One afternoon before Easter, Young Wizards left their classrooms after class and went outside the Castle to get some fresh air.
Especially near the Quidditch Pitch, watching others fly clumsily was also a way to relax.
This was a rare moment of leisure recently, as they would have to start doing homework once they returned to the common room in the evening.
The Professors, worried that the students wouldn't adapt to the heavy holiday assignments, thoughtfully had them start getting used to it now.
Sigh... because they couldn't curse, the Young Wizards had nothing to say.
Karl, Shabi, and Stebbins were also near the Quidditch Pitch, gathered together playing poker, specifically 'Fight the Landlord'.
Of course, since it was in the Wizarding world, Karl gave it a new name: 'Fight the Dark Wizard'.
After only a few rounds, he saw Headmaster Dumbledorewalk out of the Castle, accompanied by Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape.
They walked into the Forbidden Forest while talking, heading towards Hagrid's hut.
Soon, Headmaster Dumbledore flew up into the sky, as if riding something, and left Hogwarts.
After a while longer, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape returned to the Castle.
Stebbins scratched his head, "Are there flying brooms in the Forbidden Forest too? Why did Principal Dumbledorego there?"
Shabi, the young master of the Magical Creatures shop, answered his confusion, "It should be a winged horse called a Thestral."
"Huh? Why didn't I see it?"
"These magical creatures are invisible; it's said that only those who have seen death can see them."
"Uh... a bit scary. Then I hope I never see them."
While the two were talking, Karl had already played all the cards in his hand.
"Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, Slytherin, consecutive pairs! You can't beat that, right? Three Dumbledores and two Snapes! Four Professor McGonagall bombs! A pair of Merlin King Bombs! All of you, kneel!"
Shabi, Stebbins: ...
Trash game! No fun at all!
...
By dinner time that evening, the news of Headmaster Dumbledore leaving Hogwarts had spread.
Especially the fact that he rode an invisible magical winged horse, which greatly piqued the curiosity of the Young Wizards.
The older students all claimed they had ridden carriages pulled by Thestrals, making the first-year students who had to walk envious.
In the Great Hall, Nina took out a hand-drawn picture of a Thestral to show Karl.
Honestly, this thing wasn't good-looking at all; in fact, it was a bit ugly.
It clearly had the head of a dragon, the body of a horse, and a pair of huge bat wings.
But it was extremely emaciated, looking neither handsome nor majestic, just like it was malnourished.
"Where did this come from?"
"I drew it."
Karl raised an eyebrow, "Then you..."
"Death is a very common thing."
Nina's tone was very calm, but a hint of sadness flashed in her eyes.
Karl patted her shoulder, not offering words of comfort, as he wasn't good at it; Cedric had already experienced that.
"You drew it really well. I should have asked you to help draw the new school uniforms. Audrey's skill isn't even as good as mine."
Recalling Karl's design sketch, Nina couldn't help but curve her lips into a smile.
"Then remember to find me next time."
"How many school uniform styles are there?"
"Dresses are fine too."
Karl met Nina's teasing gaze and immediately let out a hearty, honest laugh: "Hahahahaha! Absolutely!"
Just then, the surroundings suddenly quieted down, as if a homeroom teacher had appeared at the back door of the classroom.
The two looked around and found that Professor Snapehad appeared at the entrance of the Great Hall at some unknown time.
No wonder everyone was as quiet as quails; in some ways, this was even scarier than seeing a ghost.
Upon seeing Karl and Nina notice him, Professor Snapewalked straight towards them.
"Mr. O'Rourk, Miss Goldstein, what makes you two so happy?"
"Professor, we..."
"Never mind, I actually don't care about that," Professor Snape interrupted Nina emotionlessly, "Mr. O'Rourk, why are you sitting at the Ravenclaw table to eat?"
"Sorry, Professor, I didn't know I couldn't do that. It won't happen again."
Facing Karl's admission of error, Professor Snape sneered coldly, "That's perfectly fine, I don't mind if you need help when you eat, but you'd better not rely on others when brewing Potion."
Karl: (▔, ▔)
Good gracious, you're here to pick a fight, aren't you?
And your mouth is truly venomous! Compared to you, a Basilisk is probably a Young Wizard seeing a great Wizard, right?
Next time we destroy a Horcrux, I must let you take a bite first to test it.
Maybe the effect will be outstanding, Lord Voldemort will just drop dead, and all the other Horcruxes will be ruined along with him.
And you, uncultured one, don't understand what 'a beautiful sight to behold' means; I won't argue with you about this.
But brewing Potion is always done in pairs, and I'm not just coasting through the whole time, you know.
I've done plenty of grunt work, and I've been heavily providing emotional support on the side, contributing my full share, alright?
"Professor..."
"Come to my office. Starting today, as long as your performance in class displeases me, you will have detention every evening."
Karl showed an embarrassed expression, "But I also have detention with Professor McGonagall."
Snape choked on his words, "Hmph, a full record. I will communicate with Professor McGonagall about this."
After speaking, he looked at Nina again, "Miss Goldstein, you come along too, because I don't want to waste time and words on Mr. O'Rourk."
"Let's go!"
Karl and Nina exchanged a speechless glance, then quickly got up and followed him, leaving the Great Hallunder the sympathetic gaze of the Young Wizards.
They arrived at the Dean of Slytherin's office, and after closing the door, Snape suddenly turned around and mischievously winked at the two of them.
"How was it? My portrayal of Severus was flawless, wasn't it? Wasn't it just like the real thing?"
Karl, Nina: (⊙﹏⊙)
"Principal Dumbledore?!"
"That's right, it's me."
Looking at the vivid expression on Snape's face, Karl found it a bit hard to accept; it was too strange.
Although he had guessed that Dumbledore would ask Snape to help brew the Polyjuice Potion to create the illusion of him leaving Hogwarts.
But Karl had absolutely not expected that Dumbledorewould swap identities with Snape.
"Not only was it flawless! You were even more Snapethan Professor Snape himself!"
Seeing Karl's gritted teeth, Dumbledore spread his hands, "Those words just now weren't made up by me; Severusasked me to convey them."
In one sentence, 'every wrong has its perpetrator, every debt its debtor'; this matter is with Snape, it has nothing to do with me.
Nina, who was already dumbfounded beside him, subconsciously grabbed Karl's sleeve, "PrincipalDumbledore, this is..."
Dumbledore smiled gently at her, "Nina, Hogwarts needs your help."
"Help?"
"That's right, the situation is like this..."