A magical journey that begins at Hogwarts

While eating breakfast, Hermione, Harry, and Ron kept looking around, seemingly observing who was behaving strangely. When they saw Draco and Celine eating normally, a hint of disappointment inevitably flashed in the eyes of all three of them.

"Stop looking, no one inside has leaked anything," Aaron cautioned. "We're having a meeting in a bar, where there are lots of people and it's normal for guests to talk nonsense after drinking."

“You mean…” Harry asked, his face darkening, “that she really knows?”

"Obviously, I don't believe it's a coincidence."

“The question is, what do we do next?” Fred walked over and glanced at the long tables of the other houses. “Everyone else is uneasy and anxious.”

“We still have to keep going,” Harry said firmly.

“I knew you’d say that.” George patted Harry on the shoulder with satisfaction.

“I don’t really care,” Aaron shrugged. “I’m just responsible for being the teacher. Just let me know when the time and place are confirmed.”

A notice in Umbridge ruined the mood for many people, causing them to be distracted all day.

During a history of magic class, the injured Hedwig flew to the window and brought back a letter.

When Harry saw that it was injured, he quickly asked Professor Binns for leave and took it to Professor Grapple for treatment.

Professor McGonagall happened to be in the office, and her heart jumped when she saw Harry, since it was during class time and he shouldn't be there.

"Potter, please don't tell me you're in solitary confinement again."

“No, Professor,” Harry said, pointing to Hedwig, “my owl is injured.”

"Injured?" Professor McGonagall looked at Hedwig, whose feathers were particularly disheveled and one of its wings was broken.

“It may have been attacked,” Professor Grapland said. “But there are almost no creatures that attack birds near a school.”

“Potter,” Professor McGonagall said, looking at Harry with a very serious expression, as if she had just realized something. “How far did it fly?”

"I don't know," Harry said guiltily. "Maybe it flew in from London!"

Professor McGonagall immediately understood: Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix was in London, and Sirius Black had been stationed there because he couldn't show his face due to the Ministry of Magic's warrant for his arrest.

Professor Grapland carefully examined Hedwig's wings. "Leave them here; they should heal in a day or two."

"Thank you, Professor."

"nothing."

Harry had just stepped out of the office when Professor McGonagall chased after him. "Your letter."

"Almost forgot."

“Harry, Hogwarts’ communications channels, both inside and outside the institution, may—no, have already been monitored,” Professor McGonagall said seriously. “It’s best not to write any letters during this time.”

"I understand," Harry said weakly.

The bell had already rung, but instead of returning to the History of Magic classroom, he headed towards the Potions classroom.

Ron and Hermione caught up with them halfway there. "How's Hedwig?"

"I gave it to Professor Glapland, and it will be cured soon."

"Oh, by the way, Professor McGonagall just reminded me that Hogwarts' communications are being monitored."

The two weren't particularly shocked by this; it wasn't surprising at all that Umbridge would do something like this.

“Who wrote the letter?” Ron asked.

“Just a cold,” Harry said, unfolding the scroll. It contained only one sentence: Today, same time, same place.

"I reckon we'll be spending the night guarding the fireplace in the common room."

"No one has read this letter, has anyone?" Hermione said worriedly.

"I don't think so!" Harry said somewhat uncertainly. "At least it was sealed properly before I opened it."

"Magic can do this very easily."

"But we use a code word, and nobody else knows the old time and the old place except us."

“But what if someone is monitoring the Floo Network?” Hermione’s worries were no less. “We can’t notify him.”

Harry was speechless for a moment, and his mood became somewhat heavy.

He became even more agitated after arriving at the Potions classroom, because Umbridge was there too.

“You’ll all notice we have a guest today,” Professor Snape said meaningfully. Umbridge, who was holding a writing tablet, immediately smiled kindly and waved to the students.

"Today we'll continue preparing the enhancer. You'll see the mixture you left over from last class. If all goes well, it should be finished by the weekend," Professor Snape said, waving his wand. The next steps for preparing the enhancer appeared on the blackboard.

Following the steps, the students added materials to their respective crucibles, controlled the heat, and patiently stirred...

Snape paced back and forth in the corridor, while Umbridge occasionally jotted something down on her whiteboard, a slight smile gradually spreading across her lips.

“Professor Snape, there seem to be students in your class who…disrespect you.”

“Harry Potter,” Snape said instinctively, then turned around and glared at him. “You should be adding salamander blood instead of pomegranate juice right now. Five points deducted from Gryffindor.”

