Azkaban: The Fifth House of Hogwarts

Halloween gave the little wizard a day off, and then it happened to be the weekend. The three consecutive days of vacation made the atmosphere in the castle much more cheerful than usual.

The sky outside has begun to snow, and after officially entering November, England has also entered its own winter.

It was only eleven o'clock in the evening, and there were no traces of the little wizard wandering around in the castle. Even Filch had shortened his inspection time. After all, a place without firelight was really not suitable for an old man like him. Move around.

"We weren't discovered, right?"

Draco, who went out with Rollo, met Harry and Hermione at the stairwell of the fourth floor. There was a secret small room where you could hide nearby. It was probably an abandoned utility room. Almost no one would push it away. This door.

"Filch is still warming himself by the fire in his room. The cold winter in Hogwarts is not a good time for him. Usually around twelve o'clock, he will go to the library to patrol, but not too much. trouble."

Luo Luo, who was greeting everyone to go to the library on the fourth floor, walked at the front.

"However, it should be noted that you should not open the books in the restricted area casually when you see them, especially books about black magic. These books have basically been specially processed. For example, they can be opened without Mrs. Pince's permission. , there is a high chance that they will make a piercing scream, or leave some non-lethal but unfriendly little curses on your body."

"For example, there were pustules on the face, itching all over the body, or constant farting. Fred told me that they didn't know it when they went there for the first time. As a result, George was bitten hard on the butt by a book. My butt was swollen to three times its size and I had to lie down in the school doctor's office for two whole days."

"Then Fred will have to laugh for three days and three nights?"

Harry, who was trying to hold back his laughter, clutched his stomach and seemed to conjure up an image of George running down the corridor with his fat butt on his head.

"Fred, he was ridiculous and silent at that time. Although he was not bitten in the butt, this book hit his head first. You can imagine that the big-headed brother and the big-assed brother were hospitalized together in the school infirmary. appearance."

Cheerful laughter appeared for a moment, but the next second they all covered their mouths. After all, they were traveling at night, and they had to pay attention to the rules of the game.

Not long after, they arrived at the library in the northeast corner of the corridor on the fourth floor. Since it was still snowing outside, the moon hidden by dark clouds could not shine through the window. They held a blue spirit fire that exuded warm blue light in their hands. .

This magic flame, which can provide warmth and lighting before the magic power is exhausted, but does not cause burns, is a very practical little magic. Hermione, who showed a small hand, led Harry and Draco into the forbidden book area with a faint smile. , they already have their own exact goals after discussing it long ago.

Rollo, who was also not idle, also wandered around here. He came to the restricted book area not once or twice. He also read the "Inquiry into the Origin of Fire Dragons and Subsaurians" that he saw in the Ravenclaw Library. I really wanted to find the next volume, but I couldn't find it several times.

But this night trip was a good opportunity. He had almost forgotten about it since he was busy with experiments before.

But the magical creature area that he had already searched would not give him any more surprises. Luo Lei, who was walking casually, looked around with the light of the blue spirit fire, looking a little careless.

Perhaps there was no sense of urgency in this night tour, and it was a bit incompatible with the gloomy weather outside the window. Just 10 minutes after they entered the restricted book area, the sound of footsteps coming from a distance made them all clench their hands. After extinguishing the warm little flame, he turned his attention to the entrance of the library with some doubts and nervousness.

"Isn't Filch coming at twelve o'clock?"

Draco said in a very low voice, such an accident was really unexpected.

"Shall we stay away?"

Harry tugged on Rollo's sleeve. He always felt that the footsteps were a bit strange. It didn't sound like Filch, but it had a strange sense of familiarity.

"It's useless."

After listening for a moment, Rollo shook his head and showed a little helplessness. He simply stretched out his hand, and it was not seen that he was chanting any spells. Four white light groups the size of ping pong balls lit up from his fingertips.

"It's not Filch who's here. If I guess correctly, the footsteps are from Professor McGonagall. She won't come to patrol the library in the middle of the night. Even if the professor occasionally patrols the corridors, Flitwick is still in charge here. professor."

