Kruk mountain leisurely stretched his lazy back, curling his body into a round shape, and lying down on the chaotic grass heap. However, the temperature inside the cave was too low, and the grass mound beneath him could not provide him with even a little warmth.
Dumbledore still hasn't returned to Hogwarts.
This is the news brought by Kruk mountain today, which is undoubtedly good news for the big black dog, but thinking about another powerful wizard now dominating Hogwarts School, the big black dog can't help feeling disheartened.
On the day of the competition, Harry was right under the stands on the playground and witnessed the commotion caused by a young wizard named Amos Brann, which brought great shock to the teachers and young witches and wizards present at that time, including himself.
Since the last attempt to infiltrate Hogwarts failed, it has been looking for the right opportunity to infiltrate again. Originally, the time when Dumbledore left school and Dementors no longer guarded the school gates was the perfect time to strike, but that inexperienced young wizard made it hesitate.
It was only later that it learned that the young wizard was the Student Safety Officer of the Ministry of Magic, appointed by Albus Dumbledore, and that the purpose of creating this non-existent position by Dumbledore was specifically targeted at it.
So, before it could figure out what Breanne was planning to catch it, it was reluctant to take the risk again in person. After all, the result of another failure might be death... It's not afraid of death, but at least kill that treacherous traitor.
It had already planned the next opportunity for action, which would be two weeks later during the Christmas holiday.
By then, the young witches and wizards in the school would have left for their Christmas holiday, spending it with their families, while most of the teachers and staff in the school would also leave, including that called Amos Brann, who might also be away. And Harry... According to the information it had gathered, Harry and that boy called Ron had spent every Christmas holiday in the school over the past few years. If adding Dumbledore's absence as well, this was indeed an unprecedented opportunity for action.
The night grew deeper, and icy currents as sharp as knives gushed in one after another through the narrow cave entrance. The already freezing cave became even more harsh, with the big black dog's face covered in white frost, shivering and thinking thusly.
Miao--
Seeing the big black dog shivering like a sieve, Kruk mountain stretched out his four limbs and stood up, pointing to a certain direction outside the cave mouth with a gloomy look in his eyes.
To take shelter from the cold night in the screaming hut?
The big black dog understood Kruk mountain's suggestion, but after a slight hesitation, it refused Kruk mountain's suggestion.
The screaming shed is now the experimental site of that Amos Brann. He could return at any moment, and even though I'm currently in Animagus form and unlikely to be recognized, Black still doesn't want to risk a head-on collision with him.
The big black dog whimpered, struggling to express his meaning to Kruk mountain, but Kruk mountain still pointed to the screaming shed with his eyes, making a soft meowing sound.
The professor hasn't come back for two months. He probably forgot about that place.
But there are still Death Eaters and Dementors patrolling the village. If they rush to the screaming shed, the situation would be equally bad -- the big black dog called hesitantly, taking some time for Kruk mountain to understand what 'Death Eaters' and 'Dementors' represented.
Those 'things' haven't been to that house--
Kruk mountain's whiskers twitched, and the amber eyes shot out sharp light. The meaning conveyed in the following call made the big black dog's alertness completely give in:
Stay here, and you'll freeze to death.
................
After Amos confirmed the two undiscovered secret passages in Hogwarts castle -- a mirror on the fourth floor and the passage that Harry had used last time to go to the underground warehouse of Honeydukes Candy Shop, whether there were traces of Black passing by or not, it was already 2 a.m. the next day.
Creak, creak!
The snow that had been cleared on the playground this morning was now thick enough to cover Amos's knees. The world seemed to be a static muggle photograph, cold and lifeless, like the surface of the moon.
On the side of the playground, the magical Beater Willow's withered branches were swaying wildly in the biting cold wind. Amos stood outside its attack range, quietly staring at it. For some reason, he had a premonition that he would make a discovery here.
Hogwarts, draped in a white cloak, was sleeping soundly, and Hagrid's cabin by the Forbidden Forest was dark as well. Amos took a deep breath, suddenly feeling discomfort in his lungs. This winter's cold reminded him of the winter when he was just born into this world.
Zeng--
The inconspicuous hum was quickly carried away by the howling wind. Amos raised his wand and a magical shield, the color of which was close to that of the snow, enveloped him around, and then he took a step into the range of Beater Willow's attack.
Like a fire dragon whose territory has been invaded, this old, precious magical plant suddenly burst into a rage. Hundreds and thousands of willow branches swished like whips, dispersing the north wind and making a crackling sound.
Chaotic snow flying!
The surface of the shimmering magical shield was like a calm lake hit by raindrops. Under the storm-like dense whip, ripples appeared one after another, and Amos slowly took out his shin buried in the snow. He took a step and dug a deep hole. He pushed through the Beater Willow's roaring attack to reach its thick root base.
Amos's piercing gaze had pierced through layers of snow and accompanying vines, revealing the hidden cave below.
With a light tap of the wand, the snow blocks, already frozen into ice, floated up lightly. Amos squatted down and carefully examined the traces at the entrance.
Below the snow layer, the earth was frozen solid. On the rugged ground, there were no footprints left by humans, but instead, it was covered with chaotic paw prints of cats and dogs.
"Mm... Kruk mountain and Yada Yada?"
Amos murmured.
For nearly a month, the only rainfall had been during the last game between Gryffindor and Hufflepuff. Since then, the temperature had dropped sharply, and there haven't been any warm sunny days. In the past week, it had snowed for several days straight, so the traces left then were fortunately preserved.
Based on the footprints alone, it seems that Black wasn't the one who entered Hogwarts through this secret passage. However, Amos still had some doubts. If Yada Yada knew there was a secret passage under Beater Willow, then Hagrid must have known too, but he didn't tell me...
Anyway, I still have to go down and check it out.
Amos stared at the black hole for a while, confirming that there was nothing active below. He lit his wand and created a gust of wind swirling around him, supporting him as he slowly descended.
The entrance to the tunnel was a very smooth slope, and the ground of the tunnel connecting to it was dry, without any seepage of rain or snow. The problem was that this underground passage was too low, and Amos had to struggle to stand with his back bent inside. It seemed that this secret passage was never meant for wizards of normal height.
The gray and dirty ground was still only footprints left by cats and dogs, without any traces of house-elves or other domesticated magical creatures. This made Amos a bit disappointed, so after a brief thought, he abandoned the idea of walking step by step to the end of the passage.
Huh--
A dark shadow swept rapidly through the narrow and cramped tunnel. Amos observed the tunnel and the space above it from a unique magical perspective, and he discovered that the tunnel indeed extended towards Hogsmeade.
It would take about an hour to walk the distance of two or three miles, but Amos flew there in just a few minutes. After landing at the end of a long gentle slope, Amos transformed back into the shape of a wizard, because the exit was almost there. If something was happening on the other side, Amos had to ensure that he could react in time.
Apparition, concealment of essence, levitation--
Amos activated a series of statuses on himself and continued along the gentle slope. A few minutes later, standing before a sharp bend, Amos took a deep breath and stepped forward...
Reading Tower
