https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-242-The-Real-Challenge-Lies-Ahead-/12937672/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-244-Are-You-Going-to-Violate-the-Contract-/12937674/
Chapter 243
Chapter 243
The night sky unfolded over the Forbidden Forest, the stars sparse, and the castle's lights gradually dimmed, leaving only Filch leisurely patrolling the long corridor with an oil lamp in hand.
By his side, Lady Lorris strolled with graceful strides.
A shadow seemed to flit past in his peripheral vision, and Filch looked up to see a small bird flying above the castle.
It was a Peregrine Falcon.
Lady Lorris jumped onto the windowsill, looking up with her tail gently swaying.
After a moment of observation, Filch, showing no interest, turned away and said to his pet, "Listen carefully, Lady Lorris. On a night like this, there will surely be a few youngsters sneaking out!"
"Meow~"
Lady Lorris meowed towards the sky.
"It's no use; you won't be able to catch that kind of bird. Let's get to work," Filch said.
Lady Lorris had no choice but to jump down from the windowsill and glance back at the sky before following her master's pace.
The Peregrine Falcon was, of course, Vold.
Having become accustomed to his arms transforming into wings, the sensation of flying freely was even more exhilarating than riding a broomstick.
Moreover, with the bird's brain being so small, even though he still remembered who he was, his thoughts naturally became simpler after the transformation, and his mind could only focus on one thing at a time.
So, when flying, he thought only of flying; when hunting, he was entirely focused on the hunt, and the joy of the catch was even more pure and natural.
When he returned to his original form, he felt as if his mind had been cleansed, and all the trivial and complex matters seemed lighter.
Suddenly, he heard a sound of air vibrations, and the Peregrine Falcon swiftly dodged as an owl swooped past, its large wings creating a deep, powerful sound as they flapped.
The Peregrine Falcon gracefully traced an arc and then dove, folding its wings and plunging towards the owl.
With its wings folded, its entire body resembled a fighter jet, reaching a speed almost invisible to the naked eye in an instant!
In a flash, the owl experienced intense pain, letting out a miserable shriek, thinking its neck had been severed!
The Peregrine Falcon swiftly flew by, and a few plucked feathers slowly drifted down.
As he flew past a window, he paused and tilted his head to look inside.
Professor Abigail, dressed in her pajamas, was sitting at her desk, disassembling her black handgun, cleaning and maintaining it, and then reassembling it at a leisurely pace.
Sensing a gaze upon her, she turned and saw the Peregrine Falcon outside the window. She smiled and grabbed a handful of jerky from her desk, placing it on the windowsill.
"Here, have some," she said gently.
The Peregrine Falcon bowed its head and took a piece, then spread its wings and flew away.
The injured owl, in pain and panic, circled for a while before realizing its head was still attached to its neck. Anger and hatred rose again, and it returned to the Owl Tower, calling for a dozen companions. They flew towards the Peregrine Falcon with fierce determination.
A large flock of birds circled above Hogwarts, occasionally letting out mournful cries, turning the castle's quiet night into a lively one.
Students living in the tower were awakened by the commotion, and as they peered out from their beds, they saw the vengeful owls and wondered aloud, "Have they found a nest of rats or something? Why are they making such a ruckus?"
Dumbledore, who had been writing a letter, paused upon hearing the cries. He put down his quill and turned to look, his gaze meeting that of the Peregrine Falcon outside the window.
The Headmaster thought for a moment, then stood up and opened the window, asking, "Would you like to come in?"
The Peregrine Falcon, like most birds startled by a sudden movement, quickly spread its wings and flew away with a loud flapping sound.
The owls instantly detected the intruder and began to close in from all directions.
The peregrine falcon weaved through the air with unparalleled agility, dodging each attack with remarkable speed and dexterity. Within moments, it broke free from the encirclement and disappeared from sight.
Witnessing this, Dumbledore couldn't help but smile with delight.
"The youth is so full of vigor..."
The headmaster, like many elderly, muttered his admiration before returning to his desk.
As he glanced at the letter he had written earlier, it suddenly seemed rather bland.
Yesterday, Fudge had sent a letter primarily questioning the recent intense, militaristic training organized by Hogwarts, expressing doubts about the intentions of the school's faculty and students, especially Dumbledore.
Dumbledore had initially drafted a lengthy response, explaining that this was a student-initiated game activity where the students honed their willpower and magical abilities, ensuring they would become exceptional wizards upon graduation.
As elders, they should encourage rather than harshly prohibit such activities, and Hogwarts was well-prepared to ensure the students' safety.
He also emphasized the necessity of this training, mentioning the declining performance in OWLs and NEWLS examinations in recent years. The peace had made students less diligent in their training, and many graduates couldn't even cast the Iron Armor Charm. This training would encourage them to study, among other benefits.
But at this moment, after witnessing the peregrine falcon gracefully escape the pursuit of a group of owls, its free and proud demeanor left an impression on the old man's eyes.
Dumbledore sat at his desk for a few minutes, and suddenly, the previous letter flew into the air, igniting and turning into a pile of ashes.
He started writing again—
Dear Minister,
While this is an internal school matter, we welcome guidance from the Ministry's elite.
Next month, we will be organizing a challenge event, and we cordially invite you and your esteemed Aurors to participate.
The emerald ink left only a few lines on the paper before the signature. The letter was folded, and a wax seal was applied.
—Although the Friend Ledger is a convenient means of communication, some traditional and particular wizards still prefer the old-fashioned way of sending letters when not in a hurry.
Take Fudge, for example; he resists new things because they make him feel out of place. He remains in his comfort zone and wishes the world would stay as he's accustomed to it.
Dumbledore was glad he hadn't become that kind of stuffy and dull.
He sent off the letter.
The vengeful owls kept watch in the sky for most of the night, but they never saw their nemesis appear. Only when dawn broke did they reluctantly return to the Owl Tower.
At that moment, Ved, who rarely slept late, was just waking up from his slumber.
He stretched lazily and couldn't help but smile as he saw Miss Ava, bleary-eyed, wobbling back from her flight outside.
"Why are you so tired?" Ved caught his owl, stroking its cool back, and asked, "Did you fly all night?"
"Hoot," Miss Ava whimpered pitifully, gently pecking Ved's palm with her beak. She then eagerly perched on the rack and started devouring owl food.
Apparently, she hadn't slept all night and didn't even have time to catch a mouse for herself.
Ved lovingly added some extra food to her bowl, including a piece of jerky. Miss Ava filled her belly while chirping about her complaints about the peregrine falcon from the night before.
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(End of Chapter)
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