yasinovel Chapter 266 Warning and Investigation
Chapter 266 Warning and Investigation
Chapter 266 Warning and Interrogation (5.4K) (2/2)
The entrance to Hogsmeade Village.
Harry looked somewhat uneasy, Ron had a "we're doomed" expression, and Hermione nervously twisted her fingers, occasionally glancing at Professor McGonagall's face.
As Lynch approached, Professor McGonagall stepped forward, her voice low but clearly questioning: "Professor Lynch."
She glanced at Harry, causing him to instinctively shrink back, then fixed her gaze on Lynch. "I think we need an explanation. I clearly told Mr. Potter that he shouldn't leave the castle today. Yet, not only did you bring him here, but," she emphasized, her tone laced with clear disapproval, "you haven't been with him for quite some time, as far as I know. Does that match the protection you promised when you brought him out today?"
When confronted with questions, Lin Qi's expression remained unchanged; instead, a faint, reassuring smile appeared on his lips.
Instead of offering a direct explanation, he raised his right hand, palm down, and gracefully twirled his five fingers.
A wisp of hazy, almost indistinguishable mist, appearing out of thin air and slowly swirling and unfolding in his palm.
“Professor McGonagall,” he said calmly, “I understand your concerns. Considering that Harry and his friends might not be able to fully enjoy this precious afternoon if I followed them closely, I chose to keep my distance.” He continued, holding the wisp of strange mist in his hand, “but as you can assure me, I have never left Hogsmeade Village, nor have I let my guard down. This mist has always covered the entire village.”
Professor McGonagall's sharp gaze scrutinized the wisp of gray mist. She recognized this unique magic—Lynch had used this strange spell last year inside Hogwarts Castle to monitor the entire castle.
This realization eased her tense expression slightly, and her tightly pursed lips relaxed a little.
At least, Lynch was not as negligent as she initially thought.
“Even so, Professor Lynch,” her tone remained serious, but her anger had gradually been replaced by pragmatic discussion, “such arrangements should have been discussed with me in advance, or at least I should have been informed promptly. Discovering suddenly that a student who should be under close protection is off-campus alone is no small matter.”
"Your criticism is correct; it was my oversight." Lin Qi nodded slightly, his attitude sincere. "I will learn from this experience and will definitely communicate in advance in similar situations in the future."
Seeing that Lynch had a good attitude in admitting his mistake and had indeed made thorough follow-up arrangements, Professor McGonagall decided not to pursue the matter any further.
She took a deep breath and nodded. "I hope so. Now, let's get the students back to the castle."
"
"Of course," Lin Qi replied, the gray mist in his palm dissipating silently.
He then turned to the student crowd that was beginning to stir, and his voice rang out clearly and gently: "Dear students, please board the carriages in the order of your houses. We are about to return to Hogwarts."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged glances, secretly relieved, and quickly blended into the Gryffindor group, waiting for the carriage to arrive, not daring to look at Professor McGonagall's expression again.
The Thestrals carriage that returned to Hogwarts was fairly spacious, but it felt somewhat cramped for Harry, Ron, and Hermione at that moment.
Because at that moment, Lynch was sitting opposite them, still composed, as if his argument with Professor McGonagall had never happened.
The carriage was completely silent, save for the rumble of the wheels on the road and the occasional soft noise from the Thestral.
Ron was restless, his eyes darting around. Every now and then, he would glance at Lynch with a mixture of awe, fear, and immense curiosity, then immediately lower his head and pretend to examine his shoelaces, his movements so clumsy that he almost twisted his neck.
Hermione, on the other hand, appeared much calmer. She clutched her backpack tightly, staring straight ahead, seemingly fascinated by the wood grain on the carriage walls. However, her deliberately maintained calm and overly stiff posture betrayed her inner tension.
Lynch's gaze calmly swept over Ron's furtive glances and Hermione's tense profile.
He wasn't surprised, but sighed inwardly and looked at Harry, who was sitting in the middle with his head down and his fingers nervously twisting the hem of his clothes.
"You told them."
