The Return to Hogwarts

The organization's real targets were Professor Blaine and Professor Dumbledore; she was just implicated. This thought flashed through Hermione's mind before she dismissed it. She asked absentmindedly, but as soon as the words left her mouth, Hermione knew she would not get an answer.

Since Professor Blaine has chosen not to disclose this to the public, he probably won't tell her either.

As expected, Professor Blaine said apologetically,

“It’s not appropriate to disclose this, Hermione. It would cause panic in the wizarding world. Those who have seen part of the truth have been ordered to remain silent. I can assure you that this matter is over.”

It was clear that Hermione was still extremely curious about this 'purpose,' but she didn't press him further just because she was a victim caught in the crossfire. Instead, she nodded and looked at him with slightly apprehensive eyes.

"Can I tell Harry and Ron what you've said?"

“Oh, of course.” Amosta smiled and nodded. “Harry and Ron are both trustworthy.”

Are you planning to leave now?

After spending over ten days in the hospital with Hermione, Tonks was getting bored. The thought of returning to the exciting life of fighting against evil forces filled her with excitement. Of course, before reporting back to the department, she planned to visit Remus first.

Since Remus was taken to the alchemy workshop by Amostall, his previously 'leisurely' life was gone forever. He could only spend a quarter of the month at most back home. Coincidentally, Remus was at the workshop these days, and Tonks didn't want to miss the opportunity. She cheerfully told Hermione...

"I can help you pack your things. Actually, there's not much to pack. There are just some of your books and a few clothes here!"

"Oh, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you or Sirius to take Hermione back to Hogwarts. I'll have to stay at St. Mungo's for two more days."

Amosta noticed that Tonks seemed to be trying to slip away.

"You're going to stay in San Mungo?"

Tonks was stunned.

"What are you going to do?"

"There's no point in hiding it," Amosta explained.

“While I was investigating this dark wizarding organization, I found a Muggle named Onisto Pastore who had been tortured by these wizards. This unfortunate Muggle was in very poor health, and if left unchecked, he probably wouldn’t live much longer. I wanted to try to see if it was possible to alleviate his symptoms and bring him back to his senses.”

Hermione and Tonks exchanged a glance and exclaimed in unison.

"Is it that Muggle Kingsley sent, the one who was driven mad by the Cruciatus Curse?"

"Is there any possibility of a cure, Professor Blaine?"

Amosta raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"You know about this?"

“I ran into Kingsley when he came to St. Mungo’s. I asked him what was going on, but he didn’t say much. He just told us that the Muggle was someone you found during your investigation.”

Sirius's voice came from outside the door. Amostah turned his head and saw Sirius walking in with a tall old lady carrying a red handbag.

Sirius Black's face beamed as he strode up to Amosta and patted his arm hard.

"Well done, Amosta, wipe out the evil forces!"

Before Amosta could say anything, Sirius added with some regret,

"You should have taken me with you during this intense battle."

"Hehe, the department has already started to expand the striker team. I heard that Amelia is going to recommend you to integrate the team and lead the new team's operations. You won't lack exciting battles, Sirius."

Amosta laughed and said he noticed that the old lady who had entered the ward with Sirius Black was giving him a strange look.

"Who is this?"

Amos asked.

"I am Augusta Longbottom!"

Mrs. Longbottom introduced herself, and unusually for someone of her strong character, she hesitated, even appearing somewhat dazed.

"Are you confident you can cure that poor Muggle?"

Chapter 808 The Tormenting Wait

2024-03-17

As the crucial day drew closer, the topic of the Triwizard Tournament once again became a hot topic on the Hogwarts campus. The phenomenon that had occurred before the first tournament happened again: wherever you went, you could hear young wizards enthusiastically discussing the outcome of the second tournament.

Cedric of Hedges received more attention than in the first game.

That's only natural, isn't it?

Although Cedric has always been known as a true champion of Hogwarts, with Hermione around, the Gryffindor students didn't need to go to great lengths to support the Hufflepuff champions. But now, the situation is different.

"Hey Harry, Ron, any new developments with Hermione?"

It was a new week, and Angelina, Aria, Katie, and several other girls from the Gryffindor team walked into the Great Hall together from the foyer. When they saw the two boys behind the Gryffindor table, heads down, eating and exuding an aura that kept strangers at bay, the girls sighed in disappointment. But Angelina still asked with a glimmer of hope.

"I've said it at least a thousand times!"

Harry, who was drinking pumpkin soup, slammed his silver spoon on the tray and shouted before he even turned around, "Professor McGonagall forbids us from writing letters, afraid it will disturb Hermione's treatment. Since you're so worried about her, why don't you ask for leave to go see her at St. Mungo's!"

