According to Ron and Hermione's wishes, they were originally planning to come over to talk to Harry after dinner. However, Harry declined their kind offer and only asked Ron to bring his backpack to the dormitory on behalf of him.
"I have some homework to catch up on."
Harry sat on the bed, opened his bag for a glance, and then, with a feigned casualness, said in the worried eyes of Ron and Hermione,
"I need a quiet environment to work on my potions assignment, so you can also go do your own things."
Harry's poor lie couldn't fool anyone, and Ron watched Harry anxiously on the bed, preparing to say something, but next to Hermione fiercely patted his ribs and ordered him to shut up.
"Okay, Harry..."
Hermione stared at Ron, "If you need any help --"
Hermione quickly glanced at the Invisibility Cloak peeking out from the corner of the bag and said,
"I'll be with Ron in the common room, you can call us anytime."
Later, he pulled a confused Ron out of the infirmary without a word.
Time flies, before we know it, the sky darkens without a trace of light.
As a frequent visitor to the school hospital, Harry knew Mrs. Pumfrey's habits all too well. At nine o'clock, Mrs. Pumfrey left her small office and made her rounds through each ward. Upon seeing Harry sleeping soundly, she nodded contentedly, then scolded two first-year Ravenclaw students who had a bad cold after they went to bed, and finally extinguished the candles throughout the entire hospital.
In the darkness, Harry strained his ears to listen carefully for any sounds. After confirming that Mrs. Pumfrey had returned to her office, he peeped over several beds to see two first-year students who were chatting intently and stealthily, crawling down from their beds.
When it comes to prowling around the castle at night, Harry claims third place in Hogwarts, and no one dares to take second place... As for the first place, it's a tie between Fred and George, Harry's two brothers.
Now, although it's not yet the designated time, there are no longer any people to be seen in the castle. Along the way, apart from a few fifth-year students who are facing the OWLS exams later in the year, Harry only saw Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle heading towards the Slytherin undercroft as he passed the Great Hall, and each of their faces wore a zombie-like vacancy.
Something's wrong...
Harry glanced at the dark outside and pondered strangely.
He unconsciously took a few steps after her, then was driven back by a stomach-churning stench.
Oh, right!
Harry suddenly remembered that Professor Blaise had said during the day before the fun competition that the winning house would get 50 extra points, and the losing house would have to go to the Owl House shed to clean up at weekends.
In that competition, the Malfoys and Parkinsons, who had a good chance to win, lost the victory due to a series of complex factors. According to Harry's understanding of this despicable house, they would probably dump all the blame on Malfoy... Parkinsom had pushed Neville and himself off the boat at the time, which was probably one of the few highlights in Slytherin's eyes, so all the consequences should fall on Malfoy.
As for Crabbe and Goyle, they were probably forced into it by Malfoy.
Watching the disoriented trio from Slytherin's back, Harry instinctively wanted to show a smug sneer, but thinking about Malfoy's 'noble' behavior when he and Neville were pushed into the water, Harry hesitated. In the end, after a silent shake of his head, he quietly headed in another direction.
On the third floor, as he walked towards Professor Blaise's office, Harry also lingered at Professor Lupin's door for a moment.
Harry also has a great affection for this year's professor, whose temperament is gentle and whose teaching has received widespread acclaim...Not just affection, but a inexplicable closeness. Harry can also feel that Professor Lupin's attitude towards him is beyond the normal teacher-student relationship.
"It's really not common for a wizard to dare to refer to Voldemort by his name directly..."
Harry whispered to himself, recalling the time when the big group went to Hogwarts and he met Professor Lupin.
In the end, Harry still chose not to knock on Professor Lupin's office. Although he was quite concerned about Professor Lupin's illness, he didn't want to disturb him.
Harry felt much more relaxed about seeing Professor Blaise.
Professor Blaise helped Harry get rid of the identity of "the heir to Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets", which was a big help to him. Moreover, during the summer, he let Harry know his deepest secret - the origin of Professor Blaise himself. Up to now, Harry hasn't revealed a single word about this to Ron and Hermione.
For most of August, he spent most of his time with Professor Blaise, to be honest, it was a very pleasant summer vacation because Professor Blaise never acted like a professor or an adult wizard in front of him. You could feel that he always approached him with a friendly and calm attitude as if they were friends.
Thump, thump, thump...
Looking around, confirming that there were no one else or wandering ghosts around, Harry removed his invisibility cloak, balled it up and stuffed it into his bag, then knocked on the door of Professor Blaise's office.
Professor Blaise, wearing gray pajamas and an emerald-green bathrobe with silver patterns, appeared in front of him.
Professor Blaise looked a bit tired, as Harry noticed a ring of dark circles under his extraordinary light purple eyes, and the professor's gray hair was a bit disheveled, as if he hadn't gone out today and therefore didn't bother to comb it.
"Harry--"
Aumastra, who knew who it was before opening the door, looked at Harry, whose expression was a bit nervous, raised an eyebrow, and smiled and said,
"Looks like you're doing well?"
"So, Professor Blaise--"
Harry said in a somewhat awkward tone, "Mrs. Pomfrey also thinks so, um... she thinks I can be discharged early..."
Aumastra pursed his lips, gave a sidelong glance at the bag Harry was holding, didn't puncture his lie, just stepped aside to let him in, and said gently.
"Of course, then... it's a bit cold outside, we can come in and chat slowly."
That's why Professor Blaise is popular - he's always so understanding!
Harry looked up and his expression brightened slightly as he followed Professor Blaise into the office.
"Lupin Professor?"
When the door creaked shut, and seeing the old wizard's robe, still smoldering with a noticeable sickly pallor on his face, Harry blinked in surprise.
"Professor... Professor Lupin?"
"Good evening, Harry."
With the golden firelight, Professor Lupin's smile was especially gentle on his face,
"I'm glad to see you looking so spirited, Harry."
After saying this sentence, Professor Lupin looked at Aumastra, who had just returned to his desk.
"Thank you for your care and help over the last two days, Aumastra. I think I can resume my work tomorrow... Since Harry has something for you--"
"Oh, actually, there's nothing!"
Harry said awkwardly.
Harry embarrassedly said, "Just... Well, I heard from Ron and Hermione about yesterday. I mean, after I lost consciousness... You cast a spell... It was very impressive..."
Aumastra and Lupin exchanged glances, both wearing expressions of suppressed laughter.
"So, that is to say--"
Aumastra happily said, "Right, then!"
"You came here just to praise me, Mr. Potter?"
(Potter)
"Reading Room"
