The Admiral of Hogwarts

“Are you… ready?” Venetto asked, turning her head after confirming their current situation. However, before her voice faded, a slightly helpless expression appeared on her face because she discovered that the two gentlemen present were trembling non-stop.

“Don't worry, we're ready.” Harry and Ron said. As expected of representatives of Gryffindor students known for their bravery, Harry and Ron quickly recovered from the shock of seeing those giant chess pieces without facial features. Then, they adjusted their condition and prepared to meet the next test.

“I think we have to act as chess pieces.” Ron said after looking at them. Then, he began to arrange things for his two companions. Although Venetto's chess skills were not low, considering that she couldn't hog the limelight alone in this adventure, she gave Ron the chance to show his face at this time.

Ron was indeed good at playing magic chess, but when the chess game ended, he still faced the moment of self-sacrifice as in the original text. Just after he persuaded Harry and Ron to take a step forward, the White Queen immediately pounced over and raised her stone arm high at him.

“Hopefully it will be light…” After seeing the White Queen pounce at him, Ron closed his eyes in fear and waited for the final blow, but the pain and damage caused by the imagined fierce blow did not come.

After waiting for a few seconds, he slowly opened his eyes and saw that the chess piece remained motionless in the previous ready-to-strike position, looking almost like an ordinary statue.

“Alright, Mr. Weasley, I think you can put your hand down.” Professor McGonagall's voice suddenly rang in their ears. Ron slowly turned his head and saw Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick standing on the edge of the chessboard, both holding their wands.

“Mc… McGonagall Professor.” Ron said with a slight tremor. Among the many professors in the school, Snape and McGonagall were the people he feared the most. Especially now that he was caught red-handed for violating school rules, he was very worried about being punished.

“Okay, get off the chessboard.” Professor McGonagall said calmly, without flying into a rage. “I have learned the cause and effect of this incident from the Granger siblings. I admit that I was indeed a little negligent in this matter, but what you did was too reckless.”

“You, you won't expel us, will you…” Harry asked, looking at Professor McGonagall at this time. After seeing the two professors, he immediately felt relieved, which meant that it was impossible for anyone to steal the Philosopher's Stone. But soon he thought of something and asked in a trembling tone like Ron. “We know we shouldn't…”

“Mr. Potter, although I don't agree with your behavior, this time it can be considered justified, so I won't punish you for it.” Professor McGonagall said. “The next task belongs to us professors. You should now return to the maze exit with your companions. I think the Grangers are waiting for you there.”

After speaking, Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick walked together towards the next door, while Harry and the others went in the opposite direction and returned to the hall full of keys, and then followed the corridor all the way to the place with the Devil's Snare just now.

When Harry arrived here, he looked around foolishly, hoping to see something like a staircase that would allow him to go upstairs, but after looking around carefully, he only saw bare walls. Just when he didn't know what to do next, light suddenly appeared from the wall covered with Devil's Snare vines, and then the Devil's Snare on the wall receded with a rustling sound, revealing a small room hidden on the side of the wall.

“Harry, come in quickly.” A second or two later, Hugo shouted to Harry and the others, holding a glowing wand. “We need to wait here for a while now, wait for the two professors to finish dealing with the things inside and reunite with us, and then take us to the castle.”

“Hugo!” Harry opened his eyes wide in surprise after seeing Hugo, and then, following Hugo's instructions, he and the other two companions walked into the room he was in.

As soon as he entered the room, he was surprised to find that the room was actually twenty or thirty meters big. It was a square-shaped small living room with a washroom. In the center of the living room was a round table surrounded by a large pile of soft objects. Hermione was now sitting on the cushion by the round table, pouring tea for everyone.

“I remember you should be on guard up there, why are you here now?” Ron asked, widening his eyes and looking around the room in shock, then looking at Hermione. “And what's going on with Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick just now? I remember we went to Professor McGonagall during the day, but she obviously didn't trust what we said at that time. Why did she come now…”

“Don't worry, don't worry.” Hugo knocked on a brick on the wall at this time, causing the exit just now to return to a wall with only a one-way transparent observation port the size of a human face, then walked back and said to Harry and Ron who kept throwing out their questions. “It just so happens that we have time now, so I think I can tell you what just happened. After you listen, you will know the answers to all the questions you are asking now.”

After speaking, Hugo motioned for everyone to sit around the round table. After everyone was seated and picked up their teacups to drink, he began to talk about what he and his sister Hermione had just encountered.

After the two separated, Hugo and Hermione began to observe everything in the corridor through the crack in the door. Hogwarts at night was so quiet that Hugo could even hear his own breathing. After lying stiffly by the door for a few minutes, he suddenly got up and walked to another door and reached out to pat Hermione on the shoulder.

“What's the matter, Hugo?” Hermione asked, keeping her voice down while observing the situation outside. “I think we should be seriously watching the corridor now to make sure that the thief didn't follow behind Harry and the others.”

“At least based on the current situation, I think it is unlikely that someone is following them anymore.” Hugo said in a low voice as well. “If they were tracking, the other party would have to be closer to Harry and the others. You need to know that many traps in the magic world can be restored. If the distance is too far, it is likely to cause the thief's plan to use Harry and the others to destroy the trap to completely fail.”

“Phew…” Hearing Hugo say this, Hermione relaxed a lot at once, then frowned and asked. “Then what do we do next? Just wait here for Harry to come out?”

“Uh… no, of course not.” Hugo shook his head and said. “I suddenly thought that we now have a very good excuse to ask the professors for help.”