Harry Potter and Shafik

Chapter 109 Christmas in the Headquarters

The flesh-colored string squirmed like a long worm, twisting and twisting and slipping in from under the door.Hilbert couldn't hear anything at first, and then he heard Tonks whispering, so clearly as if right next to him, that it startled him.Especially when he heard that his parents were going to join the Order of the Phoenix, he wanted to rush in and join them.Luckily the Weasley brothers held him back.

"Okay, Brian, when I'm better, I'll go to Dumbledore in person and apply for you to join us."

"Thank you!"

"What the hell was the attack?" Moody said.

"They searched all over there, but they couldn't find the snake. It seemed to disappear after biting you? But it's impossible for the mysterious man to expect a snake to go in?"

"I think he sent it out to spy," said Moody's gruff voice, "because he hasn't done much so far, has he? I reckon he's trying to see what's going on, and if Arthur isn't there, the beast will have time." Watch more. Potter said he saw the whole thing?"

"Yes," Mrs. Weasley's voice was a little disturbed. "You know, Dumbledore seems to have been waiting for Harry? To see such a thing?"

"Ah," said Moody, "that Potter kid is kind of weird, we all know that."

"Dumbledore seemed worried about Harry when he spoke to me this morning," whispered Mrs. Weasley.

"Of course he's worried," said Moody gruffly. "The kid sees through You-Know-Who's snake eyes. Potter obviously doesn't know what that means, but if You-Know-Who is attached to him—"

Harry took off his telescoping ears, his heart pounding and his face burning.He looked at the others, and they were all looking at him with the strings still hanging from their ears, with sudden horror on their faces.

"Don't worry, you have inherited part of Voldemort's power. Sometimes the minds of the two of you may connect, causing you to see Mr. Weasley being attacked. You just need to work hard to overcome your thoughts and not be linked by Voldemort. Hilbert said, patting Harry on the shoulder.If Hilbert guessed right.

Was that why Dumbledore no longer met Harry's gaze?Was he worried that he might see Voldemort inside, that those emerald green eyes would suddenly turn blood red, with slits like cat's pupils?Harry remembered Voldemort's snake face protruding from the back of Professor Quirrell's head, and he touched the back of his head with his hand, imagining what it would be like for Voldemort to emerge from his own skull.

Harry suddenly he felt dirty, tainted, as if carrying some deadly germ, unworthy of taking the subway back from the hospital with clean, innocent people whose bodies hadn't been tainted by Voldemort?He didn't just see the snake, he was the snake.He knows now?And then he had a really terrible thought, a memory that jumped out of his head and made his insides churn like a viper?
"What is he looking for besides followers?"

"Something that can only be obtained by sneaking?? Like a weapon, something he didn't have last time."

I'm the weapon, Harry thought, as though the venom was rushing through his veins, chilling him and breaking out in a cold sweat as he swayed with the subway car in the dark tunnel.I'm what Voldemort wants to use, so they have people watching me everywhere, not to protect me, but to protect others, it just doesn't work, can't someone watch me at Hogwarts all the time?I still attacked Mr Weasley last night, I, Voldemort made me do it, he could be in my stomach now, listen to what I was thinking? "Are you all right, Harry, dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked him, leaning over Ginny, as the subway train rattled through the tunnel. "You don't look well, are you feeling well?" Everyone looked He, he shook his head vigorously, staring up at a home insurance ad.

"Harry, dear, are you really alright?" Mrs. Weasley asked worriedly as she walked through the messy lawn in the middle of Grimmauld Place, "Are you so pale?? Did you really fall asleep this morning?" You can go upstairs and lie down immediately, and you can sleep for two hours before dinner, okay?"

He nodded, just in time to have an excuse not to talk to others, and he wished for it.So as soon as she opened the front door, he walked right past the trollleg panther umbrella stand and up the stairs into his and Ron's bedroom.

