A ruined Hogwarts

Long after Owen's figure disappeared behind the door, Peter Pettigrew, who was staring blankly at the door, suddenly jumped up and walked around behind the desk excitedly.

The air in the office was sultry from the blazing flames in the fireplace, and Pettigrew's face became increasingly rosy. He finally caught the fox tail of the Ether Society, and even successfully sneaked into the organization. He could take the blame and perform meritorious service without being punished.

After a long time, he managed to calm down, rubbed his fingers on the wrinkled lake blue robe, took out a small, palm-sized thermos bottle from his pocket and took a sip. Then he sat back in his chair and carefully reviewed and sorted out the conversation with his not-so-smart mind.

Gilderoy Lockhart is actually a member of the Aether Society! He entered Hogwarts as a professor for the mission of the Aether Society, to catch Harry Potter!

No wonder Lockhart usually behaves like a loser. It turns out that he has been disguising himself to make others lose their guard. He used his superb acting skills to fool everyone! His behavior of always using various methods to get close to Harry Potter these days has been explained, and it is purely for evil purposes.

Peter Pettigrew gritted his teeth and said how could a world-famous writer be a vain fool who could only brag. It turned out that he was the one being fooled. He usually cleans up Lockhart's messes. This insidious and cunning guy has been watching his jokes, right?

Thinking of this, he wanted to go to the school hospital and beat that guy into pieces. He regretted why he didn't kill this nasty liar directly that night. No, luckily he didn't kill Lockhart. Although he couldn't remove the petrification now, he kept his life alive so that the Dark Lord could torture him for information about the Aether Society in the future.

In addition to Lockhart, Owen Shafik was absorbed into the Aether Society this year, but he is an intern member who obviously does not know much about the intelligence of the Aether Society and does not have much value. Lockhart probably just wanted to use him to observe and spy on Harry.

Maybe we can find a way to start with the member of the Aether Society named Lilith. Although she is not at Hogwarts, she will take Lockhart back to the headquarters when he takes action. That would be a good opportunity... but Before the end of May, otherwise the mission will fail.

But what are the diary and crown they are looking for? Could it be the diadem that once appeared in the hands of those Weasleys and then disappeared? Also, the Aether Society actually discovered the secret room and could even control the basilisk...

Thinking of this, Peter Pettigrew breathed a sigh of relief. He had not dared to contact the Dark Lord during this period because he was attacked by a basilisk the night he attacked Harry. He originally thought that the Dark Lord wanted to kill the donkey, but later he became suspicious of this guess during those days when he turned into a mouse and hid, but he did not dare to ask the Dark Lord for confirmation.

Fortunately, the Dark Lord did not give up on him!

Peter Pettigrew happily fantasized about the scene where he had made great contributions and was rewarded by the Dark Lord. As long as his master came back, he would become his most trusted and respected subordinate. No one would dare to threaten him, no one would dare to despise or look down on him. ...As long as he can help the Dark Lord obtain the Philosopher's Stone from the Aether Society...

As if a basin of cold water had been poured on him, the excitement in his heart instantly cooled down. If Lockhart is so difficult to deal with, how powerful must the Aether Society be? Although he is now pretending to be one of them, can he really not reveal his flaws? He knew he couldn't do it, let alone sneak into the headquarters of the Aether Society to steal the magic stone.

"What should I do? Should I contact the Dark Lord?" He hesitated. He would have screwed this up on his own, but to contact the Dark Lord... he was too scared.

Pettigrew's expression changed uncertainly for a while, and he couldn't help but take out a bag of peanut biscuits from under the table, took out a piece, pinched it with both hands, and gnawed it quickly. He needs delicious cookies to soothe his heart.

After a long period of hesitation and delay, the hour hand pointed to nine o'clock in the evening. He emptied two bags of peanut biscuits, and there were biscuit crumbs on the table and clothes. The thick stack of homework that will be handed out tomorrow has not been corrected at all...

He finally made up his mind, and after tidying up the office, he used the contact magic left by the Dark Lord for him, then struggled to stand up from the chair, wringing his hands and waiting nervously.

The flame in the fireplace swayed as if being blown by the wind, and suddenly became much dimmer. A rustling sound came from every corner of the office, and the whole room became a lot darker and colder.

"Give me an explanation, Wormtail." A high-pitched and cold voice came from all directions, carrying unquestionable majesty.

