Homecoming from Hogwarts

Harry, Ron and Hermione easily chose which secret passage they should take to enter Hogwarts.

Although to some extent, the possibility of encountering people in the secret passage from the Shrieking Shack to the Whomping Willow was very small, after entering Hogwarts, they still had to run across most of the campus before entering the castle.

In this light, the one in the cellar of Honeydukes Confectionery is even more appropriate.

Clap!

After the crisp sound of glass breaking, the biting cold wind of late December suddenly blew into the warm candy store, and the oil lamps hanging on the beams began to squeak and shake.

"Don't let me catch you!"

The store owner, who was counting today's sales list, left the bar and rushed out of the store in a hurry, looking for the bad guy who smashed his glass.

A breeze blew, causing the door hinges to shake a few more times.

A few footprints appeared mysteriously on the polished floor.

Walking from the door to the back of the store, he passed by the shelf marked 'Today's New Products' and his steps paused for a few seconds. Suddenly, a hand stretched out from the empty space, swiftly grabbed a handful of 'Coconut Ice Cream' and 'Licorice Wand', and then disappeared into the void again.

The slight pause allowed the hidden thief to discover the flaw they left. A magic wand suddenly stretched out, and after the tip of the wand shook, the footprints on the ground disappeared silently.

The three of them walked carefully into the dim cellar, used magic to move a few candy boxes, and when they opened the trap door and walked into the secret passage one after another, Harry pulled aside the invisibility cloak he was wearing.

"Oh, don't, Harry!"

This bold move startled Hermione so much that she almost screamed.

"Calm down, Hermione—"

Harry frowned at Hermione in disapproval.
"There won't be anyone in the secret passage."

"maybe"

"Don't be silly, Hermione, it's Christmas break and the students have all gone home for Christmas."

Ron mumbled as he chewed his liquorice wand.

"You almost exposed us just now, Weasley!"

Seeing that Ron didn't care, Hermione glared at him immediately.

"But I'm hungry!"

Ron turned up his nose in grievance.

"I didn't have breakfast, lunch, or dinner today, and I spent the entire morning fighting a bunch of monsters!"

"You're a bit overwrought, Hermione—"

Harry was also talking, taking two slices of ice cream from Ron's arms and handing one to Hermione.

"I just"

Hermione took a deep breath, looked at the ice cream in her hand, and panted a few times.
"Well, we should eat something to replenish our energy for any unexpected events that may occur at any time--"

Looking at Hermione eating with relish, Ron and Harry both laughed.

The air in the dark secret passage was freezing cold, and water stains that seeped out of the soil condensed into white frost on the walls.

The three of them trotted all the way towards Hogwarts.

The silence of the secret passage gradually calmed their hearts, allowing them to think clearly about their current situation.

"I say, this is really bizarre, isn't it--"

An excited smile appeared on Ron's face.

"What did we experience in the past day that was not bizarre?"

Hermione said, still unable to shake off the nervousness.

"I mean, we're in December 1986. If I remember correctly, Percy is just starting his first year and Ginny and I are still at home, fiddling with our old broomsticks in the broom closet!"

Ron became more and more excited.

"And now, under Aunt Petunia's instruction, I have learned to fry eggs for the Dursleys."

Harry also said that, without much resentment, with a smile of emotion on his lips.

"Oh, we are older than Charlie now, and about the same age as Bill. If I see Percy in Hogwarts later, I swear I will kick him hard in the ass. There won't be a second chance like this!"

"Percy has turned over a new leaf now, hasn't he?"

The smile on Harry's face also became more excited.
"But it's a good idea. If I can go back to the Dursleys now, forget it. Bullying them won't bring me any sense of accomplishment."

"If we could act without scruples, Harry, what do you think you might do?"

"That's an interesting hypothesis, Ron—"

Harry also became excited. He pondered for a few breaths, "In 1986, at this time, Voldemort had already killed my parents. If... well, I think I might write a letter to Professor Dumbledore and tell him what happened to my parents' death. In this way, he might be able to get Sirius out in advance so that he doesn't have to suffer in Azkaban."

"That reminds me!"

Ron also sighed a few times at Harry's words, but then he took a breath and
"Scabbers is still... I mean, that traitor Peter Pettigrew is still with Percy!"

When Harry mentioned the traitor who caused his parents' death, hatred flashed in his eyes. There was also a lingering fear.
"That's right. He slept in the same dormitory with us for more than two years!"

This is indeed terrible.

If Peter Pettigrew had intended to kill them any night in the past two years, the grass on their graves would have grown taller than they are now.

"Absolutely not!"

Hermione joined the conversation angrily.

"Of course I know no, Hermione -"

Ron rolled his eyes.
"Harry and I are simply assuming this possibility."

"I would rather you put your wisdom into some practical issues--"

Hermione said fiercely,

"For example, how are we going to find Professor Brian later? We have to be quick. The longer we stay here, the greater the chance that we will be discovered!"

This is indeed a question worth thinking about.

"Um the Slytherin common room?"

Harry guessed.

"This is the biggest but worst possibility."

Ron said,
"During the Christmas holiday, all the young wizards have gone home to celebrate Christmas. If Professor Brian stays in the dormitory and does not go out, we can only wait until he goes to the auditorium for breakfast tomorrow morning to talk to him."

"He could also be in the library—"

Hermione thought about it and said,
"Professor Brian was a very hardworking little wizard when he was in school."

"Then I'll try my luck at the library."

Harry thought about it and said,

"If we don't run into Professor Blaine there, we'll go to the Slytherin common room and keep watch. I think we'll always run into Slytherin students who didn't go home for Christmas."

After a moment's silence, Hermione nodded.

For now, they have no better solution.

It was very dangerous to run around in the castle, as there were portraits hanging everywhere on the walls. If they were accidentally discovered by the portraits and attracted Professor Dumbledore, things would get completely out of control.

After jogging for more than half an hour, they finally saw a corridor that was slanting upwards. At the end of the corridor was the fourth floor of the castle, where a statue of a hunchbacked witch stood in a remote corridor.

The three men stood at the bottom of the tunnel, gasping for breath and recovering their strength.

They started running around in the early hours of last night.

First he chased to the Ministry of Magic and had a fight with the Death Eaters. By the time he returned to Hogwarts and was lying down, it was almost dawn.

Harry's scar started to hurt again after not getting much sleep.

Then came the invasion of monsters, and they experienced a fierce war they had never experienced before.

Because of Professor Brian's disappearance, a group of people gathered in the Hogsmeade bar to discuss and send a person to investigate all the places where Professor Brian might appear. Then there is time travel.

All in all, they hadn't had a good rest for a whole day and a night.

Harry couldn't help but feel a headache when he thought about Snape's reminder that they might have to fight with Professor Braine in the process of gaining his trust.

It did sound interesting to compete with the young Professor Brain, but considering their current state and the fact that a fight might attract other people and cause serious consequences.

Harry still hoped that this adventure would be smooth sailing.

"So."

Amidst the rapid breathing, Harry's face gradually became resolute, and he was about to say a few words to encourage morale -
"Look!"

Ron's suppressed cry was full of astonishment, but without his reminder, Harry and Hermione also noticed that something was happening!

coin!

A ball of red light floated out of Ron's pocket and hung in front of them. It was the commemorative coin!

(End of this chapter)