His voice was steady, without any doubt, just a calm statement, as if he were announcing a confirmed fact.
These words were like a stone thrown into stagnant water. Harry looked up abruptly, his face draining of color, his emerald eyes filled with guilt and panic.
"I'm so sorry, Uncle Lynch!" he blurted out, his voice trembling with urgency. "I—I didn't mean to! It's just—after finding out about that, I felt so much pressure, and—and they're my best friends, I—"
He tried to explain incoherently that the heavy secret and the guilt of breaking his promise to Lynch were almost crushing him.
He dared not look Lynch in the eye, afraid of seeing disappointment or something worse.
Ron and Hermione held their breath instantly. Ron even shrank back instinctively, as if afraid that a spell would fly over at them at any moment.
Lynch listened quietly to Harry's explanation, looking at his pale face and eyes filled with remorse.
A few seconds of silence lingered in the carriage, but those few seconds felt like centuries to Harry.
Finally, Lynch let out a soft, almost inaudible breath. "I understand the weight of secrets, especially secrets like that. It's really too much for a child to bear alone." His tone was unreadable, more like a matter-of-fact analysis. "And friends, at times, are indeed a choice to share the burden."
His words made Harry look up in surprise, and Ron and Hermione were also stunned.
But Lynch's tone shifted slightly, his gaze deepening as he looked at the three of them: "But Harry, and you two, I need you to understand that the name 'The Hangman,' and everything associated with it, represents more than just the past; it represents a danger that hasn't completely dissipated. To consider it a secret to share is inherently risky. Revealing it could attract unimaginable scrutiny; the danger will entangle you like vines, and may also silently tighten its grip on your parents..."
"The necks of family members."
His voice wasn't loud, but his cold words weighed heavily on the hearts of the three children.
"This matter ends here," Lynch concluded, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Don't let any of you utter that word again. Keep it buried inside, for your own sake, and for the safety of everyone. Understand?"
Ha nodded vigorously, his heart filled with mixed emotions—a sense of relief at being forgiven, yet also a chilling resentment at the warning.
Ron and Hermione nodded quickly, like chickens pecking at rice, their faces full of solemnity.
"Yes, Uncle Lynch/Professor," the three answered in unison.
Lynch fell silent, and the only sounds in the carriage were the rolling wheels and the rhythmic thud of the Thestrals.
After passing through the gates of Hogwarts, carriages stopped one after another in front of Hogwarts Castle, and students filed out, excitedly rushing toward the brightly lit oak gates.
Lynch's carriage lagged behind. Once it came to a stop, Lynch opened the door and got out, followed by Harry, Ron, and Hermione. He spoke softly and gently, "Harry, Ron, Hermione, you should go in quickly; the banquet is about to begin."
The three children stopped and nodded.
As Harry and the others turned to walk toward the door, Ron instinctively turned back to say something more to Professor Lynch, only to be surprised to find that Professor Lynch, who had been standing behind them just moments before, had vanished. The spot was empty, with only the cold night wind blowing by.
"Huh? Where's Professor Lynch?" Ron's eyes widened, he blinked hard, and looked around. "He was just here! How did he disappear in the blink of an eye—"
Hermione frowned in confusion; she hadn't heard any footsteps or the sound of any spells.
Harry knew in his heart that Uncle Lynch's clone had probably turned back into a raven and flown away, just like when he arrived.
But he couldn't explain, only vaguely saying, "Uncle Lynch always appears and disappears so mysteriously."
Ron shrank back and whispered to Harry and Hermione, "That's just... amazing. But thinking about it, he is... uh..." He stopped himself in time, not daring to say the code name, but the mixture of admiration and a hint of fear on his face said it all, "...it's pretty cool, but also a little creepy, right?"
Hermione didn't refute, but nodded thoughtfully, looking again at the clearing where Lynch had disappeared, her eyes filled with inquiry.
As they entered the bustling, warm auditorium, they were immediately enveloped by Halloween decorations and the aroma of food.
Harry instinctively looked up at the teachers' table and saw Uncle Lynch sitting comfortably there, with the familiar, jet-black raven perched on his shoulder.
