章 222: 0221 Talks

In the cozy and crowded Three Broomsticks pub, Fudge and several Hogwarts staff members were having a private conversation, but they were not as discreet as they thought. Their voices were muffled by the noise of the other customers, but they could still be heard by anyone who paid close attention. Harry, Ron and Hermione were not the only ones who were eavesdropping on them. The other students sitting nearby were also listening secretly, pretending to be busy with their drinks and snacks.

Some of them had relatives in high positions in the Ministry of Magic, and they kept silent because they already knew the relevant information. Some of them were young wizards who had never heard of these things before, and they tried to act casual, but their open mouths betrayed their curiosity and shock.

Bryan was actually standing behind Hermione, but he used a little trick to make himself invisible. He had cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself, blending in with the background. He looked down at Ron and Hermione, who were speechless with disbelief, and Harry, who was hiding under the table, whose expression gradually changed from astonishment to silence, and finally, his green eyes showed deep hatred.

Destiny had an amazing inertia. Even though Bryan's presence had altered many things subtly, there were still many things that followed the original course. Harry finally learned the truth about his parent's death, just like he did in the original timeline.

After Professor McGonagall and the others finished talking about Black, Bryan thought for a while. He dodged one person after another and returned to the bar room. He had left a bottle there, containing a Dementor that he had captured and sealed with his magic. Two minutes later, he appeared in the pub hall again, as if nothing had happened. He had removed the Disillusionment Charm from himself, and acted normally.

He glanced at Harry, whose expression had changed slightly, and Hermione and Ron, who held their breaths when they saw him. Bryan smiled and walked back to his seat, but he didn't sit down. He just put the bottle sealed with the Dementor directly into Fudge's arms, startling him.

"I'm sorry, everyone, I just remembered that I haven't cleaned the house I rented in the village for a while. I have to deal with it before Christmas."

Bryan said casually, as if he had just given Fudge a harmless gift. Then, He left the Three Broomsticks pub without delay.

Only an hour or two had passed, and the path between Hogsmeade and Hogwarts was covered with a layer of snow nearly a foot thick. It was still early, but there were not many young wizards who went to Hogsmeade for the weekend. Most of them had returned to the school, as the weather was too cold and windy for their liking.

Bryan walked alone in the snow, thinking quietly. He wondered if Harry would come over later and ask him if he knew anything about his parents, or about Black, and how should he "tactfully" comfort him.

"Everything is normal in the school, Professor Watson!" When asked if anything had happened, Bryan's loyal subordinate, the Hogwarts castle caretaker Filch, sniffed and said respectfully.

The ancient castle still looked magnificent, but in fact, it had suffered from the wear and tear of time. The huge amount of money consumed by daily teaching made the funds allocated by the board of directors insufficient, and there was not much money to repair the castle. So, when winter came, the corridors of the school were always leaking, and the temperature was not much different from the outside.

The house-elves, who worked as the servants of the school, tried their best to keep the castle clean and warm, but they could not do much against the harsh weather.

Although the wizards with high magic power were not too sensitive to the cold and heat, Bryan still felt his hands and feet a bit stiff after walking in the open air for a while. So, he changed his mind about going to Lupin and asking about Harry's progress in Patronus.

He snapped his fingers and lit the fire in the fireplace. Bryan warmed his hands while casually looking at the monitor screens on the wall.

The cold weather drove the young wizards who loved to wander back to the common rooms. Only in the library, there were many fifth-year students preparing for the 'school exam'.

On the top floor of the west tower, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle came out of the Owlery . The expressions on their faces were a bit stiff. Bryan watched them silently as they walked down the tower, passed the armor corridor, and finally entered the Slytherin dungeon from the other side of the foyer on the first floor.

"They haven't got rid of the trouble yet?" Bryan muttered to himself curiously.

After a little hesitation, he remembered Professor Snape's warning and decided not to interfere for the time being.

Things did not go as he expected. He thought that Harry would rush back to the castle and ask him if he knew the truth after he learned that his parents were killed by Black's betrayal, but Harry did not do that. Bryan just occasionally observed him through the monitor For several days, Harry had a gloomy face wherever he went. He barely spoke to anyone, and he seemed to be lost in his thoughts.

