A broken Hogwarts

Chapter 161 Christmas Vacation

Christmas is approaching, and there is heavy snow in the sky. The grounds outside the castle and the frozen black lake are covered with a thick layer of snow, and the biting cold wind penetrates into the castle along the window cracks.

Dumbledore has been missing for three weeks, which has caused many students to notice something unusual. Although Dumbledore does not often appear in school, his presence has always been people's confidence, giving students the courage to face the threat of the heir.

Classes can still go on as normal. Ever since rumors began to circulate in Hogwarts that something happened to the principal, people on campus have become panicked.

When the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, came to look for Dumbledore with great fanfare but left in despair, the secret uneasiness finally broke out.

The students began to make wild guesses. Some optimistically insisted that Dumbledore was just busy with something important. Hufflepuff's Ernie Macmillan always tried hard to make everyone believe that Dumbledore had received a message from the goblin.

He asked, busy dealing with a swarm of biting cabbages from the east to prevent them from eating up Gringotts. "It will probably take another two weeks for him to come back," he said.

Some people pessimistically believe that Dumbledore may have a physical problem due to his age, and some even think that the principal fell into the trap of the heir and was plotted by the insidious Potter. After all, he was always willing to believe that Potter was innocent.

.

Although the professors used many methods to stop students from thinking wildly, panic still spread in the school. In fact, several professors were a little absent-minded during class, and only Gilderoy Lockhart was still calm.

The spring breeze is blowing on the face, and the shining teeth seem to blind people's eyes.

It wasn't until the professors assigned a lot of homework after class that the students finally didn't have the time to worry about these things amidst the cries and cries. The homework alone was enough to make them worry.

Fortunately, there were no new attacks in the school during these days, which made many people feel a little more at ease. But as the Christmas holidays approached, students still rushed to reserve seats on the Hogwarts Express, looking forward to going home.

Spend Christmas.

Owen didn't want to go home, but Shafiq and his wife wrote him several letters seriously, hoping that he could go home during the holidays. Owen always felt that his parents were trying to trick him, but he still had no choice but to go home.

signed the list.

Naturally, it is impossible for Harry to go home for the holidays. For some reason, Draco also plans to stay in school. According to him, he "want to spend a different Christmas at Hogwarts." Crabbe

and Goyle stayed with him, Blaise had no intention of going home, only Daphne and Pansy went back.

Harry's gloomy mood rarely got better, because he didn't have to stay alone at school for Christmas like last year. With a group of friends to accompany him, he felt that this would be a good holiday.

In the Slytherin common room, the young wizards were whispering excitedly, and the hum of conversation filled the whole room.

Owen sat elegantly and leisurely in the armchair in front of the fireplace. A quill automatically moved quickly across the parchment on the table, writing a paper on transfiguration in beautiful handwriting. He held a worn-out paper in his hand.

On the yellow parchment, I was carefully watching the little black dots with names on them coming and going in the complex and tortuous map.

He was observing the movements of Peter Pettigrew. Since his last escape, Peter Pettigrew, who turned into a mouse, has been staying at Hogwarts and has not left. According to Owen's daily observations, Peter has been hiding in the mouse nest inside the wall for a long time.

From time to time he would go to the kitchen to steal food. But because there were many house elves in the kitchen at all times, he did not dare to stay there for too long.

Owen only observed the other person from time to time, but did not notice that he was in contact with anyone. Of course, he could not stare at the other person for a long time, and he had many things of his own to do.

He was eyeing Peter Pettigrew, intending to do something after the Christmas holidays. His script was finished, and it was time for some people to learn a lesson.

As for why it wasn't implemented before the Christmas break - well, what if the students are too scared to come back after the break and Hogwarts is suspended? That would not be conducive to the learning and growth of the little wizards. Owen has always cared about children.

Educational issues, yes, that's it.

In the midst of impetuous expectations, the semester was finally over. Early in the morning, students stepped on the heavy snow and eagerly boarded the train home.

Owen, Daphne, and other girls were sitting in a box, sucking lazily on a sugar quill, stroking Melete's soft and warm hair with one hand, and looking at the vast snowy scenery passing by outside the window.

Daphne and Pansy chatted happily, arguing about which band was better, which star wizard was more handsome, or the most popular styles of dresses and accessories. When a group of little girls gathered together, there was always endless topics to talk about.

"Owen, which color bow do you think is more beautiful?" Daphne and Pansy couldn't convince the other, so they finally patted Owen's arm and asked.

Owen withdrew his gaze from the scenery outside the window, glanced at the four red, pink, purple and green bow headbands in Daphne's hand, and said casually: "Green."

"Look, am I right?" Pansy raised her eyebrows proudly and put the green bow headband on Daphne's head.

"Okay, although I prefer purple recently." Daphne smoothed her long golden hair, pulled it into a somewhat playful lady bun, and then pursed her lips and smiled at Owen. The cold white sunshine in winter made her happy

The whole body was covered with a hazy and beautiful halo.

Soon, the train arrived at King's Cross Station. A group of people got off the train, said goodbye to each other, and walked towards their families.

