Hogwarts: Don't call me Wandmaker

Chapter 187 Cats and Dogs in the Woods

For the next few days, everyone was immersed in the joy of their upcoming trip to Hogsmeade Village—except for Harry.

His aunt and uncle did not sign the application form. According to regulations, one cannot go to Hogsmeade without the signature of a guardian.

In other words, while others were enjoying their weekends at Hogsmeade, Harry was stuck in the castle.

The professors seemed quite pleased with this situation. Therefore, they were extremely strict about the application form, refusing to budge no matter what Harry said.

"They probably think you're safer inside the castle."

During the divination class, Sirius looked at the crystal ball and said, "Do you remember what was in the Daily Prophet last time? Someone saw Sirius Black, and the place was very close to Hogsmeade Village."

"Are you saying that the professors insisted on keeping me in the castle to protect me?" Harry asked.

“Not entirely, but that’s definitely part of the reason,” Celen said.

"Thank you, that makes me feel much better." Harry stared intently at the crystal ball. "Siron, can you see what's inside?"

“I can see a little better,” Xilun said.

"So if... I mean, if I could go to Hogsmeade with you guys, would I meet Sirius Black there?"

These words piqued Xiren's interest... He looked at the crystal ball.

Perhaps because it had a specific target, the silver smoke inside the crystal ball began to churn rapidly, and soon colorful patterns appeared.

It was a street with pointed roofs on both sides.

On the street, Harry, Ron, and Hermione each held a cup of butterbeer and several bags of various colors. They all looked very happy.

Far off down the street, a large black dog stands at the edge of the frame, silently watching them.

“Yes,” Sirius suddenly said. “You will meet Sirius Black. He has been watching you from the shadows ever since you stepped into Hogsmeade.”

"Boom!"

Harry's hand trembled, and his body involuntarily bumped into the table, causing the crystal ball to roll off the shelf and crash heavily onto the floor.

The sound attracted the attention of many people.

Neville was delighted; he was finally not the only one who had knocked over the crystal ball.

"I'm sorry, Professor, I didn't mean to," Harry said, quickly picking up the crystal ball and putting it back on the shelf.

But when you look at it again now, the colorful images inside have turned back into silver smoke.

“Stop joking, Sheren.” Harry sighed. “I know you’re trying to comfort me, but those words were just too frightening.”

"Professor McGonagall once said that there are Dementors in Hogsmeade Village. How could Sirius Black possibly break into Hogsmeade Village amidst such a strong encirclement?"

"Comfort you?" Sirius raised an eyebrow, surprised that Harry was so good at making up stories.

"Okay, if you insist on thinking that way, fine. Just one thing: don't have too high expectations for those Dementors. Sirius Black escaped from their guards once, so it wouldn't be surprising if he did it again."

“Maybe you’re right,” Harry said absentmindedly, seemingly lost in thought.

Seeing this, Xilun didn't say anything more.

……

On Halloween, Siron arrived at the foyer early in the morning and, along with the others, was led by Professor McGonagall to Hogsmeade Village.

As they stepped out the door, the temperature suddenly plummeted, and they felt a bone-chilling cold.

"These are all students, what do you think you're doing!" Professor McGonagall, who was walking at the front, shouted sternly.

Two things shrouded in tattered black robes floated away, and the surrounding temperature returned to normal. The group continued their journey towards Hogsmeade Village.

However, Professor McGonagall still looked very angry.

"Those Dementors are getting more and more audacious, they're actually trying to attack students... What on earth is the Ministry of Magic up to? Wasn't it supposed to be someone watching over those Dementors?"

"Professor," he couldn't help but ask, "Does the Ministry of Magic send people to guard those Dementors?"

"Of course the Ministry of Magic wouldn't do such a thing; it was Headmaster Dumbledore who ordered it."

Seeing that the speaker was Siron, Professor McGonagall suppressed her anger and patiently explained, "The headmaster agreed to allow the Dementors to guard the school, but demanded that the Ministry of Magic send a wizard who could command them."