“Uh…Professor Snape, I…”

"What? Professor Umbridge doesn't think the points deducted are enough?" Snape said meaningfully. "Mr. Potter only made a mistake in the procedure. If the result is incorrect, I will punish him again."

“Professor Snape,” Umbridge took a deep breath, “I’m not talking about him, but…”

"Me?" Aaron pointed to himself, then rolled his eyes.

“It’s you, Mr. Gaius,” Umbridge said smugly. “Everyone else is preparing enhancers, but what are you writing on your paper?”

“None of your business,” Aaron said speechlessly, casually tearing off a page of the magic circle and putting it in Abe’s pocket.

"Of course it concerns me; I am a senior investigator dispatched by the Ministry of Magic."

Just because Professor Snape didn't notice your breach of classroom rules doesn't mean I didn't.

"Professor, didn't you tell her?"

"Not yet," Snape said dismissively.

“Tell me what?” Umbridge asked, somewhat puzzled.

“Mr. Gaius can already concoct many potions on his own, so I gave him special permission to do other things during my class, as long as he doesn’t disturb the other students.”

"Is…is this appropriate?"

"Is it inappropriate?" Snape feigned ignorance. "But as far as I know, Mr. Gaius seemed to have..."

“Suitable, of course it’s suitable,” Umbridge said immediately. “I was too hasty this time. It’s only natural for outstanding students to have some privileges.”

“I don’t mind,” Aaron waved his hand. “But Professor Umbridge, this kind of thing might happen in other classes, so I hope you won’t mind.”

Upon hearing this, Umbridge felt a surge of rage.

She's a senior investigator, and you really don't give her any face in front of everyone!

She forced a stiff smile, then looked at Abe, who was dozing on Aaron's table, a glint of light flashing in her eyes. "Mr. Gaius, is that your pet?"

"It's obvious."

Umbridge raised an eyebrow slightly. "The process of brewing potions is extremely dangerous. You left the pet on the table; what if..."

“Professor Dumbledore has agreed,” Aaron interrupted. “If you have any objections, you can go to him.”

I know you are a senior investigator, but as of now, Albus Dumbledore is the headmaster.

Umbridge: ......

Chapter 463 The Room of Requirement, Establishing a Defense Association

Gryffindor common room.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione were gathered around the fireplace when, after midnight, a face suddenly appeared in the red flames.

“Sirius.” Harry looked at him excitedly.

"how are things?"

“There are pros and cons!” Hermione said with a sullen face. “Aaron agreed to teach us Defense Against the Dark Arts, but… there were about thirty of us, and he was so angry that he almost turned on us on the spot.”

"He doesn't like trouble, so it's understandable that he can't handle having to invite so many people."

“We didn’t call them that,” Ron said.

"Shut up!" Hermione said irritably. "I didn't expect there to be so many people."

“But Umbridge has issued a new law prohibiting group activities of more than three people,” Harry said with a troubled expression. “The Quidditch team has to reapply, and our Defense Against the Dark Arts team too…”

"So you should be more careful when choosing a party location." Sirius grinned. "Pighead Bar, how did you guys even come up with that? Even three brooms would be better than that place."

“How did you know?” Harry asked in a deep voice.

“While you were having the meeting, Mundungus was drinking there.”

He was disguised as a witch wearing a veil; it's normal that you didn't recognize him.

"Is he...is he spying on me?" Harry asked angrily.

“This is necessary, Harry,” Sirius said seriously. “Molly knows you guys almost tore the house down while you were setting up the Defense Against the Dark Arts team.”

She made me swear an oath to deliver the message to you, especially to you, Ron.

Gulu!

Ron swallowed hard and asked with difficulty, "What is she going to say?"

"Under no circumstances should you join any illegal Black Magic Defense Groups; if you get caught, you'll definitely be expelled."

“What do you think?” Harry asked.

"Quite the opposite of her, otherwise I would have stopped you in the first place."

"But what if... we really get expelled?" Hermione asked with some worry.

“Personally, I think being expelled in self-defense is better than doing nothing,” Sirius said. “Besides, Umbridge wouldn’t expel thirty students at once; it would damage her reputation.”

“Did you hear that, Hermione?” Ron said casually. “It’s not a big deal. At worst, I’ll just get put in solitary confinement.”

“Solitary confinement is pretty scary,” Harry said sheepishly. “I’m more qualified to talk about that.”

“We have another problem now,” Hermione said. “We don’t know where we can go.”

"How about the Screaming Shack?" Sirius excitedly suggested. "James, Lupin, and I often meet there."