"Master! I was attacked by a basilisk!" Peter Pettigrew slumped to the ground, telling his story like he was pouring beans. Tears welled up in his watery eyes, "...Harry Knowing what I did, Dumbledore also knew... I could only turn into a mouse and hide, not daring to appear in front of anyone again..."

"You didn't contact me, Wormtail." The voice became very soft, but it gave people a dangerous feeling. "Do you think you can stand on your own?"

"No! Master, I'm just too scared... Wuwu..." Pettigrew sobbed and knelt on the ground humbly, begging for forgiveness.

"I don't want to know your boring inner monologue." The voice said lazily, "But I am a little surprised that you can think of replacing Lockhart." It seems that this servant is not useless, a little smart, but a weak one. After all, the waste will never become a big deal.

"I just want to continue working for you. Being a professor will be more useful." Peter Pettigrew smiled flatteringly, "Master, I got a major clue about the Aether Society today!"

He told him exactly what Owen told him, and his nagging voice echoed in the office. The invisible audience seemed to have left.

"Owen Shafiq...has he joined the Aether Society?" There was a hint of contemplation in the cold voice.

"Yes, it was Gilderoy Lockhart who guided him to join. But he is not yet a formal member, and he doesn't seem to know much about the Aether Society." Feeling the Dark Lord's unique attitude, Pettigrew couldn't help but After thinking about it wildly, he said cautiously.

"Go on." The voice became calmer. Ever since the fight in the Room of Requirement, he had been deeply impressed by Owen Shafik, an extremely arrogant little wizard. He seems to be a fanatical and loyal servant who only wants to obtain the Philosopher's Stone on his own and make the greatest contribution...

He doesn't care if his subordinates are ambitious, as long as they can do things beautifully, such people are more useful. But he was not sure of the other party's loyalty - did Owen Shafik join the Aether Society to steal the Philosopher's Stone, or did he sincerely become a member of it?

Only then did he realize that he knew too little about Owen. Even if he paid enough attention to him, he always involuntarily ignored the other person's existence.

He had investigated and observed the other party for a long time. He was a young wizard with outstanding talent and a smart mind. Although he came from a pure-blood family, he did not show any strange attitude towards the Mudbloods. He took the lead in forming a study group and won people's hearts by explaining magic theory, making Harry Potter and even other members have great trust in him. Except for sleeping well, everything is perfect.

But everything he saw might be an illusion carefully disguised by the other party, wearing a flawless mask, usually showing false gentleness and friendliness, but hiding bottomless darkness and violence in his heart...

Such a follower made him feel very interesting, but he couldn't help but be wary at the moment.

Peter Pettigrew was still recounting the whole conversation endlessly. When he mentioned that the Aether Society was looking for the diary and the crown, the darkness around him began to stir violently, and the sudden strong coldness made him shiver. Shuddering, he closed his mouth.

"Tell me, why don't you continue?" The Dark Lord's voice was as cold as if it was mixed with sharp ice, and his tone revealed creepy anger and murderous intent. The diary and the crown, these two completely different things put together... Has the Aether Society already known his biggest secret?

"I don't know...Master, Owen Shafik didn't...didn't elaborate on this..." Pettigrew stuttered, almost crying again.

"Continue to contact him and find out how far they have reached in their investigation!" There was a trace of well-hidden eagerness and even panic in the angry voice. If the Aether Society knew about it and was after his Horcruxes... they must die!

"Yes, Master!" Pettigrew didn't dare to have the slightest doubt and lowered his head cautiously.

"You did a good job on this matter, Wormtail." The Dark Lord's voice suddenly softened. If it were in his heyday, such a servant who had let him down time and time again should have died long ago, but now the identity of the other party has become crucial.

"I hope you can take advantage of this opportunity and don't let me down again."

Pettigrew nodded gratefully, and his tense body almost collapsed to the ground. He said hurriedly: "Master, what should I do? I am not sure that I will not expose my flaws in front of the Ether Society..." His voice became weaker and weaker.

The Dark Lord was silent for a long time, holding back his anger, but he could only endure his impatience and give advice to this stupid servant. If the other party wasn't still useful, he would definitely let this guy have a taste of the Cruciatus Curse.

"Lockhart is a member of the Aether Society. There is a high probability that he has something for communication or a token to prove his identity." Finally, he said.

Pettigrew froze for a moment, groping around himself blankly. Then he seemed to have thought of something, and timidly moved to a corner of the office, and took out a circular pendant with an eye pattern from the inner pocket of a hanging robe.

