Chapter 24 Conspiracy and Responsibility(1/2)
Section 1
Due to Lockhart's Valentine's Day dwarf, all the books in Harry's schoolbag were dyed red by broken ink bottles. However, surprisingly, there was no trace of ink on Tom Riddle's diary, which made Harry excited. After a short attempt, he confirmed his guess about the diary - a secret hidden in the diary, hiding Tom Riddle's thoughts and memories.
Harry and Riddle talked in handwriting, and finally Riddle promised Harry to take him into his memory and see the truth about the secret room incident fifty years ago.
In Riddle's memory, Harry witnessed all the things that happened back then as a bystander, and met sixteen-year-old Dridel, a young wizard of mixed race, living in a Muggle orphanage; met Dumbledore, a much younger one, with a deep and sharp look as it is now; what Harry couldn't believe most was that he met Hagrid when he was a student-he raised a monster in the closet, and it was probably the murderer who killed the student...
In a dithering twist, Harry retreated from Riddle's memory and found himself lying on his four-poster bed in the Gryffindor dormitory, Riddle's diary opened and placed on his stomach.
Before he could breathe, the door of the dormitory opened and Ron walked in. "You are here," he said.
Harry sat up. He was sweating profusely and trembled all over.
"What's wrong?" Ron asked, looking at him with concern.
"It was Hagrid, Ron. Fifty years ago it was Hagrid who opened the secret room."
Harry, Ron and Hermione had long known that Hagrid had a special liking for huge monsters. During their stay at Hogwarts last year, Hagrid tried to feed a dragon in his cabin, and the three big dogs he had called "Luwei" that made them ask for a long time. At that time, Hagrid, who was still a teenager, had heard that there was a monster hidden in the castle, Harry knew that he would do everything he could to see it. Hagrid probably thought it was unreasonable to imprison the monster for so long, and should give it a chance to move its legs and feet; Harry could simply imagine that Hagrid, who was thirteen, wanted to tie the monster with a leash and put a collar on it. But Harry also believed that Hagrid would never deliberately kill people.
Harry is now very confused. Hagrid is Harry's first friend in this world. He took him away from Dursley's house and led him into this magical magical world. It is hard for him to believe that Hagrid would be the one who opened the secret room fifty years ago, and he doesn't believe that he would kill people.
"Riddle may have found the wrong person," said Hermione. "Maybe another monster hurts the person..."
"Do you think there are a few monsters in this place?" Ron asked listlessly. "We knew that Hagrid was fired for a long time." Harry said distressedly. "Since Hagrid was driven away, the attack must have stopped. Otherwise, Riddle would not have won the award."
Ron tried to change direction.
"Riddle spoke very much like Percy--after all, who told him to report Haeger?"
"But the monster kills people, Ron." Hermione said.
“If they close Hogwarts, Riddle is going to go back to a Muggle orphanage,” Harry said. “I think it’s understandable that he wants to stay here…”
The three of them were silent for a long time, and Hermione hesitated and asked the most difficult question: "You see, should we ask Hagrid about these things?"
"That was a pleasant visit," said Ron. "Hello, Hagrid, tell us, have you released some savage, hairy thing in the castle recently?"
…………
Section 2
During the Easter holiday, second-year students have new things to consider. They should choose third-year courses, which, at least in Hermione's opinion, needs to be taken with caution.
"It will affect our entire future," she told Harry and Ron. At this time, they were all carefully studying the new course list and marking it.
"I just want to give up on Potions class," Harry said.
"Impossible," Ron said in a low mood. "I have to go through all the original subjects, otherwise I would have thrown away the Black Magic Defense Class."
"But that class is very important!" Hermione said in surprise.
"I don't think teachings like Lockhart," said Ron. "I didn't learn anything from him except not letting the elf out."
The witches at Neville Longbottom's family wrote to him and made many different suggestions on the subject of course selection. Neville was at a loss and was very nervous. He sat there looking at the course list, his tongue stretched out, asking others if he thought arithmetic and divination sounded more difficult than ancient magical texts. Dean and Harry Yixiang grew up next to Muggles. Finally, he closed his eyes, and used his wand to click on the list, and chose which courses to click. Hermione did not follow anyone's advice and signed on all subjects.
Harry thought that if he went to discuss his career in magic with Uncle Vernon and Aunt Penny, they didn't know what they would say. Thinking of this, his emotional period fell - if Sauron was here, he should have given useful suggestions. Sauron had no news, as if he had disappeared from this world.
In the end, Harry wasn't without any guidance: Percy Weasley was eager to teach him.
"It depends on where you want to go, Harry," he said. "It must be planned for the future early, so I recommend divination to you. People say it's stupid to choose Muggle research, but I personally think that wizards should have a comprehensive and thorough understanding of non-magical society, especially if 'if they want to do a job closely connected with Muggle - look at my father, he has to deal with Muggle affairs at every moment. My brother Charlie has always loved being outdoors, so he chose to protect magic biology lessons. Use your strengths, Harry."
