Hogwarts Study Panel

Chapter 541, page 539: The Third Eye About to Open (4k)

The chatter in the Great Hall continued for a long time, with Hermione telling Sheehan about Sirius's evil intentions.

“If he knew, he would have come, Sheen… without a doubt, he would have come to kill Harry. Poor Harry, there will always be someone who wants him dead.”

Hermione bit her lip, glancing at the torn portrait one moment and then at Harry the next with concern.

"It will be alright, Hermione."

Sheen offered her a word of comfort, and her worried gaze suddenly hardened.

“We have to find him, Sheen—”

Hermione said,
"Summon Justin, and just like we did before, purge all of the Dark Lord's minions from Hogwarts—"

"No need to call me—"

Justin suddenly popped out from behind a portrait.

"You promised not to use those secret passages..."

Hermione looked at him and said irritably.

“In times of crisis, that’s a different story, my dear Miss Granger.”

Justin smiled and gave a gentlemanly bow.

"Come here quickly—"

Hermione didn't argue with him. She glanced at the group of professors and was relieved to find that they hadn't noticed Justin who had suddenly appeared.

"This one……"

Hermione then looked at Sheehan, who seemed a little curious.

"You know, the club has organized so many castle-hunting expeditions, and our dear lucky charm hasn't found it, but instead..."

"We almost found all the secret passages in the castle."

Justin took over the conversation.

As he spoke, he handed Sheen a map.

Sheehan glanced around and noticed the non-stop activity of the largest club in Hogwarts, suggesting that they had gained something else.

Now, he could see a secret passage not far away leading to the fifth floor, the place where Sir Cadogan had fallen and couldn't get up.

"...He definitely won't dare to make a big fuss. All we need to do is find him...Sheen, what do you think?"

As she was checking, Hermione's questioning voice came from the side.

"Um……"

Sheehan naturally thought of Sir Cadogan.

To prevent the fat lady from being frightened by Sirius's visit, he made a bet with the knight.

Sir Bet wouldn't dare drink thirty bottles of beer in front of the fat lady tonight.

Now, it seems the Jazz have won, and Sheen will lose to him with a compliment.

Do you have any plans?

Justin glanced at the somewhat dazed Sheehan and asked Hermione.

"Of course, after tonight we can go find that portrait. He's been chasing it for so long, he must know something. I bet he fell because he was subjected to some terrible magic..."

Hermione said in a low voice.

"I think so too."

Justin nodded.

"So, Sheen, what do you think... about Sheen?"

Hermione looked around.

"Oh, I don't know."

Justin said in surprise, but his gaze remained fixed on the portrait on the left that had just been closed.

The secret passage was pitch black.

Sheen reached out and gently touched his fingertip, and fluorescence appeared.

Was Sir Cadogan's fall caused by a terrible spell...?

Sheehan thought no, that the jazz was simply drunk.

However, he did need to find the Jazz and, incidentally, check on Sirius's condition.

If his Animagus form is indeed discovered, then given Dumbledore's abilities, capturing him would be a very quick matter.

If Sirius were captured and imprisoned in Azkaban, escaping would be extremely difficult.

"Jazz?"

Upon opening the secret passage door, Sheen quickly saw the Jazz lying face down on the ground, his face covered in mud and snoring loudly.

Lady Violet tried to help him up, but she couldn't move him no matter what she did.

"Little Green?!"

Mrs. Violet cried out in delight.

Sheen nodded to the lady in the long dress, then lightly tapped the frame with his finger, and the dirty jazz was lifted up.

In fact, wizards can also use their magic on portraits, but it requires special skills.

Fortunately, Sheen had a knowledgeable historical figure as his teacher.

"Jazz?"

Sheen called out.

"You damned coward—I challenge you to a duel lasting three days and three nights—"

The jazz armor clanged, and his voice was deafening.

"Jazz?"

Sheen called out again.

“Little Green, is that your voice? Oh, have you seen him? That guy, that ruthless guy, he actually managed to get around…”

The knight spoke to Lady Violet.

Sheehan and Mrs. Violet both agreed that he was completely disoriented.