This piece of clothing was taken off Lockhart's body the day he replaced him, and the pendant was hidden in his pocket. He thought it was just an ordinary pendant. Although the eye pattern was a bit weird, it didn't attract much attention from him.

Well, he wouldn't know that Owen stuffed it right in front of his eyes.

"Master, look at this?"

The voice chuckled and said lightly: "A gadget used for remote communication."

Pettigrew quickly put the pendant away and raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead. Fortunately, he told the Dark Lord about this, otherwise he would definitely mess up the matter.

The Dark Lord's voice quietly dispersed, the firelight in the office suddenly brightened, and the air became stuffy again.

Peter Pettigrew dragged his weak body and slumped down on the chair, his legs trembling, and he finally cheered up after eating less than half a bag of biscuits. He was in a daze for a long time. After checking the time, he resigned and began to correct the students' homework.

"Ah sneeze——"

In the Slytherin common room, Owen sneezed loudly, knocking away his groggy sleep. Melete gave him a disgusted look, licked her front paws and began to wash her face.

"Tsk, someone must be talking about me." Owen touched his nose and said with a smile.

"Ah, what a beautiful thought." Draco slapped the eyesore Nyx flat on the table.

…

The weather is getting warmer, and there are clouds floating in the clear sky.

Owen and Harry stood outside the cave where the basilisk was hidden, posing in exactly the same position and looking in curiously.

There were rumbling sounds inside the cave, dust was falling down, and even the ground was shaking slightly. The huge bright green body of the basilisk was rolling around in the cave, and Hagrid was holding its tail tightly and not letting go, being tossed around like a torn sack.

"Hagrid...are you okay?" Seeing Hagrid being thrown heavily against the stone wall again, Harry asked with a grin on his face, his expression extremely worried. He turned to Parseltongue and said: "Stop it, Basilisk, can't you just be quiet for a moment?"

The basilisk finally stopped, and its big head with a ferocious beauty drooped listlessly on the ground. Its bright yellow eyes like light bulbs also dimmed, as if covered with a layer of hazy mist, as if it was crying: "I want to go back……"

"It's okay, Harry, I'm playing with him." Hagrid got up from the ground in disgrace, with no scars on his body. His black beetle-like eyes looked at the basilisk's slender and powerful body through his spectacles. , with an eager expression and some unfinished expression.

He came outside the cave, threw a live cow into it, and said with sympathy and love: "He has been in a bad mood. He always wants to leave here and go back to the castle. He has been depressed recently. I just I hope he can be happy... Alas, although he has harmed others, his heart is not bad. It was all that bad bastard who forced him..."

Owen blinked his eyes and watched from a distance as the basilisk swallowed a whole live cow with tears in his eyes. After swallowing it with a gulp, he continued to sigh. The corner of his mouth twitched. Why did he feel that this basilisk had gained weight after not seeing him for a few days?

"I think... he's getting fat, Hagrid." Harry expressed Owen's inner thoughts.

"Really? That's great!" Hagrid said enthusiastically, "This little guy has been locked up for so many years and has never had a few full meals. He is extremely malnourished... God damn Slytherin. He He's too thin, I'm giving him some nutrition."

"Little guy?" Owen raised his eyebrows. Even with Hagrid's size, the Basilisk is no longer a little guy.

"He has been locked up and slept all year round. His mental age is younger than all of you." Hagrid shook his head with a look of regret on his face, and a few blades of grass fell from his messy and fluffy beard. "He is still a human being." child."

"When this is over, I must ask Dumbledore to send him back to the castle. I will send him food regularly. He has no place to go except here, and there is no special place to raise basilisks... If he is If those guys from the Ministry of Magic find out, he will be executed." As he spoke, Hagrid wiped the tears from his eyes.

"By the way, you should go back quickly. The Forbidden Forest has not been peaceful recently." He pushed the two speechless little wizards to stagger with his huge palms, urging, "There are always animals dying. All the blood has been drained from all kinds of animals... Sigh, it must be the evil creature that we couldn't find last year..."

"That's right..." Owen nodded thoughtfully. He hadn't come to replenish Tom's vitality recently, so it was only possible that the crown had reached out to the animals in the Forbidden Forest. After all, blindly persecuting students would make things get out of hand.

The two were enthusiastically sent out of the Forbidden Forest by Hagrid, and then driven back to the castle.

Thank you Cx Mo Ling for the 500 starting coins~