Harry and Ron's hopes were dashed.
Before the Easter holidays, the teachers worked overtime to pile on a huge load of homework.
The reason was that exams were "approaching"—the same thought Hermione had!
So, in their view, the Easter holiday was far less fun than Christmas.
Ron finally understood why his parents hadn't written to ask if he was coming home for the holidays.
With this much homework, it was better not to go home!
At school, at least he could use the library.
Especially with Hermione there. Although she was always reciting the twelve uses of dragon's blood or practicing wand movements nearby, making it hard to relax...
The reference books and materials she recommended for homework were truly useful.
With her, spending most of the free time in the first half of the holiday in the library to finish homework early meant he could still play later.
"Sigh, why is my homework already finished?" While Harry and the others were doing homework, Basil was always flipping through a leisure book, sighing.
Of course, he didn't do the homework. Riddle did. Imitating handwriting and wording was easy for Riddle.
But that didn't stop him from showing off.
Watching Harry and the others studying hard while he slacked off during the holiday felt incredibly satisfying, like drinking ice-cold Coke in the dog days of summer.
And he really was drinking Coke.
Having casually spent 10 Gems to light up a Muggle supermarket in London, he could drink whatever he wanted.
But even Hermione, who coveted Basil's body (implied crush), couldn't stand this behavior.
At first, she would say: "As expected of Basil, easily doing what others can't—finishing homework in a day."
But now... she snatched the still-cold Coke Basil had been drinking and took a big gulp.
"Be quiet, or Harry and the others won't be able to focus on their homework." Then she lowered her voice and leaned close to Basil's ear. "Why don't you go to Diagon Alley? I know you must have found a secret passage out of the school. Just like Fred and George can bring back Honeydukes sweets on non-Hogsmeade days."
"Forget it." Basil shrugged.
He had long gotten tired of Diagon Alley. When he first activated it, he often changed his outfit and went there.
Unable to use his true identity, and having to time his shopping and strolling perfectly, the appeal wasn't as great as imagined.
And London... in terms of layout in the Muggle world, it was no different from the London before his transmigration.
As Harry Potter fans, the twin sisters (from his past life) had once lived in this city with him for a month.
For Basil, Hogwarts was more interesting.
Okay, fine, he was afraid of being discovered by that old glass (gay slur/term) Dumbledore.
According to his observations, whenever Dumbledore had free time in his office, he would use the Mist Condenser to review or observe real-time events in every corner of the castle (usually excluding bathrooms and dormitories). But among them, their dormitory—specifically scenes of him and Harry—appeared the most.
Sometimes, scenes about him even outnumbered Harry's.
So, every time he went to the Chamber of Secrets to train, or to Hogsmeade or London, it was during bathroom breaks or showers.
Um, or when hiding under the covers.
But on non-holidays, hiding under the covers was always at night.
At that time, Hogsmeade and London had nothing fun to do. The fun stuff was indescribable, so he could only go to the Chamber of Secrets for training or lessons.
Damn it! Is there no justice! I can't even get some peace in the dormitory!
Basil didn't even dare to dress scantily!
But all of this—specifically their dormitory being observed—was because Peter Pettigrew, transformed into a rat, was resting on Ron's or Harry's bed, sometimes even on the pillow.
In fact, during one of his routine territory patrols, when scanning the Headmaster's office, he heard such a conversation.
At that time, Dumbledore was watching a scene in the mist—nighttime in Basil's dormitory.
The image focused on Harry's cheek.
Just as Basil was wondering whether to just cast a Killing Curse on this old pervert Dumbledore...
The portraits of former headmasters on the walls and ceiling couldn't help but speak up.
A red-nosed, portly wizard shook his fist and roared, "You have failed this school! The Sorting Hat should have sorted you into Azkaban!"
"Thank you, Fortescue," Dumbledore said with a smile.
At this moment, the image in the silver mist expanded, and Scabbers the fat rat, butt facing Harry, appeared next to Harry's cheek.
"But regrettably, I have a legitimate reason."
"On Christmas night, while talking to that boy, I discovered a strange yet familiar magnetic field and a few strands of gray hair on Harry's pillow. I searched my memories and finally found the answer—Peter Pettigrew."
"A character who should have died long ago, hailed as a hero." Dumbledore's words were tinged with shock.
"He is an Animagus? Can I understand it as," Phineas Nigellus, the most unpopular headmaster in history, couldn't help but speak, "my great-great-grandson—the last of the Black family—is innocent?"
Dumbledore raised his eyelids slightly. "In the remaining days of the Christmas holiday, I visited Azkaban many times, trying to talk to Sirius. But he insisted he was guilty and killed James's family. his mind was very chaotic; even with Legilimency, I could only read deep guilt."
"Until I said I found a gray rat missing a toe beside Harry."
"Only then did his mind clear again. And then I saw everything."
"Then my great-great-grandson?" Phineas paced back and forth in his frame, very anxious.
"I have communicated with the sober Sirius. Although he understands that once I know Peter's identity, he won't be in prison much longer... he insists on staying in prison to atone until I catch Peter and reveal the truth."
"He said if I don't agree, he'll immediately find a Dementor and commit suicide." Dumbledore rubbed his brow.
But actually, he wasn't as distressed as he looked.
Sirius in Azkaban was practically inhuman now: filthy, matted hair reaching his elbows, yellow teeth, sunken eyes, waxy skin clinging to his skull... looking like a living skeleton.
It was hard to imagine such a handsome face could become like this.
Maybe it was better to let him recover in prison for a while before meeting Harry.
He had already arranged a single cell with no Dementors nearby, a fireplace, a luxurious bed, a bathroom, and a supply of meat.
Normally, this was where high-ranking Ministry officials stayed during short-term imprisonment.
At this moment, a wizard with a pale face and short black bangs raised a question: "I remember that self-transfiguration is impossible within Hogwarts castle, right? Even Animagi can only switch forms outside the castle. Your reason for monitoring student dormitories is insufficient."
His eyes were full of scrutiny.
Combined with Dumbledore's sexual orientation, this wasn't a small issue to be brushed aside.
"You forgot Voldemort. On the back of Quirrell's head, he was publicly named by Harry. I am very worried that Peter will take this opportunity to contact Tom. Tom knows Peter's Animagus form. The reason he didn't act before was that he thought Peter died at Sirius's hands."
"Just like Sirius thought he killed Peter."
"No one believed a wizard would be willing to play a pet rat, being handled by people. For ten whole years."
"Then what do you plan to do with this Peter..." Phineas was very confused. "It's easy for you, why haven't you... instead, you're monitoring."
Dumbledore shook his head. "The time isn't right. Catching Tom is the top priority right now."