The first morning of the second week of school began with a series of yawns. Professor Snape's Potions class assignment seemed to trouble more than just one or two students. Last night, the Gryffindor common room was filled with second-year students who had stayed up all night to complete their homework, for no one wants to face Snape's detention at the very start of the school month.
Before Harry and Ron returned to the dormitory, yawning, last night, Neville was still crying, with his head down by the fireplace, tackling that five-foot essay. He didn't even realize that the fire in the fireplace had caught his robe on fire. Thankfully for him, his toad named Luffy gave him a good hard bite in the ear.
In summary, Neville probably didn't sleep much that night, so this morning, it took Sim and Dean about ten minutes to wake him up, and as he went down the spiral staircase, he rolled straight into the common room in front of many people.
"I will go and talk to Professor Snape, Mr. Longbottom. Let him pay attention to the order of progress."
Neville's miserable appearance even moved Professor McGonagall, who was known for her severity. In the morning, during Transfiguration class, when Professor McGonagall figured out why Neville was wearing a burnt robe, had two huge dark circles under his eyes, and had clear bite marks on his ears, she took a deep breath and said.
Neville's little incident briefly distracted everyone from the fact that there was an inspector at the school, but such luck could not last forever.
Oliver Wood wouldn't let a mere cold weather and drizzling rain on the second week of the school interfere with his quest for the championship. His training schedule began as early as the first week of the second semester, and kept an ultra-high frequency of four times a week until the final.
"You all know that Slytherin will be very strong this year!" Wood shouted at all the riders on his broom, "This year's final will be a fierce battle, of course, if we are eliminated by Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw early, don't say I didn't warn you!"
"Please, does anyone have the power to calm Oliver down!"
"Oh my god, can someone please make Oliver calm down?"
"My clothes are soaking wet, and I've been feeling sick these days!"
"Maybe you can ask Harry for some help, Katie," George said as he whizzed over her head, chuckling. "You can ask Harry to release his servants in the Chamber of Secrets. I guess that once he turns Flint and Malfoy into stones, Wood will probably feel a bit more relaxed!"
George's words caused a burst of laughter, and Harry had to join in with a few chuckles.
"Harry, Harry!"
Ron, hurrying from the castle to the field, had been playing wizard's chess with Seamus in the common room until Neville's news interrupted his leisurely pastime.
"What's up, Ron!"
Under the terrifying glare of Wood, Harry controlled his Firebolt 2000 to fly over to the side of the field. Seeing Ron's pale face, Harry immediately realized that something bad had happened again.
"Go check the lobby, Harry, now!"
Ron pulled Harry along with him as they ran towards the castle, not giving him a chance to ask for leave. The rest of the team thought it was another attack and followed him one by one towards the castle, leaving Wood all alone in the sky.
When the team arrived at the entrance, a crowd had already gathered there. They were whispering about a new notice that had been posted on the bulletin board.
As Harry arrived, the crowd parted automatically from the middle. The Hufflepuff gang led by Ernie and Susan Bones glared at him with unreadable expressions, Percy's face was serious, and behind him, Ginny was tightly holding her chest, her pale face showing intense distress.
"This is a rare opportunity for the Weasleys, isn't it?"
At the front was Draco Malfoy, flanked by his two loyal henchmen who had carved out the best position for him. Seeing Harry and Ron, drenched and pale, he smirked maliciously.
"This is the only chance in your lifetime to afford a wand for yourself, aren't you going to give up?"
"Get out, Malfoy, I don't need your help with anything!" Ron said without any hesitation.
Perhaps seeing that all the Gryffindor players were here and outnumbered, Malfoy genuinely ordered Crabbe and Goyle to move aside, looking at Harry with a sinister glare, which finally let Harry see what was causing such a commotion.
The bulletin board was covered with the latest public notice, so large that it obscured all the other listings for selling second-hand spell books, Fermat's regular reminders of school rules, slips advertising exchange for Chocolate Frogs, lost and found notices, etc. Below the announcement was a large signature written in red ink.
To all members of the Hogwarts community:
Considering that the issue of attacks remains unresolved, the safety and property of all students and staff cannot be effectively protected. With the approval of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall -- any wizard or witch who knows any information about the Chamber of Secrets attacks is encouraged to provide relevant information to the special inspector dispatched by the school board
If the information is confirmed to be true and effective, a cash reward of two hundred Galleons will be provided by the school board.
Amos Birch
Harry's face turned as pale as a ghost, and it was as if a thousand Cornish Pixies were screaming in his ears.
"This is the way the Board of Governors expects their inspector to behave, isn't it?" Fred lowered his voice in a sarcastic tone, "Encouraging everyone to turn on each other, what a brilliant tactic!"
Ginny looked like she was on the verge of tears, and Neville's whisper only made Harry's heart sink even further, causing him to see stars in front of his eyes.
"Feague was on the third floor the moment he saw the notice, Harry, you better be careful..."
Harry didn't need to ask Neville what he meant by "be careful." And he could almost be certain that Feague would say something to the inspector about it. Professor Flitwick was the first person to be attacked this school year, and the unluckiest was that Harry and his friends were the first to arrive at the crime scene. This made Feague believe that it was them who caused his beloved pet to turn into stone.
"Go and talk to him, Harry." Ron whispered in his ear, sounding worried.
Harry understood Ron's meaning. He wanted him to talk to Mr. Birch first, before the majority of the younger wizards in the castle turned him in.
Harry understood Ron's meaning. He wanted him to talk to Mr. Birch first, before the majority of the younger wizards in the castle turned him in. As for the reason, there were many. For example, he was afraid that if he told others that he could hear a strange and terrifying voice screaming about killing people before each attack, they would think he was insane.
For instance, he didn't want to see the poor Dobby elf suffer interrogation and punishment because of his testimony.
But besides these things, what else could he say? How could he clear his name?
And, keeping his secret from Headmaster Dumbledore but going to an inspector he didn't know well, it made Harry feel a bit uneasy about it.
Harry stumbled out of the lobby and made his way to the dormitory, not even bothering to acknowledge Malfoy's laughter as he said he would soon be getting some fresh manure for Sprout.
Behind him, Fred and George exchanged a knowing glance, both seeing the same idea in each other's eyes...