As he paced up and down the room, past the two beds and the empty picture frame of Phineas Nigellus, questions and terrible thoughts swirled in his head?How did he become a snake?Maybe he's an Animagus?No, it's impossible, he won't be like Hilbert, and he doesn't even know if he will be an Animagus.Hill!he will knowMaybe Voldemort was an Animagus?Yes, Harry thought, that would make sense, of course he could turn into a snake.We all turn into snakes when he attaches to me?But that doesn't explain how I was in London and back in bed in five minutes?But apart from Dumbledore, Voldemort is pretty much the most powerful wizard in the world, and transporting people around might not be a problem for him?Then with a sudden start he thought: This is absurd - if Voldemort had possessed me, I'd give him a clear view of the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix right now!Would he know who was in the Order of the Phoenix, where was Sirius?I also heard a lot of things I shouldn't have heard, what Sirius said to me the first night I was here?There was only one way: he must leave Grimmauld Place at once.He was going to spend Christmas alone at Hogwarts so they could at least keep them safe during the festive season?No, it's still useless, Hogwarts has many people who can hurt, what if Seamus, Dean or Neville are next?He stopped pacing and looked at Phineas.Nigellus's empty picture frame, leaden in its belly.He had no choice but to go back to Privet Drive and completely isolate himself from other wizards?Well, he thought, if he had to go, there was no point in delaying it.Trying not to imagine how the Dursleys would react to seeing him back six months early, he strode up to his trunk, closed the lid, locked it, and looked back to Hedwig out of habit before he remembered it. Still at Hogwarts—well, one less cage.He lifted one end of the box and dragged it towards the door, when suddenly he heard a shrill voice say, "You want to escape, don't you?"

Harry turned his head to see that Phineas Nigellus was back on the canvas, leaning against the frame and looking at him with a teasing expression on his face.

"Not running away, no." Harry said simply, dragging the box a few more steps.

"I think," said Phineas Nigellus, stroking his goatee, "that it takes a lot of bravery to be a Gryffindor, doesn't it? I think you'd be a better fit in our house. Slytherins are brave." , but not stupid. For example, given the chance, we always choose to save our lives. Look at that Hilbert, I'm sure he will be one of the great wizards in our Slytherin history."

"I'm not trying to save my life." Harry dragged the suitcase across a moth-eaten, particularly rough carpet by the door.

"Oh, I see," said Phineas Nigellus, still stroking his beard, "this isn't a cowardly escape - you're doing something noble!"

Harry ignored him.But as he grabbed the doorknob, Phineas Nigellus said lazily, "I have a message from Albus Dumbledore."

Harry turned hastily.

"What message?"

"Stay here."

"I didn't move!" Harry's hand was still on the doorknob. "What message?" "I told you, fool," said Phineas Nigellus calmly," said Dumbledore. : "Stay here.Why? "Harry dropped the box and asked eagerly," "Why did he want me to stay?" "What else did he say?" Nothing. "Phineas Nigellus raised a thin black eyebrow as if he thought Harry was being rude.

Harry's anger leaped up, snapping up like a snake out of tall grass.He was exhausted, he was utterly confused, he had experienced terror, relief, then terror again for twelve hours, and still Dumbledore wouldn't talk to him! "That's it, isn't it?" he said aloud. "Stay here? That's what everyone said to me after I was attacked by a dementor! Stay still, Harry, till your lords find out! But we I won't tell you anything because your little brain doesn't understand!"

"You know," Phineas Nigellus said louder than Harry's, "that's why I hate being a teacher! Young people always think they're right about everything. Poor pompous little fellow, Did it ever occur to you that the headmaster of Hogwarts might have a very good reason not to tell you every detail of his plans? In feeling aggrieved, you don't think about it, obeying Dumbledore's orders ever Did it hurt you? No, no! Like all young people, you think that you are the only one who has feelings and thoughts, the only one who sees the danger, and the only one who can see the conspiracy of the mysterious man?"

"Then he's got something to do with me?" Harry asked right away.

"Did I say that?" Phineas Nigellus looked lazily at his satin gloves. "Now, I'm sorry. I have more important things to do than listen to teenage troubles! Good day!"

He stepped out of the frame and disappeared.Apparently back in the Hogwarts frame.

"Okay, let's go!" Harry roared at the empty picture frame, "Thank you to Dumbledore for his no comment!"

Empty Frames no longer make sounds.Harry dragged the box back to the foot of the bed angrily, then threw himself on the moth-eaten coverlet, eyes closed, heavy and sore?He felt like he had walked a long, long way?He is so tired!But he was afraid of falling asleep.But he didn't know how long he could last?Dumbledore told him to stay?That must mean he can sleep?But he's still scared?What if?He gradually sank into the shadows?It was as if he had a film in his head waiting to be shown.He walked toward a black door in an empty corridor, past rough stone walls, torches, and a doorway on the left leading to stone steps leading downstairs.