Another week passed. Now, there were only two weeks left until the end of the term. Dumbledore's absence did not affect the festive mood in the school. Professor Flitwick, who taught the charm class, had already decorated his classroom with colorful lights. They would turn into real fairies, flapping their wings and flying around in the classroom.

He did not know why, but Hagrid suddenly asked for a few days off from him and Professor McGonagall. So, the task of creating a festive atmosphere for the hall naturally fell on Bryan. Filch could be ordered, but he did not have magic spells, and he was not very good at doing this kind of work.

As the holiday approached, the professors also hoped to let the students relax a bit before Christmas. So, on Friday night, the little ones who did not have much homework ran around the castle. Or rather, they made trouble. One moment, someone threw a few dung eggs in the bathroom on a certain floor, creating a foul smell and a mess. Another moment, a young wizard who provoked Peeves, the poltergeist, was locked in the armor, and had to scream for help. Another moment, a first-year wizard who was not familiar with the moving stairs in the castle accidentally stepped on the air and broke his arm. In short, Filch's furious roar echoed throughout the Hogwarts main castle all night.

In order to avoid Filch, who would barge into his office every once in a while, Bryan ran to the library where there were not many people before the festival.

The library was a huge and quiet room, filled with thousands of books on various topics and subjects. It was guarded by Madam Pince, the librarian, who was a thin and sour-faced woman, who treated the books as if they were her children.

But here, he unexpectedly found the three little ones who were buried in a pile of books. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were sitting at a table, surrounded by books and papers. They looked tired and frustrated, as they searched for something in the books.

"This is not right–" Bryan smacked his tongue and said, "If it was just Miss Granger, I wouldn't be too surprised, but you three actually appeared in the library together?" He teased them, as he knew that Ron and Harry did not like to study, and they often relied on Hermione for homework.

"It's for Hagrid, Professor Watson–" Hermione said, as she looked up at him with a serious and determined face. She was holding a quill in her hand, and she had a parchment in front of her, where she had written some notes and arguments.

Since Bryan no longer served as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, he had met these little guys much less often, especially Hermione and Ron. Apart from occasionally greeting each other, they hadn't spoken personally with Professor Watson for a month or two. So, when facing his question, Hermione and Ron were both a bit awkward.

"The Ministry of Magic has decided to formally accept Lucius Malfoy's lawsuit application. The trial date is in April next year. We want to help him-"

Hermione's eyes were red, but her eyes showed resentment when she looked at him. Bryan understood that this girl probably blamed him for not doing anything even though he was Hagrid's nominal boss.

So that's how it was. No wonder Hagrid was depressed when he asked for leave that day. He asked him a few questions, but Hagrid did not want to say. Probably, he did not want to bother him.

"So, you want to help Hagrid prepare a defense statement?" Bryan glanced at those gray files and asked.

The files were the official documents that the Ministry of Magic had sent to Hagrid, informing him of the lawsuit and the trial.

After getting an affirmative answer, he nodded. "Hagrid should be grateful to have you as his loyal friends." He said, and then walked past them, ready to go to the direction of the restricted area.

Ron whispered to Hermione to shut up, but Hermione was obviously not very happy with Professor Watson's statement. She glared at him, ready to question him why he did not care about his subordinates, and why he did not do anything to help Hagrid. She was about to open her mouth, but at this time, Harry, who looked depressed, suddenly spoke up.

"Professor Watson!" Harry said, as he raised his voice.

Bryan smiled at Harry, and he asked him, in a warm and friendly tone, "What's wrong, Potter, what's the matter?"

"You know those things, don't you?"

At this moment, Ron and Hermione both gave Harry a look, hoping he would be quiet, but Harry ignored their hints. The flickering torches on the wall reflected in his green eyes. He gasped and asked.

"I mean, my parents were killed by Voldemort because of Black's betrayal. You knew this all along, didn't you? Because you've been hunting down that filthy traitor!"

Harry's voice was loud and angry. There were not many students in the library, but those who were there heard him say Voldemort's name and were terrified. Some of them fell off their stools and landed on the floor, staring at him with horror.

