A certain broken Hogwarts

Chapter 102 The Aether Society Makes its Debut

Five days have passed since Harry was poisoned, and the young wizard, who has fully recovered, has long been discharged from the hospital.

This incident alarmed a large group of professors and made the young wizards at Hogwarts uneasy, as no one knew what other dangerous things might be hidden in the castle.

To this end, all the professors, along with the prefects, searched almost every corner of the castle. They confiscated a poisonous frog the Weasley twins had somehow caught, and along with a whole bunch of their bizarre and dangerous joke merchandise. It's said that the twins' cries of injustice were deafening, almost enough to bring snow in June.

Similarly, along with Blaise, many young wizards from various schools who had secretly brought contraband items suffered the same fate. Their items were confiscated, and they were placed in solitary confinement. In the past few days, young wizards have often been seen running around the castle, frantically searching for places to hide their treasures.

By the time Harry was discharged from the hospital, the chaos at the castle had largely subsided. Some of the anxious young wizards breathed a slight sigh of relief upon seeing Harry unharmed in class. The others, who knew little of the true circumstances, assumed Harry had simply been stung by a Billy Wigglyt bug or had been drugged with a love potion.

The castle had finally regained a semblance of peace, but Owen knew that Dumbledore and the other professors were certainly on high alert behind the scenes.

Professor McGonagall allowed her cats and raccoons to patrol the castle. Their nimble, adorable figures could be seen everywhere, their eyes fixed intently on any suspicious individuals. This resulted in an all-time low in the number of students daring to break school rules. Many rebellious students complained bitterly, declaring that Hogwarts was either them or them, and threw themselves headlong into the battle against the "evil forces," only to be subsequently put in solitary confinement by Professor McGonagall.

Professor Snape seemed to have become more active, constantly flitting around the castle like a giant bat. The most direct result was a sharp increase in the point deduction rates for all the houses except Slytherin, especially Gryffindor. This left the young Gryffindor wizards utterly disheartened as they watched the hourglass of the House Cup scores dwindle day by day, and even Hermione's desperate efforts to earn extra points in class couldn't salvage the situation.

After being discharged from the hospital, Harry began to actively investigate the things he had always suspected, but so far he has not found any clues, which has made the originally ambitious young wizard increasingly discouraged.

Inside the walled space, Owen stood in the spell practice area, waving his wand and muttering "Illusory Shadow." The air in front of him became hazy, and an illusion identical to Owen in appearance and clothing appeared, moving somewhat stiffly in accordance with his will.

The movements started off strangely, like a marionette, but then became increasingly skillful and natural, almost indistinguishable from a normal person's. However, a closer look would easily reveal that the figure was fake, due to its blank expression and somewhat ethereal body.

This is an illusion spell that Owen found in the spellbook. It can create a lifelike illusion in front of others. However, it only looks real; it's far from being truly lifelike, and it has many flaws. Unless under specific circumstances, it's not very useful.

However, such illusion spells can always be more effective in the hands of a magician.

With a satisfied expression, Owen waved his wand to dispel the illusion before him, cleared his throat, and then opened his mouth to make an "ah" sound. At first, it was his own clear voice, gradually becoming lower, hoarse, and deep male, then gradually aging. Then, his tone rose, his voice gradually becoming a crisp girl's voice, then transitioning to a mature female voice, and finally becoming sharp like a house-elf.

Switching between multiple voices is a skill that Irving diligently studied and mastered in his previous life. A qualified magician must be a jack-of-all-trades.

"Ahem." Owen pinched his throat and chuckled in a slightly hoarse female voice, "It's been so long since I used it, looks like this skill hasn't gone to waste."

"Well then, it's time for Harry to discover his 'ability'," he muttered to himself with amusement. Although Harry probably wouldn't have to face Voldemort and Quirrell anymore in his plan, it was always good to have a backup plan, so that if things went wrong, there would be a second option as insurance.

Although causing trouble in the tense atmosphere at Hogwarts is a bit risky, it's not a big deal even if he gets caught. It can be a prank between friends, and even if he messes it up, there won't be any problems.

Over the past few days, while the study group practiced spells together, Owen had tried using some spells to check for any protective spells that might have been cast on Harry. They were very subtle and difficult to activate, and should not have any surveillance capabilities—if Dumbledore were using spells to spy on a young wizard every day, he'd really wasted his life.

"It's just a little prank anyway, so please greet it with sincerity and reverence," Owen said jokingly, his figure disappearing into the walled space.

