This massive uproar quickly drew a crowd of students who gathered around to watch.
The Whomping Willow's hammer-like branches swung back and forth, as if showing off and inspiring awe in everyone.
"Well done."
Ethan's eyes crinkled with amusement.
He pulled a bottle of plant nutrient solution from his pocket—a gift from Neville.
With a flick of his wand, the nutrient solution soared through the air.
It shattered against the tree trunk with a sharp 'thwack,' the verdant liquid seeping in.
The tree stump shuddered, letting out a 'whoosh' sound.
It sounded like the Whomping Willow's laughter, or perhaps just the wind rustling through the branches.
Ethan smiled and turned his gaze away.
He strolled leisurely toward the Auror who had been flung aside.
The students clustered around, but upon seeing Ethan approach, they scattered, jostling and tugging at one another.
"Ethan's coming!"
"Make way, make way!" "Hold on, let me get one last kick in..." Someone gleefully delivered a few solid kicks.
Several large shoe prints now adorned Delice's rumpled Auror robes.
These Aurors, having failed to capture Sirius, had grown increasingly rough and short-tempered under the mounting pressure from all sides.
They often burst into classrooms right in the middle of lessons, especially the popular Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
They'd glare at Professor Lupin with the suspicion reserved for an accomplice.
Even though Professor Lupin always politely asked them to leave, most students felt outraged by their behavior.
This Auror had it coming!
"Crunch."
Ethan stopped in front of the unconscious Delice.
His leather boots, stepping through the snow, were now tinged with a pinkish hue.
His cobalt-blue eyes looked down at the man's bloody, mangled face, which was nearly flattened.
It was quite comparable to Hermione's ginger cat.
"He... he's not dead, is he...?"
Hermione's eyes widened as she asked, her voice trembling.
One hundred and eight ways to end up in Azkaban raced through her mind.
Ethan: "He's not dead."
Inside this Auror's chest, the soul-fire infused with magic still burned fiercely, though it was a bit dim.
Ethan added:
"Hogwarts is the safest school in Britain, and the Whomping Willow is a good tree. How could it actually kill someone? It's just playing around."
He lifted his foot and nudged the Biting Cabbage that was clamped onto the Auror's backside.
After shifting it, he caught sight of the two 'hairy kiwis.'
Ethan frowned.
It was truly an eyesore.
Out of consideration for the Auror's dignity, Ethan thoughtfully placed the Biting Cabbage back.
He figured he should give the Weasley twins something nice this Christmas.
Just then,
"Hm?"
Ethan noticed a palm-sized brocade pouch that had fallen beside the Auror.
He bent down to pick it up.
Opening it, he found a white and pink morning glory inside, its petals delicate and vibrantly fresh.
It looked as if it were still growing on the vine.
Hermione: "Ah, that's a 'Sound-Transmitting Flower'!"
Ethan was curious: "Sound-Transmitting Flower?"
From its appearance, he could sense the magic woven into it, which resembled the 'Sonorus' charm in some ways.
Hermione nodded, glancing warily at the Auror on the ground:
"I read in a book that every Auror is equipped with a Sound-Transmitting Flower. As long as they hold it in their mouth, their voice can be heard for a hundred miles around!"
"It's used for emergency calls, sending messages, and things like that."
[You have obtained the item 'Sound-Transmitting Flower']
['With one sound, all gather.' — Henry Weasley, Commander of the Blazing Watch, 1643]
"So that's it... Not bad."
Ethan nodded in satisfaction.
He tucked the Sound-Transmitting Flower, still sealed in its brocade pouch, into his pocket.
He turned his head.
Catching Hermione's stunned gaze, he said without missing a beat:
"What's wrong? It fell on the ground, and there's no name on it."
Hermione: "...I, is that so?"
So, if something falls on the ground, it becomes yours?
Hermione thought, feeling a bit lightheaded.
Though she had some doubts, since Ethan said it, it must be right.
Hermione quietly filed this rule away in her memory.
Professor Lupin hurried over.
Seeing the Auror's wretched state, Professor Lupin raised an eyebrow and drawled slowly:
"Oh~ This is truly unfortunate."
Ron picked at his ear and muttered: "I thought Snape was talking; you gave me a fright..." "Cough."
Professor Lupin cleared his throat twice, not bothering to correct Ron for addressing a professor by name.
He raised his wand.
He administered a simple treatment to Delice.
Just enough to ensure he wouldn't die.
Then he roused Delice, letting him experience the pain while fully awake.