He touched the black door, but couldn't open it?He stood there looking at it, longing to get in? ?Is there something behind it that he wants with all his heart?The baby he couldn't dream of?Just wish his scars weren't so stinging?Can he think more clearly? "Harry," said Ron's voice far away, "Mum said dinner is ready, but if you don't want to get up, can she save some for you?"

Harry opened his eyes, but Ron had already left.

He doesn't want to be alone with me, thought Harry, after listening to Moody?He thought, knowing what's on him, none of them will want him?He didn't want to go down to eat, and he didn't want to be annoying.He turned over, and after a while he lost consciousness again. When he woke up, it was early in the morning, his belly was aching from hunger, and Ron was snoring in the bed next to him.He squinted and looked around and saw Phineas Nigellus standing in the portrait again, and Harry thought that Dumbledore might have sent Phineas Nigellus to watch him, lest he hurt anyone again .

The feeling of uncleanness increased, and he almost wished he hadn't listened to Dumbledore to stay? ?If life at Grimmauld Place was like this, perhaps he might as well be at Privet Drive.

In the morning everyone else was busy putting up the Christmas decorations.Harry couldn't remember a time when Sirius was in such good spirits that he actually sang Christmas carols, obviously happy to have someone with him for the holidays.Harry heard his voice from between the floors, and he sat alone in the cold living room, watching the sky outside the window getting whiter and snowing.At the same time, he took a cruel pleasure in the thought of others having the opportunity to go on and on about him.Surely they will.He heard Mrs. Weasley calling his name softly on the stairs during lunch, and he hid upstairs again without answering.

The doorbell rang around six o'clock in the evening, and Mrs. Black screamed again.Harry thought it was Mundungus or another Order member visiting, so he leaned more comfortably against the wall of his room, feeding dead rats to Crookshanks.Um?Crookshanks!He was slightly startled when someone knocked on the door a few minutes later.

"I know you're here," said Hermione's voice. "Could you come out? I want to talk to you."

"What are you doing here?" Harry asked, opening the door, and Crookshanks began to pick up the straw-covered ground for any rat meat he might have missed, "I thought you were going skiing with your parents .”

"Well, to be honest, skiing isn't really for me, so I'm here for Christmas." She had snow on her head and her face was flushed with cold, "but don't tell Ron, I told him skiing was great, Because he always laughs at me. Anyway, Mom and Dad are a little disappointed, but I said that people who study hard for the exam stay at Hogwarts. They want me to do well, so they will understand. Okay," she said easily, "Go into your bedroom, where Ron's mum has a fire going on and sandwiches to send up."

He followed her back to the third floor and was surprised to see Ron and Ginny sitting on Ron's bed waiting for them when they entered.

"I came on the Knight Bus," said Hermione briskly, taking off her coat before Harry could speak, "Dumbledore told me this morning. But I have to wait until term is officially over before I can leave." Umbridge's nose was twisted when you disappeared under her nose, even though Dumbledore told her Mr. Weasley was at St. Mungo's Hospital and he gave you permission to visit. So?"

She sat down beside Ginny, and the two girls and Ron watched Harry together.

"How are you feeling?" Hermione asked.

"Fine." Harry replied stiffly.

"Don't lie, Harry," she said impatiently. "Ron and Ginny said you've been hiding from everyone since you got back from St. Mungo's."

"Did they say that?" Harry glared at Ron and Ginny.Ron looked down at his feet, but Ginny didn't seem embarrassed.

"That's right!" she said, "You don't even look at us!"

"It's you who don't look at me!" Harry said angrily.

"Maybe you take turns to look around, but you just don't match up." Hermione said, the corners of her mouth trembling slightly.

"It's very interesting." Harry snapped, turning his face away.

"Hey, don't keep thinking you're misunderstood," said Hermione sharply. "They all told me what you heard yesterday with your extendable ears—"

"Really?" Harry growled, his hands in his pockets, looking at the snowflakes flying outside. "You're talking about me, aren't you? Well, I'm getting used to it?"