Fortunately, upon hearing Jazz's words, Sheen naturally realized that Sirius had not yet been exposed.

but……

Sheehan knew Sirius would come again, and he longed to watch Harry's Quidditch matches every day.

He was, after all, Harry's...godfather.

So they need to speed things up.

Therefore, the journey to Hogsmeade became even more important.

If he's lucky, Sheen might be able to obtain those ancient contracts in Gringotts.

……

When Sheen returned, he saw Professor Dumbledore ordering all the Gryffindor students to return to the Great Hall.

Ten minutes later, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin classmates also entered, each with a puzzled look on their faces.

"My teachers and I need to conduct a full search of the castle."

Professor Dumbledore told everyone that at that moment, McGonagall and Professor Flitwick closed all the doors of the Great Hall.
"For your own safety, I'm afraid you'll have to spend the night here. I'd like the prefect to guard the entrance to the auditorium, and I've entrusted the student council presidents (both male and female) with its management. Report to me immediately if anything happens."

He then turned to Percy, who was standing to the side, beaming with pride and looking quite serious, and said...
"Send a ghost to deliver the message."

Professor Dumbledore paused, preparing to leave the Great Hall, but then added:
"Oh, by the way, you need..."

With a gentle wave of his wand, long tables flew to the side of the hall and automatically stood against the wall;
With another gentle wave, hundreds of soft, purple sleeping bags appeared on the ground.

He glanced kindly at all the young wizards present, finally stopping before those bright green eyes.

Sheen observed Dumbledore's actions without blinking; his Master-level Transfiguration skills told him that these were advanced applications of Transfiguration.

The movable wooden tables were created through a transformation from "objects" to "magic"—the tables flew out on their own.

As for the sleeping bag... Sheen could see that quite a few things on the table had disappeared.

In other words, Headmaster Dumbledore conjured hundreds of sleeping bags in just a moment.

Sheehan believed that this was clearly not a level that a master could reach.

"Get some sleep. Oh, and by the way, our dear teaching assistant, please come with me."

After Professor Dumbledore finished speaking, he led the bewildered Sheen out and closed the door.

The Great Hall immediately erupted in chatter as the Gryffindor students told students from other houses what had just happened.

"Everyone, get into your sleeping bags!"

Percy shouted,
"Hurry up, no more talking! Lights out in ten minutes!"

"come over."

Ron and Harry said to Hermione, Justin, and Neville.

They grabbed five sleeping bags and dragged them to the corner.

"What did they want Sheehan to do?" Hermione asked in a worried whisper.

"Dumbledore seems to think that Sirius is still alive, which would be very dangerous."

"Danger?"

Ron chuckled softly, but before he could finish, he suddenly let out a bloodcurdling scream.

Hermione was putting away her wand.

"Oh my god—you guys are really—good heavens, you actually think Sheen is in danger—"

Ron had to speak seriously.

Seeing the confused looks on the faces of those around him, Ron's eyes widened:
“I think Sheen is much more dangerous than Black. Have you ever seen anyone take down a basilisk with just a sword? That was a long time ago!”

Harry realized what was happening too. He stared blankly at Ron, Hagrid's words echoing in his mind:
"You're asking about Grimm, Harry? I must say, I'm quite relieved to have the Forbidden Forest in Grimm's care. The little ones are like obedient babies in his hands..."

Oh, it would have been even better if that kid Grimm hadn't been chanting his earth-shattering spells in the Forbidden Forest... I mean, have you ever seen a wizard more talented than him? He's definitely going to surpass Headmaster Dumbledore. I've never seen anyone at this age use spells like the professor... Truly worthy of the title..."

Hagrid casually provided Harry with a lot of information, which made Harry realize some facts that they had once again overlooked.

He looked at the door that was about to close, where the little wizard's shadow still lingered.

The shadow, though not particularly tall, exuded a power that captivated Harry.

"Hagrid said..."

Harry felt a dryness in his throat.

All eyes were on him.

"Sheen's magical abilities are comparable to the professor's."

After Harry finished speaking, everyone stared at him in astonishment, speechless.

