bacchusnovels Chapter 329 Close-Range Ultimate Attack
Chapter 329 Close-Range Ultimate Attack
Chapter 329 Close-Range Ultimate Attack
Two weeks before the end of the semester, the sky suddenly cleared up, as if after a long period of rain, the bright and dazzling white color had finally appeared.
Early in the morning, a layer of glistening white frost covered the muddy ground, and the entire Hogwarts was shrouded in the chill of winter.
The castle was filled with a strong Christmas atmosphere. Professor Flitwick, who taught spells, had decorated his classroom with colorful lights in advance. The lights would turn into fairies with fluttering wings, dancing in the air and adding a touch of fantasy to the classroom.
The students were all excitedly discussing their holiday plans, and the four little ones were no exception.
They decided to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas. Ron said it was because he couldn't stand spending two weeks at home with Percy, while Hermione insisted that she needed to stay in the library to study. Sophia said that she didn't have a home in England yet and could only stay at Hogwarts. As she said this, she kept glancing at Hermione out of the corner of her eye.
During this time, Sofia and Hermione's relationship clearly improved.
Although there was some subtle tension and distance between the two at one time, their interactions gradually became more natural over time.
Hermione tried to put the events that happened outside Professor Sean's office that night out of her mind.
She often reflected on herself, thinking that perhaps it was just her being overly sensitive and suspicious, or simply auditory hallucinations caused by overwork—although Sean's voice would occasionally flash in her mind that night, she always tried her best to convince herself not to delve into its meaning.
If you don't hear it, you can pretend nothing happened.
Sophia knew that this was the Chinese proverb her father often used: "self-deception."
In the afternoon, a few people sat around the warm fireplace, discussing their plans for the afternoon.
"Shouldn't we go to Hogsmeade this afternoon? We still have souvenirs to buy!" Harry suggested.
"Of course we're going!" Ron immediately perked up, as if he'd suddenly remembered something important. "I need to go to Honeydukes to buy some sweets to take back. Ginny will definitely want some too—oh, and Harry, you have to remember to buy something for the Dursleys; they'll definitely 'love' it." He winked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "We can use this opportunity to buy all the Christmas presents we need at Hogsmeade!" Hermione excitedly planned. "My parents especially love Honeydukes' Fluffy Tooth Peppermints!"
Sofia's reaction was to meticulously write it down in her little notebook, though she changed some of the wording: "My grandparents especially loved Honeydukes's fuzzy tooth mints."
This habit was probably passed down to her by Sean, but she didn't hold grudges in her notebook; she would settle scores on the spot. Instead, she recorded many interesting things.
For example, there was the time Ron mistook Crookshanks for a broom and jumped up from his dormitory in shock, or the time Harry got stuck in a trapdoor because his shoelaces weren't tied properly.
"Harry, who are you getting Christmas presents for?" Sophia suddenly asked, a sly glint in her eyes.
Harry paused for a moment, then shook his head with a smile. "I haven't decided yet, but I'll definitely prepare."
"I do know some good gift suggestions," Hermione interjected excitedly. "You could try Zonko's joke shop."
The little gadgets there always surprise you.
"I bet Ron will just buy all the Butterbeers," Harry joked.
"Hey!" Ron glared at Harry, then muttered dismissively, "Maybe I can bring everyone some good stuff from the joke shop."
This conversation made everyone laugh.
Harry knew that they were all very excited about this trip to Hogsmeade, especially he himself.
Through the secret passage, he no longer needed a permit to sneak into Hogsmeade—adding a touch of mystery and excitement to their Christmas plans.
This Christmas is destined to be full of surprises and joy.
In the afternoon, Hogsmeade.
Harry and Hermione squeezed to the back of the pub and found a small empty table between the window and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. Near the fireplace, warmth emanated from the flames beside them, dispelling the winter chill.
Five minutes later, Ron came over with three large mugs of hot, frothy butterbeer, his face beaming with excitement.
"Merry Christmas!" Ron said, raising his glass with joy.
Harry picked up his glass and took a big, satisfying gulp. The warm liquid slid down his throat, instantly warming him up, and the sweetness of the butterbeer made him temporarily forget all his troubles.
However, suddenly, a gust of cold wind rushed in from the bar entrance, gently ruffling Harry's hair.
He instinctively looked up and, through the rim of his cup, saw a sight that startled him—Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick walked in amidst the swirling snow.
Close behind was Hagrid, who was talking intently to a fat man wearing a dark yellow-green bowler hat and a pinstripe cloak—Cornelly Fudge, the Minister for Magic.
Harry's heart sank. In the instant he froze, Ron and Hermione reacted quickly, pressing him down from either side and hiding him under the table.
Harry, with butterbeer foam still clinging to his lips, nervously clutched his empty glass in the darkness. He could only see Fudge and the teachers slowly approaching them through the branches of the Christmas tree.
Suddenly, Hermione whispered, "Apparition."
The Christmas tree rose slightly and floated to their table, completely obscuring their hiding place.
Through the dense foliage, Harry saw several chair legs being pulled out in front of the table next to him, and Fudge and the teachers were taking their seats.
Immediately afterwards, he heard the light clatter of high heels and Ms. Rosmerta's voice calling to a guest: "A small glass of violet water—"
"Mine," came Professor McGonagall's voice.
"My mead has arrived—thank you, Rosmerta," Hagrid muttered.
