The Pacifist Necromancer of Hogwarts

On Friday morning, when Anthony opened his office window to look for the ginger cat, an owl finally flew in, confused. The poor bird had disheveled feathers, looked dusty, and was shivering from the cold. As soon as it landed on Anthony's desk, it involuntarily moved closer to the hot teapot.

Anthony poured a small glass of warm water for it. The owl hooted gratefully, dipped its beak in the water quickly, then raised its head and tapped its beak rhythmically, while the water slowly dripped from its feathers. Anthony quickly moved all the nearby documents away.

The letter began, Dear Professor Henry Anthony, but the content was anything but dear. The Ministry, as Dumbledore and McGonagall had warned, did not like their late-night visit to Azkaban at all. The letter pointed out that the disappearance of Peter Pettigrew after they left was also quite suspicious.

The Wraith Chicken slowly walked out of the bedroom with a pretentious air, and bumped into the owl that suddenly turned its head. Both birds were obviously frightened. The owl immediately flew up and flew around the chandelier in the office. The wraith chicken flew up and landed skillfully on the chandelier. He tilted his head and looked at the owls circling around him.

Don't mind it, chicken. That's a guest, Anthony said without looking up, still reading the letter the Ministry of Magic had sent him.

The Ministry of Magic told him that based on reports they had received, Dumbledore had contacted Scrimgeour, the head of the Auror Office, and therefore had temporary qualifications to go to Azkaban; Snape, somehow managed to get Azkaban that night. It is reasonable for Kaban to have a visit opportunity in Azkaban.

Therefore, among the group, only two former prisoners, Anthony and Sirius, were illegally present in Azkaban - especially Sirius, because he even entered Peter's cell - but considering that he had just returned from Azkaban, Zikaban left, and since it was indeed a cell he was very familiar with (Anthony stared at these words for a while, savoring the words), it was understandable that the Ministry of Magic felt that his behavior was out of control.

Under these premises, the Ministry of Magic condemned Anthony's behavior in serious terms. However, after a few harsh paragraphs, the whole letter suddenly changed the subject and told him reasonably that even so, they were still willing not to hold Anthony responsible for the matter unduly.

As long as Anthony remembered to keep the secret, no one cared where he, Dumbledore, and Snape were or what they did on a quiet night. The letter cryptically mentioned that since Anthony was still under Dumbledore's protection, they - surprisingly - would not try to interfere with Anthony's peaceful life, but they seriously asked Anthony not to try to enter Azkar again. It’s time to go to class.

Anthony couldn't help but wonder what the else they didn't write about was. Or would he be in Azkaban, again?

…

He replied to the Ministry of Magic's letter - mainly to get the chirping owl to leave quickly, and he could feel the wraith chicken already eager to pluck out a few owl feathers - telling them that he had received the letter and was willing to do so. Make sure you never want to enter Azkaban, actively or passively. He had only been there twice, and each time the experience was not very pleasant.

Anthony handed the reply to the owl.

The owl turned its head to look at the fireplace and teapot with nostalgia, then let Anthony tie the letter to its leg, fluttered its wings and flew out of the window, disappearing into the light gray sky.

There was already a thick layer of white snow on the ground. Scattered snowflakes still fall from time to time. Flying towards the departing owl was a large group of happy owls. Carrying letters to students or goods ordered, they glide lightly under the thick clouds.

…

Anthony stood on the podium with a smile and said goodbye to the students leaving the classroom. After packing his things, he suddenly met his cat on the way to the library.

It was in a secluded corner, walking through the ghost body of the fat monk with great interest. The fat monk floated very low and stretched out his hand as if stroking a cat. The cat stuck its head out of his hand, looked around, and saw Anthony.

The fat monk also raised his head: Professor Anthony, good afternoon!

Good afternoon, Friar, Anthony said, squatting down as well and holding out his hand to the ginger cat.

The ginger cat swung its tail, jumped up onto his lap, hooked its front paws on his front, and almost scratched another robe. Anthony quickly put his arms around it and let it stand on his lap with its shoulders. The cat looked behind Anthony for a moment, then came back and lay on his lap, purring slightly.

The fat monk looked at it with envy: That is a good cat, Professor Anthony. I even doubt that it is not afraid of ghosts at all. You know, most cats will avoid us.

I bet it's not afraid, Anthony said, but this is the first time I've seen it be so friendly to other people.