"We wanted to talk to you, Harry," said Ginny, "but you've been hiding since you got back—"

"I don't need anyone to talk to me." Harry growled.

"Then you're kind of stupid," Ginny said angrily, "I'm the only person you know who has been possessed by a mysterious person, and I can tell you what it's like." Harry stood there for a moment, then turned around. Wei Lai hurriedly turned to look at her.

"I forgot."

"You're lucky," said Ginny coldly.

"I'm sorry," Harry said sincerely, "So? Do you think I'm possessed?"

"Can you remember everything you've done?" Ginny asked. "Are there big gaps where you don't know what you did?"

Harry tried to remember.

"No."

"The mysterious man wasn't attached to you." Ginny said crisply. "When he attached to me, I didn't know what I did for several hours. I found myself in a place, but not know how to get there."

Harry could hardly believe her, but his heart could hardly help her lightening up.

"But I dreamed about your father and the snake—"

"Harry, you've had nightmares like this before," said Hermione. "Last year you saw what Voldemort was."

"It's different this time," said Harry, shaking his head. "I'm in a snake's body, as if I were a snake? What if Voldemort used a spell to transport me to London—?"

"Would you like to read Hogwarts, A History someday," Hermione seemed exasperated, "maybe that will remind you that Apparition and Disapparation are impossible at Hogwarts, Not even Voldemort can make you fly out of your dormitory, Harry."

"Did you ever get out of your bed, buddy," said Ron, "and I saw you tossing and turning in there a minute before I woke you up?"

Harry started pacing again, thinking.Their words are not just a consolation, but make sense?Almost without thinking, he grabbed a sandwich from the plate on the bed and stuffed it greedily into his mouth.

I'm not the weapon, Harry thought, his heart swelled with joy and relief, and he wanted to sing along to Sirius singing Christmas tunes outside the door. 'Why would he want to go back to Privet Drive for Christmas?Sirius' joy is contagious.Sirius was delighted that the house was full again, and he was especially delighted to have Harry back.He was no longer the sullen host of Summer, and now he seemed determined to make everyone as happy as they were at Hogwarts, if not happier.He worked tirelessly to prepare for the holidays, cleaning and decorating the house with everyone's help.When they went to bed on Christmas Eve, the family was almost unrecognizable.Instead of cobwebs hanging from rusty chandeliers, holly and gold and silver streamers hung, conjured snowflakes glistened on the ragged carpet, and a big Christmas tree Mundungus had brought blocked Sirius's view. Family trees, decorated with live elves, even the elf heads on the foyer wall with Santa hats and beards.

Harry woke up on Christmas morning to find a pile of presents at the foot of the bed, Ron's larger pile, which he had already dismantled in half.

"Big harvest this year," said Ron to Harry amidst the pile of wrapping papers, "thank you for the broom compass, fantastic, better than Hermione's, she sent a homework planner -"

Harry found a gift bag with Hermione's handwriting on it, and she also gave him a small notebook like a diary, but every time he opened a page, it would say something like "Today's event, today's end!".

Sirius and Lupine gave Harry a beautiful set of books: "Practical Defense Magic and Its Restraint to the Dark Arts", in which the spells have colorful animated illustrations.Harry flipped eagerly through the first volume, seeing that it would be useful for his preparations for the DA.Hagrid gave him a fur wallet with fangs. The fangs were probably an anti-theft device, but it was a pity that Harry might have his fingers bitten off when he put money in it.Tonks' present was a small model Firebolt, and Harry watched it fly around the room and wished he still had the real one.Ron had given him a large box of jam beans, and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's presents were hand-knitted jumpers and meatloaf.Dobby had sent an ugly drawing, which Harry suspected was drawn by the elf himself.He was about to turn it upside down to see if it would look better when there was a loud snap when Fred and George Apparated at the foot of the bed.

"Merry Christmas," said George, "don't go downstairs just yet."

"Why?" Ron asked.

"Mum's crying again," said Fred heavily. "Percy sent back his Christmas jumper."

"Not even a note," said George. "Not asking how papa is, or going to see him?"

"We wanted to comfort Mum," said Fred, walking over to look at the drawing in Harry's hands, "and tell her Percy's just a bunch of rat shit—"

"—no use," said George, eating a Chocolate Frog, "so Lupine took it, and better wait until he's got her over with before we go down to breakfast."

