Chapter 168 The True Identity of Banban
Charlie didn't speak. He tapped his wand a few times under the table, casting Spells on Ron, Hermione, Ernie, Justin, and Harry.
Hermione's mouth said it was too much, but her body was honest; she sat up straight, her ears perked up.
The voices from the next table clearly reached their ears.
Madam Rosmerta was complaining:
"These Dementors have ruined business; guests don't dare to go out before dark."
Fudge's voice sounded, official:
"There's no choice, Rosmerta, it's for everyone's safety. Sirius Black is still at large, and we must take measures. I'm sure you heard about what happened at Hogwarts on Halloween."
"I did hear some things," Madam Rosmerta nodded.
Professor McGonagall looked at Hagrid, very annoyed.
"Exactly how many people did you tell about this, Hagrid?"
Hagrid let out a simple, foolish laugh, trying to muddle through.
Madam Rosmerta held her wine glass, her voice tinged with nostalgia:
"Honestly, I still can't believe Sirius would turn to You-Know-Who. He was so brave when he was at school; whenever someone bullied a younger student, he was always the first to rush out."
Fudge sneered, placing his cup heavily on the table.
"Brave? He could betray his best friend. The bravery of such a person is merely a pretense."
Madam Rosmerta shook her head and sighed.
"But their relationship was so good back then, Sirius Black and James Potter, inseparable."
"That was all a disguise," Fudge's tone grew colder.
"James trusted him so much, asked him to be his best man at his wedding, and even made him Harry's godfather when he had a child. What was the result? He delivered the James family directly into You-Know-Who's hands."
The cup in Harry's hand trembled.
He knew Black had caused his parents' deaths, but he had never known these details.
Draco had only said Black was a Death Eater, a traitor, but had never mentioned his relationship with his father.
Godfather.
The word was like a dull knife, stirring back and forth in Harry's heart.
His breathing was a little short, his chest felt tight, and waves of nausea rose within him.
Charlie turned his head and glanced in Harry's direction. Although he couldn't see the person, he could feel the suppressed emotion.
He didn't speak, continuing to listen to Fudge.
Fudge took a sip of wine and continued:
"When Lord Voldemort was hunting James and Lily, Dumbledore suggested they protect their home with the Fidelius Charm. It's a very powerful protective magic that can seal any secret into a person's soul."
Madam Rosmerta nodded.
"I've heard of that Spell. As long as the Secret-Keeper doesn't speak, no one can learn the secret."
Madam Rosmerta put down her wine glass, her voice filled with doubt: "So, Black was their Secret-Keeper?"
Professor McGonagall sighed, her eyes behind her glasses showing regret:
"That's right. Originally, Dumbledore suspected someone close to James was informing You-Know-Who, so to be safe, he offered to be the Secret-Keeper. But James insisted on Black being the Secret-Keeper."
"Why?" Madam Rosmerta asked, puzzled.
"Because James was worried that if Dumbledore became the Secret-Keeper, Black would be seen as a suspect," Professor McGonagall's voice grew even lower.
"He trusted that traitor too much."
Hagrid slammed the table, making the cups jump.
"Despicable traitor! How dare he—"
"Hagrid! Quiet!" Professor McGonagall quickly stopped him.
Hagrid scratched his head awkwardly, his voice dropping a few decibels:
"Sorry, Professor McGonagall. But it's a good thing that scoundrel was caught, the day after You-Know-Who was killed by Harry."
Fudge took a sip of wine and picked up the thread:
"This brings us to the true hero—James's other friend, Peter Pettigrew. He pursued Black alone, wanting to avenge James. Unfortunately, that cruel Black was more powerful, blasting him into pieces with a Spell right on the street."
"Oh my goodness," Madam Rosmerta covered her mouth.
"Twelve Muggles died at the scene," Fudge's voice grew even darker.
"Only one small finger remained of Peter's body. The Ministry of Magic posthumously awarded him the Order of Merlin, First Class."
Charlie's brows furrowed when he heard that name.
Peter Pettigrew?
Isn't that the name on Ron's bed? He had seen it clearly on the marauder's map that night.
Because Charlie found male-on-male too eye-watering, he hadn't paid attention to them later. But Fudge's words made him re-examine the matter.
Charlie turned his head and looked at Ron.
Ron was holding his cup, listening intently, completely unresponsive.
This was very wrong. If he suddenly heard someone had the same name as his friend, he should at least be a little surprised.
Charlie lowered his voice:
"Ron, do you know this Peter Pettigrew?"
Ron paused, blinking blankly.
"Who? No, I don't know him."
Charlie stared at his expression for a few seconds, finding it completely unfeigned.
Given his intelligence, he couldn't fake such a natural reaction.
Charlie continued to ask:
"Then, do you sleep with anyone at night?"
Ron looked at him, puzzled.
"I always sleep alone," he paused.
"If I had to say who I sleep with, it would be Scabbers."
Charlie narrowed his eyes.
"Is Scabbers missing a toe on one of his paws?"
Ron froze, his mouth agape in surprise.
"How did you know? Have you observed Scabbers?"
Charlie didn't answer him, his mind rapidly connecting all the clues.
A rat that had lived for over a decade.
Missing a toe on its paw.
The person named Peter Pettigrew, whose body only had one small finger left.
Charlie had an answer.
If the names displayed on the marauder's map weren't wrong, Scabbers was also an Animagus, and his true form was Peter Pettigrew.
Peter Pettigrew, who should have died, transformed into a rat and lived anonymously for over a decade.
Interesting.
Charlie stood up and told everyone:
"I have something to do back at the Castle."
As his words fell, his figure vanished from the spot.
The next second, Charlie appeared in the dormitory. He pulled out the marauder's map from under his bed and tapped his wand on the parchment.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Ink spread across the parchment, and the map of Hogwarts gradually appeared.
Charlie found the location of the Gryffindor Tower and carefully scanned every labeled name.
Although most people in the Castle had gone to Hogsmeade, first and second years were still miserably stuck at school doing homework.
None.
There was no name of Peter Pettigrew anywhere in the tower.
Charlie frowned. Ron had left Scabbers in the dormitory before going to Hogsmeade. According to his guess, he should have found Peter Pettigrew's name by now.
Had he guessed wrong?
He put away the map and Apparated again.
This time, he landed in front of the entrance to the Gryffindor common room.
Because he had never entered the Gryffindor common room, he couldn't Apparate directly inside.
Sir Cadogan in the portrait was brandishing his sword, and upon seeing Charlie appear, he immediately shouted: "Halt! State the password!"
"Open up," Charlie said, a little impatiently.
"No password, I absolutely won't open the door! That is a knight's code!"
Charlie drew his wand, pointed it at the portrait, and golden flames gushed from the tip of the wand.
The flames rolled in the air, and the temperature was so high that Sir Cadogan in the portrait quickly retreated a few steps.
"This is the password. If you don't open the door, I'll burn you to death," Charlie said indifferently.
Chapter 169 Banban is gone
Sir Cadogan swallowed, stammering, "Calm down, Charlie, calm down! Remember, I even showed you the way."
It would have been better if he hadn't mentioned it; mentioning it only made Charlie angrier.
"You're still bringing up how you gave me wrong directions?" Charlie pressed his wand against the painting frame, and the flame at the tip of his wand flickered more intensely.
"Open the door."
"Alright, alright, I'm opening it now!"
Sir Cadogan nimbly opened the door.
["Your Majesty violently coerced the guard, tyrant points +10"]
Charlie put away his wand, pushed the door open, and walked in.
In the Gryffindor common room, several first and second-year students were gathered around a table playing wizard chess. They looked up, saw Charlie, and all froze.
Charlie was a well-known figure among the students; his various exploits over the past two years made it hard not to recognize him.
But they couldn't understand how a Hufflepuff student could enter the Gryffindor common room.
