Chapter 691: Night in the Rain
Chapter 691: Night in the Rain
Ever since they decided to cause trouble for Malfoy, the Weasley twins had devised several plans, but sometimes, changes occur that even the best-laid plans cannot keep up with.
Malfoy had been hiding out in the school hospital wing, feigning illness, and thus temporarily escaped their schemes.
As long as the trio had half a brain, they wouldn't dare intrude on the hospital wing to bother Malfoy. All they could do was wait quietly for him to be discharged.
Finally, on Thursday afternoon, Malfoy left the hospital wing.
Just as the twins were about to enact their dark plans, another incident diverted their attention: In their Defense Against the Dark Arts class, a Boggart transformed into Snape by Neville, who was wearing his grandmother's clothes.
News of this incident spread like wildfire across the campus, and many regretted not witnessing it firsthand.
However, Albert had his ways. He approached Neville and effortlessly extracted the memory, which he then played in his crystal ball.
When the people in the room saw Snape in the crystal ball, with a stuffed eagle on his head and wearing a green outfit with a large red handbag, they burst into laughter, unable to stand straight.
"What a pity, it's such a shame that everyone missed seeing Snape like this." George wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with the back of his hand and struggled to get up from the armchair, which had fallen to the ground in his mirth.
"I can't handle this. I don't think I can look Snape in the eye now," Lee Jordan exclaimed, truly stunned by Neville's outrageous stunt. He now worried that whenever he saw Snape, he would be reminded of this image and couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"If we had a photo, it would be worth a fortune," Fred said maliciously.
"If you don't want Snape to come after you, don't even think about it," Albert advised, comforting Tom, who had been startled by his roommates' laughter. Seeing the boys slumped in their chairs, laughing uncontrollably, he reminded them, "Whether it's Legilimency or Veritaserum, Snape can easily expose you."
"Why not us, then?" George countered.
"Because I'm not going to do something so stupid," Albert retorted, annoyed. "And I have to go to his office this weekend. I'm not about to make things difficult for myself by offending him now."
"Oh, right, you have to go to Snape for detention," Fred remembered.
"It's a tutoring session," Albert corrected, intending to keep this memory as blackmail material for future use against Snape.
Just then, there was a knock on the door, and Wood walked in. He informed Fred and George that they would begin Quidditch training the next day.
"Aren't you going to hold new tryouts for the Quidditch team?" Albert inquired.
"No, I think we're good with the current members. It's more convenient this way, and we won't waste time getting used to new players," Wood replied, understanding Albert's implication but unfazed by it. "By the way, there's something else. I'll be graduating next year, so who do you think should take my place as captain?"
"Are you talking about the new Quidditch captain?" Lee Jordan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"How about we guess with a game of rock-paper-scissors to decide who becomes the captain?" Fred and George suggested, grinning.
"No, you two won't do," Wood said flatly.
"Why not?" the twins protested in unison.
"Because you lack the necessary sense of responsibility," Wood snapped. "I don't want to see the Gryffindor Quidditch team in disarray after I graduate because of irresponsible captains. So don't even think about it."
"That's slander!" the twins complained.
"Shut up. I'm just asking for your opinions. In the end, it's up to Professor McGonagall to decide," Wood waved his hand dismissively, but not before reminding them, "Don't be late for practice tomorrow."
Fred and George glared resentfully at Wood's departing back and muttered under their breath, "Then why bother asking us?"
"Who do you think will be the next Quidditch captain?" Lee Jordan asked, curious about Albert's prediction.
"Angelina is quite passionate about the team, while Alicia is relatively calm. If I were Professor McGonagall, I'd probably choose Angelina as the captain. It's better to have someone enthusiastic about the sport in that position," Albert analyzed briefly.
"I heard Angelina say that she might join a professional team after graduation," George added.
"Fred said suddenly.
"Alicia must be very sad," Lee Jordan muttered softly.
"Tsk, you hypocrite. Aren't you the one pursuing Angelina?" The three simultaneously hissed at Lee Jordan.
"She's never agreed to go out with me." Lee Jordan looked a little dejected. "Maybe she already has someone she likes."
"I know who it is," Fred said suddenly.
"Who? Quick, who does Angelina like?" Lee Jordan urged, his breath bated.
"Albert," George teased, winking mischievously. "Most of the girls like Albert."
"I have a girlfriend," Albert said irritably.
"Why not have your cake and eat it too?" George countered. "I think you could easily juggle several relationships at once."
"Do you want to shut up on your own, or should I help you?" Albert glared at George, considering how to shut him up.
"Cough, his flirting techniques are terrible. Don't try to shift the blame onto Albert." Fred smiled slyly. "Don't you remember, we gave you a copy of 'Twelve Surefire Ways to Charm Witches'?"
"You talk as if you have girlfriends yourselves." Lee Jordan scoffed. "Only Albert has the right to mock me here. As for you two, you don't even have the courage to confess to your crushes. How dare you stay in Gryffindor Tower?"
"We just don't want girlfriends yet. It would only slow down our progress with our shop and research." Fred replied lazily.
"So, apart from you, no one in this dormitory really needs to worry about not having a girlfriend." George bluntly delivered a fatal blow to Lee Jordan.
"You're all full of hot air." Lee Jordan scoffed in disdain. "Who do you think you are? Albert or that pretty-boy Diggory?"
"Diggory doesn't have a girlfriend yet, either." Albert pointed out.
"How do you know that?" The three asked in unison.
"We've been keeping in touch by owl." Albert said matter-of-factly.
As night fell, the rain enveloped the Hogwarts castle, and the laughter in the room gradually faded beneath the sound of the rain.
In the rain, the Dementors continued their vigilant patrol around Hogwarts, preventing Black from infiltrating the school.
However, how long could such loyalty last?
In a wilderness at a distance from Hogwarts, the Ministry of Magic had set up a temporary camp, and the "supplies" for the Dementors were brought here.
But most Muggle prisoners couldn't bear the Dementors' kisses, soon going insane or dying, unable to provide sufficient nourishment for the Dementors.
Worst of all, the Ministry couldn't possibly provide an endless supply of "food" for the Dementors, especially now that they had begun to breed. The Ministry's supply of "food" was simply insufficient.
After all, there were only so many Muggle death row prisoners, and they could never satisfy the Dementors' insatiable hunger.
And so, Hogsmeade Village suffered the consequences.
To prevent Black from hiding in the village, the Dementors frequently patrolled areas with high concentrations of people, causing many residents to consider temporarily relocating.
The Three Broomsticks Inn was deserted during this time.
While the inn usually catered to wizards operating in the gray areas of the law, the combination of Auror patrols and Dementors searching for Black had driven them all away.
However, no one noticed a black dog carrying a dead rat in its mouth, slowly walking in the rain, easily slipping through the Dementors' tight security, and quietly slipping into the passage beneath the Whomping Willow.
In the darkness, the black dog released the rat from its mouth and devoured it, chewing it thoroughly before its body began to expand, eventually regaining its human form.
Perhaps no one could have imagined that Black, desperately sought by the Ministry of Magic, would transform into a black dog and wander right under their noses.
Black slowly made his way to the cave entrance, found a dry spot to sit down, and gazed at the Hogwarts castle through the rain, muttering to himself.
(End of Chapter)
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