Homecoming from Hogwarts

The biting cold wind dominates the world. In the dark corners that cannot be covered by the firelight, white ice crystals are quietly growing.

Harry didn't bother to straighten his crooked collar, but just stared at the corner of the corridor where Malfoy and Parkinson had just disappeared, spraying white mist into the air one mouthful after another.

There was still some surprise on the cheeks wet by the drizzle.

Harry knew that he had broken through Malfoy's psychological defenses, but he didn't feel the slightest joy in his heart.

There is no doubt that whether it is the dagger given to him by Sirius or the Felicia Ricci given to Hermione, or the most important thing lost tonight - the wand of the black witch Vitia Cleona.

Malfoy had done all this, and what he had just shouted at him was proof of that.

but--
Before he knew it, Harry's brows were furrowed and his breathing became heavier.

The despair and helplessness that just burst out from Malfoy's gray eyes pierced into his heart like a thorn, leaving him at a loss.

Could it be that Malfoy has something to hide?

Among the many chaotic thoughts jumping through my mind, this idea quickly became clear.

Could it be that Malfoy didn't actually want to work for Voldemort, he was just forced?
A little sympathy just welled up in Harry's mind but was suppressed again.

His confused and dazed eyes became pure again.

So what if it was Voldemort who forced Malfoy himself?
He has no other options, right?

He could just ask Professors Blaine and Dumbledore for help; they would surely be able to come up with reliable ideas to help Malfoy get rid of Voldemort.

In the final analysis, it was Malfoy who gave in.

"call--"

Harry turned his head and looked out of the corridor.

In the drizzling rain, the only lights were flickering in Hagrid's Hut and Professor Larsen's wooden house, which were located just inside and outside the Forbidden Forest.

But this fire cannot warm this cold winter, but makes the world seem even more lonely.

"How can we convince Professor Braine that Malfoy took the staff from his care?"

Harry murmured softly to himself, with pain in his brows.

Hermione, who was standing behind Harry, hesitated and said nothing.

Did Professor Dumbledore and Professor Braine guess that it was Malfoy and Parkinson who did all this?
This is really an interesting question.

There was a great deal of commotion tonight in an attempt to recover the lost staff.

but--
Hermione lowered her head and looked at her own shadow which was distorted by the flickering flames. What kept flashing in her brown eyes was the performance of Professor Dumbledore and Professor Braine tonight.

If Hermione were to judge tonight's pursuit.

That is, there is a lot of thunder but little rain.

Seemingly in order to retrieve the wand, Professor Dumbledore even mobilized all faculty and staff, and kept the little wizard under guard in the hall.

But these actions seem to be performed for someone!
Also, where did Malfoy hide the staff?

Filch is the person who knows the castle best. Considering the seriousness of the matter, Filch would not miss any place in the castle where something could be hidden, unless Malfoy hid the wand outside the castle?

Also, Professor Snape would not lie in front of Professor Dumbledore and Professor Braine, and Malfoy and Parkinson probably really did not drink the Felicis to help themselves avoid the search.

So, why was his own Fuling potion stolen?
Tonight, many people are destined to have no sleep.

This, of course, includes Harry.

Without Ron's snoring, Harry suddenly felt that the dormitory was much emptier. He stared blankly at Ron's empty four-poster bed in the dark.

, full of thoughts and depressed mood.

Did Ron and Lavender see their attackers when they were attacked?
Where did Malfoy hide the staff? The next step would definitely be to smuggle the staff out of Hogwarts.

What would he do?
Malfoy would definitely not be so stupid as to use an owl.
So, what about using secret passages?

It is indeed possible!

Harry turned around in his bed anxiously, continuing to think.

If it was a secret passage, which one would Malfoy use? Which one did he know?
Thinking about this, Harry missed the Marauder's Map that Fred and George gave him more and more. Unfortunately, the wonderful map went wrong during his and Hermione's time travel and destroyed itself. Harry spent the first half of this long night thinking about everything that happened tonight.

And then, he began to worry that if Cliona successfully got the wand, Voldemort would get a powerful helper.

There won't be major casualties among the Ministry of Magic and the Phoenix Society?

He tossed and turned in bed thinking about these questions, and finally before dawn, sleepiness took over and sent him to sleep.

But just a few minutes later, Harry woke up again.

He began to worry about Sirius again.

Remus and Tonks' wedding was just a week away, and Hermione believed that Voldemort might try to kill Remus, Tonks, and the baby in Tonks' belly at or before the wedding.

But they were safe for now, and the one in more danger than them was Sirius.

If you want to protect a place, there is nothing better than the Fidelius Charm.

Although, up to now no one has told him explicitly, and in order to avoid the risk of leakage and fear of disturbing Sirius, Harry has not written to inquire.

But Harry was sure that Sirius would be the secret keeper for Remus and Tonks.

Whenever he thought about the safety of Remus and Tonks, a clear voice came from his mind, telling him that Sirius was their secret keeper.

like now
"It's Polyjuice Potion!"

When Ron and Lavender talked about the period from the time they followed Malfoy and Parkinson into the Forbidden Forest and were knocked down, to the time they woke up in the forest and rushed to Professor Brain's office to check on the situation.

Harry realized this immediately after they never returned to the Gryffindor common room.

He paced anxiously around Ron and Parkinson's ward, looking indignant.

"Needless to say, Malfoy and Parkinson must have taken your hair while you were unconscious, and then used Polyjuice Potion to pretend to be you!"

"Professor Blaine also believes that our attackers used Polyjuice Potion—"

Ron, who was leaning on the bed, looked much better than when Harry saw him yesterday, but his eyes were sinister.

"But neither he nor Professor Dumbledore wanted to believe that it was Malfoy and Parkinson who did it.

Because neither in the woods nor when Lavender and I chased him into the office later did we see the attacker's face.
Professor Larsen confirmed that Malfoy and Parkinson did visit him yesterday morning and asked him for tips on meditation!"

The excitement on Harry's face faded away little by little, and finally became cloudy.

evidence!

He never thought that Professor Brian would be so stubborn.

It was already obvious, but he was still looking for evidence.

The ward immediately fell into silence.

For the first time, Harry felt that Malfoy was cunning and difficult to deal with.

Not only had he hidden his staff, his dagger and Hermione's Felicity well, he had even prepared a Polyjuice Potion and at least one spare wand.

Of course, the Polyjuice Potion might not have been prepared specifically for Ron and Lavender. He might have originally planned to impersonate other Gryffindor students. It was just a few strands of hair, which was not a big deal.

None of these items were found during last night's search.

Malfoy made the whole thing flawless, and there were no witnesses.

"Was there anything about this in today's papers, Hermione?"

Ron finally broke the silence. He looked at Hermione, who was leaning against the wall opposite his bed, holding a copy of the Daily Prophet, looking thoughtful.

"Oh, no--"

Hermione woke up from the silence and raised the newspaper in her hand.
"It only says that the International Confederation of Wizards will hold the final preparatory meeting for the Joint Stabilization Force in Paris next Saturday."

After a pause of a few seconds, Hermione looked at Harry.

"It's the same day as Remus' wedding." (End of this chapter)