"Kids, don't look, go play chess." Charlie snapped his fingers.
The Little Wizards immediately felt a gentle force making them lower their heads, compelled to stare at the chessboard.
Charlie walked to the staircase and found Harry's dormitory by matching the room number.
Pushing open the door, the scene inside made him pause.
The dormitory was a bit messy; Ron's bedsheet still had some bloodstains, his pillow was askew, and the quilt was on the floor.
Charlie frowned, scanning the entire room.
Under the bed, in the wardrobe, under the table, he searched every corner but didn't see Scabbers.
There were a few ginger-colored cat hairs on the floor.
Charlie squatted down, picked up a strand, and examined it closely.
He was very familiar with this fur color; Hermione's cat, Crookshanks, was this color.
There were still bloodstains on Ron's bedsheet, but not many, only a few drops.
The sequence of events was now very clear.
Crookshanks had snuck in and attacked Scabbers.
Or rather, attacked Peter Pettigrew. Peter was scratched, bled a little, and then fled.
As an adult Wizard, the probability of being killed by a cat should be small. He could have easily transformed back into human form, driven the cat away, and then turned back into a rat.
But he chose to flee, which was very interesting. Could he really be afraid of Crookshanks?
Peter had lived as a rat, in hiding, for over a decade in the weasley family. If he was truly a hero, why was he hiding?
Was Black's escape from Azkaban really to kill Harry?
Charlie narrowed his eyes.
If the real traitor was Peter, then Black's purpose for escaping Azkaban made sense.
He had been in Azkaban for over a decade, and upon suddenly learning that Peter was alive, he would desperately escape to seek revenge on Peter.
However, this was just a guess. To confirm it, he needed to catch Peter or Black.
On the other side, after Charlie disappeared, Harry stood in the Three Broomsticks pub, his unease growing stronger.
Charlie's sudden return to Hogwarts must mean he had discovered something, and Harry had a strong premonition that it was related to Black, as Charlie had left abruptly after overhearing the Professor's conversation.
"I'm going back too." Harry, wearing his invisibility cloak, said in a low voice.
Ron put down his cup and looked at Hermione: "Then let's go too."
Hermione nodded.
The three left the pub and hurried back to Hogwarts through the snow.
It was already afternoon when they returned to the Castle; the corridors were empty, as most students were still in Hogsmeade.
Harry took off his invisibility cloak, and the three of them jogged along, looking for Charlie.
They finally found him by the Black Lake.
Charlie was squatting by the lake, and Storm stood beside him, tilting his head, listening to him speak.
"Did you hear clearly? Catch Scabbers, and the reward is a hundred pieces of dried meat." Charlie broke off a small piece of dried meat and fed it to Storm.
"Spot the big black dog, and the reward is fifty pieces."
Charlie didn't expect Storm or the others to catch Peter, but it was worth a shot, just in case they did. It wouldn't be much trouble anyway.
"Caw!" Storm cried out excitedly.
Charlie patted his head:
"Go on, mobilize all the little brothers and sisters in the Owlery. Whoever catches him gets a reward."
Storm immediately flew off.
Ron's face instantly changed when he heard this.
"Wait, Charlie, is the Scabbers you're talking about the Scabbers I know? What are you catching him for? What did he do wrong?"
"This can't be explained in a few words. You should go back to the dormitory and see for yourself first."
Ron froze for a second, then turned and ran into the Castle.
Harry followed him.
Hermione didn't move; she stood still, looking at Charlie.
"What exactly happened?"
Charlie didn't want to explain it to her first, then explain it again to Harry and Ron.
"Wait until they come back."
Not long after, Ron came over, fuming, holding the bedsheet, with Harry following behind him, looking a bit awkward.
Ron pointed at the bloodstains on the bedsheet and yelled at Hermione:
"It's all your cat's fault! He killed Scabbers!"
Hermione looked astonished and was about to explain when Charlie put a hand on Ron's shoulder.
"Quiet down, Scabbers isn't dead." Charlie paused.
"Or rather, his name isn't Scabbers at all."
Ron froze, the anger on his face turning into bewilderment.
"What do you mean?"
Charlie pulled out the marauder's map from his pocket and touched his wand to the parchment.
Ink spread across the parchment, and the map of Hogwarts gradually appeared.
Charlie pointed to the location by the Black Lake on the map, where four names were clearly marked: Charlie White, Ron Weasley, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger.
"This map can show the names and locations of everyone in the Castle, even Dumbledore is no exception."
Charlie's finger pointed to the Principal's office, where Dumbledore was pacing back and forth.
Ron's eyes widened in surprise, but then he reacted.
"This map is indeed amazing, but what does it have to do with Scabbers?"
"Before, I saw on the map that you were sleeping with someone named Peter Pettigrew."
"I originally thought it was a man, but today when I heard the Professor mention that name, I realized something was wrong."
Ron blinked, not quite understanding.
"If I'm not mistaken, that's Scabbers."
The air suddenly went silent.
Ron's expression changed from bewilderment to shock.
"How is that possible? How could Scabbers be..."
"You mean... Scabbers is an Animagus?"
"Exactly." Charlie nodded.
"And according to Minister Fudge, Peter Pettigrew lost a finger back then, which is just like Scabbers's claw."
Ron's face turned pale, and he swayed unsteadily.
He couldn't accept the news immediately; the amount of information was simply too much.
Good news: your pet can transform.
Bad news: it transforms into an old man.
"Ron, you've been sleeping with an old man for two and a half years," Charlie added.
"Thank you for reminding me!"
Ron roared, his eyes losing focus, and he fell backward to the ground, unable to get up again.
Chapter 170 A true warrior dares to face the real Dementors.
Late at night, Crookshanks snuck out of the Castle.
He stepped on the snow, walking step by step towards the Whomping Willow.
Under the moonlight, the Whomping Willow's branches swayed in the wind, as if ready to attack any approaching creature at any moment.
Crookshanks stopped under the tree, his amber eyes fixed on the waving branches.
The next second, he darted forward.
Whack!
A thick branch came crashing down, striking at Crookshanks.
Crookshanks twisted his body, deftly dodging it, and another branch swept across; he ducked his head, slipping underneath the branch.
The Whomping Willow became increasingly agitated, its branches wildly lashing the ground, sending snow flying.
Crookshanks weaved and leaped between the branches, like he was dancing.
Finally, he made a sudden leap, landing on the tree trunk, his front paws precisely pressing on a small knot.
The Whomping Willow instantly quieted down.
All its branches stopped mid-air, motionless.
Crookshanks shook the snow off his body and Drill into a small hole at the base of the tree.
The entrance was narrow, barely allowing an adult man to squeeze through. But after a few steps inside, the space suddenly widened, becoming a spacious underground passage.
The passage was dark, with only a faint moonlight filtering in from the entrance.
Crookshanks walked for a while, and a Black shadow appeared ahead.
A big black dog lay on the ground, raising its head at the sound.
Crookshanks went forward, meowed, and rubbed his head against the big black dog's front leg.
The big black dog lowered its head and licked his ear.
The next second, the Black dog's form began to distort, its fur disappearing, its limbs lengthening. In the blink of an eye, a gaunt, haggard man appeared in the passage.
His hair was long and messy, as if it hadn't been cared for in a long time.
His cheeks were sunken, his cheekbones prominent, and his eyes deeply set. His Black robes were tattered and stained.
Sirius Black, the fugitive from Azkaban.
Black crouched down, picked up Crookshanks, and placed him on his lap.
His fingers gently stroked the cat's back, his movements very light.
"Did you catch him?" Black's voice was hoarse.
"Meow." Crookshanks meowed, his tail drooping.
Black sighed.
He grabbed Crookshanks' front paws and squeezed his paw pads.
"It's alright, you did your best."
Crookshanks tilted his head to look at him, his amber eyes glowing in the darkness.
"Next time, I'll come myself."
