cycle

"Neville!" After handing in the papers, we didn't wait for Professor Tofty to announce that we could leave the auditorium, and ran out without looking back. We just ran to the top of the marble stairs when we saw Neville rushing down the stairs with a pale face. , Hermione immediately waved to him: "We are here! What happened? Are you sick?"

"Is your scar hurting again?" Harry asked, also looking very disturbed.

"Come with me." Neville looked around at the classmates who were playing around as usual. The atmosphere in the castle suddenly relaxed because of the end of the last OWL exam, and there was even cheerful singing from the auditorium.Without saying a word, we followed Neville through the corridors on the second floor, and finally found an empty classroom, and everyone rushed in. Neville took a deep breath and said tremblingly, "The mysterious man caught my father."

"What?" Hermione's voice was so high-pitched that she had to cover her mouth to avoid attracting attention from outside the classroom.

"Did you see that? The same as the last time you saw Mr. Weasley hurt?" Harry asked immediately.

"Almost, but I'm not a snake anymore, I'm—I'm the You-Know-Who." Neville tried hard to speak every word clearly, but his whole body trembled uncontrollably as if he was in great pain, " Department of Mysteries...the room I always dream about is full of shelves and glass balls, No. 90 at the end of the seven shelves...he wanted to get a glass ball but he couldn't get it so he tortured my dad ...but my dad can't understand what he's saying! He--he's already..."

He couldn't continue, and sat down at a table weakly and covered his face: "I want to find Professor McGonagall, Dumbledore is not here... but Madam Pomfrey said that McGonagall was also sent to St. Ge, if, if the mysterious man really captured my father, then he has no reason to let my mother go—how should I get there?"

"Where are you going?" Ron asked.

"Go to the Department of Mysteries...I have to save my dad." Neville stood up as if suddenly thinking of something, and Hermione grabbed his arm to stop him from running out recklessly.

"Wait," said Hermione suddenly, "is there a possibility—I mean possibility, if it's not true? I mean, Dumbledore never wanted Neville to see these things... if Doesn't he need to see these things at all?"

"I don't need to see my dad being tortured by the You-Know-Who?" Neville asked fiercely, "So I don't need to see Mr. Weasley seriously injured either?"

"No, Neville, I didn't mean that!" Although Hermione looked panicked, she still gritted her teeth and continued, "It's just that we calm down and think about it! Mr. Longbottom has been living in St. Mungo's closed ward, with There has been a therapist watching over him, and the mysterious man is going to take Mr. Longbottom into the Department of Mysteries—it’s five o’clock in the afternoon, and the staff in the Ministry of Magic should not be off work yet, and he’s going to take an unconscious person into a department. A building full of Aurors, why did he have to pick this time? He hasn't done anything this year, which means he doesn't want the Ministry of Magic to realize that he's resurrected!"

"Let's notify the members of the Order of the Phoenix first." Harry said bluntly.

"I'm going to find my dad." I nodded.

"Yes, but we can't count on one person." Harry turned to Tallus, "The double-sided mirror—even if it is discovered by the Ministry of Magic, we can only take a risk. You go to the tower of Gryffindor, Take out the Marauder's Map, by the way. Is there any possibility of connecting to Grimmauld Place? It should be the closest to the Ministry of Magic and St. Mungo's."

"Fire?" Hermione frowned. "But you said last time that Marietta's mother was in charge of the Hogwarts fires—"

"The fire in Umbridge's office isn't being watched." I suddenly remembered the last sentence she said to me in the office last time, "But wouldn't it be too—"

"No, we need to spread the news as much as possible." Harry said firmly, "Then we are now divided into three groups, and everyone except Alice and Tallus will follow me. We have to find a way to attract Drive Umbridge."

"Will it be too late?" Neville murmured weakly, "He's already caught my dad...if we waste any more time..."

"If you don't get in touch with the Order of the Phoenix, find a way to go to the Department of Mysteries." Harry reached out and untied the tie on his shirt and threw it into the pocket of his robe, as if he thought it would get in the way of the upcoming operation, "Let's go. "

It's the time for the students to finish their classes, and I struggled to make my way through the crowd. Someone was loudly planning how to celebrate the end of the exam all night tonight. They laughed and pushed each other. I managed to squeeze my way to the stairs. Looking at Harry worriedly, their backs had completely disappeared above the stairs.

Today is Thursday, and I'm trying to recall Dad's class schedule, praying that he will stay at Hogwarts because he has classes.But at the moment my mind went blank, and when I opened the door of Dad's office directly with my wand, out of breath, I didn't even realize that I should knock on the door first to ask if he was inside.