"What's this?" Fred asked, looking at Dobby's drawing. "Like a gibbon, with two black eyes."

"It's Harry!" said George, pointing to the back of the painting. "It's written on the back."

"Very similar." Fred said with a grin.Harry threw his new homework planner at him, and when it hit the wall, he said happily, "As long as you add a dot to the i and a line to the t, you can do anything!"

They got up and dressed and heard the people who lived in the house saying "Merry Christmas!" to each other. They ran into Hermione on the way downstairs.

"Thank you for the book, Harry!" she said cheerfully. "I've always wanted a copy of New Principles of Numerology! That bottle of perfume is very special, Ron."

"You're welcome," said Ron. "Who is that for?" he asked, looking at the beautiful gift bag in her hand.

"Kreacher," said Hermione cheerfully.

"Better not clothes!" Ron warned. "You know what Sirius said, Kreacher knows too much, we can't let him go!"

"It's not clothes," said Hermione, "though I'd say he'd change that smelly rag. It's just a flowered quilt, and I think it'll brighten up his bedroom."

"What bedroom?" Harry lowered his voice as they walked past the portrait of Sirius' mother.

"Oh, Sirius said the grate didn't go into the bedroom, it was just a - nest," said Hermione. "He seems to be sleeping under the boiler in the kitchen cupboard." Mrs. Weasley was alone in the basement, standing by the fire When wishing them a Merry Christmas, it sounds like you have a bad cold.They all looked away. "Is this Kreacher's room?" said Ron, walking to a dark door in the corner opposite the pantry, which Harry never saw open. "Yes," said Hermione a little nervously now, "Huh?? I think we'd better knock??" Ron knocked on the door with his knuckles, but there was no sound from inside. "He must have slipped upstairs." He said, no matter what 21 opened the door, "ah."

Harry looked inside, and the cabinet was mostly taken up by a large old boiler, but a foot or so wide below the pipes, Kreacher had made himself a nest, with all sorts of rags piled on the floor And the smelly old blanket, the little hollow in the middle where Kreacher curled up to sleep every night.Bread crumbs and moldy cheese were strewn about.In the tight inner corner were some shiny bric-a-brac and coins that Harry reckoned Kreacher had salvaged bit by bit from Sirius.Even those silver picture frames that Sirius had thrown away in the summer were there.Although the glass was broken, the people in the black-and-white photos inside were still looking at him proudly, including the dark-skinned woman with swollen eyelids he saw in Dumbledore's Pensieve: Bellatrix Rice Trange - Harry felt a twitch in his stomach.She appears to be Kreacher's favorite photo, and he puts her at the front, and clumsily glues the glass together with magic tape.

"I'll just leave his gift here." Hermione put the gift bag in the recess between the rags and the blanket, and gently closed the door. "He'll find out, doesn't it matter?"

"Think about it," Sirius just brought out a big turkey from the grocery store, "Who has seen Kreacher lately?"

"I haven't seen him since that night," said Harry. "You threw him out of the kitchen."

"Right?" Sirius frowned. "I think that was the last time I saw him too?? He must be hiding upstairs?"

"He's not going?" said Harry. "He might think you told him to leave the house when you said 'get out'?"

"No, house-elves can't leave without clothes, they're chained to their master's house," said Sirius.

"They could leave if they really wanted to," Harry demurred. "Dobby did. He left the Malfoy house two years ago to report to me. He had to punish himself later, but he came out anyway."

Sirius seemed a bit disturbed, and then said: "I'll go find him later, I think I'll find him upstairs crying over my mother's old Bloom panties! Of course, he may have crawled into the Dead in the clothes closet. But I can't get my hopes up?"

In fact, Kreacher came to Hilbert's side, and Hilbert took him in.

Fred, George and Ron laughed, but Hermione looked at them reproachfully.