Black released his hand, and Crookshanks jumped to the ground, circling at his feet.
Black leaned against the wall, looking up towards the outside of the tree hollow. Moonlight streamed in diagonally from the opening, casting a small white patch of light on the ground.
That was the light he yearned for but couldn't have in Azkaban.
Twelve years, he had spent a full twelve years in that hellish place.
Dementors roamed outside his cell every day, sucking away all happy memories.
He watched other prisoners go mad one by one, screaming in their cells, banging their heads against walls, and finally dying.
The only reason he managed to endure was the hatred in his heart.
Hatred for Peter, hatred for himself.
He hated Peter for betraying James, for delivering their family to Lord Voldemort.
He hated himself even more for that foolish suggestion he made—to make Peter the Secret-Keeper.
He thought he was being clever, believing no one would think of that.
Black closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Cold air filled his lungs, making him cough.
He had seen the newspaper in Azkaban.
In that photo, Peter, transformed into a rat, was perched on Ron Weasley's shoulder.
At that moment, he almost thought he had gone mad.
Peter wasn't dead.
The traitor was alive and well, hiding in Hogwarts.
That very night, he transformed into a dog and squeezed out through the bars of his cell. Dementors couldn't sense animal emotions, so he escaped from Azkaban just like that.
He swam across the strait and ran all the way to Hogwarts.
He had to kill Peter, to avenge James.
Black opened his eyes, staring at that patch of moonlight.
As long as he could kill Peter, he was willing to live in darkness forever... The next morning, Charlie and his companions boarded the train for the Christmas holiday.
The atmosphere in the compartment was somewhat subdued.
Harry's face was grim. The person who betrayed his parents turned out to be his godfather, which disgusted him greatly and filled him with immense hatred.
Ron's face was also grim, and he was muttering to himself.
"I even fed him, and let him sleep by my pillow... Oh my God, I even touched his..."
Whenever he thought of the scenes of him sleeping, eating, and bathing with Scabbers, he couldn't help but gag.
Hermione's face was also grim. Because Crookshanks had gone somewhere to fool around last night, and his body was covered in Black smudges.
Oh my, even if Snape rubbed his hair all over Crookshanks, he wouldn't be this dirty.
Seeing the three of them, Charlie couldn't help but tap on the table.
"Can the three of you cheer up a bit?"
"I finally managed to convince Dumbledore to let Harry come home with me, just to teach you the Patronus Charm. Is this your state?"
"When did you become so kind?" Hermione looked at Charlie warily.
"I just feel like something's not right."
"Is that how you see me?" Charlie said with deep pain.
"Can't I stab him twice for a friend, oh no, go through fire and water for a friend?"
"You saying that really hurts me." Charlie clutched his chest.
"I'm thinking about your safety."
Hermione stared at Charlie for a few seconds, finding the expression on his face excessively sincere.
The wariness in her heart loosened a bit.
"Alright, I believe you genuinely want to teach us this time." Hermione turned her face away, her voice softening.
"I misunderstood you just now, I'm sorry."
"But don't worry, I will definitely complete your teaching tasks diligently, and I'll let you check then."
Charlie smiled with satisfaction, saying nothing.
The train pulled into the station, and Harry and the other two followed Charlie off the train, taking a taxi to the Orphanage.
Actually, Charlie could have Apparated the three of them, but the process of Apparition was uncomfortable, and considering what they were about to face, it was better to let them enjoy a little more beauty.
Grandma White stood at the door, holding an apron, and smiled when she saw Charlie.
"Charlie, you're back." She saw the three children following behind Charlie, and her smile deepened.
"You even brought classmates back, come in quickly, it's cold outside."
Harry stepped forward and greeted politely:
"Hello, Grandma White."
He had visited once during the summer and had a very good impression of Grandma White.
"It's Harry." Grandma White clapped her hands.
"Come in, come in, I've prepared hot tea for you."
The group walked into the Orphanage, and the warmth of the heater enveloped them.
Charlie took off his coat and casually asked, "Grandma, was that box opened during the summer?"
Grandma White shook her head: "No, except for a big man who comes to feed Norbert every week, the box has basically never been opened."
That big man was, of course, Hagrid, who brought Norbert's food to the Orphanage every week.
Charlie nodded, led the three upstairs, and pushed open the room door.
The box was still in its original position.
Charlie opened the lid and was the first to jump in.
Harry and the other two followed.
Norbert, who was lying in the distance, immediately raised its head at the sound.
It saw Charlie, excitedly rushed over, its huge body leaving a series of footprints on the ground.
"Roar—"
Norbert lowered its head and rubbed its head against Charlie's chest.
Charlie was pushed back two steps and reached out to pat its nose.
"Alright, alright, stop messing around."
Zhu Di swooped down from the sky, landing directly on Charlie's head, its claws gripping his hair tightly.
Charlie tried to pull it off, but Zhu Di refused stubbornly.
Charlie just let it stay there.
Hermione and the other two were greatly astonished when they saw Norbert.
"It's grown so much."
Charlie soothed Norbert, then turned and walked towards an open space deep inside the box.
Harry and the other two followed.
Charlie stopped and turned around.
"I told you the incantation and trick for the Patronus Charm before, how have you been practicing?"
Hermione immediately raised her wand.
"Expecto Patronum!"
A puff of silver mist emerged from the tip of her wand, floated in the air for a few seconds, then dissipated.
Harry also raised his wand and recited it.
His mist was slightly fainter than Hermione's.
Ron raised his wand last.
"Expecto Patronum."
A faint wisp of silver smoke emerged from the tip of his wand, almost invisible.
Hermione looked at Ron triumphantly: "I told you to practice properly, but you didn't listen."
Ron's face flushed: "Didn't I successfully cast it?"
Charlie nodded: "It's alright, your foundations are already very solid, it's time to start further practice."
Ron immediately puffed out his chest and jutted his chin at Hermione.
"See, Charlie said my foundation is very solid."
Hermione pouted, said nothing, but looked at Charlie with some curiosity.
Charlie's Patronus was so powerful, how amazing would his teaching be? She was truly eager to start practicing.
Charlie took out a silver box from his pocket.
Ron stared at the box, suddenly having a bad feeling.
"Charlie, what is this?"
Charlie didn't answer, his finger on the latch of the box.
"Are you ready?"
"Wait—" Ron hadn't finished speaking.
Click.
The box opened.
Three Black figures rushed out of the box, instantly floating into the air.
Dementors.
Ron's face instantly turned pale.
"I think my foundation could be a bit more solid."
Chapter 171 Charlie's Spell Class Begins!
The moment the three Dementors burst out of the box, they instinctively recoiled from Charlie.
Even though Charlie hadn't cast the Patronus Charm, the three Dementors veered in the air as if they had seen something terrifying.
Driven by hunger, they turned their tattered bodies slowly towards Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
"Run!"
Ron squeezed out a single word, and the three of them turned and fled.
The Dementors floated silently in mid-air, pursuing them. The surrounding temperature plummeted, and frost spread across the ground.
Charlie stood still, then the shoulder blades on his back, along with his clothes, gradually elongated, transforming into a pair of enormous red wings.
The wing membranes glowed with a dark luster under the moonlight, their framework thick and their edges sharp as blades.
This was his Animagus partial transformation.
As his wings spread, they kicked up a gust of wind, and Norbert roared excitedly in the distance.
Charlie's feet left the ground, and with a flap of his wings, he soared into the air.
He hovered above the Dementors, looking down at the three people desperately fleeing below.
"Just running won't help," Charlie's voice came from above.
"You need to learn the Patronus Charm, otherwise... you'll die."
["The foolish monarch is not acting human, scaring the young page, tyrant points + 5"]
Ron looked back and nearly tripped over a stone on the ground.
"Charlie, are you crazy!"
Hermione gritted her teeth and abruptly stopped. She turned around, raising her wand.
