Chapter 60 Dementor
The sky outside grew darker and darker, and the rain heavier.
The windowpanes were plastered with water droplets, making the scenery outside completely indiscernible. Only occasionally could one see lightning split the sky, carving a pale, ghastly streak through the darkness.
Raindrops pelted against the carriage window, creating a dense, pitter-patter sound, as if someone were incessantly tapping with an invisible hammer.
Suddenly, the lights in the corridor and the carriage began to flicker, shadows dancing wildly on the walls.
Kurama stood up from Su Yu's lap, ears pricked straight up, her amber eyes fixed on the corridor.
"What's wrong?" Hermione put down The Daily Prophet in her hands and looked up at her.
Kurama didn't answer; her tail had already fluffed up.
The train jolted violently, then began to slow down. The wheels against the tracks let out a screeching friction sound, causing everyone in the carriage to sway and stumble. Ginny, losing her balance, tipped to the side but was caught by Cassandra's hand. Farley held onto the back of her seat, her brows furrowed.
Hermione steadied Crookshanks's cage; Crookshanks let out a low hiss from inside.
The train came to a halt, and all the students curiously poked their heads out of their compartments to investigate.
For no apparent reason, the lights in the carriage went out completely. In the darkness, only Kurama's amber pupils glowed.
The rain outside continued to fall, but the temperature inside the carriage suddenly plummeted, as if someone had opened a refrigerator door. Their exhaled breath turned into white mist. Kurama's fur puffed up even more, her body crouching slightly, claws sinking into the velvet upholstery of the seat.
"It's alright, don't move around." Su Yu spoke up to comfort Kurama.
Then he stood up and reached for the door. Cassandragrabbed his sleeve. "Su Yu."
"Don't worry, I'm fine." Su Yu offered the women a smile.
He pulled the door open. The corridor was pitch black. From the distance came the terrified shouts of students, everyone yelling, "What's wrong?", "The lights!", "Something seems to have come on board!", "Look, there's something outside!"
Then the voices began to fade, falling silent, carriage by carriage.
A black shadow appeared at the end of the corridor.
It was tall and large, wrapped in a tattered black cloak that dragged on the floor. There was no wind, yet it billowed. Each time it billowed, the temperature dropped a little more. Frost formed on the glass on both sides of the corridor, spreading into fine, dense cracks.
Kurama rushed out of the carriage, crouched at Su Yu's feet, and bared her teeth at the shadow.
"It's fine, go back inside; it's a bit cold out here." Su Yu said nonchalantly.
Kurama didn't move.
"Alright, be a good girl, go back quickly, I can handle it."
Kurama took half a step back but didn't enter the carriage.
The shadow drew closer and closer. Su Yu saw that it had no face; beneath the hood of the cloak was a hollow void, nothing at all, yet Su Yu could feel something watching him.
So this was a Dementor.
Su Yu knew them from the movies: the monsters guarding Azkaban, feeding on human happiness and hope. Those who approached them would only think of their most painful memories and then lose consciousness.
Su Yu felt his memories churning—not painful memories, he didn't have many of those. But those memories seemed stirred by something, becoming blurred and fragile, as if they might shatter at any moment.
Su Yu closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, his eyes had changed. The red pupils of his Mangekyo Sharingan lit up in the darkness, and the black tomoe slowly rotated.
The Dementor drew closer. The glass on both sides of the corridor was completely covered in frost, like a white film, making it impossible to see anything. The temperature was so low that their exhaled breath condensed into ice crystals in the air, landing on the floor with a faint, crisp sound.
Su Yu raised his right hand to his eye socket. The tomoe of the Mangekyo Sharingan spun to their limit, the red in his pupils so intense it looked like it was about to drip blood.
Amaterasu.
Black flames began to emerge from the Dementor's body. Once they touched the Dementor's vague, cold form, they spread frantically.
The Dementor paused; it seemed to sense something. A low hiss emanated from beneath the hollow hood. It tried to retreat, but it was too late; the black flames had already begun to consume its cloak.
Amaterasu's flames do not burn matter; they burn existence itself, even if you are a soul. The Dementor's black cloak twisted, shriveled, and turned to nothingness in the flames. The hollow hood began to deform, as if something inside were struggling, but it could make no sound. The flames spread over its entire body, wrapping it into a black fireball.
The Dementor was screaming silently.
Cassandra poked her head out of the carriage and saw the scene outside: black flames burning in the corridor, the Dementor struggling, shrinking, and dissolving within them.
Her eyes widened for a moment, but she didn't cry out. Farley also poked her head out, took one look, and pressed Ginny and Hermione back into their seats.
"Don't come out." Farley kept comforting them both.
Ginny's face was pale, her lips trembling, but she didn't speak. Hermione held Crookshanks's cage; Crookshankshad stopped meowing and was cowering in the corner, staring at the direction of the door.
The black flames burned for about a dozen seconds, and the Dementor's body completely dissolved within them. The cloak turned to ash, and the hollow hood vanished as well. Finally, only a clump of black ash remained, floating in the corridor's air, which was also thoroughly consumed by the flames of Amaterasu.
Su Yu withdrew his hand, and the black flames extinguished as if they had never existed. The temperature in the corridor began to rise slowly, the frost on the glass melted, water droplets ran down the window frames, and the lights in the carriage came back on.
Kurama crouched at Su Yu's feet, licking her paws to clean the fur that had been dampened by the frost.
Su Yu closed his eyes, his Mangekyo Sharingan reverting to its normal black. Very good, excellent. Who said Amaterasu couldn't burn people to death???
In the carriage on the other side, a figure emerged from a still-dark carriage nearby. He was wearing tattered robes, his light brown hair was messy, and he held a wand in his hand, the tip emitting a ball of silvery-white light.
Su Yu turned his head to look; the person approaching was Remus Lupin.
"Are you Sean Foley?" Lupin's voice was a bit raspy.
"Yes." Su Yu withdrew his guarded gaze and greeted Lupin.
Lupin looked at him, then at Kurama, and nodded. "Your magic is very unique. I have never seen such techniques in the wizarding world—to actually be able to kill a Dementor! Good heavens, that's crazy."
"Just luck, it happened not to be very strong." Su Yu replied nonchalantly.
The corner of Lupin's mouth twitched. Was that a matter of strength? But he didn't press further. He signaled to Su Yuand continued walking toward the front of the train. After a few steps, he stopped without turning back.
"Everyone, return to your compartments and close the doors; the train will be moving again shortly."
Having said that, he continued walking away. The corridor returned to silence, with only the heavy rain outside still incessantly pelting against the carriage windows.
Cassandra held Su Yu's arm from behind and pulled him back into the carriage. Farley shifted to the side to make room for a seat.
Hermione's face was as pale as paper, her lips trembling. "Was that... a Dementor?"
"That's right. Come, you all should eat some more chocolate; it can effectively alleviate feelings of fear." As he said this, Su Yu broke off a few pieces of chocolate and handed them to the women.
"You... you burned it?"
"Exactly. So, they aren't that scary. At the very least, now there's a way to kill them, isn't there?"
Hermione was silent for a moment, looking down at Crookshanks's cage.
Ginny hugged her own arms, head bowed, not speaking, eating the chocolate in small bites. As a pure-blood, she knew how terrifying Dementors were.
Cassandra glanced at her, reached out, and placed her hand on the back of Ginny's hand, squeezing it tightly. Ginny looked up, and Cassandra offered her a reassuring smile, not withdrawing her hand.
Not long after, the train restarted. The wheels rolled along the tracks, making a rhythmic clanking sound. The rain outside had lessened, and the lightning was not as frequent.
The train continued forward in the darkness, heading toward Hogwarts.
Not more than ten minutes later, the train finally arrived at the station. Su Yu stood up from his seat, Kurama jumped onto his shoulder, her tail hanging down in front of his chest. Farley carried her handbag, Cassandra helped him adjust his robes, Hermione held Crookshanks's cage, and Ginny followed behind her.
"You go ahead and lead the way," Su Yu said. "I'll go with Hermione and Ginny to check on Harry and Ron."
Cassandra glanced at him and nodded. "Don't be too long."
Su Yu walked out of the compartment, Kurama lying on his shoulder, ears pricked. The corridor was crowded with people. First-year students were being herded in another direction by Hagrid's booming voice, and upper-year students were slowly lining up on the platform. Su Yu led Hermione and Ginny through the crowd and saw Harryand Ron.
Harry was standing at the edge of the platform, his complexion not looking good, his fingers still trembling slightly. Ron stood next to him, holding Scabbers's cage in his hand. Scabbers was huddled in the corner, motionless.
"Harry." Su Yu walked over.
Harry looked up, and seeing Su Yu, managed a faint smile. "Su Yu, why are you here?"
"Harry, what happened to you? Are you alright?" Hermioneasked worriedly.
"I'm fine," Harry said. "Just now on the train... that thing..."
Ron told the others about Harry fainting on the train.
Harry nodded and didn't speak.
"Eat some more chocolate, or some sweets," Hermionesaid to Harry and the others, looking at Harry with concern.
The people on the platform began to walk out. Su Yufollowed the crowd across the platform and onto the muddy path leading to the Castle.
It was still raining, and the night wind blew over, carrying the dampness of the lake and the scent of pine trees from the Forbidden Forest. Kurama buried her face into Su Yu's neck, using her tail to cover her nose.
The carriages ahead were lined up in the darkness, with Thestrals standing in front of them, flapping their wings.
Farley and Cassandra had already boarded a carriage, and Hermione and Ginny had returned to the Gryffindor side. Su Yu climbed on and sat next to Farley.
