The Pacifist Necromancer of Hogwarts

What? said Anthony, missing?

He's not in his hospital bed, Harry said. We couldn't find him at all. Madam Pomfrey kept saying that he wasn't in particularly good shape. Did something happen to him?

Generally speaking, Hogwarts is relatively safe. Anthony said, quickly walked to the door, pushed open the oak door, and looked outside, Maybe he just wanted to go out for a walk. . Madam Pomfrey confirms the status of the ward every evening, so even if he leaves, it won't be long. Go back to sleep, I will look for it in the castle, and Hagrid will go to the Forbidden Forest - what's wrong?

He retracted his hand from pushing the door, turned his head, and stopped talking because of the expressions on the faces of the three students.

Harry said: When Madam Pomfrey confirmed the situation in the evening, Sirius had already left.

Anthony lowered his head and looked at the three Gryffindor students in front of him, motioning for them to explain further.

Hermione took a deep breath: Sirius has been complaining about being locked up in the school hospital without any freedom. He came up with an idea to bypass Madam Pomfrey's alarm line and climb out of the window. . He said that his health is no longer serious, and he has obtained legal status. We thought there would be no problems...

Still so self-righteous...I'm not surprised at all. Snape said softly. Hermione was startled and looked sharply in the direction of Snape's voice.

Damn it! Snape! Ron and Harry shouted indiscriminately.

Snape lifted his Disillusionment Charm. He was wearing the neatly tailored black wizard robe, with a sardonic smile on his face. Ron's face was full of horror, and Harry suddenly turned his eyes to look at Anthony.

Please continue, Miss Granger, Anthony said, What then?

Then... Hermione glanced at Snape, Then we specially visited the campus hospital in the afternoon and stayed until evening. While Madam Pomfrey checked the ward, we pretended that we were chatting with Sirius.

Snape commented slowly: Audacious and a habitual liar...

Professor Snape. Anthony said helplessly.

Hermione continued bravely: He takes medicine once every two days, and he didn't need it today, so Madam Pomfrey didn't lift the bed curtains, just like Sirius planned. He told us that he planned to go to Hog Let’s go to Maude Village or Diagon Alley for a stroll, maybe buy some things and come back, so we can come back to him later. But…”

But until now, Sirius has not come back.

Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley? Anthony said, Okay, we will notify... Minerva or Professor Dumbledore, probably, and then we will all go find him, okay? Don't worry too much, After all, Sirius Black is an adult.

Under his gaze, Harry nodded hesitantly.

Snape sneered and said contemptuously: Maybe Black is enjoying the 'wind of freedom' under a bridge now, or is drunk in a lively bar, and naturally forgets about our closed and pitiful castle. Absolutely. Tell you what, Professor Anthony, I don't see the need to find such an irresponsible person. It's just a waste of time...

Sirius would never do this! Harry said angrily, He promised me he would come back - he will never break his promise!

Snape's eyes narrowed.

Oh, absolutely not? Snape said smoothly and softly. It sounds like you know him very well, Potter. However, I must say, he - well, like you - is very easy. Being carried away by foolish impulses, arrogant and ungrateful...

Thank you for your advice, Professor Snape. Why don't we go to the Headmaster's Office together? Anthony interrupted, I think Professor Dumbledore will be very happy to know that Sirius Black is missing and deal with it appropriately. arrange.

From the interactions between Professor Trelawney and Professor McGonagall, Anthony has discovered that out of habit, professors usually maintain basic collegiality and do not show very obvious conflicts - especially not when students before.

Snape paused. He finally said with an expression as if he had swallowed a fly: Because you traveled at night, ten points will be deducted from Gryffindor - each of you.

…

This seemed to be the first time for the three students to come to the principal's office. Perhaps because Anthony had been smiling reassuringly at them, the three of them even had a look when the gargoyle jumped aside under Snape's somber lemon ice cream, revealing the cracked wall and the spiraling staircase. They all exclaimed in admiration.

They stepped up the stairs, first Snape, then Harry, and Anthony motioned for Ron and Hermione to come up as well, then stood at the back of the line. The wall closed behind him, and the group of them was slowly transported to the door of the principal's office. Snape knocked briefly on the door, which immediately opened and they entered.

There was only a small lamp lit in the principal's office, and the warm yellow light was weak but steady. Dumbledore stood in front of the table in his nightgown, his silver beard and hair illuminated by a circle of golden light. He was talking in a low voice to something on the table.

...Better sooner than later, said Dumbledore, turning around. Severus? Ah, Harry, come in - come in, come in. It's strange, every time I eat toffee, It's always a lively evening. What's going on? He smiled very kindly at Harry, Ron and Hermione.

At Professor Anthony's insistence... Snape said gloomily.