After Christmas lunch, they were going to see how Mr. Weasley was recovering?Looking at the letter from St. Mungo, Mr. Weasley estimated that he would be discharged from the hospital around this afternoon.At this time, Hilbert came and gave everyone a Christmas gift in order. Fred and George's was an agreement that if the Weasley brothers could expand production, then he would Give them your store and be your own boss.Mrs. Weasley proposed to visit St. Mungo's together.Led by Mad-Eye and Lupine.Mundungus caught up to eat Christmas pudding and jelly cake, and because the Tube was closed for Christmas, he "borrowed" a car, but Harry doubted he had asked his master's permission.This car is also enlarging like the old Ford Anglia of the Weasley family. It is a normal size outside, but ten people can sit in it without crowding.Mundungus drove.Mrs. Weasley hesitated for a moment, and Harry knew her displeasure with Mundungus was struggling with whether to travel by magic.At last the cold outside and the pleas of the children won out, and she sat happily in the back seat between Fred and George.

They reached St. Mungo's in no time, and there was very little traffic on the way, only some wizards going to the hospital walked quietly on the quiet street.Harry and the others got out of the car, and Mundungus drove around the corner to meet them.They wandered up to the window where the mannequin in the green nylon dress stood, and one by one they walked through the glass.

The waiting room was festive: Bright crystal bubbles turned red and gold like giant Christmas baubles, twinkling.Holly hung over every doorway, and Christmas trees capped with snow and ice enchantedly shone in every corner, topped with a twinkling gold star.There were not as many people as last time, but in the middle of the room Harry was pushed aside by a witch with a walnut stuffed in her left nostril.

"Family disputes, huh?" The blond witch behind the information desk smiled, "You are the third person I saw today? Spell damage department, fifth floor?"

They found Mr. Weasley leaning on the bed with the leftover turkey meal in his lap, with a sheepish expression on his face.

"How's it going, Arthur?" asked Mrs Weasley after they had greeted him and the presents had been delivered.

"Very well, very well." Mr. Weasley's tone was a little overly enthusiastic. "You - oh - haven't you seen Healer Smethyke?"

"No," his wife became suspicious, "what's the matter?"

"Nothing, nothing," said Mr. Weasley lightly, and began to unpack the pile of things. "Have you had a good day? Got any presents? Oh, Harry - this is wonderful -" He opened the Free fuse and screwdriver.

Mrs. Weasley seemed less than satisfied with his answer.When he leaned over to shake Harry's hand, she looked at the bandages in his pajamas.

"Arthur!" she said, in a voice as crisp as a mousetrap, "you changed the bandage. Why did you change it a day earlier, Arthur? They said it would be tomorrow."

He seemed deflated under Mrs Weasley's piercing gaze.

"Oh - don't be mad, Molly, Augustus Pye has an idea? You know, he's a trainee therapist, a lovely young man, loves research? This? Complementary medicine? I mean some muggles An old remedy? It's called stitches, Molly, and it's good for—on Muggle wounds—he said, it'll make me heal better, and I want to spend Christmas at home—"

Mrs Weasley let out a sound that was somewhere between a scream and a growl.Lupine walked over to the werewolf's bed - he was unvisited, looking gloomily at the group around Mr. Weasley.Lupine started talking to him, and when he learned that Professor Lupine was the head of the Hogwarts Werewolf Rescue Society, the gentleman immediately offered to buy a potion.Bill muttered about getting a cup of tea, and Fred and George jumped up to go with him, grinning.

"You want to tell me," Mrs. Weasley said each word louder, seemingly unaware that everyone else was running in panic, "you're using Muggle remedies for nothing?" Not for nothing, Molly, dear ',' said Mr Weasley imploringly, 'it's just - it's just that Pai and I wanted to try it - only that - on this particular wound - it didn't work as well as we expected -"

"What do you mean?" "Huh?? Well, I don't know if you understand—what's the matter with stitches?" "Sounds like you're trying to sew your skin up," said Mrs. Weasley with a sneer. "But, Arthur, you're not so stupid—" "I'd like a cup of tea, too," said Harry, jumping up.Hermione, Ron and Ginny almost rushed to the door with him.As the door closed they heard Mrs. Weasley scream: "What did you say? That's how it works?"

"This is Daddy," said Ginny, shaking her head, and they walked down the aisle. "Stitches? May I ask you?"

"Oh, it works quite well on non-magical wounds," said Hermione impartially. "I think there's something in the venom that dissolves it? Where's the tea room?"

"Sixth floor." Harry remembered the information desk sign.

