Chapter 170: Exploring Hogsmeade
The last day of October, the eve of Halloween, was also a Saturday!
Early in the morning, everyone gathered in the Great Hall, excitedly discussing their trip to Hogsmeade.
Mainly, the third-year Wizards surrounded the upperclassmen, begging them to recommend some fun activities.
On the surface, there were only those shops, but as the only purely Wizarding village in Great Britain and the largest gathering place for Wizards, if you had enough Galleons, you could always find what you wanted there.
After breakfast, Ethan, Cassandra, and others gathered, Penelope and her friends were also there, and they all headed to the main gate of Hogwarts.
Filch was already waiting there, holding a long piece of parchment.
When the time came, Filch took the parchment and began to check each person's name; only those on the list could go to Hogsmeade.
Harry, having reconciled with his aunt's family, naturally obtained his guardian's signature and now stood among the crowd, his face beaming with uncontrollable excitement.
However, Ethan did not see Ron.
After Madam Norris checked everyone and confirmed there were no imposters, Filch began to arrange for people to take Thestral carriages to Hogsmeade.
Ethan and the others got into a carriage. Normally, these carriages were for four people, but they could still fit more if they squeezed.
For example, Ethan was holding Penelope in his arms, letting her sit on his lap; she was most comfortable being held by him.
Once the carriage started moving, Ethan opened his box and let Nagini out, who then sat between Cassandra and Hermione.
Ethan and the others couldn't go out to play and leave her in the Ravenclaw Chamber of Secrets!
The Thestrals were unfazed by the sudden slight increase in weight.
It wasn't long before the carriage began to slow down, eventually stopping on a side road.
The Wizards who disembarked looked around curiously, some heading purposefully in one direction.
Arriving at the Hogsmeade commercial shops, beautiful Witches stood at the entrance of each shop, attracting customers.
Every time Hogwarts students visited, the turnover of Hogsmeade's commercial street would multiply.
Unlike Ethan, who completely disregarded the rules, Hermione had truly never been to Hogsmeade, let alone Nagini.
Pulling Ethan, Hermione first went to Honeydukes. After receiving the notice that they could visit Hogsmeade, Hermione had thoroughly inquired about Hogsmeadefrom her Gryffindor seniors.
Among them, Honeydukes was what interested her most. Although she was born into a dentist's family, it didn't mean she didn't love snacks; she had merely restrained herself before coming to Hogwarts.
But after learning that Potions could completely solve the problem of cavities, Hermione no longer had such concerns. It wasn't that she ate snacks as meals, but the frequency was higher than before, similar to most young Wizards.
Upon arriving at Honeydukes, they immediately smelled various sweet aromas upon entering. Several Wizards had already arrived, and a large group was still on their way.
The shop was also newly decorated, a significant change from when Ethan had last visited.
On the shelves directly facing the entrance, various chocolates were displayed, along with their signature Fizzing Whizbees.
On the shop walls, various advertisements were posted, some for Lockhart, some for Fudge, and one for a beautiful Witch in her twenties, dressed quite revealingly, eyes closed in a seductive pose, with half a chocolate in her mouth, extending it forward. Of course, all of these were animated.
Ethan didn't know who this Witch was; he hadn't seen any reports about her in the magazines and newspapers he regularly ordered. But her looks and figure were top-notch, even Ethan couldn't help but take a second look.
Ethan could understand an unknown Witch and Lockhartendorsing products, but he couldn't figure out why Fudgewould also endorse them.
Actually, Dumbledore would be the most suitable; he already loved these sweets. Ethan estimated that if they just provided Dumbledore with a year's supply of afternoon tea desserts, the endorsement could probably be secured. It was a pity the proprietress didn't recognize talent.
And now, the proprietress of Honeydukes was showcasing new products to everyone.
She ate a blue bubblegum, and after chewing a few times, she continuously blew out bluebell-colored bubbles from her mouth. These bubbles were constantly released and floated towards the outside of the shop.
This commotion once again attracted many people into the shop.
"Ethan, do you know what's going on?"
Hermione's eyes sparkled with excitement; how could a ten-year-old girl resist this?
"It should be a reaction caused by adding some kind of Potion. If you want some, go buy some."
The items here weren't expensive; a Galleon could buy a small bag, affordable for most Wizards unless their families were extremely poor.
Watching Hermione happily run off to choose candies, Ethan said to Nagini beside him:
"Take whatever interests you; I'll pay in the end."
At this moment, the proprietress, having finished her demonstration, walked over, a smile on her face: "Ethan, I'll give you twenty percent off later!"
She liked Wizards like Ethan; he always spent a lot and never haggled.
Especially before Christmas, his individual spending was genuinely higher than her daily turnover, requiring several owls to deliver the goods.
"Thank you!"
Ethan nodded in thanks; they had known each other for quite some time.
Ethan, Fred, and George had a passage to Hogsmeadethat led directly to the basement of Honeydukes. Their relationship was good, thanks to the Twin' introduction.
He usually bought candies for gifts here; their products used quality ingredients and tasted good. (ceei) Oh, and this too, it's also a new product this year, would you like to try it?"
Saying that, the proprietress handed over a bag of black bread slices.
"It's not a prank product, is it?"
Ethan looked at the proprietress suspiciously.
Don't let it just be a candy store; some items here shouldn't be eaten casually, like their early product, the Acid Pops, which could burn a hole in your tongue.
Or the Exploding Bonbons, which wouldn't cause injury but delivered real pain and left your head buzzing for several minutes.
Ethan hadn't tried these, but the Twin had, and they had used them to trick others.
"No, don't worry, eat it. I'm not Fred or George; I'd definitely tell you in advance if it were a prank product."
The proprietress patted her chest to reassure him, though being over fifty, she wasn't particularly alluring now.
Those prank candies were only made to suit the preferences of certain Wizards and weren't the main products of the shop.
Besides, Ethan was a big customer; only someone with a problem in their head would offend him.
Since the proprietress said so, Ethan took out a piece of bread, giving the rest to Penelope and the others.
The bread slice was black pepper flavored, a bit odd but tasted good, though a little chokey.
With Cho Chang's sneeze, a stream of fiery red flames shot out of her nose.
Ethan also took a deep breath, then a fierce stream of fiery red flames shot out of his nose.
Reaching out to feel it, he realized it only looked like flames; in reality, it was reddish smoke. Ethan had already felt something was off.
As for what exactly was added inside, Ethan wouldn't investigate; these were their own research results and considered trade secrets.
Moreover, the effects of these Potions weren't significant; they were just interesting.
When the other Wizards saw Ethan eating this black bread slice, they immediately asked the proprietress about it.
The young Wizards found spitting fire more interesting than blowing bubbles.
"Pepper Imps, that's their name. They're over here, and there's plenty of them."
The proprietress led the Wizards to a shelf and began to introduce them.
Every year, Honeydukes launches two new products, and this year's are the Pepper Imps and the Super Bubblegum she just demonstrated.
Ethan didn't squeeze through but instead pulled Cassandra and wandered around the shop; she wasn't interested in these snacks.
