Chapter 238: The Great Peeves Triumphs Over the Unforgivable Curse!
"I—I brought back some of it. There's still a lot of stuff, but I don't think you'd have any use for it, Young Master," Peeves whispered, sneaking a glance at Dylan's face. Seeing that he looked calm and impassive, he quickly added, "I was just afraid of making you wait for me too long, so I brought out some of the things first."
Dylan waved a hand. "Alright, I get it. It's all junk anyway. I doubt you'll find anything useful even if you keep looking."
Dylan gathered up all the items, then snapped his fingers.
A low, azure light shimmered as a wisp of magic wafted out and washed over Peeves.
Peeves was startled and let out a bloodcurdling shriek. He thought Dylan was about to cast a vicious curse on him without a word of warning. But they hadn't even had a disagreement!
An invisible magical ripple swept through the poltergeist's translucent body. He covered his eyes like a frightened bat, and the mischievous vapor that constantly surrounded him trembled violently.
A heavy silence lingered between them for three seconds.
Peeves paused, then realized he didn't feel any pain or harm. He secretly squinted one eye, his black pupil cautiously sizing up Dylan, who had already gotten to his feet.
Then, he hesitantly opened his other eye and put his hands down.
"It's over?" Peeves' voice sounded like a strangled crow. He frantically gestured at his chest with his transparent hands.
After a moment of pure confusion, he suddenly ripped off half of a floating streamer, watching as it passed straight through his body without any resistance.
"I'm—I'm still alive?!"
Peeves suddenly let out a cackle and began to spin around the candelabra on the wall, the resulting air current lifting several nearby pieces of parchment.
"Hahahaha! The great Peeves has triumphed over the Unforgivable Curse!"
Dylan was just about to leave when Peeves started yelling for no reason. Dylan frowned, turned around, and looked at the fool with disdain.
"What are you yelling about? When did I use an Unforgivable Curse on you?"
Peeves, who was mid-spin, froze.
"You—I mean, you didn't just use a vile and terrifying Dark magic spell on me?"
Dylan tilted his head. He chuckled. "That spell was just to prevent you from running your mouth and saying unnecessary things to others. Why would you think that? Unless—"
Dylan's eyes scrutinized Peeves from head to toe.
"You want to experience what it feels like to be hit by an Unforgivable Curse?"
Peeves' face twitched. He stopped spinning and rushed back to Dylan, falling to his knees with a look of utter reverence.
"No, no, no, Young Master, I'm just acting up again. You know how I get a little crazy sometimes. I don't think you need to waste any more magic on me to use the Unforgivable Curse again. I don't want to experience the taste of that evil spell."
Dylan rolled his eyes. That much, at least, was true. In the few times he'd interacted with Peeves, he'd already felt the faint "aura of insanity" emanating from him. Perhaps it was from having been conscious for too long. Since the poltergeist didn't have a real body or a real "brain" like a wizard, he would become a little nutty.
Dylan didn't bother with him anymore and left the Room of Requirement. As soon as Peeves received permission to leave, he began spouting how he hoped to be of service again next time. But his body shot straight into the wall and disappeared without a trace.
Dylan watched Peeves flee like he had been severely bullied and abused, and shook his head.
As for why Peeves called him "Young Master" instead of "Master" or "Sir," it was because of a conversation he had with Tom once about Malfoy. Dylan had said that Malfoy was a "young master" and that his arrogance was to be expected. Peeves had overheard it and assumed Dylan would like to be called that, so he changed his title.
Dylan didn't mind. He wasn't particular about what his followers called him—as long as it wasn't "Dad." He was an underage wizard and couldn't be the father of a non-existent being who had been alive for so long.
After leaving the Room of Requirement, Dylan transformed into a black shadow. He flew straight through the portrait of Sir Cadogan that guarded the Gryffindor common room and returned to his dormitory.
Sir Cadogan, half-asleep, felt as if something had just flashed past him and entered his body. But when he groggily opened his eyes, he saw nothing. He closed his eyes again, his mouth mumbling a hazy dream.
"Don't go! Fight me face-to-face!—Wait, I surrender! Don't hit me anymore, at least not my face!"
Back in the dorm, Dylan checked the time. It was already two or three in the morning. Moonlight slanted through the window between Harry and Neville's beds. The entire room was silent except for the sound of breathing. And Ron's loud snores.
Dylan looked over and saw Ron curled up in a ball under his comforter. The curtains on Neville and Seamus's beds were pulled, and faint snores could also be heard.
Everyone was asleep.
Except for Harry. He was sitting up in bed, a piece of parchment glowing faintly in his hand.
Sensing someone had come in, Harry looked up. Dylan met his gaze and nodded slightly.
Harry gave a subtle nod in return, his expression a little heavy. It seemed Harry was still agonizing over what to do about Pettigrew. And in the time he had been away, Dylan figured Harry had probably figured out that Ron's rat, Scabbers, was actually Peter Pettigrew.
Harry watched Dylan return, but he wasn't curious about where Dylan had been at this hour. He knew that sometimes Hagrid would invite Dylan to the Forbidden Forest to see Norbert.
In truth, Harry also wanted to see Norbert again. After all, they had raised the dragon from an egg. But first, he was too embarrassed to ask Dylan, and second, they had all sworn to keep the dragon's existence a secret so it wouldn't be discovered. So, unless he happened to go to the Forbidden Forest one night and run into Dylan, Harry didn't want to bring it up and increase the risk of Norbert being found.
Harry guessed that Dylan had probably been to the Forbidden Forest just now. Of course, he didn't know for sure. After all, when Dylan gave him the Marauder's Map, he had already cast a spell on it so his location would no longer show up.
