[HP] Comparative

Ron and Hermione knew about it immediately.They spent the next day trying to guess what exactly Harry's confinement was about.

Because of the high degree of time overlap, Ron suspected that Harry might need to enter the Forbidden Forest again; although Hermione didn't believe it, she couldn't think of anything that Professor Crouch needed to do late at night.

Harry could tell they were all impressed by their first year's trip to the Forbidden Forest.

That time, he agreed to Malfoy's request for a midnight duel, Ron volunteered to be his assistant, and Hermione tried to prevent them from going out in the middle of the night.As a result, the three Gryffindors, together with Malfoy and Crabbe, were caught by Professor McGonagall, each of whom was deducted fifty points, and was fined another confinement, which was to assist Hagrid in patrolling the Forbidden Forest.

On the night of confinement, because of Malfoy's strong request, Hagrid could only take him and Hermione, while Harry was in a group with Ron and Crabbe.Originally, they only needed to walk on the narrow path, and return in half an hour; however, on the way back, Crabbe stumbled somehow, and fell screaming into a nearby hole entwined with tree roots—

Unfortunately, not only was it not empty, it was also inhabited by a disturbed colony of acromanders.

If Harry hadn't delayed the time with the defensive spells he had learned from James, and a centaur jumped out to help on the way, Crabbe would have been gnawed to the bone by now.But it's unrealistic to expect Crabbe to be thankful: in fact, when Harry and Ron, who are going to save him, get all the spiders' attention, he just shoos away.

Regarding this matter, Ron still suspects that Crabbe did it on purpose, the kind that was instructed by Malfoy in advance. "So many spiders!" He was furious after being rescued, "I'll be a pig if I care about Crabbe's life or death!"

While Harry didn't think Malfoy had the knack for knowing where acromantulas were - and if Malfoy had a plan, it would have been to frighten them at best - but Ron would be surrounded by the spiders he feared the most. Because Harry jumped first and he couldn't escape without Harry, Harry acquiesced to these complaints.

Unexpectedly, Hermione's friendship followed: she had been critical of Harry and Ron for always breaking the rules, but after this incident, she changed her opinion.

Overall, Harry didn't think the detention was a bad one.But when it comes to entering the dark forest again, where dangers lurk everywhere... well, it's better not to.

In any case, the daytime passed quickly.In the evening, after finishing his homework, Harry nestled in the armchair by the fireplace and squinted his eyes to rest.When it was almost eleven o'clock, there was a light snow outside.He thought for a while, went back to the dormitory and found a waterproof cloak, put it on before going downstairs.

Facts have proved that this preparation is necessary.Because Harry had just met the straw-haired man in the hall when their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor told Harry that he was going to teach fifth and seventh year students a section or A few practical lessons. "It depends on whether we can find a suitable site in the Forbidden Forest, and the hazard rating there."

The "danger rating" made Harry's nerves tense slightly. "Professor, can I inquire whether we will have such classes in the future?"

Little Crouch looked at him, showing a light smile: "You are not afraid, Mr. Potter? I heard that you have already fought the acromantula in the Forbidden Forest in the first grade. "

This is true, but Harry hopes that the other party will understand that if he had known in advance that there was a nest of acromanders nearby, he would definitely walk around them instead of facing countless big, shiny, clacking black claws, and More hairy, creepy long legs. "I didn't win," he said grudgingly. "A centaur helped, and Hagrid came later."

"The horsemen..." Little Crouch was quiet for a while, with a thoughtful expression on his face, "I think I might not have the luck to meet them."

Harry didn't know if there was any deeper meaning to that, but he was sure the time had come. "Who are we waiting for, Professor?" he asked a little puzzled.

But this question proved unnecessary.Before he finished speaking, Harry caught the slight sound of footsteps.He turned his head and looked, his eyes widened instantly: "Tom?!"

The tall boy didn't answer, and didn't look surprised, as if he knew Harry was coming. "Sorry, I seem to be late, Professor."

"It's all right, Tom," said Crouch Jr., obviously lifted by Tom's presence. "Let's go."

The three of them hurried through the extremely high corridor.As they approached the gate, Harry found Filch, the administrator, waiting there with a lantern, and stooped deeply when he saw Crouch Jr.They left the castle smoothly, and set out three rows of footprints on the field that had already accumulated a thin layer of snow.

"Although the course will not be arranged at this time, I hope to have a more comprehensive grasp of possible situations. I cannot tolerate the slightest mistake." Little Crouch explained the next action as he walked, "We are divided into two groups .After entering the woods, you need to concentrate on observing the surrounding situation and take notes as much as possible. Don't take it lightly. If you are in danger, immediately shoot red sparks into the sky."

"I understand, Professor," Tom replied quickly.

Harry gave the tall boy a suspicious look.Based on the level of magic and adaptability shown by the other party by the lake, he doubted that there were any creatures in the Forbidden Forest that Tom could please.Then, he thought of a more important question: "The soldiers are divided into two groups, Professor?"

"Of course," Little Crouch turned his face towards Harry, looking a little funny, "You don't think I can rest assured that you can enter the Forbidden Forest alone? If Professor McGonagall knows that I am looking for her baby like this hand, she'll be mad. You follow me, Mr Potter."

