harry potter book of crimes

"Ron and Hermione will explain everything to you, dear, I really have to get there quickly," Mrs. Weasley whispered distractedly, "We're here..."

They arrived at the second landing of the stairs.

"It's the second door on the right. I'll call you after the meeting is over."

After saying that, she hurried downstairs again.

Harry walked across the bright and smooth landing, put his hand on the snake-head-shaped bedroom door handle, and was about to turn the handle and open the door.

"Click——"

Harry couldn't help but be startled when he heard the sound. This was undoubtedly the sound of opening the door, but he hadn't turned the doorknob yet?

No, the sound came from the left.

Harry subconsciously turned his head to take a look, only to see a door slamming shut again. A second before the door was closed, he seemed to see a familiar figure.

"ah!"

The washed-white T-shirt and jeans, as well as the long hair shawl-even though it was not tied up this time, the rich and pure black looked particularly familiar at the moment.

It was the cowardly woman who came to him to ask for directions before!

"Why is she here?" Harry murmured in confusion.

Although he really wants to know the reason now, and even feels a little itchy in his heart - this is purely a matter of curiosity, but now does not seem to be a good time to ask rashly.

Since the other party is here now and seems to have settled in, it shouldn't be a problem to find an opportunity to ask him in the future.

Thinking of this, Harry shook his head and opened the bedroom door in front of him.

He only had time to take a quick glance at the room that was brightly illuminated by the magic lamp, the high ceiling, and the two single beds side by side.

The next moment, Harry heard a series of harsh squeaks, followed by an even sharper scream, and then a lot of messy, furry hair appeared in his sight.

It was Hermione. She suddenly rushed in front of Harry, scaring him back several steps. Ron's little owl and piggy kept circling in circles above their heads excitedly.

"Harry! Look Ron, he's coming - Harry's coming!"

"Oh - how are you doing lately? Is everything okay? Are you angry with us? You must be angry - I know, the letter we sent you is full of useless nonsense..."

"But! But! We really can't tell you anything. They made us swear not to say anything... But we have so much to say to you, and you must also have many things to tell us -"

"By the way, Dementors! We heard about it! You met a Dementor on the street... It was really scary. Fortunately, Maka sent Kingsley to protect you secretly... Oops... and today

, they received news that there were another dementors..."

"Let Harry take a breath first, Hermione." Ron said, happily closing the door behind Harry.

Ron seemed to have grown very fast recently, and he seemed to have grown a few inches taller during the time they were apart, making him look taller and slimmer than before.

But the fleshy nose, the fiery red hair, and the freckles on the cheeks are still exactly the same as before.

Although Hermione was interrupted by Ron, her face was still full of joy.

But before she could say anything else, she heard a light whirring sound behind her, and a white shadow flew down from the top of the black wardrobe and stopped accurately on Harry's shoulder.

"Hedwig!"

Harry stroked the snow-white feathers, and its beak made a clicking sound, rubbing Harry's ear intimately.

"It's been restless," Ron said. "When it brought your last two letters, it almost pecked us half to death. Look at this -"

He raised his right hand to show Harry, and saw a wound on his index finger that was almost healed, but obviously not shallow.

"Oh," Harry said shamefully, "I'm so... I'm sorry, but I want an answer, you know-"

To be honest, he is actually in a much better mood now.

A few days ago, when Mrs. Weasley insisted on pushing him up, he would have argued a few more words. But just now, although he felt uncomfortable, he didn't say much.

Because even Maka tried to speak for him, but after the previous encounter with the five dementors, he once again understood the lack of his own strength.

Maka can cast magic outside without any scruples, that's because he has enough skills - he can even cast the Patronus Charm without a wand.

This gap was no longer enough to make Harry feel unwilling. Apart from being inspired, there was no other unnecessary feeling.

But in fact, compared to Harry's awakening, Hermione and Ron have been more stimulated recently.

You know, in this Order of the Phoenix, Maka is the only commander! And what is the reason why he can make so many adult wizards take action?

What he relies on is not only his magical strength, but also his wisdom and leadership ability.

Most of Maka's recent command actions have been kept secret from Hermione and Ron, and in such a tight task arrangement, he even had time to explain the purpose of part of the task to Hermione and Ron.

