Chapter 72: Christmas, Prophecy II
Dumbledore was the first to notice her. He set down his cutlery, looked up, and with his usual gentle and inclusive smile, gestured lightly towards her: "Sybill, you've arrived. Come over and sit down. The Christmas lunch today is very rich; if you wait any longer, the hot dishes will go cold."
Trelawney did not step forward immediately. She stood in place, slightly tilting her head, her gaze sweeping emptily across the teachers' table. Her thin lips parted, and her voice was faint, ethereal, and carried a deliberately cultivated, mysterious tone: "Principal, I should not have come to disturb you. I have been guarding my tower, gazing into that transparent crystal ball, trying to see the traces left by fate in the flowing light and shadows. But just now, a clear omen appeared in the crystal ball—it guided me to put down my solitary lunch and come here to gather with everyone. I think this is the call of fate, and I cannot resist."
As she spoke, she moved her feet lightly, intending to walk towards the empty seat beside Dumbledore, but just as her gaze swept over the number of people at the table, her originally dazed expression suddenly froze. Her originally faint voice spiked, emitting a sharp and terrified yelp. Her footsteps recoiled sharply, she waved her hands repeatedly, her head shaking like a rattle, her face full of resistance and fear.
"No! No! I cannot sit down! Principal, I must absolutely not sit down!" Trelawney tightly wrapped her shawl around herself, her body trembling slightly, and the look behind her thick lenses was full of panic, staring fixedly at the dining table, as if some deadly danger were hidden in that empty seat. "You count carefully; there are already twelve people sitting at the table! If I sit down, we will make thirteen! There is no omen in the world more unlucky or dangerous than thirteen people dining together!"
Her voice became suddenly sharp, carrying an unquestionable certainty, each word clear in the lively Great Hall, causing many students nearby to look up towards the teachers' table.
"Always remember this iron rule! When thirteen people dine together, the first one to stand up will be the first to die! This is a prophecy of blood and fate, and it never goes wrong!" Trelawney became more excited as she spoke, her body shaking uncontrollably, her eyes full of fear for unknown disasters, as if in the next second, the shadow of death would shroud the entire table.
Professor McGonagall, sitting to the side, frowned instantly upon hearing this, her face showing obvious impatience. She put down the knife and fork in her hand, hummed softly, and with a tone of helpless sarcasm, spoke to the terrified Trelawney: "Sybill, it is just an ethereal saying. Christmas should be an auspicious day; there is no need to care about these absurd superstitions. Sit down quickly; the turkey is already starting to get dry, and the tripe soup is about to get cold. Don't delay the meal."
Professor McGonagall had always been pragmatic and had never been interested in Trelawney's daily mystical prophecies. At this moment, with the peaceful atmosphere of the Christmas lunch broken, her tone carried a hint of imperceptible displeasure, but out of professional courtesy, she maintained the decorum of a teacher.
Trelawney still refused to move. She stood in place, her lips trembling, her eyes full of stubborn fear. After hesitating for a long time, under the reassurance of Dumbledore's gentle gaze, she finally shuffled and cautiously moved to the empty seat and slowly sat down. The moment she sat down, she tightly closed her eyes, pursed her lips, and gripped the tablecloth tightly with both hands, her body rigid, as if lightning would strike or some fierce beast would suddenly appear in the next second. Her whole face was pale with extreme tension, and she was still muttering softly to herself, fragmented words that no one could hear clearly, all about the ominous omen.
Professor McGonagall shook her head helplessly at her neurotic appearance, picked up a spoon, scooped a spoonful of tripe into Trelawney's plate, and said in a flat tone: "Try this. The house-elves made it very flavorful. It's best eaten while hot."
But Trelawney ignored Professor McGonagall's kindness. She remained tense, and only after a long while did she slowly open her eyes. Those eyes, magnified by her lenses, scanned the table again. As if she had suddenly discovered something, her gaze slightly froze, and her voice became ethereal again, carrying a hint of doubt and inquiry.
"But... where is my dear Professor Lupin?" She tilted her head slightly, her tone light, her gaze falling on the empty seat where Lupin usually sat, a hint of eerie gravity in her eyes. "When I was counting the number of people just now, I didn't even notice his aura. Why is this gentle gentleman not sitting at the table today?"
Hearing this, a flash of faint regret crossed Dumbledore's eyes, his tone carrying concern for his colleague: "Poor Remus, he is sick again. It is truly a sad thing to fall ill on Christmas Day. We can only let him rest well in his office; he cannot come to participate in this feast."
Once these words were spoken, Trelawney's expression instantly became even more eerie. She leaned forward slightly, lowered her voice, and added a thick layer of ominousness to her originally ethereal tone, staring hollowly at Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall.
"Minerva, Albus, if you must know the truth, then I will speak plainly—I have long seen the fate of Professor Lupinin the crystal ball." Her voice carried a kind of eerie certainty. "I can clearly foresee that poor Professor Lupinwill not stay with us for long. His days are numbered, the gears of fate have begun to turn towards the end, and even he himself, deep in his heart, has long faintly realized this, knowing that his end is approaching."
Speaking of this, the corner of Trelawney's mouth hooked into an eerie arc, her eyes carrying a kind of detachment that seemed to see through everything: "A few days ago, I offered to read his fortune in the crystal ball to help him see the dangers ahead, but do you know what? He almost fled, hurriedly rejecting my kindness. It's not that he doesn't want to know the future, but that he dares not face it. He knows better than anyone that his fate has long been targeted by death."
Professor McGonagall's displeasure grew thicker upon hearing this. She looked up at Trelawney coldly, her tone carrying undisguised sarcasm and dissatisfaction: "It is conceivable that no one would want to hear these baseless, fear-mongering prophecies of yours. Remus is just weak and often ill; there is nothing as absurd as what you say."
Professor McGonagall knew Remus's condition well and also knew that most of Trelawney's prophecies were groundless and alarmist. She was unwilling to believe her nonsense at all, only feeling that she was destroying the atmosphere of the Christmas lunch and deliberately creating anxiety.
But Trelawney seemed not to have heard McGonagall's sarcasm at all. She was completely immersed in her world of divination. Her eyes became increasingly hollow, her gaze passing through the crowd in front of her, looking towards the empty space of the Great Hall, as if she had truly seen something that ordinary people could not perceive. Her body trembled slightly, and she began to mutter to herself, her voice sometimes fragmented, sometimes sharp, full of ominous meaning, spreading through the warm Great Hall, making the surrounding air seem to be stained with a bit of chill.
