章 176: 0175 Cat & Dog
On the road of magic for more than ten years, Bryan had never encountered such a difficult obstacle. The research that had made no progress for more than a month even made him doubt his own magical talent!
He looked again at the stack of manuscripts that he had already memorized, and sighed deeply, with a hint of helplessness in his sigh. The yellowed papers were covered with ancient runes and symbols, some of which were faded or torn. They were the only clues he had to decipher the mysterious curse that had fascinated him for so long.
If it was just an ordinary spell or curse, and there had been no breakthrough after researching it to this point, he might have given up by now, but this curse was different. Ever since he figured out the content recorded on the manuscript, and learned that it could magically and irresistibly stuff the cursed soul into another person's soul, Bryan knew that he had to master this magic.
The hunger and protest of his stomach told Bryan that he urgently needed to eat and rest. He stood silently in the kitchen for a while, dispelling the sense of decadence in his heart, and then began to deal with the slime and blood stains on the stone platform. He had experimented with various animals, trying to transfer their souls to each other, but none of them had succeeded. The only result was a pile of corpses and a horrible smell. He had to dispose of them quickly, or he would attract unwanted attention.
The trembling tip of his wand emitted a dazzling galaxy, and Bryan once again used the illusion magic to restore the house to its original appearance when no one was there.
He scratched his itchy scalp, which was covered with greasy and tangled hair, and looked around the house. He made sure that he had not left any traces of his presence, and then he headed for the door. He was planning to go back to the village, and to buy some food and supplies. But as soon as he opened the door, he heard a rustle and a squeak from outside. He narrowed his eyes and shouted, "Come out!"
After a shout, Bryan quickly extended his right hand towards the source of the noise, and a small creature flew out of the bushes and landed in his hand.
The Shrieking Shack was located on the hillside of the northeast of the high slope, where the ground lost the protection of vegetation, and large and small, oddly shaped stones were scattered on both sides of a winding and steep path. This path extended from the main road of Hogsmeade village, crossing several large fields of vegetable gardens and a few wooden houses in the wilderness. The end of the path was a strange and rugged stone mountain. The Shrieking Shack was the only building on the mountain, and it looked like it was about to collapse at any time.
Under a rock wall that faced away from the moonlight, a ginger-colored cat peeked out from behind a stone. It looked around cautiously, and after confirming that there was no sign of life, it jumped agilely on the stone, and disappeared into the dark shadow. It was carrying something in its mouth, and it made a soft meowing sound.
Meow! The cool and dry cave was almost completely bathed in the deep darkness. Crookshanks looked around, meowed a few times, and then dropped something from his mouth. The piece of cheese rolled to the ground softly and stopped near a pile of bones. It was a yellowish-white color, with some holes and mold on it. It smelled sour and pungent, but it was better than nothing. It was stolen from the Hogwarts kitchen by Crookshanks, who had sneaked in there.
Whoosh– A gust of wind appeared out of thin air, and a huge figure suddenly pounced on a stone platform protruding from the rock wall above. It easily picked up the cheese with its teeth, and without any hesitation, it swallowed it whole.
Gulp, gulp, gulp– The sound of a hungry stomach digesting food was very clear in this silent cave. Crookshanks crawled on the ground, squinting his eyes and looking at the beast that was eating gratefully with his weird pansy face, and licked his cat paw contentedly with his tongue.
That was a skinny dog that could clearly see how many ribs it had. It was about the same size as a young black bear. Its black fur was covered with stains that were hard to clean. When it licked the cheese crumbs on the ground, its gray eyes flickered with not only desire, but also a human-like madness!
Woo woo– The big dog spit out its tongue, unable to find any more food from the ground, and whimpered at Crookshanks a few times, expressing gratitude. Crookshanks rubbed his head against the dog's leg, and purred softly.
The night was deep, and the moon with a missing corner climbed to the zenith of the sky like a giant millstone. Its pale light cast a faint shadow on the barren and rocky landscape below. The mountain wind that had grown colder with the passing of time made the black dog squatting on the large stone curl up its body, trying to preserve some warmth. The sad whimper that escaped from its throat revealed its loneliness and longing.
From a distance, the Shrieking Shack on another peak looked as dark and eerie as usual, but the black dog knew that the house was not empty. There was a madman who was obsessed with magic research occupying the house day and night, cutting off his safest and most reliable path back to Hogwarts. The black dog had been waiting for a chance to sneak into the school, where he hoped to find his old friend and expose the traitor who had ruined his life.
