The Emerald at Hogwarts

Chapter 23 Halloween

A thousand bats flew and circled the walls and ceiling, making the candle flames flicker in the pumpkin belly.

Insert the apples on a bamboo skewer, then turn the apples in the toffee syrup, and some will stick nuts, so that a toffee apple is made.This is the food that has always made Ada curious. It reminds Ada of the oriental candied haws.

There are also some dried pumpkin seeds in the pumpkin pie on the golden tray, and the drinks include iced pumpkin juice and hot apple cider.

The professors on the teacher's bench are also tasting delicious food, and Dumbledore is happily chatting with Professor McGonagall.It was supposed to be a perfect Halloween dinner, at least until Filch's arrival.

When Filch, the school administrator, burst into the auditorium, Ida was drinking a hot apple cider, a popular fruity drink, and Ida thought the cider was quite good.

Filch's face was full of horror. He walked up to Dumbledore and gasped, "The underground classroom...a student is lying in the underground classroom...he was attacked!"

After finishing speaking, Filch bent down, supported his knees with both hands, and ran all the way from the basement classroom to the auditorium. He was really exhausted.

With his voice, the noisy auditorium instantly became quiet. Some students even thought that this was a Halloween joke, but this is Halloween, not April Fool's Day!
Filch dare not joke about such a thing!So after a short period of silence, there were screams of panic from the students. Everyone was in a mess, and the sound seemed to be able to overturn the magical roof of the entire auditorium.

The professors on the teacher's seat got up one after another to appease the uneasy students, but the panic was not relieved.

Professor Dumbledore shouted loudly: "Silence!" The principal's appearance made everyone quiet for a while, but fear and anxiety still spread among the students.

"Students of all colleges, under the leadership of their respective prefects, return to the common room and are not allowed to go out. Senior students remember to take care of their junior companions." Dumbledore announced.

Charlie Weasley stood up and raised his wand, the tip of which glowed in a flash.He said loudly: "Everyone, follow me! Don't stray away, and take care of your companions. Don't be afraid, first-year students, follow me closely!"

Charlie organized the Gryffindor students to leave in an orderly manner. The seniors of the sixth and seventh grades sandwiched the students of other ages in the middle of the team for protection.

Students from other colleges, led by the prefects of their respective colleges, began to leave the auditorium and return to the common room of their own colleges.

Under Dumbledore's instruction, several teachers left with the student team to protect the students back to the dormitory safely.

Watching the students leave the auditorium one after another, Dumbledore followed Filch with the rest of the professors to the scene of the incident.

Dumbledore didn't blame Filch for his reckless behavior just now, even though it had aroused uneasy feelings among the students.He followed Filch, and the students were attacked, which hadn't happened in Hogwarts for many years.

The eyes hidden behind the half-moon glasses are full of anger. Dumbledore is very angry, but he can't be angry. He needs to be rational at all times, because he is the headmaster of Hogwarts and he is Dumbledore.

Filch led the professors to the scene of the accident, which was discovered by Mrs. Loris in an abandoned underground classroom.When Filch arrived there, he saw the student lying on the ground. Filch's brain went blank, and he quickly came to the auditorium and did the mindless behavior just now.

A group of people arrived at the basement classroom. This classroom has not been used for a long time, and the location is relatively remote. Usually, few people pass by here, let alone today.

The student who was attacked was lying on the cold floor of the empty classroom. With a wave of Dumbledore's hand, the torches in the classroom lit up, illuminating the dark classroom.

The boy lying on the ground was pale and his eyes were closed tightly, but he didn't look injured.Hufflepuff Head Professor Sprout suddenly discovered that the boy lying on the ground turned out to be a student of his own college after the light was turned on.

Sprout hurried forward to the student's side, calling softly: "Daniel, Daniel..."

The student who fell on the ground did not respond to her call, but Dumbledore, who checked the student's condition, comforted her: "Pomona, he is fine, he just passed out."

After speaking, Dumbledore took out his wand and cast a spell on Daniel. Under the effect of the spell, the student named Daniel woke up slowly.

Waking up, Daniel's face was full of fear and uneasiness. He broke free from Professor Sprout and stepped back with his hands and feet, as if he was afraid of being hurt again.He retreated to the corner of the wall before stopping, curled up with his hands wrapped around his knees.