"Daphne?" Su Yu noticed Daphne sitting in the carriage and instinctively pulled her over. "Don't you need to look after your sister?"
Daphne was as virtuous as ever. She smiled gently at him from within Su Yu's embrace. "I saw that the little girl preferred staying with Malfoy and the others, so I came back first."
"Let's go." Farley said to the empty air in front of them; she was the only one among them who could see the Thestrals.
The Thestrals took a step, and the carriage began to move. The wheels rolled over the gravel path, making a rumbling sound.
The doors to the Great Hall were open, and the candlelight from inside spilled out through the cracks, casting a pool of warm light on the stone floor. Students walked in in twos and threes, their voices, footsteps, and laughter mingling together like a pot of boiling soup.
Su Yu led the little snakes of Slytherin into the Great Hall. The enchanted ceiling reflected the sky outside; the clouds were thick, and no stars could be seen.
Many people were already seated at the four long tables. Su Yu walked over to the Slytherin table and sat down. Kurama jumped onto the table and crouched in front of him, clamoring for dinner. Before she could finish, a piece of cheesecake appeared at her feet.
At the staff table, Dumbledore sat in the middle, his silver-white beard hanging over his chest, and his blue eyes behind his half-moon spectacles shimmering in the candlelight. Professor Snape's black hair still hung greasily on both sides of his face, though he seemed to be in a bad mood. Hagrid sat next to Snape, his beard messy, as he lowered his head to speak with Professor Sprout beside him.
Su Yu noticed Lupin, who was sitting at the very edge of the staff table. He was looking down at his cup, as if deep in thought.
Lupin looked up, meeting Su Yu's gaze, and nodded at him. Su Yu nodded back and looked away.
The first-year students walked in through the doors of the Great Hall, lined up in a row behind Professor Flitwick. Like all young Wizards before them, some were nervous, some were excited, some were trembling, and some were biting their lips.
Su Yu watched them and was reminded of his own first year.
The Sorting Hat began to sing. This year's song was different from last year's, with a deeper melody. The lyrics mentioned the Chamber of Secrets of Slytherin, the courage of Gryffindor, the wisdom of Ravenclaw, and the loyalty of Hufflepuff. Su Yu didn't really listen, and neither did Kurama; she was crouching on the table, eating her cheesecake in small bites. In this short time, the cake on the table had already been replaced three times.
The Sorting began. Professor Flitwick unfolded the parchment and read out the names one by one.
However, there was a strange transfer student this year named Callis Selwyn. Also from the Sacred Twenty-Eight, she had reportedly just returned from France. She appeared to be the type with perfect etiquette, proper manners, gentle, and very well-behaved. She was also sorted into Slytherin and was in the same year as Su Yuand the others.
After the Sorting ceremony, Dumbledore stood up. The chatter in the Great Hall slowly died down, and everyone's eyes were fixed on him.
"Welcome back." Dumbledore's voice was not loud, but everyone could hear him clearly. "Before the new school year begins, I have a few things to announce. One of them is very important, so I thought it best to make it clear before you enjoy your delicious feast and your brains become befuddled..."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the staff table.
"First, please welcome our new friend, Professor Lupin, who will be the teacher for the lower-year Defense Against the Dark Arts class this year."
Lupin stood up and nodded to the students. His smile was a bit forced, but sincere. Everyone at the other houses' long tables applauded in welcome, hoping he wouldn't be the next Lockhart. Only the Slytherin side offered sparse applause.
"Secondly," Dumbledore continued, "our gamekeeper, Rubeus Hagrid, has agreed to serve as the teacher for the Care of Magical Creatures Class."
Hagrid stood up, his face flushed red and his eyes sparkling. His beard glowed red in the candlelight, and he looked so excited he was about to cry. Thunderous applause erupted from the Gryffindor table, with Hermione clapping the hardest. The Slytherin side was the same as before; some people clapped, but not many.
"Also, as I am sure you have all noticed regarding our upper-year Defense Against the Dark Arts course, he arrived last term. After careful consideration and invitation by the Board of Governors, I am once again very honored to introduce to you all that from now on, Mr. Graves will be responsible for teaching the upper-year Defense Against the Dark Arts."
As he finished speaking, Dumbledore turned slightly, pointing to a figure with an extraordinary temperament at the staff table, his gaze filled with just the right amount of approval.
Isolde Rosier stood elegantly beside Graves, wearing those same eight-centimeter high heels and black silk stockings. She even winked at Su Yu.
"Mr. Graves possesses an extremely rich background in magic and practical combat experience. I believe that under his guidance, all students will be able to make significant progress in the knowledge and techniques of countering the Dark Arts. I hope everyone will respect and listen carefully to his instructions."
Thunderous applause immediately erupted in the Great Hall. The upper-year students from Ravenclaw and Slytherin were particularly enthusiastic, as they knew the capabilities of this teacher. Many lower-year students curiously leaned forward to inspect this upper-year teacher, whispering to each other with full of anticipation, while only a few girls were looking at Isolde.
Dumbledore raised his hand, signaling for silence.
"Finally," his voice became somewhat more serious, "I must tell you that Dementors from Azkaban will be patrolling around Hogwarts. They are here by order of the Ministry of Magic to hunt for Sirius Black. They will not enter the Castle, but I hope you will not give them any reason to approach you. They will be stationed at the school gates, walls, and surrounding roads, keeping a close watch for any suspicious persons attempting to sneak into the school."
At this point, Dumbledore leaned forward slightly, his gaze sharp and earnest: "I must tell you all seriously—do not attempt to use Invisibility Cloaks, Disillusionment Charms, or any magic that hides your form to evade them."
He spoke every word clearly, allowing it to reach everyone's ears: "Dementors do not rely on their eyes to see; they perceive souls, emotions, and the presence of all living things. Any Invisibility Cloak is useless before them; it is simply impossible to deceive their perception."
The Great Hall was silent for a moment, then a stifled, low gasp sounded. Many students subconsciously looked at each other, their expressions becoming tense.
Dumbledore's tone softened slightly, yet remained serious: "Without permission, no one is to leave the school. You must stay in your dormitories at night and do not wander around the Castle. Please remember that Dementors do not distinguish between friend and foe; once they determine you are a suspicious target, the consequences will be very dangerous."
He straightened up, regaining his gentle expression: "Now, before everyone enjoys the meal, let us sing the school song."
Su Yu sighed, and Kurama buried her face in her paws.
The school song finished, and Dumbledore sat down. "Very well, enjoy your meal. I hope your time at Hogwartsis safe and fulfilling."
Food appeared out of thin air on the golden plates: roast beef, fried chicken legs, shepherd's pie, sausages, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, and carrots—the table was piled full.
Su Yu picked up a piece of carrot he didn't like and placed it in front of Kurama, which made Kurama glare straight at him—'You don't like it, so you give it to me?'
Daphne was cutting a piece of chicken on the side, then placed it in his plate, and turned to pour a glass of pineapple juice, pushing it to his side.
Su Yu ate a few bites and heard Astoria next to him speaking to Daphne. "Sister, that Professor Graves looks so handsome!"
"Is that so? Is he more handsome than Malfoy?" Su Yuinterjected secretly.
"..." Malfoy's face had just stopped blushing, but now it flared up again, though he still secretly listened to Astoria's answer.
"Draco is the most handsome!" Astoria raised her fork excitedly.
Pansy was about to cut her plate into pieces...
On the other side, Blaise was whispering to that new student, Callis, and it seemed the two were chatting very happily.
Returning to the common room in the evening, Su Yudistributed the group chat notebooks and the improved Ancient Magic badges to everyone. Starting from the new semester, the Wizards of Slytherin had a new task: to learn and use Ancient Magic as soon as possible.
Chapter 61: Group Chat Notebook
These past few days, Su Yu discovered that the little snakes of Slytherin were not very talkative, spending every day clutching those group chat notebooks, especially after Su Yu added the 'Moments' feature.
Many students from other houses were also extremely envious, and countless people wanted to buy one, but Su Yu only gave a few extra copies to those from other houses who were on good terms with them.
And so, early this morning, Callis Selwyn posted in the group that Blaise was truly a great guy.
Callis: 'My lips felt a bit dry just now, and Blaise said he had just applied lip balm, so he touched my lips with his mouth. He is so kind, hehe.'
Daphne: 'Blaise, you...'
Malfoy: 'That's f*cking called kissing!'
Farley: '@Malfoy, that's called sexual harassment!'
Callis: 'What if he really just wanted to help me moisturize my lips...'
Seeing the group chat, Blaise didn't want to stay on Earth for even a second. Now everyone knew how he usually harassed other female students...
— — — — — — — — — — — — — —
Astoria: 'Draco, Draco! I miss you! Bring me a cake when you come back from the Great Hall!'
Malfoy: 'I don't believe it. Say it three times.'
Astoria: 'Bring me a cake! Bring me a cake! Bring me a cake!'
Malfoy: '...'
Astoria: 'Oh, oh. I miss you! I miss you! I miss you!'
Daphne: 'You aren't allowed to eat it!'
Pansy: 'I'll eat it for you, no need to thank me!'
— — — — — — — — — — — —
Blaise: 'Callis, what are you doing by the lake?'
Callis: 'Reading a book.'
Blaise: 'Oh? Is that so? Can I read with you?'
Callis: 'Don't you have your own book? Why on earth would you need to read mine?'
Blaise: '?'
Malfoy: '?'
Theodore: '?'
Su Yu: '?'
Blaise: 'Chief, stop teasing me. I just feel that Callis is a really good person. She comforted me until midnight yesterday when I was heartbroken!'
Callis: 'No way! You are such a good person, handsome and outstanding, surely many girls must like you, no need to be so sad.'
