The Pacifist Necromancer of Hogwarts

It’s finally Saturday! After a busy week, not only were the students anxiously awaiting the practical activities, Anthony felt that he could not wait to have a cup of hot chocolate.

Early in the morning, he got out of bed, pushed the cat away from his slippers, and repeated today's itinerary in his mind while washing.

The rain finally stopped and it was a nice day today...he meant, relatively nice weather. Even though light gray clouds still cover people's heads, not a drop of rain has fallen for twelve consecutive hours.

When leading the students out of the gate, Anthony faintly heard the whistle of training coming from the Quidditch pitch.

It must have been Wood, said Ted Thomas. Fred and George were called out before five o'clock. He was a fourth-year Gryffindor, and his uncle worked at Gringotts.

They are training in the cold air, and we are about to go to a Muggle factory filled with the smell of chocolate... Another Gryffindor said with a smile that could not be concealed.

Thomas asked eagerly: When can we arrive, Professor Anthony?

As promised at the beginning, we will go to London first and then take the train from London. Anthony told them, We will arrive at about noon. After visiting the chocolate factory in the afternoon, there is still some time left for you. free time.

Freedom! a certain Hufflepuff cheered, I'm going to talk to Muggles!

…

No one thought that by going to London Anthony meant riding the Knight Bus. When this purple three-story car appeared in front of them, most of the students looked at its suddenly opened door in confusion, and their hair was blown messy by the air flow kicked up by the car.

It will take us to London at its fastest speed. Anthony introduced, This is Mr. Ern Pullan, the driver of the bus. This is the conductor, the little owl.

Plan is a relative of the owner of the Owl Shop. A well-informed Hufflepuff girl whispered to her classmates, Look at his glasses and his face. They all have that 'owl-like appearance'.

The owl, which hung upside down like a bat on the bar, turned its head and looked at them seriously, with a look reminiscent of Professor McGonagall. The Hufflepuff immediately shut his mouth and stood up straight.

Seventeen people, from here to London Euston Station. Anthony said to the owl. The owl looked at them critically, took seventeen galleons from Anthony's open hand, threw it into a small cloth bag next to it, and pecked his fingers again. Anthony took out three more galleons before it turned its head and barked at Ern.

Get in the car. Anthony called to the students. Find yourself a safe and stable seat, and then hold on to the armrests.

While discussing the Wraith Chicken experiment during the holidays, he had traveled back and forth between London and Hogwarts several times, and had experienced various magical and non-magical modes of transportation - multiple consecutive Apparitions, borrowing Honeydukes' fireplace to use Floo Internet, try the Knight Bus at Tom's suggestion, take the train to a nearby Muggle town and then walk for more than 40 minutes to enter Hogsmeade Village, simply rent a car and travel by car, etc.

It's so expensive. One student said, I will never ride in this car by myself.

The car was empty, with no other passengers except for five or six tired-looking witches and wizards. The curtains were drawn, and light shone into the car through the water-stained and dusty glass. Various chairs were scattered around the window. Anthony found an upholstered armchair. After sitting down, he found that its legs of different lengths were swinging back and forth and tapping against the floor of the carriage, as if to warn him in advance. Possible jokes the next time you park your car.

There are seats up there too! a student shouted as if he had discovered a new world.

Several travelers looked up and stared blankly at the group of cheerful teenagers (Do you want a cookie, Claire?), still clutching whatever they could.

Anthony instructed: Those who can ride a broomstick can go up, and those who can't, stay down.

As soon as he finished speaking, several students rushed up the creaking wooden stairs. Anthony followed up and took a look with worry, and found that the light above was brighter, and there were several yellow buckets rolling in the corner, with For Vomiting stuck on them with golden tape.

Why do you need to be able to ride a broom? someone asked.

Because it's more shaky up there. The girl who seemed to be very familiar with the Knight Bus explained, If you don't know how to ride a broom, it will be inconvenient for rescue after you smash through the glass and fly out. She is Claire Tilly, fifth grade Hufflepuff student, Anthony remembers her solemnly telling him on a test paper last semester that a microwave oven is a stove with small wavy patterns carved on the edge of the stove.

Sit tight and hold on tight, Anthony shouted, raising his voice, Unless someone wants to crush their own crème brûlée in the bag!

Are you all seated? Ern asked in a low voice. Without waiting for a reply from the passengers, with a deafening bang, the Knight Bus started moving. The cloth bag containing the heavy gold coins clanged against the iron rod, and then was thrown out with a violent jolt, almost hitting the student.

The little, disheveled owl rushed over with surprising speed, grabbed the heavy bag, and threw it into Ern's lap. After that, it flew gracefully among a group of stumbling teenagers, hanging contentedly upside down at the back of the car.

It's really - oh, expensive! said a Ravenclaw, his voice suddenly rising an octave because the chair almost tipped over, And - why - it - is - so - wobbly!

This is the Knight Bus. Anthony said calmly through gritted teeth, firmly grasping the candle holder next to him. It is the fastest and most unreasonable car I have ever seen. We will also experience a regular car in a moment - —I believe you can feel the contrast between them.

The Ravenclaw student turned pale and took a deep breath: Seventeen people need twenty galleons...Seventeen people need twenty galleons...Everyone is, uh...

One galleons and three kilos. Anthony said, The price has increased. Last time I went from London to Hogsmeade for only one galleons.

Ern turned around and asked: Where did you get on the bus last time? Diagon Alley?

Yes, Anthony replied, watching with trepidation as the bus headed straight for the post office down the street. The post office jumped away in frustration.

Diagon Alley and Euston are not the same station. Ern explained, finally looking back and seeing a residential building that was being avoided. A woman was opening the window, resting her elbows on the window sill, holding a phone to her side, looking boredly in the direction of the street—that is, the direction from which the Knight Bus was rushing—her house jumping up and down, But she didn't realize it.

