Chapter 156: Case Reopened

A dark gray, slimy body squirmed slowly through the damp, shadowy farmland. The familiar spinach and cabbages around it loomed as large as castles.

It crawled along sluggishly.

The sun was about to rise, and it didn't want to be caught in the light.

Suddenly, the leaves above were parted, and a huge child bent down to look at it, exclaiming, "Look, a snail!"

"No, it's not. It's a slug," said another, even taller giant. He picked it up with tongs, gripping its soft body and lifting it.

"Slugs with antennae can be used to brew Cure for Boils potions," the giant said, "but we'll need to dry it out first."

The giant placed it under the sunlight. The scorching rays burned its back; it felt as though it was going to be baked alive. It squirmed desperately, as it struggled and gasped in agony...

Wade jolted awake, ripping the tangled blanket off himself and, with a wave of his hand, lit the candle beside his bed.

He touched his forehead; it was covered in cold sweat.

His mouth was bitter, and when he spat out the leaf, sure enough, the third mandrake leaf had a corner missing.

Wade knew full well that Professor Murray's mention of a "slug" was just a joke, but to dream that he had actually turned into a slug? That was just awful.

It couldn't possibly be… a prophetic dream, right?

Without delay, Wade opened the curtains and got out of bed, and surveyed his dorm room as he raised his wand—

A dozen pieces of parchment flew up, enlarging as they adhered to the walls. The blank sheets began to reveal images of an eagle soaring in various majestic poses.

Pop!

The candlestick transformed into an eagle perched on a branch.

Pop!

An eagle-shaped relief appeared on the wardrobe.

Pop!

Swirling cloud patterns adorned the legs of his desk, while a dozen eagles spread their wings in a fierce strike across its surface.

Everywhere he looked, all he saw were eagles.

Wade smirked inwardly.

Begone, slug!

I am a Ravenclaw, and if I transform, it will be into a mighty eagle!

After about ten minutes of this self-hypnosis, Wade finally lay back down on his bed.

…

The weekend was when Wade had arranged to meet with Marchione.

The weather that day was surprisingly good, and most people eagerly rushed to the game field, and some even shouted: "Wade, let your insect army come out too!"

"Yeah, yeah! We've come up with a few tactics just to beat them!"

"I'm telling you, I'm totally used to the sight of spiders and cockroaches now—nothing can scare me anymore!"

Wade glanced at his watch; he still had a little time before the scheduled meeting, so he signaled with an "OK" gesture.

This time, Professor Flitwick had claimed the high referee's chair.

Seeing Wade, he cheerfully remarked, "Oh, ever since I started refereeing, I've yet to see the famous insect army! Everyone says it's the best part of 'Battle Royale'!"

Wade was baffled—who spread such rumors? Did they really find it all that entertaining, even after getting so scared they wet their pants?

Although Wade was confused, he didn't hesitate in his actions. Just as he was about to fetch some bugs from a nearby leaf, Fred handed him a glass jar.

"Already got it ready for you!" Fred said with a mischievous grin. "Let's give those newbies a real scare from the beasts!"

Wade took a look and was momentarily speechless.

In addition to common ants and spiders, the jar contained flying moths, an extremely ugly magical flower mantis, plump white silkworm larvae, a long centipede, and… a gray-black slug.

A slug?

Wade silently looked at Fred.

The red-haired Weasley winked at him. "What do you think? Pretty impressive, right? Took me ages to find all these."

Professor Flitwick peeked over, nodded approvingly, and said, "Indeed, quite impressive! It's a shame to waste this on just a few students."

He stood up, waved his wand, and expanded the game field's fencing several times over, turning many of the onlookers into participants.

Including the Weasley twins.

"Huh? Huh!" Fred was dumbfounded.

"Wait, I want out!" Several Gryffindor students who had been conspiring with the twins shouted as they tried to escape.

Pop!

The glass jar shattered, and the insects began to swell… and swell… and swell…

A three-meter-tall magical flower mantis tapped its front legs and emitted a strange screech.

A slug slithered forward, pressing down on a stunned student and covering him with sticky slime.

"Aaaahhhhhh—"

The terrified screams echoed across the entire school.

Wade felt a bit better.

…

By the time the second game started, there were fewer participants than ever.

The insects, back in their original forms, had already hidden away. 

A few Hufflepuff students cautiously asked Wade several times to confirm that the insect army wouldn't make another appearance before they dared to venture inside together.

Many students lay flat on the field, recovering from the shock, and some were even quietly crying. Wade walked through the crowd without a hint of guilt and returned to the castle.

He was headed to Hogsmeade, though he guessed no one else would be sneaking out of school for a while.

When he arrived on the seventh floor, he found that the Room of Requirement contained only Harry.

Wade was a bit surprised.

Seeing his expression, Harry explained, "I wanted to check on the progress of the case, so I didn't go to the game field… thank goodness I didn't."

He shuddered a bit at the thought.

Wade chuckled.

They used the Vanishing Cabinet and in an instant, they were in Lupin's house. Marchionne was already there, sitting on the living room sofa, drinking tea and chatting with Lupin.

"Remus! Mr. Marchionne!" Harry greeted enthusiastically. "Any updates on the case?"

"The public trial is set for next Friday," Lupin said with a smile. "Mr. Marchionne has brought the evidence… our chances are very good."

"That's fantastic!" Harry cheered, then hesitated. "I… well… um… would I be able to…"

"I'll ask Dumbledore if you can take the day off so that you can attend," Lupin said gently, understanding Harry's hesitation. "I think Dumbledore will understand how much that day means to you. It's far more important than a class."

Harry was overjoyed.

Marchionne gave a sly smile.

The "Boy Who Lived," the "Savior of the Wizarding World," and the boy who had lost his parents due to that betrayal, sitting in the public gallery. 

His emotions, his love and hate, and those clear green eyes would undoubtedly have an invisible impact on those judging the case.

It was a perfectly fair, open strategy.

One could only wonder what that fabled "godfather," the supposedly insane Sirius Black, would feel if he saw that scene.

While Harry and Lupin discussed the details of his attendance, Marchionne nodded at Wade, and the two went into the study.

Marchionne asked curiously, "Wade, last time you mentioned an alchemical creation you were working on for me. Is it finished now?" 

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