Cho Chang and Penelope also went over to Hermione. It could only be said that this year's Honeydukes was a success: the fire-breathing bread attracted young Wizards, while the bubblegum that could blow blue bubbles attracted young Witches.
After getting some Cockroach Clusters, Creamy Fudge, and Fizzing Whizbees, Ethan took Cassandra out; the shop was already quite crowded.
Many Wizards considered this their first stop for exploring Hogsmeade.
After coming out, Ethan immediately used Transfigurationto turn the cockroach-shaped chocolates still crawling in the bag into normal chocolate balls.
After trying Cockroach Clusters at Dumbledore's, Ethan felt that the chocolate tasted quite good. He would buy some from time to time and then use Transfiguration to make them look normal, otherwise, they were genuinely a bit off-putting.
After Hermione and the others came out carrying various-sized packages, Ethan and his group headed to their second stop.
The Three Broomsticks!
By the time Ethan and the others entered, many Wizards had already gathered, sitting in twos and threes.
From time to time, some Wizards would steal glances at Madam Rosmerta, the proprietress.
This charming widow was truly a beauty in Hogsmeade, receiving countless love letters each year, many of which came from Hogwarts Wizards.
Being early in the morning, Ethan and the others naturally wouldn't order any alcoholic drinks; they only asked for some Violet Water and Butterbeer.
Mainly, Hermione wanted to see for herself why this famous pub was so attractive; otherwise, Ethan wouldn't have particularly wanted to come.
Although Madam Rosmerta was still quite alluring, she was already over forty, definitely not his type, and he couldn't appreciate her.
Chapter 171: Fred's Girlfriend
Lunch was also eaten at The Three Broomsticks. They had all the regular food there.
In the afternoon, Ethan and Cassandra were abandoned by Hermione and the other four; they wanted to go to Gladrags Wizardwear.
This was a large chain of Wizarding clothing stores, with shops not only in Great Britain but also in Paris, France.
They mainly sold women's clothing, including luxurious garments made from Animals fur, which, of course, were quite expensive.
But Hermione and her friends could now be considered somewhat wealthy.
In the last school year, they had won thousands of Galleons in the Duelling Tournament organized by Lockhart, so they could completely afford these expenses.
Ethan and Cassandra each held a Butterbeer, walking hand in hand, strolling along the roads of Hogsmeade.
They leisurely visited any shop that caught their interest.
Passing by Zonko's Joke Shop, it was also packed with Little Wizardss.
They were all spending Galleons and Sickles, with the most Little Wizardss being from Gryffindor.
Although Fred and George had invented quite a few prank items by now, neither their variety nor quantity could compare to Zonko's Joke Shop.
Among their products, Dungbombs and Hiccup Sweets were the most famous, especially the former, which were frequently seen in Hogwarts pranks.
Even Fred and George themselves occasionally came to Zonko's Joke Shop to buy things, which Ethan often teased them about as 'aiding the enemy'.
However, Ethan didn't see Fred and George there today, which was a bit strange.
Didn't they always go to Zonko's Joke Shop whenever they came to Hogsmeade?
"George?"
Ethan looked at the figure ahead and called out, a little puzzled.
Usually, Fred and George always acted together, and Ethan distinguished them based on small characteristics like their speaking preferences.
If it relied on their appearance, even their mother Mollycouldn't tell who was Fred and who was George.
And now, with only one person standing alone on the road outside, Ethan could only guess based on his feelings.
"Ethan, you can tell Fred and me apart?"
George turned his head in surprise, looking at Ethan with an incredulous expression.
His own mother couldn't do it, but Ethan, a friend he'd known for a few years, could.
Whose problem was this, exactly?
"Mostly, I just guessed, but it seems I was right."
"By the way, why are you here alone? Where's Fred?"
The Twin were always inseparable; if one was here, the other wouldn't be far.
George being alone now seemed very strange.
"There!"
George pointed to a shop not far ahead.
Ethan followed George's finger and saw the sign read "Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop."
This was another famous shop in Hogsmeade.
For greedy Little Wizardss, Honeydukes was the first choice; for those who liked pranks and mischief, Zonko's Joke Shop was the first choice.
For those who were attracted to Madam Rosmerta and wanted to try alcoholic beverages and other drinks, the Three Broomsticks was the first choice.
For those who liked all sorts of strange Alchemy tools, especially for cheating on exams, the first choice was Dervish and Banges, who launched new cheating products every year, though they still couldn't escape the Professors' eyes.
And Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop was the top choice for couples on dates.
Inside, everything was decorated with lace, even the small round tables, and there were golden cherubs serving as waiters.
These cherubs were similar to the dwarves Lockhart hired for Valentine's Day, except the cherubs had more pleasant faces and weren't as ugly as the dwarves.
"What is Fred doing in Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop?"
"Why aren't you going in? Why are you out here alone?"
Ethan couldn't understand what Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop had to do with Fred.
It was safe to say that of all the shops they might enter, Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop would be the least likely.
"Sigh, why don't you go see for yourself!"
George sighed, not wanting to say more.
Seeing this, Ethan didn't ask any more questions. He took Cassandra's hand and walked towards Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop.
"Hello, Senior Edwina!"
Upon reaching the entrance of Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop, Ethan realized that the greeter was actually the Ravenclaw senior who had graduated last year.
They weren't very close, but they knew each other, so it was natural to greet her.
It had been over a year since she graduated, and he didn't expect to see her here today, and she seemed to be doing quite poorly.
"Adrian, you're here!"
"It seems Penelope still lost!"
Saying this, Edwina looked at Cassandra with some surprise.
When she graduated, there were many guesses among the older graduating seniors about Ethan's final choice, and they didn't expect the Slytherin one to be the winner in the end.
"You can't say that; Penelope hasn't lost yet."
Ethan glanced at Cassandra, or more accurately, Cassandra had lost badly.
"How have you been doing recently?"
Looking at Ethan meaningfully, Edwina no longer asked about the previous question.
After all, this was about having a harem, and she wasn't joining it, so why ask so many details?
"Not bad. Ravenclaw won the House Cup again last year."
"But Senior, why are you working here now?"
After all, she was a Ravenclaw graduate, and her grades were quite good, on the upper end of average.
Now she was a greeter, and he didn't know what to say.
One had to know that this wasn't a formal job; it was just temporary work. Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop usually didn't have a greeter, only Madam Puddifoot and a few golden cherubs.
"Muggle-born, no background, no Galleons. If I want to stay in the Wizarding World, I can only do jobs like this."
Edwina's expression remained unchanged; the setbacks of the past year had long made her accept reality.
She didn't know how long she could keep going.
If things really didn't work out, she could only return to the Muggle world, find someone to marry, and settle down.
"If you're willing, you can go to the wizard mailboxspecialty store in Diagon Alley; they're still short-staffed there, mainly responsible for connecting with international goods."
Now the shops were getting bigger and bigger. Last year, they were only in Europe, but this year they had expanded to the Americas, and there was also the Asian market. As for Africa, well, let's forget about that!
It was too poor there to make much money.
Given Edwina's grades in school, if she had any background, she would have easily gotten into the Ministry of Magic. She was definitely qualified to work here now.
"Then I'll take you seriously. I'll go after I finish work today!"