"Darkness... boundless darkness has completely shrouded this ancient Castle..." She narrowed her eyes slightly, her voice trembling with extreme fear. "I can feel that cold, damp, death-scented shadow is wandering in the Castle. It is hiding in the dark, hiding in the corners of these laughter and joy. It is in this Great Hall, right beside us!"
She raised her hand suddenly, her withered fingers pointing into the air, her eyes full of terror, her tone becoming increasingly eerie: "It is waiting, lurking, getting closer to its target little by little... I can see that within this year, someone in this Castle will surely lose what they hold most precious, most cherished. Perhaps it is family, perhaps friendship, or perhaps the most indispensable existence in life... Perhaps, this terrible change will come tonight, this very Christmas night, at any time!"
As her voice fell, she lowered her head slightly, her eyes dazed, muttering astrological terms that others could not understand: "Mars is in retrograde, Saturn has fallen into the ninth house, the celestial phenomena are in chaos, all trajectories are indicating that a great disaster is coming, and a bloody disaster is right before our eyes... I saw it, I saw it clearly—a giant black dog, standing in a cold graveyard, howling mournfully at the night sky!"
Trelawney's voice suddenly became sharp, and her whole body trembled violently, as if she had witnessed that terrifying scene with her own eyes: "That is not an ordinary dog; that is the Grim, an omen of misfortune, a messenger of death! It wanders around the Castle, wandering in every corner of Hogwarts, searching every moment for the next soul to take! Its gaze has locked onto this place, locked onto the people in this Great Hall!"
"Be careful, everyone must be careful!" She looked around suddenly, her gaze sweeping over every student and every teacher present, her eyes full of terror, her voice shrill. "That messenger of death is nearby; it is hiding in the shadows and will appear at any time! Do not leave the crowd alone, do not walk in the middle of the night, and do not go near the Forbidden Forest behind the Castle; that is its territory! Once it targets you, you will never be able to escape the fate of death!"
She became more and more insane as she spoke, the terror and certainty in her tone intertwined. She fell into a near-manic trance, her hands clutching her shawl tightly, her body shrinking backwards, as if the black dog symbolizing death would appear before her in the next second. She kept muttering "thirteen people," "death," "ominous," "the end is approaching," her fragmented words continuous, ignoring the strange looks of the people around her, and not caring about the warmth and peace that this lunch should have had.
At the head table, Dumbledore still maintained a gentle smile, though a hint of imperceptible gravity flashed in the depths of his eyes. He did not interrupt Trelawney, but gently picked up the pumpkin juice in front of him and took a slow sip, his expression unfathomable. Professor McGonagall frowned, full of impatience, but ultimately did not speak to refute her, just lowered her head to look at her plate, deliberately ignoring the mystical Divination ClassProfessor beside her. The surrounding students, some curious, some terrified, some dismissive, found the originally lively and warm Christmas lunch covered in a faint, lingering haze by this series of eerie prophecies.
And Trelawney still sat in her seat, gazing hollowly into the air, immersed in the omen she had foreseen, muttering those unsettling words. Her voice was ethereal and eerie, echoing for a long time in the brightly lit, fragrant Great Hall.
Lunch was over. Students walked out of the Great Hall in twos and threes, some returning to the common room, some going for a walk in the corridor, and some running outside the Castle to have a snowball fight. Su Yu hugged Kurama and walked out of the Great Hall with Farley and Cassandra.
"Where are we going this afternoon?" Farley asked.
"How about back to the common room?" Su Yu said. "It's cold outside."
"Are you afraid of the cold?"
"Hmm... I'm just still savoring the taste from last night..."
Farley laughed and didn't speak.
When they walked back to the Slytherin common room, there were already quite a few people sitting there. The few of them returned to that separate room. Kuramajumped down from Su Yu's arms, squatted in front of the fireplace, and poked at the ashes with her paws. Sparks splashed up, she jumped back a step, then leaned in again.
Su Yu sat down, Farley leaned on his shoulder, and Cassandra sat opposite, picking up a magazine to flip through.
"Tired?" Su Yu asked.
"Hmm," Farley said. "Wearing high heels is too tiring..."
Su Yu didn't speak, reached out to hold her feet in his arms, and started to massage them. Farley closed her eyes, lying on the sofa, her breathing slowly becoming even.
Cassandra looked up from the magazine and glanced at Su Yu. "Are you not going to Hogsmeade this afternoon?"
"Let's not go for now," Su Yu said. "How about tomorrow?"
"Then you accompany me tomorrow."
"As you command!"
Cassandra lowered her head and continued flipping through the magazine, but she also stretched her feet into Su Yu's arms. Kurama jumped back from the fireplace, and seeing that there was no room left on Su Yu's lap, she buried her face in Cassandra's arms.
Su Yu leaned on the sofa, concentrating on massaging Cassandra. Farley's breathing was very light, the sound of Cassandra flipping the magazine was very light, and the sound of Kurama's purring was also very light.
Chapter 73: Hogsmeade at Christmas
The next day, the snow stopped, but the sky remained gray, and the wind was not as strong.
When Su Yu came out of the Slytherin common room, Kurama was lying on his shoulder. Farley walked on his left, wearing a dark gray coat, wrapped in the scarf he had given her, with her hair loose. Cassandra walked on his right, wearing a dark green robe, carrying a small bag in her hand.
"Hermione is waiting for us at the entrance," Cassandrasaid.
"Is she alone?" Su Yu asked.
"Yes," Cassandra said. "Ginny went home this year."
Su Yu knew that the cold war between Hermione and Ronhad not ended yet. Harry was caught in the middle, finding it difficult to please either side, and with what should have happened yesterday, Hermione was probably having an even harder time now...
At the Castle entrance, Hermione stood on the steps, wearing a thick light blue robe and a red scarf, holding Crookshanks in her arms.
"Morning," Hermione said. Her voice was a little hoarse, and there were dark circles under her eyes; she probably hadn't slept well last night.
"Morning," Su Yu said. "Have you eaten?"
"Yes," Hermione said, lifting Crookshanks a little higher. "Let's go."
The four of them walked along the path leading to Hogsmeade. The snow was deep, and it made a crunching sound when they stepped on it.
The pine trees on both sides of the road were covered with snow, their branches bent low. Occasionally, a clump of snow would slide off a branch and fall to the ground with a soft thud.
Kurama jumped down from Su Yu's shoulder, ran a few steps in the snow, and then jumped back into his arms. Her paws were covered in snow and felt cold against Su Yu's wrist, making him flinch.
"Can't you walk yourself?" Su Yu said.
"No," Kurama said, burying her face in the crook of his arm.
Hermione watched Kurama and smiled. "She's getting lazier and lazier."
"She's always been lazy," Su Yu said.