"Expecto Patronum!"
Silver mist surged from her wand tip, forming a thin film in front of her. The Dementors charged, crashing into the film with an ear-splitting shriek.
Ron and Harry also stopped, each raising their wands.
"Expecto Patronum!"
"Expecto Patronum!"
Three streams of silver mist connected, barely holding back the Dementors' attack.
The Dementors circled outside the film, repeatedly assaulting the defense.
Each impact made the film vibrate violently, and the trio's arms trembled along with it.
The surrounding temperature dropped lower and lower. Harry could see his own breath, and his fingers were numb with cold.
Memories he wished to forget began to surface in his mind—his mother's scream, the green light, and the tall black shadow.
Charlie continued to circle in the air.
Zhu Di was perched on his head, peeking down before shrinking back, finding it too brutal to watch.
Hermione gritted her teeth: "Can you please, take these things back—"
"No," Charlie's tone was calm.
"Only true danger can make you unleash your potential."
Normally, the Dementors' proximity would make people unable to recall any happiness, but Hermioneand the others' combined Patronus Charm temporarily held them back.
A thin, wavering silver mist formed a barrier in front of the three, but it was enough to keep the Dementors from getting close.
Hermione gritted her teeth, sweat already beading on her forehead. She could feel her stamina slowly draining, like she was running a long race.
"This won't do," Hermione took a deep breath.
"Harry, you stop first, Ron and I will cast the Spell. We'll switch every few minutes; rotating rests will help us last longer."
Harry nodded, lowering his wand.
His Patronus disappeared, and the silver barrier immediately shrank. The Dementors sensed an opportunity and floated closer.
A cold sensation crept up Harry's spine, but it was still within a tolerable range; at least it wouldn't incapacitate him.
Ron's Spell proficiency wasn't high to begin with, and casting the Patronus Charm was very difficult for him now.
"Ron, concentrate!" Hermione shouted.
"I know! I'm already concentrating hard!"
But he still managed to persevere.
Five minutes later, Harry raised his wand again.
"Expecto Patronum!"
Silver mist surged out once more. Ron immediately put away his wand, gasping for breath, and collapsed onto the ground.
"I can't do it, I really can't."
"Is Charlie trying to kill us?"
"Shut up, save your strength," Hermione said through gritted teeth.
Another five minutes passed, and Ron stood up, taking Hermione's place.
This time, his Patronus Charm was noticeably stronger.
The silver mist was no longer so thin; it condensed into a mass in the air, still shapeless, but at least thicker than before.
Charlie watched this scene and nodded with satisfaction.
"Not bad, very quick progress," his voice came from above.
"You see, people can only unleash their greatest potential when facing life and death."
"Just hold on a little longer. Once you can summon a corporeal Patronus, I'll take them back."
"Corporeal Patronus?" Ron exclaimed.
"Do you know how difficult that is? Many adult Wizards can't even do it."
"Keep it up, I believe in you," Charlie leisurely flapped his wings.
"It's said that someone, in extreme anger, killed a tiger with a single slide tackle. You can do it too."
Time passed minute by minute.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione took turns casting the Patronus Charm, and their Spell proficiency rapidly improved under this extreme pressure. The silver mist, initially thin and transparent, gradually became thick and solid.
But the cost was also evident.
Sweat dripped from Hermione's forehead, dampening her collar. Ron's face was pale, his lips trembling. Harry's arms ached so much he could barely lift them.
The frequency of switching became faster and faster.
From the initial five minutes, it became three, then two, and finally they could only hold on for one minute.
The Dementors sensed their weakness and became increasingly agitated. Three black shadows circled outside the silver barrier, repeatedly assailing the defense.
It was Harry's turn to rest again.
He collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. His wand was in his hand, but his fingers were numb.
Ron and Hermione stood in front, each holding their wands. Silver mist poured from their wand tips, but it was clearly much weaker than before.
The Dementors suddenly charged forward.
"Ah—" Ron let out a low growl, his wand shaking violently.
"Hold on!" Hermione gritted her teeth.
Ron's face was flushed.
"Harry, are you ready? I can't hold on much longer."
Harry struggled to stand, his legs weak as if he were treading on cotton.
"Just a little longer. Don't be so quick!"
"I really can't! I can't hold on!"
Charlie's mouth twitched; why did these lines sound so strange... Suddenly, Ron leaned back and fell straight to the ground.
His wand slipped from his hand.
A gap immediately appeared in the Patronus Charm.
The three Dementors surged forward simultaneously.
The temperature plummeted.
Hermione felt as if an ice block was pressing on her chest, making it hard to breathe. All her happy memories rapidly vanished, leaving only pain and despair.
Suddenly, she wondered, what was the point of living?
The Patronus Charm extinguished.
Hermione fell to her knees, her wand dropping from her hand.
The three Dementors floated above her and Ron, their withered hands extending from their tattered robes, slowly approaching.
Harry saw this scene, and his mind suddenly went blank.
No. He couldn't let Hermione and Ron get hurt.
A surge of power erupted from his chest, burning through the cold like fire.
Harry abruptly raised his wand.
"Expecto Patronum!"
This time was different.
Silver mist gushed from his wand tip, no longer an invisible haze, but rapidly coalescing into an outline.
Four legs, a slender body, and branched antlers on its head.
A silver stag appeared in the air.
It lowered its head and charged towards the Dementors.
The formed Patronus's damage to the Dementors increased dramatically; the Dementors let out sharp shrieks and turned to flee.
The silver stag pursued them, forcing them to retreat step by step.
Charlie stopped in mid-air.
"Good."
He snapped his fingers, and the three Dementors were instantly sucked back into the box.
The lid closed, locking with a click.
The surrounding temperature slowly rose.
Chapter 172 Harry's New Broom
Ron and Hermione collapsed on the ground, panting heavily.
Charlie descended from mid-air, his wings retracting behind him, eventually disappearing.
He walked over to Harry and patted his shoulder.
"Very good, Harry is the first to pass the test and successfully cast a Patronus."
Harry stared at the silver stag in the air, his eyes shining; everything he had just experienced seemed so insignificant in the face of success.
The stag circled in the air, then dissolved into specks of silver light.
Hermione sat on the ground, her small face flushed, glaring at Charlie.
Her hair was stuck to her forehead with sweat, and her clothes were largely damp.
"You're utterly rotten!" Hermione gritted her teeth.
"Who does things like that, just releasing Dementors without any warning?"
If she weren't so exhausted now that she couldn't even stand up, she would have wanted to rush over and bite that scoundrel to death.
Seeing her expression, Charlie seemed to sense her great reluctance at not yet having successfully cast a Patronus, so he asked,
"It seems Hermione wants some extra practice?"
Hermione exploded.
"Get lost, you scoundrel! Don't touch me!" She grabbed small pebbles from the ground and threw them at Charlie.
Charlie dodged, retracting his hand sheepishly.
Little brat, so rude.
Ron still lay limply on the ground, staring at the ceiling, his eyes vacant.
"Charlie," Ron suddenly spoke.
"Hmm?"
"If we really couldn't hold on, you would save us, right?"
Charlie glanced at him, smiling meaningfully.
"Of course, you silly boy."
Seeing Ron let out a long sigh of relief, Charlie added in his mind, 'But only before you were completely tormented into unconsciousness by the Dementors, otherwise, what kind of facing death would that be?'
With Harry successfully summoning a Patronus, today's training came to an end.
Charlie clapped his hands.
"Alright, that's enough for today. Go back and eat."
The three stumbled out of the box.
Grandma White had already prepared dinner. The table was laden with food, the most prominent being a large plate of freshly baked apple pie and a roasted turkey in the center of the table.
Ron's eyes instantly lit up when he saw the food. He didn't bother to wipe the sweat from his brow and rushed to the table to sit down.