This was the expected result, but Harry found himself unhappy.He glanced at Tom quietly again. The tall boy's profile was indifferent and hard, which could compete with the weather.

Professor Crouch said he was Professor McGonagall's baby Seeker. Isn't Tom Professor Slughorn's favorite student?Although Tom is indeed very strong, but he is not yet an adult, let him enter the Forbidden Forest alone...

Harry remembered slowly that Tom had actually done this kind of thing more than two months ago.During this period, even if he didn't find out again, it doesn't mean that Tom didn't sneak into the Forbidden Forest in the dead of night...

What is Tom doing in the Forbidden Forest?

This long-buried question resurfaced in Harry's head.Then he remembered that he had eavesdropped on the conversation between Tom and Professor Crouch.The two seem to know each other too well, and Professor Crouch seems to be happy to help Tom as a friend...

Furthermore, Harry's suspicion grew even more when he had exposed the tall boy's secret actions in front of the tall boy just a few days ago.After knowing that he entered the Forbidden Forest and was discovered, Tom immediately had a reasonable explanation. Is this a coincidence?

Just as his thinking gears were turning desperately, the three of them had already reached the edge of the forest. "Okay, let's part here." Little Crouch said, with a calm face and a brisk tone, showing no sign of fear. "If there are no accidents, we will also gather here in an hour."

"Okay, Professor." Tom had no objection to that.

And Harry stared unfocused at the dark wooden house not far away, thinking that the half-blood giant might have fallen asleep.The Forbidden Forest, Hagrid, and Tom... "Professor," he suddenly woke up from his own thoughts because of something he had forgotten for a long time, "I heard that there is an alien top predator in the Forbidden Forest recently? "

Little Crouch was about to step forward, but stopped immediately when he heard the words, looking at Harry with genuine surprise. "What? Who did you listen to?"

"Hagrid." Harry answered honestly, "He said that since last semester, many animals in the Forbidden Forest have disappeared inexplicably, leaving no traces..." Afterwards, he briefly explained Hagrid's worries. Repeated.Of course, he skipped the fact that Aragog, the ancestor of the acromantula, was raised by Hagrid.

The edge of the Forbidden Forest was silent for a while, only the slight whistling of the wind could be heard, and the occasional movement of snowflakes sliding across the branches.

Little Crouch kept a discreet silence, his light-colored eyes trembling slightly under his thin eyelids. "You said that the acromantula took the initiative to move its nest to the depths of the forest?" He asked softly, staring at Harry for a moment, "They are still unwilling to name the hunter, even if they firmly believe that their companions have been killed. have eaten?"

Harry nodded.He could see that the other party already had an answer in his heart.

There was a longer silence, so long that Harry almost became restless. "There is an ancient creature that is the most feared natural enemy of spiders," said little Crouch at last, with a strange expression on his pale face—like a light of excitement, or some kind of morbid frenzy—"if I The guess is right, and I can understand their reluctance to say its name."

"Basilisk." Tom, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke in a flat tone.

Harry and Crouch Jr. both turned to Tom at once, but the tall boy's handsome face was blank and nothing could be seen. "Are we still going into the woods, Professor?" he asked calmly.

Hearing this, little Crouch immediately returned to his usual appearance, and the expression Harry had captured on his face before was like a hallucination. "Of course. I was just too surprised. You know, the basilisk is a legendary creature."

Considering that Crouch Jr. taught Defense Against the Dark Arts himself, Harry found this explanation to be reasonable, although he still had some residual misgivings.Seeing that the other party was about to raise his leg again, Harry's instinct suddenly rushed to the mouthpiece, forcing him to blurt out his request: "Can I be with Tom, Professor?"

Now, the person stared at by four eyes turned into Harry.He shrank his neck imperceptibly, secretly annoyed at his impulsiveness.Even so, he can only bite the bullet and find a reason: "If fifth graders have to deal with this kind of grind, I think, well, it wouldn't hurt to exercise yourself in advance."

Little Crouch stared at Harry researchingly, not without curiosity.But when he spoke again, it was the tall boy's opinion: "What do you think, Tom?"

Harry's heart sank.Bad, Tom will most likely refuse... He waited anxiously for a while, and finally couldn't help it, and looked up at the other party.The tall boy was also looking at him without a trace of emotion, and his eyes met directly at a distance of a few steps.

After a long while, Tom took the initiative to look away. "I follow your orders, Professor."

The author has something to say:

Temporary intention to add more~

In the comments in the last chapter, someone guessed the Forbidden Forest and wanted to see unicorns. I thought about it and decided to satisfy his unicorn wish~

And, someone actually wished me a happy stand-alone?Still want to update, hum o(￣ヘ￣o#)

Thanks to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated the nutrient solution~

Thanks to the little angel who voted [Bazooka]: Tang Chen branded 1;

Thanks to the little angel who threw [Grenade]: 1 mint tea grass;

Thanks to the little angel who cast [Mine]: choose a day 1;

Thanks to the little angel who irrigated [nutrient solution]:

A.5 bottles;

Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!