"She got the exact information, that is to say, someone in Gryffindor snitched."

The well-founded inference made Harry and Hermione look a little uncomfortable. They had to be very careful when leaving. Why were they suddenly being followed?

"Just say that you are looking for books for me. They are books about dragons and sub-dragons. Leave the rest to me. It won't be too much trouble."

The few people who quickly dispersed to the bookshelf next to Rollo pretended to be calm and began to search. However, no one really saw the title on the book clearly. They all waited nervously and uneasily.

The footsteps were getting closer and closer. When the footsteps approached a warning line, they suddenly stopped without warning. It was obvious that the five light spots, which were not hidden, were quite eye-catching and menacing in such a dark night. Professor McGonagall who came here was also confused by this aboveboard violation.

Are today's little wizards so upright when they violate school rules?

Full of questions, Professor McGonagall crossed the partition of the restricted book area and walked quickly towards the light source.

"Is this still you?!"

But the moment he saw Rollo's face, Professor McGonagall complained feebly: "Mr. Rollo Selkas Sadwind, this is the first time I have seen you staying up late at night and messing around in the school. Did you go shopping?"

"If I remember correctly, one was the fourth time, but three of the times I went to Professor Dumbledore's office, it shouldn't be considered wandering, right?"

Rollo, who was not nervous at all, even had the intention to make a joke with Professor McGonagall, which made the remaining three people's hearts pick up on their throats.

"What about this time!"

Professor McGonagall glanced aside, "Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, and Mr. Malfoy."

"I think you should be lying on your warm beds now, or by the fireplace in the lounge instead of coming to the forbidden book area!"

"Including you, Rollo, students are not allowed without a note from the professor..."

"Professor Kettleburn wrote me a note. In order to facilitate my access to relevant information, you know, I have a research on cross-species cross-breeding and breeding. Now there is very good progress. I am only waiting for it in two or three days. Once the experimental materials arrive in the mail, we can start further research."

"Perhaps at the end of this semester, we can publish a breakthrough paper published in the Journal of Magical Animals and Plants, and by the way, let the Ministry of Magic revise the old regulations established 30 years ago to keep them up to date. trend."

Professor McGonagall was stunned for a moment by these bluffing words. In her previous understanding, even first-year wizards, even if they were extremely talented, were basically struggling with basic magic. How could this be involved? Something outrageous.

But when you think about Rollo's ridiculous animal affinity ability, even his own Animagus transformation will be affected. With this talent, he might be able to do it.

Seeing that Professor McGonagall's face softened a little, Rollo hurriedly struck while the iron was hot and said: "I went to the restricted book area several times to check the information but could not find the books I need. There are really too few books that one person can see. In the restricted book area My collection of books contains tens of thousands of volumes at least, and even Mrs. Pingsi couldn’t give me clear directions, so I had no choice but to make this decision.”

Rollo took a breath, and then pointed to the three people standing aside, "I asked them to take risks and help me find books here. It was difficult to do this when Mrs. Pince was there during the day, so I just I can come in the evening."

"For this, I sincerely apologize to you. If you want to deduct points, just deduct points from me. They were implicated by me."

This set of interlocking rhetoric really convinced Professor McGonagall. The suspicion in her eyes became less, but her seriousness remained the same.

"Now that you have got the note, you should understand why the forbidden book area is called the forbidden book area. There is a reason why little wizards are not allowed to develop here. Most of the books here are dangerous. Dangerous knowledge, dangerous... Magic, even adult wizards, cannot avoid being affected by the contents of these books, let alone you!"

Although her tone was fierce and stern, Professor McGonagall was trying to educate them about the dangers here. Behind her harshness, there was always a caring heart for the little wizards.

Hearing this, Rollo quietly gave them a hint, and Harry, who immediately understood, said hurriedly: "Rollo has reminded us that any books about black magic are not to be touched."

"Yes! That's right!" Hermione said immediately after Harry spoke: "Without sufficient ability and corresponding permission, these books will give us corresponding warnings after opening them."