"Grandma, you're my savior," Ron grabbed a piece of apple pie and stuffed it into his mouth.
The warm apple pie melted in his mouth, the crispy crust mixing with the sweet fruit filling.
The sugar quickly dissolved on his tongue, and that feeling of happiness washed away all the despair from earlier.
Hermione also picked up a piece, taking small bites. The sweetness spread in her mouth, and her tense nerves finally relaxed.
Grandma White smiled beside them, serving turkey meat to everyone.
"Eat more, you children are too thin."
The younger brothers and sisters from the Orphanage gathered around the table, chattering away. A small boy tugged on Harry's sleeve, insisting on showing him his drawing.
Harry looked down at the crooked scribble, a smile finally gracing his lips.
Ron had already finished his third slice of apple pie and was slumped in his chair, sighing contentedly.
Charlie raised his cup.
"Merry Christmas."
The others also raised their cups.
"Merry Christmas!"
The next morning, Charlie woke up in bed.
The room was quiet; Storm was not on the windowsill.
It had flown out last night to deliver mail and was probably not finished yet.
Charlie had sent Christmas gifts to all his friends, still the familiar notes from various subjects.
He also prepared gifts for the Professors. The other Professors were easy to please, but Snape always seemed to dislike his gifts.
So Charlie switched to a different brand of shampoo, which was said to be the most famous brand in the magic world.
And Dumbledore, that old man loved to grumble about being old and afraid of the cold, wishing he had a pair of thick, long white wool socks embroidered with a flower.
Charlie, speechless, bought him ten pairs of black ones.
Throughout the day, Owls continuously delivered Christmas gifts.
Charlie signed for each one and unwrapped the packages.
A grey Owl, clutching a thick journal, landed in front of Charlie.
The cover was printed with gilded letters: "transfiguration today."
Charlie opened the first page, the title prominently displayed: "On the Realization and Theoretical Breakthrough of Dragon Animagus."
Authors: Charlie White, Hermione Granger.
It seemed the paper submitted earlier had successfully appeared in the journal.
Professor McGonagall bought the latest edition immediately and sent it to Charlie.
Once this paper spread, the entire magic world would know that Animagus had achieved a new breakthrough.
And Charlie would become an expert in this field, even surpassing Snape's status in the Potion world, leaving his name in history forever.
Charlie closed the journal, a smile playing on his lips.
He stood up and walked out of the room with the journal.
In the living room downstairs, Harry and Ron were gathered around a long, narrow package.
Charlie walked down the stairs.
"What's this?"
"I don't know, it just arrived."
Ron suddenly thought of something.
"This shape... could it be a broom?"
Harry's eyes lit up, and he reached out to tear open the wrapping paper.
A shimmering luster peeked through the torn gap.
Ron gasped.
Once the wrapping paper was completely torn away, an exquisitely beautiful flying broom appeared before the three of them.
The broomstick was streamlined, smooth as a mirror. The twigs at the tail were neatly arranged, each one gleaming with a golden light.
Ron jumped up.
"Firebolt! This is a Firebolt!"
"The newest, fastest professional broom! Harry, do you know how much this thing costs? Quidditchprofessional teams are scrambling to buy this!"
Harry was also very excited.
He had seen this broom in Diagon Alley. At the time, he had stood outside the display window for a long time, and the numbers on the price tag made his heart race.
Although he had enough money in his vault to buy it, it was still a huge sum.
Charlie stared at the Firebolt, his expression changing slightly.
Oh no.
If Harry took this broom onto the field, Hufflepuff's quidditch cup this year would be unstable!
Just then, Hermione came downstairs, holding a thick book.
She saw Harry and Ron grinning foolishly around the broom and frowned.
"What are you two grinning about?"
Ron immediately pointed at the Firebolt.
"Look! Harry's new broom!"
Hermione approached and looked down at the broom. Her expression was not as excited as Ron's; instead, it was somewhat wary.
"Who sent it?"
Harry shook his head.
"I don't know, there's no card."
Hermione's frown deepened.
"Sending such an expensive gift anonymously? Harry, this isn't right."
Ron impatiently waved his hand: "Who cares who sent it! It's a Firebolt!"
Hermione's eyes widened, her brows furrowed:
"You two are so forgetful! Have you already forgotten about Ginny's incident last year? That diaryalmost killed her!" Her voice rose a few decibels.
"In the magic world, things that appear suddenly like this are often very dangerous!"
Ron shrank his neck.
"I know, I know—she sounds just like my mom when she nags."
"I think it should be given to a Professor for inspection, at least let Professor McGonagall take a look at it," Hermione insisted.
Harry's expression immediately fell. His fingers gently traced the broom's smooth surface, his eyes full of reluctance:
"But... this is the best gift I've ever received."
Ron also complained:
"Inspect? They'll tear it apart! By the time they finish inspecting it, the term will be over!"
Both of them turned their gaze to Charlie, hoping he would side with them.
Charlie looked at the Firebolt, then at Hermione's anxious expression, and lightly coughed:
"I think Hermione is very right."
Ron's mouth fell open, a betrayed expression on his face:
"Charlie! How could you—"
Hermione looked at Charlie gratefully, a slight smile on her lips.
Harry reluctantly nodded: "Alright, you and Hermione might be right."
Charlie smiled.
This thing definitely couldn't be given to Harry. Although Hufflepuff had already beaten Gryffindor in Quidditch this year, the quidditch cup was based on points, and whoever had the highest points in the year-long competition would win the quidditch cup.
What if Harry got the Firebolt and went around crushing weaker teams to rack up points?
Chapter 173 The paper is renowned far and wide.
Originally, Charlie planned for Harry and his two friends to successfully cast the Patronus Charm by Christmas, but after the last training session, the trio absolutely refused to go a step closer to the box.
Hermione said she'd be a dog if she ever learned anything from Charlie again in her life.
Charlie could only give up.
Such ungrateful people; how many out there wished for special training in Expecto Patronum but didn't get the chance?
As they were celebrating Christmas with their usual antics, little did they know the immense impact Charlie's paper had on the magical world.
Malfoy Manor.
Lucius sat in a high-backed chair in his study, holding the latest issue of transfiguration today.
Although it was Christmas, Malfoy Manor still maintained its noble and luxurious appearance; those cheap, colorful fairy lights seemed as if they would self-destruct upon entering the Castle.
His gaze rested on the title of the paper, his finger lightly tapping the armrest.
magical creatures Animagus.
No one had ever succeeded in this field. Countless Transfiguration masters had tried, but all ended in failure.
And now, a third-year student had done it. This was truly terrifying; even the Dark Lord of the past couldn't compare to him.
Anyone who made an enemy of him would face the most dreadful nightmare... Fortunately, the House of Malfoy was already firmly on Charlie's bandwagon.
What kind of family has the best foresight in the magical world!
Thinking of this, Lucius glanced at Draco beside him with a sense of relief.
"Draco, you must maintain a good relationship with Charlie. After class, spend more time chatting with him."
"Father, Charlie and I have a decent relationship. It's not necessary to go after every class, is it? I still have homework to do."
Lucius gave him a sidelong glance.
The young man was still too young and didn't understand the essence of schooling.
"Then you decide for yourself, but you must remember one thing, Draco."
"What?" Draco listened attentively.
"In this world, some people are destined to stand at the top," Lucius's tone was calm.
"And what we need to do is to be able to follow behind them when they reach the top."
...The Burrow.
Molly stood in the kitchen, holding a copy of transfiguration today.
Her eyes were wide, and her mouth was slightly agape.
"Arthur! Arthur! Come look at this!"
Mr. Weasley ran downstairs, still holding a wand.
"What's wrong, Molly?"
Molly handed him the periodical.
"Look, Charlie's paper is in transfiguration today!"
Mr. Weasley took the periodical and looked down at it for a few moments, utterly shocked.