The office was quiet and empty, and I felt a burst of despair. On his desk was a large basin emitting soft silver light, and I couldn't see what was in it.Maybe he stayed in the dungeon after class to announce detention because of the poor performance of some of the younger students in class?With a little luck, I turned around and planned to go to the Potions classroom. The door of the office suddenly opened at this moment. When Dad saw me, there was a little surprise in his eyes.

"Neville." I couldn't wait for him to ask me why I was here, and shouted at him, "he saw You-Know-Who take Mr Longbottom, in a room full of shelves and glass balls in the Department of Mysteries of the Ministry of Magic , the end of the seventh row of No.90! We need to confirm-"

"I see." Dad frowned as if he suddenly thought of something and asked me: "What are the others doing?"

"What?" I didn't respond.

"Potter and his group." Dad looked sharply into my eyes, "I don't think they'll just stay where they are and wait for you to tell me about it?"

"They also wanted to notify the others—"

"I see." He suddenly stopped me from speaking, and there was a knock on the door outside the office.

"Come in," Dad said coldly to the door, putting away his wand.

"Professor, the headmaster wants you to go to her office immediately." Draco appeared at the door, half of his face was illuminated by the light in the corridor, and half of his face was hidden in the gloomy darkness of the office, his tone was strong Concentrated schadenfreude and sarcasm: "She caught a large group of suspicious elements trying to break into her office, I hope you can provide a little help."

My heart sank immediately.

"Understood." An impatient expression appeared on Dad's face, "I will pass."

"Stay here." I was about to go out with Dad and Draco when Dad suddenly turned around and ordered me.

"No!" I said immediately, lowering my voice realizing that Draco might be listening to our conversation, "If Harry and the others get caught, I'm the only one who can help—"

"I've said it before," Dad also lowered his voice, which did not hinder his unquestionable tone in the slightest, "You just need to be obedient, Alice."

"but--"

"You heard me." He said in a cold tone (slightly louder), "I never thought that you would talk back to me with this attitude, let's have a good chat about it when I come back. "

My limbs seemed to be entangled by invisible ropes, and there was only a momentary stagnation - the door of the office slammed shut in front of me, the light suddenly dimmed, and I fell into a seat that was still exuding cold air even in midsummer on the floor.

About half an hour later (dad doesn't have a clock in his office), I leaned against the door in frustration, and had to admit that the locks I've picked with my cleverness growing up were probably reserved for me by my dad.I don't know what spell he cast on the office door when he left - it's full of scars now but still stubbornly and firmly isolates me in the room. , they bounced back and smashed all the glass bottles on the shelf closest to the door. At this moment, my feet are full of wet, sticky liquid, and some water plants that are slowly spreading their branches and leaves are slowly crawling on the floor. Think about it wrapped around my ankles.

Harry and the others were undoubtedly discovered by Umbridge, and a huge sense of guilt came over me - they wouldn't have been caught if I hadn't suggested that the fire in Umbridge's office was working.With Umbridge's viciousness, she didn't catch Dumbledore, and she didn't catch Hagrid, she must be desperate to catch something now... and Mr. Longbottom, Dad had time to meet Umrie Did Qi take the opportunity to inform the members of the Order of the Phoenix before?Neville is right, if the You-Know-Who really catches Mr. Longbottom, every minute we waste means more danger, not to mention that what the You-Know-Who has always wanted is still there... What the hell does he want? ?

"Alice! Are you in there?" I suddenly found a pink thing coming in from under the door of the office. It looked like the stretchy ears that the Weasley twins gave us during the summer vacation, but the shape was different. Just the same, Ginny's voice came through the ear-shaped tumor.

"I'm inside!" I immediately grabbed another sarcomatous joint. "Where did they go? I heard Umbridge grab them—"

"Is there any way I can get you out?" Ginny spoke quickly, "Talus threw the double-sided mirror to me and asked me to contact Mr. Black, and then he went to help Harry and the others-I shouted My voice is almost hoarse and the other side responds, I don't understand why it's it and not Mr. Black holding the mirror, it doesn't listen to me at all and keeps laughing, I had to go to Talus with the mirror and find them Caught by Umbridge, and everyone who helped, including Luna. I didn't see you, so I guess you may have come to see Professor Snape—”

"Yes, but Dad locked me up." I felt a moment of desperation. "Are they still in Umbridge's office? My Dad is there too?"

