Chapter 995 The cry of the toad
“I hate rain!”
Albert turned to look at the rain-soaked window and reached out to tap the address book on his hand. He had been using this method to contact Fred, George and Lee Jordan on the train.
“I thought you liked the rain!” Katrina also turned to look out the window, then looked back at the communication bookmark in Albert’s hand, “Have you been chatting with your sister just now?”
"Yes!" Albert did not deny it. "Anyway, you are idle. Finding someone to chat with can pass the boring time."
“Can you get me a copy of this?” Katrina suddenly asked, “I can pay Galleons for it.”
"I don't plan to sell it for the time being, but you can make it yourself. The transformation spell shouldn't be difficult for you!" Albert doesn't plan to spread the thing on hand on a large scale, so as not to give the mysterious man's side in the subsequent war. Add an advantage.
"This is not just a transformation spell?" Katrina doesn't believe this nonsense. The communication bookmark may be based on a transformation spell, but its production is definitely not that simple. Those who believe it directly are definitely fools.
"Well, that's it, a more advanced application of the transformation spell." Albert put away the address book, and he could feel that the train was slowing down.
"Are you not going to fulfill your responsibilities?" Katrina asked tentatively when she saw that Albert was planning to leave directly. She felt that she had guessed the result.
"Leave the job of maintaining order to the prefects. They always need to be given a chance to practice." Albert casually made excuses for his laziness and followed the crowd to get off the train. After making sure there were no problems around him, he turned to Katrina behind him and said, "You'd better not leave my sight."
"Am I so uneasy?" Katrina raised her eyebrows slightly, a little unhappy. It wasn't that Albert was making a fuss out of a molehill, but that she felt slighted. The feeling of being treated like an underage girl was very unpleasant. Comfortable.
"Don't be angry. When facing danger, any negligence may cost you your life. The life of a wizard is more fragile than you expect." Albert raised his wand and said in a voice that only two people could hear. , "Although the probability of them targeting you is very low, I still have to take precautions."
“You just don’t want to see Isobel sad.” Katrina sighed, she envied her sister.
"I don't want to see you have problems because of my problems. Since it's my problem, I have to take care of you." Albert got off the car and came to the platform. He raised his wand to make sure there was no problem around him again before signaling. Katrina follows.
At this moment, a crisp female voice came from not far away. Hagrid had obviously not returned yet.
Albert was not surprised at all by this. After all, Hagrid still had to take care of his giant brother.
This semester, Albert decided to stay away from Hagrid, lest he leave the stupid big guy to take care of him.
Even if the mission is really triggered, Albert plans to give up directly.
Giant!
Leave it to Potter.
The two deliberately stayed at the back of the queue to ensure that no student was left behind. They followed the muddy path outside Hogsmeade Station to the convoy of Thestral carriages.
Most of the carriages were already occupied, except for one, which was specially prepared for the presidents of the male and female student unions at the rear.
This is one of their privileges.
“You guys over there, take this car!”
Albert said to the second-year student who was driven out of the carriage by Malfoy and his companions and looked bewildered.
After saying that, he stared at Malfoy, who was chatting and laughing with his friends, and warned: "I don't care what you want to do, but don't cause any trouble for me."
“Got it.” Malfoy said expressionlessly.
"go in!"
Albert motioned for the three little guys to get into the carriage. This carriage was different from other carriages. The environment inside was obviously much better. Although it was not as good as the one that sent him to participate in the Magic School Potions Championship, it was There was no hay inside, and there was no musty smell.
The carriage team set off staggeringly.
The second grade students in the carriage looked at Albert with admiration. One of the boys with freckles on his face mustered up the courage to carefully ask Albert a few questions about the duel champion.
"Don't believe too much in the content of newspapers. Most of the time, newspapers are used to attract everyone's attention in order to sell newspapers. That's all. If you believe in that stuff too much, you will easily be fooled into being fooled by others." Albert He turned to look out the window. After the motorcade passed the school gate, he relaxed his vigilance slightly and looked at Hogwarts Castle, which was getting closer and closer in front of him.
“I think you’re trying to say that most of the British wizarding community are idiots,” Katrina muttered.
"Many times, everything you see is what others want you to see." Albert said lightly: "As long as you are not a fool, you will find something wrong if you use your brain a little bit."
“However, there are usually more fools in this world?” Katrina laughed at herself.
"Because they only passively receive information and never actively think about why, they cannot blame others for becoming fools." Albert stopped talking, because the carriage team had stopped in front of the stone steps leading to the oak door, and hundreds of carriages suddenly After filling up the space around the stone steps, the students got off the carriage one after another and walked towards the oak gate of the castle.
Albert and Katrina stayed until the end to ensure that all students entered the castle before slowly entering the castle.
On their way to the auditorium, they suddenly heard giggling.
Albert stopped and looked at Peeves emerging from the shadows.
