stjorthotic Chapter 264 Hogmodry's People
Chapter 264 Hogmodry's People
Chapter 264 Hogmodry's Men (5.4K) (2/2)
On the last day of October, a special kind of excitement filled Hogwarts Castle.
The cold air seemed to be filled with anticipation. The corridor was crowded with students wearing thick coats and scarves wrapped up to their chins. They chattered about Honeydukes' new candies, Three Brooms' Butterbeer, and the pranks that were about to happen at Joko's Joke Shop.
Harry was also in the noisy crowd, clutching a precious form tightly in his hand—a permit approved by Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge and signed by his Uncle Lynch, allowing him to go to Hogsmeade.
This would be his first trip to that magical wizard village, a place he had only heard about from upperclassmen, in his three years of schooling! For this form, he had even endured the summer by serving Aunt Maggie like a servant, though in the end she was blown away by his anger—but now, all that unpleasantness was washed away by the excitement of the upcoming trip.
He could explore Honeydukes’s sweet treasure with Ron and Hermione, and enjoy a supposedly delicious butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks. It felt wonderful!
However, before this bubble of excitement could reach its peak, just as he was about to join the crowd heading to the school gate, it was burst by a serious voice.
"Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall's voice came from behind, as clear and calm as ever, "please come with me for a moment."
Harry's heart skipped a beat.
Ron and Hermione exchanged a worried look as Harry followed Professor McGonagall's upright figure, leaving the noisy corridor and entering an empty classroom not far away.
The classroom was quiet, a stark contrast to the laughter and chatter outside.
Professor McGonagall turned around, her gaze behind her glasses sharp yet carrying a hint of barely perceptible worry.
"I saw your approved forms," she said bluntly, her tone businesslike but slightly more relaxed than in class. "The paperwork is complete."
A glimmer of hope rose in Harry's heart, but Professor McGonagall's next words shattered it immediately.
"However, Potter, I strongly advise you not to go to Hogsmeade today."
"Why?" Harry blurted out, his voice filled with disbelief and urgency. "Professor! I have permission! It was approved by the Minister for Magic and Professor Lynch! I've always wanted to see it—"
"I am not questioning the minister's decision, or Professor Lynch's judgment," Professor McGonagall replied calmly, but her tone left no room for argument. "I am stating an undeniable fact: Sirius Black is still at large."
Sirius Black.
The name was like a cold stone, suddenly thrown in front of Harry, shattering all his expectations.
Before the start of the school year, in the valley where his parents were buried, Uncle Lynch did mention the escaped prisoner to him, telling him about the bloody betrayal known to all—the one that killed so many people, including Harry's parents.
But Uncle Lynch's subsequent low and meaningful words, "Personally—I don't think Sirius Black was the one who betrayed your parents," blurred the clear and terrifying image of Black as a murderer in his mind like a thin mist.
In addition to Professor Trelawney's vague and ominous prophecy, Harry's understanding of Black was actually always in a state of ambiguity, and he did not feel a personal and imminent threat.
At this moment, being brought up so seriously by Professor McGonagall, a complex mix of emotions welled up inside me: the unease of being suddenly reminded, the frustration of having my plans interrupted, and a sense of bewilderment about the truth behind that blurry figure.
"All the evidence, including from the Ministry of Magic and him—his past patterns of behavior—points to you as his target," Professor McGonagall continued, her expression grave. "Hogsmeade is an open area, unlike Hogwarts Castle, which has ancient magical protection and tight security. The risks there are many times greater. Our primary responsibility as Hogwarts staff is to ensure your safety."
Harry felt a wave of weakness wash over him.
Just for this reason?
Because of this fugitive, whose image he only knew from newspapers and other people's words, his Hogsmeade trip, which he had been looking forward to for three whole years, was about to turn into a bubble.
