69novels Chapter 126 Meeting an Old Friend at the Tiger and Wolf Castle
Chapter 126 Meeting an Old Friend at the Tiger and Wolf Castle
Chapter 127 Meeting an Old Friend at the Tiger and Wolf Castle
Suddenly, the carriage was plunged into complete darkness. Then, with a loud crash, the entire train came to a sudden stop, as if it had frozen into a long, lifeless snake.
The silence was eerily profound, and a chill ran through the air.
Ron drew his wand, chanted a glowing spell, and a beam of white light shot out from the tip of the wand.
He leaned halfway out to look around and exclaimed, "My God, the whole train has lost power!"
Lu Ping sat motionless, his eyes seemingly fixed on the car window.
But then, wisps of frost appeared on the edge of the glass window, winding and spreading like the hiss of a venomous snake, instantly covering half the wall.
He whirled around and yelled at Harry, "Harry, give me my wand! This might not be a normal power outage!"
Before he could finish speaking, a series of crackling sounds came from outside the corridor, as if two or three men were running towards him with the rhythmic clatter of broken gongs.
Harry didn't hesitate and quickly threw Lupin's wand at him. Ron also retreated into the carriage and slammed the door shut.
Everyone turned off their wands and became secretly on guard, but Ron and Hermione's hearts pounded like drums.
Nagini and Crookshan darted into the luggage compartment, their four eyes gleaming in the darkness, fixed on the door.
But the footsteps grew closer and closer, soon reaching the door.
Ron saw it clearly through the crack in the door: three dark figures were clearly visible.
No sooner said than done. With a loud bang, the door was violently pulled open.
Harry had already drawn his wand and shouted "Stun!" A beam of red light shot out like lightning.
Where the red light passed, there was another "thump" sound, and the first man fell straight to the ground and did not move again.
The two behind them, seeing this, were terrified and cried out in alarm, "Wait! We're here to see the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor!"
Although Harry heard what people said, he was still suspicious, but he didn't use the glow-in-the-dark charm to see. Instead, he took out a tinderbox from his pocket, blew on it until it was bright, and threw it over with a "whoosh".
The fire flask drew an arc in mid-air, and Lu Ping wrinkled his nose, suspicion appearing in his eyes.
Is this a magical item?
Why is there not a trace of magic on it?
As the firelight fell to the ground, it illuminated two deathly pale faces—none other than Draco and Crabbe. Their four hands, raised to their shoulders, trembled violently.
Ron was surprised to see their faces. "What, it's you guys again?"
Hermione also cast a glowing spell to look at the creature on the ground, and said strangely, "It's Goyle again."
Come to think of it, this guy has been knocked unconscious by Harry for three years in a row, right?
Does he/she have some kind of masochistic tendency?
"I'm the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor." Lupin pulled the two into the carriage. "Can you tell me what happened up ahead?"
Draco, after catching his breath, turned ashen-faced and stammered, "Yes, it's a Dementor."
Harry was filled with doubt upon hearing this. "That Dementor should be guarding Azkaban, why is it causing trouble on the Hogwarts Express?"
The white-haired man caught sight of Harry, his expression shifting uncertainly. He opened his mouth to speak, but then remembered the incident of his severed arm saving Harry's life in the Chamber of Secrets, and it was as if cotton was stuck in his throat, preventing him from uttering a single word.
His hands clenched and unclenched repeatedly, his knuckles turning white from the effort. He was truly in a state of utter confusion and anxiety.
"Because of Sirius Black," Lupin said, gripping his wand tightly. "The Ministry of Magic thought he would break into Hogwarts, so they sent Dementors to guard the trains."
Harry, enraged, laughed. "That filthy scoundrel Fudge has completely lost his mind! Dementors are less than pigs and dogs; how dare they be guards?"
Lupin shook his head and sighed. "Harry, you guys stay in the carriage. I'll take care of this."
"Oh dear! How can I be at ease letting my second uncle venture out alone? I must have my nephew stay by his side to protect him!"
"No, Harry, only special magic can harm Dementors. You'll only distract me."
Harry laughed loudly upon hearing this. "Is what Uncle is talking about the Patronus Charm? I learned it back in second grade."
"Can you summon divine protection?"
Upon hearing this, Lu Ping's eyes widened in astonishment; he was utterly speechless.
"James and I didn't learn that until fourth grade..."
"Ha! Second Uncle, don't be offended. Haven't you heard the saying, 'The younger generation surpasses the older, the student surpasses the master'?"
"Okay, Harry, but you'll have to follow behind me."
After saying that, Lupin shielded Harry behind him and went straight out of the carriage.
The two had only taken a few steps in the corridor when they suddenly saw a cloud of black mist churning in front of them, making their internal organs feel as if they were frozen in a snowdrift.
If it wasn't that Dementor that drifted in, then what was it?
Lupin, eager to show off and let Harry see his uncle's skills, laughed and said:
"Harry, watch closely, I'm about to use a high-level Patronus Charm."
"Protect the Gods!"