"Merlin's beard... Dragon Animagus? Last year when The Twins told us, I thought it was some creature that just resembled a Dragon."
"I never thought it was real."
Molly nodded. She turned and walked to the stairwell, shouting upstairs.
"Fred! George! Get down here!"
A clatter of sounds came from upstairs. A few seconds later, The Twins ran down.
"What's wrong, Mum?" Fred asked.
"We didn't do anything," George immediately added.
Molly walked up to them, grabbing one ear of each.
"It's precisely because you two haven't done anything!"
"Ah—Mum! Ow ow ow!"
"You two spend all your time with Charlie, why can't you learn from him?" Molly said exasperatedly.
"Look at him! He's already published a paper in an academic journal in his third year!"
Poor Fred and George were scolded for this... Longbottom Manor.
Mrs. Augusta sat on the sofa in the living room, holding transfiguration today.
She wore her hat with the stuffed eagle specimen, her expression serious.
"Frank, come over and look at this."
Frank walked out of the study. After being discharged from St Mungo's, his complexion had improved significantly, but his hair was still somewhat streaked with grey, and there were a few shallow wrinkles on his face.
"What is it, Mum?"
Mrs. Augusta handed him the periodical.
"Charlie White's new article."
Frank took the periodical and looked down at it for a few moments. His expression became somewhat complex.
"This is the benefactor who saved Alice and me, isn't he?"
Mrs. Augusta nodded.
"I never imagined he would not only achieve such brilliance in Potions but also be so successful in Transfiguration."
Alice walked down from upstairs. She was wearing a light blue robe, her hair pinned up at the back of her head.
"We should find an opportunity to visit him and thank him in person."
Frank nodded.
"Actually, we should have gone long ago, but I've been recuperating until now."
"How about we write a letter to visit today?"
...Ministry of Magic, Minister's Office.
Fudge sat behind his large desk, holding the copy of transfiguration today.
He had read it three times already.
Fudge put down the periodical and rubbed his temples.
Compared to the House of Malfoy, unfortunately, Charlie seemed to have a not-so-good impression of the Ministry of Magic.
He recalled their last meeting at Hogwarts. Charlie had quite a few disagreements with him on the Dementor issue.
What was worse, Charlie was very close to Dumbledore.
Dumbledore was like a giant boulder weighing on Fudge's heart.
How many people in the Ministry of Magic listened to Dumbledore more than they listened to him, the Minister? Fudge knew it very well.
Every time the Wizengamot met, as long as Dumbledore spoke, most of the Wizards would vote for him.
He, the Minister, seemed more like a mere figurehead.
If Charlie also sided with Dumbledore after graduation... Fudge dared not think further.
A powerful academic genius, if he became a supporter of Dumbledore, his days at the Ministry of Magicwould be even more difficult.
No.
Absolutely not.
Charlie must be won over!
Chapter 174 The Minister of Magic's Attempt to Win Him Over
Charlie was watching Harry and Ron play chess when he received an Owl.
Ron was indeed excellent at chess, and Harry couldn't keep up at all.
Hermione and Charlie flanked Harry, offering him advice.
"I think you should move this piece here to block his retreat."
Charlie swatted Hermione's hand away.
"You terrible player, if you move there, won't you abandon your rear? You should charge forward and take his Knight!"
Charlie and Hermione argued endlessly.
Harry, caught in the middle, had a dark expression and gritted his teeth, saying,
"What are you two chess-playing noobs, who already lost, shouting about!"
Just then, a grayish-brown Owl landed on the windowsill, clutching a letter in its talons. The envelope bore the Lupin Family crest.
Charlie took the letter, opened the envelope, and scanned the contents.
The Lupin Family wished to visit that afternoon. The tone was very polite, and it was signed by Mrs. Augusta, Neville's Grandma.
Charlie thought for a moment, wrote his agreement on the back of the letter, and sent it back with the Owl.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, a black carriage stopped in front of the Orphanage.
The carriage body was carved with exquisite patterns, and two bay horses pulled it.
In the 1990s, carriages were already a relic of the previous century, but the surrounding Muggles paid no attention to it.
Evidently, the carriage had a Confundo on it, making the surrounding Muggles believe it was a car.
Mrs. Augusta was the first to step out of the carriage. She still wore the hat adorned with an eagle specimen and leaned on an ebony walking stick.
Frank and Alice followed behind, both looking well. Neville was the last to alight, carrying a gift box in his hands.
Charlie stood at the door, with Harry, Ron, and Hermione behind him.
Neville's eyes lit up when he saw Harry and Ron, and he jogged over to greet them.
"Harry! Ron! You're here too? I'm so envious that you get to live at Charlie's place."
The three remained silent.
Envious? Then come on over, the Dementor welcomes you.
Mrs. Augusta walked up to Charlie and nodded slightly.
"Mr. Charlie, I apologize for the intrusion."
"Madam Lupin, you're too kind." Charlie stepped aside, opening the door wider.
"Please come in."
The group entered the Orphanage.
Charlie had redecorated the main hall in advance, with deep red carpets on the floor and several landscape paintings on the walls. A long table was set with tea sets and snacks.
Grandma White stood by, smiling as she invited the guests to sit down.
Frank sat on the sofa, his gaze fixed on Charlie. His expression was very serious.
"Mr. Charlie, I came today to thank you." Frank's voice was steady.
"If it weren't for your Potion, Alice and I would still be lying in St Mungo's."
Alice also nodded. "The Lupin Family owes you a huge debt of gratitude."
Charlie waved his hand.
"Neville is my friend. If a friend is in trouble, I won't stand by and do nothing."
Neville blushed at these words.
Since his parents woke up, his Grandma rarely called him stupid, and all of this was thanks to Charlie. So, in Neville's heart, he had long regarded Charlie as someone to follow for life.
Mrs. Augusta looked at Charlie, her eyes full of sincerity.
"Mr. Charlie, the Lupin Family is willing to become your staunchest ally. Whatever you need in the future, just ask, and we will do our utmost."
Charlie smiled but didn't respond.
Frank took a small box from his pocket and handed it to Charlie.
"This is a small token of our appreciation. I hope you'll accept it."
Charlie opened the box; inside was an ancient-looking ring. The ring was carved with intricate magicpatterns.
"This is a trophy we once acquired abroad, a magic item from Africa. It can instantly Apparition away when it senses its owner is in danger."
Frank explained.
Charlie accepted the ring and thanked him.
The two parties chatted about other topics. Mrs. Augusta mentioned the paper in transfiguration today, her tone filled with admiration. Frank asked some questions about Potions, and Charlie answered briefly.
The atmosphere was harmonious.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Charlie looked up at the door, his eyebrows slightly raised.
Why were so many people coming today?
Charlie got up to open the door.
Ron leaned into Harry's ear, lowering his voice: "This person's timing really isn't good."
Harry looked at him puzzled: "What's wrong?"
"Among Pure-blood Families, family visits are very intimate affairs," Ron explained.
"Usually, they write to each other to arrange it in advance and cancel other engagements to show respect to the other party. For this person to show up unannounced during a gathering is very presumptuous. Some petty families might even get angry about it."
Neville quickly added: "Our family wouldn't be that petty."
Charlie opened the door, and standing outside was Minister Fudge.
Fudge was also taken aback to see so many people inside.
He clearly hadn't expected to run into the Lupin Family's visit.
"Ah, Minister, please come in." Charlie stepped aside.
Fudge walked in, and everyone in the room stood to greet him.
His gaze lingered on Mrs. Augusta and Frank for a moment, then he offered an apologetic smile.
"I'm truly sorry, I've interrupted your gathering," Fudge quickly said.
Mrs. Augusta smiled politely:
"It's alright, Minister. You must have something important, right?"
You better have something important, or I'll show you what Lupin's wrath is!
Fudge cleared his throat, then turned to Charlie, his expression becoming serious.