Farley walked in front with a fast pace, her boots leaving a string of deep footprints in the snow. Su Yu and Hermionewalked at the very back.
"What about Harry and Ron?" Su Yu asked.
Hermione's expression changed slightly. "They... I don't know..."
"Still haven't made up after the argument?"
Hermione was silent for a moment. "How did you know? Ron and the others are still angry. He said I shouldn't have gone directly to Professor McGonagall; I should have discussed it with them first."
"Why do you care so much about them?" Su Yu said. "Just do what you think is right. When have they ever considered your feelings? Why do you have to consider their feelings every single day?"
Just because Ron kicked Crookshanks into a trunk, hurting his own foot and wailing, then claimed Hermione didn't value her pet—he was just a complete waste of space.
Hermione looked at him. "Don't you think I was wrong?"
"What was wrong with it?" Su Yu said patiently. "In second year, they didn't listen and got tricked by a notebook. In third year, they haven't made any progress. Their combined IQ is almost catching up to Goyle and Crabbe. Other people learn from their mistakes, but them? They haven't grown anything except in height, right?"
Hermione lowered her head and let out a giggle, kicking her boot into the snow and sending a small clump flying. "But at the time... I didn't think that much."
"I know. But it's a miracle they've managed to survive this long."
They walked for a while, and then Hermione spoke again. "Do you think Harry will forgive me?"
"He's not angry at you; he's angry at Ron."
"Why?"
"Because Ron said those things in front of you, and Harryfelt he went too far. But he couldn't just help you scold Ron—Ron is his best friend, and he's caught in the middle, finding it hard to please either side. So, in this whole thing, Ron is the stupidest. You should stay away from him in the future; I'm afraid your brain will get affected..."
Hermione thought for a moment and chuckled. "You're right."
Su Yu didn't say anything more. Kurama poked her head out of his arms and glanced at Hermione.
Hogsmeade Village was covered in thick snow, with icicles hanging from the roofs of the cottages, glittering in the sunlight. There were more people on the street than yesterday, in twos and threes, some browsing shops, some having snowball fights by the roadside, and some queuing in front of Honeydukes. Su Yu walked across the cobblestone street, holding Kurama.
"Where to first?" Farley asked.
"Honeydukes," Hermione said.
Farley glanced at her. "You're buying sweets?"
"Yes," Hermione said. "To bring some for Harry; after all, he couldn't come."
Farley didn't ask again. Perhaps this time, the friendship between Ron and Hermione was truly over. She turned and walked toward Honeydukes.
The window of Honeydukes was filled with colorful sweets—Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Fizzing Whizzbees, exploding bonbons, blood-flavored lollipops, and a large jar of fudge, piled up like a small mountain. Kurama poked her head out of Su Yu's arms, staring at the jar of fudge.
"What is that?" Kurama asked.
"Fudge," Hermione said. "A Honeydukes specialty."
"Is it good?"
"Yes."
"Then buy a jar."
Su Yu glanced at Kurama, whose expression was very serious, and then he tapped Kurama on the head, causing her to yelp.
"Is this how you trick little girls out of their sweets? As if you don't know what that is?"
Kurama bared her teeth at Su Yu; she had been exposed again...
Su Yu pushed open the door and walked in with the girls. The shop was crowded with Hogwarts students everywhere; some were picking out sweets, some were queuing to pay, and some had already unwrapped their packages and were stuffing them into their mouths. The air was filled with a sweet, cloying scent, mixed with the aroma of chocolate and peppermint.
Farley and Cassandra were picking out sweets, while Hermione was holding a bag of Fizzing Whizzbees and checking the expiration date.
Su Yu walked to the sweet jar, took a jar of fudge, and then grabbed a box of Chocolate Frogs and a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans. Kurama stared at the jar of fudge and patted it with her paw.
"Eat it when we get back," Su Yu said.
Kurama retracted her paw.
Hermione picked out a bag of Fizzing Whizzbees, a box of Chocolate Frogs, a bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans, and a quill—black and gold, hanging in the stationery section. Su Yu glanced at the quill, and Hermione's face flushed slightly.
"This is for you," Hermione said. "Didn't you say last time that your quill was broken?"
Su Yu didn't say anything, took the quill, and placed it in his shopping basket. Hermione was stunned for a moment.
"I'll pay for everything together," Su Yu said.
"No—how can I make you pay for a gift for you?"
"It's fine, just put it on Kurama's tab; she has plenty of Galleons anyway."
Hermione lowered her head, the corners of her mouth curling up.
They queued up to pay and walked out of Honeydukes. Kurama was squatting on Su Yu's shoulder, constantly clawing at the jar of fudge, but Su Yu held the jar down.
"Eat it when we get back."
Kurama huffed and stopped clawing.
They continued along the street, passing Zonko's Joke Shop. The window was filled with prank items—Dungbombs, Belch Powder, Nose-Biting Teacups, Frog Spawn Soap. A few lower-year students stood in front of the window, pointing at the items and laughing. Fred and George walked out of the shop, carrying two large bags of things. Seeing Su Yu, they waved at him.
"Look who it is! Su Yu! Merry Christmas!" Fred shouted.
"Merry Christmas."
George pulled something out of the bag and tossed it to Su Yu. Su Yu caught it; it was a box of Belch Powder.
"New product, not on the market yet. You try it first," George winked.
Su Yu put away the Belch Powder. Kurama glanced at it; she was a bit tempted. What kind of candy was this? Was it good?
They continued walking and passed Scrivenshaft's Quill Shop. Hermione stopped and looked at a golden quill in the window.
"This one looks nice," Hermione said.
"Didn't you just buy one?" Farley asked.
"That was for Su Yu," Hermione said. "But he uses them too fast... This one is also nice..."
"Then buy it; it's not like Su Yu is short of money," Cassandra said.
Hermione hesitated. "It's too expensive; I can't let Su Yuspend any more money."
Cassandra glanced at Su Yu. Su Yu pushed open the door and walked in, with Hermione following behind. Kuramajumped down from Su Yu's shoulder, squatted on the counter, and pawed at a peacock quill. The shop assistant glanced at her but didn't say anything.
Hermione picked out the golden quill and a bottle of ink. After some final argument, she insisted on paying for it herself. Hermione packed the quill and ink, handed them to Su Yu, and the expression on her face was much better than before.
"Thank you, Su Yu. I am truly lucky to know you. From the very beginning, you were the only one who tolerated me, and even now, you still stand behind me."
