Chapter 562: After Class
Chapter 562: After Class (Requesting Subscriptions, Favorites, and Votes)
The bell rang, finally ending the extremely oppressive Defense Against the Dark Arts class. The content on the Cruciatus Curse was already deeply unsettling, and Professor Snape's perpetually grim face only added to the gloom. As a result, almost every student who had his class quickly walked out of the dungeon's door, looking as if they were trying to escape a room full of Flobberworms.
“Snape is right, isn’t he?” Ron complained to Lavender, who had run over to him after class. They were trying to take a less crowded route back to the dormitory, as this path led to a corridor where they could bask in the sunlight and breathe in some fresh air. “I don’t know if it’s even worth going to the exam, because I still haven’t learned Illusion Apparition. It feels like a waste of time and money.”
“No, dear, you’re just overly anxious. Everyone knows Snape has a severe bias against Gryffindor students. You don’t need to take his words so seriously,” Lavender said, giving Ron a kiss on the cheek. “As for now, I think you should join the special training in Hogsmeade. It’s much more interesting than Apparating into a stupid wooden circle. Even if you don’t succeed, you can postpone the exam and take it with me a few months later.”
“Oh, sweet love,” a ghostly voice suddenly emerged from the wall. Once the ghost fully materialized, she spoke in a somewhat shrill voice. “Alas, I am now dead and can no longer feel such sweet love.”
“Myrtle?” Liam recognized the ghost girl. He waved and greeted her, asking, “I brought some gifts for you and the others from my summer vacation in China. I asked Nick to distribute them when I returned to school. Did you receive the gift I gave you?”
“Yes, I did,” Myrtle nodded. “The food and items specially prepared for ghosts in China are fantastic, but I still wish you would come and see me.”
“Sorry, I’ve been very busy lately,” Liam said, a bit embarrassed. He had indeed been very busy, only managing to speak a few words to a few familiar ghosts each week. He hadn’t seen Myrtle, who lived in a place he rarely visited, in a long time.
“Of course, I know you’re busy. Even as a ghost, I understand that things are chaotic outside, and there might soon be new members joining our ranks. In such a situation, everyone is busy,” Myrtle said, somewhat helplessly removing her thick glasses to clean them. “So, fewer and fewer people are willing to talk to me these days. No one wants to spare a moment to pay attention to this poor ghost—”
“By the way, what are you doing out here? I always thought you stayed in that bathroom,” Liam quickly interrupted Myrtle’s monologue. He knew that these idle ghosts could spend hours on a single topic if left unchecked. To avoid wasting time, he had to be a bit impolite and cut her off to ask his question.
“Hmm—waiting for someone,” Myrtle said, cupping her cheeks and spinning in the air before floating to face Liam. “A while ago, I met a boy who was always crying. I thought he liked me.”
At this point, Myrtle’s tone turned melancholic. “He was a bit lonely and liked to keep to himself. So, I thought maybe after you all leave, he might come back… We have a lot in common… I believe he felt it too…”
After saying this, Myrtle floated a bit higher, gazing expectantly around the corner of the corridor.
“Do you mean he also lives in the pipes?” Another voice immediately shattered the somewhat romantic atmosphere. Only Ron, who often spoke without thinking, could say something like that at such a moment.
“No,” Myrtle protested, her voice filled with indignation, echoing through the empty corridor. “I mean he is sensitive, he’s been bullied, feels lonely, and has no one to talk to. He’s not afraid to show his emotions and cries when he wants to!”
"Crying?" Liam nodded thoughtfully after picking up on Myrtle's emphasis. "It seems that each ghost has a different anchor in the real world. For example, Moaning Myrtle's anchor is her crying, while Barrow's is his remorse for killing Helen. This must be the true reason why Snape mentioned in class that ghosts are the imprints of departed souls left in the world. Only wizards with a certain level of emotion can become ghosts after death. Ordinary wizards don't leave such a strong imprint on the world, so they can't remain here."
As Liam began to ponder these questions, Harry curiously asked, "A boy cried here? Was it a first-year boy?"
"None of your business!" Myrtle lifted her chin slightly, her eyes fixed on Ron, who was grinning. "I promised not to tell anyone. I'll take his secret to—"
"—the grave?" Ron laughed. "Maybe the sewers..."
This remark enraged Myrtle. She let out an angry scream, passed through Ron's body, and disappeared into the wall.
"Ah, that was cold", Ron shivered. "I only said one thing, how could she do that to me?"
"Alright, Ron. We might have learned something interesting. After all, it's not uncommon for girls to hide in the bathroom and cry, but it's rare for boys to do so", Liam said with a shrug. "But now we won't know anything."
"Okay, that was my mistake", Ron admitted. He knew his words were a bit harsh when he was feeling down, but after venting, he felt much better. Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, Ron said to Liam, "I'm going to the special training in Hogsmeade, then I'll decide whether to take the exam or not."
"That's the right attitude", Liam nodded. "How will you know if you can't do it if you don't try?"
"Alright, Liam, you always sound like a middle-aged person when you give advice", Harry said from the side. "It's like a younger version of Professor Mcgonagall nagging."
On the weekend, Liam escorted Hermione to the castle entrance. He watched enviously as she and a group of sixth-year students, who would turn seventeen in two weeks, were escorted by a few Aurors to Hogsmeade for their pre-exam training. The weather was particularly nice that day, warm and sunny, a rare clear day after a long time. It would have been a wonderful day to go out and explore.
After returning to the Common Room to help Neville with a few homework problems, Liam left and headed to the edge of the Black Lake. On the way, he saw Luna practicing the magic spells he had taught in the Study Group, using the Black Lake as her target.
"Good morning, Luna." Liam waved at her when he saw her turn her head at the sound of his footsteps.
"Morning, Liam", Luna greeted him with her usual dreamy voice. "Can you tell me why these casting materials enhance the power of magic—"
Liam spent the rest of the morning answering Luna's questions from the Study Group. After going through all her questions, he asked her curiously why she didn't ask them during the Study Group's free question time.
Luna looked at Liam with her prominent eyes. "These questions are only of interest to me. You're my friend, and I can't let you answer my questions and delay your explanations to everyone else, making them unhappy."
Liam was surprised by her response. It seemed Luna was not someone who was completely oblivious to social norms. She just often immersed herself in her own world and didn't pay much attention to others.
However, after answering her questions, it was getting late. Liam quickly bid farewell to Luna, who continued practicing by the Black Lake, and ran back to the castle. It was almost time for lunch, and Hermione and the other students who went to Hogsmeade for practice should be returning soon.
(End of Chapter)
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