The auditorium was filled with a festive atmosphere. In addition to the traditional pumpkin lanterns and bat decorations, there were also some uniquely local adornments, such as ghost models and colorful sugar skulls. The dining tables were lined with special snacks—blood-filled candies, tombstone-shaped cookies, and other creatively spooky treats.
"Isn't Halloween tomorrow? Why does it feel like the holiday has already started?" Ryan asked in surprise. Several classmates around him also wore puzzled expressions.
Hermione, standing nearby, overheard the question and replied, "The customs here are different from ours in the UK. In South America, Halloween is celebrated from October 31st to November 2nd—three full days."
Apparently, wizards in South America enjoy longer holidays, much like their Muggle counterparts. Ryan thought this was a good thing—after all, who didn't love holidays? From the perspective of food alone, the Castrobrusso festival was far richer and more festive than their usual meals.
However, Ryan's good mood didn't last long. On the morning of Halloween, he received multiple letters—one each from the Weasley twins, Percy, Colin, and even Ron, who rarely wrote to him. The letters all shared one grim piece of news: something terrible had happened at Hogwarts. Sirius Black had broken into the castle and had even slashed the portrait of the Fat Lady guarding the Gryffindor common room with a knife.
Carrying the letters, Ryan headed to the common room and quickly realized he wasn't the only one who had received them. Most students were gathered there, each clutching one or two letters. However, the information Ryan received seemed to be more accurate than most. For instance, a Hufflepuff student next to him swore up and down that Black had fought a dramatic battle in the Gryffindor common room, dueling a dozen students before fleeing in a flurry of sparks.
As rumors swirled and the noise in the room rose, Professor Sprout entered. She gave a brief headcount and raised her voice to address the group.
"Alright, everyone's here. I need to clarify some things. Many of you may have received letters from friends at Hogwarts about what happened last night. To prevent the spread of misinformation, I'm here to deliver an official announcement."
She paused and then continued, "First, yes, Sirius Black did enter Hogwarts Castle last night. He attempted to access the Gryffindor common room and, when he failed, destroyed the portrait of the Fat Lady. Second, and most importantly, no one was harmed. So I expect you all not to spread rumors. Lastly, unfortunately, we did not apprehend Sirius. I urge you to remind your friends to cooperate with school authorities during this time and avoid unnecessary risks."
As she finished, Professor Sprout cast a pointed glance at Ryan, clearly referencing the notorious Weasley twins. Ryan could only give an awkward yet polite smile to show that he understood.
With that, the students dispersed. On the way to class, Ryan couldn't help but ponder the supposed security of Hogwarts Castle. In his previous life, he had read many fanfictions where headmasters could monitor every corner of the school with ease. Technically, such magical surveillance wasn't far-fetched. After all, Harry Potter's father had created the Marauder's Map, which showed everyone's real-time location inside the castle. If four students could create such a powerful tool, it wasn't unreasonable to believe that Hogwarts itself had similar capabilities.
But if that were the case, why hadn't Dumbledore caught Black immediately?
Ryan didn't believe in the Dumbledore conspiracy theories that were popular in fan circles. As the leader of the light, Dumbledore wouldn't knowingly harbor criminals. Nor would he allow someone wrongfully imprisoned to stay in Azkaban for over a decade without doing anything.
The more likely explanation, Ryan thought, was that Hogwarts' surveillance system could display locations but lacked real-time alerts. It required someone to watch it constantly, and Dumbledore, being the headmaster, couldn't possibly monitor it all day like a security guard.
This realization sparked a new thought: if surveillance at Hogwarts wasn't actively monitored, then maybe, just maybe, Ryan could pull off some mischief in the future—provided he avoided ghosts and portraits.
Back in the common room, everyone was now discussing how Black had gotten past the Dementors and breached Hogwarts' defenses. The general consensus was that he must have used a secret passage. Given their distance from the UK and the events feeling somewhat remote, the excitement faded quickly. However, when the students wrote letters back to their friends at Hogwarts that night, many included messages of comfort and concern.
Just as things were settling down, another troubling incident rocked Hogwarts.
It was mid-November, and Ryan had just returned from dinner when he found a crowd gathered in the common room. Everyone was buzzing about the upcoming Hogwarts House Quidditch Cup. Ravenclaw students were particularly anxious this year. With Arya participating in the exchange program, the team had to rely on substitute players, putting them at a disadvantage.
Ryan wasn't particularly interested in Quidditch, but for the sake of blending in socially, he joined the group, occasionally chiming in with a comment or two to appear engaged.
Amid the discussion, the common room door burst open. Hermione entered, clutching an open letter in her hand, her expression grave.
"Ryan," she said urgently, "something's happened at Hogwarts. The Dementors broke through and invaded the Quidditch pitch. Harry fell from his broom—straight from the sky."
A stunned silence followed her words. Then, all at once, the room erupted into gasps and anxious chatter.
Hermione unfolded the letter and began reading it aloud. Slowly, the students pieced together the full picture. Apparently, the exhilaration of the Quidditch match had attracted the Dementors, causing them to lose control. Harry, flying high and unprotected, had fainted mid-air due to their presence and plummeted to the ground. Thankfully, Dumbledore had acted swiftly, driving the Dementors away and saving Harry's life.
"I don't understand why we have Dementors guarding the school in the first place," someone muttered angrily.
"Those filthy things should have been wiped out years ago."
"What is the Ministry even thinking? Hogwarts is turning into Azkaban!"
Voices echoed in outrage and disbelief. The common room buzzed with frustration and concern. Meanwhile, Ryan and Hermione quietly returned to their own compartment.
"This letter was written by Ginny," Hermione explained, handing it to Ryan. "She wrote it while sitting beside Harry in the hospital wing. She says he's in terrible shape—pale and trembling nonstop. She asked me if we know any way to help him recover or protect himself in the future."
Ryan frowned and reread the note.
"There's only one way Harry can deal with this right now," Ryan replied slowly.
Hermione nodded. "You mean—?"
"Yes," Ryan said. "The Patronus Charm."
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