https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-97-Vanishing-Cabinet-Revised-Version-/13684822/
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Remus Lupin was efficient. By noon the next day, he informed Wade that he had successfully purchased the Vanishing Cabinet from Borgin and Burkes.
Meanwhile, Wade borrowed the Castle’s Vanishing Cabinet from Professor McGonagall under the pretense of researching Alchemy. He assured her he fully understood the danger involved and would never recklessly step into it.
The Vanishing Cabinet was a striking piece of furniture—black and gold in color—its surface etched with countless Ancient Runes and intricate, otherworldly patterns. The ancient magic binding the two cabinets together formed a mysterious tunnel. Even within Hogwarts, where Apparition was forbidden, people could use the pair of cabinets to achieve instantaneous magical transport.
In the story, it was through this very tunnel that the Death Eaters infiltrated Hogwarts. And on that night, Dumbledore had died.
Wade used a Shrinking Charm to reduce the cabinet’s size and brought it to the Room of Requirement. He then began conducting experiments at his own pace. Using the Book of Friends Contact, he and Remus Lupin tested various objects—apples, bread, pillows, buckets—placing them into one cabinet and retrieving them from the other. The first few trials went perfectly. Everything came out intact.
Encouraged, Remus suggested testing with living creatures. They started with mice, then rabbits, then a Blast-Ended Skrewt—gradually increasing the size and magical complexity of the subjects, moving closer and closer to human-level beings.
By the thirteenth experiment, something went wrong.
As Wade pulled open the cabinet door, a strange unease prickled his senses. When he opened it, he found a Blast-Ended Skrewt lying motionless inside—its breath stilled.
[Wade:] It’s dead.
[Remus Lupin:] What happened?
[Wade:] No wounds. Just… stopped breathing. You can check on your end.
Wade closed the door again. Remus opened it. The creature’s body lay cold and lifeless. He carefully lifted it out and examined it.
[Remus Lupin:] The body is freezing—like it’s been dead for at least three or four hours. There are strange cracks across the skin. The bones are brittle—so fragile they feel like biscuit crumbs. When the door closed, it must have been transported somewhere… and then it died there.
[Remus Lupin:] Wade, the Vanishing Cabinet is far more dangerous than we thought.
[Wade:] I understand. Let’s pause the experiment. First, I need to see if I can repair this cabinet.
As he set down his quill, Wade couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.
He’d assumed the cabinet had only been destroyed by Peeves during Harry’s second year. But now he realized—before that, it had already been broken.
He stared intently at the cabinet. Slowly, golden magical rune circuits began to emerge like flowing water. Complex layers of enchanted arrays unfolded, hundreds of Ancient Runes wrapping around the cabinet like chains. Tiny imperfections, missing patterns, worn-down Runic scripts—etched by time—began to reveal themselves. One by one, Wade traced and identified the damaged parts.
...
Umbrella Room.
After their combat training, the group applied bruise-healing ointment to each other’s sore spots.
Harry asked, “Wade’s been really busy lately. He’s only showing up every few days now.”
Each visit lasted about an hour—teaching them a new spell, offering guidance on their magical studies—then he’d vanish again without a word.
“Yeah,” Michael sighed. “That Alchemy professor gave him an incredibly difficult assignment. He hasn’t even returned to the common room lately. Spends all his time locked away somewhere, researching Alchemy.”
Cleaning Crab clattered over, collecting the cotton balls and wiping the floor clean.
Everyone watched it move, then finally turned away once the creature had returned to its shell nest and settled down. As they left the Umbrella Room and descended one floor, they unexpectedly ran into someone.
“Y-you… hello…” Professor Quirrell seemed startled by the encounter. A nervous smile tugged at his lips as he awkwardly raised a hand and greeted his students.
Michael, Hermione, and Liam instinctively bowed their heads—playing the part of respectful pupils. “Good evening, Professor.”
Harry and Theo, however, greeted him with calm ease. “Hello, Professor Quirrell.”
Neville, lagging behind, hurried to add his own greeting.
As they prepared to part ways, Harry added with a smile, “Good luck, Professor! You’re really brave!”
Quirrell let out a short, tense laugh and waved his hand slightly.
[Hermione:] “You…” Her voice cracked. Her eyes locked onto Harry as if she wanted to scream a thousand words.
Theo cut in bluntly, “Harry, are you serious? You think Quirrell’s… brave?”
There wasn’t a more timid professor in the entire school.
“You don’t understand,” Harry said quietly, his voice heavy with secrets. “Professor Quirrell is fighting against something dark. He’s truly remarkable.”
Theo and Neville exchanged confused glances but nodded anyway, still unsure.
The others exchanged silent, weary looks—faces tight with unspoken concern.
“Keep an eye on him,” Michael whispered. “Don’t let them get near him again.”
They all nodded silently. The weight of responsibility settled on their shoulders.
...
Harry, unaware of their worries, returned to the dormitory with a light heart. He shared what he’d learned with Ron, played a few rounds of Wizard’s Chess, then climbed into bed.
But for some reason, the scar on his forehead throbbed faintly.
While the others sank into sleep, Harry remained wide awake. He pulled on his cloak and sat by the window, gazing out at the star-strewn night sky.
Then—something flashed across his vision.
A shadow darted through the air.
It took him a moment to realize—someone was flying on a broomstick above the castle.
Who was it? Why was someone flying around the school at midnight?
Without hesitation, Harry grabbed his Nimbus 2000, climbed through the window, and leapt from the eighth floor.
He plummeted through the air, then pulled up sharply, circling the sky. Finally, near the Black Lake, he spotted a figure standing still.
From high above, he circled around, closing in—only to realize with surprise that the person was Wade.
“Hey, Wade,” Harry said, landing his broom and walking over. “What are you doing out here?”
“Harry?” Wade turned, equally surprised. “You’re not asleep?”
“Can’t sleep,” Harry rubbed his forehead. “This scar’s been aching all day. Probably Snape’s cursing me from beneath the lake.”
Wade glanced at the lightning-shaped scar, then answered, “I was just about to head back to bed when I saw someone with white hair over here. But when I flew closer… they were gone.”
He wasn’t sure if the figure he’d seen was the same one from half a year ago. But for some reason, the memory haunted him.
Maybe it was the distance—too far to see the face clearly.
Harry scratched his head. “Probably just a trick of the light.”
“Maybe,” Wade said, not arguing. His gaze shifted to Hagrid, who was approaching the Forbidden Forest with an oil lamp in hand and Fang, his giant dog, trotting beside him.
“Looks like Hagrid isn’t asleep either,” Wade remarked.
“Probably feeding Norbert,” Harry said casually.
“Norbert?” Wade turned sharply.
“Yeah. The baby dragon Hagrid named him. He’s getting too big to keep in the hut. Hagrid moved him to a cave in the Forbidden Forest.”
Wade stared. “You didn’t send him away?”
Harry sighed. “Hermione tried to convince him. Ron said his brother Charlie in Romania studies dragons—could’ve taken him. But Hagrid wouldn’t let go. He’s attached to it.”
“ROOOOAAARRR!”
From deep within the Forbidden Forest, a thunderous roar echoed. A sudden burst of flame shot skyward, illuminating the night like a blazing torch.
(End of Chapter)
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