As if sensing his gaze, Lynch turned his head, his eyes meeting Harry's. A gentle and knowing smile appeared on his lips, and he nodded almost imperceptibly at him.
The raven also glanced at Harry, its dark eyes darting around.
Harry quickly looked away, feeling a little more at ease, and squeezed into the Gryffindor table with Ron and Hermione.
The Great Hall was filled with laughter and chatter, especially among the upperclassmen who had returned from Hogsmeade, who were excitedly sharing their experiences and insights with the underclassmen who had been unable to attend.
"Honey Duke's new Bloody Lollipop really makes your tongue bleed a color that lasts for an hour!"
"We drank butterbeer at Three Brooms, and Ms. Rosmerta even chatted with us!"
"That new biting snuffbox from Joko's joke shop almost bit off Malfoy's nose, haha!"
"It's such a shame you didn't go! The decorations at Madame Patif's Tea House have changed; it's so romantic!"
The younger students gathered around them, their eyes shining with a mixture of envy and disappointment. They could only beg their older classmates to tell them more interesting stories about Hogsmeade.
Just then, a cheerful and clear voice echoed through the auditorium, easily drowning out the students' noise.
"Ah, it seems our 'ghosts' have all returned from Hogsmeade laden with spoils?" Headmaster Dumbledore stood in the center of the teachers' table, his long silver beard and blue eyes behind his half-moon spectacles gleaming in the candlelight. He opened his arms as if embracing the enthusiasm of the entire Great Hall. "Seeing so many cheerful faces is more gratifying than the sweetest Honeydukes candy. And of course, for those students who remained in the castle to guard this peace for us," he winked playfully, his gaze sweeping over the younger students, "I dare say the special pumpkin pie prepared by the kitchen was just as delicious as the Three Broomsticks' Butterbeer."
A burst of laughter and applause erupted in the auditorium.
"Well then, before the ghosts begin their annual parade, let's enjoy this sumptuous feast! After all, dealing with those drifting neighbors requires plenty of stamina," he suggested humorously.
As soon as Dumbledore finished speaking, the long table was instantly piled high with a dazzling array of delicacies: roast turkey, steak,
Piles of roasted potatoes and meat, glistening pea shoots, and huge platters of pork chops brimming with gravy.
Golden pumpkin juice swirls in a stemmed glass, filling the air with an enticing aroma.
The dinner party began.
A little earlier, as the Hogwarts students returned to school by carriage, secret preparations were underway in the unassuming safe house of Hogsmeade.
Reggie silently took a sealed glass bottle from his pocket, inside which sloshed about a thick, muddy-like potion.
He uncorked the bottle, and without hesitation, tilted his head back and drank the compound decoction in one gulp.
The potion's effects were almost immediate; his facial bones and muscles began to writhe and reshape unnaturally, and his skin color and hair texture changed accordingly. A moment later, the person standing in the same spot was a middle-aged male wizard with an unfamiliar face and a somewhat scholarly air, only the usual calmness deep in his eyes remained unchanged.
Reggie—or rather, Reggie, now using the alias "Owen Davis"—looked down at his original clothes, then waved his wand again, silently pointing it at himself.
A faint light flashed by, and his robes quickly transformed and reconstructed into a well-tailored but not expensive black wizard's robe, with a plain shirt underneath, the collar meticulously buttoned up.
Finally, a male wizard who perfectly embodied the image of a meticulous and capable mid-level employee of the Chamber of Commerce appeared in the room.
He even took out a leather briefcase and tucked it under his arm, adding to his credibility.
On the other side, Sirius Black took a deep breath of the cold air, trying to suppress the churning emotions in his chest.
It was a complex mix of desire for revenge and tension before taking action.
He closed his eyes, concentrated all his thoughts, and without chanting a spell or making any movements with his wand, the transformation occurred as naturally as breathing—his body shrank and changed in an instant, thick black fur covered his entire body, and in the blink of an eye, a huge, lean, and agile black dog with eyes so sharp it didn't look like a canine replaced the human form, standing in the center of the room, emitting a suppressed growl from its throat.