Blaise: 'Then are you willing to be my girlfriend?'
Callis: 'I was kindly trying to enlighten you. Don't return kindness with enmity!'
— — — — — — — — — — — —
Late at night, Callis got drunk from stealing red wine.
Callis: 'Loved, hated, pained, hurt...'
Hermione: 'Just never studied.'
Pansy: 'As long as you haven't been hungry.'
Blaise: 'I like you, visible only to you.'
Callis: 'You didn't even block me for this? So benevolent... Did you forget to block me... You must have forgotten to block me, right... I beg you...'
Su Yu: 'You two, that's enough. I didn't even add a blocking feature!'
Blaise: 'Callis, why didn't you send a good morning message this morning?'
Callis: 'I did send one...'
Blaise: 'Ah? I didn't receive it...'
Callis: 'I didn't send it to you, so what exactly did you receive...'
Below was a bunch of 66666, hahaha.
Ever since Blaise came into contact with Callis, Su Yufinally realized that one truly cannot judge a book by its cover. All that talk about perfect etiquette, decent behavior, gentleness, being obedient and well-behaved—it was all fake. This female player was a perfect match for the male player Blaise. Every day, the two of them would flirt, roast, and set traps for each other in the group.
— — — — — — — — — —
Today was the first day of school at Hogwarts. The corridors of Hogwarts were filled with the scent of damp stone and candles. When Su Yu left the Slytherin common room, Kurama was still asleep on his shoulder.
Daphne remained as cold and elegant as ever, her light blonde hair draped smoothly over her shoulders, her school uniform worn neatly and exquisitely. She was holding her Divination Class textbook. Seeing Su Yu walk over, she nodded slightly, her tone calm: "Su Yu, Divination Class is about to start. We need to get to the North Tower as soon as possible. That place is not easy to find, don't be late."
Su Yu nodded in agreement; he only knew that the location of the North Tower was very remote. The two walked side by side, their footsteps light as they passed through the Castle corridors. Along the way, they encountered many students also heading to the North Tower, including Harry, Ron, and Hermione from Gryffindor.
Harry held his class schedule, his face showing a mix of curiosity and a trace of confusion about the unknown course; Ron followed beside him, complaining from time to time about the stairs taking detours, his face full of impatience; Hermione was clutching thick textbooks, walking hurriedly. She had already looked through the Divination Class textbook in advance and was fully prepared for the class. As their eyes met, Su Yu nodded slightly to Harry and his friend. Hermione had already rushed into his arms, and the group walked together toward the North Tower.
The road to the North Tower was much longer than imagined. They climbed flight after flight of spiral staircases, bypassed several paintings that could talk and move at will, and took the wrong path several times. It was only after being guided by the portrait of Sir Cadogan that they finally found the right direction.
Sir Cadogan was wearing heavy armor and riding a short, chubby pony. He led the way enthusiastically and recklessly, his armor clanking with a metallic sound, and he kept shouting impassioned slogans. The group followed behind. Harry and Ron climbed the last flight of stairs, panting, and finally arrived at the top of the North Tower.
There was no wooden door like a regular classroom, only a circular trapdoor embedded in the ceiling. On the trapdoor hung a brass plaque with words written in calligraphy: Professor Sybill Trelawney, Divination Class.
Just as everyone stood still, the trapdoor slowly opened, and a silver ladder dangled down from the trapdoor, landing just at everyone's feet. A rich, sweet fragrance drifted down along the ladder, mixed with a faint scent of smoke, lingering at the tip of their noses.
"Let's go up." Hermione spoke first and stepped onto the ladder.
When they climbed up the ladder and stepped into the Divination Class classroom, the little ones couldn't help but be stunned. This classroom didn't look like an orthodox magic classroom at all; it was more like a cozy yet eerie attic tea house. There were more than twenty small round tables densely packed in the room. Around the tables were soft floral upholstered armchairs and plump cushions. Stepping on the thick carpet, even the sound of footsteps was completely absorbed.
The entire classroom was shrouded in a hazy red light. All the curtains were tightly drawn, and each oil lamp was wrapped in a deep red scarf. The fire in the fireplace was burning vigorously, and the warmth rushed toward them, making their originally cool bodies instantly feel hot. A copper teapot on the fireplace was boiling tea with a gurgling sound, and that sweet fragrance was emanating from the teapot, filling every corner of the classroom.
The walls around the classroom were filled with layers of shelves, and on the shelves were countless items placed in a disorderly manner: dusty quill pens, burnt-out candle stubs, dilapidated playing cards, crystal clear crystal balls, and piles of teacups of various styles. It looked both mysterious and somewhat messy.
The students walked into the classroom one after another and found seats. Su Yu, Daphne, and Hermione chose a small round table by the window and sat opposite each other, placing their textbooks on the table. Harry and Ronsat at another table not far from them.
As soon as Hermione sat down, she couldn't wait to open her textbook and began to preview it seriously. Ron was looking around, full of curiosity. Harry looked at the eerie layout of the classroom, feeling a sense of inexplicable unease in his heart.
Not long after, a soft and ethereal voice sounded from the shadows of the classroom. The voice was soft, with a touch of ethereal quality, making people feel dizzy as they listened: "Welcome, my dear children, welcome to the world of Divination Class."
Everyone turned their heads to look, and saw ProfessorSybill Trelawney walking slowly out of the shadows.
She was extremely thin, draped in a thin shawl covered with sequins. Her long neck was hung with countless beaded necklaces, and her arms and wrists were covered with various bracelets and rings, making a delicate sound with her movements.
The most striking thing was her exaggeratedly large glasses, which magnified her eyes several times, making them look like the compound eyes of an insect. Her eyes were empty and mysterious, as if she could see through all the past and future of the world.
Professor Sybill Trelawney walked to the armchair in front of the fireplace and sat down, elegantly tidying up her shawl. Her gaze slowly swept over every student in the classroom, and her voice remained ethereal: "I am Sybill Trelawney, your Divination Class Professor. I suppose you also know that I rarely go down to the noisy Castlecampus, because the noise of the secular world will blind my inner eye that sees through the future."
She paused and continued, her tone carrying a bit of unfathomability: "Divination is the most profound and mysterious of all magical arts. It does not rely on rigid spells, nor does it rely on precise magical control, but requires innate talent and insight. Knowledge in books is nothing more than fireflies leading the way. If one does not have the talent to see through the future, even if one learns all the theories, one will never be able to touch the true essence of divination."
As soon as these words came out, Hermione's brows instantly furrowed. She had always firmly believed in the importance of book knowledge. She clearly did not agree with Professor Sybill Trelawney's dismissal of theory, but she still patiently listened on.
Ron and Harry looked at each other and saw a trace of disapproval in each other's eyes. Su Yu remained calm, listening quietly to her bragging. In front of a true prophecy master like Grindelwald, she acted like a clown; she was really not even as good as a Centaur.
"This year, we will start from the most basic content of divination. In the first half of the semester, we will focus on tea leaf reading. When we get to the summer semester, we will slowly come into contact with more profound content such as crystal balls and fire omens." Professor Sybill Trelawney's gaze suddenly fell on Neville.
Professor Sybill Trelawney paced slowly in the classroom and stopped in front of Neville. Neville was sitting next to Ron, a look of "Why did I choose this course" on his round face. Professor Sybill Trelawney stared at his palm for a long while, and Neville's face began to turn pale.
"Is your grandmother well?" She asked.
Neville was stunned. "I think... quite well."
"If I were you, I wouldn't be so sure." After Professor Sybill Trelawney finished speaking, she turned and left. Neville's face turned even paler, and Ron patted him on the shoulder.
She walked to Lavender Brown. Lavender was sitting next to Parvati, both of them craning their necks, waiting to be called. Professor Sybill Trelawney picked up Lavender's palm, turned it over to look, and then let go, saying in a heavy tone: "The thing you fear will happen on October 16th." Lavender's mouth opened, her eyes wide, and Parvati quickly held her hand.
She walked to Parvati Patil and picked up her hand. "Beware of the red-haired man." Parvati glanced at Ronand moved her chair to the side. Ron was looking down at his own palm and didn't notice.
Professor Sybill Trelawney walked to Su Yu's table. She stopped, looked at Su Yu, and then looked at Kuramacrouching on the table. Kurama raised her head, her amber eyes staring at her. Professor Sybill Trelawney picked up Su Yu's hand, turned it over, and stared at his palm for several seconds. The eyes behind her spectacle lenses magnified several times, showing no expression.
"Your life path..." She paused, her voice becoming deep, as if she couldn't control herself, muttering to herself, "It is very unusual. I see three branches of death: one dying in flames, one in light, and one in... I don't know what that is, it does not belong to this world."
Su Yu didn't speak, and Kurama's ears twitched.
Professor Trelawney let go of Su Yu's hand and looked at Kurama. Kurama looked back at her. The two stared at each other for a few seconds, then Professor Trelawneynodded slightly and turned to leave.
Kurama snorted. "She didn't see anything." Her voice could only be heard by Su Yu.
Su Yu didn't respond.
Daphne and Hermione looked at Su Yu worriedly. Su Yusqueezed the girls' hands to show he was fine; her prophecies were lucky if one in ten came true.
These dangerous remarks caused some panic among the students, but Professor Trelawney seemed not to notice their agitation and continued calmly: "By the way, I have sensed in advance that in February, our classes will be interrupted by a sudden, severe flu, and around Easter, one of our students will leave us forever."
As these words fell, the classroom instantly plunged into a dead silence. All the students looked nervous, and the originally relaxed classroom atmosphere suddenly became heavy. Everyone looked at each other, a trace of unease rising in their hearts. Professor Trelawney, however, seemed oblivious, maintaining her mysterious demeanor.