"I can protect myself!" he argued, his voice tinged with resentment. "Besides, there are so many professors in Hogsmeade, and Aurors from the Ministry of Magic patrolling—"
“This is no child’s play, Potter!” Professor McGonagall’s tone became stern. “This isn’t about your courage or whether we trust your abilities. It’s about avoiding unnecessary risks. Inside the castle, we are confident in protecting you. Outside?” She shook her head. “We cannot afford the consequences of that ‘what if’.”
I believe that even Professor Lynch, who approved your form, would agree with me if he were here right now, considering the current dire situation.
Professor McGonagall mentioned Lynch's name, which left Harry speechless for a moment.
He recalled Uncle Lynch's private guidance and the trust he showed him that was different from that of other professors, and thought that the answer might be different from what Professor McGonagall thought.
But looking at Professor McGonagall's serious face, he ultimately didn't say those words, and her words sounded equally impeccable, full of rational consideration and a commitment to responsibility.
Seeing the stubbornness, disappointment, and a hint of confusion on Harry's face, Professor McGonagall's tone softened slightly in the end.
"I know this is disappointing, child. But please understand, it's for your safety. Stay in the castle, and there will be activities with — and the other classmates who can't go."
This paltry consolation did nothing to soothe Harry's emotions.
He knew that only a very small number of lower-year students would stay at the school. He would be alone, or at most with a few unfamiliar people, in the empty castle, imagining the laughter and joy that floated in the sky above Hogsmeade in the distance, and savoring his expectations that had just risen and been extinguished.
"Yes, Professor," he finally said in a low voice, his voice filled with frustration.
He stopped arguing, knowing that any resistance he could offer would be futile in the face of Professor McGonagall's iron will and her unwavering commitment to the irrefutable reason of "security."
He walked out of the empty classroom with his head down, the precious permit form in his hand now seeming like a mocking piece of waste paper.
The corridors were much emptier now, as most students had excitedly made their way to the school gate.
As Harry listened to the fading noise, he felt as if he were isolated in a transparent dome.
He clenched his fists tightly, the intense longing for Hogsmeade, along with the contradictory name "Sirius Black," forcibly shoved back into his consciousness, weighing heavily on his heart.
Harry dragged his heavy steps back to the foyer, where the crowd had thinned considerably, with only a few slow-moving students still hurrying toward the gate.
Ron and Hermione immediately surrounded them, their faces full of questions.
Ron asked eagerly, "How did it go, Harry? What did Professor McGonagall say?"
Harry briefly recounted the conversation, his voice low and filled with barely concealed disappointment.
"—She said that because Sirius Black was still on the run, going to Hogsmeade was too risky, and advised me not to go."
Ron opened his mouth as if to complain about something, but ultimately kept it closed.
Hermione looked at her with a mixture of understanding and helplessness, and sighed softly, "From a safety perspective, Professor McGonagall is right, Harry. She's our Headmistress, and she has to be responsible for your safety."
Ron scratched his head, somewhat dejectedly agreeing, "Yeah—and she's Professor McGonagall—" His words carried a sense of awe for the Dean, and he understood that in matters of life and death, their personal wishes could hardly prevail over the professor's duty.
Seeing his two friends' reactions, Harry's last bit of hope was extinguished.
He still held a sliver of hope that they could come up with some solution, or at least share his indignation.
But even they thought Professor McGonagall's advice was reasonable and irrefutable, so what else could he say?
A heavy, resigned sense of powerlessness enveloped him.
"I understand," Harry took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm, "I—"
I decided to listen to her and stay in the castle.
After saying this decision aloud, I felt a sense of emptiness inside.
He waved to his friends, whose faces showed a mixture of sympathy and helplessness.
"You all go quickly," he urged, trying not to show too much disappointment. "Don't let me delay you. Bring back plenty of Honeydukes sugar for me."
Ron and Hermione exchanged a glance, both seeing the hesitation and reluctance in each other's eyes, but they also knew that staying here would only make Harry feel worse.
"We'll definitely bring you a huge pile!" Ron assured him, giving Harry a firm pat on the shoulder.