"Mine is cherry syrup soda with ice," Professor Flitwick said cheerfully.
"So yours is Redcurrant Rum Bar, Minister?" Rosmerta asked.
"Thank you, darling." Fudge's voice held a hint of relief. "Would you like a drink, Rosmerta? Shall we sit down and chat?"
"Oh, thank you very much, Minister," Rosmerta replied politely.
Harry's heart leaped into his throat when he saw the shiny turquoise high heels return.
He never expected that not only students but also teachers would be here tonight, and even the Minister of Magic would be there.
His mind raced: how could he sneak back to school? Hermione beside him trembled slightly with nervousness.
"What brings you here, Minister?" Ms. Rosmerta asked jokingly.
"What else could it be?" Fudge's voice was much lowered, as if he was worried about being eavesdropped on. "Sirius, of course."
"About Blake. I guess you've already heard about what happened on Halloween Eve, right?"
"I've heard some rumors," Rosmerta admitted.
"So do you think Black is still around here, Minister?" Rosmerta asked in a low voice.
"I believe he is still alive," Fudge replied briefly.
"Did you know the Dementors have searched my bar twice? They've scared all my customers away!" Rosmerta said, a hint of displeasure in his voice. "This is really affecting business."
"I don't like them either," Fudge said helplessly. "But it's necessary for safety reasons—the Dementors are very unhappy with Dumbledore, and he refuses to let them into the Hogwarts grounds."
“He did the right thing,” Professor McGonagall interjected coldly. “How can we teach when those horrible things are roaming the school?”
"Yes, yes!" Professor Flitwick shrieked in agreement. "Who can remain calm in front of a Dementors?"
"However, their mission is to protect everyone from a greater threat." Fudge's voice turned serious. "Sirius Black is extremely dangerous; we all know how terrifying he is."
"You mean, it's worse than killing so many innocent people?" Ms. Rosmerta's voice was filled with shock.
"Of course there are even more terrifying things," Fudge said in a low voice. "Few people know the darkest secrets behind Blake."
"You mean it's even worse than his massacre of innocent people?" Ms. Rosmerta asked doubtfully.
“That’s right,” Fudge continued, “Black was not only a murderer, he was one of Voldemort’s most loyal followers.”
“I still remember what he looked like when he was at Hogwarts,” Mrs. Rosmerta mused. “If someone had told me he would turn out like this, I would have thought he was drunk.”
"You know less than half of it," Fudge said gruffly. "Black and James Potter are best friends."
"Of course I remember," Rosmerta laughed. "They were inseparable—it's unbelievable."
Harry's heart skipped a beat. The moment he saw the glass fall to the ground, he hurriedly reached out to pick it up, but Ron kicked him in time, stopping him abruptly.
"Calm down, Harry!" Ron muttered under his breath, sounding a little nervous.
Harry tried to control his breathing and make himself look less panicked.
Fudge's words about Sirius Black and his father James Potter still echoed in his mind.
Was Blake his father's closest friend?
Just then, the bar door was pushed open again, and Sean and "Filch" walked in together, accompanied by the cold wind and snowflakes from outside.
Sean's figure appeared exceptionally tall and imposing, while "Filch" beside him looked somewhat cramped.
Christmas is a time to reunite with family.
Sean came here to spend this wonderful Christmas with his two known family members, and Filch had almost the same reason.
Upon seeing Sean's appearance, Fudge's pupils contracted slightly.
"Phillips, you're here too," Hagrid greeted warmly first, seemingly unaware of the subtle shift in the atmosphere. "And you, Filch."
Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick nodded in greeting, though they seemed somewhat puzzled, especially when they saw "Filch" and Sean appear together, but they did not show much surprise.
Fudge sat to the side, still maintaining a polite smile, but his slightly trembling fingers betrayed his nervousness.
"Minister." Sean smiled politely and nodded to Fudge.
"Professor Phillips, it's a pleasure to see you," Fudge replied in a deep voice, but a hint of tension still lingered in his eyes.
Harry remained hidden under the table, observing everything through the gaps in the branches.
He could feel the pressure in the air become even heavier with Sean's arrival.
Although Filch's expression was calm, a certain hidden emotion flashed in his eyes, making Harry feel extremely uneasy.
"Professor Phillips, Mr. Filch, would you like a drink?" Ms. Rosmerta offered a steaming glass of mead, trying to break the awkward atmosphere.
"Thank you, Rosmerta," Filch said softly, taking the glass, but his gaze swept across the bar as if searching for something.
Fudge sat there nervously, his fingers tapping lightly on the table from time to time, clearly deep in thought.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Professor McGonagall continued, "Indeed, Black and Potter, they were the leaders of that little group. Both were incredibly clever—absolutely brilliant—but I don't think any of us have ever seen such troublemakers."
Upon hearing his name suddenly appear on the table, "Filch" also withdrew his gaze from searching for Harry.
In fact, he has already found it.
"I don't know," Hagrid grinned, then whispered in a low voice, "Fred and George Weasley could be a match for them, they'd be quite competitive."
"Black and Potter are inseparable, almost like brothers!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed in a high-pitched voice. "They're always together."
"James Potter trusted Black more than anyone else. Their relationship remained close even after graduation. Black was not only James's best man, but later became Harry's godfather—of course, Harry knew nothing about this. I can't imagine how much pain it would have caused him if he had known the truth behind it."
Upon hearing this, Filch paused...