A certain Hogwarts professor of runes

Chapter 222 Blake's Trail

To be honest, Felix wasn't sure if Luna possessed a talent for divination; this little girl had always been quite peculiar. But his main concern was: "You still go to the Forbidden Forest often?"

Luna paused for a moment, seemingly pondering how to explain herself. Felix wanted to hear her explanation, but then Luna drifted off into a daze.

Felix snapped his fingers in front of her, and Luna said dreamily, "Felenzer is a good man."

Felix wasn't sure if her words answered his earlier question, but he roughly understood what she meant: the centaur named Ferenze would protect her.

He tentatively suggested, "Perhaps I could get to know your centaur friend? I happen to be going to the Forbidden Forest this weekend to release a small animal..."

“Oh, I’m not sure. Ferenc said his companions are all very traditional, which I understand to mean they have bad tempers,” Luna said. “I can mention it to him first.”

……

Two more days passed, and Hogwarts was shrouded in continuous rain. The dark clouds hung low, making it hard to breathe. The temperature plummeted, and Madam Pomfrey repeatedly reminded the young wizards to put on warmer clothes.

"She didn't need to remind us at all. I mean, we're not stupid." Ron pointed to the weather outside. A light rain was falling outside the window, pattering on the roof of the second greenhouse.

Harry listlessly husked the bean pods. "Wood will love it. He thinks our first game is likely to be rainy, and he can't wait to add that part of the training... He's finally got his chance."

Mrs. Sprout clapped her hands, drawing the young wizards' attention. She cautioned, "Watch your touch, be gentle, or they'll retaliate fiercely."

But she was too late. Seamus Finnigan's actions were very rough, as he was recounting his experience in Runes class to Neville. "You saw it too, the moment I touched that fiery red magic symbol, it reacted strongly, I guess... ouch!"

The pod in front of him suddenly burst open, shooting out seven or eight hard beans that hit his face. One of them accidentally injured Neville, who groaned as well.

Mrs. Sprout walked over quickly, scanning the scene. "Not following instructions, ignoring the teacher's words! I really should deduct points from your record, Mr. Finnigan." She led Seamus and Neville to a corner. "All you need is a little ointment. To be honest, if you were this careless when squeezing the pus from the baboon tuber, you'd definitely suffer..."

A bolt of lightning suddenly flashed, illuminating the somewhat dim castle. Felix sheathed his wand and turned to scribble on the parchment. In a glass container beside him, a fist-sized, eight-eyed spider angrily said, "You break your promise, wizard!"

Felix said, "I promised to let you go back before Halloween, but I didn't specify a date. And...aren't you going to consider my suggestion? I can make you my assistant."

"What assistant? Like that little girl?" said the giant spider, who had seen Hermione and the little witch was very interested in it until Felix showed her its true size.

In its normal state, the giant eight-eyed spider is about the size of a small carriage, covered with hard black hairs, with a small and ugly head, and a pair of large pincers that always make a "click" sound.

"Ah, more or less, but you'll have to continue cooperating with my research," Felix said.

The eight-eyed giant spider pondered for a moment, then began to roar angrily. Felix, annoyed by its noise, cast a silencing spell on the glass container.

"We've finally obtained the detailed test data. The remaining task is to conduct repeated tests on other organisms, compare the results, and have a clear understanding of the situation." Felix put away a thick stack of parchment.

He performs this procedure for every ancient spell he currently possesses. Flitwick greatly admires this caution.

That evening, the drizzle turned into a downpour, with large raindrops pounding against the castle windowsills. Half asleep, Felix heard a low, buzzing alarm.

He sat bolt upright, his wand instantly appearing in his hand. He waited quietly for a few seconds, but no one appeared. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he quickly left his bedroom and opened the office window—

Rainwater was swept into the room by the strong wind, and it was pitch black outside the window. Suddenly, the alarm sounded clearly.

"It's the miniature peephole at the castle gate! Sirius Black is here!"

He flipped over and jumped out of the window. A faint light flashed from his ring, and a flying broom suddenly appeared. The next second, he rode the broom through layers of rain as thick as a curtain and disappeared in front of the office.

When he appeared at the castle gate, it was deserted except for a spot above the gate that was constantly flashing with golden light, accompanied by a loud buzzing sound.

Felix pointed his wand at himself, and large plumes of water vapor emanated from him, making him look like a boiling kettle. Just then, Dumbledore appeared, wearing a grey-blue nightgown, without even his glasses, and a fiery red phoenix perched on his shoulder.

"Hello, Fox," Felix greeted.

Fox let out a low groan.

A tabby cat appeared in the distance, transforming into Professor McGonagall, panting heavily, as it ran.

"Any discoveries, Felix?" Dumbledore asked in a deep voice.

"Obviously, I'm late." Felix pointed to the broom in his hand; of the three, he was closest to the castle gate. "I came as fast as I could, but the rain did me a huge favor."

"Is it Sirius Black?" Professor McGonagall asked in a panic.

"It's obvious..." Felix waved his wand, stopping the buzzing.

"We should search the castle, Dumbledore," Professor McGonagall said solemnly. "Felius Flitwick, Severus Snape, Argus Filch..." she muttered the names, and three silver cats flew out of her wand and flew off in different directions.

Dumbledore watched quietly as Professor McGonagall's Patronus disappeared. He bent down to examine the ground at the castle entrance, his fingers tracing the cold marble. Then he nimbly entered the castle and inquired about the row of portraits closest to the entrance.

"Has anyone broken in?"

"No, we didn't find anything," the figures in the portrait said all at once. "Of course we can be fooled, Headmaster."

Dumbledore nodded without saying a word.

"Could Black be hiding in the castle, Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked worriedly.

"Unlikely," Dumbledore said softly. "Felix arrived quickly; he couldn't have had the time to clean up his tracks. He'll likely have triggered the alarm simply by appearing from a distance. But we'd better prepare, Fawkes—"

(End of this chapter)