"I didn't dare to get too close, they almost arrested me too." Ginny sounded like she was fumbling for the lock outside, "I don't know what happened inside, Professor Snape left first. I Thought I'd get someone to help me, but—damn! This door lock nearly stuck me!"

"Don't touch the handle!" I desperately asked myself to think about the current situation, "Ginny, do you know what happened?"

"All I know is that Mr. Longbottom seems to be in danger!" Ginny said angrily. "Of course I can't complain if they're all hastily thrown half off, but if Tallus had this mirror he could order Kreacher Now! I now feel as if Kreacher buried the other half of the mirror directly in some fabric, really-"

"Listen to me, Ginny." I suddenly thought of a terrible possibility, "Leave me alone here, you hurry to find Harry and the others, no matter what method you use, just rush into Umbridge's office —tell them I informed Professor Snape about that! Just in case they thought I was on my way to inform Dad at the exact same time as his trip to Umbridge's office... God, come on, Ginny, I don't think it's a good idea for them to rush straight to the Ministry!"

"Okay!" Ginny put away her retractable ears quickly, and I heard her footsteps gradually fade away and finally disappeared, and the whole office was left with only "tick tock" liquid dripping from the broken glass bottle sound.

I thought for a while about what else I could do at this time, but soon realized that there was nothing I could do stuck in Dad's office, which didn't even have a fireplace to light a fire, and the office in the basement. There is no window for me to dig out.The only source of light in the entire office seemed to be the pot engraved with strange characters and symbols in an indecipherable language. I reached out and touched it. It looked like it was made of stone, and it didn't look deep.The silver light is not from the basin itself, but from the contents inside - I subconsciously thought it was some kind of potion, but it didn't look like liquid, it swirled and flowed without stirring, and it didn't Like gas, because there is no cover to prevent it from escaping outward, it is reminiscent of clouds in the sky that slowly change shape with the wind.

Anyone with a little knowledge of potions would not easily touch an unknown object in the potions professor's office. I have no doubt that there is enough poison in the glass bottle on the shelf to kill Umbridge At least twenty times.But I still tiptoed to see the inside of the basin, because the cloud-like thing looks translucent.I was surprised to find that there was actually a room in this shallow basin—there seemed to be two people standing in the room.

Is this pot like a basement in a moody box?I was desperately trying to see who those two people were, but I didn't realize that I had already plunged into the basin. The moment my nose touched the strange substance, I also understood what it was while falling—memory, I felt My mouth and nose were covered by the sudden rising tide, but this coldness didn't make me feel as flustered as before. The breath belonging to my father made me gradually calm down even though I was still sinking continuously.

"I don't understand." I heard Dad's voice, and he seemed a little impatient, "Hiding? There is no reason?"

I fell on the solid ground in a funny posture, and then I saw Professor Dumbledore sitting behind the table. I had already rushed to him to tell him about Mr. Longbottom, and I realized that it should be just Dad of a memory.

This must have happened many years ago, and I noticed that Dad was much younger than he is now, and Professor Dumbledore hadn't changed much.

"Yes," Professor Dumbledore looked very serious, "As for the reason, I think I will tell you and Lily when the time is right."

The scene blurred for a moment, and I found that in front of me was a table with slender legs. On the table, there were many exquisite silverware that I had never seen before, spinning and puffing smoke quietly. The portraits of each of them seem to have an extraordinary temperament.I looked around and saw a large bird with its tail feathers and its magnificent perch perched on a long pole, and there were still Papa and Professor Dumbledore in the room.

"Malfoy hinted that they intend to maintain the status quo." Dad said coldly, "I think that's what it means. He and many Death Eaters who have cleaned themselves up think it's good for Fudge to come to power. Fudge is not a radical who will continue to pursue them , Crouch would not let them go easily. Naturally, I also conveyed some of your thoughts to them, and they accepted it."

"You don't look like someone who wants to interfere in politics." Dad suddenly looked at the thoughtful Dumbledore and asked, "Otherwise there would be no need to refuse when they asked you to be Minister of Magic-then why still?" Ask me to play this kind of role, to accept the invitation banquet over there..."

"Many people think the war is over, Severus," sighed Dumbledore, "but I don't think so, and we still need to be prepared. As I said before, Voldemort is easily among us." Putting in Peter Pettigrew, we're having a hard time finding someone he can trust completely. I wish we had a little bit more information while we were able to breathe - sorry for having you as the gray bridge."

"It's not over yet?" Dad's voice tightened. "You mean—"

"Yes." Dumbledore looked out the window, "I heard that you went to Malfoy Manor to take your daughter with you this time?"