The fat monk seemed much happier. He extended his hand to the ginger cat and watched as it stretched its head through his milky white palm.

You know, Professor Anthony, I do miss everything sometimes, the fat monk said, the good wine, the good food, the warmth of my friends' hands, the feeling of stretching when I drink hot water in winter...and of course, the furry animals. I have raised a few lambs before, and they were very interesting...

He seemed to be caught up in some warm memories, with a smile on his milky white face. Anthony squatted on the ground and did not disturb him. The ginger cat was still gently sniffing the fat monk's hand in front of him. Anthony didn't know if it could smell the Fat Monk, but to him, the Fat Monk, like any other ghost, smelled like water...or ice, given the feeling of a living person walking through a ghost.

By the way, Professor Anthony, the fat monk said suddenly, as if he was suddenly transported back to the present, I heard that Professor Kettleburn is going to establish a zoo at Hogwarts?

Anthony said with some surprise: I think he just had this idea. Do you have any suggestions, monk?

I hope he won't keep sheep, said the fat monk seriously. They don't smell good, and they eat all the grass bare.

…

After the fat monk left, Anthony stood up with the cat in his arms.

You didn't become friends with the fat monk because he was cold, right? He lowered his head and confirmed, You are not so affectionate towards Nick.

The cat lowered its head, opened its mouth and bit his arm. Anthony hissed.

Okay, I apologize. Do you want to go for a walk, cat? The cat still refused to bite, Huh? Isn't a cold and gloomy snowy day the most suitable weather in the world for a walk?

He felt the grip on his forearm gradually weaken. The cat let go of his mouth, jumped down from his arms, and walked proudly to the door first. Anthony raised his arm and took a look, seeing several small holes in his clothes over the healed wounds.

Repaired as before. He pointed at his sleeve with his wand and saw with satisfaction that the hole had disappeared. The ginger cat didn't use necromancy.

Ahead of him, the cat was waiting at the gate, looking back at him.

…

After Anthony walked out of the door, he remembered to ask Coco to put his things back in the office - he did not ask Dudu, who was good at carrying luggage - and then followed the ginger cat and walked slowly towards the snow.

This snowfall was heavier than before, and some small trees were even half-buried. The thick snow made them look like some kind of shrubs. A few foraging birds hopped around in the snow, pecking occasionally, but Anthony doubted they would actually find anything in this weather.

His corn kernels and nut kernels have finally found appreciative diners, but next to the gray, open-air cafeteria lurks an eyeful killer. Anthony threw the remaining nuts out of his pocket and left quickly with the cat.

The ginger cat already seemed to know the outdoors of Hogwarts better than he did. It took Anthony around the main road with the most people (several students were coming from there, holding a small jar of fire in their hands), passed between a few bare tree trunks, pushed aside the snow, and avoided the snow. From the bushes and rose branches, walk up one foot deep and the other shallow, keep walking up, and then——

The space suddenly opened up before them. This is an undisturbed snowfield. Around them, soft snow lay silently on the tree branches. It's so quiet here, there's not even a bird chirping. On the opposite side of the snow is the end of the cliff. They have reached the mountain.

Is this where you were when you disappeared? Anthony asked softly, for fear of breaking the silence here.

The cat is walking through the snow. It plunged into the snow, causing the flat snow to arch up for no reason, revealing its path, and then suddenly jumped out of the snow, revealing a pair of conspicuous yellow ears and half of the cat's face underneath. The quiet snow was suddenly messed up by it.

Anthony laughed and lay down in the snow. He could feel the snow crunching beneath him. The tree suddenly seemed very tall. There was a gray sky above his head, and in the corner of his eye he could still see the high white snow on both sides, like some kind of tailor-made coffin.

The snow started to fall again. Anthony opened his eyes and watched them swirling and falling in the wind. He raised his hand, held it for a moment, and then held it out in front of his eyes. He stared at the snowflakes and felt a very comfortable sense of relaxation and joy.

He is dead, but he is also alive. The good thing about being dead is that the snowflakes that touch him won't melt, and he can watch them as long as he wants. The advantage of living is that he can encounter snowflakes.

The ginger cat crawled next to him, peeking out from the higher layers of snow and looking down at him. Its cold whiskers tickled Anthony a little, so he reached out and took the cat out. The cat jumped on his chest, turned around, curled up, rested its head on his neck, closed its eyes and seemed to be asleep.