"Hmm, Dylan, there's something I wanted to—"
After a moment of hesitation, Harry's eyes moved from the Marauder's Map in his hand. He lowered his voice and began to speak to Dylan.
However, by the time he turned his head, he saw that Dylan had already gotten back into his own bed. He had even pulled the curtains shut.
Harry's voice trailed off. He knew that after Dylan got close to his bed, any sound would be blocked by the spells Dylan had placed around it. So, what he had just said was probably not heard by Dylan at all.
"Uh, okay." Harry scratched his head. He had wanted to ask Dylan to cast a few more protective spells on him, just in case. But now, Dylan had been busy until so late and was already in bed. It would be rude to bother him.
He pursed his lips and leaned back against his pillow, his gaze slowly shifting to Scabbers, who was next to Ron. He was lost in thought. He was so conflicted now because he was sure that Scabbers was Peter Pettigrew. If that were true, then didn't that mean there was more to the story of his parents' death than Professor McGonagall and the others had told him? How had the Dark Lord found his parents?
Harry's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, leaving him with no desire to sleep.
Dylan had no idea what Harry was thinking. Kids' minds were always a bit complex. With so many people already looking out for Harry, Dylan, as a friend, could help when needed, but he clearly couldn't guide him through everything. He would let the boy think for himself.
And so, the night passed without a word.
Even though Dylan went to bed late, he slept very well. After getting up, he cast a Rejuvenation Charm on himself. Combined with the spell that banished fatigue, his mind was clear and he wasn't sleepy at all.
He pulled back his curtains. Dylan saw his roommates were already packing up their belongings.
"Morning, Dylan!" Neville greeted him as he saw Dylan was awake.
Tomorrow was Christmas, so they could start packing their things today. Those who wanted to leave could take the train home.
"Morning," Dylan replied.
Since there were no classes, Dylan had indulged himself by waking up a little later. He wasn't in a hurry to go anywhere anyway. After getting the Ravenclaw Diadem yesterday, Dylan had come straight back to bed without checking if it had triggered any achievements for him. He planned to collect the new achievements once he got back and had some time.
"You guys woke up so early."
Just then, Harry slowly pulled back his bed curtains, revealing two panda eyes that looked as if he'd been punched.
Ron, who had been sound asleep, looked at Harry and didn't say anything, but reminded him, "Harry, we have plans with Hagrid today. Don't forget."
"Huh?" Harry had barely managed to fall asleep that morning, so he'd only gotten a little shut-eye. He felt like his head was pounding.
Seeing Harry's state, Dylan, who had already gotten out of bed, simply cast a Rejuvenation Charm and a Fatigue-Banishing Charm on him.
Harry instantly felt much better. He quickly looked at Dylan and thanked him.
"It's nothing, but your state is not good, especially with Christmas tomorrow." Dylan waved a hand.
He casually took out his wand and lightly tapped his bed a few times. Instantly, his bed was neatly made. Dylan didn't have anything to pack. If he wanted or needed anything, he usually had it in his luggage.
"When I get back this time, I should redecorate my manor. I can also expand the space in my luggage."
Harry nodded awkwardly, but he didn't ask Dylan to cast any protective spells on him in front of the others.
"Harry, what plans did you make with Hagrid yesterday? I heard he's being sued by the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. It sounds like Malfoy and his dad are making trouble," Seamus said.
Ron immediately nodded. "It's all their fault! Malfoy's dad said Malfoy was attacked by the Hippogriff, and that it's Hagrid's fault, and they want to have the Hippogriff put to death! They're crazy! They must have had their brains scooped out!"
—Clearly, Ron had learned that last phrase from Dylan.
Dylan pursed his lips. He felt as if he was leading some people down a very strange path.
"That's so exaggerated, wasn't it Malfoy's own fault for being an idiot?" Seamus scoffed.
Neville also scratched his head. "Malfoy didn't listen to Hagrid's instructions. How can they sue Hagrid for that?"
Ron shook his head. "You guys don't know how crazy Malfoy is, and so is his dad! Harry and I have agreed to help Hagrid win this lawsuit, so we have to go to the library and look up some information and case files!"
Seamus looked at Ron with some surprise. "You're going to the library to read case files? That's a lot of material, isn't it?"
Ron held his head high. "Of course! Hagrid is our friend. If a friend is in trouble, no matter how difficult it is, we have to help!"
Seamus gave Ron a thumbs-up. "That's so cool!"
"Yeah, going to the library... I guess I won't be able to get any more sleep today." Harry sighed. He didn't have to pack anything. He wasn't going home for Christmas anyway. But thinking about the promise he made to Hagrid yesterday, his head started to hurt.
Yesterday, he was in a terrible mood. Dylan had come back and disappeared again. Ron and Hermione, wanting to cheer him up, had taken him to Hagrid's hut. The original intention was to have Hagrid talk to Harry and make him feel better. But as they talked, they learned that Lucius Malfoy had filed a lawsuit with the Ministry of Magic, accusing Hagrid of allowing a dangerous creature he was raising to attack a student.
—There was no need to say who that student was.
As soon as Hermione heard that, she wanted to help Hagrid win the lawsuit. Ron and Harry, of course, wouldn't refuse. That would be too disloyal.
Dylan thought to himself that yes, Hagrid had gone through this. But with Harry and the others' involvement, the outcome wouldn't be a problem. So Dylan couldn't be bothered to intervene. The holiday was here. He didn't want to stay at school. He had a lot to do.
After packing their things, the group walked together toward the Great Hall for breakfast.
Dylan didn't have much of an appetite that morning. He just had a bowl of seafood porridge, three pieces of fried dough, a pork floss roll, an egg sandwich, and a big cup of juice.
After a simple but satisfying meal, Dylan picked up his belongings, and along with Neville and the others, said goodbye to Harry and the trio.
(End of this chapter)
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