"Now, let us begin today's lesson." Professor Trelawneyraised her hand and instructed softly, "Everyone, pair up. Take a teacup from the shelf over there and come to me in turns; I will pour hot tea for you. What you need to do is drink the tea until only the tea leaves remain at the bottom of the cup. Hold the teacup with your left hand, gently shake the tea leaves three times, then invert the cup onto the saucer. Once the last drop of tea has drained, hand the cup to your partner and interpret the patterns of the tea leaves by comparing them to the diagrams in your textbook."
As she finished speaking, the students immediately began to pair up. Su Yu and Daphne formed a group. Hermionedidn't want to participate at all, so the two had no choice but to get up and walk to the shelf. They each took a clean white teacup and grabbed one for Hermione as well, then pulled Hermione to line up in front of Professor Trelawney. The Professor picked up a copper teapot and poured steaming tea into the cups; the tea carried a rich aroma and swirled gently in the cups.
On the other side, Harry and Ron were paired together. After taking their teacups and pouring the tea, they returned to their seats. The classroom instantly quieted down, leaving only the subtle sounds of tea drinking and the clinking of teacups against saucers.
Su Yu picked up his teacup and took a gentle sip. The sweet, cloying taste of the tea spread across his tongue. He drank slowly, and soon finished the tea, leaving only the tea leaves at the bottom of the cup. Following ProfessorTrelawney's instructions, he held the teacup with his left hand, slowly shook it three times, and then inverted the cup onto the saucer in front of him, watching the tea slowly trickle down the sides of the cup and drain.
Daphne and Hermione's movements were equally elegant and composed; every step was precise and accurate, without the slightest hint of panic.
After the tea had drained, they exchanged teacups. The two girls opened "Unfogging the Future," and carefully observed the tea leaf patterns at the bottom of the cups, comparing them to the diagrams in the textbook.
Hermione held Daphne's teacup, turning it slightly, her eyes focused on the tea leaves gathered at the bottom. The leaves formed fine, continuous patterns on the side of the cup. Comparing them to the diagrams in the textbook, she said softly: "The patterns here look like stars, representing good luck and inspiration. The lines next to them are smooth and extended, implying that things will go smoothly in the near future without too many twists and turns."
Daphne nodded slightly, and then both girls looked at Su Yu's teacup, carefully identifying the shapes of the tea leaves. They interpreted calmly: "Your tea leaf patterns resemble a shield, which means that protective power will accompany you, allowing you to avoid unnecessary trouble. The fine patterns next to it represent that there will finally be no terrible things this semester."
Su Yu was almost laughing. That's it? Don't you know when tea leaves even arrived in your British Empire? And this is called tea leaf divination, using tea leaves from the East? He might as well just toss two turtle shells...
Not far away, Harry and Ron appeared somewhat flustered. Ron gulped down his tea, shook the tea leaves as required, and after exchanging teacups with Harry, stared at the wet tea leaves at the bottom of the cup, his face full of confusion: "Where are the patterns? Isn't this just a bunch of messy tea dregs?"
Harry also frowned, staring at Ron's teacup for a long time, barely making out a vague outline: "It seems to have the shape of a cross. The textbook says this represents suffering and pain. Next to it, it looks a bit like a sun, signifying great joy."
"Suffering can be happy? This divination is too strange." Ron couldn't help but mutter. Comparing Harry's teacup to the textbook, he would say it looked like a top hat one moment, and an acorn the next, interpreting it in a chaotic way. The two couldn't help but laugh softly, but fearing being discovered by Professor Trelawney, they had to suppress their laughter.
Just then, Professor Trelawney slowly stood up and paced back and forth in the classroom, inspecting the situation of each group of students. When she walked to Neville's side, Neville, in his fluster, accidentally dropped and broke his teacup. The sound of shattered porcelain was exceptionally clear in the quiet classroom. Neville instantly turned bright red, standing there awkwardly, at a loss.
"It's alright, child, just get another one." ProfessorTrelawney's voice remained soft, but carried a hint of imperceptible regret, as if she had already foreseen this scene.
She continued walking forward and soon reached Harryand Ron's table. When she saw the tea leaf patterns in Harry's cup, her steps faltered. She reached out to take Harry's teacup, staring intently at the bottom of the cup, slowly turning it, her expression gradually becoming grave.
"There is a pattern of a falcon here, my dear child, you have a mortal enemy." Professor Trelawney's voice rang out, her tone deep.
"That hasn't been a secret for a long time." Hermionecouldn't help but speak up from the side, her tone somewhat blunt, "Everyone knows that Harry's opponent is You-Know-Who."
This was the first time Hermione had contradicted a Professor so bluntly. Harry and Ron both looked at her in surprise. Professor Trelawney also glanced coldly at Hermione, ignoring her rebuttal, and continued turning the teacup, her voice becoming increasingly grave: "A club, meaning you will face an attack; a skull, your path ahead is full of danger..."
Suddenly, Professor Trelawney's hand stopped abruptly. Staring at the tea leaves at the bottom of the cup, she let out a short gasp. Her hand trembled slightly, and her face turned pale. She slowly put down the teacup, stepped back, fell into the armchair behind her, clutched her chest with her hand, and looked at Harry with terrified eyes.
All the students in the classroom were attracted by this scene, stopped what they were doing, and looked in this direction in unison. The atmosphere instantly became extremely tense.
"Professor, what's wrong?" Dean Thomas couldn't help but ask, his voice carrying a trace of trepidation.
Professor Trelawney slowly opened her eyes, her gaze hollow and terrified. Staring at Harry, she said word by word: "I see the Grim, that giant black dog roaming in the graveyard. That is the omen of death, the most terrible omen!"
"The Grim?" Harry's heart tightened abruptly. In his mind, the giant black shadow dog he had seen on Magnolia Crescent before school started flashed by. His heart couldn't help but race, and a chill spread from the bottom of his heart. Even though the classroom was very warm, he couldn't help but shiver.
The surrounding students all showed expressions of horror. Lavender Brown was so scared that she covered her mouth, her eyes full of fear. Everyone looked at Harrywith strange gazes, and the whispers were fragmented and nervous.
"I don't believe it. Tea leaf patterns are just naturally formed shapes; they cannot represent any so-called omen of death. This is just groundless speculation." Hermioneimmediately stood up and retorted firmly. She had never believed in such ethereal divination, and even less did she agree with Professor Trelawney casting such an omen on Harry.
Professor Trelawney looked coldly at Hermione, her eyes carrying a hint of dissatisfaction and disdain: "My dear child, the aura around you is too weak; you have no ability to perceive the future at all. Do not easily deny the true meaning of divination if you do not understand it."
"These patterns can be interpreted in any way one pleases. You say this is the Grim; from another angle, it is just ordinary tea leaf patterns!" Hermione did not give an inch, her tone firm.
Harry looked at the two arguing, then at the teacup on the table. He felt irritable and uneasy inside and couldn't help but speak, his tone carrying a trace of suppression: "Alright, it's just a Divination Class, there's no need for this."
The atmosphere in the classroom was awkward and heavy. Professor Trelawney's face was pale, her expression weak. She slowly waved her hand, her voice drifting and tired: "Let's end today's class here. Everyone, pack up your things and leave the classroom in an orderly fashion..."
Hearing this, the students began to pack up their textbooks and teacups, their movements cautious, not daring to make too much noise. The looks everyone cast at Harry still carried a bit of avoidance and sympathy. Harry suppressed the unease in his heart and packed his things, with Ronaccompanying him and comforting him in a low voice.
Su Yu, Daphne, and Hermione also packed up their things. When the three of them stood up, Su Yu glanced at the uneasy Harry but didn't say much, just walking towards the trapdoor with Daphne. Daphne's expression remained indifferent throughout, seemingly unaffected by ProfessorTrelawney's prophecy. Regarding the content of the Divination Class, she always maintained a rational attitude, neither blindly believing nor excessively denying it.
The group climbed down the silver ladder from the North Tower and returned to the corridors of the Castle. The cool air rushed towards them, instantly dispelling the heat and oppression of the Divination Class classroom.
Harry remained immersed in the prophecy of the "Grim," his expression downcast. Ron kept comforting him by his side, while Hermione remained indignant, feeling that Professor Trelawney's remarks were completely groundless.
Su Yu and Daphne walked on one side. Daphne spoke softly: "Divination is something that exists if you believe in it, and doesn't if you don't. Professor Trelawney's prophecies mostly carry subjective assumptions; there is no need to take them too much to heart."
Su Yu nodded slightly, agreeing with her statement.
Just at this moment, Isolde Rosier approached Su Yu, and judging by her expression, she seemed a bit anxious.
Chapter 62: Awakening of Ancient Magic
Isolde Rosier walked over quickly. Although her pace remained steady, there was an undisguised sense of confusion and discomfort hidden within her usually cold and tense brows.
She walked up to Su Yu, her dark hair draping over her shoulders, the hem of her dark trench coat swaying gently. When she spoke, her voice was a little deeper than usual, carrying a hint of uncertainty: "Su Yu, I feel like something is wrong with my body."
Su Yu raised his eyes, his gaze landing on her. He keenly sensed that the flow of magic around her was abnormal, yet it wasn't chaotic; rather, it felt like a hidden power was slowly surging beneath her skin: "Where do you feel uncomfortable? Tell me in detail."
"Should we go somewhere where there's no one else?" Isolde looked at the people around them.
"You newcomer, are you really this bold now?!" Hermionehad long felt that this woman was suspicious, and now she actually dared to blatantly reveal her ulterior motives in broad daylight!