Sirius Black is missing, Anthony said. Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger discovered this and informed me and Professor Snape.

Oh. Dumbledore sounded a little surprised, Missing?

Harry saw Anthony's gesture and said, Yes, Professor Dumbledore, this afternoon -

He was about to repeat the story Hermione had told Anthony, but he was interrupted by the sudden light of a flame behind Dumbledore. Everyone saw that the fire was getting stronger and stronger, and the golden-red flames almost penetrated Dumbledore's lemon yellow nightgown, making Dumbledore and Harry in front of him shine.

Dumbledore turned around calmly, a smile on his face. Everyone in the principal's office heard a scream - Anthony thought it sounded a bit like Hagrid grabbing the cock's neck - Snape still had a straight face, as if something would be burned to death in the principal's office at any time , and Harry, Ron and Hermione looked almost equally bewildered.

The fire went out.

Finally made up my mind. Dumbledore said, bending down to lightly dust the ashes on the table, and picked up an ugly, dusty, wrinkled bird. Under the watchful eyes of everyone in the principal's office, he carried the bird to the door and placed it on Fox's perch. The bird fluttered a few times, but still couldn't grasp the perch firmly and fell to the platform connected below. It gently bit Dumbledore's extended finger and looked at Harry, who was approaching involuntarily, with its small round eyes.

Dumbledore chuckled, What a shame, it's pretty most of the time.

Wow, that's - that's not a phoenix, is it? Ron said in awe.

Harry and the bird looked at each other: Is this a phoenix?

That's right. Dumbledore nodded approvingly, still teasing the bare bird with his long fingers.

Anthony asked in surprise: That's Fox?

The ugly bird turned its head, as if it had just discovered his presence. It screamed angrily, flapped its wings, and buried itself in the ashes and splinters of wood on the platform. Dumbledore laughed, turned his head and said gently: Please go on, Harry, what happened this afternoon?

…

Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade? Dumbledore thought for a while, Thank you for coming and telling me, I understand.

Ron seemed to relax immediately, and Hermione looked relieved as well.

You can find him, can't you? Harry confirmed. He won't - won't - suddenly disappear, will he?

Yes, we will find him. Dumbledore promised, Sirius will definitely return to the school hospital before it gets dark again, otherwise Bobby will be very angry, and that is what none of us want to see. ,Yes or no?

Harry finally smiled.

Dumbledore also smiled: Great, now, let us all do what we should do. He said to the three students, I need you to do something for me.

Us? Ron said.

Yes, Dumbledore said gently, I need you to return to Gryffindor's dormitory as soon as possible. This has been a long night, and I don't want to take up too much sleep from you if it is not necessary. It’s time. Dream as much as you can while you can. Go ahead.”

But - okay, Professor Dumbledore. Harry changed what he was going to say under the gaze of Dumbledore's blue eyes. He, Ron and Hermione opened the door to the Headmaster's office and left.

As soon as the door closed, Dumbledore's expression turned serious.

I must admit to you that I did not expect Sirius to disappear, said Dumbledore. I knew that he had bypassed Poppy's alarm line and walked on the lawn with Harry. I even knew that he wanted to Check out the Broomstick Shop and Pet Shop in Diagon Alley, but I thought he'd have to wait at least until he was better before he really left.

You always know things well, Dumbledore, Snape said sarcastically.

But I'm very sure that he won't break the promise without any reason after agreeing to Harry. Dumbledore said without interruption, So I'm worried that something happened to him. Henry, I hope you can help inform Miller Baby, let her search the castle to make sure Sirius didn't faint in a corner of the castle.

Yes, sir, Anthony said.

I will immediately go to Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley to see if I can find any clues about Sirius' disappearance. Dumbledore said, Severus -

I didn't know you were planning on involving me in the search for Black, Headmaster, Snape said, with a strange twinkle in his eye.

If you please, Severus, said Dumbledore, I wish - and I would be very grateful if you would allow it - that you could find out a little bit about whether there is anyone who might know about Sirius's whereabouts. Where. You know, did anyone accidentally capture an Order member who just left Azkaban.

Snape said inscrutably: Do you doubt that, Dumbledore?

It's hard for me not to doubt it, said Dumbledore. Connelly has been a bit strangely tough lately, and I can't help but feel that there is something unusual. Just think of it as the intuition and suspicion of an old man, Severus. Si, but if you still have those sources of information, maybe you can help me consult...

What's the consultation? Anthony asked.

I'm worried that Sirius is on the prey list of Voldemort's followers. Dumbledore explained. I often have a feeling that our old friend is beside us, lurking and preparing to come back. If anyone says that he hates Sirius , I wouldn't be surprised, after all, his sane confession even helped us find their master's wand.

Well, Dumbledore, Snape said grimly, if that's what you want.