A flicker of joy crossed Edwina's face. She didn't expect that taking a temporary job would lead to a permanent one.
It was important to know that Muggle-born Little Wizardss like her found it very difficult to get a formal job. Even jobs like Knight Bus drivers and shop assistants in various stores had to be fought for.
And even then, they might not win, because Hufflepuffgraduates were usually given priority. After all, who would choose students from other houses when they could take care of their own housemates?
"I'll contact them after I go back tonight. You just go tomorrow."
It was a pity that his secret identity couldn't be exposed; otherwise, gathering those who couldn't make it in the Wizarding World would be a considerable force.
"Thank you, boss!"
Edwina quickly adapted to her new role.
Then, led by Edwina, Ethan and Cassandra arrived at a semi-open private room, where many couples had gathered.
And Fred was indeed there.
Across from him sat a sturdy, dark-skinned Little Witch, whose identity Ethan recognized.
She was a member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team named Angelina Johnson. It was said that she was quite popular in Gryffindor, but Ethan didn't appreciate her.
He didn't expect Fred to be with her now. Ethan, who had read the original novel, knew that Angelina Johnsoneventually married George.
This was truly a rather dramatic story.
Originally, Angelina Johnson was Fred's Halloween Dinner partner, and their relationship at that time goes without saying. After graduation, their specific relationship was unknown.
But after Fred's sacrifice in the Battle of Hogwarts, Angelina Johnson married George.
Then their son was named Fred Weasley in memory of Fred.
However, Ethan had been sitting there for a long time, and Fred still didn't seem to notice him. He was constantly talking to Angelina Johnson across from him.
Sitting there and drinking tea like this was pointless. After a few sips, Ethan pulled Cassandra away.
The purpose of this trip was to find out what Fred was doing in there, and now that purpose had been achieved.
"George, Fred has a girlfriend now. What about you?"
After Ethan came out, he found George still there, but his expression was even more sorrowful.
"I wish I did!"
George's face instantly fell.
Influenced by Ethan, Fred and George had agreed at the beginning of this school year to both find partners, but Fred had succeeded, while he was still alone.
They looked so similar, so why couldn't he? This made George quite sad.
"Then keep wishing!"
Ignoring the lonely single dog behind him, Ethan continued to wander with Cassandra.
After all, even Ethan couldn't help much with such matters.
By dusk, it was almost time to gather. Tonight, there was still the Halloween Dinner waiting at Hogwarts.
Ethan and Cassandra also emerged from the Hog's Head Inn, the only pub in Hogsmeade that dared to sell strong liquor to Little Wizardss.
The environment inside was quite dirty and messy, but some people liked it there, such as Hagrid and some people involved in illegal transactions.
Now it had become a small market for illegal transactions.
Chapter 172: Undercover Service
By the time the Little Wizardss returned to Hogwarts in the Thestral carriages, the sky had already darkened.
Ethan also recalled Nagini while in the carriage. Now was not the time for her to be exposed to Dumbledore. Even in Hogsmeade, Ethan had told her to stay away from the Hog's Head Inn.
Those two were the ones who remembered Nagini's appearance. As for the rest, they were far away at the moment and rarely met, so there was no need to worry too much.
As long as she didn't appear in front of those two, or get photographed by someone, Nagini could wander around outside as much as she wanted.
After all, Nagini could only be described as a beautiful Asian Witch, which was too broad a description. It was impossible to connect her to Nagini, who had been missing for decades.
Unless they saw her in person, they wouldn't believe that the current Nagini was no different from before.
After sending Nagini back to the Ravenclaw Chamber of Secrets, Ethan went to the Great Hall. Today's Halloween Dinner was not suitable for absence.
Over the course of half a day, the Professors had redecorated the Great Hall.
Hundreds of lit pumpkins, a large swarm of flying live bats, and many burning orange banners, like colorful water snakes, lazily drifted across the storm-brewing ceiling.
The Little Wizardss gathered in clusters, mostly discussing what they had seen and heard in Hogsmeadethat day, their faces beaming with smiles, clearly very satisfied with their trip to Hogsmeade.
"Harry, why did you go to Hogsmeade alone today?"
Seeing Harry walk in from outside, Ethan asked curiously.
Ethan felt a bit confused about Ron's current state.
During this time, he had been quietly with Harry, not losing many points in class, but also not answering questions, keeping a very low profile.
"Ron said he had been to Hogsmeade before and wasn't interested in it, so he didn't go this time."
Harry replied with a smile.
He had a great time in Hogsmeade today, especially at Honeydukes, where he tried every product.
Then he bought two large bags to take back, including gifts for Ron.
He had also visited other famous places. For Harry, who wasn't short on money, the experience was truly good.
"Do you think he's been normal lately?"
Normal!"
"Ron seems no different than before for the past half-month. He was just a bit agitated earlier because he was worried about Scabbers' lifespan."
Ron's current state was similar to when he was in first year, which made Harry feel much more at ease. It was easier to get along with Ron this way—it was much better to have time to talk about Quidditch and play Wizardchess, and avoid getting into all sorts of trouble.
It was just a pity he didn't go to Hogsmeade today!
"Has Scabbers finished the tonic I gave him? Is he doing okay now?"
Ethan hadn't seen Scabbers since the start of the school year, only hearing about him from others, so he had no idea what state he was in.
The veterinary medicine had the effect of replenishing physical strength and spirit, was rich in nutrients, and also had a certain fattening effect.
"He's pretty good now, a bit plump. Ron finished the tonic you gave Scabbers half a month ago, and the effect was quite good. Ron actually wanted to buy some more from you earlier, but he didn't know how to ask."
"I just feel like you've over-nourished Scabbers a bit. When I sleep at night, Scabbers even runs over to me and has bitten me several times."
At this point, Harry also sighed. He had been listless some time ago, his fur had dulled, and he looked like he was about to kick the bucket at any moment.
But now, being too energetic wasn't good either; he was even disturbing his sleep.
If Scabbers hadn't still been missing a claw, Harry would have wondered if Ron had swapped out his rat.
"Alright, normal is good. Hermione has been complaining to me because of Crookshanks and Scabbers; they've argued several times."
Ethan's mouth twitched, but in the end, he didn't voice his concerns.
If Ron and Scabbers were normal, then something was wrong. Ron having money and not going to Hogsmeade, not spending, not showing off, his own mother wouldn't believe it.
And Scabbers, he knew Sirius Black had escaped and was near Hogwarts, and his target was definitely himself. If he could still be lively now, then something was truly amiss.
Both of them were abnormal. Since Harry thought they were normal, then let them be normal!
"Ethan, you don't know how many interesting things there are in Hogsmeade."
Upon arriving at the Ravenclaw long table, Terryimmediately pulled Ethan over and started talking.
"What did you find again?"
Ethan knew Terry's personality: he liked gossip and excitement, and was incredibly good at digging for information.
During this time, he had not stopped asking about Hogsmeade.
"There's a black dance hall without a sign, have you been there?"
Terry chuckled. He had begged a senior for a long time before he was willing to take him to experience it.
He believed that even Ethan wouldn't be able to find that place without someone familiar to lead the way.
"No!"
Ethan had long known about some of Hogsmeade's illicit businesses, but he didn't bother with them; it had nothing to do with him.