"We'll tell you everything we see, Harry," Hermione reassured her, her eyes filled with concern.
Finally, turning back every few steps, they followed the last few people out of the huge oak gate.
The door slammed shut behind them, cutting off the faint sounds of laughter and footsteps that could be heard outside.
The huge foyer instantly became empty and silent, leaving Harry standing alone in the same spot.
It seemed that faint, cheerful shouts could still be heard coming from outside the gate, which only made the silence inside the gate seem even more stark.
He stared at the tightly closed door, feeling as if an insurmountable chasm separated him from the world outside, a world filled with laughter and sweets.
The Hogsmeade trip, which I had been looking forward to for three whole years, vanished just as it was about to begin.
He clenched his fists, the intense sense of loss clearer and more piercing than ever before.
The empty castle seemed particularly desolate, and footsteps echoed in the stone corridors, carrying a suffocating sense of loneliness.
Harry wandered aimlessly, drifting from one corridor to another, while the people in the portraits looked at him curiously, the only "older" student left in the castle.
The imagined aroma of Honeydukes candy still seems to linger on my nose, but reality is washing it away, making it increasingly faint.
He kicked at a loose floor tile at his feet, feeling as if a piece of his heart had been hollowed out.
Just as he turned a corner, preparing to go to the owl hut to check on Hedwig, a familiar figure leaned against the window, gazing outside.
It's Uncle Lynch.
He was still wearing that exquisite gray suit, with his raven perched on his shoulder, seemingly never to leave.
"Harry?" Lynch turned around at the sound of his voice, looking at him with slight surprise. "I thought you would already be in Hogsmeade, drowning in Honeydukes' sugar by now."
This concern seemed to shatter the calm that Harry had been trying to maintain.
He lowered his head and muttered Professor McGonagall's words: "—Professor McGonagall said that because Black is still on the run, it's not safe for him to be out there, and advised me not to go."
To Harry's surprise, Lynch did not immediately add a serious safety warning like the other professors.
Instead, he was slightly taken aback at first, and then he chuckled softly, a chuckle that carried an indescribable, almost indulgent quality.
"Oh? Is that what Professor McGonagall said?" Lynch shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips. "She's worried that the protection outside the castle isn't adequate—" He paused, his gaze returning to Harry with a reassuring calm. "Then I'll protect you myself."
Harry looked up in surprise.
The powerful confidence conveyed in those words instantly dispelled the shadow that had hung over Harry's heart because of Professor McGonagall's warning.
Clearly, in his view, Uncle Lynch was fully capable of ensuring absolute safety while enjoying himself.
Lynch continued calmly, "Perfect timing, I have some small matters to attend to in Hogsmeade."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the raven perched on his shoulder, which had remained as still as a sculpture, suddenly moved.
It spread its jet-black wings and glided lightly to the ground. Under Harry's unblinking gaze, the raven's body twisted, stretched, and expanded rapidly as it landed—its black feathers melted into swirling inky mist, only to instantly reform.
In the blink of an eye, another "Lin Qi" stood in the same spot, with the same deep eyes, the same calm expression, and even the style and details of his suit were exactly the same.
Although Harry already knew that Uncle Lynch possessed a peculiar doppelganger magic that allowed his raven to take his form and handle affairs in distant places, the shock of witnessing two identical "uncles" standing in front of him was still indescribable.
The two Lynchs exchanged a glance, and without a word, they seemed to have already communicated.
"Let's go, Harry," said the Lynch who had just transformed from a raven, his voice exactly the same as the real Lynch.
He did not use Apparition to take Harry to Hogsmeade directly.
"Since we're going, let's experience the whole process," Lynch said with a smile. He led a still somewhat bewildered Harry through the castle gates without any hindrance and into the crisp outdoor air.
He raised his hand to his mouth and made a peculiar, long whistle.
