now," Headmaster Dumbledore said to Harry, Ron, and Hermione, while also glancing at Su Yu. Su Yushrugged, watched the trio leave as fast as they could, and followed them out.
At the corner of the stairs, Su Yu hugged Hermione again. Her hair brushed against his chin, soft and fluffy like a clump of cotton candy blown by the wind. Then he watched them return to the Gryffindor Common Room before leaving.
Su Yu turned and returned to the Slytherin Common Room.
When Su Yu walked into the Slytherin Common Room, he saw the same party as last year. Dark green ribbons and silver stars hung from the ceiling, the fire in the fireplace was burning three times brighter than usual, and the long table was filled with pumpkin pasties, roasted chestnuts, and hot butterbeer. People were gathered in twos and threes, some dancing, some chatting, and some playing cards at the card tables in the corner. Blaise leaned against the wall, holding a glass of red wine, talking to a third-year girl with a smile that was both charming and annoying.
Su Yu wouldn't drink any alcohol this time no matter what! He touched his stomach; he was still hungry—he hadn't eaten anything at the Ghost Party. When he walked over to Daphne and the others, he found that the three girls had left him plenty of food. They had put a few pieces of toast, roast beef, and mashed potatoes on a small plate, covered with a layer of foil to keep it warm, and there was even a whole slice of pizza, cut neatly, with a glass of cola next to it.
Su Yu sat down and started eating with a fork. Kuramajumped out of his arms, squatted on the table, and used her little paws to paw at the roast beef Daphne had left for Su Yu. Daphne swatted her paws, and she retracted them, only to reach out again when Daphne turned her head, until Daphne took out her favorite cheesecake, at which point she excitedly pounced on it.
When Su Yu woke up the next day, he realized he had been tricked by Farley again last night. He had been wondering whose bread tasted so yeasty—he had thought it was the sourdough Daphne brought him from the kitchen, so he drank a glass of water. But what happened? He had been drinking alcohol! He wouldn't even mention the alcohol in the bread, but what was up with the water being nothing but alcohol? This also meant he didn't know what Farleyhad done to him last night!
Twice now! Two whole years! Su Yu lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, his expression one of confusion: "Who am I, where am I, and what have I experienced?" Farley was sleeping soundly beside him. If only Su Yu's limbs weren't shackled at this moment...
Boys must protect themselves when they are out. Su Yusilently wrote this motto for himself in his heart.
For some time, the school talked about little else besides the attack on Mrs. Norris.
Filch often walked past the place where she was attacked, as if he thought the culprit would come back, which kept the event fresh in everyone's memory.
Harry saw him scrubbing the message on the wall hard, but it had no effect. The words remained on the wall as before, eye-catching. He scrubbed with a brush, pointed his wand at it, and sprayed it with various cleaning agents, but the words on the wall didn't budge, as if mocking him. When Filch wasn't guarding the scene, he would sneak around the corridors, catching students who didn't believe him, attempting to use excuses like "breathing too loudly" or "looking too happy" to put them in detention.
Crabbe and Goyle fell for it once. Filch said they were walking too loudly, shaking the dust off the walls, and put them in detention. Crabbe and Goyle looked at each other blankly, not understanding what they had done wrong, but followed Filch obediently anyway—they didn't care about detention anyway.
On Wednesday in the library, Su Yu was hugging Kuramaand grooming her. Kurama lay on his lap with her chin resting on his arm, her tail wagging, her eyes half-open, humming comfortably.
Su Yu had already started slacking off. Professor Binns of History of Magic had asked them each to write a three-foot-long essay on the "International Warlock Convention of the Middle Ages." Cursed History of Magic! Ron had already written two inches, no, two feet! He hadn't even written a word yet!
Daphne had actually finished it long ago. She was now writing Su Yu's, but she didn't tell him; she just wanted to see his exasperated face. Her expression was calm, the corners of her mouth slightly upturned, as if she were enjoying some secret pleasure.
Hermione was also in the library with Harry and Ron, but they were looking for books on the history of Hogwarts. Unfortunately, the books on this topic had long been borrowed by others, as they also wanted to know about the Chamber of Secrets.
Until the bell rang. Su Yu and the others had the same class as Gryffindor again today—Professor Binns's History of Magic.
Today was as boring as usual. Professor Binns opened his notebook and began to read his notes. His voice was like a vacuum cleaner, low and dull, which made everyone in the class drowsy, only waking up occasionally to copy a name or date before falling asleep again. Su Yu had long fallen asleep; he didn't want to write down a single word.
