A ruined Hogwarts

Amidst the commotion, Owen and Harry finally reached the bookshelf, got the books they needed from the tall bookshelf, and then squeezed towards the counter.

When Irving finally got out of the area with the largest crowd, his neatly styled hair had a few tufts sticking up, making him look like a big cat with blown hair. Harry didn't know where he was pushed. He was lost in the crowd and couldn't be seen. Only his amplified shout came from the side: "Sorry, please give way, my glasses fell off..."

Harry hugged a stack of books tightly in his arms, and the round-rimmed eyes on his face had disappeared. He was staring at a pair of highly myopic emerald green eyes, bending over and searching blankly between the ankles walking on the ground.

"Isn't this Harry Potter?" Several wizards around him noticed the lightning-shaped scar hidden under the hair that was accidentally lifted up on his forehead and exclaimed loudly.

The crowd instantly became much quieter when they heard the sound. Gilderoy Lockhart suddenly jumped up from behind the table and shouted: "Where is it? Where is Harry Potter?"

The crowd cleared a path, whispering excitedly to each other, and looking intently at Harry's forehead. Harry stood there with glazed eyes, looking overwhelmed, still thinking about his glasses.

Owen stroked his hair and muttered "Harry's glasses are flying" in a low voice, and a crushed pair of glasses flew through the gap in the crowd. After he said "recover as before" into his glasses, he took a step back calmly and stood in the middle of the crowd of onlookers, calmly being a quiet melon-eater.

Lockhart had already rushed to Harry, grabbed his arm excitedly, and pulled him to the front of the crowd. The photographer he brought with him was pressing the shutter of the camera frantically, and the man standing aside who looked like a reporter had quickly taken out his notebook and quill, looking as if he was about to faint with excitement.

Harry was being pulled by Lockhart to take pictures with a dull look on his face. The crowd around him seemed to be covered with a thick layer of frosted glass in his eyes. Not to mention clearly seeing the expressions on people's faces, in fact he couldn't even distinguish between them. Both humans and dogs have a hard time. But even so, his cheeks were still red from embarrassment, and his stern face and blank eyes made him look stupid and cute.

"What a beautiful smile, Harry." Lockhart let go of Harry's arm with satisfaction, "We can both be on the front page!"

Harry stared blankly at his blurred face, only the brightly reflective teeth that could be seen. Which of your eyes saw me smiling?

Owen, who was standing in the crowd, couldn't help but laugh. He could imagine Harry appearing on the Daily Prophet with this goose-like appearance. He hoped that there would be no "big news" among wizards in the future. Rumors like the boy who survived was an idiot.

Ah, in the new year, the savior still cannot escape the shadow of social death. This is really a sad (interesting) thing.

Harry tried desperately to slip away, but Lockhart put an arm on his shoulder, holding him firmly to his side. He smiled brightly at the crowd around him and the reporters on the side and said, "Young Harry." Leigh walked into Flourish and Blotts today just wanting to buy my autobiography - and I was willing to give him the book for free on the spot, along with the full set signed by me, of course!"

After a round of applause, the reporter took the opportunity to ask: "Mr. Lockhart, it is rumored that you will take up the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this September?"

As soon as the news came out, the surrounding wizards buzzed with excited discussions.

Lockhart quickly glanced at the reporter secretly, a hint of imperceptible embarrassment and displeasure flashing across his face. He waved everyone to quiet down, and then said with a regretful look: "I don't know where you got the news, but this year there is another candidate for the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts."

"Although it has always been my wish to return to Hogwarts, and I had reached a preliminary intention with Principal Dumbledore a few days ago, but on the eve of receiving my appointment letter, I was told that this position had already been announced. was handed over to another person." Lockhart looked depressed but free and easy. "Although I feel very sorry for this, since Principal Dumbledore thinks that there is someone more qualified for this position than me, I believe that it must be An extraordinary character.”

Looking at Lockhart's somewhat exaggerated performance, Owen sighed: "What a master of arching fire." Lockhart clearly meant to tell everyone that the position he was about to get was suddenly cut off. If the new employee The professor is an unknown guy, and may be inundated with howl letters from Lockhart fans the next day, and Lockhart can take the opportunity to create a wave of hype.