"You're welcome, Miss Granger. It's my honor to know you too. But you're still young. From now on, I'll be responsible for taking care of you. Anyway, our family is never short of money. Even if you wanted to spend money to buy the entire Ministry of Magic, our family's money would be enough. If worse comes to worst, there's still Kurama." As Su Yu spoke, he patted Hermione on her little head. Kurama also nodded on the side, patting the Philosopher's Stone on her chest with a look that said, "Don't worry, this young lady will cover you from now on." That expression made Hermione and the other girls burst into laughter.
Chapter 74: Christmas in Hogsmeade (Part 2)
The group walked to the entrance of the Three Broomsticks, pushed the door open, and stepped inside. The pub was very warm, and the air was filled with the aroma of butterbeer and roasted meat.
Several wooden tables were crowded with people, including Hogsmeade villagers and a few visiting Wizards wearing travel robes. Not far away, there were also a few Goblins.
Farley and Cassandra found a table by the window and sat down. Hermione sat next to Su Yu, while Kurama jumped down from Su Yu's arms and crouched on the table, eyeing the butterbeer at the neighboring table.
"Want a drink?" Su Yu asked.
"Yes," Kurama said.
Su Yu stood up and went to the bar to order five butterbeers and a glass of milk. He ordered the extra milk for Kurama, fearing that if she took a sip of butterbeer and spat it out, he would have to buy her something else anyway.
He returned with the tray, distributed the butterbeers to the girls, and placed both the milk and the butterbeer in front of Kurama. Just as expected, Kurama dipped her face into the cup, licked it a few times, lifted her head, and spat it all out. After spitting a couple of times, she went back to drinking her milk.
After finishing the milk, Kurama jumped onto his lap, lay down, and covered her nose with her tail.
Farley picked up her butterbeer and took a sip. "Where are we going this afternoon?"
"Just wandering around," Cassandra said. "We haven't been to Gladrags yet."
"Then let's go to Gladrags," Farley said.
Hermione remained silent at the side, holding her butterbeer, eyes gazing out the window, while her hand rested in Su Yu's lap.
When they came out of the Three Broomsticks, the sky had turned overcast again, gray and gloomy, as if it were about to snow.
They went to Gladrags. Farley picked out a few hats, and Cassandra picked out a few trench coats; the two of them often swapped clothes since they were about the same height and build. Hermione picked out a scarf and was pushed a few more outfits by Farley. Kurama took a liking to a small cloak, clamoring to be a "flying little fox hero." Cassandra got interested and helped her pick out several. By the time they walked out, Su Yu was trailing behind, carrying big and small bags, only managing to stuff everything into his storage ring once they found a secluded spot.
After leaving Gladrags, they went to Dervish and Banges. Hermione bought a new set of cauldrons, Farley bought a few bottles of magic paint, and Cassandra bought a book on magic runes. Su Yu was smarter this time; he stood at the door and waited for them, planning to go in and pay once they were done picking their items, as he really couldn't walk around anymore.
By early evening, the group started heading back. Snow had begun to fall; tiny snowflakes drifted in the wind, feeling cool against their faces. Su Yu carried Hermione, who buried her face in the crook of his arm. The little girl had short legs and wasn't wearing boots, and Su Yu was afraid she would sink into a snowdrift and freeze her feet, which would be a pity since they were so fun to play with. Farley walked on his left, carrying Crookshanks, her scarf pulled up to cover half her face. Cassandra walked on his right, carrying Kurama, with a thin layer of snow settling on her hair.
"Hermione," Su Yu called out.
Hermione lifted her head and looked at Su Yu.
"About Harry," Su Yu said, "it will be fine. You don't need to worry so much."
Hermione looked at him, her eyes reddening, but she didn't cry; she simply buried her head in Su Yu's arms.
When they walked back to the Castle, it was completely dark. The torches in the corridors flickered in the draft, casting shadows on the walls.
Hermione had already fallen asleep, so there was no other choice but for Su Yu to carry her into the Slytherin Common Room.
When Su Yu and the others entered the Slytherin Common Room, the fire in the fireplace was burning brightly. There were only a few people in the Common Room, either reading or playing chess.
Su Yu placed Hermione on his bedroom bed, tucked her in, and walked back out to the Great Hall to sit down. Kuramawas crouching in front of the fireplace with Crookshanks, having already forgotten the pain of past burns. She was showing off by raking the ashes with her paws. When sparks flew, she jumped back, then crept closer again. Crookshanks wanted to try too, but was stopped by Farley. This cat was truly brave...
When Kurama saw Su Yu come out, she didn't care about Crookshanks anymore, quickly jumping into Su Yu's arms and clamoring for candy.
Farley sat next to him, holding Crookshanks, and leaned against his shoulder. Cassandra brought a few cups of coffee, placed them in front of everyone, then sat on the other side and picked up a magazine to browse.
Su Yu took out all the candy he had bought today and shared it with everyone in the Common Room. Of course, he saved plenty for Kurama, otherwise, she would really guard her food...
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Early morning in the Slytherin Common Room; the fireplace, which had burned all night, flickered with pale golden flames, completely dispelling the underground chill.
Hermione's eyelashes fluttered slightly, and she slowly opened her heavy eyelids.
The first thing that filled her nostrils was a crisp, steady scent, carrying a faint woody fragrance—it was a smell that belonged uniquely to Su Yu.
She was dazed for a moment and moved her body stiffly, only to realize with a start that she was curled up on an oversized bed, snuggled entirely in Su Yu's arms—her head resting on his shoulder, one hand subconsciously clutching his sleeve, a posture of intimacy and total lack of defense.
Hermione's mind went completely blank for a second, and in the next, her cheeks flushed a brilliant red, with a faint crimson spreading down to her neck.
She tensed up abruptly, subconsciously shifting back a little, not knowing where to put her hands and feet. Her large brown eyes were filled with helplessness, and her long eyelashes trembled incessantly.
She was a student of Gryffindor, yet she had slept the entire night in the Slytherin Common Room and was leaning against Su Yu so intimately. Her heart was full of shyness and embarrassment; her cheeks were burning, her heart was beating out of control, and she couldn't say a word, completely losing her usual calm and composed demeanor.
Su Yu was awakened by her movements. He lowered his eyes to look at the blushing, uneasy girl in his arms. The drowsiness in his eyes quickly dissipated, and he spoke in a calm, gentle tone, comforting the girl: "Why are you up so early? Don't you want to sleep a bit more?"
Upon hearing this, Hermione's fingertips curled slightly. She kept her head down, not daring to lift her eyes to meet his gaze, her entire demeanor exuding the shyness of a young girl caught in an intimate moment, filled with a sense of being at a loss.
