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The first morning of the second week of term began with a chorus of yawns. Professor Snape's Potions homework clearly bothered more than just one or two people. Last night, the Gryffindor common room was packed with second-year students burning the midnight oil to finish their assignments; after all, no one wanted to earn a detention from Snape in the first month of school.
Last night, before Harry and Ron, yawning incessantly, returned to their dorm, Neville was still squatting by the fireplace with a tear-streaked face, wrestling with that five-foot-long essay. He didn't even notice his own robes had caught fire in the fireplace. It was thanks to his toad, Trevor, who bit him fiercely on the ear, that he avoided the tragic fate of being roasted alive.
In short, Neville probably didn't get much sleep all night. So, this morning, Seamus and Dean probably took ten minutes just to wake him up. Moreover, while descending the spiral staircase, he directly tumbled into the common room in front of many people.
"I will speak to Professor Snape, Mr. Longbottom, and ask him to pay attention to gradual progression."
Even the usually strict Professor McGonagall couldn't bear to see Neville in such a miserable state. During Transfiguration class that morning, when Professor McGonagall figured out why Neville was wearing burnt robes, sporting two large dark circles under his eyes, and still had clear bite marks on his ear, she took a deep breath and said.
Neville's little mishap briefly made people forget about the investigator who had arrived at the school. However, such luck couldn't always occur.
Oliver Wood wouldn't let mere cold weather and drizzling rain hinder his path to championship. His training plan began in the first week of the second term, maintaining an ultra-high frequency of four times a week until the finals.
"You all know it, Slytherin will be very strong this year!" Wood roared to all his team members swaying in the wind on their brooms. "This year's finals, we'll face a fierce battle. Of course, if we're eliminated by Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw beforehand, then disregard what I just said!"
"Please, can someone, anyone, get Oliver to calm down!"
Katie Bell, in the same year as the Weasley twins, almost slipped off her broom trying to dodge a Bludger hit by George. She yelled in frustration, "My clothes are soaked, and I haven't been feeling well these past few days!"
"Perhaps you could ask Harry for help, Katie," George whizzed past her head, saying with a grin, "You could ask Harry to unleash his Chamber of Secrets servant. I bet if Flint and Malfoy were turned to stone, Wood might feel a little better!"
George's words elicited a burst of laughter, and Harry had to chuckle along.
"Harry, Harry!"
Ron came running from the castle towards the Quidditch pitch, his steps hurried. He had originally been playing wizard's chess with Seamus in the common room, but the news Neville brought midway made it impossible for him to enjoy his leisure.
"What's wrong, Ron!"
Under Wood's "man-eating" gaze, Harry controlled his Nimbus 2000 to fly to the edge of the pitch. When he saw Ron's pale face, he immediately realized something terrible had probably happened again.
"Go to the Entrance Hall and see, Harry, right now!"
Ron pulled Harry and ran towards the castle, not even leaving him time to ask for leave. The rest of the team mistakenly thought another attack had occurred, and one after another, they descended, following the two of them towards the castle. In the end, only Wood was left alone in the sky...
When the entire team reached the Entrance Hall, a large crowd had already gathered there, murmuring softly as they looked at a new notice posted on the bulletin board.
Seeing Harry arrive, the crowd automatically parted in the middle. Ernie of Hufflepuff and his group, as well as Susan Bones, looked at him with an unreadable glint in their eyes. Percy's expression was grim, and Ginny, standing behind Percy, clutched her chest, her face terribly pale.
"For you, Weasley, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, isn't it?"
Standing at the very front was Draco Malfoy. His two loyal cronies had squeezed out the best spot for him. Seeing Harry and Ron, soaked and pale-faced, arrive, he displayed a malicious grin.
"This is the only chance in your life to get money to buy a new wand. Are you going to give it up?"
"Get lost, Malfoy! What I use is none of your business!" Ron said unceremoniously.
Perhaps seeing that the Gryffindor team members were all there, and he didn't have a numerical advantage, Malfoy actually ordered Crabbe and Goyle to dodge to the side, looking at Harry with ill intentions. This allowed Harry to finally see what had caused such a big commotion.
A new public notice was posted on the bulletin board, large enough to cover all other old notices for selling second-hand spell books, Filch's regularly updated school rules, notes about exchanging Chocolate Frog cards, lost and found items, and so on. At the bottom of the announcement was a massive signature written in red ink.
To all Hogwarts Faculty and Students:
In view of the ongoing unresolved attacks, and the inability to effectively guarantee the safety of all faculty and students' lives and property, with the approval of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore and Deputy Headmistress Minerva McGonagall—we encourage any young wizard who knows clues related to the Chamber of Secrets attacks to provide relevant information to the Special Investigator appointed by the Board of Governors.
If confirmed, and the information is true and effective, a cash reward of two hundred Galleons will be issued by the Board of Governors.
Amosita Brayn
Harry's face instantly turned incredibly pale, as if a thousand Cornish Pixies were screaming in his ears.
"This is the method of the investigator the Board of Governors places so much hope on, huh?" Fred lowered his voice, his tone a mix of mockery and anger. "Encouraging everyone to report on each other, what a sophisticated tactic!"
Ginny looked as if she might cry at any moment, and Neville's hushed reminder plunged Harry's heart to rock bottom, making him see stars.
"Filch went to the third floor the moment he saw the announcement, Harry, you need to be careful."
Harry didn't need to ask what Neville meant by "be careful." Moreover, he was almost certain what Filch would say to the investigator. Mrs. Norris was the first to be attacked this school year, and most unfortunately, Harry and his friends were the first to appear at the crime scene, which made Filch convinced that the three of them were responsible for turning his precious pet into stone.
"Go talk to him, Harry." Ron said worriedly in his ear.
Harry understood Ron's meaning. He wanted him to go talk to Mr. Brayn first, before most of the other students in the castle reported him.
Hermione had also suggested this last night in the Hospital Wing, but Harry refused last night. As for the reasons, there were many. For example, he was afraid that if he told others that before every attack, he heard a strange, terrifying voice demanding murder, people would think he was crazy.
For example, he didn't want to see that poor house-elf Dobby interrogated and punished because of his testimony.
But besides these things, what else could he say? How could he prove his innocence?
Moreover, not telling Headmaster Dumbledore about the hidden matters, but instead going to an investigator he didn't know well, also made Harry feel that something wasn't quite right.
Harry stumbled out of the Entrance Hall and walked towards his dorm, ignoring Malfoy's loud laughter about going to tell Professor Sprout that she would soon have some fresh flower fertilizer.
Behind him, Fred and George exchanged a knowing glance, seeing the same thought in each other's eyes.
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