Professor Binns talked for half an hour, then something that had never happened before occurred—Hermioneraised her hand.
Professor Binns recovered from the dull "Code of Wand-Waving" of 1289, looked up, and showed a look of surprise on his face.
"Hmm—?"
"Professor, I was wondering if you could tell me about the Chamber of Secrets," Hermione said in a clear voice.
Instantly, all the students who weren't awake lifted their heads to look. Even the good students Theodore and Daphne glanced at Hermione in surprise.
Only Su Yu was still sleeping.
"My subject is History of Magic," Professor Binns said, panting in a dull voice. "I talk about facts, Miss Granger, not myths and legends." He cleared his throat, the sound like the crackling of broken chalk, then continued, "In September of that year, Sardinia—"
He stopped. Hermione was waving her hand again.
"Miss Granger?"
"But sir, aren't legends always based on facts?" Hermione's eyes looked directly at Professor Binns.
Professor Binns looked at her with great surprise. Harrywas sure that no student had ever dared to interrupt him like this before, whether living or dead.
"Well," Professor Binns said slowly, "yes, I suppose one could say so." He looked at Hermione intently, as if he had never really looked at a student before. "However, the legend you mention is quite sensational, even absurd..."
At this moment, the students throughout the classroom were listening intently to every word Professor Binns said.
"Oh, well," he said slowly, "let me think... the Chamber of Secrets..."
After class, Daphne explained to Su Yu while helping him smooth down his messy hair.
Hogwarts had four founders: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Slytherin left after falling out with the others over his opposition to admitting Muggle-born students. Legend has it that before he left, he secretly built a Chamber of Secrets in the Castle, which could only be opened by his true heir. Once opened, it would release the monster inside to purge all those he deemed unworthy of learning magic—that is, Muggle-borns.
But this was all nonsense! The school had checked many times; there was no Chamber of Secrets, no monster, just a story made up to scare cowards.
To be honest, Su Yu wasn't interested in this history. It was useless for him to express his opinion on who was right and who was wrong; he just wanted to find that diary now.
Chapter 38: The New Season
Ever since the incident where Lockhart nearly died in the classroom due to the pixies, he stopped bringing small creatures into class.
Instead, he would read passages from his books to the students, sometimes reenacting some of the more dramatic snippets, presumably because he saw that Su Yu never brought a book and wanted to amuse him. However, Harrywas the unlucky one, as he was usually the one chosen to help him act them out.
As Lockhart's performances grew more excessive, he turned every class into a one-man show.
So far, Harry had been forced to play a foolish Transylvanian villager whose curse Lockhart broke; a Himalayan Yeti with a severe cold; and a Vampire who, after being dealt with by Lockhart, could eat nothing but lettuce. Every time he finished a performance, he would tip his hat to Su Yu.
In their Defense Against the Dark Arts Class, Harry was once again dragged to the front of the classroom; this time he was playing a Werewolf. Harry thought to himself that if it weren't to keep Lockhart in a good mood, he would definitely have refused to do it.
Thus, Harry Potter had long taught us a lesson: a sycophant comes after the dog.
Harry stood at the front of the classroom, his hands covered in furry Werewolf claw gloves, whiskers drawn on his face, and a pair of exaggerated fangs stuffed in his mouth.
"A magnificent howl, Harry—exactly like that—and then, if you can believe it, I launch a surprise attack—just like this—and slam him hard onto the floor—like this—with one hand—I must pin him down—with the other hand, I press my wand against his throat—I then summon my remaining strength and cast a highly complex magic—he lets out a pitiful groan—go on, Harry, higher—good—the fur vanishes—the fangs retract—he transforms back into a human. Simple but effective—another village will forever remember me, the hero who saved them from the fear of monthly Werewolf attacks."
The bell rang, and Lockhart strode away.
"Your homework is to write a poem about me defeating the Wagga Wagga Werewolf! The best one will receive a signed copy of 'Magical Me'!"
As soon as class ended, Su Yu saw the trio acting suspiciously, much like a certain detective group, though the three of them combined didn't have enough brains to equal one Conan.
Su Yu didn't disturb them and walked out of the classroom holding Daphne's hand.
Recently, rumors among students of the other three houses had been spreading increasingly, all claiming that Harry Potter was the true heir of Slytherin, and they were making it sound quite convincing. Some said that back in his first year, Harry Potter had snatched the Philosopher's Stonefrom the Cerberus, and that it was the power of Slytherin. Others claimed that Harry Potter and Malfoy didn't get along because Malfoy knew his secret—that theory was a bit absurd; had Malfoy ever gotten along with anyone?
