Hogwarts, near at hand, Hogmead, distant - the lights in the house lit one after another following that icy harsh sound.
Harry could feel the floor beneath him trembling.
This was not caused by the explosion, but rather because hundreds of thousands of witches and teachers rushed out of their comfortable beds and rushed down to the bottom of the stairs in a hurry.
It was Professor Brain!
There is no doubt about it, whether it was the vast golden sea of flames or the chilling sound that made the soul shudder, both were enough for Harry to identify who was causing such a commotion in the Forbidden Forest!
But how could that be?!
Harry's heart pounded as he watched the roaring blaze soaring high in the sky.
He had never seen Professor Brain start such a great fire that he forgot to control its influence, causing it to rouse both Hogwarts and Hogmead.
Whoa!
A terrible whistling wind, the fire at Harry's view disappeared suddenly without any preamble, but its surging heat evaporating rainwater in the forest as well, formed a sunset-colored fire cloud on the verdant primal forest.
The heat blown by the wind even made Harry, lying on the archway, unable to help but squint his eyes.
The noise from the upper floor grew louder and louder, Harry knew that his classmates were already dressed and rushing out of the public common room to investigate the situation, and he could even hear the hysterical shouts of Filch!
Harry knew he had to move!
He quickly pulled off his Invisibility Cloak--with so many students getting out of bed, there was nothing left to hide.
Then, he ran as fast as he could to the end of the corridor, leaping two big steps to reach the middle platform between the third and second floors. He flew past the second-floor platform like a wind.
The instant he reached the great hall, Harry was itching to rush out of the castle, but three men standing before the copper doors suddenly halted him in his tracks, making his heart sink!
"Aha, I knew you'd be the fastest, Harry!"
The little wolf star turned his head to look at Harry jumping down from the steps, a mocking smile on his face.
"Sirius, how did you —— "
Before Harry could express his joy, Professor Dumbledore's calm gaze, which he had discreetly stolen, left Harry speechless.
"Oh, Professor Dumbledore. I, uh... well, I just had to use the bathroom, so... I was a bit quicker."
"Yes--"
Professor Dumbledore still spoke without any emotion.
"The truth is obvious--"
Then, Dumbledore turned his head away and stopped paying attention to Harry, but it was the snickering coming from an elderly man next to Dumbledore who was almost the same height as him, had white beard and blue eyes that made Harry's face reddened and confused.
"That's Albus Dumbledore."
The little wolf star smiled and walked over, embracing Harry's shoulder.
"Usually he's at the Leaky Cauldron, I'm sure you've seen him before, Harry."
Harry blinked, and immediately realized who the elderly man was. But the name Albus Dumbledore meant something that was all too clear!
Harry was really surprised to learn that Dumbledore had a brother, and he completely forgot to ask why Little Wolf Star had run to Hogwarts in the middle of the night for an interview with Professor Dumbledore.
The second person to arrive in the great hall was one of Harry's least favorite teachers in Potions class.
He came from the Slytherin undercroft, running with such intensity that he was drenched in sweat, but what Harry admired greatly was that, even in this unexpected situation, Snape still wore his completely wrapped black robe.
The moment their eyes met, both of their faces immediately turned cold.
But the relief was that they did not immediately explode in a verbal conflict, and Professor Snape directly moved his gaze away and walked briskly to Dumbledore's side.
"Is it Amortiza?"
Although it was a question, Severus's tone was affirmative, and he looked at the direction of the Forbidden Forest covered by fire clouds, his expression severe.
"Clearly so..."
"Dumbledore looked at Severus, speaking calmly,"
"Don't worry, Severus, Amortza is no longer the little wizard he used to be, and nothing can put him in danger of life. He's returned."
Harry saw a lamp from Hagrid's hut rush out, stopping at the edge of the Forbidden Forest as if to talk to someone.
Clang!
On both sides of the great hall, the doors leading to the basement were roughly opened from inside. Almost at the same time, Malfour led the Slytherin group and Cedric led the Hufflepuff students from the basement up.
And Harry also saw his friends from Gryffindor on the second-floor platform. He noticed Ron and Hermione's surprised expressions when they saw him standing next to Sirius.
"What's going on, Albus, what has happened, Amortaza is fighting with whom, is it?"
Professor McGonagall's panicked and shrill voice drowned out the buzzing chatter of the witches and wizards, she pushed through the crowd in front of her, struggling to move down the stairs.
"Don't worry, Millieva, nothing has happened. I think, Professor Brain was just trying to eliminate some potential safety hazards for us, and accidentally disturbed us."
Dumbledore's clear voice echoed throughout the great hall and the auditorium.
"Oh, eliminating hazards. Accidental disturbance."
Fred whispered,
"Do you believe it, brother?"
" - I don't believe it - " George replied, "Do you?"
"I don't believe either," Fred sniffed, "Who would actually believe that?"
The two brothers looked at each other, then clapped their hands together.
Besides Hermione rolling her eyes at Fred and George, other students who had heard their conversation laughed out loud. However, when Professor Dumbledore's calm and piercing gaze swept over them, everyone fell silent.
"What has happened, Albus?"
It was another identical question, coming from the headmistress of Beauxbatons. She ran across the wet ground at a great speed, calling out her inquiry from a distance. What was even more surprising to Harry was that Fleur, in her silk nightgown of sky blue, followed Mrs. Maxim as she hurried over, her face showing signs of anxiety.
The large ship from Durmstrang by the Black Lake also turned on its lights, and a group of people gathered to approach Hogwarts.
"Everything is fine, madam -- "
Professor Dumbledore spoke in that steady voice that could calm one's heart.
"The specific details, Amortaza will explain to us later - now --"
Dumbledore turned to look at the students who had gathered in the auditorium.
"Millieva, Severus, could you please ask all the students to return to their dormitories and rest? They must get enough sleep to handle tomorrow's classes."
Without hesitation, Professor McGonagall immediately called out the male and female student leaders, as well as the heads of each house, and sent the little witches back to their dormitories amidst a chorus of complaints.
Severus merely looked at Malfour and the other Slytherin students, and they obediently retreated.
As the crowd dispersed like a tide, the later-arriving professors saw this and stepped in to maintain order, ensuring that no one was trampled.
"Albus--"
Dumbledore's gaze was once again fixed on his brother.
"I believe the villagers of Hogsmeade are currently in a state of confusion and worry. Could you please go back to help calm them down?"
Albus glared at Professor Dumbledore, but in the calm and determined gaze, he said nothing and walked briskly towards the school gate.
"Professor Dumbledore!"
Little Wolf Star waved his hand and smiled, saying,
"The situation is already known to you, I will leave soon, before I leave, can I have a word with Harry? It will not delay his rest."
A very loud cough was heard from above, and Harry recognized it as Hermione's voice.
"Oh, and Ron and Hermione. I don't think you'll mind, Millieva?"
Little Wolf Star smiled at Professor McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall glared sternly at Little Wolf Star before turning her attention to directing the students in an orderly evacuation.
"Come on, let's go somewhere and talk——"
Little Wolf Star wrapped one arm around Harry's shoulder, while using the other hand to beckon Ron and Hermione who were coming in the opposite direction. He led them to a corridor on the first floor of the auditorium.
Meanwhile, Amortaza also bid farewell to the confused Hagrid and walked towards the castle.
(Chapter completed)