"It's like brothers with big heads and big butts!" Draco followed quickly, feeling that his emergency response ability was really inferior.

"Big brain and..."

With doubts, Professor McGonagall unconsciously repeated Draco's magical description, but after only half of it, she immediately thought of the twin brothers who gave her a headache but couldn't laugh or cry.

"I hope you will remember their lessons."

Professor McGonagall, who pursed her lips, said faintly. If she was not suddenly angry now, she must be trying very hard to suppress her laughter. As a witness, she would not forget the scene that happened last year.

She punished the twins with two weeks of confinement and had to clean the chamber pot in the school hospital a dozen times.

"Of course." The three little ones nodded hurriedly.

Although what happened today was over the line, the people in front of me were considered a pretty outstanding group of first-year students.

The smart Hermione is many times more diligent than others, and Harry also performs very well in class under Hermione's supervision. Although Draco is a Slytherin student, Professor McGonagall does not Snape's prejudice, not to mention that Slytherin is now actively changing, Professor McGonagall has seen all this.

"Although you have made certain safety preparations."

Professor McGonagall emphasized the word safety very tightly.

"But this is impermissible behavior after all, especially Rollo. You can't lead your classmates bad and put them in danger. Five points will be deducted from Slytherin. You all go back to the dormitory to sleep now."

"Mr. Rollo, if you need to find a book, then come here during the day. Provoking Mr. Filch is not an option for a smart boy."

"Although this will take more time, this is the right approach. The restricted book area is too dangerous a place for you, including you, Mr. Rollo."

There was nothing wrong with what Professor McGonagall said, but it was a lucky thing to be able to get through it safely.

Professor McGonagall is not a squib like Filch. If a few of them try to use peek-a-boo to hide themselves, she cares about the safety of the students and does not mind using the magic of a human form to appear. If she is caught out like this, Luo There was nothing Roko could do.

"If you are here, can you give us the last 10 minutes? If we still can't find it, then I will go back immediately. There are tens of thousands of books. I am really powerless by myself. Can you help me? Professor? Just this once?"

Anyway, the points have been deducted, the anger has disappeared, and the matter has been explained clearly. At this time, it cannot be justified if I don’t climb along the pole. Even if I am rejected, the worst case is that I will go home and sleep with my head covered. If I succeed, Hermione and the others might actually be able to take advantage of this opportunity to find what they want.

Rollo didn't mind helping them a little. Before Gryffindor's mole was dealt with, the risk of their night out would be greatly increased.

After hearing this, Professor McGonagall stared at Rollo with a death stare for a while, but after hesitating for a moment, she nodded slowly.

"No running around and no touching. I'll give you two and ten minutes so that you can give up now and avoid causing more trouble for me."

"Thank you Professor McGonagall, you are the most reasonable professor at Hogwarts!"

The smooth-tongued Slytherin flattered him, but unfortunately the effect was not good. This compliment was not enough for Professor McGonagall to express anything.

"There are still ten and four minutes."

She spoke calmly, which immediately caused several people to move quickly.

Rollo was not pretending as he glanced back and forth at the bookshelf. He had read the titles of every book. Although he no longer had any expectations, he still had to pretend.

Just before time was about to end, a book sandwiched between "Research on Limb Regeneration" and "29 Kinds of Flesh Dissolution Techniques" made Rollo unable to look away for a while.

Although the title of this book has nothing to do with the study of dragons and dragons, the unique mark of the author's signature made Rollo reach out in confusion.

"It seems that this person also wrote this?"

Rollo pulled out this simple three-finger-thick book and read out its name: ""Tracing the Origin of Wizards, Are We Humans or Beasts?""

"It's time, it's time to go back."

Rollo hesitated for a moment, then put the book back in its place. After memorizing the bookshelf number, he followed Professor McGonagall out of the restricted book area of ​​the library.

"Interesting... really interesting..."

Halfway to the Slytherin common room, Rollo whispered to himself, with a smile full of curiosity on his lips.

It seems that I have something good to pass the time before conducting cross-species hybridization experiments.