"Not next time." Dad replied blankly, "This time, Lily suddenly needs to work overtime. I can't leave Alice at home alone."

"Don't let her be bored at home all the time, no child wants to be locked up all day." Dumbledore said softly, "Take her out for a walk when you have time, there is no need to involve them in the affairs between adults-of course, this It's an old man's suggestion, and I don't think you'd like her to play with James, Sirius, and the others."

"Before, you said that when the time is right, you will tell us the reason why we hid during that time." Dad didn't seem to want to continue this topic, "Isn't it still the right time?"

"I don't think so." Dumbledore calmly reached out and stroked Phoenix's head, "But you actually have some guesses."

"Yes." Dad replied.

"I suggest that you stop thinking about it. It seems that it has nothing to do with you at present-if you can understand what I am saying, your previous guess is at least half right."

"I understand." Dad nodded, and I listened to their conversation in a daze, wondering what he understood.

The scene suddenly changed again, and now I seemed to be in a small room in Grimmauld Place, with Dad pacing up and down the room: "Let me teach Longbottom Occlumency...you know what he's doing, don't you?"

"I know very well, Severus, that's why I arranged for you to teach him, although the boy is very afraid of you." Dumbledore said slowly, looking a little tired, "My worst fears have happened, Voldemort noticed Now that there's this connection between Neville and him, Neville has to learn to arm his brains, or Voldemort will take advantage of him sooner or later."

"I'm not good at treating students gently." Dad said bluntly, "Longbottom doesn't have any talent...I'm not trying to shirk responsibility, but I just think you might learn better if you teach him yourself."

"As I said, Voldemort has discovered that he and Neville have some kind of direct connection. I think he will take the opportunity to use the child to spy on me, and even directly control the child - if when he finds out that Neville and I It's not just the relationship between the headmaster and the students, I'm sure he will do it immediately." Dumbledore said, "So I hope to try not to stimulate him to take this kind of action, even if it is only for a little longer...Sev Les, this needs your help, just a little more patience."

"I can only try my best." Dad replied after a moment of silence, and I seemed to hear the voices of several of us coming from outside the door. It sounded like we were helping Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Weasley prepare the Christmas banquet.

"How is Alice recently?" Dumbledore suddenly mentioned my name again. "I see that she and Harry are getting along better and better."

"I have a feeling," Dad narrowed his eyes, "You seem to have always cared about my daughter's... feelings, and you told me before that you don't need to interfere with her and Draco Malfoy, I thought you were just trying to remind me not to backfire, but I'm kind of weird now."

"When you encounter something related to Miss Alice or Lily, you will have thorns all over your body, and it hasn't changed for many years." Dumbledore smiled, "I just heard that her owl is because of Ms. Umbridge's Because innocent people died, you should realize that Harry's child gave her a lot of help and comfort during this time, right?"

The muscles on Dad's cheeks twitched dangerously: "Why, Potter actually took the time to ask you to be a lobbyist for his son? If he is so leisurely, shouldn't you consider arranging more work for him to enrich his vacation life ?”

"You've given that child a lot of zeros, Severus, and I have to remind you to ensure a certain degree of fairness in teaching." Dumbledore's tone relaxed, even a little leisurely.

"That's his own carelessness, pride and arrogance, just like his father!" Dad replied coldly.

"But I heard from other teachers that, except for being mischievous and catching the golden snitch, Harry has learned ten percent from James, and he is very humble and a likable child in other aspects." Dumbledore said gently, "Do you still think The Malfoy boy is better?"

"No one is good," Dad said dryly. "I hope they all stay away from my daughter. She is still young."

"When the elders look at the younger generation, they always feel that there is no time to really grow up." Dumbledore sighed, "Sometimes I really worry that I will make this kind of mistake...I always worry that they are not enough to take responsibility, and I always feel that they can Carry them a little longer for them to grow up, but—”

Everything around suddenly became chaotic, I gasped and coughed violently, and found myself back in the basement office full of shards of glass bottles, the room was filled with a drowsy smell, it should be those broken It was caused by the mixing of the glass bottles - I have never cleaned up this mess.The memories in the basin were spinning rapidly. I felt that I had just heard a lot of things, but I didn't quite understand the meaning of these conversations.

I don't know how long time has passed, and I don't know what happened outside. The surroundings are quiet, and I can't hear any movement in the corridor when I press the door.When I cleaned the floor and shelves of glass debris, liquids and materials that are no longer usable, and I was still trying to recall the meaningless conversation between Dad and Professor Dumbledore, the sleepiness seemed to finally be in the long exam week. Then it came slowly.