Fuu– "Let's talk in my office–" Bryan said with a sigh.

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章 223: 0222 Sirius-Black

Bryan led Hermione, Ron, and Harry, who had calmed down a bit after the cold wind had numbed their senses, through the winding corridors adorned with festive holly and mistletoe ribbons. He proudly told the three young wizards that he had made these decorations himself.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione followed Professor Watson to his office on the third floor, feeling a mix of curiosity and dread. They knew this place well, unlike most of the other students, who rarely got a chance to see the inside of the Ex-DADA teacher's lair.

Professor Watson's office looked the same as always, except for a new set of plush sofas and wooden coffee tables at the far end of the door side, where there used to be nothing but empty space. The furniture made the office seem less shabby and more cozy, as if inviting them to sit and chat.

Outside the window, the snow was still pristine white, and snowflakes like fluffy dandelions floated in the air, gently landing on the window sill. The temperature kept dropping, and the sky had not cleared for a week, making the days gloomy and short. The surface of the huge black lake was covered with a thin layer of ice, and it would probably freeze over soon, trapping the giant squid and the Mer-people underneath.

"Let's get to the point, Harry." Bryan said, breaking the silence. He invited them to sit down on the new sofas, took out his wand, and threw a ball of fire to light the fireplace. Then he sat on the sofa by the wall, facing them.

"Are you blaming me for not telling you the truth?" He asked, his voice calm but stern.

Ron and Hermione sat on Harry's left and right, under Professor Watson's piercing gaze. They did not dare to move, but they tried to remind Harry not to be too impulsive with their eyes and nudges. They knew how much this topic hurt Harry, and how angry he was with everyone who kept him in the dark.

"You-, I mean, everyone seems to think that I don't need to know these things." Harry said, his voice trembling with anger.

He knew he should be calm, because Professor Watson had not killed his parents. But when Professor Watson asked him bluntly, Harry's heart burst into flames, burning him all over. He raised his head abruptly, staring at Professor Watson's purple eyes, which seemed to see through him.

"My parents died at the hands of his best friend, and now that person wants to break into Hogwarts and kill me. But-"

Harry gasped, feeling a lump in his throat. "Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, the Ministry of Magic, and you. Everyone thinks I don't need to know all this."

"Harry." Hermione said softly, winking at him anxiously. But Harry ignored her.

"Do you know what I hear when the Dementors come near me, Professor? I hear my mother screaming, begging Voldemort. She wasn't begging for herself, but for me. And their fate was because they trusted a-"

He didn't spat out the last word, as if it tasted bitter in his mouth.

"Brother, we've talked about this before, and Black will get what he deserves, I promise!" Ron said, speaking up bravely. He noticed that Professor Watson's eyes had darkened, as if a storm was brewing in them.

Hermione was in tears, clutching Harry's arm.

Harry almost shouted those words. He thought Professor Watson would defend himself, give some noble reasons, or say some comforting words like Hermione and Ron. But he didn't. Professor Watson just looked at him coldly.

"If I understood you correctly-" Bryan's tone was chilly, the same tone he used when he was the Viper.

"You want to kill Black with your own hands, don't you?" He asked, his eyes narrowing.

Ron had asked this question before, and Harry had not answered before Hermione interrupted him. Now, facing this question again, Harry's heart was on fire. He ignored Hermione's soft plea, and said stubbornly, "Yes, Professor, if I can do that!"

Bryan laughed, his smile cold and mocking. He looked at Harry, who didn't know how high the sky was. He nodded slightly, as if he had expected this answer.

"Even if you know, you're no match for Black. Even if you know, your reckless action will only waste your parent's sacrifice and cost you your life."

He said coldly, his words like ice, cutting Harry's heart.

Harry's eyes wavered for a moment, but he still said defiantly, "At least, my parents wouldn't want their son to be a coward."

"Very good!" Bryan said, standing up, expressionless. His whole body radiated a strong pressure. In the void, magic stirred up a storm, a storm that only the most dangerous wizards could unleash. Even the blazing fire in the fireplace flickered under this immense pressure, on the verge of being extinguished.