Meow– Crookshanks, the ginger-colored cat who was sitting next to the black dog, lazily called out twice, giving his suggestion. He pointed his nose towards the Forbidden Forest, which was a dense and dark area full of magical creatures. He thought that they could go around from there, and enter the school from the other side.
Hesitating for a moment, the black dog shook his head and rejected the suggestion. It was too risky to go through the Forbidden Forest. There were many intelligent and dangerous creatures living there, and they were all loyal to Hagrid, the gamekeeper of Hogwarts. If they saw him, they would surely report him to the headmaster or the Ministry of Magic. In addition to this method, the black dog also knew some secret passages that could lead him into the school, but the entrances of those passages were mostly in the Hogsmeade village. Now the village was full of patrolling Aurors, the elite wizards who worked for the Ministry of Magic, and the Dementors, the soul-sucking creatures who guarded the prison of Azkaban. Unless he had no choice, he didn't want to take this risk either.
The Black dog thought when that madman returns home to rest, he will sneak in.
Crookshanks looked at the Shrieking Shack with a thoughtful expression, and after a while, he gave another suggestion. He thought that they could wait for the wizard in the house to leave, and then use the secret passage that connected the house to the school. The passage was hidden under a loose floorboard in one of the rooms, and it led to the Whomping Willow, a violent and sentient tree that guarded the entrance.
The man in the shack was Harry and his friend's teacher, a very powerful wizard. Because he had no way to communicate without barriers, the black dog could only get this information from Crookshanks, who had seen him before.
Woo– After a long silence, the black dog once again rejected Crookshanks's proposal. A powerful wizard, conducting secret magic experiments in a hidden place, could only mean that there were many taboo and dangerous things involved in his research, and this also meant that the Shrieking Shack was likely to be set up with some wards or warning spells. The black dog didn't have a wand in his hand now, and he couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't trigger these spells. He didn't want to alert the wizard or the Ministry of Magic, and he didn't want to endanger Crookshanks either.
The black dog kept whimpering, and tried hard to express his thoughts to Crookshanks.
Steal the fake rat from the school– This was Crookshanks's third suggestion.
This method was somewhat feasible, but the black dog didn't have much hope. He knew that the fake rat was cunning and cowardly, and that he had some tricks up his sleeve. Crookshanks was very smart, but he was unlikely to deal with him alone, especially since the fake rat was protected by his owner and his friends.
But this was the least likely to expose and worth trying plan at the moment. Crookshanks, who received approval, stood up, and his face that looked like it had been run over by a wheel also didn't look so gloomy. He faced the direction of the Shrieking Shack and called out softly.
By the way, want to see what the wizard in the house is doing, and, test if there are any traps? Crookshanks added another suggestion, which was more of a curiosity than a necessity. He wanted to know what the wizard was doing in the house, and if he could find a way to avoid or disable the possible traps. He thought that it would be useful for their future plan, and also fun to explore.
The black dog fell into hesitation again. He was not particularly curious about what the wizard was doing in the house, but if Crookshanks could help confirm whether there were any traps in the Shrieking Shack, it would be helpful. That wizard was the teacher of Harry, and he had seen Crookshanks before, so if he really found Crookshanks, he shouldn't be in much danger. He might even be friendly to him, since he was Harry's friend's pet.
Meow– Before the black dog could figure out whether this matter was worth taking a risk, Crookshanks, who couldn't wait, stood up and ran towards the green hill. He was agile and swift, and he soon disappeared from the black dog's sight. The black dog squatted on the stone and watched Crookshanks go away quickly, and his gray eyes showed intense worry.
This very smart big ginger cat had given him a lot of help during this time, and he was already his friend. In this moment when everything was against him, if he lost Crookshanks's help, revenge would probably become more difficult.
After hesitating for a while, the black dog made up his mind and howled, bathed in the bright moonlight, and ran towards the Shrieking Shack as well!
"You are-"
In the hall of the Shrieking Shack, Bryan squinted his eyes and looked at the ginger-colored big cat that was struggling fiercely in his hand, and his face looked a bit strange, "If I remember correctly, you are Hermione's pet cat Crookshanks. By the way, what are you doing here?"