……

After the astronomy class ended, it was nearly nine o'clock at night. The young wizards walked together through the dimly lit corridor, each heading towards the lounge.

As they entered the dungeon, they encountered Professor Snape. He glanced blankly at everyone's faces, nodded slightly, and then hurriedly ascended the stairs, his black cloak billowing behind him.

Harry walked at the back of the crowd, squinting as he turned his head to take a look. What was Professor Snape doing rushing upstairs so late at night?

He recalled Professor Snape's threats to Professor Quirrell that he had overheard that day, and the Headmaster's injured leg on Halloween. Although he still couldn't confirm what the Headmaster was plotting under the trapdoor, all the signs indicated that this unpredictable Headmaster did indeed have ulterior motives.

Although he didn't want to suspect this seemingly cold but actually kind-hearted professor, the man was indeed too suspicious. So suspicious that no matter how Harry thought about it, he couldn't clear the professor of suspicion, and the more he thought about it, the more suspicious he became. He even couldn't help but wonder if the Head of the House had tampered with the Sorting Hat, since if he were in Slytherin, the Head of the House would be the most convenient person to observe and test him!

Once you have doubts in your heart, you've already been accused of something.

"Let's follow them, just to take a look. Hopefully I've misunderstood the headmaster..." Harry thought eagerly, slowing his pace and gradually drifting further and further away from the crowd.

To his dismay, Draco also slowed down, raised an eyebrow at him, and looked at him with a puzzled expression in his gray eyes. Owen also stopped, looking on with interest, a knowing smile on his face.

"Okay, I just wanted to take a look. You guys..." Harry sighed, looking at Draco's restless gaze and Owen's knowing look, and pulled the Invisibility Cloak from his bag.

Harry waved his wand, casting the Silent Charm and the Concealing Scent Charm on himself and Draco. He then glanced at Owen and saw that Owen's figure was becoming transparent until he was completely invisible. He was somewhat envious of Owen for learning the Disillusionment Charm, a spell that he could never understand, so he draped the Invisibility Cloak over himself and Draco.

The three of them quickly chased after Professor Snape in the direction he had left. Not afraid that their footsteps would be heard, they moved swiftly and soon reached the second floor, whereupon they lost track of Professor Snape.

While invisible, Owen secretly cast an illusion spell towards the end of the corridor on the other side. A black phantom figure flashed past at the end of the corridor. The illusion spell on his body was disturbed by the spell, but fortunately, it did not reveal his true form.

Harry was about to continue upstairs, thinking Professor Snape must have gone to the restricted corridor on the fourth floor. But out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure flashing past in the depths of the corridor. He quickly turned his head to look, only to see a black hem of a coat being quickly tucked into the corner of the wall.

"Over there!" Harry quickly pulled Draco along. He glanced around halfway, wondering if Owen had caught up, but he didn't dare to speak up.

After turning the corner of the corridor, he spotted the retracted hem of clothing again at the next corner and quickly continued tracking it, no longer bothering to warn Irving.

And so, guided by the ever-present, faint traces of the hem of their clothes, they walked deeper and deeper into the corridor.

Owen used illusions to guide their path, a mysterious smile playing on his lips as he watched the green glow fade into the distance. He couldn't see through the Invisibility Cloak, but using his position, it was quite easy for him to secretly smear a little fluorescent powder on the hem of Harry's Invisibility Cloak.

He silently followed the two, pulling a very strange black cloak from the bag he had obtained from the leader of the Dark Spirit organization. The ordinary black cloak was an adult-sized style, with the silver emblem of the Aetheric Society embroidered on the chest, resembling a shimmering silver eye. Wooden supports adorned the shoulders, with shoulder pads attached at the bottom.

Irving pulled the black cloak over his shoulders and placed the shoulder brace on his own. The brace held the cloak high, making him look like a nearly 1.8-meter-tall adult.

He then used his illusion to flash into an empty classroom, quickly entering before Harry and Meyer. After dispelling the Nightwalker's three-piece spell, he waited quietly for Harry and Meyer to arrive.

Harry and Draco cautiously peeked into the classroom. The tranquil moonlight streamed through the windows, illuminating the empty room. A tall figure draped in a black cloak stood silently in the moonlight, casting a large shadow on the floor. He seemed to be waiting for something.

The two young wizards exchanged a glance beneath the invisibility cloak. This didn't seem to be Professor Snape... Had they followed the wrong person? But wearing a black cloak in the middle of the night was definitely more suspicious!