The Slytherin students who knew the truth scoffed. It wasn't as if they hadn't seen his pathetic state in the inner world during his first year—scared so badly by Lord Voldemort that he couldn't speak properly, and having to be dragged up from the ground by Farley. If Harry Potterwas the heir, then what was their Head Boy, Su Yu? The heir of the universe? My Love from the Star?
But to be honest, Harry Potter had been in school for seven years, and apart from not being there much in his final year and nothing major happening in his third year, he had been targeted for five whole years. Su Yu couldn't help but laugh whenever he thought about it; it was essentially a must-watch annual program. Especially Gryffindor—they were always the ones to lead the isolation; it was quite pathetic, these little lions.
On Saturday morning, the new year's Quidditch match was about to begin; today it was our old rivals again, Slytherinversus Gryffindor!
By nearly eleven o'clock, everyone began heading toward the Quidditch Pitch. But why was the weather so cold today? There was thunder rumbling from time to time, the sky was grey, and the clouds hung very low, like a giant lead plate pressing down overhead.
Over on the Gryffindor side, Wood was still constantly encouraging the little lions. He stood in front of the changing room, his face flushed red, gesturing wildly as he spoke. Fred and George were leaning against the wall, one fastening his wrist guards, the other checking his broomstick.
As for the Slytherin side, it was much quieter. Under Cassandra's tactical training, they were already poised and ready to instantly defeat this group of Gryffindor.
Cassandra stood in the stands, her green eyes sweeping over each player's face. "Remember the tactics. Mark their Seeker tightly, and don't let the Bludgers get near our Chasers. Malfoy, your task today is to distract Potter, not to chase the Golden Snitch."
Malfoy nodded, gripping his Nimbus 2001 in his hand, his chin held even higher than usual.
As both teams walked out onto the field, a thunderous sound erupted, mostly cheers. This was because the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students were eager to see Slytherin defeated. But the Slytherin supporters in the crowd let out some jeers and catcalls, the two sounds mixing together and echoing over the stadium.
Madam Hooch, the Quidditch teacher, had Marcus and Wood shake hands. They gave each other a threatening look and intentionally gripped hands hard with hidden meaning, and then Wood almost cried out—how did Marcus have so much strength? Wood's fingers were being squeezed until they creaked, and his face contorted.
"Listen for my whistle," Madam Hooch said, "Three... two... one..."
As the roars from the crowd urged them to start, the four competitors soared up into the tilted sky.
Harry flew higher than anyone else, squinting his eyes as he searched for the Bludger.
"Little fool, how is it up there?" Malfoy yelled, speeding beneath him, seemingly trying to show off the speed of his broomstick. The Nimbus 2001 glinted silver under the gloomy sky, its speed astonishing, and Malfoy's robes snapped in the wind.
Harry didn't answer. Just then, a heavy, black Bludger came crashing toward him. He dodged narrowly; he felt the Bludger mess up his hair as it passed. The ball flew past his ear, kicking up a sharp whistling sound.
"Stay close, Harry." George said, gripping his bat, preparing to hit the Bludger back toward Slytherin. Harrysaw George deliver a powerful blow to the Bludger in the direction of the opposing team, but the Bludger changed direction in the air and flew back toward Harry.
Harry dove quickly to avoid it. George tried to hit it hard toward Malfoy. Once again, the Bludger bounced back like a boomerang and struck Harry in the head. Everything went black before Harry's eyes, and he almost fell off his broom, but he gritted his teeth and steadied himself.
Harry suddenly accelerated, turning to the other side of the field; he heard the Bludger whistling toward him from behind. What was going on? Bludgers never fixated on one player like this; their mission was to make as many people fall off as possible, not to target one person relentlessly.
Fred was waiting on the other side for the Bludger, and when Fred gave the Bludger a full-force hit, Harry quickly ducked his head, and the Bludger was struck squarely.
"It's finished!" Fred shouted excitedly, but he was wrong. Harry seemed to attract the Bludger like a magnet; it followed him closely once again, and Harry had to fly away at full speed, the Bludger in hot pursuit behind him like a black viper with eyes.
It began to rain. Harry felt heavy raindrops hitting his face, blurring his glasses. He knew nothing of what else was happening in the match until he heard the commentator Lee Jordan say: "Slytherin House is in the lead by a long shot, 180 to 0!"