"The entrance fee is one Galleon!"
"Inside, there are Veela strip dances, Centaur massage and back-stepping services, and Merperson foot-washing services."
Terry lowered his voice and whispered to Ethan.
"The Veela strip dance might be worth seeing, but are you sure the Centaur's back-stepping won't crush you to death?"
"Merperson are so ugly, can you really enjoy their foot-washing service?"
Ethan looked at Terry, finding it hard to believe.
As for Veela strip dances, Ethan also wanted to see them, after all, no Veela was ugly. Of course, this was on the premise of not angering them, otherwise, they would scare you stiff in minutes.
As for Centaur, once they reached adulthood, their weight would be at least half a ton. It was estimated that apart from creatures like Troll and Giant, other creatures would be crippled if not killed by one of their kicks!
Moreover, Centaur have hooves for feet; how heavy must one's taste be to let them step on your back?
As for Merperson, they were purely ugly; at least the Merperson in Hogwarts were like that.
According to the book fantastic beasts and where to find them, there are three types of Merperson, and the ones in the Black Lake at Hogwarts are one of them, and also the ugliest kind.
"No, I only watched the Veela strip dance. The other services were available, but I didn't choose them."
Terry quickly clarified.
"You didn't choose a Veela service?"
Since there was a Veela strip dance, it was impossible for there to be no Veela services, it was just a matter of whether you had enough Galleon...
Terry had earned quite a bit from brewing Baffling Brain Elixir for Ethan. Although not as much as Michael, he definitely had two hundred Galleon.
He didn't have any major expenses, so he definitely had the money if he wanted to enjoy himself.
"N-not really!"
Terry's face immediately turned red. He had wanted to order at the time, but didn't know how to speak up. In the end, after watching for several minutes, he pulled up his pants and left.
"Useless!"
Ethan shook his head, still too young.
During their casual chat, the banquet also began. As Dumbledore's speech concluded, various delicacies appeared on the long tables of each house.
Today, there was still hot pot. People who stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas last year said they also ate hot pot, and it was for several days in a row. They enjoyed eating it, but not so much when they went to the toilet.
Professor Snape at the Professor's table still had a dark expression. To be precise, ever since Lupin arrived, Snapehad never not had a dark expression.
And the young Wizard were also very fond of hot pot. Even though their stomachs were full of delicacies from Hogsmeade, they were still eating with great relish.
At the end of tonight's banquet, Dumbledore did not invite any dance troupes. Instead, he let the Ghosts of Hogwarts perform a segment.
They burst out of walls and tables, forming various formations and performing glides.
Among them, Nearly Headless Nick, the Gryffindor Ghost, re-enacted his beheading experience, earning much applause from the young Wizard.
As they were leaving, Draco shouted across the Great Hall at Harry, in front of all the young Wizard: "Potter, the Dementor says hello!"
This drew glances from many young Wizard, but Harrylooked indifferent. He had been happy all day today and didn't want to argue with Draco now.
Ethan and the others returned to the Ravenclaw common room, where everyone was gathered, chatting idly.
However, after about ten minutes, the Ravenclaw young Wizard received a notification from Professor Flitwick.
The Prefect was to lead all young Wizard to the Great Hall for a gathering.
As for the reason, it was not stated.
The young Wizard were all bewildered, not knowing what had happened.
But they could only follow Professor Flitwick's instructions. They immediately gathered under the leadership of the Prefect, and after confirming that no one was missing, they all proceeded to the Great Hall.
Upon arriving, they found that the Hufflepuff and Gryffindor young Wizard had already arrived.
The Hufflepuff young Wizard also didn't know what had happened, but the Gryffindor side knew some news.
When they had just returned to their common room, they found that the Fat Lady's portrait had been destroyed, and the Fat Lady herself was nowhere to be found.
Later, after confirmation by Peeves, the Fat Lady had discovered the wanted criminal Sirius Black, and because she wouldn't let him into the Gryffindor dormitory, his portrait was torn up by Sirius in retaliation.
Sirius was still within Hogwarts, but his exact whereabouts were unknown.
This was why they had been brought to the Great Hall.
After listening to a Gryffindor young Wizard's account, Ethan understood that Sirius had still chosen to make his move today.
Chapter 173: Dementor Riot
"D-Dementor are here!"
The Slytherin young Wizard had just arrived when someone in the crowd suddenly shouted.
Immediately, the entire Great Hall erupted into chaos. Everyone was in a mess, looking towards the various doors of the Great Hall.
Sure enough, some dark figures floated past the Great Hall doors and the windows above.
Their size and color definitely meant they weren't Ghosts, which meant what that person had just said was true. Immediately, everyone's faces showed terror, and some, in their panic, wanted to find a place to hide.
They had all experienced the fear of Dementor on the Hogwarts Express, and now no one wanted to face them again.
Standing on the stage, Dumbledore, who was about to begin his speech, could only swallow his words. What needed to be done first was to maintain order. He immediately raised his wand and pointed it at the Great Hall ceiling.
Boom! Boom!
Several piercing firework explosions attracted everyone's attention, causing them to look at Dumbledore on the stage.
The commotion also significantly lessened. Regardless, Dumbledore held the title of the number one Wizard in the magical world. Seeing him there, the sense of security sharply increased.
Dumbledore cast a Sonorus charm on his throat, then looked down at the young Wizard with a solemn expression.
"Everyone, please quiet down. I and the Deans will protect you here; there's no need to worry."
Dumbledore had not expected the Dementor to get involved; truly, everything was happening at once.
And Fudge had just recently assured him that Dementorwould absolutely not enter Hogwarts Castle. What was going on now?
And the four Deans, upon hearing Dumbledore's words, also stepped forward, positioning themselves opposite the various entrances of the Great Hall. Lupin also joined them at this time.
As for the other Professor, they remained as they were; they were just there for show.
This shouldn't have happened in the original story, right?
Ethan didn't remember Dementor entering Hogwarts on Halloween night; it should have just been Sirius making some noise.
Sirius being able to enter Hogwarts should also have been a result of Dumbledore's indulgence.
There was a passage under the Whomping Willow, and the Shrieking Shack could lead directly to Hogwarts. The Whomping Willow was personally planted by Dumbledore for Lupin. As long as Dumbledore didn't have senile dementia and lose his memory, he would definitely know this location.
But he did not seal this passage, nor did he tell anyone else, just letting Sirius come and go freely, which effectively nullified the Dementor's blockade on the ground.
And the reason for this was most likely to train Harry, after all, he was the chosen savior, and Harry as he was now was clearly unqualified.
Throughout his second year, Harry didn't get much training. Dumbledore agreeing to Lockhart holding the Duelling Tournament was probably to train Harry's practical combat ability, considering that in his first year, the stage prepared for Harry, he mostly acted as a sandbag and shield.
But in his second year, he didn't learn much either, just Expelliarmus, and he almost got killed by Ron.
Now it was his third year; if he wasn't trained soon, there wouldn wouldn't be enough time.
So he wanted to use Harry's hatred for Sirius to make him personally capture Sirius, and in this process, train his courage and strength, and enhance his self-confidence.