Not long after, the sound of flapping wings came from the air. Then, several magical creatures that Harry had never seen before, emaciated and seemingly nothing but skeletons and black leather-like wings, pulled an old but still sturdy carriage and glided silently over, coming to a steady stop in front of them.
These creatures looked somewhat frightening, but they trotted docilely on their hooves, their hollow eye sockets turned toward Lynch.
"Thestrals—" Harry heard his clone Lynch say softly, seemingly with a touch of emotion, but he didn't explain further, only gesturing for Harry to get in the carriage.
Sitting in the slightly swaying carriage, watching Hogwarts Castle recede into the distance outside the window, and the road stretching towards Hogsmeade ahead, Harry's mood was like a rollercoaster ride, soaring from the bottom to the top in an instant.
Not only could he go to Hogsmeade, but in such an unexpected and magical way.
He stole a glance at his Uncle Lynch, who sat calmly beside him, his heart filled with indescribable gratitude and a rekindled, fervent anticipation.
The Thestrals landed smoothly on a secluded path on the outskirts of Hogsmeade.
When Harry followed Lynch off the carriage and stepped onto the snow-covered streets of the wizarding village he had longed to visit, an unreal sense of happiness almost overwhelmed him.
The air was filled with the sweet aroma of candy, the warm smell of butterbeer, and the peculiar scents of various magical contraptions, while the air was filled with the boisterous sounds of people and laughter.
Lynch didn't linger. He casually led Harry through the bustling main street, his gaze calmly sweeping over the crowd.
Soon, they saw Ron and Hermione outside the Three Broomsticks pub, their faces red from the cold, carrying a large bag of candy.
"Harry?!" Ron spotted him immediately, so startled he almost dropped the bag of candy. He rubbed his eyes hard. "What are you doing—?"
'
Hermione's eyes widened as well, her gaze darting between Harry and Mr. Lynch beside him, her face filled with confusion and surprise.
Harry couldn't help but grin, his previous disappointment vanishing completely. He strode over to his friends and excitedly whispered, "It's Uncle Lynch! He brought me! As for Professor McGonagall—well, he said he happened to be here and could protect me."
Ron and Hermione looked at Lynch with surprise and gratitude.
Just then, Lynch slowly walked forward, his gaze falling on Harry, and calmly instructed, "Alright, Harry, go find your friends and stay with them. I have some things to take care of."
Harry nodded immediately.
Lynch continued, his voice low but clear enough to reach Harry's ears: "Remember, stay in crowded, lively places. In case—anything that seems amiss," he paused, looking at Harry meaningfully, "just like you would on the train."
Harry understood immediately.
His hand unconsciously pressed against the Stone Tower Merchant Guild badge tucked in the inner pocket of his robe.
"I understand, Uncle Lynch," Harry nodded solemnly. "I'll be careful."
Lin Qi seemed to nod slightly, said nothing more, turned around and merged into the bustling crowd. His figure quickly disappeared around the street corner.
"Wow! He's so cool!" Ron exclaimed as he watched Lynch's figure disappear, then punched Harry's shoulder hard and shouted excitedly, "That's awesome, Harry! Come on, let's go back to Honeydukes, it's simply—"
Hermione smiled, but a hint of contemplation lingered in her eyes. She glanced in the direction where Lynch had disappeared before being pulled by the two boys into the cheerful crowd.
Meanwhile, Lynch did not linger on the street.
He turned into a narrow, winding alley and stopped in front of a wooden house that looked unremarkable and even somewhat dilapidated.
Then, with a calm expression, he reached out and rhythmically knocked on the wooden door.
The door opened silently a crack, revealing a pair of wary eyes.
Then, the door was fully opened, and Reggie opened it. He didn't say anything, but just nodded to Lynch.
Lin Qi stepped into the dimly lit room, the wooden door closing gently behind him, shutting out the noise of the outside world.
The room was dimly lit, with the flickering flames in the fireplace being the only source of light, illuminating a figure sitting in the corner—Sirius Black, the subject of a fierce manhunt by the Ministry of Magic.
>