Suspicion

When Wade emerged from the maze area, he saw the Weasley Twins leading students who were blocking the entrance, waving their arms and shouting—

"Protest! Protest!"

"Give us back the Ultimate Challenge!"

"This is everyone's hard work, the school can't just shut it down!"

"We want freedom! We want justice! We want the Ultimate Challenge!!!"

A group of teenagers, boys and girls, mixed together regardless of their houses, chanting slogans one after another. They scared the small animals on the outer edges, sending them scurrying into the bushes in a panic.

Wade was surprised to see several pearly white figures mixed in among the students—

More than half of the school's ghosts had arrived, and for some reason, they had also joined the protest. Even Peeves was shouting shoulder-to-shoulder, arm-in-arm with the Weasley Twins, incredibly close.

Wade turned around, expecting the Headmaster to say something, but Dumbledore was nowhere to be seen.

Professor McGonagall stood before the students. The Head of Gryffindor pointed her Wand at her throat and angrily declared, "Si—lence—"

Her incredibly loud voice was like rolling thunder, like a fierce lion's roar. The sound waves surged outwards like a tide, causing ripples across the surface of the Black Lake.

The lake made a "gloop" sound as the giant squid, which had surfaced to watch the commotion, dived back down.

The Forbidden Forest also suddenly became quiet, as if even the insects had stopped flapping their wings.

The wind died down, the clouds dispersed, and the students covered their ears, looking stunned. No one spoke anymore, and the area around the maze was so quiet that you could almost hear everyone's heartbeats.

Professor McGonagall lowered her Wand, clasped her hands together, looking dignified and elegant.

She looked at everyone and said, "A student was attacked by a Thestral inside the maze. We need to suspend all activities to investigate the cause of the incident."

Fred bravely whispered, "We're not afraid of getting hurt..."

Professor McGonagall narrowed her eyes.

Fred immediately corrected himself, "No... I mean... we'll be careful, we won't provoke the Thestral..."

"The Thestral was not provoked by any student's rude behavior. It was fed a large amount of Khat."

Professor McGonagall said, suppressing her anger, "This is a very malicious act! Whoever's prank this was, they had better confess to me immediately! Otherwise, if I find out who did it, they can expect to be sent home!"

She swept her gaze meaningfully over certain mischievous students.

Most students looked at the Weasley Twins, though some also eyed certain Slytherin students with bad reputations suspiciously.

The Twins immediately raised their hands and said in unison, "We swear it wasn't us, Professor!"

George added, "Khat is expensive, I know that, but I would never spend money on it for a prank."

No one believed the Twins' denial at first, but once George said that, everyone believed him.

The Weasley siblings, from first year to sixth year, plus two who had already graduated. Almost all their classmates knew their family's financial situation. Among the siblings, from Percy to Ginny, everyone used second-hand goods.

The older Percy and the only girl, Ginny, occasionally had a few new things, but the Weasley Twins and Ron seemed like they were found, wearing old clothes for years.

Of course, Fred and George secretly found ways to earn money, everyone knew that, and they knew they had some savings.

But to say they would spend a lot of money on an impractical herb for a pointless prank, randomly injuring a student...

No one believed they would be that stupid.

Percy glared fiercely at the Twins, then raised his hand and asked seriously, "Professor, who is the injured student?"

Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, initially not wanting to say, but seeing the looks from the surrounding students, she finally said, "Harry Potter. He was scratched by a Thestral and just taken to the Hospital Wing."

Ron and Hermione in the crowd turned pale. They exchanged a look, then bolted towards the Hospital Wing.

A "boom" of buzzing discussion erupted among the students, and many eyes turned towards the Slytherin students.

In reality, even the Slytherins themselves suspected someone from their own house had done it. They didn't voice their suspicions but instinctively looked at a few students who often insulted Gryffindors in the Common Room and advocated Pure-blood theories.

Such as Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, and others who frequently clashed with Harry and his friends.

And older students like Foley and Yaxley.

So, some Slytherins suddenly found themselves isolated by their classmates.