But Harry felt that the only thing he was really good at was Quidditch. In the end, he chose a few new courses like Ron. He felt that if these courses were difficult to learn, at least one person would be willing to help him friendly.
Gryffindor's next Quidditch game was against Hufflepuff. Wood insisted that the players train after dinner every day, so Harry had little time to do anything other than training and finish homework. However, training was getting more and more handy, or at least not getting too rainy. When he walked to the dormitory to put down his broomstick the night before Saturday's game, he felt that Gryffindor had never been as sure as he was to win the Quidditch Cup as he was now.
But his happy mood did not last long. As soon as he arrived at the dormitory building, he saw Neville Longbottom with a panic on his face.
"Harry-I don't know who did it. I just found out-"
Neville looked at Harry in horror and pushed open the door.
Harry's box was thrown everywhere. His clothes were slid on the floor. The sheets were pulled from his four-standard bed, and the drawers of the nightstand were pulled open, and the things inside were scattered on the mattress.
Harry opened his mouth wide and walked towards the bed, stepping on several pages of paper that fell out of "Walking with the Monsters".
As he and Neville put the sheets back on the bed, Ron, Yingan and Semo came in too. Dean shouted.
"What's going on, Harry?"
"I don't know." Harry said. Ron was carefully looking at Harry's clothes. All his pockets were turned outside.
"Someone is looking for something," Ron said, "Is there something missing?"
Harry began to pick up all his belongings and threw them back into the box one by one. Only when he threw Lockhart's last book in, did he realize what was missing.
"Riddle's diary is gone," he said to Ron in a low voice.
"What?"
Harry twisted his head towards the dormitory door, and Ron followed him out. They hurried downstairs and returned to the common room in Gryffindor, where there was no one. Hermione sat alone, reading a book called "A Brief Introduction to Ancient Magical Texts". They walked over.
Hermione was shocked when she heard the news.
"But - only Gryffindors can steal - no one else knows our command..."
"It's good at all," said Harry.
They woke up early the next morning, with clear weather and bright sunshine and pleasant breeze blowing gently.
Harry and Ron and Hermione left the auditorium together to pack up his Quidditch game items. At this time, he was already in chaos and felt a very heavy worry in his heart. Because just as he stepped on the marble stairs, he suddenly heard the voice: "This time I'm going to kill someone... let me tear... let me tear..."
Harry shouted, and Ron and Hermione jumped away from him in horror. "That voice!" Harry said, turning his head back, "I heard it again just now - did you hear it?" Ron shook his head, his eyes wide open. But Hermione suddenly reached out and patted her forehead.
"Harry-I suddenly understood one thing! I'm going to the library!"
She hurriedly ran away and headed upstairs.
"What did she understand?" Harry said in a panic, still looking around, trying to figure out where the sound came from.
"I don't know." Ron shook his head.
"But why did she go to the library?"
"Because that's what Hermione does," Ron said, shrugging his shoulders, "As soon as you have questions, go to the library."
Harry stood there hesitantly, trying to capture the sound again. But then people were rushing out of the auditorium, talking and laughing loudly behind him, preparing to go from the main entrance to Quidditch Stadium. "You better act quickly," Ron said, "It's almost eleven o'clock - the game." Harry quickly walked towards the Gryffindor Building, picked up his 2,000 light wheel, and joined the bustling crowds through the stadium, but his thoughts were still in the castle, chasing him
Looking for the sound without shape. When he changed into a bright red robe in the locker room, the only thing he talked about masturbating was that everyone was watching the game outside. The players walked towards the arena with earth-shaking cheers. Oliver Wood soared into the air and warmed up around the goal post. Mrs. Huoqi put the ball out. The Hufflepuff team members were wearing light yellow clothes and were gathering together at the moment, catching up with the last minute to discuss tactics.
Harry was about to ride his own broom when Professor Melo suddenly walked through the field, holding a huge purple microphone in his hand.
"The competition is cancelled." Professor McGonagall said through the microphone to the crowded open-air stands. Dissatisfied boo and shouting in the crowd.
Professor McGonagall ignored him and continued to shout with the microphone: "All students must return to the common room of the college, where the head of the college will tell you more. Please leave as soon as possible!" Then she put down the microphone and signaled Harry to go over. "Potter, I think you'd better come with me..."
Harry was wondering why she suspected herself again this time, but Ron came out of the crowd complaining. Just as they both started walking towards the castle, Ron ran towards them. To Harry was surprised that Professor McGonagall did not object. "Okay, maybe you'd better come here too, Weasley." The students were crowded around them, some muttering about the cancellation of the game, while others looked very nervous. Harry and Ron followed Professor McGonagall back to school and climbed the marble stairs.
"You'll be a little shocked," Professor McGonagall said in an unexpectedly gentle voice as they approached the hospital. "There was another attack...a double attack again."
Harry's internal organs churned violently. Professor McGonagall pushed the door open, and Harry and Ron walked in.
