Chapter 703: Rolling over
The search of the castle continued until about three o'clock in the middle of the night. Naturally, nothing was found. It seemed that Blake had never broken into Hogwarts Castle.
Professor Dumbledore should have expected such a result, but he still had to let the professors search the entire castle to reassure the teachers and students in the school, and also to give an explanation to the dementors stationed outside the school. .
This was a hardship for the professors and prefects who searched the castle. They couldn't sleep a wink all night. Especially when they were full and sleepy, it was really difficult to hold on.
When Albert and Zannah returned to the auditorium, everyone had fallen asleep, leaving only the energetic Percy and the drowsy prefects still keeping vigil.
Sure enough, rather than staying and keeping vigil, it would be better to walk outside. At least you can talk to the people around you and find an excuse to be lazy and paddle.
It is not until dawn that the vigilant prefects and student union presidents are allowed to go back to sleep, and the ghosts will take over their work.
As for the morning class, it was naturally cancelled.
Sir Cadogan, who temporarily took over the Fat Lady's job, was a rude guy. When he saw Albert, he provoked him with rude insults and planned to fight Albert.
“If you can come out of the painting, I will fight you.”
Albert stretched out his hand to cover his yawn, not wanting to listen to the other party's nonsense here, and said directly, "The password is 'mongrel dog', open the door now."
Sir Cadogan reluctantly let them into the common room.
The four of them went back to their dormitories to rest. As for the password to enter the lounge, it was naturally the almost headless Nick who was responsible for telling the other Gryffindor students.
When Albert woke up again, it was already noon.
Tom hunched over in front of the cat bowl, twitched his tail when he heard the noise, and continued to eat. He didn't stop eating until Albert reached out and stroked his head.
“It’s time for you to lose weight.” Albert picked up Tom, stroked his fat belly, and murmured, “If I hadn’t raised you since you were a child, I would have suspected that you were just a hairy pig.”
Meow!
Tom protested that Albert interrupted his meal, and tried to use a cat pad to push Albert's hand away.
“Although fat cats do look better, they shouldn’t be too fat. Be careful not to be too fat to walk.”
Albert let go of the fat cat and looked at Tom who was eating again. He decided to leave Tom to the care of the house elf Bit and let the house elf keep an eye on Tom while he was going to participate in the magic school potions championship. Run rollers every day.
As long as he exercises enough, Tom's fat body will disappear soon.
After washing up, Albert planned to go downstairs to eat. As soon as he opened the door, he found that the common room was crowded with Gryffindor students.
“What are you doing here?” Albert asked doubtfully.
“Thank God, someone finally opened the door.” Neville was so excited that he almost shed tears.
“He said the password was wrong and wouldn’t let us in.” A senior boy said angrily, “The password in the morning was clearly ‘mongrel dog’.”
“The password has been changed,” said Lord Cadogan.
“What is the password now?” Albert asked Sir Cadogan.
"I can't tell you." Sir Cadogan refused to reveal the password to Albert.
"If you change the password, you have to tell the prefects in advance, otherwise even the prefects won't know. Are you going to let everyone stay outside and stare?" Albert looked at the portrait on the door and said in a commanding tone, "Okay, tell me what the password is now."
Although the door to the common room was open, many students did not intend to go in immediately, and planned to stay outside to watch Sir Cadogan deflate.
"What's going on?" Percy saw the corridor outside the common room crowded with students and walked quickly towards it.
"I was negotiating with Sir Cadogan. He seemed to have changed his password but did not tell the prefects. Many people were blocked just now." Albert said impatiently, "I am very suspicious of this guy. He just enjoys making trouble for students."
Many students immediately echoed and expressed their dissatisfaction with the rude knight responsible for guarding the gate.
“It’s Ser Cadogan,” the portrait roared at the crowd.
"Shut up."