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章 177: 0176 Weird
Everything in the room was covered by an illusion magic, only a candlestick that was about to tumble from the wall was still emitting a dim but stable candlelight. The flickering light cast eerie shadows on the dusty furniture and the cracked walls. Bryan lifted the fur behind Crookshank's neck, fearing that his face would be ruined by the big cat's sharp claws.
"What are you doing here, Crookshanks, instead of staying with Hermione?" Bryan asked curiously, frowning.
When he heard this wizard who had met him once call out his and his master's names accurately, Crookshanks calmed down a bit. Looking around the gloomy room, he faced Bryan and tried to make an innocent look.
Meow meow– Crookshanks raised a front paw and gestured at Bryan twice, as if asking him a question.
"Are you asking me what I'm doing here?"
Bryan raised his eyebrows in surprise, impressed by the intelligence of this big yellow cat. He could tell that this cat was not an ordinary one, but he didn't know how much he could understand. After a brief hesitation, he put Crookshanks on the ground and shrugged his shoulders.
"I need a quiet place to do my magic research, as you can see, little guy, this place is very remote, no one bothers me. By the way, you haven't answered my question yet?"
Crookshanks moved his gaze away, raised his nose and sniffed around, then ran into the kitchen and jumped onto the counter with agility, meowing excitedly at an empty spot. He seemed to have found something interesting there.
"Sharp little guy–"
Bryan smiled warmly, he snapped his fingers, and then the space there faded away like a mirage, revealing a huge wooden cage that held several large rats. The rats squeaked in fear and tried to hide in the corners of the cage, but they couldn't escape Crookshanks hungry eyes.
"So–"
Bryan walked into the kitchen again, he chuckled softly and looked at Crookshanks who was lying on the cage with his two front paws, and turned his head anxiously and meowed impatiently. He wanted Bryan to open the cage and let him have a feast.
"You smelled the rats, so you came to find something to eat? Don't tell me you've wiped out all the rats in Hogwarts, and Ron's rat named Scabbers also fell into your stomach?"
Bryan teased playfully, knowing that Crookshanks had a history of chasing Ron's pet rat. Crookshanks blinked, lowered his head and avoided Bryan's gaze.
"Alright," Bryan muttered, reaching into the cage and picking out the fattest field mouse, stuffing it into Crookshanks' mouth. He had raised these rats for his experiments, but he didn't mind sharing some with the cat.
"That's it, I have to go back to rest, you better hurry back to school."
Bryan said gently, patting Crookshanks' head. He was tired after a long time of research, and he wanted to sleep in his cozy bed. He also worried that Hermione would miss her cat, and that Crookshanks would get into trouble if he stayed here too long.
Crookshanks jumped off the counter, but he didn't leave right away, his eyes still pointed at the wooden cage, and after making a few whines, he ran to Bryan's feet and rubbed his head affectionately against his ankles.
This funny performance amused Bryan, he squatted down and gently rubbed Crookshanks' fluffy and soft ginger fur, and joked.
"Do you take this as a cafeteria, little guy–"
Crookshanks didn't make a sound, just looked at Bryan with longing and pleading eyes. He hoped that Bryan would let him come back again, and maybe give him more rats to eat.
Bryan scratched his itchy hair, pursed his lips and thought for a moment, he pushed the wooden cage on the kitchen counter into the dishes, and lowered his head and smiled warmly at Crookshanks.
"Okay, I'll leave the cage here. If you really can't find anything to eat, you can come here for a visit. But I suggest you better come when I'm here. When I leave, the warning spells around the house will work, and any living thing that comes in and out of here will alert me."
Bryan warned, knowing that this place was not safe for anyone who didn't know the secrets. He had set up many protective wards and traps to prevent intruders from discovering his research, and he didn't want Crookshanks to get hurt by them.
Meow– Crookshanks' eyes flashed, and he nodded his head under Bryan's gaze.
'What a smart cat!' Bryan marveled at Crookshanks' cleverness again. He just casually mentioned it, and didn't expect a cat to understand him, but he didn't expect this cat to actually understand.
"By the way–" Bryan suddenly whispered and instructed, "You better not lure Hermione and those adventurous little wizards here to explore–"
Waving his wand to seal the door, he felt the cold mountain wind and the dazzling starlight that stung his eyes. He rubbed his sore eyes, and suddenly, a faint feeling of being watched came to his heart.
"Who's there?"
Bryan glared at a certain place down the hill, his eyes narrowed, and he shouted sharply.
