On Monday at noon, Harry sat glumly at the table. The mountain of treacle-filled fruit pies, grilled eels, roasted beef and lamb chops in front of him made no difference to his appetite. Meanwhile, Draco Malfoy's odd imitation on the other side of the hall made Harry feel worse.
"Truly, Harry!"
Ron looked worriedly at him and said,
"I think you may have been messed up by that diary, otherwise, how dare you take off your earplugs while taking care of the Mandrake?"
During this morning's Herbology class, Professor Sprout had arranged for them to help replant some thriving Mandrakes into brighter pots. Harry, whose mind was troubled from last night's events caused by Riddle, didn't know what came over him and actually removed his earplugs directly.
The consequence was inevitable. The screams of dozens of mature Mandrakes directly caused Harry to stumble into the hedge, and Professor Sprout was so scared by this unexpected scene that she screamed loudly and almost fainted.
"It is indeed suspicious, Harry --"
Hermione glanced at the greatly tired Professor Brebonius hanging on the teacher's table and then frowned at Harry.
"Why do you think a diary that has been in the dark for fifty years would be more reasonable than Professor Brebonius's deductions?"
Harry couldn't fool himself into believing that his poor state this morning had nothing to do with the diary, but the speculation in the notebook seemed to have some merit as well. Riddle believed that the voice he had heard in Professor Loquat's office before being attacked by Mrs. Loory could just be a common snake preying inside the pipes.
Riddle's memory insisted on his claim that fifty years ago, the monster he had never named that Harry's friend Hagrid had taken care of was responsible for killing a girl in the washroom.
"---Headmaster Dumbledore was more wisdom than Harry, the Ministry of Magic was also more objective than now, unless confirmed that a small wizard expelled school, they will not easily? "
Ron and Hermione exchanged a look. From the outcome of the series of attacks fifty years ago, it was undoubtedly true that Riddle was correct. However, emotionally, they were more inclined to believe Professor Brebonius's speculation.
"Let this matter be put aside for a while, Harry..."
Hermione said in a frowning manner,
"I'll go to the library with Professor Brebonius this weekend to look for some information... If I find a snake that can kill and petrify people, Harry, I think it's time for you to hand over the diary!"
"Are you discussing the practical class today afternoon?"
Then, Neville stuck out his plump head, with worry-filled big round eyes.
"Oops, I forgot about this!"
Hermione turned to look at the worried Professor Brebonius who was busy discussing something with Professor Flitwick and McGonagall in the auditorium, and suddenly slammed her hand on the table. Even Harry couldn't help but take a cold breath.
As fewer students volunteered to participate in the practical class on Monday afternoon, Mr. Amos spent half of the time giving first and second-year students a lecture about the ancient traps that some witches and wizards liked to set up in magical ruins, as well as various ways black wizards usually used to poison people. The other half of the time was devoted to leading the students to the classroom on the eighth floor of Hogwarts Castle, where Dementors were kept.
"Do you think a 'freelancer' who runs errands, gathers magical ingredients, and delivers goods would be so familiar with the habits of black wizards?"
As they walked to the eighth floor, Seamus whispered to Dean.
"My uncle was once an auror, and then he retired due to an injury --"
Dean's tone and expression were both mysterious.
"He once told me that there was a group of people, who were not employees of the Ministry of Magic, but lived by capturing dark wizards. These people were called bounty hunters in private, and I think Professor Brebonius was a wizard hunter before he came to Hogwarts!"
Dean's deduction received recognition from many people, even Hermione, who blinked her eyes in a thoughtful expression.
"Nothing else can explain it!"
Ron, who had already decided to drop out of the practical class, said to Harry with a serious air.
"I did hear my father say that the Ministry of Magic sometimes does collaborate with some non-official special agents, working together to fight against dark wizards, smugglers, and other bad guys. These people are all quite skilled, but they don't like to be bound by rules, so they didn't choose to join the Ministry."
Mr. Amos, who was leading the way without turning around, had a keen sense of hearing due to his powerful magical abilities, and he overheard every whisper of the students behind him.
Bounty hunters...
Mr. Amos smiled to himself. He wasn't a bounty hunter who hunted black wizards, but a black wizard who was hunted by bounty hunters...
"So --"
Standing in front of the oak door, Mr. Amos turned to look at the solemn faces of the young wizards, and loudly called out their names.
"Harry Potter, Draco Malfoy, Hermione Granger, Daphne Greengrass, Neville Longbottom, Hannah Abbot, Ginny Weasley, Michael Corner, Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, Eloise Midgen, Terry Boot. The students with these names listed above shall be paired into two-person teams and enter the labyrinth of the classroom according to the order."
Looking at Potter and Malfoy, whose faces had turned pale, Mr. Amos smiled.
"This maze has memory function, it has recorded your progress when you last challenged... hope you can grasp this last opportunity. Also, by the way, if someone can defeat the dark creature in the maze, I will give his house fifty points!"
Gulp!
Harry swallowed his saliva, his green eyes finally having something other than fear in them. A young wizard had few opportunities in their entire school life to earn fifty points for their house, many of them would not even reach this number from the first year to the seventh year!
Hermione became obviously anxious. She suddenly realized something: without the textbooks and materials, her ability to cope with situations on the spot seemed far from her own satisfaction.
Harry and Draco reluctantly stood together again. Harry's spirit of self-sacrifice had calmed Draco for a few days, but the feeling was not lasting. Draco, who had come to his senses, seemed to regard Harry's behavior as a slight disrespect, which made him mock Harry even more vehemently recently!
"This time is different, Potter!"
Stepping through the door, Draco said menacingly to Harry, pulling a silver stiletto knife from his pocket. It looked like the one he usually used for handling ingredients during Potions class.
"If you beg for it, maybe I'll be merciful and save you a life later!"
Harry was not unaware of Draco's secret consultation with Professor Brebonius about 'Obliterator' and from the situation, it seemed that he had a little insight into this powerful spell.
"Are you sure you gave us a hint, Professor Brebonius?"
To beg Draco to protect oneself?
This was more painful for Harry than killing him. He pitifully looked at Professor Brebonius, hoping to get some confidence from him, but unfortunately, the professor remained indifferent with a smile and had no intention to say another word.
Harry's eyebrows twitched. When he first entered the maze, Professor Brebonius had also been smiling like this, and he had reminded himself to be careful of tripping over because it was dark... Wait, very dark?
Harry suddenly widened his eyes, as if he had just thought of something!