Reggie pulled a sturdy, ordinary leather dog leash from the side pocket of his briefcase.
"A necessary disguise," he said.
The big black dog let out a low growl from deep in its throat, sounding extremely displeased and offended.
Being leashed felt more humiliating to him than being a Dementor in Azkaban.
His grey eyes were fixed on Reggie, filled with an air of defiance.
However, reason and commitment to the plan ultimately prevailed over his pride.
He walked forward stiffly, step by step, and reluctantly allowed Reggie to fasten the collar around his hairy neck. The feeling of the leather restraint made every muscle in his body tense.
Reggie ignored his emotions and simply confirmed, "Remember your role. Stay quiet and maintain control."
He tightened the dog leash and opened the door to the safe house.
"Walk."
The man and his "dog" stepped into the cold night of Hogsmeade, heading towards the Screaming Shack.
Just as they turned the corner of an alley piled with clutter and were about to enter a more desolate area, they ran into two serious-looking patrol officers wearing Auror cloaks from the Ministry of Magic.
The two officials immediately stopped, instinctively raising their wands, their sharp gazes fixed on Reggie and the unusually large, piercing black dog.
"Halt!" one of the officials shouted sternly, the tip of his wand already glowing with the light of a spell about to be cast. "State your identities and purpose! These are extraordinary times, and any nighttime activity must be inspected." His companions moved aside in unison, blocking any possible escape routes, their eyes scrutinizing Reggie and the taut leash in his hand.
Reggie stopped in his tracks.
He showed no panic, but calmly nodded slightly and took out a bronze identity plaque engraved with the emblem of the Stone Tower Merchant Guild from his pocket, showing it to the officials.
"Good evening, gentlemen." His voice, amplified by the compound decoction, was hoarse but carried a businesslike composure. "I am Owen Davis, an employee of the Planning Department of the Stone Tower Chamber of Commerce." He gestured to the eerie silhouette of the screaming shack beside him, which appeared sinister in the moonlight. "As you can see, the Chamber is assessing the feasibility of acquiring and redeveloping that abandoned property. I have been ordered to conduct a preliminary site survey."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the large black dog that was still baring its teeth and growling menacingly, and explained, "As for it—considering the official announcement that Blake is still at large, bringing a 'helper' along when traveling alone to a place like this is a prudent move in accordance with security procedures. It has received basic alert training."
The official who was questioning Reggie carefully examined his ID card, and then looked at his clothes and his humble yet assertive attitude. The stern look on his face softened slightly.
The Stone Tower Merchant Guild has expanded rapidly in the magical world in recent years and has many dealings with the Ministry of Magic, so the name itself carries a certain degree of credibility.
"The Stone Tower Merchant Guild? They want to buy the Screaming Shack?" Another official raised an eyebrow, his tone incredulous. "That place has been haunted for centuries."
"It is precisely because of its unique historical atmosphere that the Chamber of Commerce believes it has the potential to be transformed into a distinctive tourist attraction," Reggie replied calmly, as if stating a perfectly normal business plan.
The leading official hesitated for a moment, then looked again at the large, fierce-looking dog that was being tightly leashed, and compared the information on the identification tag in his hand.
Finally, he nodded and put away his wand: "Alright, Mr. Davis. Your reasoning makes sense."
However, I still want to remind you to be careful. If you spot any trace of Blake, signal immediately and do not act on your own.
"Of course, it's a citizen's responsibility." Reggie nodded again. "We'll remain vigilant. Best of luck on your patrol."
Two officials stepped aside to let the man and dog walk toward the screaming shed.
"The people from the Stone Pagoda Chamber of Commerce—they've got some nerve," an official muttered, watching their retreating figures.
"Who knows what the rich are thinking?" Another official shrugged, dismissing the matter, and continued their patrol route.
Only after confirming that they were completely out of the officials' sight did Reggie almost imperceptibly loosen his grip on the leash.
The surrounding lights gradually thinned out, until only the moonlight and the outline of the distant castle remained.
They gradually approached the crooked, ominous shadow of the screaming shack.
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