"Mr. Charlie, I'm here today on behalf of the Ministry of Magic to formally invite you to become the Minister for Magic's Intern Assistant." He paused, emphasizing his words.
"Because you are still in school, it's only an intern assistant position. As soon as you graduate, you will be promoted to a full-time position without any assessment."
The room instantly fell silent.
Hermione's mouth dropped open.
Minister's Assistant? This was one of the most central positions in the Ministry of Magic.
It was known that there were four offices on the first floor of the Ministry of Magic: the Minister's Office, the Minister's Advisor's Office, the Senior Undersecretary's Office, and finally, the Minister's Assistant's Office.
Almost all past Ministers for magic started from the position of Minister's Assistant.
Oh my, if she were invited, she wouldn't hesitate for a second.
Fudge also seemed quite confident, clearly thinking these terms were generous enough.
But Mrs. Augusta frowned slightly.
She looked at Fudge, her eyes chilling a few degrees.
This seemingly generous offer was actually a big trap.
The unique nature of the Minister's Assistant position made it one of the most sensitive roles in the Ministry of Magic.
Those who held this position were almost always the Minister's confidants. The outside world would also tacitly assume that the assistant belonged to the Minister's faction.
Fudge was using this method to try and tie Charlie to his side in advance.
What was even more outrageous was that Charlie was still a student.
He might not see through these political intricacies and could very likely be misled by these seemingly attractive terms, thus unknowingly being labeled as belonging to the Minister's faction.
For ordinary people, becoming the Minister's Assistant was indeed a path to great success. But Charliewas not ordinary.
With Charlie's talent, his world would definitely not be limited to a small British Ministry of Magic.
Entering the quagmire of politics at school age was absolutely unacceptable.
Fudge's intentions were malicious.
Mrs. Augusta was about to speak, but Frank stood up first.
"Minister." Frank's tone was calm.
"Charlie is still in school. Isn't it too early to discuss these things now?"
Fudge smiled.
"Precisely because he's still in school, it's an intern assistant position. He'll be directly promoted upon graduation, which is an unprecedented treatment at the Ministry of Magic."
"Even so, it should wait until after graduation," Alice also chimed in.
"Settling it now wouldn't be good for Charlie."
Fudge's smile stiffened.
He hadn't expected the Lupin Family to stand up against him so quickly.
Mrs. Augusta was about to remind Charlie not to agree easily.
Just then, Charlie spoke faintly.
"I apologize, Minister."
"I refuse."
Fudge was stunned.
"What?" Fudge thought he had misheard.
"I said, I refuse," Charlie repeated.
Mrs. Augusta was also taken aback, then a hint of admiration flashed in her eyes.
She hadn't expected Charlie to be unswayed by external factors, much clearer-headed than she imagined.
Charlie sneered inwardly.
What kind of Minister's Assistant? Does that mean I have to be Fudge's assistant?
Does he deserve keys? How many?
If they made me Minister for Magic, I might consider it.
Chapter 175 Harry's Little Secret
Fudge stood rooted to the spot, his expression a little awkward; he hadn't expected Charlie to refuse so bluntly.
"Lord Charlie, you might not understand the significance of this position." Fudge took a deep breath, trying to salvage the situation.
"Ministerial Assistant isn't just any ordinary position; it represents..."
"Say no more." Charlie cut him off.
"I'm not interested in the Ministry of Magic."
Fudge opened his mouth, then finally closed it.
He knew that pressing the matter further would only be counterproductive.
"Alright then." Fudge forced a smile.
"If you change your mind, you can always come find me."
With that, he turned and left the Orphanage.
Mrs. Augusta breathed a sigh of relief.
"Lord Charlie, you made a wise decision." Her tone carried approval.
The dinner was sumptuous.
Grandma White had prepared roasted lamb chops, mashed potatoes, various meats, and a large pot of cream of mushroom soup.
After dinner, the Lupin Family said their goodbyes and left.
Before leaving, Mrs. Augusta reiterated that the Lupin Family would always be Charlie's staunchest ally... To ensure safety, Hermione forcibly gave the firebolt to Charlie for safekeeping; she was worried that Harry and Ron might secretly ride it.
Harry declared that this was pure slander! He would ride it openly and never sneakily.
Ultimately, the firebolt was still put into Charlie's trunk. It didn't see the light of day again until the eve of the new school term.
In fact, Charlie could tell at a glance that there was no curse on this broom; it was just a very ordinary broom, except for its not-so-ordinary price.
But Charlie still planned to hand the broom over to the Professor when school started.
Let Harry know what malice from a despicable outsider felt like.
The holiday passed quickly.
Although there was no more special training from Charlie, Ron and Hermione still successfully made their Patronus Charm condense into a corporeal form.
Ron's Patronus was a small Jack Russell Terrier.
Hermione's Patronus was an otter, which looked very cute.
Of course, Charlie's practical training session was indispensable.
With the Christmas holiday over, everyone returned to school on the Hogwarts Express.
The train traveled on the tracks, the scenery outside the window changing from snow-covered countryside to familiar mountains and lakes.
Harry sat in the compartment, his gaze occasionally darting towards Charlie's luggage rack. The firebolt was there, tightly wrapped.
Ron leaned against the window, muttering, "I don't understand why it has to be given to a Professor for inspection. It's a firebolt!"
Hermione flipped through the book in her hand, not even looking up: "Safety first."
"But—"
"No 'buts'."
Ron had a belly full of words but could only sigh in the end.
As dusk fell, the train pulled into Hogsmeade Station.
The students disembarked, got into carriages, and bumped their way back to the Castle.
The Great Hall was brightly lit. Snowflakes drifted outside the transparent ceiling, creating a spectacular view beneath the snowy scene.
Dumbledore stood at the faculty table, a smile on his face.
He turned and walked next to Snape, picking up a silver cracker from the table.
"Severus, try this." Dumbledore handed one end of the cracker to Snape.
Snape stared at the cracker, his brows tightly furrowed.
"Principal, I don't think this is necessary."
"Don't be so serious." Dumbledore winked.
"Pull it."
Snape's mouth twitched, but he finally reached out and grabbed the other end of the cracker. Both of them pulled at the same time.
Bang!
The cracker burst open, and colorful confetti flew out.
A Witch's hat fell out of it, landing right in Snape's hand.
It was a hat with a vulture specimen, identical to Mrs. Augusta's.
Snape's face darkened.
Dumbledore, however, laughed even harder.
He took the hat from Snape's hand and placed it directly on his own head, the vulture specimen swaying on his head.
Surprisingly, a lady's Wizard hat didn't look out of place on Dumbledore's head, perhaps because Dumbledore's robes were always colorful.
Dumbledore nodded contentedly, then shouted.
"Let the feast begin!"
The students cheered and began to take food.
Charlie sat at the Hufflepuff long table, and just as he picked up a piece of roast chicken, he felt someone staring at him.
He looked up, meeting Snape's gaze, which was devoid of emotion.
After a moment of eye contact, Snape averted his gaze.
But whether it was Charlie's imagination or not, he kept feeling Snape staring at him afterwards.
Alas, being too handsome is also a kind of trouble.
For this reason, Charlie also kept looking towards the Professor's table, only to find Professor Lupinabsent.
Recalling that he seemed to have seen a full moon outside the Castle earlier, Professor Lupin had probably transformed again.
After the dinner, the students left the Great Hall in succession, led by the prefects.
But Hermione secretly led Harry and Ron to find Charlie at the long table.
"Charlie, let's hand the broom over to the Professors tonight."
Charlie waved his hand.
"No rush, we can give it to them anytime."
Unexpectedly, Harry, who had been very resistant before, spoke with great determination.
"No, with that thing with you, you're also in danger. The sooner we hand it over to a Professor, the better."
Ron was stunned; he turned to stare at Harry and reached out to touch Harry's forehead.