A deafening cheer erupted from the Slytherin stands.
...
With a deafening crash, Harry slammed into the muddy ground, rolling off his broom. His arm hung at a strange angle, the bone protruding from beneath the flesh, white and ghastly, enough to make one's scalp tingle. Pain engulfed Harry; he heard what sounded like a mix of whistles and shouts coming from a distant place. He stared at the Golden Snitch clutched tightly in his hand—he didn't know when he had caught it, perhaps in the very moment he fell—and then he passed out.
The match was over. Harry had finally caught the Golden Snitch in the pouring rain, but his arm had also been broken by the incoming Bludger.
The final score was Slytherin 270 to Gryffindor 150; Gryffindor was completely defeated.
The cheers from the Slytherin stands rose in waves. Malfoyraised his fist in the air, Crabbe and Goyle hugged and jumped in the stands, Pansy was so excited that tears came to her eyes, and Cassandra just smiled and turned her head to find Su Yu.
The field below had turned into a mess. The Gryffindorteam, Ron, Hermione, and Lockhart had surrounded Harry. Colin was still snapping photos nearby, the shutter clicking away, the flash flickering in the rain, which was annoying. Lockhart pushed to the very front, shouting, "Let me through, I know healing spells," with an expression of excitement that said, "Finally, it's my turn to perform."
Su Yu's viewing stand had a large rain canopy. He was drinking cola while setting up a grill to eat skewers; the charcoal fire burned red under the canopy, and the grease from the skewers dripped onto the charcoal, sizzling and emitting a plume of white smoke.
Su Yu had grease all over his mouth, and Kurama had cumin powder on the tip of her nose; both of them looked like they had just returned from a battlefield. Daphne kept wiping their mouths with disgust, while Farley sat elegantly on the other side of Su Yu, though occasionally, finding the smoke too thick, she would take out her wand and direct the smoke toward Su Yu. Su Yu choked on the smoke and coughed twice, glaring at Farley, who pretended not to see.
Cassandra also walked over at this moment; during the match, she had been standing at the edge of the viewing platform directing the Slytherin team, which had left her shoulders somewhat dampened by the rain, with a large dark patch on the shoulders of her robe. Daphne handed her a towel, which she took to wipe her hair, then sat down next to Farley, took a skewer of grilled lamb that Su Yuhanded her, took a bite, and squinted her eyes.
"Delicious." Cassandra said.
Su Yu smiled at her and handed over another skewer.
Who knows what Lockhart did, but his actions made the scene below even more chaotic, and Harry's screams pierced through the entire stadium.
Su Yu saw Hermione, Ron, and the others carrying Harryas they ran toward the Hospital Wing. He also packed up his barbecue stand, ready to return to the common room. Kurama snatched the last piece of grilled lamb chop, and the group walked back slowly, the rain tapping on the umbrella, making a pitter-patter sound.
The next evening, Hermione was sitting next to Su Yueating, but she didn't look well. Hermione told Su Yu and the others that yesterday, because Lockhart had used the wrong spell—he had used a bone-removing spell instead of a bone-knitting one—all thirty-three of Harry's arm bones were gone. Madam Pomfrey was furious, saying she had never seen such a stupid person.
Su Yu listened to Hermione's nagging while eating strawberry pie.
"But she did say later that Skele-Gro can grow them back, it just takes time." Hermione took a deep breath, "Also, I heard that someone else was Petrified last night. This time it was Colin—the Gryffindor boy who loves taking photos."
Su Yu frowned.
"He snuck out at night, wanting to go see Harry, but he was discovered in the corridor. It was Filch who found him, and he was still holding a bunch of grapes..." Hermione's voice trailed off.
Hermione already had that Kurama Cloak badge of Su Yu's.
"Wear it all the time lately," Su Yu said, looking into Hermione's eyes, "If anything feels wrong, just activate it. Not to mention that it can directly prevent curses like Petrification, I can also sense it immediately and come to your side quickly."
Hermione lowered her head, looking at the small badge on her robe, and lightly touched the emblem with her finger.
Su Yu knew she liked adventure; after all, she was a little Gryffindor lion, and they were naturally inclined to rush into dangerous places; you couldn't stop them. Even with Farley, Cassandra, and Daphne, he had never stopped them from doing what they liked, so he only told Hermioneto be careful.
Kurama lay on Su Yu's lap, looking at Hermione, and tapped her tail gently on Hermione's arm; she also wanted to tell Hermione, "You be careful too" and "Go ahead and cause trouble, Big Sis has your back."