Katrina also stopped and looked at Peeves with some confusion. This guy was very weird, with a weird smile that couldn't be concealed on his face, and he rubbed his hands towards Albert, as if he was waiting for something.
Albert reached into his pocket, took out a bag and threw it to Peeves. The smile on Peeves' face became brighter and the sound he made became weirder. He took the bag and disappeared.
Katrina looked at Albert suspiciously, always feeling that the guy next to her was preparing to cause trouble.
However, she didn’t ask.
Anyway, if you ask, you probably won't get an answer. Just watch quietly. This is the tacit understanding they have developed.
Entering the auditorium, the decoration here is similar to the previous style. The ceiling above is exactly the same as the sky outside, as if the professors have forgotten to replace the ceiling with a bright starry sky.
Albert walked along the Gryffindor table, looking for Fred, George and Lee Jordan.
Whenever he walked by, the people who were chatting happily would fall silent and stare at him curiously with their eyes wide open, as if they were looking at some rare animal.
Hmm, there was actually a little girl who wanted to ask him for an autograph, which made Albert a little speechless. He had to speed up and walk towards George who was waving to him.
“You’re so popular,” Fred joked, smiling. “I thought you’d stop and give them autographs.”
"Shut up."
Albert sat down on the empty seat vacated by the three of them and said hello to the girls sitting opposite.
“This year’s Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, I heard, is also the deputy minister of the Ministry of Magic.” George winked at Albert, and his words were deliberately meant for the students around him.
"Are you sure you're not mistaken, the Deputy Minister of Magic went to Hogwarts to teach?" Zannah looked at the witch on the teacher's bench with some surprise, who had a bit of bad taste.
Thinking about it on your knees, you know it's definitely not a good thing.
“Honestly, her taste is really...unique.”
“By the way, Albert, I became the Quidditch captain.” Angelina told everyone the good news excitedly.
"Congratulations. However, I'm afraid you are not very lucky." The corners of Albert's mouth raised slightly, and he noticed that Umbridge had just picked up the goblet and took a sip.
“Why?” Angelina asked doubtfully.
“Have you not read the newspaper? The Daily Prophet has been smearing Harry Potter a lot lately.” Albert reminded.
“But, what does this mean?” Angelina was a little confused, obviously not understanding what Albert meant.
"It means that the relationship between the Ministry of Magic and Harry Potter is very bad, and our new professor is still the Deputy Minister of Magic. Thinking about it, we know that the situation is not good." Albert explained.
"It doesn't matter. If Harry can't play, won't you still be there?" Angelina was not worried at all. Albert was also a very good seeker.
“I’m busy this year, so I’m afraid I can’t help you.” Albert shook his head.
The expression on Angelina's face suddenly changed.
“Do you know why the Under-Secretary of Magic came to teach at Hogwarts?” Zannah calmly changed the subject.
“It’s definitely not good anyway.” Lee Jordan said, “By the way, have you listened to the wizard’s lookout station broadcast?”
“What is that?” Alia asked doubtfully.
“A mysterious station broadcast. I remember last night, the broadcast was talking about our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. To be honest, our Defense Against the Dark Arts class this year may be a bit bad.”
“I’m not free.” Albert said, shaking his head.
“What are you busy with?” Shanna asked curiously.
At this time, Professor McGonagall guided the students into the auditorium, and the sorting ceremony was about to begin.
In the restlessness of the first-year students, the sorting hat opened like a mouth and sang loudly:
I was a new hat a long time ago, before Hogwarts was built, and the four founders of the Noble House thought they would never go their separate ways...
Our Hogwarts is in danger, and enemies outside the school are eying us. We must be united internally or everything will fall apart from within. I've spoken out to you, I've sounded the alarm for you? Now let's start sorting.
Hat finished singing and became motionless again.
"Do you think this is Dumbledore's intention, or the Sorting Hat's own intention?" George turned his head and asked during the applause.
Not only him, but also the classmates in the audience were whispering to the people around them, discussing the Sorting Hat's warning.
"Nico, has the Sorting Hat issued a similar warning before?" Albert asked the Gryffindor ghost directly.
"There have been times before," Nearly Headless Nick recalled, "when the Sorting Hat felt it was morally responsible to issue appropriate warnings to the school if it felt that the school was in...great danger. Of course, its The advice is the same every time: stick together and maintain internal stability."
“A prophetic hat?” Fred asked rhetorically.
After feeling the unkind look from Professor McGonagall, everyone obediently shut their mouths.
"How is it possible? The Sorting Hat is placed in Dumbledore's office. He probably heard some news there." Albert said in a voice that could be heard by several people around him.
“After all, you are the prophet.” George laughed silently.
Soon, as Professor McGonagall announced their names and the Sorting Hat, the long line of first-year students was shortening little by little.
After the sorting ceremony, their principal stood up to greet everyone and announced the official start of the dinner.