But then a burst of silver light erupted from the tip of his staff, and a majestic silver wolf leaped out, charging straight at the Soul-Stealing Monster and knocking it away more than three zhang away.
Lu Pingping looked smug, eager to hear Harry's praise.
After waiting for a while, he frowned and said, "This nephew is blind; I don't know how good your incantation is, Uncle."
Lupin was taken aback. "Didn't you notice that my Patronus has a physical form, instead of just a cloud of mist?"
Harry burst into laughter upon hearing this: "If that's the case, then my spells can be considered the pinnacle."
As soon as he finished speaking, Harry waved his wand and chanted "Patriot."
In an instant, ten thousand rays of silver light burst forth from the tip of the staff, transforming into a large, white-browed tiger with piercing eyes.
The tiger roared to the sky, its voice shaking the carriage, instantly dispelling the chill in the air and warming the heart.
Lupin was shocked. He could already make the guardian deity materialize?
Is this still a second-year wizard?
Has Hogwarts' teaching level reached such a high level now?
Before the thought was even finished, the giant worm leaped forward, its sharp claws like hooks, and seized the Dementor in its palm. With a gulp, it opened its blood-red maw and swallowed the Dementor whole!
Upon seeing this, Lu Ping's mouth gaped open so wide that he couldn't close it for a long time.
"Your guardian spirit... ate the Dementors?"
"There's actually a Guardian Deity capable of completely eliminating Dementors?!"
Harry laughed and said, "Second Uncle, don't flatter me. I'll just keep this wicked creature in my belly for now and make it my accomplice."
Lu Ping's eyelids twitched as he listened. What did he mean by "it's just imprisoned in the stomach"?
Even Professor Dumbledore's Patronus couldn't do that, right?
Just as they were pondering this, they saw the large, white-browed tiger with piercing eyes pounce out again, swallowing two or three Soul Eaters along the way, its belly swollen as if it were pregnant.
When they encountered the Dementors again, they were already full and could not eat any more. With a single clap of their hands, they were all thrown out of the carriage.
Lupin was stunned. His own silver wolf just paced around in place, occasionally stealing glances at the tiger.
Seeing this, Lupin sighed, waved his wand, and the silver wolf vanished instantly, leaving Harry free to do as he pleased inside the train.
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the cold mist inside the carriage dissipated, the lights came back on, and the train rumbled forward again.
The two returned to the carriage, only to find Draco and Crabbe dragging Goyle, who was lying dead, while Ron and Hermione stared at each other, locked in a stalemate.
Lupin chuckled and said, "Alright, kids, you can go back to your carriages now. Harry has already dealt with those Dementors."
Upon hearing this, before Draco could react, Ron couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Hearing Ron laugh, Hermione quickly nudged him in the ribs with her elbow and whispered, "Ron, that's very rude of you."
"Oh, I'm not laughing at Professor Lupin, I'm just laughing at certain people who got saved by Harry again."
These words struck a nerve with Draco, causing him to blush deeply and blurt out, "That's still better than some poor bastards who are like parasites clinging to others!"
Having said that, before Ron could react, he and Crabbe helped Goyle up and stumbled out of the carriage.
"That white-haired brat," Ron said through gritted teeth, "when we get back to school, I'm going to get Seamus and Neville to ambush him in the hallway."
Upon hearing this, Lupin's expression darkened, and he said softly, "Don't do that, Ron."
"What?" Ron was taken aback. "Professor Lupin, are you talking to me?"
"Some things, once done to excess, can never be undone."
Although Ron was puzzled, seeing the deep look in Lupin's eyes, he finally nodded and said, "Alright, Professor Lupin, I'll listen to you."
"Thank you, Ron. You won't regret this decision today."
Lupin straightened his clothes and stood up, saying loudly, "Please continue to rest, children. I need to go see the train conductor; if there are any more Dementors ahead, I can't let them get on the train."
Just as he was about to leave, Harry jumped up and shouted, "Second Uncle, wait!"
"Harry? Is there anything else?"
Ron, of course, knew Harry's intentions and tossed the bag away.
Harry took the package, reached in and took out a bag of Galleons, presented it with both hands, and said, "I see that my second uncle's clothes are old and worn, and he is very thin. I suppose he is having a hard time making ends meet."
"My nephew is quite wealthy, so I'm offering him three hundred taels of gold. I hope he will accept it with pleasure."
When Lupin heard the number three hundred gallons, it was like a thunderclap in a clear sky, startling him so much that he almost fell over.
Three hundred Galleons?!
This is almost as much as his salary for more than half a year at Hogwarts!
Even more extravagant than LeBron James...
Just as he was about to decline, Harry suddenly opened the door and said:
"If my second uncle refuses, I have no face to take it back. I might as well scatter it among heaven and earth, so that all people may benefit!"
It is:
James was known for his extravagant spending, but Harry, the son of the tiger, is even more outstanding.
With three hundred gallons in his bag, his heroic spirit soars to the heavens and shakes the universe.
