Hogwarts Study Panel.

Chapter 612, Section 610: Barrow's Ritual

Sheen stopped taking afternoon naps a long time ago.

Logically speaking, it would be difficult for a young wizard of his age to fight off sleepiness. Therefore, most of the time, a group of wizards could be seen taking a nap in the common room.

The afternoons in the Ravenclaw lounge are so comfortable and peaceful, with the fireplace crackling softly and a gentle breeze caressing your forehead.

Now, Sheehan thinks that's how afternoons are on the farm.

The little girls were running around downstairs, making clattering noises, while the pigs and chickens grunted, and occasionally Marcus's loud laughter and Professor McGonagall's soft chuckles could be heard.

The sun was shining brightly, making people feel restless but not agitated.

Sheen took a long-awaited nap.

He was lying on the table, with open books beside him.

Those were Dumbledore's notes, the textbook that Sheen used most often after he became a Master of Transfiguration.

Next to the notebook were some scattered postcards, most of which featured the gentle smile of a blond little wizard, accompanied by various landscapes.

Zoe crept in, standing on tiptoe, enduring the pressure of being stared at by both owls.

It is said that owls are the messengers of wizards —

Thinking this, Zoe lifted the blanket, which was longer than her body, and covered the chair, almost tripping over it.

"Do you deliver mail?"

Zoe struggled to sit on a tree root and asked in a very soft, fragmented voice.

"Little wizard, little wizard, I am the noble Ravenclaw—I have a question for you, and you answered correctly—"

Mr. Owl hummed and hawed.

What is Ravenclaw?

Zoe asked curiously.

"You don't even know Ravenclaw! Let me go!"

Mr. Owl reacted strongly, but before he could make a sound, he was snatched away by Bai Yi and flew off.

"Talkative, noisy."

Bai Yi tilted her head and, with a "coo," tossed Mr. Owl out the window.

Zoe chased after her to the window in surprise, and then saw Bai Yi flap her wings and land on her shoulder.

"You're noisy, aren't you?"

Bai Yi tilted her head, her big eyes looking quite cute, yet it made Zoe's body stiffen.

"I won't disturb Mr. Green."

Zoe said earnestly, her voice trembling slightly.

Bai Yi nodded, then gracefully flew to the side of a door that could be opened anywhere.

An owl just flew out from it.

Bai Yi nodded to it, then took the letter from its beak, and finally said "Hogwarts" clearly. The owl then disappeared through the door.

This is, in essence, the new owl delivery network.

It came from Justin's wildly imaginative idea. He thought that since Sheen had the Anywhere Door, as long as he could help the owl messengers tell him their destination, then messages could be delivered from anywhere.

It turned out to be feasible.

Bai Yi placed the letter on the top shelf of the table, then quietly leaned against Xi En's shoulder, rested her head on it, and closed her eyes.

Zoe looked on in amazement, clutching her skirt, reluctant to leave the magical room for a long time.

Sheen woke up half an hour later.

He extended a finger, and water gently flowed across his cheek before being swallowed by a fire lizard that leaped out of the fireplace. In the end, the two turned into mist together.

Sheen was much more awake now, and that's when he noticed the letter in his hand.

From Hogwarts.

who can that be?

Sheehan thought about the remaining professors at Hogwarts, focusing on Professor Snape, then picked it up and carefully opened it.

The afternoon was originally reserved for black magic practice, but since he had fallen asleep in a strange and unusual way, Sheen decided to postpone the start of the practice a little.

Dear Mr. Green:

Peeves brings you this letter. Sir Barrow wishes to know your whereabouts, and if you return to Hogwarts, he sincerely requests that you inform the Sir by owl, you know, sir.

By the way, could you reduce the time I can't play excessive pranks by a year? Or could you lower the bar for excessive pranks a bit? Please, Mr. Green, three years is too long, I'll die, please, please————】

The letter writer seemed to be someone who wouldn't ask for favors, writing many pages of "Please."

As soon as Sheen opened the letter, the pages with the words "Please" scattered all over the floor.

Mischievous Ghost's Letter —

Sheehan was utterly amazed. He knew Peeves was a poltergeist who could touch objects, but he never imagined that one day it would be holding a pen and writing a letter.

Only Sir Barrow could do that.

Three years of excessive pranks —

Has Mr. Barrow been taming Peeves lately?

How did he do that?

With this question in mind, Sheen stepped into the doorway that was engulfed in flames.

"Mr. Green—"

It seems like Blood Man Barrow has been waiting for a long time.

Sheen entered the fireplace in the principal's office, the only place connected to the Floo Powder network outside the Hope Hut.

Considering that the principal's office was relatively close to the Astronomy Tower, Sheen didn't think too much about it.

Headmaster Dumbledore has been gone for a long time.

He's the only one who usually comes to this office.

Of course, it wasn't because he became the principal; it was just that Mr. Fox still needed someone to feed him.

Through these acts of feeding, Sheen has gained a lot of favor with Mr. Fox.

Sheen hadn't forgotten his plan to make phoenix cookies.

I reckon that in a few months, we'll be close enough.

Hopefully, it's not too late.

"Mr. Barrow, have you made up your mind?"

Sheen asked.

"Someone like me—can also—"

Blood Man Barrow is a terrifying ghost with hollow eyes, a gaunt face, and silver bloodstains on his robe.

Now, however, he appeared inquiring and cautious.

"That's not up to me, sir."

Sheen thought of the dark wizards in the borderlands, whose sins far outweighed those of the Blood Man Barrow.

But as for what happened to them later, perhaps we'll have to ask those red and black fogs.

"Your soul is here, not to be judged by anyone."

Sheen said so.

"I have done many wrong things. Mr. Green, now I would like to present you with an important maxim: direct your anger elsewhere, except for love."

Barrow, the blood-soaked man, gave a terrifying laugh. "I think a sinner like me won't live to see Judgment Day. I have one last wish, Mr. Green, and I hope you will grant this shameless request—"

How is she?

"very good."

Sheen paused for a moment, then said.

"That's good then."

The blood on Barrow's body slowly, surprisingly, receded somewhat.

"You still love her?"

Sheen asked in a low voice.

"It has always been so—but to turn love into hate is the most shameful and heinous act, as it desecrates both people at the same time."

Blood Man Barrow wasn't as cold as the little wizards had described.

Sheen paused, looking at the ghost whose face was withered and bitter, now genuinely repentant, and said inexplicably, "If you promise not to disturb her and not to be discovered—you can watch from afar—"

"You mean—"

The blood-soaked Barrow lunged forward, exclaiming, "Does it really possess such power?!"