Harry was a little uncomfortable, and Snape and Malfoy were also there, standing with Mrs. Pomfrey, gathering around a student's bed. On the bed next to it - "Hermione!" Ron exclaimed. Hermione lay there motionlessly, her dull eyes wide open.
Hearing Ron's shouts, Snape and Drake turned around. Snape squinted his eyes and looked at Harry and Ron with a complicated expression, while Draco seemed very gloomy. Ron seemed very angry when he saw Malfoy. He always thought that the secret room was unrelated to Malfoy, but when they saw the person lying on the bed behind Snape, they were shocked - it was Isabella.
"They were found near the library," said Professor McGonagall. "I think no one of you can explain this? It's on the floor beside them..." She raised a small round mirror. Harry and Ron shook their heads, both staring at Hermione. "I'll escort you back to Gryffindor Castle," said Professor McGonagall in a heavy mood. "Anyway, I'm going to talk to the students anyway."
"All students must return to their college's common room before 6 o'clock in the evening. No student is allowed to leave the dormitory after this time. Each class is escorted by a teacher. No student is allowed to use the bathroom without the company of the teacher. All Quidditch training and competitions are postponed. No activities will be conducted at night."
The Gryffindor student squeezed into the common room and listened to Professor McGonagall silently. She rolled up the parchment paper she had just read, and said in a somewhat suffocating voice: "In fact, I rarely have such pain before. The school is likely to be closed unless the criminal who planned these attacks is caught. I urge everyone who thinks they know something about it will come forward."
She crawled through the entrance of the portrait hole a little clumsyly, and the Gryffindor students immediately started to chirp. "Two Gryffindors have fallen, not just one Gryffindor ghost, and one Hufflepuff," Lee Jordan counted with his fingers and took a breath, "There is even a Slytherin. Is that man a madman? He doesn't care who the target is..." After hearing this, everyone nodded in depression. Isabella's attack beyond everyone's expectations. Although the Gryffindors have always been hostile to Slytherin, when a Slytherin is also attacked, no one feels happy, but only fear.
Harry didn't listen carefully, and he seemed unable to get rid of Hermione and Isabella lying on the hospital bed, stiff and dull like stone sculptures. If the criminal could not be caught soon, he would have to go back to the Dursleys' house to spend his life. Tom Riddle told Hagrid because once the school was closed, he was facing the prospect of returning to the Muggle orphanage. Harry now fully understood his feelings.
"What should we do?" Ron asked in Harry's ear, "Do you think they doubt Hagrid?" "We have to talk to him," Harry made up his mind and said, "I can't believe it was him this time. But since he released the monster last time, he must know how to enter the secret room, and this is a breakthrough point."
…………
Section 3
Harry and Ron went to Hagrid's wooden house with the invisible cloak in the middle of the night and met Hagrid. He seemed nervous and looked out the window from time to time. When he was taking out the fruit cake to entertain the two of them, the door of the wooden house was knocked. Harry and Ron quickly covered their bodies with the invisible cloak and hid in the corner.
Seeing that they were all hiding, Hagrid grabbed his bow and arrow and pulled the door open again.
"Good evening, Hagrid." It was Dumbledore. He walked in with a very serious expression, followed by a man with a very strange appearance. The stranger was short, fat, dumb, with a messy gray hair, and an anxious look on his face. His clothes were a strange hodgepodge: pinstriped suit, bright red tie, black -152 - long cloak, purple pointed boots. He had a dark green top hat under his arms.
"That's my dad's boss!" Ron gasped, "Connelly Foggy, Minister of Magic!" Ha pounded Ron with his elbow, causing him to shut up. Hagrid's face turned pale and sweat began to sweat on his forehead. He fell into a chair, looked at Dumbledore, and then looked at Connelly Foggy.
"What a bad, Hagrid," Fudge said in a crisp and quick tone, "very bad, I had to come. There were four attacks on Muggles, too much, and the Ministry had to take action."
"I didn't," Heg looked at Dumbledore pleaded, "You know I didn't, Professor Dumbledore, sir..."
"I hope you understand, Connelly, I have full trust in Hagrid." Dumbledore said with a frown at Foggy.
"But look, Albus," Fudge said unnaturally, "Hagher's record of the record is not good for him. The Ministry of Magic has to take some measures--it has been contacted with the school board."
"But Connelly, I still want to tell you that taking Hagrid away would be of no help," Dumbledore said.
His blue eyes were flashing with anger that Harry had never seen before.
"Look at it from my point of view," Foggy said, playing with his hat in his hand. "This happened in school, and something happened in Azkaban some time ago..." Foggy paused, and Harry noticed that Hagrid opened his eyes in horror when he heard Azkaban. Foggy rubbed his hands and continued, "...Well...I think you understand what I'm talking about. The outside world puts a lot of pressure on me. I have to do something, otherwise the Ministry of Magic will be questioned. If it is finally found out that the matter in the school has nothing to do with Hagrid, he will come back, without a word. But I have to take him away. Shouldn't I do my own-"
"Take me away?" said Hagrid, trembling all over his body, "Where do you take it?"
To be continued...