"It seems that the Ministry of Magic has completely disregarded the headmaster's words. There are no wizards at the school gate, only Dementors."

"Only Dementors?" Siron's eyes lit up, then he quickly added, "Well, I mean, there really isn't a single wizard. Maybe he's resting somewhere."

“Impossible, I saw it very clearly,” Professor McGonagall said. “The Ministry of Magic is going too far. No, I must tell Dumbledore about this.”

“Yes, we need to tell the headmaster,” Celen nodded beside him. After leaving the school gates, they quickly followed a path to Hogsmeade Village.

Every building here has a pointed roof, just like the scene Xilun saw in the crystal ball.

Professor McGonagall took three brooms.

It was right in the middle of Hogsmeade Village, so no matter what the problem was, she could get there immediately.

Fred and George are going to Zoko to buy dung balls, burp powder, and flying crickets, and they invite Celen to come along.

“No, I want to buy some snacks first,” Xiren said, and went to Honey Duke with more people.

There are so many people here! The small shop is packed with people, it's hard to even walk normally.

Siren had come with Ron and Hermione, but they were separated as soon as they entered Honeydukes' shop.

Ron and Hermione didn't pay any attention; they were already captivated by the dazzling array of candies before them, their eyes filled with surprise and disbelief. Neither of them noticed that Siron had simply circled the entrance before leaving the candy store from the other side.

After leaving Honey Duke, Siron quickly turned and walked into a small alley behind the candy store.

This path also leads to Hogwarts, but it is extremely rugged and difficult to traverse, far less convenient than the main road. Moreover, it requires passing through a forest, so almost no one ever travels this way.

But that's exactly what Siren wanted.

He left something at the school gate and wanted to go back to get it, but he didn't want to be seen by others, and this road was just right.

Xilun quickly entered the woods.

Unlike the forbidden forest at school, this was just an ordinary forest. Although the trees were lush, there wasn't a single grove of trees guarding them. Xilun only glanced at it a few times before losing interest and quickening his pace again.

To save time, he simply transformed into a cat and quickly darted through the thickets of trees.

Just then, a rustling sound came from ahead.

anyone?

Xiren stopped instinctively, and then he heard a familiar meow.

"Meow..."

He was all too familiar with that sound.

Siron ran toward the direction from which the sound came, and sure enough, he soon saw Tom biting a fat rabbit.

But Tom always preferred hunting in the Forbidden Forest, so why is he here?

Looking for a change of pace?
When Celion saw Tom, Tom smelled him too. He immediately abandoned his two lackeys and, with an agility far beyond his size, leaped to Celion in a few bounds. He stretched out his head and rubbed vigorously against Celion's arm.

But Tom clearly forgot that Siron's current body is that of a cat, and a small cat at that.

As it brushed against him, Xiren felt as if he had been bumped by Hagrid, and staggered back several steps.

Meanwhile, Sirius, who was used to being a follower, was dumbfounded.

That fearless cat boss, who even dares to extend its claws at a three-headed dog, is actually acting cute?

Yes, based on his understanding of animals, the cat's actions just now were definitely a display of affection, and it was affectionate towards a kitten that wasn't even as big as Crookshanks.

Merlin's beard... it must be that the mushroom he just ate was poisonous, and he's hallucinating.

Sirius's mouth was wide open, his dog face filled with disbelief.

However, the next second, something even more shocking happened.

The little black cat shook its body and instantly transformed into a person.

Animagus!
Sirius's pupils suddenly contracted.

Animagus is nothing special; he himself is one, and he even had two... a friend who also mastered Animagus transformation.

What shocked him was the wizard's age.

He learned Animagus at the end of fifth grade, when he was sixteen, which was considered quite fast, and he was proud of it for a while.

But judging from his appearance, this wizard looks to be twelve or thirteen years old.
But he was definitely younger than he was back then.

Sirius suddenly felt a strange sense of frustration and loss, as if the honor he had been so proud of for so long had suddenly been taken away by someone else.

……

(End of this chapter)