Translated Chapter
When Wade emerged from the Maze area, he found the Weasley Twins leading a crowd of students blocking the entrance, arms flailing as they shouted in unison:
"Protest! Protest!"
"Give us back the Ultimate Challenge!"
"This is someone’s hard work inside — the school can’t just shut it down!"
"We want freedom! We want justice! We want the Ultimate Challenge!!"
A sea of teenage voices — no House distinctions, just a unified chorus — echoed through the air. The smaller animals near the outer perimeter were terrified, fleeing in panic and hiding beneath the bushes.
Wade blinked in surprise. Among the students, he spotted several pale, translucent figures — the majority of Hogwarts’ ghosts had shown up, though no one knew why they’d joined the protest. Even Peeves stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the twins, arm linked with theirs, shouting with gleeful abandon.
Wade turned back, expecting the Headmaster to say something. But Dumbledore was gone — vanished without a trace.
Professor McGonagall stood before the crowd, wand pressed to her throat. Her voice boomed like thunder, a lion’s roar that rolled across the grounds like a tidal wave. The Black Lake rippled outward, and with a soft glug, the giant squid submerged beneath the surface. The Forbidden Forest fell silent — even the insects ceased their buzzing. The wind stilled. Students clutched their ears, stunned into silence. The air was so quiet, it felt as if every heartbeat could be heard.
Professor McGonagall lowered her wand, hands folded gracefully, her posture poised and elegant. She looked at the crowd and said, “One student was attacked by a Night Kneazle inside the Maze. All activities must be suspended while we investigate the cause.”
Fred, braving the tension, whispered, “We’re not afraid of being injured…”
Professor McGonagall narrowed her eyes.
Fred immediately corrected himself: “N-no, I mean… we’ll be careful. We won’t provoke the Night Kneazle…”
“It was not provoked by any student’s rudeness,” she said, her voice tight with suppressed anger. “It was fed a large quantity of Khat Grass.”
“This is a serious offense! Whoever did this — whether it was a prank or not — should come forward and confess now. Otherwise, when I find out who did it, they’ll be expelled immediately.”
Her gaze swept across the crowd, lingering meaningfully on a few mischievous faces. Most eyes turned toward the Weasley Twins, but some students — particularly those with less favorable opinions of Slytherin — kept their suspicions sharp, silently eyeing certain Slytherin students.
The twins raised their hands in unison.
“We swear — it wasn’t us, Professor!”
George added, “Khat Grass is expensive. I know that. But I wouldn’t spend that kind of money on a prank.”
No one believed their denial — but George’s words made the crowd pause.
Everyone knew the Weasley family’s situation. From Percy down to Ginny, the siblings had all worn secondhand clothes since their first year. Percy and Ginny, the older ones, occasionally got new things — but Fred and George, and even Ron, seemed to wear the same old robes year after year.
Sure, they had ways to earn money in secret — everyone knew that. They even had savings. But the idea that they’d spend a fortune on an impractical herb for a pointless prank, one that could seriously harm another student…
No one thought they’d be that reckless.
Percy glared at them. “Professor,” he said, voice grave, “who was injured?”
Professor McGonagall pressed her lips together, reluctant to speak. But under the weight of so many eyes, she finally said: “Harry Potter. He was scratched by the Night Kneazle. He’s just been taken to the Infirmary.”
Ron and Hermione paled instantly. They exchanged a glance, then bolted toward the Infirmary.
A wave of murmurs exploded through the crowd. Eyes turned to the Slytherin students — not just in suspicion, but in disbelief. Even the Slytherins themselves doubted one of their own had done it. They didn’t voice it, but their eyes flicked toward those who often mocked Gryffindors in the Common Room — the pure-blood extremists.
Draco Malfoy. Braith Zabini. Theodore Nott.
Older students like Flee and Axley.
And suddenly, some Slytherins found themselves isolated — surrounded by wary stares.