Hermione was like a bristling kitten. At this moment, she couldn't care less about Divination Class; she wanted to tear this little bitch apart!!
"Be good, it's not what you think. We really didn't do anything. Can't you trust me?" Su Yu quickly hugged Hermione to comfort her. Heavens as his witness, he, Su Yu, was truly being wronged this time.
Hermione and Daphne looked at Su Yu speechlessly at the same time. Don't you have any self-awareness about what kind of person you are? Who would believe you when it comes to this?
With no other choice, Su Yu raised his hands in surrender and could only take Hermione, Daphne, and Isolde back to the Slytherin Common Room.
Once they returned to the Slytherin Common Room, the group began to listen as Isolde described the strange sensations in her body.
"Ever since I walked into the shadows of the corridor earlier, my body has felt light, as if it's about to melt into the surrounding darkness. There's no pain, but as long as I focus my attention, I feel like I've... disappeared."
Isolde sat on the sofa in the common room, frowning. She raised her hand to touch her own arm, her eyes full of confusion. She had no idea what this change was, nor did she know it was the awakening of a special ability; she was simply bewildered by this strange physiological change. "I've tried standing in the sunlight, and this feeling weakens, but as soon as I get close to shadows, it becomes incredibly intense. I can barely even perceive my own presence."
Su Yu didn't know what this was either. Ability awakening? Or bloodline awakening? He thought about the time he had spent with Isolde and, without hesitation, immediately spoke to Cassandra, who had just walked in around the corner of the corridor: "Cassandra, come over here too, let me take a look."
A few seconds later, Cassandra walked over in high heels. She had also started wearing high heels recently to see who could outdo whom!
Cassandra was still wearing her exquisite school attire with an arrogant look in her eyes, yet she softened her edge slightly when looking at Su Yu.
Before Su Yu could speak, Cassandra frowned, her tone carrying a hint of surprise: "I was just looking for you too. I think I've also developed a strange feeling. During class today, my mind felt unprecedentedly clear. magic theories I couldn't figure out before and complex spell logic are all perfectly clear now. I can even hear the footsteps and heartbeats of everyone around me."
As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly paused, looking at Su Yu. She didn't open her mouth, but a crystal-clear voice rang directly in Su Yu's mind: "And I can transmit my thoughts directly into your mind without speaking."
Su Yu was startled. Were both of these people starting to mutate now?
Meanwhile, Isolde, watching the interaction between the two, subconsciously leaned closer to the shadows beside her. This time, her figure became visibly blurred, and the light around her seemed to be swallowed up. She slowly became transparent, and without any fluctuation of magical spells, she silently blended into the light and shadow, losing all trace completely.
Su Yu tested his newly acquired Tenseigan this year, as well as his Mangekyo Sharingan and Rinnegan, and discovered that only the Tenseigan and Rinnegan could see Isolde in her invisible state; even the Mangekyo Sharingan couldn't detect her.
Isolde herself was even more shocked. She hadn't done anything; she had simply followed the feeling in her body and had actually "disappeared." She couldn't even feel her own magic leaking out, let alone be detected by others.
A few seconds later, Isolde reappeared. The look in her eyes as she gazed at Su Yu finally shed its usual composure, replaced by genuine astonishment: "What exactly is going on?"
"This isn't an abnormality. It should be that after you practiced Ancient Magic, the latent talents within your bodies were activated, awakening your own exclusive abilities." Su Yu looked at the two of them and thought for a moment before explaining in a calm tone. His gaze swept over the still bewildered Isolde and then landed on the clear-eyed Cassandra. "Your physical anomaly is the awakening of an innate stealth talent, while Cassandra has awakened the ability for mental reinforcement and telepathy. This should all be a transformation brought about by Ancient Magic. After all, the biggest change in you these past few months has been learning Ancient Magic."
Cassandra raised an eyebrow slightly and tried to concentrate again. Her thoughts became even clearer, and she could even easily perceive the magical fluctuations of Su Yu and Isolde. She tried to transmit her voice to both of them simultaneously. This ability was quite useful; a clear voice rang in both their minds at the same time, without the slightest error.
Isolde looked down at her hands and slowly clenched them into fists. Although she still didn't know if her ability had any other functions, she understood that this was a transformation of power that belonged to her, one she had never experienced before.
"Have you told Graves?"
"No. After I felt that something was wrong with my body, I came to you immediately. After all, you are the master to whom I have pledged my loyalty." Isolde replied directly.
"Oh my, oh my, already calling him master? You guys are playing quite exciting games." Farley also walked in gracefully from the Great Hall. "Do you want me to call you that tonight too? My little~ mas~ter, you can whip me as you please, little master~~~"
Farley leaned forward slightly, extending a slender, cool finger to lightly hook Su Yu's chin. The force wasn't great, but it carried an irresistible assertiveness, forcing him to look up slightly and meet her sharp, cold, and beautiful eyes.
The next second, the toe of her high heel lifted slightly, pressing against the side of Su Yu's leg with just the right amount of pressure, the heel grinding slightly against the fabric.
Farley looked down at him. A crazy, playful smile appeared on her usually composed and cold face. Her voice was low and magnetic, carrying undisguised teasing: "If the little master wants to join in, I wouldn't mind either~~~"
Hermione and Daphne were sitting on the sofa feeling completely uncomfortable, their faces flushed with embarrassment. This shameless group—if they had known Su Yu and the others were playing such exciting games, and it looked like they were going to have a party, the two of them shouldn't have come...
Su Yu helplessly swatted away Farley's mischievous hand and pulled her into his arms. "Alright, stop causing trouble. There are children here. Don't lead Hermione and Daphneastray."
Farley lay in his arms, her fingers slowly exerting pressure on his waist, her eyes filled with playfulness and provocation.
Su Yu endured the pain, trying his best not to show his suffering.
At this moment, Hermione suddenly asked in a low voice, "What... what Ancient Magic are you learning? Can I learn it too?"
"Of course you can. Give me your badge, and I'll modify it for you. Then, every night, you can practice along with Cassandra and the Slytherin students. I'll teach you, don't worry." Su Yu rubbed Hermione's head. "I was planning to find a time to give it to you anyway. How could I not tell you about something like this?"
The afternoon sunlight pierced through the stone walls of Hogwarts Castle, spilling onto the courtyard where it was shredded by the layers of leaves into fine, golden foil.
The lingering scent of lunch still hung in the air as students walked in twos and threes toward the edge of the Forbidden Forest. This afternoon, Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures class was being held as scheduled. It was one of the courses third-year students were most looking forward to and most anxious about.
Su Yu walked at the very front, with Hermione and Daphnewalking side by side beside him. Hermione was hugging a copy of *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them* that had been flipped through until the edges were curled, with a trace of cream from lunch still on her fingertips. As she walked, she looked down and flipped through the pages, her brows slightly furrowed, muttering to herself: "Hagridsaid that today we're going to talk about Hippogriffs. The original text mentions that this creature is extremely proud. When approaching it, one must remain humble and must first obtain its permission..." Her speaking speed remained fast, carrying her usual rigor, as if she were not going to a practical class, but an exam that required thorough preparation in advance.
Daphne, on the other hand, walked much more composedly. Her long golden hair was loosely tied behind her head, with a few stray strands hanging beside her cheeks, swaying gently with her steps.
She turned her head to look at Hermione, a faint smile playing on the corners of her lips, her voice soft yet clear: "Don't be too nervous, Hermione. You have to trust Hagrid. Hippogriffs are indeed not to be trifled with, but the current you can easily crush them too." As she spoke, her gaze inadvertently swept across the front, and a hint of imperceptible curiosity flashed in her eyes—this was her first time truly experiencing a practical animal course at Hogwarts, and she was full of anticipation for those magical creatures she had only seen in textbooks.
"Su Yu, have you seen a Hippogriff before?" Hermionefinally closed the book and looked up to ask.
Su Yu shook his head slightly. "I haven't seen one, but I have seen a Griffin. It has a higher danger rating than a Hippogriff, but it was just like that, scared stiff by Kuramaand lying on the ground, not daring to move. Cassandraeven rode it and said she wanted to be a female knight, but that night she was ridden by Farley..."
"Huh?" Hermione's innocent little brain couldn't understand at all what Su Yu was talking about.
Daphne chuckled softly from the side.
Not far away, a burst of noisy laughter came; the people coming were Harry and Ron.
Harry hurried to catch up. His black hair was a bit messy from the wind, and his face still had a flush from lunch. He slapped Su Yu's shoulder and said enthusiastically: "Su Yu! Finally caught up with you guys! Ron, this guy, insisted on having another piece of chocolate cake in the Castle, and as a result, we were almost late!" As he said this, he looked helplessly at Ron behind him.
Ron Weasley followed, panting. His red hair was sticking up like a tangled mess, and a button on the collar of his school uniform was fastened incorrectly. He glared at Harry with dissatisfaction and muttered: "What's wrong with chocolate cake? That's Hogwarts' signature dessert! Besides, so what if we're late? Hagrid's class won't be any shorter; at most, it just means we get to learn about one more magical creature." As he said this, he rubbed his stomach, his face full of satisfaction.
"Ron, all you know is eating." Hermione pushed up her glasses helplessly. "Hagrid said that the habitat of the Hippogriffs is deep in the Forbidden Forest, and we must arrive on time, or we'll miss their activity time. Moreover, this creature is very sensitive; being late might disturb it." Her tone remained serious, but Ron, having long since gotten used to it, simply stuck out his tongue and stopped arguing.