After he finished shouting, Harry turned to look at the person who had asked the question. When he realized that the girl he had made a little embarrassed was his close teammate on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Harry pursed his lips but did not apologize. Instead, he sullenly picked up his silver spoon, and with a gloomy expression, quickly continued eating his breakfast, hoping to leave this noisy place as soon as possible.

Angelina, who was inexplicably attacked, wasn't angry. She just sighed softly, shrugged, and walked past Harry from behind with Katie and Arya.

"Brother, look."

As Harry struggled to suppress his burning anger, Ron, who was sitting opposite him with a similar expression, looked up and gestured with his chin to him, indicating that he should look behind him.

At the Hufflepuff table, Cedric Diggory was looking over with a troubled expression, whether because of Harry's earlier outburst or because he also wanted to check on the situation, it was unclear.

“I assure you, Ron—”

He glanced at Cedric briefly before averting his gaze, and said coldly,

"If he dares to come over and gloat, I'll definitely make his nose look like Dumbledore's. In fact, I've wanted to do that for a long time!"

Neville, sitting next to the two, opened his mouth, looking as if he wanted to say something but hesitated. Based on his understanding of Cedric Diggory, he knew Cedric probably wouldn't be the type to gloat.

But in the end, Neville didn't make a sound; in fact, he even shrank back a little to Harry and Ron.

Since Hermione was attacked and left Hogwarts for treatment at St. Mungo's, Harry and Ron have become quite estranged. Specifically, they both see each other as the culprit.

Last Friday night, Ron was still in his dorm room swearing that it was either Cedric or Krum, or even both of them, who had conspired to persecute Hermione, because after Hermione left, they were tied for first place in the Wrestling Championship.

Harry dismissed Ron's argument at the time, because he believed that Fleur must have been involved in Cedric and Krum's conspiracy.

"Think about it, Ron!"

In the warm dormitory, Harry paced excitedly, waving his arms and shouting loudly,

"Hermione and she are both girls in the Champions, but Hermione is first in the class, while she is last. You know what the Beauxbatons' Champions did to show off, even inviting me? She must be jealous of Hermione!"

Harry remained by Seamus's bedside, panting, his voice filled with hatred.

"Professor Blaine doesn't need to investigate anything at all; he should just send the other three to Azkaban!"

"They're crazy."

Seamus and Neville squeezed into Dean's bed in the corner. The three remaining boys in the dormitory looked at Harry and Ron with murderous expressions, and Neville trembled with fear.

Fourth grade mornings consist of Herbs class with Hufflepuff and Magical Creatures Protection with Slytherin.

Perhaps only in the Magical Creatures Protection class can Harry and Ron relax a little, because only Hagrid can fully understand their feelings. In other professors' classes, they will still be required to maintain their usual focus on the course, completely disregarding the fact that their best friend is facing a life-or-death situation.

At the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid left the young wizards, who had been chased around by the 'nascent' Bombtails, and walked aside with Harry and Ron.

“I was sitting at the faculty table and I could hear you yelling at Johnson across almost the entire auditorium, Harry.”

Hagrid's black beetle-like eyes revealed reproach.

“I have to say something to you, Harry. Johnson is your friend, and she's your teammate on the Quidditch team. You shouldn't have talked to her like that. And you also need to know why Professor McGonagall forbids you from writing to Hermione. It's impolite to discuss Professor McGonagall in that tone.”

"But we've had enough!"

Harry remained silent, his face ashen, while Ron spoke angrily.

“Everyone who knows Hermione asks us about us, as if we should know it’s her!”

"They're asking because they, like you two, are concerned about Hermione, aren't they?"

Hagrid spoke patiently.

"I must think so, Hagrid."

Harry couldn't hold it in any longer.

"They only care about whether Hermione can make it back for the Triwizard Tournament and win honor for Hogwarts. They don't care about Hermione's life or death at all!"

"That's just your opinion, Harry, not anyone else's."

Hagrid's voice became more solemn.

"I heard from Professor McGonagall this morning that you two have already been confined by three professors. If this continues, you'll have to be expelled and sent home. So, I hope you can behave more rationally!"

Hagrid, sensing what Harry was trying to argue, continued,

“I fully understand your concern for Hermione’s life and your desire to know how she is doing, but I must tell you that sometimes, no news is good news, because it at least means that Hermione is currently doing well, and you must also trust Professor Blaine and Professor Dumbledore.”

Hagrid glanced at Neville, who was being flung into the air by the giant pincers of the Bombshell and was howling pitifully. He paused for a moment.

"Hey, Longbottom, get down! What are you doing hanging on the snail's pincers? That's dangerous!"

After saying this, Hagrid lowered his head and began to patiently guide Harry and Ron.

"Think about it, the two most powerful wizards in the European magical world are doing their utmost to ensure Hermione's safety, so what else could you possibly worry about?"