Magical Studies at Hogwarts...

Chapter 306 Leaked News (Part 1)

In the first few weeks of the semester, the outside world didn't significantly disrupt the peaceful life at Hogwarts. Although students received some information from letters from home and the Daily Prophet, it was all quite distant from their lives.

For Harry and his fellow sixth-year students, the reduced number of classes didn't mean they could relax as Ron had hoped. All the free time was spent diligently completing assignments given by their professors. In fact, it was even busier than the week before exams.

All the lessons became more difficult, especially Transfiguration. Harry couldn't understand even half of what Professor McGonagall was saying, and Ron was in a worse situation. Not only did they have to listen carefully during Professor McGonagall's lessons, but they also had to ask Hermione to explain it to them again afterward. Even though they had to endure Hermione's lectures, they both put up with it.

It was unavoidable; Professor McGonagall would check their understanding of the previous lesson's content a few minutes into the class, a far cry from the past when simply handing in assignments was enough.

Furthermore, because Snape required them to use the Silent Charm, other courses such as Charms and Transfiguration also had this requirement. This meant that in the common room and the Great Hall, you could always see students with flushed faces, struggling with their own thoughts, but until now, apart from Hermione, everyone else's spells were only working intermittently.

Herbalism class became a rare respite for everyone. Although the plants they had to deal with were more dangerous than before, at least they could loudly chant spells when they encountered danger.

No one could have predicted that sixth-year coursework would be so demanding, which delayed Harry and the others' plans to visit Hagrid. In fact, they hadn't seen Hagrid at the professors' table for quite some time, and when they occasionally encountered him outside, he would pretend not to see them and wouldn't greet them at all.

Harry, Harry, and the others all understood that Hagrid was expressing his dissatisfaction; he was still angry that they hadn't continued to choose the Magical Creatures Protection class.

"We have to explain this," Hermione said on Saturday morning, as they sat at the Gryffindor table for breakfast, looking at the large empty seat in Professor Hagrid's seat.

"Not in the morning, Quidditch selections are in the morning," Harry said. "We can go after the selections, we really can't keep not talking to Hagrid."

Then, more owls flew in than usual. It's been like this all semester; parents want to know how their children are doing at school and don't want them to worry about their safety outside.

Harry and Ron both received letters; Ron's was from Mrs. Weasley, while Harry's was from Sirius Black.

"What did he say in his letter?" Ron glanced at his own letter and set it aside, then moved closer to Harry. He knew what Mrs. Weasley's letter said even without reading it—it was nothing more than caution, caution, and more caution.

Conversely, Sirius's is very interesting.

"He recently captured a few more werewolves and drove away some dark creatures that wanted to attack Muggles," Harry said as he read the letter, then carefully folded it and put it back in the envelope.

"That's wonderful... I wish I could fight alongside him too." Ron's voice was full of longing. Harry longed for it as well, but he knew Dumbledore wouldn't allow it.

Another flock of owls flew in, bringing the latest issue of the Daily Prophet. Hermione reached out and took it, quickly glancing at the front page.

"Has anyone we know died?" Ron asked casually, as he had been doing for the past few weeks.

"No, but there's no good news either." Hermione glanced at the newspaper quickly and tossed it aside. The newspapers for the past few weeks had been pretty much the same, all about Dementor attacks or werewolf attacks, full of negativity.

"Everyone's in a state of panic right now," she said, frowning. "You probably don't know, but Parvati's parents are taking her and her sister Padma home, and Midgen has already dropped out of school..."

"Why? Don't they know that Hogwarts is much safer than outside?" Ron's eyes widened in disbelief. "We have Aurora, new protective charms, and Dumbledore!"

"But Dumbledore isn't always at school." Hermione glanced at the professors' table, where the seat, like Hagrid's, had been empty for a long time. "He hasn't been to school for almost another week and a half."

"He's probably too busy with the Order of the Phoenix," Harry interjected. "The situation is very serious right now, he must be very busy."

They all fell silent, their gazes fixed on a spot at the Hufflepuff table next door, where Hannah Abbott usually sat. But she hadn't returned since being called out of herbalism class a few days earlier. They only learned the next day from the newspaper that her parents had been murdered.

The breakfast ended somewhat somberly, and the three of them walked together toward the Quidditch pitch. When they arrived, most of the people who were to participate in the selection had already been waiting for a while.

There were many people; more than half of Gryffindor's first to seventh year students were there, chattering and making a chaotic scene. Fortunately, Harry still held considerable authority, but it still took the entire morning to complete the team selection.

Harry believed the selection process was fair, but as with anything, some were satisfied while others were not; many were surprised that Ron was once again the team's goalkeeper. Harry didn't explain, and after announcing the start of the first full practice session, he walked with Hermione and Ron towards Hagrid's hut.

From afar, they saw a large man emerge from behind the house. He paused for a moment upon seeing them, then hurriedly ran back inside, not even caring that Ya Ya was still outside.

"He must have seen us, right?" Ron said, watching Tooth run excitedly toward them.

"It must be." Harry reached out and rubbed Tooth's head, then strode towards the hut. "But it's okay, he'll come out."

As he spoke, he walked to the door of the small house with a stern face and began to pound on the door.

"Hagrid! Open the door! We want to talk to you!"

Harry shouted, but no sound came from inside the hut. Seeing this, he drew his wand and yelled, "If you don't open the door, I'll blow it up!"

"Harry, no..." Hermione and Ron arrived at the door with Axe and quickly tried to stop them. But before they could finish speaking, the door was opened.

"Potter! I'm a teacher! How dare you threaten to blow up my door!" Hagrid roared angrily, looking very frightening.

"Excuse me, sir!" Harry said with a straight face, casually putting away his wand.

"When did you start calling me 'sir'?"

"When did you start calling me 'Potter'?"

Hagrid suddenly laughed, patted Harry on the shoulder, and roared, "Ha, interesting... Alright, come in, you bunch of ungrateful little brats..."

(End of this chapter)