Hogwarts Homecoming

The biting cold wind dominates the world, and in the dark corners where the firelight cannot cover, white ice crystals are quietly growing.

Harry did not adjust his crooked collar, but just stared at the corner of the corridor, where Malfoy and Parkinson had just disappeared, spraying white mist into the air one after another.

There was still some shock on the cheeks that were wet by the drizzle.

Harry knew that he had broken through Malfoy's psychological defense, but there was no joy in his heart.

There is no doubt that whether it is the dagger given to him by Sirius or Hermione's elixir, as well as the most important thing lost tonight - the staff of the dark witch Vitia Cliona.

Malfoy did all this, and the words he just yelled at himself confirmed this.

But--

Unconsciously, Harry's brows furrowed and his breathing became heavier.

The despair and helplessness that had just burst out of Malfoy's gray eyes pierced into his heart like a thorn, leaving him at a loss what to do.

Could it be that Malfoy has something to hide?

Among the many confusing thoughts running through my mind, this idea quickly became clear.

Could it be that Malfoy actually didn't want to work for Voldemort, he was just forced?

A little sympathy began to overflow, but it was suppressed by Harry.

His confused eyes were pure again.

So what if Voldemort personally forced Malfoy?

There's nothing he can do about it, right?

He could go to Professor Blaine and Professor Dumbledore, who would definitely be able to come up with reliable ideas to help Malfoy get rid of Voldemort.

In the end, it was Malfoy who gave in.

"call--"

Harry turned his face and looked out of the corridor.

In the drizzle, only Hagrid's hut and Professor Rahanson's wooden house, located just outside the edge of the Forbidden Forest, flickered with fire.

But the fire couldn't warm the cold winter, and instead made the world feel even more lonely.

"How to make Professor Brain believe that Malfoy took away the staff he kept -"

Harry murmured softly to himself, with pain in his brows.

Hermione, who was standing behind Harry, hesitated and said nothing.

Did Professor Dumbledore and Professor Braine guess that Malfoy and Parkinson did all this?

This is really a question worth pondering.

Tonight, there was a lot of commotion in order to retrieve the lost staff.

but--

Hermione lowered her head and looked at her own shadow that was distorted by the swaying flames. What kept flashing in her brown eyes was the performance of Professor Dumbledore and Professor Blaine tonight.

If Hermione were to evaluate tonight's pursuit.

That means the thunder is loud but the raindrops are light.

It seems that in order to recover the staff, Professor Dumbledore even mobilized the entire staff and guarded the young wizard in the auditorium.

But these movements seem to be performed for someone!

Also, where was the staff hidden by Malfoy?

Filch is the person who knows this castle best. Considering the seriousness of this matter, Filch will not let go of any place in the castle where something can be hidden, unless Malfoy hides the staff in the castle. Outside?

Also, Professor Snape would not lie in front of Professor Dumbledore and Professor Brain. Malfoy and Parkinson probably did not drink Felixir to help themselves evade search.

So, why was my elixir stolen?

Tonight, many people are destined to have no intention of sleeping.

Among them, of course, Harry was included.

Without Ron's snoring, Harry suddenly felt that the dormitory was much empty. He had been staring blankly at Ron's empty four-poster bed in the dark.

, full of thoughts, depressed and condensed.

Did Ron and Lavender see the attacker when they were attacked?

Where did Malfoy hide the staff? The next step is to smuggle the staff out of Hogwarts.

What would he do?

Malfoy would definitely not use an owl foolishly.

So, what about using the secret passage?

This is indeed possible!

Harry turned anxiously on the bed and continued to think.

If it were a secret passage, which one would Malfoy use? Which one does he know?

Thinking about this, Harry missed the Marauder's Map that Fred and George gave him more and more. Unfortunately, that wonderful map went wrong and destroyed itself during the time travel process of him and Hermione.

Harry spent the first half of the long night thinking about everything that had happened tonight.

And then, he began to worry that if Cliona successfully obtained the staff, Voldemort would get a powerful helper.

Will there be no major casualties in the Ministry of Magic and the Order of the Phoenix?

He tossed and turned in bed thinking about these questions, and finally before midnight, sleepiness took advantage of him and sent him to sleep.

But just a few minutes later, Harry woke up again.

He began to worry about Sirius again.

Remus and Tonks' wedding was just a week away, and Hermione believed that Voldemort might try to kill Remus, Tonks, and the child still in Tonks's belly at or before the wedding. .

But they are safe for now. The one who is more dangerous than them is Sirius.

If you want to protect a place, there is nothing more suitable than the Loyalty Spell.

Although, no one has told him clearly until now, and in order to avoid the risk of leakage and for fear of disturbing Sirius, Harry has never written to ask.

But Harry was sure that Sirius would be the secret keeper of Remus and Tonks.

Whenever he thought about the safety of Remus and Tonks, a clear voice came out in his mind, telling him that Sirius was their secret keeper.

Like now

"It's the Polyjuice Potion!"

When Ron and Lavender said that they followed Malfoy and Parkinson into the Forbidden Forest and were knocked down, until they woke up in the forest and rushed to Professor Braine's office to check the situation.

Harry immediately realized this after they never returned to the Gryffindor common room.

He walked around Ron and Parkinson's ward with anxious steps, looking indignant.

"Needless to say, Malfoy and Parkinson must have taken your hair while you were unconscious, and then used Polyjuice Potion to pretend to be you!"

"Professor Blaine also believes that the people who attacked us used Polyjuice Potion--"

Ron, who was leaning on the bed, looked much better than when Harry saw him yesterday, but his eyes were sinister.

"But he and Professor Dumbledore were unwilling to believe that it was Malfoy and Parkinson who did it.

Because no matter when we were in the woods, or when Lavender and I chased into the office later, we did not see the faces of the attackers.

And Professor Lahansen confirmed that Malfoy and Parkinson did visit him yesterday morning and asked him for the trick of meditation!"

The excitement on Harry's face faded a little bit, and finally it was cloudy.

Evidence!

He never thought that Professor Blaine was so stubborn.

It was obvious, but he was still looking for evidence.

The ward fell silent.

For the first time, Harry felt that Malfoy was so cunning that he found it difficult to deal with.

Not only did he hide his staff, his dagger and Hermione's Felicity well, he even prepared Polyjuice Potion and at least one spare wand in advance.

Of course, the Polyjuice Potion might not be specially prepared for Ron and Lavender. He might have originally planned to impersonate other Gryffindor students. It was not a big deal to just get a few strands of hair.

And none of these things were found in the search last night.

Malfoy did a perfect job in the whole thing, and there were no witnesses.

"Is there anything about this in today's newspaper, Hermione?"

Ron finally broke the silence. He looked at Hermione, who was leaning against the wall opposite his bed, holding a copy of the Daily Prophet in her hand, and was always thoughtful.

"Oh, no--"

Hermione woke up from silence and raised the newspaper in her hand,

"It only says that the International Confederation of Wizards will hold the last preparatory meeting of the Joint Stabilization Force in Paris next Saturday"

After a pause of a few seconds, Hermione looked at Harry,

"It's the same day as Remus' wedding." (End of this chapter)