Watching her shy, helpless appearance, a trace of gentle tenderness rose in Su Yu's eyes. He lifted his hand gently and slowly brushed the stray hair from her forehead behind her ear, his fingertips cool to the touch. He coaxed her with a gentle and patient tone: "Don't be afraid. It's very quiet here, and no one will come to disturb you. You were probably exhausted from walking yesterday, and since I can't enter Gryffindor, you had to sleep here. Lie down a while longer and get some proper rest."
Hermione slowly relaxed her tensed body, though her face remained flushed and her eyes darted around. She obediently stayed where she was, nuzzled slightly to find a more comfortable position, and leaned quietly in Su Yu's arms, her heart filled with a sense of security.
The two of them just snuggled quietly together, lying lazily for a long while.
It wasn't until Kurama trotted over, wagging her tail and rubbing against them, that she opened her mouth to remind them: Crookshanks had long been impatient with hunger and had been pacing back and forth in Farley's bedroom, meowing incessantly.
Hermione was suddenly flustered and panicked. Upon hearing Su Yu's reminder, she snapped back to reality, hurriedly pushed herself up, and got out of bed, intending to go feed Crookshanks.
By the time Hermione had hurriedly tidied herself up and rushed to the door of Farley's bedroom to push it open, she saw at a glance that Cassandra was using an Whisk to get cat food, carefully crouching to the side and slowly feeding the hungry, incessantly meowing, and cooing Crookshanks.
"Oh, thank goodness. Thank you so much, Cassandra." Hermione stood by, thanking her repeatedly.
In the Common Room on the other side, Malfoy and Blaisewere sitting nearby, leisurely drinking coffee.
Suddenly, a figure wearing Gryffindor school robes flashed quickly past the door and vanished in an instant.
Both of them paused simultaneously and exchanged a look of utter astonishment, completely shocked. They couldn't believe that a Gryffindor would pass through the Slytherindormitory area.
"The world has turned upside down!"
"This is preposterous!"
Are Gryffindors this blatant now? Challenging the dignity of Slytherin first thing in the morning? Is it that I, Malfoy, can no longer wield a blade, or that I, Blaise, can no longer lift a gun?
Not until they saw Hermione carrying Crookshanks, coming out of the dormitory with Farley and Cassandra, did the two immediately sit back down. They hadn't seen anything today!
Every Slytherin student who passed by greeted Hermionepolitely, addressing her as the honorable Miss Granger, which made Hermione's little face flush with shyness again.
Crookshanks was eating snacks happily in the Common Room. His fluffy orange fur was soft and smooth, his round eyes were narrowed, and he looked gentle and cute. Not long after, Callis and Pansy gathered around, staring at Crookshanks as he buried his head in his meal, their eyes full of affection.
"This cat is so beautiful, his fur is so soft, and he's in such great condition." Pansy crouched down, carefully reached out, and gently stroked Crookshanks' back, her tone full of joy.
Callis was also teasing Crookshanks with great interest, gently scratching his chin with her fingertips, and chiming in with a smile: "Isn't he? Clever and well-behaved, much cuter than Madam Norris."
The group sat around together, chatting or teasing the well-behaved Crookshanks. Callis would occasionally share some interesting gossip, and Pansy would chime in, creating a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere.
Hermione had been a bit reserved at first, but under their gentle treatment, she gradually relaxed. Holding the docile Crookshanks, she stayed quietly to the side, occasionally adding a few words, and spent the whole morning leisurely in the Slytherin Common Room.
By noon, Hermione, holding Crookshanks—who was now full, satisfied, and lying obediently in her arms—got up to leave. She held the cat, bid a soft farewell to everyone in the Common Room, and with a kiss from Su Yu, she walked out of the Slytherin Common Room with a faint flush on her face and hurried steps, heading back to the GryffindorTower.
Chapter 75: The End of Friendship
Throughout the Christmas holiday, Hermione and Ron did not interact at all. Once inseparable friends, they had fallen victim to the accumulation of arguments and mistrust. When Professor McGonagall returned the broomstick to Harry and both he and Ron apologized sincerely, Hermionefinally understood that the pure friendship she and Ronhad shared for two years had perhaps reached its end—it was truly over. She said nothing more, merely congratulated Harry, and left with her books.
The new semester quietly began, but every night, the Slytherin students who went out for group training began to notice something unusual.
In the depths of the Forbidden Forest, a large number of Goblins had appeared out of nowhere. They wandered around the woods in groups, and their numbers increased day by day. Many Goblins gradually approached the edge of the woods and moved quietly back and forth near Hogwarts Castle. No one understood why they were gathering here in such large numbers, nor did anyone know what they intended to do.
Even the Dementors, who often hovered nearby, ignored this group of Goblins. They would not step forward to harass the Goblins, and the Goblins were not afraid of the cold, terrifying Dementors. Dementors craved human happiness and soul warmth; Goblins possessed no such spiritual energy to be absorbed, so naturally, they did not interfere with each other, each going about their own business while haunting the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest.
The large numbers of gathering Goblins expanded their territory, pressing step by step, forcibly encroaching upon the territories originally inhabited by the Centaurs and Acromantula. They drove them out and harassed them, gradually forcing the Centaur tribes and Acromantulaclans to leave the deep forests where they had lived for generations. They were forced to retreat, slowly pulling back to the outer areas very close to Hogwarts Castle.
This thrilled the young Slytherin Wizards; they had been worrying about not finding training targets, and this was like having a pillow delivered just when they were feeling sleepy.
Thus, as soon as night fell, groups of Slytherins would enter the Forbidden Forest in batches.
The young Slytherin Wizards began to take turns casting various Ancient Magic techniques. Lightning from ancient times struck the sky, with electric light sweeping across the entire forest; ancient ice spikes suddenly rose from the ground, sealing off the Goblins' retreat.
Facing the surrounding Goblins, everyone simultaneously activated their breath concealment to quietly flank them, used mana disruption to destroy the power attached to the Goblins, and then threw ancient rock throw to crush the huddled enemies from the air.
During close-quarters combat, they continuously triggered Ancient Shatter to disintegrate and explode the Goblins' bodies, while erecting thick Ancient Magic barriers around themselves to withstand the siege. Some even crueler students, having learned from Su Yu, would pull the Goblins over, turn them into bugs, and then mercilessly crush them.
The entire Forbidden Forest echoed with the roar of magicevery night. The Slytherins wandered the dense forest day after day, constantly clearing out the swarms of Goblins that were flooding and expanding.
Several consecutive days of clearing operations caused the number of Goblins to plummet. The surviving Goblins were forced to abandon the territory around Hogwarts Castle and retreated step by step.
They fled all the way, eventually shrinking back into the darker, denser forest areas deep in the Forbidden Forest, no longer daring to approach the outskirts of the Castle or the edge of the woods.
