The Return to Hogwarts

Amosta met Lupin's gaze with a calm smile.

"So, who does Headmaster Dumbledore think that dark wizard is?"

“Albus was also clueless,” Lu Ping said frankly, “but he was certain of one thing: Sirius Black was not hiding in the Black family’s old house.”

Before Amosta could raise any questions, Lupin began to explain.

“Phoenix Black was the former headmaster of Hogwarts. Albus’s office and the Black family’s mansion both have his paintings in frames. Last night, Albus asked Headmaster Black to go back to the old house and check it out. It has been confirmed that there is no one alive in that house.”

"Thank you for sharing the news, Remus. I was originally planning to ask my friends at the Ministry of Magic about Black from last night, but I'm increasingly convinced that cooperating with you was a wise decision."

Amosta picked up the refreshing bitter tea, took a small sip, and nodded to Remus.

The sun, having lost its rosy glow, rose higher than the eaves. In the alley in front of the house, an unfortunate wizard who had disregarded the temporary regulations and Apparated into Hogsmeade was cursing as he paid a fine to a strife officer from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement whom Amosta had never seen before. But then, the strife officer turned around and stuffed the fine into his own purse.

"So what if you know?"

Amosta smiled indifferently as he walked to the door and gazed at the now clearly visible high slope in the distance.

Bathed in golden sunlight, the solitary house on the high slope shed its gloom, revealing its dilapidated state. Amost's brow twitched suddenly, and he realized that the Screaming Shack was actually a good place for research on the Blood Curse. It was quiet and secluded, and he wouldn't have to worry about anyone trespassing or Dumbledore planting spies in the house.

"So what if you know?"

Amosta returned to the bedroom to repair the bed frame that Hagrid had crushed, and as he turned around, he chuckled softly once more.

"please tell me!"

At the edge of the Forbidden Forest, in Hagrid's hut, the usually mild-mannered Professor Lupin, unusually somber, covered Hagrid, who had emptied half the cellar of the Three Broomsticks pub, with a blanket. He then turned to look at the trembling Harry and Ron, and Hermione, who seemed to be dying of shame.

“If I remember correctly, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, the three of you should be in Professor Sprout’s Herbology class, not Hagrid’s Hut.”

Sorry everyone, I need to take Saturday off. Firstly, I need to rest, and secondly, I'm experiencing writer's block again.

Chapter 176 Cognition

"Please give me a reasonable explanation," Professor Lu Ping said solemnly.

Harry knew perfectly well that he should be the one to answer Professor Lupin's questions, but looking at Hagrid lying on the bed, his hairy face streaked with dried tears and reeking of alcohol, he was too angry to speak.

Why was Hagrid out with a hangover?

Harry didn't need Hagrid to explain; he understood. Hagrid had always worked diligently for Hogwarts and for Dumbledore, asking for nothing more than recognition. Now, having finally cleared his name of murder with Professor Blaine's help and become a Professor of Protection of Magical Creatures with Dumbledore's assistance, Hagrid hadn't even had a chance to realize his ambitions before being thwarted by Malfoy's meddling.

Toothbrush whimpered worriedly as he nestled in Hagrid's arm. Harry clenched his fists, his face ashen, wishing he could rush into the castle right now and give Malfoy a good beating.

Ron clearly noticed Harry's unusual behavior, but under the solemn gaze of a professor, he dared not make a move. He could only lower his head and subtly wink, hoping that Harry would behave calmly.

"It's me, Professor—"

Hermione said, her voice trembling with tears, "I saw Hagrid looking strange, and I thought something had happened to him, so..."

Lupin looked at Harry, a hint of disappointment in his eyes, but before he could say anything, Harry suddenly roared angrily.

"It's all Malfoy's fault, Professor Lupin. He got injured because he wouldn't listen to advice; he brought it on himself. But he's also caused Hagrid to risk losing his job. Becoming the professor of this course is Hagrid's dream!"

Lupin looked at the furious Harry, and unexpectedly, the offended Harry did not show further anger. Instead, his expression became much gentler. In a daze, the features of Harry, who was angrily standing up for Hagrid, in Lupin's eyes faintly overlapped with the features of another person in his memory.

"Mr. Malfoy's injury was perhaps due to his careless behavior,"

Professor Lu Ping said gently,

"And what about you, Harry? We're near the Forbidden Forest. If you're attacked because you're out of sight of people, and Ron and Hermione get caught up in it, who will you blame?"

Harry froze, unsure how to answer the question.

"Professor Lupin, I mean, Headmaster Dumbledore is at the school, and no one would be there during the day."

Ron, his earlobes burning red, stammered as he explained that it was very difficult for him to defend himself under the critical gaze of a professor.

"Do you really think so, Ron?"

After stopping Ron with his gaze, Professor Lupin's tone became solemn again.

"Those dark wizards lurking in the shadows will appear in all sorts of unexpected and unimaginable ways. If the walls of Hogwarts and the Dementors can't stop them, then why do you think sunlight will bind them?"

The small, cramped room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. None of Harry, Ron, or Hermione tried to explain themselves.

Thinking of the fifth-year wizards waiting for him, Professor Lupin didn't launch into a long lecture. He glanced at Hagrid, who was bubbling with snot, a hint of worry in his eyes. After a moment's thought, he spoke to the three young wizards...

“You can look after Hagrid here for now, but I expect you to return to Professor Sprout’s class as soon as possible and admit your mistakes to her. I’ll know if you’ve done so.”

