Hogwarts: I will not become the Dark Lord

“Never mind him, we need to get out of here!” Fred said urgently, gripping Ginny's wrist and leading the group into the dense woods. Jerry and Hermione, as they stepped onto the forest path, couldn't help but glance back, only to see the chaotic scene below the Roberts family growing more spectacular, with crowds gathering like a rising tide.

In the distance, Ministry of Magic employees were struggling to break through the encirclement, attempting to reach the center where the hooded wizards were gathered, but they were clearly finding it difficult. They were obviously cautious, not daring to cast spells rashly, fearing that any misstep could endanger the suspended Roberts family.

The brilliant colored lights that had adorned the road to the stadium were now dimmed, leaving only darkness. In the woods, blurry figures staggered forward, the cries of children mingled with the anxious shouts of adults, echoing in the cold night air, adding to the sense of urgency and unease.

“Jerry, that person just now…” Hermione's shoulders were still trembling slightly.

“Don't worry about it, leave it to the Ministry of Magic!” Jerry said softly, putting his arm around Hermione's shoulders.

Hermione nodded emphatically.

Ron suddenly cried out in pain, curling up on the ground, his brow furrowed, looking extremely uncomfortable.

“I'm fine, damn it, just tripped over a tree root.” Ron said, struggling to get up, and Harry quickly stepped forward to help him up.

“Ha, with feet as clumsy as yours, it would be a surprise if you didn't trip.” A sarcastic voice spoke up at an inopportune moment. Draco Malfoy was standing not far from them, leaning against a large tree, looking relaxed, with his arms crossed, clearly having been watching the chaos of the campsite with a cold eye.

Ron, hearing this, felt anger rise in his heart, and a curse word slipped out.

“Watch your language,” Malfoy sneered, his pale eyes glinting in the night, revealing a hint of cunning, “I suggest you leave as soon as possible, after all, you wouldn't want Granger to be discovered by those people, would you?”

“I'm not in a good mood right now, Draco.” Before Malfoy could finish speaking, Jerry glared at him with a dark expression, his eyes full of warning.

“I… was just kindly reminding you, they're looking for… Muggles and Muggle-born wizards.” Malfoy's voice suddenly softened, and he didn't dare look at Jerry's expression, instead giving Harry a provocative smirk.

“Potter, if they catch you, it will definitely be very interesting! After all, you are the famous 'Savior'!”

A deafening roar suddenly erupted from the other side of the woods, far surpassing any sound they had heard before, causing those around them to scream in terror.

“Your parents, are they over there, mixed in with those masked people?” Harry demanded of Malfoy, unable to contain his anger.

“Oh, I dare say that even if they weren't there, you would insist on believing I was lying, wouldn't you, Potter?” Malfoy replied lazily, a mocking smile on his lips, before turning and leaving, seemingly unconcerned.

“I bet his old man Lucius is definitely one of those masked guys!” Ron said, clenching his fists, feeling indignant.

“I hope the Ministry of Magic can act quickly and round them all up!” Harry said emotionally, wondering how Malfoy would be able to argue then!

“Alright, we need to leave quickly, it's not safe here!” Jerry interrupted them decisively, urging everyone to evacuate as soon as possible.

“Jerry, do you know who they are?” Harry asked anxiously, his eyes flashing with unease, “Are they really Death Eaters? Does their appearance have anything to do with the pain in my scar?”

“I don't know,” Jerry said, pulling Hermione along to quicken his pace, the twins and Ginny having already disappeared into the night.

“Jerry, are you really not sure?” Harry's voice revealed a hint of suspicion, he still pursued relentlessly.

“So what if I do? So what if I don't? Are you going to rush up and fight them to the death?” Jerry said impatiently.

Harry sighed deeply, his gaze turning back towards the campsite, his eyes resolute and complex. He gritted his teeth, as if making some kind of decision.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the bushes beside them, and Dobby the house-elf was struggling out of the dense bushes, her movements very strange, as if an invisible force was trying to drag her back, making each step full of pain and struggle.

Her breathing was rapid, mixed with terrified screams, fighting against the invisible force binding her. Finally, she stumbled into the trees on the other side of the path, her figure quickly disappearing into the night.

“What on earth is wrong with her?” Ron asked, staring at the direction Dobby had disappeared, his face full of confusion.

“I guess she left without her master's permission.” Harry said in a low voice, Dobby's image flashing in his mind. He remembered that whenever Dobby tried to act against the wishes of the Malfoy family, he, as a house-elf, had to punish himself through self-harm.

“I think wizards must realize how unfairly house-elves are treated!” Hermione said angrily, “They are treated as mere slaves. It's simply a rotten and unreasonable system!”

Harry could understand Hermione's thoughts, but Ron couldn't understand what Hermione was talking about at all. Wasn't this how it had always been between house-elves and wizards!

They followed the dark, winding path, continuing to delve into the dense woods, searching for the others. Along the way, a group of goblins caught their attention, chattering and frolicking around a bag of glittering gold coins, as if the chaos of the outside campsite had nothing to do with them.

Finally, Jerry and his group arrived at the heart of the forest, which seemed particularly quiet, as if isolated from the world, with only the sound of their breathing and footsteps echoing.

“How about we rest here for a while?” Hermione suggested, her voice tinged with weariness.

“Wait,” Jerry suddenly became alert, raising his wand, “Sectumsempra!” A sharp and unparalleled invisible sword light cut through the air, accurately severing a thick tree not far away at its trunk.

Hermione, seeing this, quickly raised her wand as well, aiming it at the unknown shadows behind the tree.

“Jerry, don't shoot, it's me!” Ludo Bagman crawled out from behind the fallen tree trunk, looking at Jerry in horror, “It's me, it's me!”

Even in the dim light, Harry could keenly perceive the earth-shattering changes in Bagman. He was no longer the relaxed, humorous, and beaming person he had been at their last meeting, replaced by an indescribable heaviness and haggardness.

“What are you doing here alone?” Jerry asked jokingly, “Didn't you win at the Quidditch World Cup? Why do you look like you've lost everything?”

Ludo Bagman squatted on the broken branches, his eyes vacant, sighing repeatedly. His money had all been taken by those damned goblins to pay off his debts!

Bagman placed his hand on the cut of the tree stump, then suddenly jumped off the stump, his eyes fixed on the stump with fervent intensity, then turned his head, looking at Jerry with some shock.

“Tell me, how old are you? What year are you in at Hogwarts?” Ludo Bagman walked quickly towards Jerry, his tone full of excitement and urgency.

“I'll be entering my fourth year next semester,” Jerry frowned, feeling puzzled by Bagman's sudden change, “What's wrong? Is there a problem?”

“Oh, no, how is this possible!” Ludo Bagman, hearing this, actually stomped his feet in anger, “You're too young, too young! If only you were a seventh-year student!”

Harry and Ron exchanged glances, not understanding what Ludo Bagman was going crazy about.

“Something happened at the campsite, it's a mess!” Ron said urgently to Ludo Bagman, after all, he was the Head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports.

“What?” Ludo Bagman was obviously unaware of what had happened at the campsite, his face filled with astonishment.

“Damn it!” He cursed, without lingering or uttering another word, and with a soft popping sound, Ludo Bagman Apparated away from the forest.