Hogwarts 1991

Chapter 387 A Few Things About the Midnight Library
"what?
Ron screamed.

In contrast, Harry next to him was much calmer. He at least remembered that he was a wizard and drew out his wand.

"Stay still, Ron, you'll kick Crookshanks." Hermione waved her wand.

After she lifted the spell, the orange cat with a big face slowly revealed its figure.

"Why did you bring this cat here!"

Ron's tone was full of disgust.

"Hermione is this?" Harry asked.

"Dobby told me that McGuffin always goes out at night in the middle of the night, and I'm a little worried about him... so I want to see what he's doing," Hermione said.

"So I can only cast an invisibility spell on Crookshanks to let it notice when McGuffin goes out. This little guy is very smart, isn't he? Crookshanks, take us to find McGuffin."

"How can you see an invisible cat?" Ron complained.

Afterwards, the three of them put on the invisibility cloak and followed Crookshanks, walked along the corridor, walked through the empty stairs, carefully sideways to avoid the iron-clad warriors rushing over,

In the end, Crookshanks shook his head slightly. He raised his head, sniffed lightly in the air, and stopped in the empty library full of bookshelves.

"The Restricted Section, why didn't I think of that?" Hermione whispered, "McGuffin must have gone to the Restricted Section to find information on house-elves. He is so obsessed with the history of elves these days..."

"So, isn't the secret passage to Hogsmeade here?" Ron was a little disappointed, but he still wanted to try one last time. "Silly cat, take us to see where the McGuffin is?"

Ron bent down and growled lowly at Crookshanks outside the cloak.

This caused Hermione's dissatisfaction, when she was about to say something.

Someone is talking outside.

Several people hurriedly hid.

They then walked in.

"Dumbledore, is it difficult for me too?"

It was the voice of the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, "You know my current situation... Old Cratch will not talk about it. Other wizards who are qualified to compete are all staring at the position under my ass. They are gearing up and can't wait to drive me out of the Ministry of Magic..."

"Thank goodness half of my words work now."

"And those old fellows in the Wizengamot Court have started to spread the word again, saying that I will automatically take the blame and resign."

"Merlin! These unlucky things that happened in the past two years are not my fault..."

"You should understand, Dumbledore!"

"I've done my best, no one can do better than me."

"What's more...Let me tell you the truth, Albus!...Now 60.00% of the Ministry of Magic's funds are supported by Gringotts funds. With the strong support of the goblins and [Universal Light Wheel Company], I have no way to oppose the hosting of Quidditch!"

"Yes, yes... I know." Fudge continued talking to himself, extremely irritatedly, before Dumbledore could refute him.

"Those Death Eaters and Dementors are still missing...It is indeed very dangerous to hold a big competition at Hogwarts."

"But you have to know that I almost sent out all the Aurors. They ran all over the UK and half of Europe to find the Death Eaters... Not to mention there are more than a dozen dragon tamers at Hogwarts, who use the latest group magic to tame the dragons and control the entire castle. This castle can be said to be safer than the underground vault of Gringotts. Even if Sirius really comes, he will only fall into his own trap."

Fudge confidently set a flag.

"Minister, do you think Sirius and those Death Eaters were the masterminds of the prison escape?" Snape's cold voice sounded.

They seemed to be standing near the library door talking.

The sound echoed round and round throughout the empty library, echoing continuously.

"I think there are two possibilities, Professor Snape,"

Fudge said, "Either this guy planned it-from his personal experience, this is very possible, and I think you agree-he is a ruthless, powerful dark wizard. I have never seen such a prisoner. In the entire history of Azkaban Prison, he is the only one who can maintain calm and rationality during his long imprisonment surrounded by those dementors."

Fudge shivered, and continued, "The last time I saw him, that guy Black was actually complaining to me if I could provide him with some old newspapers. He said he always wanted to play the magic Sudoku game on it—"

"If that's the case, how do you explain the disappearance of the dementors? They were annoyed at Black's escape from prison at first. That's what you said, Connelly. It is well known that such terrible monsters as dementors cannot hide their emotions and lie—" Dumbledore said calmly.

"Of course, there is another possibility.—I have to admit with regret that those dementors are completely unreliable."

Fudge's voice was a little embarrassed, and then he gritted his teeth, "It's very likely...they betrayed the Ministry of Magic with those prisoners. During the last two riots, we should be vigilant. They are all those old guys from the Wizengamot...

"When nothing happened, they always talked about Azkaban's defense, expenditure, traditions of the Ministry of Magic, etc., and immediately after something happened—put on another face that I have said a long time ago, it is extremely hateful..."

Fudge started to move again, his voice full of anger.

Harry hammered Ron and signaled Hermione to avoid them quickly.

The few people carefully retreated into the passageway of the restricted area behind, while listening to the conversation of the professors.

"But Sirius Black, how did he escape from prison, Minister. The dementor riots must be related to him... The first two dementor riots were carried out at Hogwarts, and the last time we found his trace last time, wasn't he in a Muggle village near Hogwarts?"

"Perhaps there are his associates at Hogwarts helping him." Snape said pointedly. "As far as I know, some people are not trustworthy."

"What do you mean? Severus... I don't understand!" Fudge was confused.

"Since what happened to Lockhart last year, I have carefully reviewed the background information of each faculty member in recent years... I trust every professor very much, just like you." Dumbledore interrupted Snape's answer.

"Well, gentlemen, we're here to discuss another matter, Connelly, Severus. I don't think you've forgotten!"

"When Mrs. Pince was closing the library tonight, she found... notified me... After I confirmed it, I immediately understood that I should let you see it, Fudge..."

"real……"

Harry and the others were farther away, so they couldn't hear their conversation.

"Come here."

