The Return to Hogwarts

Thinking of her fate, Harry shuddered and dismissed his rebellious thoughts.

Now, Professor Blaine has set new requirements for his physical education classes.

He recorded how far each person could advance under the attack of the dung balls, and required that each class be better than the last, even if it was only a foot. Otherwise, he would make you practice indefinitely and not let you go back to the dormitory to sleep.

Harry's experience in Potions class was another important reason for his bad mood.

Harry had no idea what had happened in Professor Blaine's office that day, but Snape was clearly retaliating. He went to great lengths to make fun of Harry in Potions class, and because Harry got zeros on all his assignments, his Potions essays were at least a third longer than those of the other young wizards!

This time, it wasn't Sirius Black who helped Harry out of his predicament, but Professor McGonagall, because she simply couldn't stand the abnormally slow rate at which the gems representing grades in the Gryffindor hourglass were dropping.

The first heavy rain of the year, accompanied by thunderstorms, fell over the weekend, signaling the approaching summer.

Ron and Seamus played Gobstone for half the afternoon in the common room, while Harry watched without joining in. The punishment for losing at Gobstone always reminded Harry of the smell of dung balls and stinky juice. It wasn't until the two of them got tired of Gobstone and switched to wizard chess that Harry became interested.

Of course, when it comes to wizard chess skills, Harry and Seamus combined can't beat Ron. Under the rule that whoever loses is out, Ron always sits firmly, while Harry and Seamus take turns playing.

After being 'knighted' by Ron once again, Harry smacked his lips, still feeling unsatisfied. He looked out the window and noticed that the sky, which had been gloomy all day, was beginning to darken.

"Oh, running--"

The watch he was still wearing told Harry it was almost dinnertime, and he jumped up in alarm.

A significant number of the young wizards who participate in physical education classes schedule the half-hour of running time required by Professor Blaine each day after class and before dinner. This is the most suitable time and will not have a significant impact on the rest of the day.

"Good luck, Harry—"

Simo looked up at the world pouring with rain, his gaze fixed on the chessboard, and shrugged sympathetically.

Professor Blaine didn't say that you don't need to run when it's raining or snowing.

Harry looked around. Neville wasn't in the common room, and Fred and George were nowhere to be seen either. Ginny and Hermione were sitting in a secluded corner of the common room, whispering among themselves.

"What are you talking about?" Harry asked as he walked over.

"Penelo Krivat—"

Hermione looked at Harry with some displeasure. "Luna told me that she often sees Penelope alone in the common room these days, lost in thought."

"so what?"

Boys are always rather clueless in this regard, and Harry didn't quite understand what Hermione was trying to say.

"So?" Hermione looked even more dissatisfied. "I'm going to talk to Ginny about this, hoping she can talk to Percy. Although I don't know what irreconcilable conflict exists between them, but—they've always had a good relationship, haven't they?"

Although he felt Hermione was being a bit nosy, Harry reasoned that he'd better not voice his thoughts, because he sensed that Hermione seemed to think all boys were as heartless as Percy.

They all left the common room together, preparing to go to the Quidditch pitch for their morning run. With Hermione around, Harry wasn't so worried about getting soaked in the rain. He knew she knew many useful little spells that could help them out of some embarrassing situations.

The torrential rain that lasted all day made the marble-paved entrance hall as slippery as an ice rink. Many young wizards who passed by fell flat on their backs. Harry and his friends could hear cries of pain coming from the second floor.

"This is terrible, isn't anyone going to maintain order?!"

Hermione muttered something under her breath, and then, from the second-floor platform, she saw Neville standing at the castle gate, facing the rain-filled world. From Neville's drooping shoulders, Hermione guessed what he was brooding over. She pursed her lips, intending to invite Neville to join her, but just before Hermione could speak, a sharp, wicked laugh suddenly interrupted her greeting.

It's Mischievous Ghost!

It suddenly appeared above the foyer, passing through the ceiling and floating at the same level as Harry and the others.

Harry, Hermione, and Ginny all noticed that Peeves was carrying a bunch of fist-sized, water-filled balloons, and they immediately realized what this mischievous ghost was up to.

Peeves spotted Neville, who was closest to the door, and its mischievous, broad face was taut. Before Harry and the others could shout a warning, Peeves grabbed a water balloon and smashed it hard into the back of Neville's head.

really weird!

Watching the water ball glide through the air, Harry and his friends had a strange thought in their minds—why did the water ball Peeves threw with all his might seem to move so slowly?

Harry moved his lips, and then he immediately realized that the water balloon was not slow at all, because before he could even utter the first syllable, Peeves' water balloon was only two feet away from Neville's head!

Under the sympathetic gazes of those who witnessed this scene, Neville suddenly moved. Harry noticed that Neville, who had turned around, still had that familiar look of confusion on his face, but his hand had already risen from beside him and, at the last second, caught Peeves' water balloon with pinpoint accuracy.

boom!

The next second, the water balloon Neville threw grazed Peeves' stiff cheek and slammed into the ceiling of the hallway, exploding!

Chapter 391 Teaching Assistant

2023-07-27

Outside the castle, a torrential downpour continued all day, its monotonous sound tormenting the nerves. Yet, just a door away in the foyer, an eerie silence reigned.