The five of them walked side by side, chatting about interesting things since the start of school along the way. Harry mentioned the owl letter he received from Mrs. Weasley in the morning, which advised him to be careful of dangers on campus and also sent a big pile of sweaters; Ron complained that his sweater was knitted to a huge size, making him look like a dumpling when he wore it; Hermione shared the third-year schedule she had organized a week in advance, with key points and difficulties marked densely on it. Su Yu and Daphnelistened quietly, occasionally interjecting a word or two, responding just right, making the casual chat relaxed and warm.
Just as they were approaching the clearing at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, another group appeared ahead.
Draco Malfoy was wearing a crisp, well-pressed Slytherinrobe today, his platinum tie shining in the sun, his blonde hair meticulously combed, leading his little gang with an arrogant air.
Hagrid was already at the hut door at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, wearing a moleskin coat with the collar open, revealing a large patch of hairy chest, grinning brightly, his voice so loud the whole yard could hear: "Good afternoon, everyone! Welcome to your first Care of Magical Creatures class of third year!"
The students responded sparsely, many with uneasy looks in their eyes.
Hagrid clearly didn't notice the subtle atmosphere, still in high spirits: "Today we aren't doing anything else, let's start with your textbooks! Everyone take out 'The Monster Book of Monsters'!"
Everyone looked at each other, then slowly pulled out the black-skinned book with the terrifying cover and sharp teeth growing on it.
As soon as Ron took his book out, it suddenly struggled violently in his hand, biting his finger hard.
"Ouch!" Ron yelled, shaking his hand, and the book fell to the ground with a thud, immediately scurrying around the ground like a startled beast.
There were gasps all around, and Malfoy and his group laughed on the sidelines, mocking Harry and Ron as cowards.
Hagrid laughed heartily: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid! This book just has a bit of a temper! You have to gently tickle its belly button first, and it will quiet down obediently!"
As soon as these words came out, the students looked at each other — tickle the belly button of a book that bites people?
Hermione reacted the fastest. She carefully crouched down, extended a finger, and very lightly tickled the bottom of the struggling Monster Book. The book instantly froze, then obediently closed its sharp teeth and lay quietly flat on the ground.
"See! Simple enough!" Hagrid said proudly.
Harry followed Hermione's example and successfully soothed his book. Ron tried several times before succeeding, jumping several times in the process, which caused a round of snickering from those around.
Daphne had never encountered such a strange magical item before and seemed hesitant. Su Yu whispered to her from the side: "Just gently tickle the bottom; it won't really hurt you. Kurama is right beside you, she can protect you. Look at mine, it's very obedient."
Daphne followed instructions, and the Monster Book immediately became docile. She raised her eyebrows slightly, feeling that this class was much more interesting than she had imagined.
Hagrid continued to lecture loudly: "This 'The Monster Book of Monsters' is no ordinary textbook! It is a magical creature itself, with a violent temper, but as long as you know how to treat it, it will be obedient! This is the first thing I want to teach you — all magical creatures have their own temperaments and rules."
While speaking, he demonstrated: gently tickling the book, opening it, closing it; the book was as docile as a kitten in his hands.
The students followed suit. The clearing was filled with sounds of "Hiss —", "Careful!", "Don't touch its teeth!", orderly within the chaos, incredibly lively.
After Harry successfully soothed his book, he asked curiously: "Hagrid, why did this book become like this?"
"It's an aggressively enchanted book," Hagrid explained, "specifically used to train your courage and patience! If you can't even handle a book, how will you deal with Dragons and Acromantulas later?"
Ron turned pale at the mention: "Dragons??"
Hagrid chuckled: "We'll talk about that later! Let's get the books under control first!"
Malfoy stood to the side, looking at the chaotic crowd with disdain. He slowly pulled out his wand, stuck it into the Monster Book's mouth, and said cruelly to it, "Either you listen to me, or I kill you, you choose?"
The Monster Book immediately quieted down, though it trembled slightly.
Hagrid frowned: "Malfoy! Don't bully the books! They have feelings too!"
Malfoy sneered, too lazy to bother.
The class continued. Hagrid let everyone take turns practicing soothing the Monster Book. Many students who were flustered at first gradually found the knack. The gasps in the clearing slowly turned into attempts and laughter. Harry found it novel and exciting, Ron went from scared to thinking it was fun, and Hermione was meticulously recording every detail.
Daphne stood beside Su Yu and whispered: "So this is what Hogwarts classes are like, much more interesting than I imagined."
Su Yu nodded slightly: "Although Hagrid looks rough, he truly loves magical creatures. However, how much you can learn from him depends on fate. I always feel that letting him teach is really unreliable..."
On the other side, Malfoy leaned against a tree, bored, occasionally mocking them, but didn't really cause trouble. Crabbe and Goyle were struggling clumsily with their Monster Books, while Pansy hid behind Malfoy the whole time, saying she was afraid of being bitten by the book.
Su Yu was shocked to see this. When did Pansy learn the art of war? Malfoy, danger!
At this moment, Hagrid was leading a dozen chains and walked slowly into the paddock, saying loudly: "Alright, all you third-year Wizards, quiet down! The magical creature we are going to discuss today is one of the most precious and dangerous magical creatures at Hogwarts — the Hippogriff!"
Standing next to him were a group of Hippogriffs, nearly twenty of them, with gray-blue feathers, golden eyes, eagle claws for front legs, horse hooves for back legs, and wings folded on both sides of their bodies, occasionally flapping, creating a gust of wind.
"Everyone stand back." Hagrid's loud voice echoed in the wind. "Don't get close yet. They are very proud; if you are not careful, they will kick you away. Who wants to try first?"
Malfoy scoffed from the side. "This thing has pride? How proud can it be?"
Hagrid ignored him and continued the introduction. "This is a Hippogriff, a very noble creature. To approach them, you must first bow, wait for them to return the bow, and then you can approach. Don't blink; they will think you have ill intentions."
Hagrid stepped forward and bowed to the largest Hippogriff. The giant gray-blue beast lowered its head, bent its front legs, and returned the bow. Hagrid reached out and stroked its beak; it narrowed its eyes, looking very pleased.
"Who wants to try?" Hagrid turned and scanned the crowd.
No one moved. The Slytherin students mostly felt it was just a beast. How noble can it be? Proud? So they weren't very interested.
Harry hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward. He walked to the Hippogriff and bowed. He bowed too deeply and almost fell. The giant beast tilted its head, looked at him, then bent its front legs and returned the bow. Harryreached out and stroked its beak.
"Well done!" Hagrid said loudly. "You can ride it for a flight."
Harry's eyes lit up. He climbed on, the Hippogriff flapped its wings and soared into the sky. The students looked up, some clapping, some gasping.
Kurama looked up at Harry and the giant beast in the sky, her tail wagging back and forth.
"Do you want to ride it?" Su Yu asked.
"No." Kurama said.
"Then why are you wagging your tail?"
Kurama didn't answer. She couldn't very well say they looked delicious...
Harry came down from the sky, his face flushed by the wind, his eyes shining. Ron ran over and patted his shoulder. Malfoy also walked out of the crowd and went to another Hippogriff.
"I'll try too." Malfoy said, his tone carrying an arrogance.
He bowed slightly, his eyes not closed, but staring straight at the golden pupils of the Hippogriff.
The giant beast did not return the bow. Its wings spread slightly, its front hooves scraped the ground, a low, threatening growl sounded in its throat, and then it lunged at Malfoy — front hooves raised, eagle claws spread, its beak poking straight at his chest.
The students gasped. Crabbe and Goyle took a step forward, but it was too late. Malfoy did not retreat. His right hand had already pulled his wand from his robe, the tip pointed at the lunging giant beast. A silver-white light shot from the tip, a precise Impediment Jinx. The barrier blocked the space between him and the beast, and the beast's front hooves hit the barrier with a dull thud and were knocked back.
The beast staggered after landing, its wings suddenly spread, flapping toward Malfoy. The wind from the wings kicked up grass and soil, hitting people's faces painfully. Malfoy didn't dodge. He waved his wand again, and a red light shot from the tip, hitting the base of the beast's wings. The beast's wings stiffened suddenly and drooped halfway through the flap.
The beast was furious. It lowered its head and poked at Malfoy with its beak. Malfoy dodged to the side, his speed almost too fast to see. At the same time, the wand spun in his hand, and an invisible force spread from the tip, like a net, covering the beast's body. The beast struggled a few times, discovering its body was frozen, its front hooves suspended in mid-air, wings spread halfway, its beak only a foot away from Malfoy's chest.
Malfoy stood there, wand steadily pointed at the beast's neck, his expression as calm as if nothing had happened. His robe had a bit of mud on it, but he had no wounds, not even his hair was messed up.
"That's it? Proud? Noble?"
Hagrid ran over, his face pale. "Malfoy! Don't hurt it!"
Malfoy glanced at Hagrid, put away his wand, and the invisible force dissipated. The beast's body fell back to the ground, retreated two steps, and stared at Malfoy with golden eyes, but didn't attack again. It seemed to realize that the person in front of it was not to be trifled with. Its wings folded, and its front hooves were put down.
Malfoy tucked his wand back into his robe and patted the dust off his sleeves. "This beast has quite a temper."
Crabbe and Goyle rushed over, grinning foolishly.
Pansy stood behind, constantly praising Malfoy for being so handsome! It was so mushy that even Su Yu couldn't listen to it anymore, and only Malfoy, he felt even more puffed up.
Hagrid crouched down to check the Hippogriff. There were no injuries on the beast, just the base of its wings were a bit red. Hagrid stroked its neck, and it rubbed against Hagrid's hand, slowly calming down.