Not to mention Ron, at least in this process, Hermione did gain a lot.

However, there was one thing that made Hermione very dissatisfied - last time she had the courage to declare her love, but Maka decisively refused it the second time they met.

Although the rejection was straightforward, it made her feel quite depressed! But she thought about it carefully, if Maka didn't say anything, she would be even more itchy, right?

Of course, do you want me to give up when faced with difficulties? I, Hermione Jane Granger, am not a girl who gives up so easily!

"Hermione...Hermione?"

"ah?"

She suddenly came back to her senses, only to find Harry staring at her with a worried look on his face!

"Oh - I'm fine! It's fine -" Hermione said with a slight embarrassment, "Where did you say just now?"

Of course she would not tell Ron about her strong confession to Maka. Even if Ron actually instigated this matter, she was still a little shy to say it.

At this time, Ron didn't care. He took over what Harry had just said and continued.

"...Actually, we also want to talk to you, buddy," Ron said, "Hermione is worried that you are worried to death... She keeps saying that if you are stuck there all the time, you won't get any news.

, will definitely do something stupid. But they force us..."

"——Swear not to tell me," Harry shrugged, "Yes, Hermione has already said it."

After all, it was a bit depressing to be the only one left out.

There was a slightly dull silence, and Harry gently stroked Hedwig and fell into deep thought.

"They seem to think this is the most appropriate thing to do," Hermione seemed unhappy when she saw her good friend, and couldn't help but explain again, "I mean Ron's parents -"

Ron nodded helplessly. To be honest, he had some doubts about who was the Weasley child - the Weasleys seemed to be a bit overprotective of Harry.

"Yeah..." Harry noticed that Hermione's hand also had scars from Hedwig's peck, and he felt a sense of apology in his heart, "Forget it! It's okay, I was just a little bit..."

But just as he was speaking, he suddenly froze and frowned as if he remembered something.

"Wait!" Harry suddenly said, "Hermione, did you just say... that Maka sent someone to secretly protect me?"

"Yes! His name is Kingsley, a dark-skinned Auror, and I heard he is an elite!" Hermione nodded and said, "At first, Sirius wanted to arrange for another person to go, but Maka will

The choice was changed to him."

"No wonder that day..."

Harry immediately recalled the first time he encountered a dementor.

Although the Dementors didn't really appear that night, he did feel a familiar warmth - it must have been the Patronus Charm cast by Kingsley!

"Then, why do they insist on keeping me in the dark?" Harry shook off the dissatisfaction of being followed, and asked doubtfully, "Did you...um...did you ask them?"

When he raised his head, he happened to catch a glimpse of the two of them exchanging a look, which seemed to be a bit unspeakable, but this made him feel even more puzzled.

Finally, they nodded, and then Hermione spoke.

"It was Maka's decision. He..." Hermione said hesitantly, "He said, 'Harry is not in a good condition right now. He needs to get rid of the shadow of the Triwizard Tournament first, otherwise he will not be suitable to participate.'"

"...Shadows in the Triwizard Tournament..."

Harry immediately understood what Maka meant.

Yes, he understands! And unfortunately, he has not been able to break away from it until now.

Harry was always condemning himself deep down in his heart for causing Luna to be seriously injured - he couldn't help but do it!

If the Sword of Gryffindor were stuck on the floor in front of him right now, he would even escape from this bedroom immediately, without hesitation.

The Sword of Gryffindor is not something that just anyone can pick up, and he can obviously kill the fire dragon with it, but now he doesn't even have the courage to take a look at it.

A Gryffindor who has lost his courage, is he still a Gryffindor?

"Maka is right..." Harry couldn't help but said dejectedly, "I'm not as smart as you, Hermione. If I want to put it to use, I can only rely on magic and the Sword of Gryffindor... But now..."

"Don't say that," Ron scratched his head and said with a complex expression, "At least you are better than me... I am the one who should work hard..."

"No!" Harry blinked and thought carefully before saying, "You are much better at chess than me!"

"Hey! Stop comforting me!" Ron covered his face and sighed, "What does it mean to be good at chess? Can I still kill the mysterious man with a chess piece!"