While Amos was not at Hogwarts, someone attempted to break into his office, and that's no trivial matter.
Severus Snape was summoned quickly.
Professor Dumbledore was quickly called. He wore a snowy nightgown, over which was draped a robe of purple with gold trimmings, leaning slightly, one hand supporting his half-moon spectacles, the other finger gently pressing against the cold door handle.
"I share your views, Mrs. Miller, and Severus--"
After careful observation, Professor Dumbledore straightened up and said calmly,
"Somebody tried to open Amos's office, but fortunately, they didn't break through the protective spell on the door."
"But who would do something like that, Albus?"
Professor McGonagall stepped forward, worryingly clutching her chest,
"What did the person want to do with Amos's office?"
"This may only be determined after an investigation."
The firelight tinted Dumbledore's slender nose with gold, and Harry could not see the bright double eyes of the moon lenses behind the mirror, but he could only hear the serious tone in Professor Dumbledore's voice,
"Perhaps, it was to obtain something valuable from Amos's office."
This is a very reasonable guess, but there is a touch of unreasonableness to it.
It is well known that Professor Bran is the most modest among the Hogwarts faculty, so if you were to rummage through Filch's office, you might just find a few valuable trinkets, while Bran's office is filled with various documents.
"I suggest a thorough investigation, Dumbledore. Perhaps truth serum could be used on some suspicious individuals."
Snape looked at Harry, his voice light and airy.
"Thank you for your suggestion, Severus. It is indeed necessary to search the castle--"
Dumbledore seemed not to grasp the implication in Severus's words; he merely said,
"Amos is sure to want to know who wants to open his office; perhaps you can write him a letter telling him that."
Before Severus responded, Professor Dumbledore's sharp face turned to Professor McGonagall,
"Millerwa, I want you to wake up all the staff. We need to search the castle to prevent the suspicious individual from still lurking here. Also, I would like you to summon Agga; he is most familiar with the secret passages in the castle."
Professor Dumbledore casually looked over at Harry and the others standing by the side,
"If that person was able to breach the castle from outside, then, besides those secret passages, there is no other way."
Professor McGonagall nodded, then turned to Harry and the others with an unwavering tone, commanding,
"Return to your own beds at once. I hope you will keep tonight's events confidential for the time being, to avoid causing panic."
Eileen and they went in a different direction, Snape took her back to her dormitory, while Professor McGonagall "escorted" Harry and the others to the spiral staircase and watched them upstairs.
"Hermione, do you think--"
They rushed up the stairs, making sure Professor McGonagall couldn't hear them, Harry immediately called out urgently.
"I know what you're going to say, Harry, but--"
Hermione clearly guessed what Harry was thinking long before, her pure brown eyes now glowing with a fierce light.
"It is indeed very suspicious, but. it doesn't quite fit, is it not?"
"What doesn't fit?"
Harry asked, frowning.
"Malfoy wanted to buy an alchemical artifact from Boggin that could break through strong magical defenses, and I've always wondered what he was up to."
Now it's all clear, isn't it? He wanted to open Professor Bran's office. It must have been Voldemort who ordered him to do so, he wants to steal something from Professor Bran's office!"
"Are you suspicious of Malfoy, Harry?"
Ron exclaimed, as if there were no hints at all.
"You were saying something different before, Harry--"
Hermione glanced at Harry and said,
"You said earlier that Malfoy went to Boggin's shop because he was under Voldemort's orders to open the door that appeared in your dream."
Harry gasped for breath, not speaking.
This was indeed a puzzle he couldn't figure out, which was why he had remained silent, saying nothing.
He had stubbornly believed that Malfoy was commanded to open the door behind that corridor in his dream, but now it turned out that Professor Bran's office had been invaded first.
They had all been to Professor Bran's office many times before, and it was just a simple classroom. There was no mysterious black corridor there.
"After all, Malfoy is suspicious, and if we can enter his dormitory to check now. He's injured, isn't he?"
Harry insisted stubbornly.
Hermione stopped in front of the Fat Lady's portrait. She pursed her lips and hesitated for a moment before fixing her gaze.
"You can't provide any reliable evidence, Harry. I think Professor Snape is definitely not going to speak up for you, right? In fact, I think it's too coincidental that he was there tonight."
"Are you suspicious of Snape?"
Ron was surprised and jumped up, waking up the Fat Lady, who was enjoying her dreams.
"I just... just..."
Hermione furrowed her brow.
"Harry, I believe that he was there."
Hermione turned her face to Harry, her expression slightly hesitant,
"Based on the information we have now, Malfoy does indeed have suspicions against him, but the key is we need evidence. Maybe you could try writing to Sirius Black, and ask him to investigate Boggin's shop; perhaps he can find some clues."
"Oh, that's a good idea!"
Harry excitedly slapped his left palm with his right fist.
"Boggin is in business like Flume, so he must have an account book. I can have Sirius take a look to see if Boggin has sold anything to Malfoy!"
They three of them respectively passed through the doorway behind the Fat Lady and entered the public room.
The common room was already empty, and the dim red light of the dying charcoal in the fireplace enveloped the room. Harry eagerly ran to his dormitory, but when he stepped on the stairs, he found that Ron hadn't followed up, but was standing there hesitantly.
Hermione hadn't moved either; she was glancing at Ron, as if she had already seen that he had something to say.
"What's going on?"
Harry's steps faltered, puzzled.
"You go back first, Harry—"
Ron's gaze flickered.
"I need to talk to Hermione."
Harry blinked, and for a moment, many thoughts flashed through his mind. But in the end, he only nodded and then continued to walk.
The few people in the dormitory were all asleep, Dean and Seamus were both using their blankets to cover their heads to resist Neville's snores.
Harry flew to the desk, pulled out the chair, lit a candle, took out the vellum, and picked up the feather quill given by the elf.
"Dearest Sirius"
Harry's sharp letters fell on the paper, and he stopped after just one sentence.
What could Ron have wanted to discuss with Hermione?
Harry gazed out the window at the surging darkness outside, and found himself in a daze.
If it had been before the Triwizard Tournament, he might have guessed some hints, but after that... well, to be specific, it was after last year's Christmas ball. Such a possibility did not exist anymore.
Let alone the fact that now Ron is dating Lavender so passionately, it's as if they are as in love as Cedric and Cho were.
Cho Chang
Harry felt a momentary dizziness, thinking of the girl's gentle face.
When did it start that, when thinking of this girl, Harry no longer felt the piercing pain and resentment? Though deep down, there was still a faint trace of longing and regret.
Harry turned his head in the darkness, looking at Ron's bed, and a face of another girl appeared in his mind.
Unlike Cho Chang who was gentle and graceful like a spring pond, she was more beautiful and charming with her vibrant vitality, lively eyes, beautiful hair, and delicate skin. What attracted him more was the sweet fragrance that always seemed to linger when he drew closer to her.
The expensive quill was dropped down, and the new vellum was stained with ink, making it invalid.
When thinking of that girl, it seemed that even prying into Malfoy's secrets and protecting Hogwarts were no longer so attractive.
Harry leaned back in his chair, feeling a relentless sense of despondency.
Ron was his best friend, and he had been since the day they entered Hogwarts. Ron was also his best friend.
Harry knew that although their friendship was solid, Ron had always dreamed of being better than him at something. Now, Ron had achieved something he couldn't do, and Harry couldn't catch up because of Ron's existence.
