Perhaps it's because of all the fresh things accumulated during the Christmas holidays, or maybe it's because the Quidditch match that will decide the fate of two colleges is about to begin. In any case, before everyone could recover from the shock, the first Saturday of school had already arrived, and today is the day when Gryffindor faces Ravenclaw in a duel.
The weather today, in January, can be considered an anomaly.
Neither did the cold wind howl, nor did the sky drift with oppressive layers of cloud. Instead, it was bright and dry. As soon as the golden dawn leapt through the windows into the castle, casting lively shadows on the floor of the Great Hall, tables at the staff dining room were already filled with professors.
They are all witnesses to the upcoming competition.
McGonagall Professor is usually very strict, but today she seemed a bit disoriented. While holding a silver spoon and drinking a bowl of pumpkin soup, her gaze kept wandering to the staircase at the door, and she didn't even notice that the soup had dripped onto the table.
The colleagues at the staff table all noticed that McGonagall Professor was a bit distracted, but none of them felt strange because they all knew how important this match was to Gryffindor.
"Don't worry, Millie—"
Professor Lupin, with dark circles under his eyes, smiled gently.
"I think the Gryffindor team is strong, and Harry has a new broomstick, so in my opinion, their chances of winning are high."
"Why doesn't anyone want to give the Ravenclaw Quidditch team's Seeker a Bludger?"
Lupin's statement is equivalent to Ravenclaw losing today's game, and Professor Flitwick's high-pitched voice, which has already predicted the result of the game, shows some disappointment.
"The team led by Cedric is one of the strongest Hogwarts teams in recent years, but I don't think they have much of a chance to win."
Professor Sprout also spoke with a hint of melancholy, turning her head to look at Snape, who was silent and didn't say a word.
"I'm sorry, Miss," she said. "I don't remember that."
"Seven years--" Professor McGonagall said, her face stern, quickly giving the answer. It was obvious she had been holding this grudge for a long time but hadn't expressed it yet.
The teachers were all people who could easily pick up on the melancholy in Miller's voice. After hearing that number, Snape seemed to feel a little awkward, but he was about to say something when Amos from Slytherin walked over to the staff table, passing by Draco Malfoy without showing any signs of emotion.
Amos usually sits next to Snape Professor, but when he sits down to have breakfast, he finds that everyone's attention is focused on him. Amos fluttered his lashes and laughed casually.
"What's wrong, everyone? Is there something wrong with me?"
"Why are you dressed like that?"
Snape squinted at Amos dressed in black casual pants and a brown jacket, completely dressed like a Muggle, and asked.
"Oh, well, it's like this--"
Amos seemed to have completely failed to realize that his casual appearance on the staff table, among a sea of wizard robes, looked very out of place. He blinked at McGonagall, slightly raising his voice so that everyone at the table and the little witches at the front who were also staring at him could hear him.
"The night before last I received a letter, um, there was an urgent matter, so I have to go to London today. But don't worry, Professor McGonagall, if things go well, I may be able to make it for tomorrow's breakfast--"
"Are you going out, Amos?"
Professor McGonagall's eyebrows immediately furrowed. She pursed her lips and thought for a few seconds, looking a bit awkward, but eventually she spoke up.
"Although you have the right to enter and leave Hogwarts anytime, Amos, but do you have to think about it again, my meaning is that you must know what day today is. If those creatures guarding the gate lose control again."
Last time when Gryffindor and Hufflepuff played, the Dementors lost control due to hunger, nearly causing serious consequences. Professor McGonagall has been haunted by this ever since.
"There's no need to worry, Professor McGonagall. I believe both the Ministry and the Dementors know the serious consequences of trespassing on the school grounds without permission."
Such a reply was obviously not satisfactory to Professor McGonagall, but she couldn't say anything because, as she had just said, this was Amos's right.
There was a slight lull at the staff table, with Amos happily cutting a piece of sausages while looking down, and both Severus and Remus gazing at him with suspicion. And they had both noticed that their focus was on Amos; after a slight touch of their eyes in mid-air, they both looked away.
At this moment, a sudden loud cheer erupted in the entrance hall. The professors at the table looked up and saw the Gryffindor team, dressed in scarlet robes, finally shining brightly under everyone's gaze.
Perhaps to boost morale, Wood had Harry walk at the front and let him show off the Bludger badge prominently. And this indeed produced an extraordinary effect, as the four Gryffindor tables simultaneously erupted in a clamor of falling chairs.
"You didn't mention that Harry had the Bludger before you bet me ten Galleons!"
The crowd erupted in disbelief at Miss Crivet's voice, she excitedly shouted at Percy.
"Believe me, Penelope," Percy said awkwardly, "I only found out about this myself--"
In contrast to the warm reception given to the Gryffindor team, the Ravenclaw team led by Captain Davis and Seeker Coote was treated unfairly. When they appeared in the hall, even fewer people paid them any attention.
"I have to boost their morale, it's too early to lose confidence now!"
Professor Flitwick couldn't stay seated anymore. He got off his special high stool and rushed through the Great Hall to speak to the Ravenclaw team, led by Captain Davis and Seeker Coote. His leaving also seemed like a signal, and professors all got up from their tables, some of them directly walking around the students to the stairs, while Professor McGonagall and Madam Pince tried to push their way through the outer group of little witches to get closer to Harry.
"What are you going to London for, and who wrote the letter to you?"
Severus Snape asked directly, his face stern, while most people's attention was focused on Harry and the Bludger.
"Lucius Malfoy--"
Amos smiled slightly and said, "The letter says that he found the leads to the people who had threatened him before, and asked me for help."
Amos said without any disguise, pausing for a moment before pulling out a key and throwing it to Snape.
"This is the key to my office. When I leave school, it would be helpful if you could keep an eye on it, in case someone seeks help and can't find me in a hurry--"
Amos's words clearly had an underlying meaning, and Snape was momentarily confused about what Amos was planning. After a moment of silence, he hesitated and said.
"London."
"Don't worry, it's no problem."
Amos wiped his mouth with a napkin and said lightly.
Severus knew that Amos didn't want to delve into the topic further, so with a sigh, he left his seat.
"Our friend?"
Remus, who had been watching for a while, approached Amos and asked.
"I've been feeling off these days, and I've been busy with classes. Has there been any trouble with him at your place?"
Amos looked at Remus and gave him a glance, which he could roughly determine his current state. His eyes were a bit strange, and after a slight pause, he said,
"He's been staying at my place long enough, and he doesn't want to disturb you, so he's been staying in the Forbidden Forest these past few days, sleeping with Crookshanks at night. You know, the cat Hagrid made a small hut for. Don't worry about him, Remus. I think you should get back to your office and rest."
"I was planning to do just that--"
Remus sighed and smiled helplessly, "But at least we have to wait until Harry's match is over. We can't guarantee that those Dementors won't cause any problems, not even when they're not on school grounds, Amos. I always have to keep an eye on things when they're not here."
"That's true."
Amos smiled meaninglessly.
"Then, good luck to you, Remus--"
After saying this, Amos didn't give Remus a chance to ask, standing up and hurrying down the hall. He walked straight ahead towards the entrance hall, ignoring all around him. In Remus's confused gaze and Malfoy's blank stare, he took a few more steps out of the castle and disappeared into the golden morning light.
(Chapter Ends)