At this time, the voice became clear again, and Dumbledore led them into the restricted area, approaching Ron and Hermione.

The wobbly dim light began to pick up Harry and them.

They turned and left on tiptoe, trying not to make any noise, taking each breath intermittently, so as not to alarm Snape's vigilance.

A few people have long forgotten that the purpose of this night is to find traces of McGuffin,

But I didn't expect this important time.

Instead they ran into the MacGuffin.

Well, it can't be said that we met directly.

Anyway...

The three of Harry wore the invisibility cloak, and went straight to hide in the passageway behind the restricted area of ​​the library. When they were careful not to trigger those screaming magic books, they suddenly saw a tattered magic book with a strange cover, which seemed to be made of human bones and crocodile skin, floating in the air, stuffing it into the bookshelf bit by bit.

Ron opened his mouth and almost cried out.

It was Harry who grabbed him.

Hermione was the first to react, and she immediately realized that it was McGuffin who was looking at the books in the restricted area.

So he hurriedly drew his lips and said to Harry and Ron, let them be quiet.

— MacGuffin!That's a MacGuffin!

When Ron calmed down.

They began to approach the MacGuffin slowly.

McGuffin bent over, listening to the conversation between Dumbledore and the Minister of Magic in the library in fear, and then carefully stuffed the book into its original place on the shelf.

The movement is very slow.

Afraid to make a little movement.

In front of Dumbledore and the others, a magic lamp in the shape of a gas lamp floated. The light flickered dimly, and it had begun to enter the restricted area.

Step by step approaching them.

--Snapped!Snapped!

The footsteps were getting closer.

Hearing the voice of voice getting clearer and clearer.

McGuffin was in a cold sweat.

What to do with this book?
Damn it, why did the principal come to this place in the middle of the night.

Now, they would pass through this bookshelf passage at any time, and they would definitely see a magic book floating in the air.

Even if they are placed randomly, they may immediately realize that someone is wandering through the books in the restricted area at night... The most important thing is that he is here, and there is no way to escape.

The light has shone through the gap between the bookshelf compartments.

McGuffin could already smell the pungent mixture of various herbs and potions on Snape's body.

Now, he can only gamble.

At this time, McGuffin missed Harry's Invisibility Cloak very much. If he had it...

Fearfully, he pulled out the magic book stuffed into the foot of the book, then slowly bent down and put it on the ground, leaning against the corner under the bookshelf.

Secretly pray that the professors don't come over and find this book.

Unfortunately, Dumbledore led them straight to the vicinity of the bookshelf passage.

Now they're going to find the magic book sitting in the corner of the floor, or worse... just step over the cat and crash into him...

etc!what cat

The MacGuffin looked down at the stern Crookshanks.

The guy's eyes were glowing green, and he was staring at McGuffin himself, who was about to straighten up.

His eyes were full of suspicion and vigilance. It seemed that the magic book floating in the air just now aroused its interest.

What the hell is this cat?
Why are you here?

Before McGuffin could react, the cat stood up and backed up, looking like it was about to be 'culled'.

No no no, slow down...

Finished!

McGuffin could only close his eyes tightly, covered his face, bit his lip, and waited in fear for the imminent attack.

I hope that there will be no sound for a while, and the effect of the invisibility spell will not be destroyed.

But that's unlikely,
Almost in the blink of an eye, Snape would—

Ok?
The expected attack, and Snape's overjoyed bat face never came...

McGuffin opened his eyes, and the orange cat was circling around the empty place one or two meters ahead.

Not only that, but he also heard a few frightened, heavy breathing.

That is--

Before he could react, something happened that made his heart beat frightfully.

A pale severed hand appeared in the air, amidst the sound of approaching footsteps and the dim light, it waved at him.

It's exactly the same as the scene of a classic horror movie.

Just a little bit of an 'top' soundtrack.

McGuffin almost screamed in fright.

His head was dizzy, and his heart was beating violently like a drum——

Then the strange hand approached step by step——

Then retracted again.

Ok?
——Shrink?

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief after waving Crookshanks away from their feet.

Under the invisibility cloak, she gestured and conveyed her meaning, trying to get Harry and the others to get close to the half of the book that McGuffin had put down, and put it in the invisibility cloak, otherwise it would be bad if the professors saw the book there and found it.

Fortunately, Harry, Ron and the others were not stupid, and quickly understood what Hermione meant.

The three slowly approached the front step by step on tiptoe, for fear of bumping directly into the McGuffin and making any noise.

McGuffin finally understood at this time, heaved a sigh of relief,
—that was Harry's Invisibility Cloak.

Although I don't know what these guys are doing here, at least it's not some strange and legendary event of Hogwarts Seven Incredibles.

The two parties cautiously groped forward, like blind people (both cannot see you), and approached slowly.

After meeting in victory, McGuffin finally carefully stuffed the book into the severed hand.

Then Harry and the others put them into the Invisibility Cloak.

"Dumbledore, what are we doing at midnight? I heard you said it was urgent, but I rushed here without even wearing a robe."

Fudge yawned angrily and complained.

"Okay, don't worry Connelly, it's here!"

Dumbledore led Fudge and the others just to the front of the bookshelf aisle.

Magic lights floated in front of the professor and his party, flickering on and off on the eerie spines of the books.

Although knowing that they should not see themselves.

But the four MacGuffins hiding in the corner at the end of the corridor (although the two people still couldn't see each other), were frightened for a moment and almost stopped breathing.

Dumbledore walked slowly in an orange pajamas with a lemon sorbet pattern on it.

Cornelius Fudge, who followed behind, was wearing an emerald green silk pajamas, shining in the light.

Snape was at the back, his face cold, and he was wearing a gray shirt-length pajamas.

The three approached step by step.

(End of this chapter)