Without saying a word, Ern suddenly turned the steering wheel in the opposite direction. The car twisted and rushed towards the opposite direction like a drunkard. Flower beds and street trees gave way to the road.

Even though he had seen it before, Anthony still couldn't help but find the sight amazing. Behind him, a student exclaimed. Anthony turned around, just in time to see him getting up from the ground mumblingly. The pumpkin juice was like flowing gold outlining every unexpected turn of the car. The students next to him were hurriedly picking up their bags on the ground, or Quickly pick yourself up after being thrown out.

Clean up. Anthony put the wand back and warned again, Be careful.

Before he could even finish his words, the car suddenly braked. At least half a dozen students were thrown out with a piercing screeching sound. A wizard sitting in the corner also fell off his chair. He didn't know where he hit it. Something strange, eyeball-like, in his arms suddenly exploded, one after another, crackling like firecrackers. Anthony held on to the luggage rack and barely managed to avoid falling.

Amid the chaos, Erne raised his voice and said: Belfast is here, Ms. Marsh.

Ms. Marsh looked pale, stood up unsteadily, clutching her handbag, and left in a hasty but hasty step. Several students tried to help her as she passed, but she refused.

I'm a regular customer, dear, she said to Claire.

The students watched their old client get out of the car and listened as she violently vomited outside the car.

Before anyone could react, the car door slammed shut. The next second, there was another bang, and the seat that originally slid to the front of the car now slid to the back. Thomas screamed. It turned out that he was eating donuts and was pressed by the seat in front of him. The condensed milk and chocolate sauce suddenly splashed out and became mushy everywhere.

Ern's voice came from the driver's seat: Add two xico and you can get a towel.

Is everything okay? Anthony asked, holding on to the railing at the corner. A second ago, there was a residential building in a certain community next to them, but now the mountains have receded rapidly outside the car window.

Thomas licked his upper lip: Not good, Professor.

Anthony found a tissue from his bag, threw it to Thomas, and sat back in his seat.

Then, as their car swerved—or drifted, depending on whether you wanted to admit reality—Anthony heard some strange noises coming from above them, as if someone had suddenly stuffed a small animal into the car. Dog-sized fleas. Something was happily jumping around on the upper floor.

Everyone looked up at the ceiling above them. As the Knight Bus bounced around, one student told another, Get those chairs that are a little heavier. They're less likely to tip over.

The person next to her said: Look for a short one. The short one has not been turned over. She sat on something similar to a garden bench, except it was shorter. If it was shorter, it would only touch the ground.

It's better to lie on the floor. The student who was taught the experience said gloomily. Her pumpkin juice was spilled, and her apple pie hit the face of a classmate next to her while braking.

With a nice, happy turn, the car swung out of the way, and this time only two or three students had to get up from the ground. The thing that was jumping around above their heads finally jumped over the small opening and rolled down the wooden stairs. That's a crystal ball.

With a creak, the car stopped again.

Southampton, said Erne.

No one paid any attention to him. Everyone's eyes were looking at the crystal ball bouncing on the ground.

Ern repeated: Southampton, Mr. Leeson. The little owl flew over the head of the passenger holding the eyeball-like thing and screamed shrilly.

Oh, yes, okay, I'm sorry... Mr. Leeson said hurriedly, packed up his things, and passed by the crystal ball. Then--

Ah! He yelled in fright, squeezing all the remaining things in his hands until they exploded. Ominous, ominous! I knew it - but it's definitely not today! No, it won't be today... ... He looked miserable and stood blankly amidst the joyous explosion.

Anthony asked in confusion: What's ominous?

He must have seen something ominous in the crystal ball. A classmate who took a divination course told him, The symbol of ominousness is a big black dog. It will follow the person it chooses until it bites him away. throat. It means...death.

A student squatting next to the crystal ball raised his head and said uneasily: I also saw something ominous... much clearer than what I saw in class...

Anthony stood up and quickly walked over to pick up the crystal ball. In the swirling silver mist, even his untrained, mortal eyes could vaguely make out the silhouette of a black dog.

I saw that, too, he announced, and several students gasped, So, two possibilities: We're all going to die of doom—which, by the way, is impossible, because he has died of bad luck. Or, he picked up the crystal ball, it's just a crystal ball that makes people see black dogs.

It's the latter. A dreamy voice came from the wooden stairs. There stood a witch dressed as a fortune teller, holding a dirty bag made of rags.

She smiled politely and mysteriously at the people looking at her, maintaining the ethereal voice of a fortune teller: Everyone will see something ominous from inside.

What, why? cried Mr. Leeson. Cold sweat kept flowing from his forehead, already soaking his handkerchief.

Southampton! said Erne. The little owl was still hooting and pecking Mr. Leeson's bald head and ears, but he paid no attention.

Ern muttered: Well, one day I'm going to find a young guy to be a conductor and kick everyone off who doesn't get off the bus.

Mr Leeson insisted: Why?

The witch looked confused.

Because when I was making the crystal ball, I stuffed a model of a black dog into it. She said calmly, The crystal ball of doom is very popular in the market.

Mr. Leeson said angrily: This is too much! I almost thought I was going to die!

Everyone is going to die. The witch said in a disembodied voice, What you thought before was correct.

I mean today!

That's still possible.

Mr. Leeson stared at her breathlessly for a moment, then suddenly gave up.

You're a madman, he muttered, turning to Anthony, Thank you, sir, I don't know how to express my gratitude... He dug in his bag (with his whole arm almost in it) and took out A bottle of dark purple liquid, This is the venom extract of seven species of snakes. It is very deadly. I dare not bring it with me. If you want it, it is yours.