After saying this, Professor Lu Ping walked towards the door, but paused as he took a step, looking at the three children who looked ashamed, and said...

"Hagrid is a qualified and excellent adult wizard. You should trust him and believe that he is capable of handling his own problems."

An awkward silence remained in Hagrid's cabin after Professor Lupin left, until Ron, with a smirk, spoke in a relaxed tone,

"I think the three of us should be the first wizards to get detention this school year, right? Sorry, I should say soon!"

Hermione glanced at Ron, who seemed completely unfazed, and pursed her lips.

“I thought we had convinced Hagrid last time,”

She looked sadly at the drunken Hagrid and said, "He must be very worried about Buckbeak and afraid of being expelled by the board of trustees."

“Hagrid won’t be expelled, Hermione. You and Hagrid are both worrying too much. Dumbledore won’t do that,” Ron retorted.

"Professor Dumbledore also has to follow the opinions of the Board of Governors and the Ministry of Magic. If it's Malfoy, that Lucius Malfoy, we met him here last semester, and I later found out that he has close ties with many Ministry of Magic officials."

Hermione said worriedly, "What if Malfoy is determined to make a fuss about this?"

"There are plenty of people in the Ministry of Magic whom Lucius Malfoy can't control, Hermione!"

Ron and Hermione were discussing things back and forth. Harry knew that they were trying to ease his guilt, which moved him but also made him feel even more ashamed.

During the summer vacation, Professor Blaine had given him some warnings, but he always forgot those well-intentioned warnings when it came to crucial moments.

Since Professor Blaine was mentioned, Harry suddenly felt a pang of longing for him.

If Professor Blaine were still at the university, he could easily order Draco Malfoy to stop spreading rumors.

"Talk about it"

Harry rubbed Tooth's ears, pulled out his usual stained handkerchief from Hagrid's pocket, and wiped Hagrid's snotty nose.

"Perhaps I really can ask Professor Blaine for help, if he's willing to give Malfoy an order."

Ron and Hermione looked at each other, neither of them saying a word.

They hadn't forgotten Professor Lupin's instructions before he left, but before leaving, the three of them decided to help Hagrid take off his coat so that he could rest better.

For a wizard of normal size, this would be a very easy task, but to help Hagrid, whose size and weight are close to that of an elephant, take off his robe was a huge undertaking. Harry, Harry, and Hagrid climbed up and down Hagrid's bed and it took them quite a while to finally get Hagrid's coat off.

"Speaking of which--"

After finishing, Ron, hands on his hips and panting, said, "Why didn't we use magic to lift Hagrid up?"

"Because our magic can't move Hagrid's physique."

Hermione brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, then glanced at the angle of the sunlight outside. A flicker of anxiety flashed in her bright orange eyes. She looked at Harry and Ron, who were busy taking off Hagrid's socks, and said casually...

"Hmm, I'll go get Hagrid some water to wash his face--"

Before they could respond, Hermione turned and ran out, secretly taking her schoolbag with her as she left.

Chapter 177 Asking for help

About ten minutes later, Hermione, drenched in sweat, finally staggered in from outside the house, carrying her schoolbag and a bucket of water. As soon as she entered, she saw Harry and Ron sitting on the edge of Hagrid's bed, looking at her with strange expressions.

"Oh, why are you all looking at me like that?"

Hermione's heart pounded, but she tried to keep a natural expression. She casually tossed her schoolbag onto the table leg and slowly approached the two of them, carrying a small half-bucket of water.

"Are you lost in the water tank, Hermione?"

Ron frowned in surprise as he looked at Hermione, whose cheeks were wet with sweat and who was struggling to control her breathing.

"We called you several times, Hermione, and...your hair."

Harry raised an eyebrow and pointed to a few sparkly things stuck in Hermione's messy hair.

"Don't worry about it, Harry, it's just a few Bubble Sprout Beans." Hermione quickly fiddled with her hair.

"Beans from Bubble Branch?" Ron and Harry looked at each other in bewilderment.

Realizing that the more she said, the more flaws she would reveal, Hermione interrupted the conversation. She took Hagrid's dirty handkerchief back from Harry, washed it in a bucket, and then used one hand to brush aside Hagrid's beard while using the other hand to wipe his drool. This probably made Hagrid a little itchy, and after a few convulsive breaths, Hagrid suddenly sneezed.

"Oh, I mean, that's kind of disgusting."

Ron touched his robe and the shiny, sticky substance on his face, looking like he was about to vomit.

It took Ron a while to clean himself up. However, after this little incident, catching Professor Sprout's herb class was now a pipe dream. When Harry, Harry, and the others returned to the greenhouse, there wasn't a single student left, and even Professor Sprout had returned to his office in the castle.

This morning, the third-year Gryffindor students had two classes. In addition to Professor Spratly's Herbology class, they also had to attend Professor Flitwick's Spells class with Hufflepuff. In order to avoid being locked up by two professors on the first Friday of school, they had to postpone their apology.

It wasn't until lunchtime that they saw Professor Sprout in the professors' chair in the Great Hall. However, they never had a chance to rush up and explain, because all the professors, including the four heads of the houses and Professor Lupin, were craning their necks to face Dumbledore. They seemed to be discussing something extremely serious and didn't notice that almost all the young wizards were engrossed in their discussion.

"I didn't quite hear that—"

Even as the Great Hall was nearly empty, the professors hadn't finished their discussion, so Harry and Ron had to leave to find another opportunity. On their way back to the common room, Harry and Ron's roommate, Neville, said to them...