The clamor in the woods gradually subsided, leaving only charred tree stumps and scattered remains blown out by Ancient Magic. The entire Forbidden Forest returned to an outward silence, with only faint, strange movements coming from the depths.
——————————
At the breakfast table in the morning, the Great Hall was noisy. Hermione walked over to Su Yu and sat down as usual. While eating quietly, she whispered to him about what Harry had told her had happened in the boys' dormitory yesterday.
Scabbers, the rat that Ron Weasley had always kept with him, had vanished into thin air in the boys' dormitory last night. There was a small, wet pool of blood left on the dormitory floor, and a few tufts of orange cat hair were stuck in the corner—at a glance, they were clearly from Hermione's Crookshanks.
Everyone subconsciously thought of Hermione first, privately assuming that Crookshanks had chased and eaten Scabbers, causing Scabbers to go missing and be injured.
Yet, for some time recently, Hermione had never stepped foot into the boys' dormitory where Harry and Ron lived; she had had no opportunity to sneak in and do anything. Although everyone was secretly suspecting Hermione, they had no evidence to put on the table and could only whisper and speculate in private.
Hermione felt extremely uncomfortable under the subtle gazes of others, filled with grievances and unable to defend herself; she felt incredibly innocent. She had done nothing, yet was being secretly suspected by everyone for no reason, and she didn't even know where to begin explaining.
Daphne sat nearby, gently comforting the aggrieved Hermione, telling her not to care about the random speculations of others.
Su Yu looked up at her, his eyes calm and gentle. He put down the spoon in his hand and reached out to gently grasp the back of her hand resting on the edge of the table. "Hermione, don't take it to heart. I have never doubted you for a moment. This matter has nothing to do with you or Crookshanks in the first place."
Hermione was slightly startled, her eyes instantly welling up with moisture, and her tense shoulders relaxed slightly. In this atmosphere full of suspicion, Su Yu's unconditional trust was more powerful than any comfort.
However, Su Yu's thoughts went far beyond this. He lowered his eyes to glance at the roasted sausage jumping on his plate, his fingertips gently rubbing the texture of the cup wall, while countless chaotic clues surged in his mind. He knew the original setting regarding Scabbers too well—it was not an ordinary rat at all, but the Animagus form of the former Death Eater, Peter Pettigrew, nicknamed "Wormtail." He was a traitor who had betrayed Lily and James to join Lord Voldemort, a traitor with hands stained with blood. He knew this truth better than anyone.
But he didn't say it.
This year at Hogwarts, a strange sense of incongruity had permeated from the very beginning. On the edge of the Forbidden Forest, which had been peaceful in previous years, scattered Goblins could often be seen recently. Those creatures, usually only seen in Gringotts or myths and legends, were appearing one after another around the Castle, and occasionally leaving some restless traces in the bushes around the Castle.
What made him feel even more wrong was that the direction of many plot points was completely different from the scenes in his memory of the movie. Events that should have proceeded according to plan were appearing with deviations one after another, as if an invisible hand was secretly turning the gears of fate.
The abnormal movements of the Goblins, the off-track plot, the quietly changing atmosphere in the Castle... All the clues were like scattered fragments, slowly piecing together a shocking outline in his mind.
Su Yu keenly realized that someone must be carefully laying out a layout in the dark, playing a huge and dangerous chess game. That person not only controlled the movements of the Goblins but perhaps was also secretly tampering with the original trajectory, attempting to incite a storm that could overturn Hogwarts and even threaten the entire Wizarding World.
And the disappearance of Peter Pettigrew was just an inconspicuous pawn in this chess game. Once the truth was exposed, it would not only plunge Ron into huge panic and pain but might also alert the person behind the scenes ahead of time, pushing Hermione, Harry, and Ron directly into the center of a dangerous vortex.
Su Yu's gaze slowly swept across the curious or suspicious faces in the Great Hall, his eyes darkening. He reached out to tuck the loose hair behind Hermione's ear, his voice still gentle, but with an extra touch of imperceptible firmness: "I know you feel aggrieved, but rumors are just rumors after all. Time will prove everything." He paused, avoiding the topic of Scabbers, and just added gently, "You just need to do your own thing; for everything else, I am here."
Hermione looked into his deep eyes, which were filled with the steadiness and reliability she was familiar with, and the grievances and anxiety in her heart gradually dissipated quite a bit. She nodded gently, picked up the toast, and took another bite. Although she was still a bit down, she was no longer as flustered and helpless as before.
As for Su Yu, he lowered his head and took a sip of hot soup. He knew that this chess game with undercurrents had only just begun. As for the secret of Peter Pettigrewand the mastermind hiding in the dark, he would find the clues to uncover the truth bit by bit.
Chapter 76: A Race Between Wind and Runes
The Gryffindor vs. Ravenclaw Quidditch match was scheduled for a weekend in mid-February.
Hogwarts in spring was covered in a layer of fresh green; tender buds sprouted on the treetops of the Forbidden Forest, and the ice on the Black Lake had long since melted, occasionally rippling on the surface. The stands of the Quidditch Pitch were divided into two camps by blue-bronze and red-gold flags—the Ravenclaw flags embroidered with bronze eagles, and the Gryffindor flags embroidered with golden lions.
On the night before the match, Su Yu was stopped in the Slytherin Common Room by Hermione. She had become a regular visitor to the Slytherin Common Room; Hermionesaid she liked the atmosphere of the Slytherin Common Room—endless exquisite pastries, quiet, and everyone was a top student; there were little Wizards everywhere striving for progress, which was much more interesting than reading in the library.
Today her curls were fluffier than usual, her face flushed, and she was clutching a tattered Quidditch tactics manual in her hand.
"Su Yu, are you watching the match tomorrow?" Hermioneasked.
"Yes." Su Yu leaned back on the sofa, while Kurama lay on the coffee table, eating until its mouth was covered in syrup.
"Who do you think will win?"
Su Yu thought for a moment. "Ravenclaw."
Hermione frowned. "Why?"
"The broom Cho Chang is using is one I just gave her."
"Is that the fellow countryman you mentioned during the summer break? You gave it to her?" Hermione's voice raised a pitch. "When did you give it to her? What did you give?"
"Hmm, at Christmas, a firebolt."
Hermione's mouth fell open. "A firebolt? The same one Harry has?"
"Faster than Harry's." Su Yu glanced at her. "I modified it; it's perfect."
Kurama raised its head from the coffee table, looked at Hermione, pushed a cheesecake towards her, then pulled it back, replacing it with a smaller piece.
Hermione closed her mouth, not even looking at Kurama. She sat down next to Su Yu and asked in a low voice, "How did you modify it? Floo powder? Or Transfiguration?"