And Sirius, in this process, would basically not harm Harry; this was definitely a perfect candidate for a trial.
With the protection of the Deans and Dumbledore, it was no longer as chaotic, but everyone was still discussing the matter.
"Dementor, why would they enter Hogwarts?"
Luna, standing next to Ethan, asked curiously with her wide eyes.
She had been pulled over by Ethan. Others still had some means to deal with Dementor, but Luna, facing Dementor, could do nothing but run, and she couldn't outrun Dementor that could fly.
So, Ethan had kept her by his side.
"Most likely, they discovered Sirius's whereabouts."
Ethan could only say that.
But in reality, it was impossible. Sirius, transformed into a black dog, could swagger past Dementor, and they wouldn't even notice.
In fact, there were only two possibilities.
Either the Dementor had been hungry and rioted due to not absorbing happy emotions for a long time, or someone had intentionally led them in.
Intentionally led in?
It really wasn't impossible.
To catch Sirius, they probably led the Dementor into Hogwarts Castle, and the one with this idea was probably Peter Pettigrew.
Immediately, Ethan pulled out his wizard mailbox and contacted Hermione in the Great Hall.
If he wanted to confirm Ron and his rat, it definitely wouldn't work. Now that the Prefect was maintaining order, he couldn't act on his own.
And Hermione was the best candidate. She had just brought Crookshanks down, and Ron would definitely bring Scabbers out when something like this happened; he wouldn't leave him in the dormitory.
As long as Scabbers was within a certain range, Crookshanks would notice, even if he didn't see him. This only required observing Crookshanks' expression to know if Scabbers was nearby.
On the other side, Hermione, who had her cat cage at her feet and was holding a book and her wizard mailbox, quickly noticed the text on her wizard mailbox glowing.
She immediately opened it. Although she wondered why Ethan was asking about Ron, she still looked to the side. The total number of Gryffindor students wasn't large, so with a careful look, it was easy to know who was present and who wasn't.
After confirming that Ron was not in the data, Hermionethen crouched down to check Crookshanks' state. He was currently lying quietly in his cage, which meant Scabberswas not nearby.
Knowing the result, she immediately sent a reply to Ethan.
Hermione Granger: Ron Weasley isn't with the Gryffindorteam, and Scabbers isn't nearby either.
Sure enough, neither of them was here now, which was definitely a problem, and Harry and the Prefect hadn't reported it to the Professor.
Did he leave under some pretext?
He had only arrived halfway through tonight's banquet, and the more I thought about it, the more suspicious points there were.
"Ah!"
A scream drew everyone's attention.
At the main entrance, more than ten Dementors suddenly floated over, heading directly towards the SlytherinHouse.
Tall, draped in tattered cloaks, their faces completely obscured, with only a little skin and bones exposed, looking at such an image, these young Wizards couldn't help but recall the scene on the Hogwarts Express.
Snape stood at the forefront, his face dark, watching the intruding Dementors, and shouted in a hoarse voice:
"There are no criminals you're looking for here."
The Dementors' steps paused for a moment, but then they advanced again.
Regardless of whether there were criminals or not, since they had come, they couldn't go back empty-handed.
Even without deliberately absorbing, just wandering around here would yield a considerable amount of happy emotions.
For a long time, life in Azkaban had been truly miserable.
It was fine when the criminals first arrived, but after a long time, the taste of the happy emotions they provided was no longer right.
Even these happy emotions with an 'off' taste had to be distributed; you couldn't just take them whenever you wanted.
Now, with such a good opportunity to feast on deliciousness until full, you say there are no criminals?
We don't believe it!
We need to search ourselves to confirm if there really aren't any.
Watching the Dementors continue to advance, Snapefound himself in a dilemma.
It wasn't that he couldn't deal with them, but that he didn't want to reveal his Patronus's form, especially after his Patronus had turned into a doe.
Wouldn't that tell those who knew a thing or two that Snape, as a simp, not only failed to get her, but also still longed for her after she got married, and was still simping after Lily's death?
"Expecto Patronum!"
Professor Lupin waved his wand, and a silvery-white mist appeared at the tip of his wand.
The silvery-white mist quickly condensed into the form of a wolf and charged towards the Dementors in front.
Lupin, who had stepped forward, didn't know why Snapewasn't using the Patronus Charm; the Dementors were almost upon them.
If it were just Snape, it wouldn't matter.
But with so many young Wizards present, he couldn't just stand by and watch.
In front of all the young Wizards, the silvery-white wolf used its fangs and claws to repeatedly drive back the Dementors, which immediately elevated Lupin's image in their hearts.
Before, they only thought Lupin was a good and interesting teacher, a qualified Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor.
But now, everyone recognized Lupin's strength.
However, Lupin's action at this moment was like poking a hornet's nest.
Suddenly, the entire outside of the Great Hall was shrouded in darkness, with countless dark shadows gathering towards them.
Originally, Dementors didn't understand what unity meant; a companion's death was none of their business.
But Ethan's two consecutive actions forced them to huddle together for warmth.
More than forty were captured on the Hogwarts Express, and later seventeen more were tied up.
These remaining Dementors didn't know if they would be next.
So after this, once a situation arose, they agreed to gather and face it together; this was better than dying an unknown death.
Even the Dementors later specifically transferred from Azkaban by Fudge joined in, for who isn't afraid of death!
However, as more and more Dementors joined the battle, Lupin's Patronus also began to dim.
In the Great Hall, even from such a distance, Ethan could feel a chilling aura emanating from there.
Just how many Dementors had gathered outside now?
Not only Ethan noticed this, but Professor McGonagalland Professor Flitwick also noticed it.
Immediately, everyone came to the main entrance.
"Expecto Patronum!"
As the words fell, silvery-white cats, ravens, and honey badgers charged out simultaneously.
At this point, only Snape stood among the group of Professors, feeling a little awkward.
With the help of the other Patronuses, Lupin's pressure was greatly reduced, and he managed to control his Patronus to charge forward again.
Chapter One Hundred and Seventy-Four: Connecting Pureblood Families
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Above the Great Hall, the windows originally for owls shattered, and glass shards fell everywhere.
To the terrified gazes of the young Wizards, one Dementor after another squeezed through the broken windows from above.
Immediately, the scene descended into chaos, with a large number of young Wizards frantically running towards the side passages.
It seemed these Dementors had some brains, knowing that the Professors were guarding the front main entrance and they couldn't break through, so they found another way.
But they didn't know Dumbledore was also standing inside.
Ethan's peripheral vision had already seen Dumbledoreraise the elder wand.
"Expecto Patronum!"
One step ahead, Ethan launched an attack, a large amount of silvery-white mist gushing from the tip of his wand, not forming any specific shape, but simply a vast, powerful mist.
Dumbledore, seeing this, also put down the elder wandand watched the scene with interest.
He wanted to see what form Ethan's Patronus would take, and moreover, being able to cast the Patronus Charm indicated that there was love in his heart; pure Dark Wizards could not learn the Patronus Charm.
But Ethan clearly exceeded his expectations; there was no form, just raw power.
A large amount of silvery-white mist directly enveloped all the Dementors that had floated into the Great Hall.
