Harry Potter and the Candy Factory

Indeed, Dumbledore's decision was correct.

On Halloween, these unusual candies, wrapped in Halloween-themed packaging and placed in the vending machines, caused an immediate uproar among the young wizards.

A swarm of young wizards began to mobilize.

As soon as class was over, they would surge out of the classrooms, crowding around the nearest candy vending machines.

Because it was a limited holiday edition and time was short, Charlie didn't make too many. He treated it as a small surprise for his younger schoolmates, dedicating a production line for two days.

However, he never imagined that these playful creations, which he considered mere whims, would cause such a stir at Hogwarts.

Even Filch, the caretaker, was once again forced to reprise his role of maintaining order, just as he had when the candy vending machines were first installed.

"Get out of the way!!! Stop pushing!!!"

"Those two Weasleys!!! Don't think I didn't see you!!!"

"Ouch! Damn it, who kicked my butt!"

In the chaotic scene, angry shouts and the sound of shuffling feet filled the corridor.

… … … …

On this special holiday, the professors also became more amiable than usual.

Shedding the sternness he had shown Draco and his friends a few days prior, Quirrell reverted to his usual timid and shy demeanor. It was as if nothing had ever happened, and his lectures were still as hesitant and incomprehensible as ever.

The 'earnest teachings' he had recently uttered seemed to be completely forgotten, leaving the young wizards, who had originally planned to abandon their usual laziness and pay attention in class, bewildered.

"Alright… settle down, everyone."

As class neared its end, Professor McGonagall put down her textbook and wand, raised her head, and said to the students below:

"Today is Halloween, so I don't plan on assigning you as much homework, so as not to deprive you of the opportunity to enjoy yourselves… Therefore—you don't have to do the twelve-inch parchment assignment today."

Upon hearing this, the previously listless young wizards perked up, their bright eyes looking incredulously at McGonagall, their sparkling gazes like light bulbs, illuminating Professor McGonagall's angelic 'benevolence'…

However, just as everyone raised their arms, preparing to erupt in enthusiastic cheers, McGonagall's voice came again, dampening their excitement.

"…Don't be so quick to rejoice, children. After Halloween, I will assign an eighteen-inch essay on the 'specific principles of turning a teacup into a rat,' so… enjoy yourselves while you can, because what awaits you afterward is still mandatory homework."

As she finished speaking, the bell rang to signal the end of class.

Faced with the resentful gazes of the many young wizards who had experienced emotional rollercoasters, Professor McGonagall packed up her textbook and walked out of the classroom calmly, even with a faint smile on her lips.

This was the last class of the day, and its conclusion also meant that the students' time had finally arrived.

"Charge!!!"

"Quick! Run to the vending machines! It looks like the one on the second floor has been restocked!"

"Will! Hurry, we don't have much time!"

… … …

Seeing their classmates in various robes squeezing out of the classroom like charging soldiers, the once-crowded classroom was instantly left with only Harry and his three friends.

Ron lowered his head, dejectedly packing his things, occasionally turning his head to look at the backs of the others, his eyes revealing envy and jealousy. In the end, all the complex emotions merged into a sigh that escaped his lips…

"So, are you three going to clean the toilets next?"

Hermione wasn't in a rush to leave either. She didn't like sweets, and she wasn't as enthusiastic about Halloween activities as the others.

In her opinion, this day wasn't much different from usual, except for a lavish meal in the evening. Other than that, there didn't seem to be anything else… In fact, Hermione was even considering going to the library after the three of them were taken away for punishment to finish that eighteen-inch essay as soon as possible…

"What else?"

Ron, in a bad mood, spoke with a hint of displeasure, and, like Hermione usually did, gave her a big eye roll.

"Hmph… I bet Filch is waiting for us at the door right now! As soon as we walk out of here, he'll take us to get the tools and clean the toilets!!"

After speaking, he subconsciously looked towards the outside of the door.

Sure enough, as he expected, after the students had all dispersed, Filch was leaning against the wall of the corridor outside the classroom with a fake smile, his eyes watching the three of them in the classroom like he was watching his prey.

"Damn it, I knew it!"

Ron cursed under his breath and quickly averted his gaze, resuming the action of packing his things.

Beside him, Draco and Harry were doing much the same, glancing at the door before turning their heads back to fiddle with their quills and notebooks… Even though there were only a few simple things, they kept dawdling over and over again, delaying their punishment time.

In stark contrast to their agonizing emotions, Filch's mood outside the classroom door was unusually good.

His sinister gaze kept darting between the three of them, finally settling on Draco.

The thought of Charlie Black's own nephew falling into his hands filled Filch with indescribable joy.

Even the nasty business of being kicked hard on the butt a few times by a few little brats while managing order in the morning was no longer a source of unhappiness at this moment.

Truly, what goes around comes around… After being tormented by Charlie Black for seven whole years, this hatred would finally be avenged on his nephew!

With this thought in mind, Filch had already made up his mind: when cleaning the toilets later, he would definitely assign the most difficult and dirtiest parts to Draco Malfoy! Not only that, but he would also give him the oldest and most unusable cleaning tools! Let him, on behalf of his demon uncle, experience his own misery back then!!

… … … … … … … … … … … … …

No matter how much they procrastinated, they couldn't hide forever.