"It's been a while since I last saw you, you have become more beautiful, mother." Owen said to Ms. Adeline who was waiting for him on the platform, smiling and handing over a delicate and blooming white rose.

"You have become glib, Owen." Adeline smiled lightly, took the flowers and held them in her hands, speaking softly and gently. She was wearing a dark green velvet robe and a dark hat on her head.

The small top hat has an elegant and elegant charm.

She supported her knees with one hand, leaned over and touched Melet's head, and said hello to her with a smile. Melet meowed "meow" and circled around her, rubbing her head affectionately on her calf.

"What are Dad busy with?" Owen carried his suitcase and walked side by side with his mother outside the platform. He had already changed into a simple dark blue robe and a black fur-edged cloak.

The cloak blew loudly.

"I'm going to take care of some minor business matters." Ms. Adeline glanced at him with a smile and moved her eyes to his somewhat short cuffs. "It looks like I have to customize some new robes for you."

Owen smiled and nodded. He is now growing taller, and newly made clothes always become ill-fitting very quickly.

Nyx poked his head out of his pocket, glanced at Ms. Adeline with his bright red eyes, opened and closed his bright black beak, and called out to her. Owen felt it.

Its mood is proud and reserved but not repulsive. It seems that Ms. Adeline is very popular with the animals.

"This is this?" Adeline said funnyly, looking at Nyx's bird head that had just sprouted tufts of down.

"My new bird." Owen stuffed Nyx into his pocket with some disgust, so as not to irritate his eyes. During this time, Nyx began to grow feathers, and fine feathers appeared on his wings.

The quills were covered with a layer of sparse black down, making them look even uglier.

"What bird?" Adeline raised her eyebrows. She knew that Owen preferred cats and only kept magic pigeons because he always wanted to do tricks.

"A mutated phoenix." Owen didn't intend to hide anything and told the story of Nyx.

He saw his mother's eyes suddenly brighten up, staring intensely at the pocket where Nyx was, showing a very interested expression. It was not an interest in interesting pets, but an interest in cherishing experimental materials.

Nyx shrank into his pocket in response, and let out a sharp but not harsh chirp angrily.

"Hogwarts has not been peaceful these past six months." Ms. Adeline looked away with a smile and said pointedly, "How long has it been since Dumbledore showed up?"

"More than twenty days." Owen replied calmly.

"What do you think...?" Adeline stared at him quietly with her deep and beautiful dark green eyes. She knew that Owen was close to Harry Potter, and Harry was Dumbledore's valued student.

Maybe you will know more information.

"I feel... not very good. He didn't tell anyone where he went, nor did he notify Harry to cancel the class, or even send his phoenix back to deliver the message." Owen frowned slightly, "So I think

The situation is not very optimistic, but we do not rule out the possibility of coming back.”

He didn't know what Dumbledore's condition was now. He was originally inclined to think that the curse on Dumbledore had completely taken effect, but according to Harry, Dumbledore had just disappeared. That's right, if Dumbledore died

Now, neither the professors in the school nor the Ministry of Magic will be so calm.

"In other words, there is a possibility that he will never come back again?" Adeline lowered her eyes slightly and squeezed the roses in her hand.

Although Dumbledore stayed at Hogwarts all year round and did not like to dictate matters outside the school, his status destined his every move to have a huge impact, and his recent disappearance shocked the world.

It was a big deal. Although the outside world did not characterize his disappearance as a disappearance, many places were about to turn upside down.

"As far as I know, he should have been struck by a terrible curse." Owen said truthfully. "He may have gone to seek medical advice, or maybe..." He did not go on, and Ms. Adeline also

Nodding knowingly.

"It seems that the situation in the magical world is about to change." Adeline said with a sigh.

"Any ideas at home?" Owen asked.

"Just wait and see what happens." Adeline smiled slightly. She always had an elegant and calm attitude, "Your father doesn't have much ambition. What we are more concerned about is, do you think Hogwarts is still safe now?"

"It's okay." Owen smiled.

"If I remember correctly, Peter Pettigrew also disappeared in Hogwarts a few days ago." Adeline glanced at him.

"He escaped on his own." Owen pondered for a moment and explained the fact that Peter Pettigrew was the betrayer.

Ms. Adeline showed a rare look of surprise. She held her chin with one hand and said with a half-smile: "It seems that he has deceived everyone... Although your father and I have long suspected that there is something wrong with him, we still

I didn't expect it to be like this. Who would have thought that Sirius Black would have no excuse for the crime that was imposed on him?"

"What I'm even more curious about is why Peter Pettigrew decided to come back after hiding for so many years?" Adeline said thoughtfully, "and even went to Dumbledore's territory to attack Harry Potter...

…”

Owen glanced at his mother. She was always so sharp and discovered the most fundamental problem so quickly.

"So, it seems that the Dark Lord is really not dead?" Adeline bit her lips with brown-red lipstick and said with a solemn expression, "Is he plotting to regain his power, or is he already dead?"

