Whoosh!
A clear yellow figure flashed past Bryan's eyes like lightning, and pounced directly on Ron's pocket. It was a large, ginger-colored cat with a squashed face and a bottle-brush tail, which Hermione had received as a birthday present from her parents. The cat's name was Crookshanks, and it had a fierce hatred for Ron's pet rat, Scabbers.
"Ow, damn it!"
Ron jumped up from his seat subconsciously, holding Hermione's snarling cat with both hands, trying to keep it as far away from his cheeks as possible, lest his eyes be scratched out by the sharp claws. He felt a sharp pain in his chest where Crookshanks had dug his teeth into the fabric of his sweater.
"Can't you control this beast, Hermione, this is the second time today it's tried to rip off my scalp!" he yelled, his voice cracking with fear and anger.
"Oh, don't be like that, Crookshanks!" Hermione, who was a beat slower, snatched back her birthday present from Ron's hands, lest he strangle it in frustration.
"That's a bit rude, Crookshanks!" she scolded the cat sternly, but her tone was also full of affection. She stroked his fur gently and kissed his head, making him purr contentedly. When the ginger-colored cat, which was about the size of a young tiger, calmed down, Hermione hugged it tightly in her arms and looked at Ron apologetically.
"Rude? Is that all?!" Ron shouted at Hermione angrily, but Hermione only cared about soothing the beast and ignored him. She didn't seem to notice how Ron's face turned red with embarrassment and resentment. Ron felt like he was being treated unfairly by both Hermione and her cat.
"That rat–" Bryan rubbed his brow and pointed in the direction of the stairs.
In that short time, the rat that poked its head out of Ron's pocket moved faster than the big yellow cat, almost in the blink of an eye. The rat slid down Ron's trouser leg, agilely dodged the cluttered table and chair legs, slipped behind the bar, and ran across the aisle at a fast speed, disappearing around the corner of the stairs. It was a scrawny and balding rat with a few patches of gray fur and a long pink tail. It looked old and sickly, but it had a surprising burst of energy when it sensed danger.
"Oh, Scabbers!" Reminded by Professor Watson, Ron realized that Scabbers had escaped his control again. He left behind the few people in the hall and hurried after him. He hoped to catch him before he got lost or eaten by some other animal.
Scabbers was his pet rat that he had inherited from his brother Percy when he went to Hogwarts. He had been with him for three years and he had grown fond of him despite his appearance and lack of personality.
"Scabbers is a pet that Ron inherited from Percy,"
Noticing that Professor Watson's expression was a bit wrong, Harry volunteered to explain.
"He's very old and he's a bit out of sorts because he went to Egypt with Mr. Weasley and them. So Ron is very worried about him."
Harry felt sorry for Ron and his rat.
"He looked pretty spirited–"
Bryan smiled and dismissed the sudden sense of strangeness in his mind that he had caught a glimpse of just now. He responded to Hermione's gaze and said,
"Dealing with Black has never been a problem, Miss Granger. The key is how to find him."
Bryan looked at Harry and his tone became serious.
"I have to remind you, Potter. If Black really is as loyal to Voldemort as rumored, then you have to be careful this year. If I say if he really faces you in person when no one else is around, I think he probably won't waste too much time on torturing you."
Bryan spoke with a grave voice that made Harry shiver involuntarily.
Harry understood what Professor Watson meant, but he wasn't too worried. The reason was Dumbledore. Think about it. In Voldemort's most powerful era, he didn't dare to rush into Hogwarts where Dumbledore was. Harry didn't believe that Voldemort's henchman had more courage than his master and dared to sneak into Hogwarts to trouble him. Harry trusted Dumbledore's wisdom and power more than anything else. He was the only one who had ever defeated Voldemort and he was the headmaster of Hogwarts. Harry felt safe under his protection.
"The Ministry of Magic and Professor Dumbledore both know Black's purpose for escaping,"
Hermione was a bit dissatisfied with Harry's indifference, but she also knew that this was his old problem. No matter how much she reminded him, it was hard to change. She was a smart and diligent girl who always followed the rules and did her homework. She liked to read books and learn new things. She cared a lot about Harry and Ron, who were her best friends, but they often annoyed her with their recklessness and laziness.
"Next year, I think there will be tight defenses in the school. Professor, do you think that Black can still sneak into Hogwarts to harm Harry under these circumstances?"
she asked Bryan with a hopeful tone. She wanted to hear some reassuring words from him. Bryan stood up and stretched lazily without caring about his image.
"Remember my words, Granger. And Potter. Never pin your hopes on your enemy's incompetence and stupidity. Otherwise, you're playing with your own life. That's enough chit-chat. It's late. You have to get up early tomorrow to catch the train. Now go to bed."