Under the clear moonlight, a black dog as big as a black bear sprang out like a bullet from behind a raised mound of earth half a mile away. His fur was shaggy and matted, and his eyes were glowing with a fierce light. As soon as he realized that he had been discovered, he turned and ran away without any hesitation, his speed was comparable to a cheetah.
At the same time, Crookshanks, who had been staying peacefully in Bryan's arms, suddenly jumped to the ground, his yellow fur exploded, and he snarled at Bryan with his teeth and mouth, making a fierce gesture.
Bryan scratched his suddenly itchy hair, and looked at Crookshanks strangely. "Did you make a good friend?"
He joked, not understanding why the cat was acting so hostile. Crookshanks clamped his limbs on the ground like a guard dog, without any wavering, firmly blocking Bryan's front. Bryan shook his head and smiled, turned and walked towards the village, but after a few steps, he suddenly stopped, and looked at the direction where the big black dog escaped with doubt.
"–Did I run into something weird?!"
More than a month had passed since Black's escape from the Ministry of Magic and the rumors of prophecy that the 'savior' Harry Potter might die had lost their market in Hogwarts, only Draco, who was still hanging around the castle with bandages all day, reminded the young wizards of the first week of school, Hagrid's disastrous Care of Magical Creatures lesson, where he had introduced a hippogriff named Buckbeak, who had injured Malfoy's arm, but this topic also quickly faded with the first Quidditch match of the new school year.
Meanwhile, the night was clear, under the supervision of Madam Hooch, the Gryffindor team members trained until almost ten o'clock, and then dragged their exhausted bodies back to the castle. They were preparing for their next match against Ravenclaw, and they wanted to improve their skills and teamwork. Harry, who was the seeker of the team, had flown very well, and had caught the snitch several times, earning the praise of his teammates and his captain, Oliver Wood.
As expected, the Gryffindor common room was still lively at this time, and there were chattering discussions everywhere.
"Can anyone tell me what happened?"
The weather turned cold, and the fireplace welcomed them with warm flames. Harry walked to Hermione and Ron, who were lying on the wooden table next to the fireplace, completing the star track map of the astronomy class, and asked curiously. He wanted to know what they were talking about, and if there was any news that he had missed.
A minute later, Harry, who was very happy because of the very good training effect, collapsed on the chair, his face gloomy. He had learned that the reason why everyone was so excited was because they had received a notice from Professor McGonagall, that they could go to Hogsmeade for the weekend, if they had a signed permission form from their parents or guardians. This kind of interesting thing obviously had nothing to do with him whether Black was caught or not, since he knew that the Dursleys would never sign anything for him, and he didn't have any other relatives who could do it for him.
Harry looked at the flickering flames with drooping eyelids, thinking listlessly. He wished that he could go to Hogsmeade with his friends, and see the magical shops and pubs, and have some fun. He felt that he was missing out on a lot of things, and that he was being treated unfairly.
"Since the Ministry of Magic has found Black once,"
Hermione saw through Harry's thoughts, she pursed her lips and said,
"then he will be caught soon, Harry, I dare say you will definitely be able to go with us next time."
She tried to cheer him up, and to make him feel hopeful.
"Next time who knows what will happen–" Ron glared unhappily at Hermione, "I think, Harry, you should go and ask McGonagall.....Ahem!... Professor McGonagall, she can't just let you, a third-year student, stay in the castle, right? And, if Black has any brains, he won't run to Hogsmeade and act rashly."
He suggested eagerly, not agreeing with Hermione's cautious approach.
"Did you forget what Professor Lupin said, Ron?"
Hermione argued, "Black is a madman, but since he can escape from Azkaban, it proves that he is a very cunning dark wizard. He will definitely choose a time that we think is impossible to attack Harry!"
However, Harry hesitated, because Ron and Hermione's words both made sense, he was not sure who to listen to. If it was in the second year, Harry thought he would most likely follow Ron's opinion, and try to sneak out of the castle and go to Hogsmeade, but some things he experienced during this period made him change a bit, Harry had to admit, Professor Watson's advice at the end of the summer vacation and Professor Lupin's warning before still made him a little cautious.
'By the way, Professor Watson-' Harry blinked in surprise, his expression suddenly relaxed, Professor Watson told him that he would stay in Hogsmeade until Black was caught.
Hogwarts was safe not because of the Dementors and those ancient magics and wards, but because Dumbledore was here, so by the same logic, Hogsmeade with Professor Watson must also be safe and nothing bad would happen right!?
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