You have recovered and are you secretly preparing for a comeback?"

Although the vast majority of people in the wizarding world are willing and convinced to believe that Voldemort is dead, a few people still believe that the Dark Lord cannot be dead. He is just hiding in the dark and watching with eagerness, plotting a comeback.

"In this case, it would be very strange for Dumbledore to disappear at this juncture." She frowned slightly.

"Yes, it seems that things will not be peaceful in the future." Owen agreed.

The two returned to Shafiq Manor. The vast lawns and frozen lakes in the manor were covered with snow. The endless snow scene was monotonous and lonely, but it also had a magnificent beauty.

After the family had dinner, Ms. Adeline went to discuss matters with Mr. Albert, while Owen returned to his room, lay on the bed with a faint floral scent, and fell asleep early.

On Christmas Day, Owen received a lot of Christmas gifts, and it took him a long time to open the gift boxes. Among them, Harry gave him a gorgeous and exquisite set of crackling exploding cards, and Blaise gave him a bunch of singing flowers.

There was also a bunch of special fireworks from Draco and a scarf from Daphne.

Luna gave him a gorgeous Christmas hat. The top was a Christmas tree covered with lights and ribbons, and a shining golden star hung on top. From time to time, there was a stream of colored smoke hanging from the brim of the hat.

The small pumpkins in the circle spit out from the decoration and make a funny "puff" sound.

This is a hat that will make him the focus of everyone's attention, Irving commented this way. Although this gift that looks like it is handmade is very thoughtful, he does not have the courage to wear this hat out.

In addition to these, there were many other gifts piled miscellaneously on the floor.

The family spent a simple and warm Christmas, and the next day they went shopping in Diagon Alley all morning. Diagon Alley was also enveloped in the joyful atmosphere of Christmas, and a gorgeous stage was set up at the entrance of the alley.

, bands and troupes took turns performing on stage, and the surroundings were crowded with tourists watching.

After Christmas, life in the manor returned to its usual peace and tranquility.

At this time in the past, the Shafiq couple should have gone on vacation, but Owen could only pretend not to see his father secretly winking at his wife from time to time. Whenever this happened, Ms. Adeline would show a helpless smile,

Taking another look at Owen, who had a panoramic view of this scene, it was obvious that he no longer had any hope in Mr. Albert's confidentiality work.

Owen knew what they were doing secretly, and they just wanted to give him a scare or teach him a lesson, so that he would have a longer memory, so that he would not have too much self-confidence and take risks... Mr. Albert just couldn't hide things in his heart.

, or in other words, he didn't want to hide too much from Irving.

However, their plan was still not implemented. On the third day after Christmas, the owl delivered today's Daily Prophet. The large photo on the first page of the newspaper was of a tall black tower standing on a deserted hillside, with fluttering waves surrounding the tower.

Wearing black gauze all over the sky.

The headline on the front page read: “End of the Old Age: Black Veil Raised in Nurmengard.”

"Yesterday, with Nurmengard Wizarding Prison as the center, a black veil covering the sky covered the surrounding area of ​​one hundred square miles.

"As we all know, the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald has been imprisoned on the top floor of Nurmengard Prison since his defeat at the hands of Albus Dumbledore in 1945. After fifty years, it represents

The black veil of the Wu Cui Party floated again, causing a lot of panic.

"Aurors from the Austrian Ministry of Magic and investigators from the International Federation of Wizards jointly entered Nurmengard and confirmed that the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald died on the top of the tower. There were no signs of invasion at the scene and he died of natural causes.

"The death of Grindelwald has brought a complete end to the war-torn old era, and all ambitions and sins have gone away. We don't need to panic about the darkness of the past, the future is full of light.

"Gellert Grindelwald will be buried in Nurmengard Prison early this morning..."

After Owen read the report thoughtfully, various speculations arose in his mind. Will Grindelwald die of natural causes at this time? How funny is that?

He looked at his parents. Mr. Albert sighed softly, while Ms. Adeline fell into a long silence, with a hint of sadness and nostalgia on her expression.

"I'm going to Austria." After a while, Adeline stood up and said.

"Ah, I'll go with you." Mr. Albert picked up his hat and put it on his head.

"I'll go too." Owen said with interest.

The Shafiqs looked at Owen for a while, but did not object. The family entered a dim but luxurious room through the fireplace, took a badge door key from an old wizard, and entered Austria directly through it.

Owen followed his parents and apparated to a desolate mountain forest. Ms. Adeline clasped her fist on her chest and looked in a certain direction in the distance, as if she had turned into a beautiful sculpture. He looked in the direction of his mother's gaze.

, there is nothing there, just a stretch of desolate rolling mountains.

There seemed to be a faint crackle of apparition in the distance, and there seemed to be a few more figures in the forest, but it seemed like it was just an illusion.

After standing silently in the ice and snow for a long time, Ms. Adeline took her husband's arm, held Owen's hand with a smile, and the three of them left together.

After visiting this country for a few days, the family did not return to Shafiq Manor until the Christmas vacation was almost over.

(End of chapter)