"Are you okay?" Hagrid turned to ask Malfoy.
"I'm fine." Malfoy was immersed in the excitement of being praised by Pansy, and hearing Hagrid's words, he replied casually, then turned and walked away. Crabbe and Goylefollowed behind, and Pansy was hugging his arm, still saying "Brother, you are so amazing."
Hagrid stood up and clapped his hands. "Alright, alright, everyone don't be afraid. This Buckbeak is usually very docile. Maybe it's in a bad mood today. Malfoy is fine, and it's fine too. Who else wants to try?"
Now no one dared to move. Hagrid scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "Well, that's it for today's class. See you next week."
The students dispersed in twos and threes. Su Yu carried the gluttonous Kurama and walked back, Daphne walked beside him, and Hermione was walking in front, still talking incessantly about the notes she took today.
Chapter 63: Boggart
The Potion Class classroom in the Hogwarts dungeons was forever shrouded in a cold, damp atmosphere.
The stone walls were darkened by years of Potion fumes, and the dim light of the oil lamps flickered, casting eerie shadows over the rows of magical creature parts preserved in glass jars.
The air was thick with the smell of daisy roots, leech juice, rotting herbs, and crocodile hearts, heavy enough to make one breathless.
The Gryffindor and Slytherin students had already taken their seats, and the classroom was quiet, save for the faint sounds of cauldrons being set down and Potion bottles clinking.
Su Yu sat beside Daphne, watching boredly as Nevillesubconsciously tensed his shoulders, repeatedly checking the ingredient list on the blackboard, his eyes filled with undisguisable nervousness.
Professor Snape walked out of the shadows, his Blackrobes trailing on the floor, his gaze sweeping across the room like two cold blades; no one dared to look up and meet his eyes.
"Today we are brewing Shrinking Solution." He spoke coldly. "The steps are written on the blackboard. If any step is wrong, the entire cauldron of Potion will be ruined, and you will regret coming to this classroom."
As soon as he finished speaking, the students began to work.
Neville lost his composure almost immediately. His hands shook violently; he couldn't get the measurement of the daisy roots right after several attempts, and he accidentally poured a few extra drops of leech juice. The more anxious he became, the more flustered he got, with fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead. His eyes darted frantically between his textbook and the cauldron. Hermione watched anxiously from the side, but she didn't dare to call out a reminder, only occasionally signaling him with her eyes to slow down.
Malfoy took all of this in, a subtle sneer curling the corner of his mouth. He processed his ingredients leisurely, his movements skillful yet perfunctory. He deliberately shifted his desk toward Harry and Ron, ensuring his voice would precisely reach their ears.
"You should have heard about it, right?" He said nonchalantly, glancing at Harry while cutting figs with a silver knife. "I heard my father has been very busy lately, running between the Ministry of Magic and the Board of Governors, submitting several formal complaints."
Ron's hand tightened around his stirring spoon. "What are you trying to say?"
"Nothing." Malfoy shrugged. "Just a reminder that Hagridwon't be at Hogwarts for much longer. The group of dangerous magical creatures he keeps got into a fight with a student. That charge is enough to get him kicked out. Although I had a part in it, I can't directly stop my father while I'm at school, so I can only pray for Hagrid's good luck. I just want to say, I really didn't do this, because I don't need to."
Harry didn't speak, only lowered his head to stir the liquid in his cauldron, his knuckles turning slightly white. He knew what Malfoy said was true. Lucius Malfoy's influence at the Ministry of Magic was enough to easily crush a teacher of half-Giant descent. Hagrid's troubled appearance over the past few days flashed through his mind, making his heart feel heavy.
"You were the one who deliberately provoked Buckbeak." Ron lowered his voice, his tone full of anger. "You knew full well that those creatures shouldn't be offended."
"I didn't do anything." Malfoy smiled innocently. "Everyone will believe a Malfoy, not a half-Giant. You'd better accept that reality."
Su Yu had already fallen asleep on the desk. He hadn't eaten hotpot in class, which was already giving enough face. Anyway, he figured he would never learn how to brew Potions, and his cauldron was being watched by Kurama.
Looking at the slacking Su Yu, Daphne had no choice. Su Yu's talents were outstanding in every aspect, except for Potion Class and Transfiguration Class. She carefully helped Kurama cut the daisy roots piece by piece, while Kurama helped peel the figs on the side and then brewed the Potion. Honestly, Kurama's knowledge of Potion Classwas better than Su Yu's now.
Just then, Professor Snape's footsteps stopped beside Neville.
In Neville's cauldron, the Potion had turned an incredibly glaring bright orange, bubbling with strange foam, completely different from the pale green that Shrinking Solution should be. A slightly pungent smell drifted into the air, causing the people around him to subconsciously frown.
"Longbottom." Professor Snape's voice was as cold as ice. "Is there anything you can do in your life besides messing things up?"
Neville's face instantly turned bright red. He stood there at a loss, his lips trembling, unable to say a single word.
"Professor, I can help him fix it—" Hermione spoke up immediately.
"Sit down, Miss Granger." Professor Snape interrupted her sternly. "This is his own stupidity; it is not your place to save him. Five points from Gryffindor. If the error in this cauldron were any worse, I wouldn't mind letting your toad taste its effects personally."
Neville's eyes turned red instantly. He lowered his head, gripping his robes tightly, his whole body trembling slightly.
Hermione bit her lip, ultimately not daring to retort further. She could only take advantage of the moment Professor Snape turned away to whisper instructions to Neville, in a very light and fast tone, on adjusting the order of ingredients and the heat. Neville hurried to follow, adding a small amount of daisy root powder in a flurry, and then carefully turned down the flame. The orange foam gradually subsided, and the color slowly shifted toward pale green.
Malfoy took in this scene, his desire to watch the fun uncontrollable. He turned back to Harry, leaning forward slightly, deliberately lowering his voice, but with a full sense of provocation.
"By the way, Potter, have you been following The Daily Prophet lately?"
Harry looked up, his gaze turning colder.
"Sirius Black." Malfoy slowly spat out the name, carefully observing the change in Harry's expression. "That Dark Wizard who betrayed your parents and killed over a dozen people. The whole Wizarding World is saying he only escaped from prison for one purpose—"
He paused, deliberately drawing out his tone, enjoying Harry's gradually tensing expression.
"—to find you."
Harry's heart sank abruptly.
These days, the rumors about Black had been hanging over his heart like an inescapable cloud. Dementors were patrolling around the campus, and everyone was in a state of panic. He knew better than anyone that Black had an undeniable connection to his parents' death, and fear, like a thin needle, quietly pricked into the depths of his heart.
"Stop talking nonsense." Harry's voice was a bit dry.
"Nonsense?" Malfoy sneered, his tone full of intimidation and mockery. "If he could escape from Azkaban, there is nothing he wouldn't dare to do. He personally sold your parents to Lord Voldemort back then; now, it's your turn. Do you think he might sneak into the Castle and stand by your bedside while you're fast asleep in the middle of the night?"
Ron glared at Malfoy immediately: "Shut up! Don't you dare talk nonsense again!"
"I'm just stating facts." Malfoy shrugged, looking innocent. "If Potter really had any guts, he might as well rush out of the school to find Black and see who is stronger. Maybe he'll be extra 'kind' to you."
Harry stared fixedly at Malfoy, his chest heaving, suppressing the urge to punch him. He knew Malfoy was deliberately trying to provoke him; the more impulsive he was, the more he would fall into the other's trap. But those words were like cold vipers, slithering into his ears and wrapping around his heart, making it almost impossible for him to concentrate.
Professor Snape happened to walk back to the podium at this moment, not noticing the undercurrents here, only coldly sweeping the room: "Continue brewing. If anyone else gets distracted, everyone will have detention until midnight."
The classroom fell back into silence, with only the faint sound of the cauldrons boiling.
Neville, with Hermione's secret help, finally adjusted the Potion back to the normal pale green. The foam was fine and even, and the smell had returned to normal. He let out a long sigh of relief, leaning back in his chair as if he were about to collapse, his eyes filled with lingering fear.
Professor Snape paced back, glanced at Neville's cauldron, and frowned slightly, clearly unsatisfied, but he didn't offer more criticism. However, when he noticed Hermione's little action just now, he spoke coldly again: "Miss Granger, instructing others without permission and ignoring classroom discipline. Another five points from Gryffindor."
Hermione's face darkened, but she could only accept it silently.
Malfoy's Potion had long since been finished, with standard color and clear texture, worthy of being a model. When Professor Snape passed by him, he only nodded faintly without a word of criticism, forming a glaring contrast with his harshness toward Gryffindor. Malfoylifted his chin triumphantly, deliberately shaking his cauldron slightly to show off his perfect result to Harry.
Ron was so angry he gritted his teeth, but there was nothing he could do. Professor Snape's favoritism had always been so blatant and undisguised.
For the rest of the class, Malfoy continued to use his words to make snide remarks from time to time—mentioning that Hagrid was about to be fired, hinting that Black was closing in on the school, and mocking Neville's clumsiness and Harry's sullenness. He observed every subtle expression of Harry's with tireless delight, enjoying the sight of the other suppressing his anger.
Harry forced himself to focus on the Potion in front of him, pressing all his irritability, anger, and anxiety to the bottom of his heart. He knew that any impulsive behavior now would give Professor Snape an excuse to punish Gryffindor and would also make Malfoy even more triumphant.
Finally, the bell rang for the end of class.
Professor Snape briefly checked a few cauldrons, announced the end of the class, and turned to leave the dungeon first.
