"There's really nothing happening, just talking about the issue with ghosts." Harry said half-truthfully, "Don't forget about tonight—"
He winked at Cedric.
"I understand, we'll meet at the usual time." Cedric nodded and said, "Ah, if I see Tao Jin'niang, I'll tell her to wait for you on the second floor these couple of days…"
At this point, Cedric suddenly leaned down and whispered to Harry, "I hope you don't let those twins from the Weasley family know you're going to the girls' bathroom on the second floor, otherwise they'll definitely mock you to death."
"I think so too!" Harry nodded in agreement.
"I'll go check for you now."
Hermione said as she was about to go up, but Cedric stopped her.
"Don't waste your time, Hermione." Cedric said, "I just said, Tao Jin'niang had already been flushed into the Black Lake…"
"Can ghosts be flushed away by a toilet?" Hermione asked in astonishment.
"Of course they can." Cedric shrugged, "Ghosts, you know, are quite magical."
Finally, it was evening. During dinner, Hermione went to the bathroom on the second floor but didn't find any trace of Tao Jin'niang.
Since they couldn't find Tao Jin'niang for the time being, Harry had to temporarily put this matter aside—though he also instructed Cedric not to mention it to anyone.
If the news of him looking for Tao Jin'niang got to Voldemort's ears, with Xiaotang's temperament, he'd probably just turtle back into his shell.
"Are we going to the Forbidden Forest tonight?" Ron said excitedly, "Gosh, I've never been to the Forbidden Forest at night before—this time, I can proudly tell Fred and George, look, I went to the Forbidden Forest during the school lockdown, can you?"
"Of course we can, Little Ronnie." The twins' voice rang out from behind, "Do you have some misunderstanding about your big brothers?"
Ron awkwardly turned around, seeing his two twin brothers looking at him leisurely.
"But now Little Ronnie has become a powerful wizard capable of defeating fourth-year seniors." The twins said one after the other, "What kind of spell has he secretly learned? Has the Gryffindor Lion King privately taught you many combat techniques?"
"Why, do you guys want to learn too?" Harry suddenly appeared behind them.
"Of course we want to learn." The twins said in unison.
"Then, after the vote in our Dueling House, we'll decide whether to include you." Harry patted them on the shoulders, "We'll handle your matter urgently tonight."
"Yay!" The twins clapped hands together, handing Harry a piece of candy.
"Fainting Fancies." Fred said.
George added, "A candy whose effect matches its name, causing someone's tongue to suddenly swell…"
"Got it, thanks." Harry pocketed the candy, "It's a great invention, I think you guys should put more effort into this. Zoko's Joke Shop has had the same products for years; young wizards from the Muggle World might find them novel, but those who grew up in the Wizard World are probably tired of these old things…"
"Makes sense." The twins' eyes lit up, "I think we should take your advice, Lion King Harry."
Harry signaled OK with his hand.
"Then we wish you success—the vote to include you in our Dueling House will be tonight, wait for my good news." he said.
"Okay, Your Majesty the Lion King." The twins said playfully.
A little after seven o'clock, several Gryffindor students slipped out of the common room wearing the Invisibility Cloak.
Cedric and the others waited on the second floor, and after the Gryffindor students arrived, they gathered and passed through the unguarded door.
They walked all the way to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, finally pulling off the Invisibility Cloak.
"Gosh, I thought we were going to get caught…" Hermione said with lingering fear, "If we got caught, it could be terrible…"
"It's not like it's your first day breaking school rules, Hermione." Ron said, pursing his lips.
Hermione glared at him, saying nothing.
The surroundings of the Forbidden Forest were silent, a crescent moon hung in the sky, and the cold wind blew through the trees, rustling.
Occasionally, a howl belonging to either a werewolf or a wild wolf added a touch of mysterious fear to the forest.
"Is it a werewolf?" Seamus shivered, "I heard there are werewolves in the Forbidden Forest…"
"Probably not, right?" Neville instinctively crouched down, "At this time, where could there be werewolves? I think it's just wild wolves—don't worry, there are so many of us, why would we be afraid of wild wolves?"
"Makes sense, we are wizards after all!" Megan was also trembling—uncertain whether from cold or fear.
"But…" Cedric frowned and said, "Harry wouldn't have us face wild wolves in combat, would he?"
"Would he, Harry?" Ron turned his head.
"Eh?" He found Harry wasn't with them, "Where's Harry?"
"He was just here…" Neville shivered, "I remember he was here when we came out, how come he's not here now?"
"Maybe he's delayed by something, I remember he's been looking for Tao Jin'niang." Hermione said.
Ron asked suspiciously, "Tao Jin'niang, why is he looking for Tao Jin'niang?"
"Wait!" Cedric suddenly said, "Something's up! I just saw a figure over there… I saw it!"