As one of the most famous celebrity writers in the global wizarding world, Lockhart still has something.

Sure enough, after hearing Lockhart's words, the crowd burst into angry shouts. A group of witches shared the same hatred and talked about each other, and their emotions were stirred up.

Seeing this, Lockhart hugged Harry and shook him again, clapped his hands, and a shining smile appeared on his face again: "However, Harry and his classmates don't have to feel sad about this, because I have gained more. The right position for you!”

"Yes, ladies and gentlemen, on this wonderful occasion, I am extremely happy and proud to announce that this September, I will be working as a Security Advisor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!" he shouted, "Dumbledore The principal created this position specifically for me, and there is no doubt that this position will be more suitable for me to give my best. I believe that the students at Hogwarts will have the most anticipated campus life!"

People began to applaud and cheer, Lockhart bowed exaggeratedly, and then he was willing to let Harry go. Harry was pushed aside while holding a large pile of heavy books, looking pitiful.

Owen's brows moved slightly. Security consultant? At first glance, this dispensable position was just a temporary thought, and it was full of perfunctory meaning. I don’t know what kind of deals and compromises were mixed into it.

He was too lazy to think about the shady story behind it. As he walked up to Harry and handed him his glasses, he was thinking about another very important thing: now that Lockhart has become a so-called security consultant, what about the dark magic this year? Who is the defense professor?

"Oh, thank you, Owen." Harry quickly put on his glasses and looked in the direction of Lockhart with a dark face, "I really don't know what Mr. Dumbledore's motives were for hiring him. A lover. A pushy guy.”

Before Owen could reply, a voice came over: "Harry, Owen, you are here too."

Draco poked his pale, pointed face from the side, looked at Harry carefully with his gray eyes, and then glanced at Lockhart in the crowd with disgust: "That guy looks like a peacock with its tail spread. ,Right?"

"That's right!" Harry nodded in agreement, and with a straight face, he stuffed the pile of books that was almost higher than his head into Owen's small bag, "Draco, did you come here by yourself?"

"I'm with my dad..." Draco said and looked towards the bookshelf area in the distance, and a commotion and noise came from there.

"What's wrong?" Harry sighed. He is tired and destroyed.

Owen stood on tiptoes and saw Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Weasley fighting through the gap in the crowd. Mr. Malfoy had just been knocked down against the bookshelf, and he punched Mr. Weasley in the eye.

"If I remember correctly, you seem to be wizards..." Owen muttered in a low voice, and then said to the two people beside him: "Draco, your father got into a fight with someone. I'll go over and take a look."

After finishing speaking, he walked into the crowd with light steps, walking nimbly through them.

When he arrived nearby, the two were still fighting. Mr. Malfoy was holding a cane, and Mr. Weasley was holding a copy of "The Encyclopedia of Toadstools." They both greeted each other hard in the face. Mrs. Weasley was shouting to stop the fight, and several of the Weasley children were also here.

"Hey, who did I think was so vulgar and reckless? It turned out to be Weasley." Draco also squeezed over and mocked in a long tone, "Look, the Weasley family can do other things besides swinging their fists." do what?"

"Shut up, Malfoy!" one of the Weasley twins replied, and they were about to give Mr. Malfoy a chill. Ron Weasley glanced this way with a strange and complicated expression. The first thing he looked at was Harry, his eyes flickering slightly. His little sister Ginny blushed when she saw Harry and quietly hid behind her mother.

"Weasley, put down the book in your hand!" Draco pointed at the twins who were about to throw a book at the back of Mr. Malfoy's head, "I advise you to get out of the bookstore in despair. Your parents will have to go out to beg for food next month."

"Hit him!" The Weasley twins threw the book in their hands at Draco, and Ron blushed, rolling up his sleeves and preparing to fight.

Harry hurriedly held Draco back to prevent the guy from rushing over and getting beaten. He looked at the Weasley family members with a sly expression, wishing he could drag Draco into a crack in the ground. To be honest, he sincerely felt that Draco's words were not just for a beating, and even he wanted to punch Draco after hearing them.

"Fred, George, Ron, what are you doing!" Mrs. Weasley yelled loudly while fighting, stopping the brawl that was about to break out. Then she knocked down Mr. Malfoy with a backhand fist, dragged her husband and screamed: "No, Arthur, don't fight!"