The students packed up their cauldrons and ingredients, and the classroom gradually regained some life. Nevillehung his head, silently scrubbing his cauldron, while Hermione comforted him softly, telling him he had done well. Ron was still furious, whispering curses about Malfoy's baseness and Professor Snape's unfairness.
Harry silently packed his things, Malfoy's words echoing repeatedly in his mind.
Malfoy walked out of the classroom with Crabbe and Goyle, strutting swaggeringly. When he passed by Harry, he deliberately slowed his pace and cast a look full of malice and mockery.
The afternoon Castle corridors were very quiet, and Lupinwas leading the Gryffindor and Slytherin students, about to head to the staff room for a Defense Against the Dark Arts practical class.
Professor Lupin, walking in front of the students, wore that old, washed-out wizarding robe. Compared to the day school started, his cheeks today showed a faint flush of color, and his eyes were much brighter, no longer looking as listless as they had at the beginning of the term.
His stride was lighter, lacking that sickly stagger. His slightly sweating forehead glimmered, and he looked much more energetic, his gentle smile appearing more natural and sincere.
Just as they rounded a corridor corner, they bumped into Peeves. He was floating upside down in mid-air, his two little feet kicking wildly, focused intently on stuffing a wad of chewing gum into a keyhole on the wall.
It wasn't until Lupin was only two feet away that Peevesabruptly looked up and spotted the new arrival. He immediately twisted his body and, pulling at his shrill voice, sang over and over again: "Lupin the Loony, big dummy! Lupin the Loony, big dummy!"
Usually, even though Peeves was mischievous, he kept a shred of fear for Professors. This blatant mockery made the students around him hold their breath, looking at Lupin, waiting to see him get angry.
But Lupin still wore a gentle smile on his face, without a hint of anger, and simply spoke calmly: "Peeves, take the chewing gum out of the keyhole."
Peeves immediately spat disdainfully, ignoring Lupin's command entirely, and continued to float in place, looking utterly unconcerned.
Lupin gently raised the wand in his hand, without the slightest hesitation, and softly recited the spell: "Waddiwasi!"
With a faint, crisp sound, the wad of chewing gum stuffed in the keyhole instantly shot out, flying straight into Peeves's nostril.
Peeves let out a shrill, piercing scream on the spot, flailing and spinning in the air, frantically trying to dig the chewing gum out of his nostril, while cursing and swearing as he floated away in a sorry state.
Lupin lowered his wand, turned to the stunned students beside him, smiled gently, and said softly: "Alright, that's a very practical little spell. Let's continue on."
The students followed Lupin into the staff room.
Snape was sitting in a chair in the corner, watching them coldly.
The moment Neville saw Snape, his face turned pale, and he shrank into a ball.
Snape stood up, preparing to leave. When he reached the door, he spoke up: "Perhaps no one has warned you, Lupin, that there is a Neville Longbottom in this class. I suggest you don't let him touch anything difficult, unless Miss Granger is whispering instructions in his ear."
Neville buried his head lower, his hands clenched tightly, while Harry glared at Professor Snape with a flushed face.
Lupin immediately raised his eyebrows and responded calmly but firmly:
"I was just hoping Neville could help me with the first demonstration. I believe he will do an excellent job."
Snape snorted, said nothing more, and with a bang, closed the door and walked out.
"Everyone worked hard in Potion Class this morning." Lupin put down the textbook in his hand, swept his gaze across the room with a smile, and paused deliberately when his eyes landed on Neville. "Neville, I heard you brewed a passable Shrinking Solution today. You did very well. Don't let Snape's grading make you doubt yourself."
Neville lifted his head abruptly, his eyes reddening instantly, and whispered: "Thank you, Professor, but it was Hermione who helped me..."
"Help between friends is never a mistake." Lupininterrupted him, his tone gentle yet firm. "Whether it's Potion Class or Defense Against the Dark Arts, the most important thing isn't the grade, but whether you have learned something truly useful."
His words flowed into the heart of every student like a warm current. Even a few Slytherin students quietly straightened up, their gazes toward Lupin filled with a bit more admiration—after all, in all of Hogwarts, there were very few Professors who dared to openly contradict Snapeand leave him with no faults to pick.
"Today, we are going to learn about Boggart defense." Lupin opened the textbook and pointed to the illustration—a humanoid creature wearing tattered robes with its face hidden in shadows. "A Boggart is a shape-shifting monster. It will turn into whatever you fear most and then feed on your fear. The key to dealing with it isn't to defeat it, but to make it ridiculous."
Everyone's attention was on Neville as Lupin patiently explained the essentials of handling a Boggart, but Su Yu's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the old, tattered wardrobe in the center of the room.
A faint, chilling aura seeped through the cracks of the wardrobe doors, as if something inside was restless and agitated. It stirred something inexplicably in the depths of his heart, and he took a slight step forward, feeling an urge to walk up and pull the door open to see for himself.
The moment this subtle movement appeared, Lupinnoticed it immediately.
The Professor's gentle eyes narrowed slightly. Almost subconsciously, he took half a step forward, blocking Su Yufrom the wardrobe without making a scene. His face still wore a smile, but his tone carried an indisputable, gentle restraint:
"Don't be so hasty, Sean Foley. The Boggart isn't ready to face you yet. Let's go in order, shall we?"
He spoke calmly and naturally, neither alarming the others nor failing to stop Su Yu's action, yet a flash of imperceptible worry crossed the depths of his eyes. Lupinknew very well that a Boggart would reflect one's deepest fears, and Su Yu harbored power and a past that perhaps even he himself didn't fully understand.
He dared not imagine what would happen if, in front of everyone, the Boggart dragged out something uncontrollable from the depths of Su Yu's heart—something capable of shaking the entire room.
For the sake of everyone, and for Su Yu himself, he had to firmly prevent that step before it happened.
Lupin then turned and returned to the front of the wardrobe to continue conducting the class.
Neville gripped his wand tightly. Encouraged by Lupin, he stared intently at the slowly opening wardrobe door. A chilling aura dispersed, and the Boggart instantly transformed into the likeness of Snape, approaching him with a gloomy face.
"Don't panic, Neville! Imagine him wearing your grandmother's clothes!" Lupin reminded him loudly.
Neville was trembling all over, but he mustered his courage and shouted: "Riddikulus!"
After a crisp sound, Snape was suddenly wearing a lace-trimmed dress, a high hat with a vulture perched on it, and carrying a bright red handbag. The ridiculous sight made the Gryffindor students burst into laughter, and even a few of the cold-faced Slytherin students on the side couldn't help but curl the corners of their mouths.
"Very well done, Neville!" Lupin nodded approvingly, raised his hand to shoo the Boggart back into the wardrobe, and then called the next person's name.
Parvati stepped forward, and the wardrobe door opened again. The Boggart transformed into a mummy wrapped in bandages, walking stiffly toward her. Parvati quickly recited the spell, and the bandages at the mummy's feet instantly unraveled, causing it to fall in a sorry state, which drew another round of laughter.
Seamus followed closely. The Boggart turned into a pale female ghost with disheveled hair, but with a single spell from him, it became ridiculous and funny, without any deterrent power.
Next up were all Gryffindor and Slytherin students. Deanfaced a venomous snake; after casting the spell, the snake became round and waddled. A Slytherin boy was most afraid of a Giant centipede; as the spell fell, the centipede grew tiny wings and stumbled, unable to fly. There was also a Slytherin girl who faced a terrifying Vampire, and in an instant, she had the Vampire wearing flashy children's clothes, looking strange and funny.
Lupin quickly pushed the Boggart back into the wardrobe and turned to Malfoy: "Malfoy, your turn."
Malfoy's face turned pale, and his arrogant expression froze instantly.
Lupin opened the wardrobe door, and the Boggartimmediately twisted—turning into Lucius Malfoy, pale and motionless, as if he had been dead for a long time.
Malfoy trembled all over, his voice shaking: "Riddikulus!"
Lucius instantly turned into a figure with a livid face, pointing his wand directly at his own chest.
But Malfoy laughed.
Ron was in the middle of the line. As soon as the Boggartcame out, it turned into the Giant spider he feared most. He shrank back in fear, but under Lupin's prompting, he forced himself to imagine the spider wearing roller skates. After casting the spell, the spider indeed wore tiny roller skates, clumsily spinning in place, and Ron breathed a sigh of relief.
Next was Hermione. Her greatest fear was failing an exam. The Boggart turned into an exam paper marked "Fail." Hermione calmly transformed it into an answer sheet full of gold-embossed top marks, handling it with ease.
Soon it was Harry's turn. His heart sank. He was very curious about what his Boggart would be, and a suffocating fear instantly welled up in his heart.
Just as Harry was about to step forward, Lupin again stepped forward quickly, blocking Harry directly, just as he had blocked Su Yu before, intercepting this round without hesitation.
He opened the wardrobe door himself. The Boggarttwisted rapidly before him, transforming into a Dementorwith a lowered hood, exuding an aura of cold despair. The laughter in the room stopped instantly, and even the Slytherin students looked nervous.
Lupin's expression was calm as he raised his wand steadily: "Riddikulus!"
The next second, the Dementor was wearing ridiculous floral shorts and oversized sunglasses, its form swaying, completely devoid of any terror. Only then did everyone relax, and laughter rang out again.
Lupin quickly closed the wardrobe door and cast an imperceptible glance at Su Yu, who was standing in the line. Seeing that he was still staring at the wardrobe with inquisitive eyes, he remained vigilant, deliberately not letting Su Yu get half a step closer.
Throughout the class, the Gryffindor and Slytherinstudents took turns. Lupin wrapped up the lesson methodically, gently summarizing the key points, all the while secretly keeping an eye on Su Yu, preventing any possibility of things spiraling out of control.