In the end, Harry and his two companions walked out of the classroom with their heads hanging low, obediently appearing before Filch to accept their due punishment.

Just as Filch was about to take them away, Harry suddenly turned his head, looking at Hermione, who was watching their predicament with an indifferent expression, and pleaded,

“Please, Hermione… if you could, save some cake for the three of us from dinner…”

“Humph! Rest assured, after you finish cleaning the toilets, I believe you won't have the appetite to eat anything else.”

Filch twisted his head and said a sarcastic remark to them, then waved his hand and strode forward.

The three of them had no choice but to follow, full of reluctance, turning their heads back with every step.

Finally, under Hermione's sympathetic gaze, they slowly entered the abyss of darkness…

…

“Here you go… and yours. Uh… this is for you.”

Soon, after distributing the cleaning tools, the three of them were sent by Filch to the school toilet located on the first floor.

Looking at the dirty floor and the strong smell, the three of them, holding their respective brooms and mops, fell into a kind of unconscious trance the moment they stepped inside.

Especially Draco, as the noble heir of the twenty-eight pure-blood families, had always been a pampered young master who had everything handed to him.

The only setback he had ever encountered in his life was learning that 'Serpensortia' spell from his uncle.

At first, when he heard about the punishment from Quirrell, Draco didn't feel much of a ripple in his heart, or rather, he didn't have a direct understanding of the content of the “punishment”.

It wasn't until now, standing here, holding a mop that couldn't be more dilapidated and a broom with only a few bristles left, facing the dirty, filthy, and stinky toilet in front of him, that Draco finally truly realized his situation.

The thought of having to clean it himself caused goosebumps to crawl all over his body, and sweat couldn't stop emerging from his forehead.

Obviously, Filch was extremely satisfied with Draco's performance, feeling as if he had eaten a large bucket of ice cream, and suddenly felt refreshed.

“What are you waiting for? Hurry up and get to work! Don't you think the toilet will clean itself if you do nothing?”

With a full of mockery, Filch continued to taunt them at the door, speaking to the three of them.

“…”

Draco slowly turned his head, his eyes full of anger, gripping the wooden handle of the broom tightly, glaring fiercely at Filch.

He opened his mouth, intending to bring out his father or uncle, as he had done before, to make things difficult for the other party…

However, the words that came to his lips, for some reason, were inexplicably choked back, and he could no longer utter them as easily as he once had.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. After a long while, he slowly exhaled it.

When Draco opened his eyes again, the original anger in his eyes had disappeared without a trace, replaced by the usual calmness that was no different from ordinary.

“Rest assured… we will do what we are supposed to do, so you don't have to worry about us.”

After speaking, he ignored Filch at the door, took the lead to walk inside, put the mop aside, and surprisingly began to sweep first.

“…”

Filch was stunned, and for a moment, the mockery on his face disappeared a lot.

He frowned slightly, took a deep look at Draco's back as he lowered his head and held the broom, said nothing more, just “hmph” and turned away on his own…

“Hurry up, what are you two waiting for? Although Filch is annoying, he did say one thing right… that is, the toilet won't clean itself!”

The expression on Draco's face twitched slightly at this moment, but he still endured the nausea, while trying to clean, he ordered the remaining two behind him without turning his head.

“Oh, oh, coming!”

Harry, who had been stunned, finally reacted again, nodded, and quickly grabbed his weapon, following Draco to start cleaning the toilet.

“Sigh… really, it seems I really won't be able to eat when I get back.”

Ron then muttered in a low voice, shook his head, and joined the ranks of the two as if resigned to his fate.

…

In the empty toilet, just as Draco, Harry, and Ron were helping each other, silently carrying out the cleaning punishment, no one would have thought that a sinister plan targeting the three of them… or rather, only Draco and Harry, but accidentally included Ron, had already quietly begun.

Forbidden Forest

A faint mist rose again, like a veil, shrouding this silent and inherently dangerous dark forest.

Tall and rugged tree trunks stood here, especially hideous in the dark night. At this moment, there was no sound, no moonlight, and no hazy, dreamlike starry sky.

All there was were pairs of eyes cautiously peeking, using the disguise of darkness to wrap themselves, silently enduring the loneliness of the night…

“Roar!!!!!!”

Suddenly, an angry roar sounded, breaking the original silence, and startling countless birds, fluttering their wings “哗啦啦” between the treetops and crowns, and flying away from their original positions.

Immediately afterward, accompanied by the roar, the sound of footsteps shaking the ground also came from the depths of the Forbidden Forest, and approached Hogwarts, closer and closer.

In the darkness, the originally lurking figures also began to become agitated, and the “沙沙沙沙” friction sound and small wailing also began to be heard endlessly.

The next moment, a dirty and huge blue-gray giant broke through the veil of mist and appeared in front of those eyes.

The expression on his face was ferocious, his temples slightly bulging, and faintly you could see some blue veins bursting out, and the extraordinary anger made him completely lose his already limited rationality and wisdom. While running, he was also randomly waving the huge wooden club in his hand. The force was so great that every time it hit a tree trunk, it could immediately smash a deep pit, which made people shudder.

No one knew what had made this giant so angry, but in front of such a creature, even groups of centaurs would have to avoid its sharp edge.

The creatures originally wrapped in darkness hid even deeper, they watched quietly, watching this giant run towards the border of the Forbidden Forest, the entrance of Hogwarts…