"Runes." Su Yu casually drew obscure symbols in the void, inscribed with complex patterns, glowing faintly blue in the candlelight. "Just stick them on." He withdrew the runes and leaned back on the sofa.
Hermione was silent for a while. "Harry's firebolt—no one knows who sent it, but he has always treasured it."
"I know, but his broom doesn't have runes."
——————————
On the day of the match, the weather was unbelievably clear. The February sun rose above the treetops of the Forbidden Forest, shining golden light onto the Quidditch Pitch. The stands were full of people; in the blue section of Ravenclaw, people were waving flags, and in the red section of Gryffindor, people were blowing horns.
The commentator was still Lee Jordan, his voice coming through the magic megaphone, bright and loud, penetrating the entire pitch.
"Welcome to the fourth Quidditch match of the season! Gryffindor versus Ravenclaw!" Lee Jordan's voice echoed over the pitch. "Wood's face is whiter than usual today, probably out of nervousness—I really don't know what else he has to be nervous about; his Seeker is riding a firebolt! The fastest flying broom in the world! And the Ravenclaw Seeker —"
He paused and pushed up his glasses.
"Ravenclaw's Seeker, Cho Chang, is also riding a firebolt. This f—king —"
Professor McGonagall's voice came from the teacher's stand, interrupting him: "Lee Jordan!"
"Sorry, Professor." Lee Jordan coughed. "I mean, this is truly surprising. The Ravenclaw team's brooms have been upgraded, and Cho Chang is also riding a firebolt—and it looks even more beautiful than Potter's!"
A commotion broke out in the stands. Some people on the Gryffindor side turned their heads to stare at the Ravenclaw stands, while some on the Ravenclaw side laughed triumphantly.
Su Yu leaned on the railing of the top row of the Slytherinstands, with Kurama squatting beside him and Cassandrastanding to his left.
"You gave it to her?" Cassandra asked.
"This... uh..."
"So she's outperforming Harry. Do you know this is called aiding the enemy?"
Su Yu immediately shut up and didn't speak...
The players from both sides flew out from the ends of the pitch. The Gryffindor team wore scarlet uniforms, Woodflying in the front, his expression as serious as if he were attending a funeral. The Ravenclaw team wore blue uniforms, and the captain, Roger Davies, flew in the front, smiling as if he were attending a wedding.
Cho Chang flew in the middle of the team, her black hair tied in a ponytail behind her head. The firebolt she was riding was different from Harry's if you looked closely; there were a few silver runes stuck on the handle of Cho Chang's broom, the runes glowing with a faint blue light in the sunlight, which you wouldn't notice if you didn't look carefully. When her hand gripped the broom handle, those runes flickered slightly, as if smiling at her.
Harry flew out from the Gryffindor team, also riding a firebolt. He noticed Cho Chang's broom, noticed the runes on it, and also noticed those runes glowing, but he didn't think too much about it. He stared at Cho Chang's face, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment, then moved away.
Hermione grabbed Neville's arm in the stands. "Did you see her broom?"
Neville stared at Cho Chang's broom. "I saw it. That is—that is not an ordinary firebolt."
"Su Yu gave it to her," Hermione said. "He added runes."
Neville was silent for a moment, his not-so-bright brain turning. "Do you mean Harry is in danger?"
Hermione didn't answer.
Madam Hooch's whistle blew, and the match began.
Fourteen flying brooms shot up from the ground, straight into the sky. The Gryffindor team's lead Chaser, Angelina Johnson, grabbed the Quaffle first, broke through from the left, faked out the Ravenclaw Keeper with a feint, and threw it gently—the Quaffle passed through the goal hoop.
"Ravenclaw's Cho Chang is still adapting to the new broom!" Lee Jordan shouted. "Their players are still getting in sync, while Gryffindor is already leading by ten points!"
The students in the Gryffindor stands cheered, Fred and George did a victory roll around the goalposts, and Woodclenched his fists in front of the goal.
Kurama squatted beside Su Yu, scratching its ear with its paw.
"Gryffindor is playing well."
"No rush," Su Yu said.
Cassandra glanced at him. "What are you waiting for?"
"Waiting for Cho Chang."
The match had been going on for twenty minutes, and Gryffindor was already leading by sixty points. The Ravenclaw Chasers had made several mistakes; to match the speed of Cho Chang's broom, the whole team was constantly adjusting their tactics. Cho Chang's hands were not yet familiar with it, and she overshot every time she accelerated.
Roger Davies called for a few timeouts to rearrange tactics, but the effect was not obvious. Gryffindor's offensive was getting fiercer; Angelina and Alicia coordinated tacitly, almost keeping the Quaffle in Ravenclaw's half.
The commentator Lee Jordan's voice sounded incessantly: "Gryffindor scores again! From Johnson! A seventy-point lead! Ravenclaw's state today isn't very good; their tactics have problems—did I say that? Being too fast is actually bad —"
Chapter 77: The Victory of Ravenclaw
Cho Chang hovered high in the air, gripping the broom handle, letting her hair flutter in the wind. She didn't look at the Quaffle, nor did she watch the Chasers' struggle. She kept her eyes on Harry, watching him circle high above, scanning every corner of the pitch with her peripheral vision, searching for traces of the Golden Snitch.
Then she lowered her head and looked at the runes on her broom handle. The runes shimmered with blue light in the sunlight, as if saying to her, "You can."
Cho Chang released one hand and gently traced her fingers over the patterns of the runes. The runes flared brightly, as if activated, and a warm power surged from the broom handle throughout her entire body.
She took a deep breath and then moved the broom handle.
The firebolt drew an arc in the air, diving down from high altitude, so fast that even its afterimage was invisible. A burst of screams erupted from the Ravenclaw stands, and people stood up in the Gryffindor stands. Harry felt it too—he turned his head sharply, but Cho Chang had already vanished from his field of vision.
"My God, her broom—" Lee Jordan's voice went up an octave, "Her broom is even faster than the firebolt! Cho Chang's speed—"
Cho Chang was diving, the wind screaming in her ears. The Golden Snitch flashed across her vision. She reached out, her fingers an arm's length away from the Snitch—but the Snitch suddenly turned, veering into the shadow of the stands. Cho Chang's reaction was faster than the Snitch; she tilted the broom handle, and her entire body brushed past the railing of the stands.
The blue-bronze flags snapped in the wind. Cho Chang's figure wove between the flags, moving so fast that the students in the stands could only see a blue shadow.
The Gryffindor stands went quiet.
The Ravenclaw stands erupted.