Bryan said with a final warning and a dismissive gesture. He didn't choose to go to King's Cross Station with Harry, Hermione and the boys and girls of the Weasley family by bus from the Ministry of Magic and then take the Hogwarts Express to Hogsmeade. Instead he chose to leave alone.
This was what he and Lupin had planned. In this school year when Black had not been captured yet, Lupin stayed in Hogwarts and paid attention to everything around Harry Potter, the 'savior'. This was equivalent to an open defense force that could deter any potential attackers.
Bryan lurked in Hogsmeade and watched for any signs of movement around the school.
Of course, lurking here doesn't necessarily mean squatting in the dark and not letting anyone find out. Bryan had to act like a normal visitor who came to enjoy the charms of Hogsmeade, the only all-wizarding village in Britain. He had to mingle with the crowds, visit the shops, and chat with the locals. He had to avoid arousing any suspicion or curiosity from anyone who might be watching him. It means not sending out any signals that you're tracking Black to the outside world.
Actually, Bryan planned this way not so much as guarding against Black as being careful of Dumbledore. This old guy was cunning and vicious and especially idle. He didn't want him to know his plan and come up with some 'tricks'.
Early the next morning, at dawn, the pure and cozy sunlight seeped through the gaps in the curtains, forming weak and shifting light and shadows on the wooden floor. The light cast a warm glow on the furniture and objects in the room, creating a contrast with the coldness outside. The room was spacious and comfortable, with a fireplace, a sofa, a table, and several beds. It was one of the rooms in the Leaky Cauldron, a famous pub and inn for wizards in London.
"How many times do I have to stress it, Molly? The paper didn't report it because Fudge wanted to cover it up, but Fudge went to Azkaban the night Black escaped.
The guards told him that for a long time, Black had been talking in his sleep, saying over and over again, 'He's at Hogwarts. He's at Hogwarts.' Black's gone mad, Molly. He wants Harry's life. If you ask me, he thinks killing Harry will make You-Know-Who rise again. Harry stopped You-Know-Who that night, and Black lost everything. He stayed in Azkaban alone for twelve years, thinking about it all the time."
In the dark room next door, Bryan looked at the mirror and slightly tidied up his messy hair. He was getting ready to leave for Hogsmeade after spending a night at the Leaky Cauldron. Suddenly he heard a suppressed quarrel from the next room where the Weasleys lived. Although he had no intention of eavesdropping on the couple's privacy, those whispers were hard to hear for Bryan, whose senses were especially sharp because of magic. He recognized the voices of Arthur and Molly Weasley.
No wonder Fudge was so sure that Black would go after Harry. Bryan had a flash of insight in his mind as he heard Arthur's words. He realized that Fudge had some information that he didn't share with the public or even with Dumbledore.
He had stayed in Azkaban for more than ten years, accompanied by Dementors day and night. Even so, he still remembered to avenge his old master. To be honest, this 'loyalty' moved Bryan a little bit while also sighing at Voldemort's 'charisma'.
"So–"
Bryan looked at Harry who was lying on the bed in a sprawl, sleeping sweetly and unaware of anything. He whispered with a smile, "Good luck to you, Potter–"
After saying this, Bryan picked up his suitcase and quietly left the room. He didn't want to disturb Harry or anyone else. He wanted to slip away unnoticed and head to Hogsmeade as soon as possible. He had a lot of work to do and not much time to waste.
Although the sun had not completely escaped the shackles of the earth, the azure blue that penetrated through the high sky told people that today would be a good day.
The air was fresh and crisp, the birds were singing, and the flowers were blooming. It was a perfect day for a stroll or a picnic, or for any other activity that involved enjoying the beauty of nature. Thick and misty clouds rose from the center of the Black Lake, drifting with the morning breeze. The Hogwarts castle standing on the high ground was faintly visible in the clouds. This picture was beautiful and beautiful, like a fairy tale come true.
Unfortunately, not far from the castle, a swaying black cloud that made people feel cold just by looking at it ruined the beauty of this picture. It was a sign of the presence of Dementors, the foul creatures that guarded Azkaban prison. They were hooded figures that sucked out the happiness and life force of anyone who came near them. They were probably sent by Fudge to patrol around Hogwarts in case Black tried to enter the school grounds.
Even Hogsmeade village at the edge of the mountains and forests was vaguely affected by the black cloud, revealing a sense of coldness and depression.
Hogsmeade was a charming and lively village that offered many attractions and services for wizards of all ages. It had pubs, shops, cafes, and even a haunted house. It was a popular destination for Hogwarts students who were allowed to visit it on certain weekends. It was usually a place of joy and fun, but now it was overshadowed by fear and gloom.
"Ha, caught one. Raise your hands over your head and let me see your wand, sir!"
Just as he appeared in front of Honeydukes candy shop in Hogsmeade village and was staring at that ominous black cloud, a solemn and stern voice suddenly came from behind Bryan.
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