“Was it you, Draco?” Pansy whispered, her voice excited. “No one will know. I’ll keep it confidential.”
“I wish it had been me,” Malfoy muttered darkly. “I’d have given that scarhead a proper lesson. But it wasn’t me… I think it was some idiot.”
He glanced toward a group of Slytherin boys standing together — their faces cold, unreadable. Pansy followed his gaze, but couldn’t tell who he’d meant.
“Either way,” she said, “I’ll always support you.”
Malfoy gave a distracted nod. His mood remained sour.
Professor McGonagall had her own suspicions, of course — but without evidence, she couldn’t speak. She issued a few safety instructions, then loudly forbade any student from sneaking into the Maze at night — her eyes flashing again at the Weasley Twins. Anyone caught violating the rule would face severe punishment.
The crowd dispersed, disappointed. As they left, the Tree Guardians slowly returned to their positions in the hedges.
“Can I keep it?” Luna asked Professor Kettleburn. “I think it likes me. And I really like it.”
The old professor didn’t refuse outright. Instead, he smiled. “Ask it yourself. If it agrees, I won’t stop you.”
Luna beamed — but before she could even speak, the little Tree Guardian darted into the hedge, vanishing without a word.
“Oh…” The professor added with a mischievous grin, “It seems it’s not too fond of the idea.”
Luna’s shoulders drooped. Her expression went blank, utterly dazed.
“Uh… do you like Tree Guardians?” Rolf, who had been watching nearby, stepped forward.
“Most people think they look like old men,” Luna replied.
“They’re lovely,” she said. “I think of them as friends. Of course, the Bendy-Necked Snorebeasts are lovely too — they’re just bigger.”
“What’s a Bendy-Necked Snorebeast?” Rolf asked, puzzled. He didn’t press further. Instead, he pulled a tiny Tree Guardian from his pocket.
“Meet Ajel,” he said. “My favorite among all the Tree Guardians.”
The small creature curled around his finger, its two leaves trembling slightly.
“That’s wonderful,” Luna said, envious. “It’s willing to follow you.”
“You can shake its hand,” Rolf suggested. “It’s very friendly.”
Meanwhile, Fred and George found Wade.
“Hey, Wade,” Fred said, slinging an arm around his neck. “Got a thought.”
“What kind of thought?” Wade asked.
“You know the Disguise Charm,” Fred said. “And we’ve been painted as suspects — everyone’s doubting us.”
“To clear our names,” George added, “we’re willing to take a little risk.”
“We’ve got plenty of courage,” Fred said. “We’re not afraid to explore any corner of Hogwarts.”
“There’s one place we’ve been curious about for ages… but never had the chance to get inside.” He coughed. “I mean… to explore.”
“Now that everyone’s going back, you could cast a Disguise Charm on us. We’ll slip in.”
Wade raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you’re planning to break into the Slytherin Common Room?”
“I knew you’d get it!” George clapped.
“Think about it,” Fred said. “It has to be Slytherin. Once they get back, they’ll be bursting to brag.”
“If we just eavesdrop for a few minutes, we’ll find out the truth.”
“What do you think?” Fred asked.
“Not a chance,” Wade said, already walking toward the Infirmary. “You forgot someone. Remember — when Harry first arrived, didn’t he say there was a House-elf trying to stop him from coming back?”
Fred and George exchanged a glance.
“Probably just some annoying little sprite Malfoy sent to prank him,” George said.
“That’s unlikely,” Wade replied. “If Malfoy could send a house-elf into Harry’s home, why hasn’t he been killed by Death Eaters’ remnants over the years?”
“Some escaped punishment,” Wade continued. “Don’t you think at least one of them would want revenge on Harry Potter?”
“Hmm…” George frowned, a thought forming. “You’re saying…”
“I think Dumbledore placed a powerful Protection Charm — or perhaps a Repulsion Spell — around Harry’s home,” Wade said. “Anyone with ill intent can’t find him. That’s why he’s never been attacked.”
(End of Chapter)
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