Inside, sounds like fingernails scratching glass continuously emanated, a sound Ethan had heard many times before—the painful wails of Dementors.
However, the other young Wizards hadn't heard it, and they all covered their ears, a look of pain on their faces.
But the panic on their faces had lessened considerably; they found that after Ethan made his move, these Dementors couldn't break through the silvery-white mist.
And each of them was screaming inside, clearly, the Dementors were being tormented by the silvery-white mist.
Although they had known there was a way to deal with Dementors, they hadn't expected it to be stronger than the Professors; the Professors couldn't handle so many Dementors at once!
The young Wizards all relaxed, but Dumbledore's heart was in his throat.
"Ethan, stop first!"
Realizing something was wrong, Dumbledoreimmediately shouted loudly.
Looking at Ethan's stance, he was clearly aiming to kill the Dementors!
But these Dementors were employees of the Ministry of Magic.
Last time, only a dozen went missing, and he was invited for a 'talk', but now there were at least forty or fifty Dementors floating in.
If Ethan killed them all, it wouldn't be as simple as just a 'talk'.
Although the Dementors were the first to violate regulations by entering Hogwarts, the Ministry of Magiccould always find excuses for them if they wanted to.
Hearing Dumbledore's voice, Ethan turned his head, feigning confusion and a puzzled expression, but his actions didn't stop.
"These Dementors are employees of the Ministry of Magic, just expel them!"
Dumbledore could only say helplessly at this moment.
It won't be you going for a 'talk' later, and it won't be you getting into trouble, so you're acting so recklessly, huh?
Dumbledore was truly depressed; being Principal wasn't easy!
"Principal, these Dementors attacked us first, even if they are Ministry of Magic employees, we can't just let it go, can we?!"
Ethan accelerated his progress while refuting Dumbledore.
The surrounding young Wizards also strongly agreed with Ethan's words, each looking at Dumbledore with a strange expression.
It was fine if he didn't act just now, but now he was even telling Ethan to stop.
You are the Principal of Hogwarts, not the Minister of Magic!
You should be responsible for the students!
"Just punish them a bit, and I will have the Ministry of Magic give an explanation later."
Dumbledore naturally noticed the strange looks from the young Wizards below, but his self-positioning was to avoid conflict with the Ministry of Magic, so he had no other choice at this moment.
"Since the Principal says so, then fine!"
With that, Ethan directly withdrew his wand, and the silvery-white mist above the Great Hall also dissipated at a visible speed, until three Dementors huddled in the corner of the ceiling, trembling, were revealed.
Dumbledore looked at the three Dementors, then at Ethan.
His face was full of doubt.
As if asking,
After all, such a big incident occurred, and the young Wizards present were almost the next generation of the entire Great Britain Wizarding World, including various pure-blood families.
As long as Ethan could stir up their emotions and make them complain to their parents, these pure-blood Wizardfamilies would exert pressure together.
In such a situation, it would be no difficult task to unseat Fudge.
However, after thinking it over, Ethan realized that removing Fudge would not benefit him.
On the contrary, keeping this useless Minister would make many things easier to manipulate in the future.
But he couldn't just waste such an opportunity!
At the very least, he had to secure some benefits for himself.
[Ethan Adrian: Cassandra, talk to your father about the Dementor breaking into Hogwarts Castle and attempting to attack the young Wizards.]
Ethan not only sent a message to Cassandra but also to Draco. His father was also surrounded by a circle of pure-blood nobles, both big and small, most of whom were Death Eaters who had escaped a calamity and were a force that could not be ignored.
There were also several Slytherin families like the Greengrasses; Ethan sent a message to everyone he had in his contacts.
The main point was that although the Dementor attack this time did not cause any damage,
what if there was a next time and the Professor and Ethan were not by their side?
If there was a first time, there would be a second time. Dementors could come at any time. If they didn't want such things to continue happening, their parents needed to put some pressure on Fudge.
The pressure from these pure-blood families was much more intense than Dumbledore's.
This time, he saved so many young Wizards at Hogwarts; he should at least get a First Class Merlin Order medal!
It could also be considered a small step towards him becoming Minister for Magic in the future.
Chapter 175: Snape's Counterattack
The young Wizards of Hogwarts only rested for one night in the Great Hall, returning to their respective dormitories the next day.
However, the impact of this incident was far from over. For the past few days, the entire school had been discussing one topic: how exactly did Sirius Black get into Hogwarts Castle?
The second topic was the Dementors. That night, it had been proven that Dementors could enter Hogwarts Castle and attack young Wizards.
Ethan contacted some young Wizards and asked them to complain to their parents, and in addition, many young Wizards also spontaneously contacted their parents.
No one wanted their school life to be shared with Dementors.
Dementors were supposedly responsible for capturing Sirius Black, but now the Dementors hadn't caught anything and were posing a threat to them. How could they tolerate it?
According to reports in The Daily Prophet, the Ministry of Magic received at least twenty Howler letters every day, along with other forms of protests.
These had already left Fudge overwhelmed, and this was even before Ethan had exerted much effort.
If The Daily Prophet were to launch another wave of public opinion about the Dementors and Sirius Black, and then have Cassandra's father and Ludo respond to make a bigger fuss,
Fudge would definitely not be able to cover it up. Coupled with the fact that he was not very well-liked to begin with, Fudge would have no other choice but to step down.
Unfortunately, it was not yet time for that.
Besides that, Quidditch training for various Houses was also put on the agenda.
The first match of the school year was about to take place.
Similar to this time of year in previous years, the weather during training and the first Quidditch match was quite bad.
It was either cloudy or rainy, and the Quidditch team members could only train in the heavy rain.
The only good news was that there was no widespread flu this year, making Madam Pomfrey's work much easier, and the young Wizards who trained Quidditch every day suffered less.
What Ethan regretted was that after so many days of rain, there hadn't been a single thunderstorm, so the Potionmade from Mandrake and saliva was still buried in the Forbidden Forest.
Time passed day by day. Ethan practiced magic for a while each day, then did some experiments, sometimes even taking Nagini and Penelope to do some physically and mentally healthy exercises. Life was quite pleasant.
Soon, the first Quidditch match was about to begin, scheduled for tomorrow.
The opening match was Slytherin versus Gryffindor.
In the morning, Ethan woke up in the Ravenclawdormitory to the sound of howling winds outside, and the rain was heavier than ever.
The corridors and classrooms were unusually dim, necessitating more torches and lanterns.
Upon arriving at the Defense Against the Dark Arts Classclassroom, many young Wizards had already arrived.
Everyone had smiles on their faces, talking loudly about something.
When they talked about something happy, they even laughed out loud.
It could be said that Defense Against the Dark Arts Classwas currently the most relaxed, pleasant, and interesting course at Hogwarts.
Mainly, Professor Lupin was easygoing, didn't lose his temper or deduct points randomly, always had a smile on his face, and was patient enough.
In addition, Professor Lupin had shown off with a Patronus Charm when the Dementors attacked, and his popularity was already at the level of the four House Deans.
However, as class time approached, Professor Lupin still hadn't arrived, which left many young Wizards confused.
Professor Lupin usually arrived three to five minutes early and never had the habit of arriving just on time.