"Help me... It hurts so much..." Listening to the Auror's agonized groans.
Ethan glanced at Professor Lupin, making two 'tsk-tsk' sounds.
He thought, I didn't expect you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, to be so sly.
I declare you the "Light of Gryffindor."
Professor Lupin's expression didn't change.
He quickly grasped the gist of what had happened—the sensationalized version, of course.
Then he levitated the constantly groaning Delice and floated him away.
Ethan watched the Auror drift off, thinking:
This Auror is just one of Minister Fudge's lackeys.
One move ripples through a hundred.
This time, with such a huge commotion stirred up.
It'll surely draw out the big fish pulling the strings behind the scenes.
"Let it blow up, the bigger the better..." Ethan murmured, his eyes deepening, "When you're at the center of the storm and everyone's eyes are on you,"
"My voice can spread as far as possible."
Ethan touched the Sound-Transmitting Flower in his pocket.
And what he needed to do was push forward as fast as he could!
Hone his painting skills and develop even more astonishing techniques!
Be fully prepared for the moment of reckoning!
Just then,
"Ethan—"
A clear voice suddenly rang out.
Everyone turned their heads, then froze in place.
Under the gradually unfolding starry sky, a massive moose slowly emerged from the direction of the Forbidden Forest.
Its sturdy, towering body was even taller than a car.
The branched antlers on its head resembled a crown.
It radiated a noble and majestic presence.
And perched atop this colossal creature,
Was a slender blonde girl.
Her smooth blonde hair, like silk, swayed gently in the wind.
Glimmering with specks of light.
"Ethan~"
Luna waved enthusiastically at Ethan, her voice bright and clear.
Her fair face was flushed from the cold.
She smiled widely, her blue eyes curving into two crescents.
She swayed gently on the moose's back.
Around her, faint blue magical light specks, like fireflies, danced in the air.
"Wow... Does Hogwarts have elves too...?"
A first-year murmured, eyes sparkling... It seemed Luna had enjoyed a wonderful holiday with her animal friends today.
Ethan thought, the corners of his mouth turning up.
Gazing at the moose approaching him, his mind felt refreshed, washed over by a sense of peace.
As the moose strode forward, the night sky rose steadily.
As if it were the one drawing up the curtain of night.
As it drew near, the students instinctively backed away several steps, revering yet fearing this enormous beast.
"Ethan!"
Luna called out joyfully.
She took Ethan's extended hand and leaped down lightly.
Turning, she patted the moose and smiled:
"Thank you, Mr. Moose."
"Whoosh—", the moose exhaled a low, melodious breath.
It trod on its four hooves, bathed in starlight, and slowly made its way back toward the Forbidden Forest.
Luna: "Ethan, did you know? Today I went to see the unicorn herd!"
"They even told me stories about two talking bears and a lumberjack! And the Monkey King, the Squirrel Brothers...!"
Beside them,
Hermione couldn't help but interject: "Unicorns don't tell stories! And there are no talking bears."
"Even magical creatures don't talk!"
Luna turned her head.
Her tone held no trace of annoyance at being interrupted or contradicted; it was soft and gentle:
"There are two talking animals in our school, you know."
Hermione's eyebrows shot up.
The students exchanged glances, whispering "loony" under their breath.
"Oh, that's right."
Ethan pulled a handful of Butterbeer bottle corks from his pocket and handed them to Luna:
"Here, didn't you say last time you wanted Butterbeer corks to make a necklace?"
"Yes!"
Luna exclaimed in delight, her eyes brightening instantly.
She happily accepted the corks and carefully stowed them in her cloth bag... What kind of gift was this?
Hermione couldn't fathom it.
She pouted and crossed her arms.
After Luna chattered on, she took a deep breath and said:
"It's your turn, Ethan. How was your day? Did anything fun happen?"
Ethan nodded: "Yes. I'll tell you all about it slowly when we get back."
And those seemingly "dilapidated" dead branches.
He needed to examine them carefully too.
Just then,
A Gryffindor first-year said in an extremely faint voice:
"Maybe Ethan was the one who severely injured the Auror."
Luna's ears twitched slightly.
The tips of her ears quivered.
The next second—
"Ah!"
A scream rang out.
The Gryffindor first-year from before tumbled to the ground as if yanked by something.
"Ouch, ouch, ouch..."
The first-year's cheeks flushed, and he scratched at his snow-dusted hair.
He looked up.
And met the fierce gaze of a Biting Cabbage.
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