Seeing that Harry was really going to give it up, Lupin hurriedly swallowed his words of refusal, "Alright, Harry, I'll take it."
"But I'll only take a few. Madam Malkin's Robes Shop is having a sale right now, enough to buy all the robes I need for the next five years."
Harry was displeased by this and said, "Why are you speaking so formally, Uncle! We're family; we should share happiness and joy!"
When Lupin saw Harry treating him like family, it felt like a warm current flowing into his heart in the dead of winter, making his nose tingle with emotion.
Before he could even thank him, Harry shoved the money bag into his arms and then practically ushered him out of the carriage.
When Harry turned around, Hermione hesitated and said, "Harry, although what I'm saying might not be very nice—I still think you shouldn't trust him too much."
"Have you forgotten? When we were questioning him about Sirius, that viewing mirror kept spinning."
Crookshank suddenly meowed and leaped down from the luggage rack, its long tail sweeping across like a whip, knocking the viewing mirror to Ron's feet with a "thud," and then staring intently at Hermione.
Hermione frowned. "Oh, Crookshanks, behave yourself!"
"Actually, I also felt that something was off about Professor Lupin." Ron bent down to pick up the viewing mirror and replied, "Think about it, if he's your father's good friend, why hasn't he visited you in over a decade?"
"Even if he can't help much, at least he can give you some understanding of the magical world."
Nagini swam down from the luggage rack, wrapped her arms around Harry's shoulders, and hissed as she said, "And isn't he embarrassed that he's the only one who doesn't know Animagus?"
Harry tapped the snake's head and pondered, "What my elder sister and brother said is quite right. My second uncle is probably an awkward person; the matter of Sirius Black has not yet been fully explained."
Then, he changed the subject, saying, "However, since we have recognized each other as uncle and nephew, we must not go astray in our duty of filial piety and righteousness."
"If he is indeed of the same ilk as that scoundrel Sirius Black, I will personally slay him and cleanse our ranks!"
The three of them talked incessantly the whole way. When the train came to a complete stop, they saw that the sky was as dark as ink and the stars and moon were nowhere to be seen.
As Harry and the others got out of the car, they suddenly saw an orange lantern swaying in the distance.
As the giant man carrying the lantern stepped onto the platform, the noisy crowd fell silent instantly. The students were all stunned, as if they had been petrified.
Ron rubbed his eyes and looked around for a long time before finally saying, "Is that Hagrid?"
Hermione also tiptoed to peek, but couldn't help laughing, "His new hairstyle is really unique, like a giant version of Salazar."
Why do you say that, Hermione?
Listen, dear reader: Although Hagrid's hair was singed off by the fire of his phoenix rebirth, his beard grew even thicker and thicker, resembling upright steel needles. Without his former disheveled hair to cover his face, he now exuded a fierce and imposing aura.
Harry looked on in a daze, as if he saw the figures of old friends overlapping.
Hagrid, carrying his lantern, strode over and called out in a booming voice, "Harry! Long time no see!"
Harry hurried forward to trim his hair and bow, but seeing his imposing presence and the absence of any timidity in his eyes, he couldn't help but exclaim with delight, "Brother, you look so dignified now; surely all the pent-up emotions in your heart have vanished!"
Hagrid laughed and said, "Actually, there are some, like my hair, which just won't grow back no matter what."
After exchanging a few jokes, Hagrid raised his arm and called for the students to board the ship.
As they crossed the Black Lake, Hagrid glanced at Nagini on Harry's shoulder, leaned down, and whispered, "Harry, Professor Dumbledore has already told you about tonight's events, hasn't he?"
"Brother, rest assured, I already knew about this matter."
"That's good. Once we're inside the castle, you just need to follow me."
Before long, the boat reached the shore. Hagrid led a group of students to knock on the castle gate, where McGonagall stood waiting on the steps.
"Alright, little wizards, from now on you just need to follow Professor McGonagall!"
Upon hearing this, the students, like chicks following their mother, swarmed off to follow.
Harry stood still and waited until the crowd dispersed before following Hagrid to a secluded spot.
After traveling for about half an incense stick's time, Harry began to have doubts and asked, "Where has my brother led me? And how many more miles are we going?"
"Ah, we've arrived." Hagrid stopped and smiled. "Actually, Harry, you should say who we're going to see."
After saying this, the man stepped aside.
But on the side steps squatted a man in a brocade robe, wearing a peacock feather hat and a cloak draped with flowers. So flamboyant, who else could it be but Lockhart?
The story goes: A hidden trap lies on the Black Lake at night, a secluded path leads to a visitor. Who knew that the peacock-like guest before the steps was none other than the embroidered pillow of yesteryear? But how did Lockhart end up here? To be continued...
P.S.: I originally intended to schedule this post, but for some reason, the second chapter was posted first. I quickly replaced the content of both chapters.
I apologize to all my customers.
Because published chapters cannot be deleted, the fee remains 2,000 points, but it includes 4,000 words. Today, I actually updated 6,000 words.
(End of this chapter)