As the class bell rang,
a muffled sound came from the classroom door.
Everyone turned to look, and the person who came was indeed not Professor Lupin, but Snape, who had taught Defense Against the Dark Arts Class for a period of time.
Upon seeing this, the young Wizards were immediately disappointed.
It wasn't that Snape taught badly; compared to previous Defense Against the Dark Arts Professors, Snape's teaching was definitely very reliable, but his personality made him unlikable.
Striding into the classroom, Snape waved his wand, closing the classroom windows one by one.
Walking up to the podium, Snape's hawk-like eyes scanned the classroom before he slowly said:
"Lupin said he's feeling very unwell today and can't come to class, so he had to ask me to substitute!"
After speaking, he revealed that somewhat frightening smile.
The young Wizards of Gryffindor sat up straight, trembling, trying their best not to give Snape an opportunity to deduct points.
Hearing Snape say this, Ethan remembered that last night should have been the full moon, but he hadn't paid attention to it recently as he had no need.
But yesterday was still a rainy day, just not as heavy as today. Would a Werewolf transform even if they couldn't see the moon?
And the reason Professor Lupin couldn't come was simple: the side effects of the Wolfsbane Potion. Not to mention what small ingredients Snape might add to it to give Professor Lupin some negative statuses.
Even a normal Wolfsbane Potion would cause a period of weakness after consumption, making it difficult to even walk during that time, let alone teach young Wizards.
"Where have you gotten to in your studies this term?"
"Lupin hasn't left any records!"
Hearing Snape's question, Hermione immediately replied, "We've learned about Boggarts, Ghouls, Red Caps, Kappa, Grindylows, and we're about to learn about—"
"Quiet!"
"I wasn't asking a question; I was criticizing Lupin's disorganized teaching!"
"Five points from Gryffindor!"
Hermione glared at Snape, somewhat unwillingly. If any Slytherin had answered, it would definitely have been a bonus.
"He's the best Defense Against the Dark Arts Professorwe've ever had!"
Andy Thomas bravely retorted loudly, and this action garnered agreement from many young Wizards.
And after Snape saw this scene, his face became even uglier.
"Ten points from Gryffindor for contradicting a Professor!"
He had taught for so many years and never encountered a student who dared to openly support him, yet a mere Professor Lupin had such ability.
He just wondered if Professor Lupin would still have so many supporters after his Werewolf identity was exposed.
"Last time I suggested to Lupin that he explain Werewolves, he probably hasn't taught you yet!"
"Red Caps, Grindylows, these should be manageable for first-years. Today we are going to discuss—Werewolves!"
According to Professor Lupin's teaching plan, they should have been learning about Hinkypunks today.
Although the young Wizards were somewhat dissatisfied with Snape disrupting Professor Lupin's teaching plan, they dared not speak out.
Class hadn't even started, and Gryffindor had already lost fifteen points. Who would dare to provoke Snape now!
"Since none of you have any objections, turn to page three hundred ninety-four. Everyone, quickly!"
The young Wizards rolled their eyes one by one, muttering softly as they opened their textbooks.
They just didn't know why Snape always liked to oppose Professor Lupin. Did these two have a grudge?
And this school year, Snape kept mentioning Werewolves, but they hadn't noticed any Werewolfcharacteristics about Snape!
"Can anyone tell me how to distinguish between a Werewolf and a true wolf?"
The young Wizards remained motionless, not one raising a hand to speak, and even the Slytherins fell silent.
Clearly, Snape now had a tendency to snap at anyone.
"Can no one answer me?"
Snape looked at the silent crowd, a sneer appearing on his face again.
"Are you trying to say that Lupin never told you the fundamental difference between the two—"
Snape had not finished speaking when Parvati Patil of Gryffindor interrupted him:
"We said we haven't gotten to the Werewolf chapter yet. We're currently learning about—"
"Quiet!"
Snape's face changed, and he glared fiercely at Parvati.
"Don't you know to raise your hand to answer?"
"Five more points from Gryffindor!"
"You're already third-years, and you still can't distinguish between a Werewolf and a wolf. I must tell Dumbledorehow terrible your learning is…"
But this time, no matter what Snape said, the young Wizards below remained silent.
They had learned enough lessons.
The rest of the class was Snape's solo performance; no one dared to interact with him.
However, Snape did indeed teach a lot of knowledge, such as how to handle Werewolf bites and scratches, how to identify a Werewolf, and how to save oneself when encountering a Werewolf.
But no one liked his teaching method; the entire class was quite oppressive.
Everyone greatly missed Professor Lupin's class, and each of them hoped that Snape would not be substituting for the next class.
The bell for class dismissal rang, and the agonizing class finally ended, but Snape did not let the young Wizards leave.
"Each of you will write me an essay on how to recognize and kill Werewolves. I require you to fill two rolls of parchment on this topic, due Monday morning!"
"Oh, and a reminder: although it was cloudy and rainy yesterday, it was also a full moon, and you all surely know the side effects of the Wolfsbane Potion from Potion Class."
After Snape left, the young Wizards began to discuss intensely, venting their anger towards Snape.
However, some young Wizards also connected Snape's last words and speculated whether Professor Lupin was a Werewolf.
But they were quickly denied by other young Wizards; most people believed this was slander from Snape.
Everyone knew that what Snape wanted most was to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor.
And Professor Lupin had deeply offended Snape because of the Boggart incident, which was why Snape was particularly targeting Professor Lupin.
This explanation gained the approval of the vast majority, and the few young Wizards who speculated that Professor Lupin was a Werewolf, lacking support from others, could only let it go.
Chapter 176: Quidditch Match in the Rain
On the day of the Quidditch match.
In the early hours of the morning, Ethan was awakened by the dull thunder overhead.
Besides the thunder, there was also the wind hitting the Castle walls and the creaking of branches breaking in the distant Forbidden Forest.
The weather was truly dreadful. He could only wish good luck to the Quidditch participants today.
However, for Ethan, it was good news; the AnimagusPotion was ready.
As soon as this storm stopped, Ethan could dig out the Potion and perform the Animagus transformation.
When Ethan woke up in the morning, he found the storm outside was even louder.
Even with such terrible weather, Hogwarts would not delay the date of the match; after all, they were Wizards, and if they couldn't overcome such a small difficulty, what else could they talk about?
"Luckily, it's not our match today."
At the Ravenclaw long table, Cho Chang, who had already sat down to eat, looked relieved.
Although she could cast a Waterproof Charm on herself to avoid becoming drenched, the strong wind greatly affected balance, especially when flying fast at high altitudes; one careless mistake could lead to a crash.
The rain also had a significant impact on visibility, especially for the Seekers.
The Golden Snitch was small, agile, and fast; with poor visibility, it was possible that even if the match started in the morning, it couldn't be caught until night, and if the Golden Snitch wasn't caught, the match wouldn't end.
For both participating teams, this was a nightmare.
"The opening match every year is Slytherin versus Gryffindor; it won't be Ravenclaw's turn until December, and by then, it will at most just snow a little."
Ethan sat beside Cho Chang, picked up the breakfast she had prepared, and began to eat.