"Was it you, Draco?" Pansy whispered to Malfoy, saying excitedly, "It's okay, you can tell me, I'll keep your secret!"

"I wish I had given that scar-head a good lesson!" Malfoy said gloomily. "Too bad it wasn't... I guess some idiot did it."

He glanced in a certain direction. Pansy followed his gaze and saw several Slytherin boys standing together, their expressions equally cold, making it impossible to guess whom Malfoy had just looked at.

"No matter what," she told Malfoy, "I'll always support you."

Malfoy nodded vaguely, still appearing to be in a bad mood.

Professor McGonagall, of course, had her own suspects, but without evidence, she couldn't say anything.

She reiterated some precautions and loudly emphasized prohibiting certain students from secretly sneaking into the maze at night (Professor McGonagall glanced at the Weasley Twins again). Students who violated the rules would face severe punishment.

The students dispersed, disappointed. As they left, the Bowtruckles left their positions and returned to the hedges.

"Can I keep it? I think it likes me, and I really like it too."

Luna asked Professor Kettleburn.

Instead of outright refusing, the old professor smiled and said, "You can ask it yourself. If it's willing, I certainly have no objections."

Luna brightened, eagerly asking the Bowtruckle for its opinion, but the little creature burrowed into the hedge without hesitation, leaving only its back to her.

"Oh... it seems it doesn't quite agree..." the old professor added, somewhat mischievously.

Luna's eyebrows drooped in disappointment. She stared blankly in the direction where the Bowtruckle had disappeared, looking utterly foolish.

"Um... do you like Bowtruckles?"

Rolf, who was nearby, saw her and walked over. "Many people think they have an old man's face."

Luna glanced at him and said, "They're very cute. I think they're like friends. Of course, Crumple-Horned Snorkacks are also very cute, but they're bigger... I think."

"What's a Crumple-Horned Snorkack?"

Rolf paused, not dwelling on the question, and instead pulled a tiny Bowtruckle from his pocket.

"Look, this is my friend Ajiel. Of all the Bowtruckles, it's my favorite."

Little Ajiel clutched Rolf's finger, its two leaves on top of its head swaying slightly.

"That's wonderful... it's willing to go with you," Luna said enviously.

"You can shake its hand," Rolf suggested. "It's very friendly..."

Meanwhile, Fred and George found Wade.

"Hey, Wade, I have an idea..." Fred said, putting an arm around Wade's neck.

"What idea?" Wade asked.

"You know the Disillusionment Charm, and we seem to be considered suspects by everyone—" Fred said.

"To clear our names, we're willing to take a small risk—" George added.

"And we're certainly not lacking courage—we dare to explore anywhere in Hogwarts—"

"There's one place we've been curious about for a long time, but haven't had a chance to sneak into... ahem, explore—"

"So, while everyone's gone back, you can cast a Disillusionment Charm on me, and we'll sneak in—"

Wade raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me you want to infiltrate the Slytherin Common Room?"

"I knew you'd be on the same page as us!" George clapped his hands.

"Don't you think it's a good idea?" Fred added. "Slytherin must be responsible for this... When they go back to their Common Room, they definitely won't be able to resist bragging—"

"If we just sneak in and listen for a little while, the truth will definitely come out—" George chimed in.

"What do you think?" Fred asked next.

"Not much."

Wade said, walking towards the Hospital Wing, "You've forgotten someone... Didn't Harry say at the start of term that there was a House-elf trying to stop him from returning to school?"

Fred and George exchanged glances. "That must have been some annoying person... like Malfoy... sending his House-elf to mess with him, right?"

"That's unlikely."

Wade said, "If Malfoy could get his House-elf to break into Harry's house to mess with him, why hasn't he been killed by the remnants of the Death Eaters all these years?"

"I heard quite a few people escaped punishment. Isn't there anyone who wants revenge on Harry Potter?"

"Hmm..." George thought for a moment, a vague idea forming in his mind. "You mean..."

"I guess Dumbledore must have set up very powerful protective spells, or banishing spells, at Harry's residence," Wade said. "Those with ill intentions can't find him. That's why he's never been retaliated against."

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