“How does it feel to be the president of the student union? Isn’t it great?”
George was cutting a steak and squinting at Umbridge who was also cutting a steak at the teacher's desk.
“She looks like a toad, a pink toad!”
“Affect appetite.”
“I really don’t know why the Headmaster gave in to the Ministry of Magic.”
“I don’t know, Professor Dumbledore must have a reason why he had to give in!”
A few people lowered their voices and whispered.
“I heard people say that unmarried old aunts like her are the most terrifying. Many of them are twisted because they have not received the nourishment of love.” Lee Jordan muttered in a low voice.
“Didn’t anyone remind her that there was something wrong with her taste?”
“I dare say she must be twisted inside, otherwise whoever is much older would still dress up as a little girl.”
“Perhaps, you can try to save her taste.”
“Forget it, it’s not worth it if you’re locked up.” Lee Jordan gnawed on a chicken leg and laughed at himself: “You should pray to God at this time, maybe God will respond to your plea.”
“I thought wizards believed in Merlin.”
“Wizards have no faith, at least I don’t.” George shook his head and said, “Merlin’s beard and the like are just words.”
At this moment, Umbridge, who had just eaten a steak and took a sip of wine, suddenly froze because she discovered that there was blood on the steak.
She reached out and touched the bottom of her nose. She was stunned when she looked at her **** fingers.
I am actually having a nosebleed, which seems to be serious.
Not only was she stunned, but Dumbledore next to her also noticed Umbridge's change and cast a doubtful look at her.
"are you OK!"
Umbridge had already taken out a handkerchief from her pocket and covered her nose. Before she could answer Dumbledore, the professors on the faculty also noticed the change in the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
Even the students who were chatting in low voices below noticed it.
"What seems to have happened?" Fred suppressed a smile and motioned for everyone to look at Umbridge on the teacher's bench.
“Our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor seems to be having a nosebleed?” Lee Jordan also tried not to laugh.
"The Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's curse has started to take effect?" George deliberately diverted the topic. "She is really unlucky. She has been plagued by bad luck since she first came to school."
Umbridge's eyes widened, and she was horrified to find that the nosebleed had not stopped, and her handkerchief was stained red by the nosebleed.
"Perhaps, you should go to the campus hospital. Poppy should be able to give you some help." Professor McGonagall looked at the embarrassed Umbridge and suggested.
After the news of Umbridge's nosebleeds spread, it was quickly spread as the curse of the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Some people quietly started a bet on how long Umbridge could last.
"How long do you think it will take for Madam Pomfrey to cure her?" Fred asked Albert sideways. George next to him even sent a message to Albert through the communication bookmark, asking Madam Pomfrey if it was possible that something was wrong.
“Probably...it won’t take long.”
Albert knew that Madam Pomfrey had the ability to solve this problem.
In fact, it took about a quarter of an hour. After Albert had eliminated two portions of food, Umbridge finally returned to her seat.
only…
The good times don’t last long.
Umbridge had just eaten something when her nosebleed started again. Then, under the watchful eyes of everyone, she hurried to the school hospital to find Madam Pomfrey for help.
This time, Umbridge did not touch the food on the table. It's not like she didn't suspect that someone had tampered with the food, causing her nose to bleed, but everyone picked the food on their plates themselves, so it was obviously impossible for anyone to specifically target her.
Yes, Umbridge never thought that Peeves had secretly tampered with her cups and knives and forks.
After all, nosebleeds are relatively common, and everyone thought that Umbridge was just not in good health.
Who would have thought that someone was deliberately targeting Umbridge?
No, no one would have thought of it, at least no one would find anything wrong now, and the professors would just rejoice in the misfortune.
"Aren't you really going to have some? The treacle fruit pie tastes very good." Dumbledore suggested with a smile, looking at Umbridge who had only eaten a few bites of food since the beginning.
"No, I'd better not eat for now." Umbridge was still smirking, but she was in a very bad mood now. Watching everyone eat while hungry was simply a kind of cruel torture. How could she be in a better mood? What a hell!
Seems to be about the Ministry of Magic's interference in Hogwarts after dinner.
Umbridge eventually persisted, rudely interrupting Dumbledore and delivering a series of unwelcome speeches.
However, there seemed to be something wrong during the speech.
“…to achieve a balance between the old and the new, between permanence and change…”
A chirping voice suddenly sounded in the auditorium.
“...Some old habits will be retained, which is understandable, and some habits have become obsolete, and it must..."
The growling sounds of hungry stomachs sounded again, and everyone was trying not to laugh.
However, as if Umbridge's belly was protesting the abuse it was receiving, the gurgling became more pronounced and louder.
Finally, someone below the stage couldn't help laughing.
As long as someone takes the lead, more and more people can’t help but laugh out loud.
This grunting sound is really beautiful, just like the cry of a toad.
(End of this chapter)