"Daniel, Daniel Bell, it's me..." Sprout comforted as he looked at his stunned student.

After seeing Dumbledore and Sprout clearly, Daniel Bell got better and was no longer so scared.He cried in a low "woo hoo".He cried like a child under the watchful eyes of a group of teachers.

At Dumbledore's signal, Snape stepped forward and handed a bottle of potion to Professor Sprout.Sprout took the potion and quickly poured it down for Daniel. After drinking a bottle of potion, Daniel's condition finally improved.

"Thank you, Severus," Sprout said gratefully.

Snape waved his hand to indicate that he should not take it to heart, and then retreated to where the other professors were.

"Son, tell me, why are you here?" Dumbledore squatted on the ground, keeping his eyes on Daniel, and asked softly.

"I don't know... I don't remember..." Daniel's eyes were full of fear. He recalled why he appeared here, but the more he thought about it, the more fearful his eyes became.

"Then can you tell me, what did you do today?" Dumbledore continued to ask, he stretched out his hand, stroked Daniel's back gently, and comforted Daniel.

"I don't remember...I don't remember anything..." Daniel replied, his voice becoming more panicked, he had no memory of what he had done today.

There is obviously something wrong with Daniel's memory, and there will be no results if he continues to ask.Dumbledore's hand shook in front of Daniel, and Daniel fell softly into Professor Sprout's arms.

Dumbledore first glanced at McGonagall and Snape behind him, and then asked Sprout: "Pomona, he is a student of your academy. Has he behaved strangely recently?"

Sprout frowned and recalled carefully, and said: "No. Daniel is usually a kid who doesn't like to be in the limelight, and there is nothing strange about it recently. Wait a while, I will go to the common room to find him more familiar The students asked about the situation."

"Pomona, you and Bobby take Daniel to the school infirmary first! He needs rest and treatment now." Dumbledore said.He glanced back at all the professors present, and then continued, "Let's all go back first, to appease the students' emotions."

Taking Daniel Bell who had fallen asleep, Professor Sprout and Madam Pomfrey left the basement first, and after they left, other professors also left.

Snape also looked at Dumbledore before leaving, but he didn't go back to the Slytherin common room immediately, but walked to Benedict Foley's office.

Professor McGonagall also did not leave, she asked: "Albus, that child..."

"His physical injury is not serious. I think it should be more psychological and spiritual. The most intuitive thing is that there is a problem with his memory." Dumbledore answered McGonagall's question while looking around with this classroom.

"Such a nasty attack actually happened. If Filch hadn't accidentally discovered him, Daniel wouldn't know how long he would have been lying in the cold underground classroom!" Professor McGonagall said angrily.

Professor McGonagall has an impression of Daniel Bell. Although he is not outstanding, he will not do anything out of line. Daniel is the most ordinary student in Hogwarts.

"Yes, obviously this is also the reason why the attacker chose this place. This place is remote enough to be difficult to be found, and the later it is discovered, the harder it is for the attacker to be found." Dumbledore had finished observing the classroom, He took the lead and left here.

"Do you think the professors did this, or did someone outside the school enter the school?" Professor McGonagall followed behind Dumbledore.She didn't doubt the students, she didn't believe that the students would do such a thing, and she didn't think they were capable of doing such a thing.

"I don't know yet. I have some suspicions, but they haven't been verified yet." Dumbledore's eyes shone with wisdom, "Minerva, what did you think of?"

"All the teachers were in their seats, and because it was Halloween, everyone came early. I'd prefer someone 'invaded' Hogwarts..."

"Minerva, don't forget that the attack may have happened much earlier than the banquet." Dumbledore said, "I know, you don't want this to be done by other professors."

"If this matter is really..." Professor McGonagall hesitated, she really didn't want this matter to be done by people in the school, "Albus. If it is true, I will definitely do it myself Catch him!"

"I also don't want that." Dumbledore said, "Alright Minerva, you go back to Gryffindor first, I heard that three first-year students in Gryffindor are very disobedient recently."

The three students in Dumbledore's words naturally refer to the deduction trio headed by Ada, Fred and George as assistants. Professor McGonagall has no choice but to love and hate these three students.

"I hope the three of them can be more honest today, and don't make any more trouble." Professor McGonagall said helplessly.

(End of this chapter)