They walked through double doors and found a rickety staircase with grim portraits of therapists on the walls.The therapists yelled at them as they climbed the stairs, diagnosing bizarre ailments and devising dire remedies.Ron was so angry that a medieval wizard yelled that he obviously had bad pox.

"What's that?" he asked angrily, and the therapist chased Ron six frames, pushing the figure aside.

"This is a skin ailment, sir, and it will leave scars that will make you look less attractive than you are now—"

"Who do you think is not attractive?" Ron's ears turned red.

"The only way is to take the liver of a toad and stick it to the throat, and stand naked in a bucket of eels when the sun and the moon are shining brightly—"

"I don't have acne!"

"But you have obvious flaws on your face, young master—"

"That's freckles!" Ron was furious. "Go back to your own frame and leave me alone!"

Hilbert laughed out loud.

He turned to the others, who were trying to sulk.

"What floor is this?" I think it's the sixth floor. said Hermione.

"No, it's the fifth floor," said Harry, "and there's another—"

"Ah," Ron pointed vainly upstairs, "actually, we just—oh—"

But the therapist smiled expectantly at him, and Ron's murmur of "Going to have a cup of tea" fell inaudibly.They looked at each other resignedly, then followed Lockhart and the healer.

"Don't stay long," Ron whispered.

The therapist pointed her wand at the door of Genesseich's ward and said "Alahoo hole", and the door opened, and she led the way in, holding Gilderoy's arm tightly with one hand until he sat down. In the armchair next to the bed.

"This is our long-term ward," she whispered to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, "permanent spell damage. Of course, with intensive treatment and a bit of luck, it can get better?? Gilderoy does seem to have regained some consciousness. Mr. Bode has improved a lot and his ability to speak is recovering well, although he hasn't said anything we can understand? Well, I have to finish my Christmas presents, you guys chat for a while ?”

Harry surveyed the ward, which was obviously the long-term home of the sick.There were far more personal items around the bed than Mr. Weasley's.A sallow-faced, frowning wizard was lying on the opposite bed, staring at the ceiling and talking to himself, as if he was unaware of the surrounding things.Two beds away was a hairy woman whose disfigurement was fortunately not permanent.The two beds at the other end of the ward are surrounded by floral curtains to give patients and visitors some privacy.

"Your, Agnes," the therapist greeted the hairy-faced woman cheerfully, handing her a small pile of Christmas presents, "look, hasn't it been forgotten? Your son sent an owl to say he's coming tonight Look at you, it's nice, isn't it?"

Agnes barked loudly a few times.

"Look, Broderick, someone gave you a potted plant, and a beautiful calendar, each month is a different Hippogriff, it will bring you a good mood, won't it?" The teacher walked quickly to the man who was talking to himself, and put an ugly potted plant on his bedside table, and hung the calendar on the wall with a magic wand, and the long tentacles on the plant swayed back and forth. "And—oh, Mrs. Longbottom, are you going now?"

Harry turned his head sharply.The curtain at the far end of the ward had been drawn, and two people emerged from the bed: a hideous old witch in a green gown and moth-eaten fox fur, with a pointed hat apparently adorned with a stuffed vulture. , she was followed by a sullen-looking one - Neville.

Harry suddenly realized who the patients were in the two beds over there.Desperately trying to divert the attention of the others, Neville slipped out of the room.But Ron heard "Longbottom" look up too, before Harry could stop him, he had already called out, "Neville!"

Neville shuddered and winced, as if a bullet had just grazed him.

"It's us, Neville!" Ron stood up happily. "Did you see that? Lockhart is here! Who are you visiting?"

"Is that your friend, Neville, sweetheart?" Neville's grandma said kindly, walking towards them.

Neville seemed to rather be anywhere in the world than here.The plump face was flushed with purple, and he dared not meet their eyes.

"Hello, Mrs. Longbottom." Hilbert was the first to reach out to shake Mrs. Longbottom's hand.

"you are?"

"Hilbert, Hilbert Shafiq. My grandma is your close friend."

"It turned out to be Mr. Shafik. Thank you for taking care of Neville all the time. How is your grandma? Do you know who I am?"

"Thanks to you, the old lady is in good health. Of course I know who you are? The Longbottom family, the Auror family, even you are a retired Auror. Back then, you once participated in the battle against the dark wizard Grindel Wo's siege, this is a battle recorded in history!"

