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Chapter 156: Reopening the Case
Chapter 156: Reopening the Case
In a dark and damp field, a dark gray, slimy creature crawled slowly among the giant spinach and cabbage leaves that loomed like castles.
The sun was about to rise, and it didn't want to be exposed to the scorching rays.
Suddenly, the leaves overhead were parted, and a towering child peered down at it, exclaiming, "Look, a snail!"
"No, that's not a snail. It's a slug," said another, even taller giant, as he picked up the soft-bodied creature with a pair of tongs.
"Slugs with antennae can be used to make a potion for scabies," the giant said. "But first, we need to dry it in the sun."
The giant placed it under the sun, and the scorching heat seared its back. It squirmed and struggled desperately, gasping for breath as it felt itself drying out...
With a start, Ved woke up, tearing the covers that had entangled him. He waved his hand, and the candle by his bedside lit up.
He touched his forehead, feeling a cold sweat.
The bitter taste in his mouth was unmistakable, and sure enough, the third Mandrake leaf he had been chewing on was missing a corner.
Although Ved was aware that Professor Mori's mention of "slugs" had been a joke, he was dismayed to find that he had actually dreamed of becoming one himself.
Could it be a... premonition?
Ved immediately got out of bed, drew back the curtains, and looked around his dormitory. He waved his wand—
A dozen pieces of parchment floated up, enlarged, and stuck to the walls. Soon, images of eagles in various poses of flight appeared on the blank sheets.
"Tap!"
The candlestick transformed into an eagle perched on a branch.
"Tap!"
An eagle-shaped relief appeared on the wardrobe.
"Tap!"
The table legs were adorned with swirling cloud patterns, and on the tabletop, over a dozen eagles spread their wings in mid-strike.
Wherever he looked, he saw only images of eagles.
Ved huffed in satisfaction.
Slug, be gone! He was a Ravenclaw, and if he were to transform, it would be into an eagle!
After this self-pep talk, Ved lay back down and tried to get some more sleep.
...
The weekend had arrived, and it was the day Ved was supposed to meet with Marchioni.
The weather was surprisingly pleasant, and most students eagerly rushed to the game field. Someone shouted, "Ved, bring out your insect army!"
"Yeah! We've prepared several tactics to defeat them!"
"Let me tell you, I've gotten used to the ugly faces of spiders and cockroaches. They don't scare me anymore!"
Ved checked the time and saw that he still had some time before the appointed hour, so he flashed an "OK" sign.
This time, it was Professor Flitwick who claimed the high stool of the referee.
Upon seeing Ved, he happily exclaimed, "Oh, since I became the referee, I haven't seen an insect army yet! Everyone says that this is the most interesting part of the 'Battle Royale'!"
Ved was puzzled. Who had been spreading these rumors? Did they really find it entertaining when they were scared out of their wits and soaked their pants?
Although he found it odd, he didn't hesitate in his actions. Just as he was about to select a few insects from the leaves, Fred handed him a glass jar.
"I've prepared this for you ahead of time!" Fred said with a mischievous grin. "Give those little guys who lack experience a good scare with some monsters!"
Ved looked inside the jar and was left speechless.
Aside from the usual ants and spiders, there were also flying moths, bizarre-looking mantises, fat caterpillar larvae, long centipedes, and... slimy gray slugs.
Slugs? Ved looked at Fred silently.
The red-headed Weasley boy winked at him and said, "Well, what do you think? It took me a lot of effort to find these."
Professor Flitwick poked his head in, nodded, and said, "Indeed, they're quite something! It's a waste to use them on just a few students, though."
He stood up, waved his wand, and expanded the game field's fence severalfold; he even turned many of the spectators outside into participants, including the Weasley twins.
"Hey? Hey!" Fred exclaimed in surprise.
"Wait, I want out!" Several Gryffindor students who had been plotting with them cried out and fled.
"Smash!"
The glass jar shattered, and the insects inside grew and grew and grew...
A three-meter-tall devil's flower mantis knocked on its forelegs, emitting a strange cry.
A slug squirmed and immediately pinned a stunned student underneath its body, coating him with slime.
"Ahhhhhh!"
Terrified screams echoed throughout the school.
Ved felt a little better.
...
When the second game began, the number of participating students was unprecedentedly low.
The insects that had returned to their original forms had hidden themselves away. Several Hufflepuff students repeatedly asked Ved if the insect army would strike again before cautiously entering the field in groups.
Many students who had been traumatized beyond recovery lay on the field, trying to regain their senses, and some were even quietly crying. Ved walked through the crowd without much guilt and returned to the castle.
He was going to Hogsmeade, but the others probably didn't have the energy to sneak out of school for a while.
Upon reaching the eighth floor, Ved found that the Room of Requirement was occupied by none other than Harry.
Ved was a bit surprised.
Harry knew what he was wondering and said, "I wanted to ask Lupin about the progress of the case, so I didn't go to the game field... Luckily, I didn't."
He added, still shaken.
Ved smiled.
The two of them passed through the Vanishing Cabinet and arrived at Lupin's house in the blink of an eye. Marchioni was already there, sitting on the sofa in the living room, drinking tea, and chatting with Lupin.
"Remus! Mr. Marchioni!" Harry greeted enthusiastically, "Has there been any progress on the case?"
"The public hearing will be next Friday," Lupin said with a smile. "Mr. Marchioni has sent us the materials... We have a good chance of winning."
"Great!" Harry cheered, then hesitated and said, "I... um... I... Can I..."
"I'll ask Dumbledore if I can get you leave that day so you can attend as well."
Lupin knew what he was stammering about and gently said, "I think Dumbledore will understand the significance of that day to you. It's far more important than a class."
Harry was delighted.
Marchioni smiled cunningly.
The "Boy Who Lived," the "Savior of the Wizarding World," and the boy who had lost his parents due to that betrayal would be sitting in the audience.
His inclinations, his loves and hates, and those clear green eyes would undoubtedly have an invisible influence on the decision-makers.
This was a completely aboveboard scheme.
However, one could only wonder what the legendary "godfather," the supposedly insane Sirius Black, would feel upon seeing that scene.
Leaving Harry and Lupin to discuss the details of the attendance, Marchioni nodded to Ved, and the two of them entered the study.
Marchioni asked curiously, "Ved, what's the alchemical creation you mentioned last time that you wanted to show me? It should be complete by now, right?"
(End of Chapter)
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