The vague impression of the young wizard from before is now being compared to that of a professor.

They convinced themselves to accept it, but it took them a long time to come to their senses.

Outside the door, in the corridor.

"Headmaster Dumbledore."

Sheen said.

"My dear Teaching Assistant Green, are professors always different from students?"

Dumbledore's blue eyes held a hint of mockery.

"Maybe--"

Sheen answered.

"Perhaps we should find the gentleman first, but I suspect there are others in this castle who know more than just him..."

Headmaster Dumbledore smiled.

Sheen did not reply, and Dumbledore stared at Sheen with great interest:

"Let's go, my dear teaching assistant, it seems we have no choice but to ask Mr. Sir..."

Headmaster Dumbledore ultimately didn't get much information out of Sir Cadogan, and was even stopped by Professor Snape halfway through his journey.

"Dumbledore—the Headmaster?"

Snape said coldly,
“The entire fourth floor has been searched. He’s not there. Filch also checked the underground classrooms, but he’s not there either.”

"Where is the Astronomy Tower? Professor Trelawney's room? The Owl's Hut?"

"Dumbledore asked."

"I've searched them all..."

“Very good, Severus. I also expected Blake wouldn’t stay here.”

"Have you ever wondered how he got in, Professor?"

Snape asked.

“Many ideas, Severus, but none of them hold water.”

"Do you remember our conversation, Principal? It was—just before the start of the school year?"

Snape's lips barely moved when he spoke.

“I remember, Severus.”

Dumbledore said, his voice carrying a warning tone.

"Blake barged into the school without any inside help—that seems—impossible. I expressed my concerns when you specified—"

“I don’t believe anyone in this castle could help Blake break in.”

Dumbledore said.

"I can—"

Snape remained expressionless.

"What do you think, Assistant Coach Green?"

Dumbledore suddenly squinted at Sheehan.

A thin mist rose from Hogwarts, and the young wizard, who was about to go back to sleep, suddenly opened his eyes wide.

Sheen glanced at the smiling Headmaster Dumbledore, then at the gloomy Professor Snape.

Ultimately, they chose to remain silent.

“Oh, the most prescient wizards among us have chosen to remain silent, Severus, which proves that things are not as bad as they seem.”

Dumbledore stroked his long white beard.

His tone made it clear that the topic was over.

Professor Snape glanced at the young wizard but said nothing more.

"I must go down and find those Dementors,"

Dumbledore said,
“I said we would notify them after we finished the search.”

"Weren't they here to help, Dumbledore?"

Professor Snape sneered.

“Oh, yes,”

Dumbledore said coldly,

"But as long as I am the headmaster, I'm afraid no Dementor will be able to cross the threshold of this castle."

Dumbledore left the corridor, walking quickly and silently.

Snape stood there for a moment, watching the headmaster's back with a deep, complex coldness on his face.

“Go back—Green.”

Snape turned his head.

Then, after Sheen entered the auditorium, he also left.

Inside the hall, Sheen could still hear the wizards discussing the topics he had discussed before he left.

How did he get in?

"Perhaps he knows how to apparite."

A Ravenclaw a few steps away said,

"It just appeared out of thin air."

"Maybe he's just putting on an act."

A fifth-grade student from Hufflepuff said.

"He might have flown in."

Dean Thomas said.

"I demand that everyone get into their sleeping bags and stop talking!"

Percy said angrily,
"Oh, not including you, Mr. Green, please go ahead."

The candles went out immediately.

Only the silvery ghosts emitted a faint glow, drifting around and seemingly conversing solemnly with the prefects.

The enchanted ceiling looked just like the sky outside, dotted with many stars.

Under such a ceiling, listening to the whispers still echoing in the auditorium, Sheen felt as if he were sleeping in the outdoor breeze.

Sheen could see a faint mist rising, but the wizards around him seemed to ignore it.

At that moment, he remembered many things.

This includes what Professor Trelawney calls "the Heavenly Eye," and what Rita tells her about the trail of a witch.

And if the Heavenly Eye really does open, Sheen guesses it will be tonight.

After all, he was about to see the starry sky at the border.

(End of this chapter)