Old Mrs. Longbottom smiled and turned to look at Harry.

"Ah, by the way," his grandma looked at Harry carefully, offering him a withered, claw-like hand, "yes, yes, of course I know who you are. Neville thinks very highly of you." .”

"Okay - thanks." Harry shook his hand.Neville didn't look at him, just stared at his feet, his face getting more and more purple.

"You two are obviously from the Weasleys," said Mrs Longbottom, offering her hand nobly to Ron and Ginny, "yes, I knew your parents - not quite, of course - and they were good people, good people? You must be Hermione Granger?"

Hermione seemed startled to hear Mrs Longbottom's name, but shook hands.

"Yeah, Neville told me about you. Got him through a bit, didn't you? He's a good boy," she looked down at Neville with a stern look down her pointed nose, "but without his dad Brilliant, I must say?" She turned her head toward the two beds inward, and the vulture on her hat quivered horribly.

"What?" asked Ron in surprise (Harry wanted to step on his foot, but doing so in jeans was far more conspicuous than in a robe), "Is that your dad over there, Neville?"

"What?" asked Mrs. Longbottom sharply. "Haven't you told your friends about your parents, Neville?"

Neville took a deep breath, looked up at the ceiling, and shook his head.Harry couldn't remember anyone he'd felt so sorry for, but he couldn't think of anything he could do to help Neville.

"Well, it's nothing to be ashamed of!" said Mrs. Longbottom angrily. "You should be proud, Neville, proud! They didn't sacrifice their health and sanity to make their only son ashamed of them!"

"I'm not ashamed." Neville said weakly, still not looking at Harry and the others.Ron tiptoed over to the two beds.

"The way you behave is strange!" said Mrs. Longbottom. "My son and daughter-in-law have been tortured mad by You-Know-Who's minions," she said, turning haughtily to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny.

Both Hermione and Ginny covered their mouths.Ron craned his neck to look at Neville's parents, looking distressed.

"They're Aurors, well respected in the wizarding world," continued Mrs Longbottom, "very talented, both of them. I—oh, Alice, what's up?"

Neville's mother walked slowly in her pajamas.She no longer had the round, happy face that Moody had in the photo of the first members of the Order of the Phoenix.Her face was thin and haggard now, her eyes were very large, and her hair had turned white.Messy and dry.She didn't seem to want to speak, or couldn't, but she gestured timidly at Navi, holding something in her hand.

"Another one?" said Mrs Longbottom, a little wearily. "Very well, Alice. Very well - Neville, take it, whatever it is?"

Neville had reached out, and his mother threw him a Bubble Gum wrapper.

"Very well, dear." Neville's grandmother patted her on the shoulder and pretended to be happy.

But Neville said softly, "Thanks, Mom."

His mother staggered back, humming.Neville looked at everyone defiantly, as if ready to accept their jeers, but Harry didn't think he'd ever had anything less funny.

"Well, it's time for us to go back," sighed Mrs Longbottom, pulling on her long green gloves. "It's a pleasure meeting you all. Neville, throw that sugar wrapper in the bin, she gave it to you." Enough to cover your bedroom?"

But when the grandson and grandson left, Harry believed he saw Neville shove the candy wrappers into his pockets.

The door is closed.

"I never knew," said Hermione tearfully.

"I don't know." Ron said hoarsely.

"Me too," Ginny whispered.

They all looked at Harry. "I know," he said sadly, "Hilbert told me, but I promise not to say that Bellatrix Lestrange went to Azkaban for this, she and Barty Crouch Jr. posing as Professor Moody cast the Cruciatus Curse on Neville's parents, driving them insane."

"Bellatrix Lestrange?" said Hermione in horror. "The woman in Kreacher's picture?"

"Yes, and Bellatrix's original surname is Blake, she is my godfather's cousin, she is the same sibling as Malfoy's mother, Tonks' mother and Hilbert's mother."

"But Hilbert and Tonks are completely different from them!" Hermione said in surprise.

At this time, Ron looked at the messenger watch invented by Fred and said, "Dad is discharged from the hospital, let's go."

"Well, let's go back for Christmas." Harry Potter said to himself after a long silence.

　The 11800-word chapter is here, and I feel like my writing skills are exploding today! ! !Please recommend and collect

　　


(End of this chapter)