Neville's current movements were just like those of a baseball pitcher that Harry had seen on TV. He remained motionless in the motion of throwing a water balloon, while Neville's round face, which had become much thinner, still wore a blank expression, as if he had not realized what he had just done.

"Wow, damn, that's so cool!"

Ginny's eyes sparkled as she witnessed the whole story. She looked down at Neville with great interest and muttered to herself.

Harry, standing right next to him, couldn't help but look puzzled upon hearing this. It was common knowledge that Ron's little sister had always idolized him, but today, she was actually praising another boy in front of him. Of course, Harry had to admit that Neville's reaction just now was undeniably cool. However...

That's Neville!

After three years of Snape’s tireless promotion, Neville’s clumsiness was well-known even in the other years of the other three houses, but what was with that neat, handsome, and smooth catching and throwing motion just now?

"Neville, you little devil!"

While the others were still amazed by Neville's incredible performance, Peeves reacted first, taking Neville's throw as a provocation and starting to fly into a rage!

Peeves removed its bell-adorned hat, revealing a space inside that resembled their gym classroom—an extraordinary space. Peeves' hands moved with astonishing speed, continuously producing water balloons from the hat, causing a series of crackling sounds like firecrackers exploding throughout the hallway.

"Oh, help!"

Neville's reaction was much more normal this time. He looked panicked, just like the other little wizards who were still in the hall and hadn't managed to escape in time, and he was scrambling to avoid Peeves' water balloons.

"Oh--"

Witnessing Neville's fleeting moment of brilliance, Ginny's sparkle faded. She shrugged, her lips twitching slightly.

"This is the Neville I know."

"Harry--"

Hermione's expression remained grave as she watched Neville intently, her eyes gleaming, and she whispered a reminder, "I don't know if you've noticed—"

"of course."

Harry gave an affirmative answer.

The marble floor, soaked with water, was as smooth as ice. The others couldn't dodge effectively in this environment; in fact, they couldn't even stand. Neville, though his movements were unsteady and no longer as graceful, never fell once.

After all, the wet marble tiles were just as slippery as the sludge from dung balls. To avoid intimate contact between their faces and the smelly dung ball slime on the ground, every little wizard in gym class tried their best to avoid falling.

"It's starting to have some effect, isn't it?"

They were intently observing Neville when a sudden sound behind them startled Harry and his friends.

"Oh, Professor Blaine, I'm sorry, I didn't notice you!"

Hermione looked apologetic and said in a low voice.

Harry tensed up, looking somewhat embarrassed.

During this time, Harry was furious with Professor Dumbledore and Professor Blaine because his dream of moving out of the Dursleys had been shattered, and he even harbored resentment towards Sirius Black for breaking his promise.

“I’m here for dinner—” Professor Blaine said with a smile, “And you?”

“We—” Hermione gestured with her eyes toward the rain curtain at the door, “We’re used to finishing our morning run before dinner, but Peeves has blocked the doorway.”

Professor Blaine nodded slightly, flicked his sleeve, and gently waved his wand as it slid down. Peeves' water balloon burst into golden flames with a bang, and the orange bow tie on Peeves' nose immediately started emitting black smoke after being scorched by the flames.

"who is it!"

The little devil shrieked and darted around with fierce eyes.

"Who interrupted Lord Peeves' punishment of the disobedient little wizard?!"

Upon seeing Professor Blaine on the second-floor platform, his arm still raised, Peeves' expression instantly changed, transforming from his previous unbridled arrogance to impeccable politeness.

“It is the esteemed Professor Blaine!” Peeves, his comically short and stout frame standing ramrod straight, “What are your orders?”

Harry couldn't help but chuckle at Peeves' hilarious appearance.

As everyone knows, the only thing Peeves fears in Hogwarts is the Slytherin ghost—Barrow the Blood. Normally, Peeves is a tyrant, not even respected by Professor Dumbledore. However, since Professor Blaine wiped out the Greyback's werewolves, there's one more person whose word carries weight.

“I have no orders, Peeves—” Professor Blaine smiled gently, “I just want you to stop causing trouble, okay?”

"As ordered!"

Mischievous Ghost performed a strange bow and nimbly disappeared through the ceiling from everyone's sight.

“Alright, problem solved,” Professor Blaine said cheerfully. “I’m going down for dinner now, you can make yourselves at home—oh, to be honest, I’m really hungry. Something’s been taking up my energy, and I think I’ve forgotten about lunch.”

With that, Professor Blaine began to descend the stairs, but halfway down, he suddenly stopped. He turned to look at Hermione, and after a brief moment of thought, nodded towards her.

"I have no classes tonight, Miss Granger. If it's convenient for you, I'd like to ask you to come to my office before eight o'clock."

Hermione opened her mouth, but before she could find a reason why Professor Blaine had summoned her, she saw Professor Blaine say the same thing to Neville in the hallway.

"And you, Mr. Longbottom, I hope you can come too."

"Could this be special training?"

Neville, soaked to the bone and pale-faced, looked at Hermione as she came downstairs and said uneasily.

“Don’t be silly, Neville,” Ginny said bluntly. “If you need special training, then none of us can escape.”

The torrential rain continued unabated, and the waters of Black Lake had already overflowed the banks and surged onto the lawn. The rumbling of the surging waves crashing against the cliffs sounded like muffled thunder, making the young wizards in the castle feel uneasy.