Harry charged over from the other side. His firebolt was fast enough, but Cho Chang's changes in direction were too rapid. Every time she turned, the distance widened slightly. Harry gritted his teeth and pursued, but he was always just that little bit short.
"Cho Chang and Harry are chasing the Golden Snitch!" Lee Jordan's voice was sharp and bright, "The Golden Snitchhas emerged from under the stands! Flying towards the center of the pitch! Cho Chang is in front! Harry is behind—the distance is closing—no, the distance is widening—Cho Chang's broom turns too fast!"
Su Yu leaned against the railing, and Kurama poked her head out from his arm, watching the pitch as well.
Cassandra glanced at him. "Did you teach her?"
"That is her talent!"
Daphne laughed from the side. "You are certainly biased."
"I am biased towards each and every one of you." Su Yupulled Daphne into his arms and whispered to himself, "Forever, forever..."
Harry was pursuing, but he felt a sense of despair. He really couldn't catch up. It wasn't that his broom wasn't fast enough; it was that his turns weren't sharp enough. Every time he encountered a turn, he had to decelerate, adjust direction, and then accelerate again, but Cho Chang didn't need to. Her broom seemed to have eyes; when approaching a turn, it would automatically tilt, automatically accelerate, and automatically adjust its angle, gliding as smoothly as if on water. The runes emitted an even brighter light when spinning, like a blue ribbon flowing along the broom handle.
"A person can only utilize eighty percent of a broom's performance," Su Yu muttered to himself, "Runes can push it to ninety-five percent. It's not that the broom is fast; it's that her operation is faster."
Farley watched the pitch.
"Then when will she win?"
"Soon." Cassandra analyzed from the side.
Cho Chang drew a large circle high in the air.
It wasn't to avoid Harry's pursuit, but to set up a formation. She circled repeatedly in the air, drawing Harry's attention away from the Golden Snitch, forcing him to fly at her rhythm.
Harry immediately realized this. Each time Cho Changturned, the position changed, but the trajectory always maintained a complete area, trapping the Snitch inside. She wasn't chasing the Snitch; she was corralling it.
Harry dove, attempting to break through her defense, but Cho Chang didn't block him. She feinted and gave way.
As soon as Harry dove in, he came out the other side, only to find the Golden Snitch gone. Cho Chang had snatched the Snitch while turning. Years of experience erupted in that instant; she didn't even look back, her fingers firmly clamping onto the Snitch's wings.
The Snitch struggled twice in her palm, then went quiet.
The stands were quiet for about two seconds.
Then the Ravenclaw stands exploded. Blue flags fluttered in the air. Some people jumped up, some hugged each other, some screamed, and some cried.
Roger Davies jumped off his broom and was caught by his teammates. Cho Chang held the Golden Snitch, her fingers trembling slightly, her face flushed red from the wind.
Madam Hooch's whistle blew. "The Golden Snitch has been caught by the Ravenclaw Seeker, Cho Chang! The match is over! Ravenclaw wins!"
The numbers on the scoreboard froze—Ravenclaw 220, Gryffindor 160. The 150 points Cho Chang earned from the Golden Snitch directly sealed the victory.
Harry floated in the air, looking at the Snitch in Cho Chang's hand, his expression complex. He wanted to say something, but Cho Chang had already turned and flown away. She flew to the front of the Ravenclaw stands, raised the Snitch in her hand, and waved to the crowd. Then her gaze cut through the crowd and found the figure in the top row of the Slytherin stands.
Su Yu waved at her.
Cho Chang smiled happily, her eyes curving, and she turned and flew back to her team, surrounded by her teammates as they descended.
The Gryffindor players landed on the ground, dejected. Wood squatted in front of the goalposts, not standing up. Harry landed last. When he got off his broom, Hermioneran over and patted his shoulder.
Ron stood nearby, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Lee Jordan's voice came out of the megaphone, still summarizing the match: "Ravenclaw has won—this is the first time since 1987 that they have defeated Gryffindor in a Quidditch match—Cho Chang's broom—Ravenclaw's Cho Chang—sorry, Professor McGonagall, I really didn't mean anything else—but we have to admit, the rune broom is indeed faster—"
Blue eagle-emblem flags fluttered around the pitch. Ravenclaw students poured onto the field, jumping and dancing. That night, they held a lively party in their tower, and the laughter could be heard across the corridors.
On the Gryffindor side, however, there was gloom. The players dragged their heavy feet back to the common room. The hearth fire cast a gloomy light on everyone's faces. Wood buried his face in his hands, saying nothing. No one was in the mood to celebrate; they just sat silently. Outside the window, the night deepened, and the Castlewas silent.
That night, only a few embers of the hearth fire remained in the Gryffindor common room. Snack crumbs were scattered on the floor. Harry and Ron went upstairs to their dormitory, feeling miserable, and fell asleep as soon as they hit their beds.
In the early hours of the morning, Ron suddenly woke up screaming—he yanked open the bed curtains and saw a tall, dark shadow standing by his bed, his face deathly pale, his eyes frighteningly bright. It was none other than Sirius Black, holding a gleaming knife in his hand!
Ron was terrified out of his wits, screaming, "Black! Blackis here!", his voice waking the entire dormitory. Everyone was in chaos, rushing downstairs to the common room. Percy arrived in his pajamas, wearing his prefect badge, to maintain order, scolding everyone for making a fuss and saying that Ron had just had a nightmare.
In the chaos, Professor McGonagall hurried over, sternly asking what had happened. Ron was shaking all over, insisting that he hadn't been dreaming—Black had been standing right by his bed and had even slashed his bed curtains. Professor McGonagall, half-believing, walked to the portrait hole and asked Sir Cadogan, who was temporarily guarding the Gryffindor tower, if anyone had entered during the night.
Sir Cadogan proudly admitted: A man had a piece of paper with the password for the week written on it, so he had let him in.
Everyone was shocked. Later, they found out that Nevillehad accidentally lost the note with the password, and Black had picked it up.
The news spread throughout the Castle instantly. Headmaster Dumbledore made a swift decision: for safety reasons, all grades and all houses in the school, except for Slytherin, were to continue sleeping in the Great Hall.
That night, the Great Hall was packed. Students slept in their sleeping bags with their clothes on, whispering about how Black had snuck in. Professors took turns guarding the door. The Castle was brightly lit, and no one slept all night.
Later, the portrait of The Fat Lady was repaired, and she was finally willing to return to her post at the Gryffindortower, but on the condition that security be strengthened—Dumbledore actually hired a few Trolls as security guards. They patrolled the corridors with fierce expressions, holding clubs, guarding the portrait hole of The Fat Ladytightly, and no one dared to approach casually again.