It was all prepared according to Ethan's taste; apart from some bread, it was all meat.
"If their team finds an excuse to avoid this match, won't it be our turn, or Hufflepuff's?"
That was possible, but weren't there still honest people among the four houses?
"Even if Slytherin plays some tricks, will Hufflepuff still step in?"
"Gryffindor's Quidditch Captain, Oliver Wood, he will not back down."
In the original work, the Slytherin team refused the match on the grounds that Draco was injured, and Hufflepuffultimately participated in today's match.
However, Draco's injury was not severe; a few bottles of Potion and a little dittany would heal him in two or three days, so it was completely an excuse.
But now they didn't have this reason, though if they wanted to find one, they certainly could.
It just depended on whether Slytherin was truly that shameless.
Hearing Ethan say this, Cho Chang glanced at the Hufflepuff side, where they were still enthusiastically discussing today's match, showing no signs of worry.
Indeed, they hadn't considered any of this.
"The Blood Magic Potion is almost finished, right?!"
Cho Chang was very much looking forward to this; made from the blood of a Kneazle, this was the result of her careful selection.
Although the increase in magic, magic Resistance, and Constitution was not significant, the improvement in Agility and Perception was very strong.
These two attributes were extremely useful for practical combat, and also provided considerable help for Quidditch.
"It will be ready by the beginning of next month."
Ethan began brewing it the day after the school year started, as everything was already prepared.
Ethan had Dennis take the Kneazle blood to Hogsmeadeand then mail it to Hogwarts, ensuring it was drawn and used on the same day.
The reason for such trouble was that Ethan's place was not suitable for raising cats.
If Ethan raised cats, Hermione and the others would definitely get involved, and then they might not let Ethan draw blood, which would completely defeat the purpose.
Kneazles were only slightly larger than ordinary cats, and each blood draw would leave them half-dead, completely incomparable to large creatures like Dragons or Thunderbirds.
To meet the requirement of adding fresh blood once a week, Ethan used five Kneazles in rotation for bloodletting; otherwise, it would cost a cat's life by the second week.
According to the constitution of Animals, if they ate well, they could recover in over a month.
So far, two more additions were needed.
"Then it will be just in time for our match against Hufflepuff!"
The second match was a week before the Christmasholiday, so after taking the Blood Magic Potion, there would be time to adapt, ensuring they would be in the best condition.
After breakfast, Ethan, Cassandra, and others went to the library; there was still some time before today's match.
There wasn't enough time to practice any magic or do research, so reading was the best option.
Selecting a book on History of Magic from the bookshelf, Ethan took Cassandra and found an empty seat, eagerly flipping through it.
Ethan had always been very interested in Wizard history. At this moment, Ethan was immersed in the history of the medieval Wizard revival movement and their resistance against the Church.
It wasn't until a young Wizard excitedly shouted under Madam Pince's displeased gaze that Ethan closed the book in his hand.
Arriving at the main entrance of Hogwarts Castle with Cassandra and others, the place was now packed with people.
Gryffindor, wearing bright red Quidditch robes, and Slytherin, in green robes, were also here.
Most of the young Wizards were preparing raincoats or umbrellas.
Ethan personally saw two young Hufflepuff Wizards sharing an umbrella as they went out, but within half a minute, the umbrella was blown away by the strong wind.
Only a very small portion could use magic to block the rain.
From this, it was clear that Hogwarts' teaching quality was truly lacking.
"Head Bubble Charm!"
Ethan lightly tapped his wand, and a huge bubble directly enveloped Cassandra entirely.
As Cassandra moved, the bubble also moved with her, and there was no sign of it breaking even when her feet touched the ground during movement.
This was an alternative use of the Head Bubble Charm, which was originally meant to allow people to breathe underwater, but was now used by Ethan to protect the entire body.
Being able to withstand the powerful water pressure underwater, the strong wind outside was naturally even less of a problem.
Moreover, it was waterproof, insulated against cold, and kept warm; this single spell now negated the effects of several other spells.
"Ethan, give me one!"
Fred, who was among the Gryffindor Quidditch team, saw this scene and immediately jumped up and shouted.
"If I put a Head Bubble Charm on you, it will affect your actions in the match later; are you sure you want it?"
When going underwater, the Head Bubble Charm was originally for temporary, short-term use; for long periods, gillyweed was generally used.
No one knew how long the match would last, but if there wasn't intense activity, the air inside would definitely last for some time.
However, when Fred and his team played Quidditch, although they were on brooms, they were still engaging in strenuous exercise, which would definitely accelerate oxygen consumption. If it lasted a bit longer, it would affect them.
If their condition wasn't good then, losing the match would be a minor issue; if they fainted from lack of oxygen and fell off their brooms, that would be a huge problem.
"In that case, forget it!"
Fred smiled and refused on the spot.
He valued Quidditch honor quite a lot, and if it could affect his performance in the match later, it was definitely out of the question.
Afterward, Ethan cast a Head Bubble Charm on himself, Hermione, Penelope, and others.
Then, the surrounding young Wizards all looked at him. At least a hundred people had gathered here, with a continuous stream of young Wizards still arriving.
"Head Bubble Charm!"
Ethan thought for a moment and came up with a solution.
Bubbles continuously gushed from the tip of Ethan's wand, floating towards the approaching young Wizards.
"Just touch the bubble, but those with bad breath shouldn't touch it, otherwise you'll be quite uncomfortable later."
While spraying bubbles with his wand, Ethan loudly explained to the young Wizards.
This was mainly to build his reputation.
As long as it didn't harm his own interests, Ethan didn't mind doing such small things.
Seeing the commotion behind, many young Wizards who had already gone out with umbrellas and raincoats also came back.
Compared to umbrellas, this spell was a better choice in every aspect.
As time passed, one by one, the young Wizards touched the bubbles, completed the full-body Head Bubble Charm, said their thanks, and walked into the wind and rain towards the Quidditch Pitch.
It wasn't until Ethan had applied a Head Bubble Charm to all the young Wizards present that he left with Cassandraand the others.
As for those who hadn't arrived yet, they would have to figure it out themselves; Ethan couldn't just wait there forever!
They arrived at the Ravenclaw stands and sat down. At least half of the surrounding audience were young Wizards on whom he had cast the Head Bubble Charm.
Those who had arrived early were filled with regret, wondering why they had rushed so quickly.
After sitting for about twenty minutes, the match finally began.
As usual, Madam Hooch was the referee, and Lee Jordanwas the commentator.
With a whistle, the match officially began.
The fourteen players from both teams immediately soared into the sky. They were all using nimbus 2001, which, apart from the latest but not yet widely available rocket, was the best flying broomstick.
Harry and Draco immediately went to the highest altitude and began searching for the Golden Snitch.
At this point, the effects of the rain and strong wind became apparent; both of them were hit several times by the wildly careening Bludgers.
Compared to Draco, Harry was even worse off; his glasses were blurred by the rain, severely impairing his vision. Draco could still dodge, but Harry was purely relying on his body to endure.
Several times in the sky, Harry was nearly knocked down directly by a Bludger.
In this condition, let alone catching the walnut-sized and incredibly agile Golden Snitch, just ensuring his own safety was a struggle.