Harry's expression brightened, sensing he was about to find a crucial clue. Draco, however, kept tugging at his sleeve, pulling him back forcefully, trying to get away from this suspicious fellow.

"You've arrived," a figure in the classroom said leisurely. It was a deep, unfamiliar male voice, as if the person he had been waiting for had finally arrived.

Harry and Draco shrank back outside the classroom, making no sound.

"Huh? Since you're here, why don't you come in?" The man in the black cloak turned around and asked in a puzzled tone. But upon seeing the empty doorway, he suddenly let out a strange laugh, excited and high-pitched.

"Hahaha, it's not Lilith, it's... Harry Potter." He said in a sinister voice, sounding a bit crazy.

Harry and Draco's faces turned pale instantly. They exchanged a glance, then tacitly took off running down the dark corridor.

The intricate and secluded corridor was devoid of any portraits, and even the candlelight on the walls was dimmer than elsewhere, making the place extremely dark. The two ran wildly through the corridor, not even caring that their ankles were peeking out from under their invisibility cloaks.

Irving chased after them from the classroom, looked at the two panicked ankles in the hallway ahead, and chuckled as he chanted, "Obstacles everywhere."

The two young wizards slowed down instantly, as if the surrounding air was desperately trying to stop them from moving forward.

Harry, always quick-witted in times of crisis, realized that running away would only expose him to others, and hiding himself would be pointless; the person could clearly see through the Invisibility Cloak. He abruptly ripped off the Invisibility Cloak, drew his wand, pointed it at the person behind him, and shouted to Draco and Owen, "Run!" He began to regret bringing them along tonight.

Harry had just begun to cast the spell when he found his wand slip from his grasp, spinning and rolling into the depths of the corridor. The man in the black cloak appeared to make no move, yet he exuded a terrifying pressure. Draco let out a scream, but it was completely masked by a Silence Charm. His wand, which he had just drawn, also flew out of his hand, and he was now trembling, pulling Harry's hand backward, looking as if he was about to cry.

"Harry Potter is stupid enough to deliver himself to me, haha, and Lilith even solemnly warned me to test and observe you for a while longer." The cloaked figure approached with great pressure, and the two young wizards were tripped by a spell and rolled on the ground.

A thought suddenly struck Harry, and he shouted, "Did you guys tamper with the Sorting Hat?"

"The Sorting Hat? Heh..." The man in the black cloak let out a low, ambiguous laugh, neither admitting nor denying it, but Harry was convinced that they were behind it.

"What exactly is your purpose? Is it for that thing in the restricted corridor on the fourth floor?" Harry continued to stall for time, controlling his gaze to keep it from wandering around. He didn't know if Owen had followed them; if Owen had seen this, he would definitely have sought help.

"Oh, you actually know about the Philosopher's Stone?" The man in the black cloak admitted with some surprise. "Who wouldn't want the Philosopher's Stone? No one can remain indifferent to such a treasure."

The Philosopher's Stone? Harry memorized the term, then asked, "So, you've figured out how to get past that three-headed dog?"

The man in the black cloak sneered: "Cerberus is indeed an obstacle... but we'll soon find a way to deal with it."

They still haven't succeeded! Harry breathed a slight sigh of relief, then said urgently, "So, you released those magical creatures at the Halloween party?"

"Heh, think what you want," the man in the black cloak said lazily.

He swung his wand violently, and Harry watched in horror as Owen's figure was pulled out of nothingness and slammed into the shadows in the distance, struggling in pain, his wand flying to the side. Perhaps because he had cast the Silence Charm on himself, Harry didn't hear Owen make a sound.

"It's over..." Harry gritted his teeth, staring intently at the silver eye symbol on the black-cloaked figure's chest, continuing to stall for time. "You're targeting me too? You put that poisonous spider on me that day?"

"You are indeed among our targets, but such childish tactics as the poisonous spider are not our style. The leader is very curious about your abilities and has instructed me to observe and test you further," the man in the black cloak sneered. "But I think they are completely overthinking it. You are just a reckless brute with no strategy, and a pitifully weak one at that."

"Tsk tsk tsk, the Aetheric Society is getting more and more decadent. They've gone to such lengths for a foolish and weak little wizard like you," the man in the black cloak declared smugly. "But my joining is destined to change this stagnant state, injecting new vitality and life into the ancient and powerful Aetheric Society, leading it to unprecedented heights!"

"How about we start by killing the boy who miraculously survived?"

(End of this chapter)