The snowflakes would not melt on the cat's body, but the cat would shake its ears and shake all the snow that fell on the tips of its ears onto Anthony's body.

From Anthony's perspective, the cat looks like a piece of bread sprinkled with icing sugar.

…

The cat didn't wake up until nightfall. Anthony stood up, brushed the snow off himself, and walked slowly down the mountain with the cat.

It was then that he realized what a conspicuous building Hogwarts was. In such a snowy night, the thousands of windows that shine through Hogwarts turn it into a huge beacon, indicating the way back.

Through the dark branches, Anthony could see a somewhat stooped silhouette standing at the gate, undoubtedly Filch. Filch's shadow was reflected on the ground, looking like a lanky and vicious giant.

At this time, Anthony saw Filch turn around and walk out of the door. Anthony struggled to follow his figure for a while, only to realize that he was going to talk to another group of people. Judging from one of the tall figures wearing a pointed hat, Anthony would say it was Dumbledore and... someone else.

After a while, Filch went back and closed the oak door, leaving only a small side door. One by one the castle windows were darkened. Curfew.

Anthony quickened his pace, following his cat around Professor Sprout's greenhouse, passing by the frozen snow-covered Black Lake, and finally returned to the road he was familiar with.

He saw Dumbledore and his men still at the gate of the castle. After getting closer, the sound of conversation faintly reached his ears. He heard Professor McGonagall's voice, which seemed to be persuading something. As he got closer, he recognized Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Remus Lupin.

Seriously, Remus, we are looking for a suitable candidate for the Care of Magical Creatures professorship next term, Professor McGonagall said.

Thank you, Minerva, but do you really think I'm one of the suitable candidates? Lupine pointed out, I'm not even participating in N.E.W.T. for the Care of Magical Creatures.

Professor McGonagall's tone became a little more forced: But, um...according to Sirius, you often visited the Forbidden Forest when you were a student.

Lupine sounded amused by her: With him. Then he paused, his voice lowered, With them, yes. But to be honest, Minerva, I don't remember anything about the Forbidden Forest. Those magical animals. They usually just run away.

Professor McGonagall really seemed to be beginning to hesitate. Anthony watched the movement of her head turning, and even thought he could see through her tense face and the expression on her face that she was thinking hard and trying to find a solution.

Oh, Henry! Professor McGonagall saw the ginger cat walking over and followed its trajectory to see Anthony following behind. Where did you come back from? She looked at Anthony's robe that was stained with snow. Looking even more confused.

I went for a walk, said Anthony. What about you? He nodded to Dumbledore and Lupin, both of whom smiled at him.

Professor McGonagall said, We are going to bury Peter Pettigrew.

Anthony said in surprise: Today?

Yes, Henry. Dumbledore answered him, A simple small village, a simple funeral. No tombstone.

I didn't even expect there to be a funeral, Anthony said. I mean... I didn't expect anyone to actually show up.

Lupine smiled bitterly and said, Sirius is already angry with me for this.

Dumbledore said gently: Someone has to dig the holes and fill them in, Henry.

A funeral with three attendees is enough to be called a funeral, Anthony said.

Four, actually, said Dumbledore.

Anthony asked in surprise: Who is the other person? Sirius? Mr. Potter?

Cornelly, said Dumbledore, I guess he's here to make sure we keep things going as quietly as possible, so everyone will think Peter Pettigrew is still in Azkaban. He sighed. He still refuses to give up those dementors. Or, I think he is frightened by us...

Scared? Anthony asked.

He acted like Professor Dumbledore was about to break into the Ministry of Magic and become the new Minister of Magic, Lupine said.

Professor McGonagall said firmly: And he made the most rude request I have ever heard. I can't believe you agreed, Albus! She seemed angry at the thought of it, Anthony could Her breathing was heard to become rapid.

Anthony asked with concern: What is it?

Fudge appointed Umbridge Senior Investigator and wanted her to 'investigate' a series of things that happened in the school-

A series of things?

Lucius Malfoy must have told him a lot of things... the various accidents during the Quidditch match, the Dark Arts injuries suffered by Mr. Davis - but they were talking about Miss Parkinson and her mother. The quarrel - the curse on Mr Malfoy, etc. Apparently the professors at Hogwarts are not quite up to par in their eyes.

And you said yes, sir? Anthony turned to Dumbledore, Oh my God, why not let Mr. Lupin take the position!