"The password is: pony." Percy frowned and said to Sir Cadogan: "If you change the password, you should tell the prefect the password as soon as possible. This is your responsibility. I think Professor Dumbledore I should have told you."
“He seems to have mentioned it.” Sir Cadogan curled his lips and rode away on his pony.
"No other painting is willing to do this job," Percy explained to the resentful people. "Sir Cadogan is the only one who stepped forward. It's useless even if you complain. We have no other choice for the time being."
"knew."
Albert first went to Professor McGonagall's office, and it turned out to be about the Magic School Potions Championship.
"Tonight, pack your things. Someone will pick you up tomorrow morning for the competition." Professor McGonagall said straight to the point.
“Who is leading the team?” Albert asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Professor Slughorn has rich experience in leading teams. He is willing to take time to take you to participate in the Potions Championship. He was also the Potions Professor of Hogwarts, but he has retired." Professor McGonagall looked at Albert asked, "Any other questions?"
"there is none left."
It was not difficult for Albert to guess why Professor Slughorn was willing to help lead the team.
Professor Slughorn likes to associate with famous, successful, and powerful people.
Albert obviously meets the first two points.
Leaving Professor McGonagall's office and entering the hall, I found that everyone was talking about how Black entered the castle.
"How many opinions are there now?" Albert asked Lee Jordan, who had just sat next to him.
“There are too many to count,” Lee Jordan said, twirling his fingers. “Most people think Blake came in by apparating.”
“Apparition is prohibited at Hogwarts School.” Albert began to make himself a ham and sausage sandwich.
“I know that the guys who say this simply don’t know enough about Hogwarts school.” Lee Jordan complained, “I think they just want to attract everyone’s attention.”
“I agree with this.” Albert took a bite of the sandwich. The bacon was very salty.
"Some people say that Black flew into the school on a broomstick, and some say that he disguised himself and deceived the dementors guarding the gate." After speaking, Lee Jordan looked at Albert who was eating a sandwich and asked, "What do you think? Which one is it?"
“Enter the castle through the secret passage.” Albert said while eating.
“Fred and George thought so too. They went to check the secret passage leading to the outside of the castle early in the morning.” Lee Jordan said in a voice that the two of them could hear.
“Have you found anything?”
"I don't know, they haven't come back yet." Lee Jordan naturally knew that there were several passages to enter and leave the school. He was a little worried that Fred and George would be in trouble, and that Blake might be hiding in the secret passage now.
“Don’t worry, Blake must have left.” Albert finished his sandwich and said to Lee Jordan, “By the way, I’m going to participate in the Potions Championship tomorrow and I have to leave school for a while.”
"When will you come back?"
“I don’t know, but it shouldn’t be long, maybe I’ll be back the next day.”
“After you win the championship, remember to treat yourself to a treat.” Lee Jordan stretched out his hand and lightly punched Albert’s shoulder. “I have confidence in you.”
To be honest, Lee Jordan sympathized with the students from other schools who had to compete with Albert. This guy is like a train. Anyone who blocks the road will be mercilessly rolled over.
"I thought you were helping me celebrate." Albert said in a strange tone.
“You are so kind to let us invite you. I heard that the champion can get a large bonus.”
“Who said that?” Albert asked.
“Fred and George.”
"Don't talk nonsense. Be careful about us snitching and slandering. We have never said anything like that." Fred and George came to them.
“Did you find anything?” Albert asked.
"No." George shook his head, "But I still think Blake entered the castle through a secret passage."
“Should we tell the professors?”
“Tell them what to do?”
Fred disagreed.
Albert asked Fred and George to get some chalk dust and sprinkle it in the hidden passages. If someone really entered the school through the secret passage, they would definitely leave footprints. Then they would be able to figure out which secret passage Blake entered through. of school.
“You think Black will continue to invade Hogwarts.” George immediately realized what Albert meant.
“Blake won’t give up so easily, otherwise he wouldn’t have been in the castle last night.”
(End of this chapter)