"Dad!" Draco rushed to his father's side.

Mr. Malfoy wiped the corners of his blue eyes and stood up, glanced at everyone in the Weasley family with a gloomy expression, and then threw a worn second-hand Transfiguration textbook into Ginny's cauldron: " Here, little girl, take your book. This is the best thing your father can give you..."

After saying that, he and Draco pushed through the crowd of onlookers and strode out of the store.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief and couldn't stand the looks of the people around him. He whispered "Sorry" in a low voice and ran out dejectedly.

Owen pretended to accidentally bump into Ginny's cauldron and pushed his right hand into the cauldron as if he lost his balance. Then he whispered "Sorry" and hurriedly squeezed out.

He stroked a notebook he had tucked into his sleeve, with an interested smile on his face. Who wouldn’t want to own a cute little Tom’s diary? I think he even bought its peripherals back then.

Owen just wants to learn magic in peace and quiet, and I hope there are no basilisks in Hogwarts this year. But thinking about the missing Ravenclaw diadem... Will Voldemort be resurrected soon?

"You'd better not cause trouble at Hogwarts." Owen muttered in his heart, "As long as you stay away from me, I won't interfere with you..." The plot has collapsed, Dumbledore It seemed like it was over, and he had to seriously consider the possibility of Voldemort's final victory.

He caught up with Draco and his group and saw Mr. Malfoy rubbing the corners of his eyes with a cheerful expression and talking to Harry in a pleasant manner. Harry smiled awkwardly, politely and awkwardly, and nodded from time to time.

Mr. Malfoy shook hands with Harry and walked away slowly, leaving the rest of the time to the children. Before he left, he glanced inside the bookstore with a sneer on his lips.

"Harry, you shouldn't be in a hurry to buy a broomstick." Draco said slowly, "My father plans to fund seven Nimbus 2001 for the Quidditch house team. At that time, other houses will have to follow us. Ash."

"It doesn't matter, I've long wanted to have a broomstick of my own." Harry thought of his broom and wanted to fly a few times in the air right away.

"Is there anything else you want to buy?" Owen said, "I should go home."

"Then you go back first, Harry and I will go shopping again." Draco looked at Harry who was obviously still unfinished, shook his head and said.

"Harry, I will put your things in the living room of the villa for you." Owen nodded and said goodbye to the two of them and returned to Shafiq Manor.

After enjoying a simple lunch, Owen came to his study room, put the diary on the table, crossed his hands and supported his chin, looking at the tattered black cover of the diary.

After pondering for a long time, he slowly opened the cover and saw the vague signature on the first page: T. M. Riddle.

He tapped his right hand on the desk, and then tried to tear the seemingly thin flyleaf. After making sure that it could not be torn, he closed the diary with a "snap" and locked it in the drawer.

Don't rush into a relationship, wait until he is interested. It may be this year, or it may be in a few years, or when you are in a bad mood, burning it directly can relieve stress.

During afternoon tea, Mr. Albert, who had rushed back from the Potions Master's party, slowly drank black tea and said to Owen, who was sitting opposite him: "Owen, it looks like Severus, oh, it's Snape, he's very He's optimistic about you. It's rare that he attended this gathering today and even communicated with me about your situation."

"Really? He was nothing special to me at school." Owen said casually.

"He has always been like this, rarely showing emotions." Albert lamented, "He was like this when he was in school. If I hadn't accidentally discovered that many of the popular spells in the school were created by him, I would still have I thought he was just an ordinary classmate, well, at most his potion skills are a bit outstanding."

"Then you became friends with him?" Owen said softly.

"Yes, birds of a feather flock together," Albert said matter-of-factly. If the other party hadn't shown outstanding talents, he would have been so full that he would associate with a mixed-blood with little family power.

"By the way, Severus asked me to tell you that if you have anything to do at school, you can come to him. He is willing to help you solve some problems." He raised his left eyebrow and said.

"I know." Owen nodded expressionlessly. This is not in line with Professor Snape's character. It is most likely Dumbledore's request. It seems that the principal is really starting to pay attention to him.

"It's nerve-wracking." He began to think about how to distract Dumbledore.