"You don't have a fever, do you? Did Hermione curse you?"
Harry slapped Ron's hand away, ignored him, and continued speaking to Hermione:
"Since we're giving it to a Professor for inspection, we must find a Professor who understands Dark Arts."
Hermione nodded in agreement.
"I was thinking the same thing. The Professors who know more about Dark Arts should be Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Lupin."
The first two were the Principal and Vice Principal respectively, highly knowledgeable, and Professor Lupin was the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, naturally one of the best in his understanding of Dark Arts.
Harry was somewhat pleased to see that everything was going as he expected.
"However, Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall are too busy. Let's not bother them with a small matter. Let's find Professor Lupin; he should have more time."
Charlie instantly understood.
This kid, seeing that he couldn't win against himself and Hermione, was starting to take a roundabout approach.
The Principal was busy with a myriad of affairs, so asking him to help with the inspection was not very realistic.
Professor McGonagall was too strict, and Harry wasn't sure how long Professor McGonagall would take to inspect it.
Professor Lupin, on the other hand, had a good relationship with Harry, so he would just do a quick check, and if no problems were found, the broom could be retrieved.
He's got a good plan, but what Charlie is best at is thwarting people's desires!
Charlie smiled.
"But Professor Lupin's health isn't very good; he didn't even attend the dinner today."
Harry's expression stiffened for a moment but quickly recovered.
"I'm sure he'll get better."
"It's best not to add to Professor Lupin's burden." Charlie shook his head, his tone very serious.
"Actually, besides Professor Lupin, there's another Professor who has a deep understanding of Dark Arts."
Harry's heart sank; he had a bad feeling.
Chapter 176 Charlie's Clever Scheme Leads to a Broom Accidentally Landing on the Broken Broom Stand
Hermione looked up, curiosity flashing in her eyes.
"Which Professor are you talking about?"
"Professor Snape, of course," Charlie said, his tone perfectly natural.
"Don't forget, Professor Snape also applied to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. Although Dumbledore refused, it was only because he was better suited to be the Potion ClassProfessor."
Harry's face began to look troubled.
Charlie continued:
"Moreover, Professor Snape is a Potions Master. Besides using Spells to remove Dark Arts, he can also detect them with Potions. Double insurance, it's safer."
"What if the curse on the broom is very hidden, and ordinary detection can't find it? Professor Snapeuses Potion detection, and those hidden Dark Arts will have nowhere to hide."
Hermione nodded, thinking Charlie made a lot of sense.
"Indeed, looking at it that way, Professor Snape is the most suitable candidate."
Harry's heart gave a violent lurch.
Are you kidding me!
If Snape got his hands on the firebolt, would he ever get it back in his life? That old bat would love to see him suffer; he might deliberately destroy the broom and then claim it had a curse!
"No!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Snape has always disliked me. What if he doesn't check it properly and just wants me to get cursed? Professor Lupin would be better; he's a nicer person."
Ron also shook his head.
"Instead of checking the broom, I think he's more likely to just throw it into a cauldron and boil it."
Charlie patted Harry's shoulder.
"Harry, you're both prejudiced. Professor Snape is actually a good person."
Harry's eyes widened, wondering if there was something wrong with his ears.
"On Christmas Day, Professor Snape even specially gave me a Christmas gift," Charlie said with a very serious expression.
"He was worried I couldn't sleep, so he gave me a Potion that would make me fall asleep instantly."
Harry: ???
Are you listening to what you're saying?
Charlie continued: "If you're really worried, you can say it's my broom. Snape will definitely check it thoroughly out of respect for me."
Harry's mouth twitched.
Are you sure?
If he said it was Harry's broom, Snape would at most dismantle it. If he said it was Charlie's, he would probably add a few curses and send it back to him.
Harry was completely at his wit's end with Charlie and could only pin his hopes on Hermione.
He looked at her expectantly, hoping she would side with him.
Hermione bit her lip, her expression somewhat troubled.
Although theoretically, Professor Snape was indeed the most suitable candidate.
But in reality, Snape being suitable was one thing; whether he would check it properly was another.
She also didn't want that priceless firebolt to be completely dismantled into parts by Snape.
She pondered for a moment and came up with a compromise.
"All the Professors are at the faculty table now," Hermione said.
"Why don't we give the broom to Professor Snape now? That way, in front of all the Professors, he shouldn't damage the broom."
Charlie's eyes lit up: "Good idea!"
He said that and then disappeared.
The magical fluctuation of instantaneous movement rippled through the air.
Before Harry and Ron could react, Charlie had already returned, holding the tightly wrapped firebolt.
Harry looked at the broom, making a final struggle:
"Is Professor Lupin really not an option?"
Hermione shook her head, her tone somewhat heavy:
"Professor Lupin's illness... probably won't get better so easily."
Charlie glanced at her.
Hermione also realized Professor Lupin was a Werewolf?
But thinking about it, it was normal. Hermione was so smart and loved reading so much; it was perfectly normal for her to have suspicions after being heavily hinted at by Snape.
Charlie walked towards the faculty table with the broom, Harry and the other two followed behind.
Dumbledore was chatting with Professor Flitwick. Seeing Charlie approach, he stopped talking and asked with a smile:
"Charlie, is something the matter?"
Charlie placed the package on the table:
"During Christmas, Harry received a firebolt from an unknown sender."
At these words, all the Professors present looked up.
A firebolt?
That was currently the best flying broom, very expensive even for Professors. Who would send one to Harry?
Professor McGonagall frowned: "Sent anonymously?"
"Yes," Charlie nodded, beginning to unwrap the package.
"So we hope to ask Professor Snape to check this broom to see if there are any curses on it."
Snape, who was holding a wine glass and drinking, almost choked when he heard this.
He racked his brain but couldn't understand why they would ask him to check a broom.
Didn't they want it anymore?
The other Professors were also stunned.
Professor Flitwick whispered:
"Let Severus check it? This..."
Professor Sprout coughed, not responding.
Only Dumbledore, for some unknown reason, looked so relieved he was almost in tears.
Charlie fully opened the package, revealing the firebolt. Its smooth wooden handle, exquisite streamlined design, and neatly arranged fine twigs at the tail.
Under the light, it exuded a sense of understated luxury.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward and inspected it carefully.
She drew her wand, waved it over the broom, and muttered detection Spells.
After a few seconds, she shook her head: "I haven't found any obvious traces of a curse."
"But I'm not skilled in this, so it might not be accurate."
"Some curses are very subtle," Dumbledore interjected.
"Especially those elaborately designed Dark Arts; they can't be detected by simple checks."
Professor McGonagall pursed her lips.
"Such an item of unknown origin indeed needs a thorough inspection."
"Entrusting this to Professor Snape is also appropriate. Let Madam Hooch and Professor Snape check it together; Madam Hooch knows more about brooms."
"I hope Professor Snape can be as careful as possible during the inspection, as this broom is extremely valuable."
Professor McGonagall actually hoped Harry could ride this broom; she also wanted Gryffindor to win the quidditch cup.
But compared to the quidditch cup, she cared more about Harry's safety.
And at this moment, the most suitable Professor in the school to check the broom really was Snape, so Professor McGonagall could only hand the broom over to him.
Snape's face showed a gloomy smile.
"I will inspect this broom thoroughly."
But at least he'd wait until Gryffindor finished playing Slytherin before checking it... Snape's voice was like a poisonous snake discovering prey, but instead of fleeing, the prey delivered itself into its mouth.
Charlie saw Snape's smile and smiled innocently in return.
Sorry, Harry, there's no way I'm letting you score points in the match!
The two foxes, one old and one young, exchanged knowing smiles.
["Your Majesty is despicable and shameless, engaging in trickery and deceit. tyrant points +10"]
"I'll give you another chance to phrase that."
["Your Majesty is wise and mighty! Unparalleled in strategy!"]