A subtle but deadly aura swept through the room, a murderous aura that only the most ruthless wizards could emanate. The room that had been warm turned cold as Bryan leaned forward slightly. This small movement made Ron and Hermione, who were already stiff, feel their scalps go numb. Their hair crackled with static electricity, and they had hallucinations. They both saw a monstrous snake lower its ferocious head, spreading its wings that blocked the sun, ready to strike.

"Don't-" Hermione's tears rolled down her cheeks, and she whispered weakly, as if she had no strength left.

At this moment, she thought that Harry, who was so stubborn and reckless, had angered Professor Watson beyond repair. And now, this powerful wizard, who might have no match in Hogwarts or the wizarding world, was going to kill Harry in cold blood.

'What should I do?'

Ron was about to faint, his face as white as a sheet. Harry was shaky under Professor Watson's fury, his eyes wide with fear and defiance. And only Hermione could still think, her mind racing for a solution.

'Time turner!'

Hermione suddenly thought of this device, which she had used to attend more classes. She wanted to use it to go back in time, to change the course of events. She could stop them from going to the library that night, or she could warn Professor McGonagall, who might have been able to intervene.

She knew that doing this might cause a huge disaster, a paradox that could alter the timeline of the world. But she couldn't think of any other way to stop Professor Watson, who seemed ready to kill someone, or worse.

Hermione clenched her teeth, raised her hand shakily, reaching for the time turner hidden under her robes. But Bryan glanced at her, and his cold eyes pierced her soul, making her body tremble. Even her breath was frozen, as if she was under a freezing charm.

Bryan raised his right arm with the wand, and pointed it at the fireplace and then at a mannequin in a corner of the room. The red-hot firewood spun in the air and sprinkled brilliant sparks, turning into a dagger that fell into his hand with a clatter. The other mannequin hovered in the air beside him and transformed, as if by a transfiguration spell.

A few seconds later, a man appeared, and they recognized his cruel face. Harry, Hermione, and Ron all felt as if a cold hand had gripped their hearts, squeezing them painfully.

It was Sirius Black!

Harry swore he would never forget this face, no matter how long he lived. It was the same as the one on the Muggle TV news and the wizard's wanted order, which he had seen countless times. The man had a gaunt and haggard face, as if he had suffered a lot. His hair was dirty and tangled, hanging over his forehead. And his cracked lips were below two rows of dark yellow teeth, which looked like rotten wood.

He was wearing the dirty prison clothes of Azkaban, the black and white stripes that marked him as a criminal. And he was so thin that one could count his ribs, as if he had not eaten for days. He looked like a skeleton a walking corpse.

'Black' took the dagger from Bryan's hand, circled the coffee table, and approached Harry step by step, with bloodthirsty excitement in his gloomy eyes. He looked like a predator, stalking his prey.

'Black' reversed the dagger, pointed the sharp blade at himself, and handed the handle to Harry. His mouth cracked open, almost like a boggart.

"If you want to avenge your parents, Potter-" 'Black's hoarse voice was like grinding dry bat corpses in Professor Snape's class, the sound that made Harry's skin crawl. He grinned ferociously, showing his rotten teeth.

"Then kill me, just use this dagger to aim at my neck, and stab it hard."

He moved closer to Harry, as if he was inviting him to do it. Harry retreated subconsciously, but he forgot that there was a sofa behind him. He fell on his butt, and the fear in his eyes overwhelmed the hatred.

"Use this dagger to stab my neck, Potter, and let my blood splash all over you. Come on, I'm waiting for you to do it." 'Black' taunted him, as if he wanted to provoke him.

"No" Harry kept shrinking back, shaking his head, and avoiding the dagger desperately. His cheeks were pale as the snow on the playground, and his lips were trembling.

"Stop it!" Hermione cried out, covering her face. She did not dare to look at 'Black' who was approaching Harry.

Suddenly, the thick oppressive aura in the office was gone. The firewood in the fireplace was burning again, and the warmth quickly dispelled the cold. It was as if the whole world had become bright and normal again.

'Black' and the dagger turned into a few wisps of slowly falling ashes, as if they had never existed.

Bryan tilted his head, looking at Harry who had gone stupid, and smiled slightly,

"Where is your courage, Potter?"

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