"By the way, Dad, do you know who the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in school is this year?" Owen asked. Dad, who is always well-informed, must know about this kind of thing.

"Ha, aren't you interested in this matter?" Albert raised his chin proudly, "I came back from the Wizengamot meeting last time and told you that something interesting happened. You still don’t care.”

Owen blinked. He didn't expect the two things to be related. Looking at his father's proud expression, he twitched the corners of his mouth slightly and said, "Can I know this?"

"Oh? Don't worry, you will know sooner or later." Albert pretended to be secretive.

Well, this secret has been sold to this day. It's really hard for him to patiently hold it back for so many days and not say it out. His long battle was victorious, and the long-awaited questioning arrived, albeit belatedly.

Owen helplessly held his forehead, then stared at him with clear eyes, and began to act shamelessly cute: "Dad, can you tell me?"

Albert was so cute that he quickly drank some black tea and then said with satisfaction: "This involves an old case from eleven years ago. After the Dark Lord fell, his fanatical follower Sirius Black tried to While escaping capture, he used a curse to blow up half a street, killed a dozen Muggles, and blew a wizard who was chasing him into pieces, before he was caught and imprisoned in Azkaban."

Owen's expression became a little weird, it couldn't be what he thought...

"The wizard who was bombed with only one finger left, Peter Pettigrew, was later awarded the first-class badge of Sir Merlin. However, some time ago, he suddenly came back, and he came back alive after eleven years. He claimed that he injured his head in that battle and lost all his memory, even the fact that he could do magic. He only recently recovered his memory and came back to see his mother."

"He should have been frightened during that battle, perhaps suffering from persecution paranoia, although he was not very courageous to begin with. He was always afraid that the remaining forces of the Dark Lord would come to retaliate against him - to be honest, this How is that possible - he came here tremblingly to seek asylum from the Ministry of Magic, wanting to stay in the safest place possible."

"The Ministry of Magic hastily concluded the death of a hero, causing him to suffer in Muggle society for more than ten years. His mother passed away due to excessive grief... This is a big scandal that will affect the credibility of the Ministry of Magic, Wesson Gammer did not hesitate to hold a meeting about this, and finally decided to send Peter Pettigrew to Hogwarts. Fortunately, he himself was too timid to make the matter public, so it was easy to settle."

"Isn't it fun to watch those guys scurrying around wiping their own butts?"

Mr. Albert poured himself another cup of black tea, leisurely picked up a piece of tea and stuffed it into his mouth.

"Then how did Gilderoy Lockhart become a security consultant?" Owen nodded amusedly.

"Who knows that Dumbledore has already written to him before? Lockhart is a world-famous writer after all. If the promised position is given to someone else, he will definitely make a fuss. You must give him some indication. That's fine. Anyway, his purpose of entering Hogwarts is just to gain fame, so everyone can get what they need." Albert smacked his lips.

"By the way, have you never suspected that there was something fishy about Peter Pettigrew back then?" Owen said with a smile.

"Ha, who knows." Albert showed a meaningful smile, "But I believe that the vast majority of members have no doubt at all, let alone a few others. Peter Pettigrew has been a hero for eleven years. Sirius Black also spent eleven years in Azkaban, and everything is settled."

"The truth sometimes doesn't matter. People just want what they think is right. Is there any tangible benefit in seeking justice? It's just tearing off the last fig leaf." Albert did not forget to teach Irving, "For politicians, they can pretend to be deaf even if the facts are right in front of them. To make them admit their mistakes, they have to hang them on the gallows."

"I understand." Owen raised his lips.

Peter Pettigrew suddenly stopped hiding himself and risked his life to appear in front of everyone. What was the reason? Did he realize that Harry was trying to figure him out? No, the summer vacation is so long, he can take the opportunity to slip away and hide himself again.

Unless he had to do this, for example, he received a threat more terrifying than exposing himself, or accepted someone's order...for example, the missing crown...

Owen drank the black tea in the cup in one gulp, and then sighed softly: "I am really looking forward to this Professor Peter."

Thank you to book friend 20220501012724947 for the 100 starting coins. Thank you to book friends for their subscriptions, monthly tickets and recommendation votes. Thank you to the author.