Hogwarts: Harry Returns from Water Margin

Chapter 23 Quirrell Reports on the Fall of a Giant

Picking up where we left off. Before her lessons were finished and the bell rang, Hermione stormed out. Flitwick intended to uphold the law and charge her with disrupting class, deducting two points.

But considering her close relationship with Harry and their sibling-like bond, she made an excuse, saying, "Oh, Miss Granger, would you like to go to the restroom?"

Seeing that no one responded, she continued, "Hmm... Miss Granger must be really in a hurry. Okay, I won't deduct her points for now."

Ron's anger subsided, and seeing Hermione flee in panic, he felt a pang of regret, blaming himself for speaking too harshly.

Seeing his distress, Harry said, "Brother, those words are so harsh. How can Big Sister bear them?"

Ron stubbornly insisted, "I just told her what everyone had been wanting to say but was too afraid to."

"Even if I don't say it today, someone will definitely say it later."

Harry shook his head to himself.

Ron pursed his lips upon seeing this. "Harry, you won't be mad at me, will you?"

Harry laughed, "A gentleman seeks harmony without uniformity, while a petty person seeks uniformity without harmony. My brother and sister have never had any wrong intentions; they simply have their own paths. How could I possibly blame them?"

Ron listened and lowered his head, remaining silent.

After finishing his afternoon classes, Ron still hadn't seen Hermione, and his anxiety grew, but he remained defiant, saying, "Don't worry at all, Harry. It's Halloween Eve, she'll definitely be at the party."

Harry laughed again, "But I didn't ask, brother, why are you talking to yourself like this?"

Ron was speechless and remained silent.

When the two arrived at the restaurant, it was already packed with people. Ron craned his neck to look around, but couldn't see a single brown hair. He hesitated and said:

"Harry, how about we go find Hermione? I just think it's a shame she's not coming to eat such a lavish dinner."

As he was speaking, a Gryffindor woman named Pettier said, "Are you looking for Hermione? She's been crying all afternoon in the girls' restroom and won't let anyone comfort her."

Knowing where Hermione was, Ron relaxed and said, "Oh, never mind the women's restroom."

This kind of hypocrisy is exactly:

Amidst sharp words and tender concerns, the news of peace turns into arrogance.

A young boy's nature is still unsettled; how can an old scale be used to weigh tender ginger?

When the appointed time arrived, a grand feast was held. Ron, however, did not eat or drink. Instead, he took off his robe and wrapped himself in some chicken, duck, fish, meat, and fresh vegetables.

When asked, he simply said he was having it as a late-night snack.

Harry saw through it but said nothing, and continued drinking.

Happy Halloween, Lion King!

"Oh, Your Majesty, you've acquired a precious sword?"

While they were eating, Fred and George came to greet them. When they saw Harry's ring knife at his waist, they were both stunned.

Harry cupped his hands and smiled, "It's not a sword, but a ring-shaped knife."

Fred leaned down to look and said, "A monk's knife? Is that a weapon used by monks?"

George cried out in anguish, "No! Lion King, how can you become a monk like this? You must at least leave behind an heir..."

The two of them, singing in unison, made everyone burst into laughter.

After the laughter subsided, George sat down next to Harry and whispered, "Harry, remember, I told you before about a way to quickly strengthen your body?"

Harry's heart skipped a beat. "Has my brother found a way?"

George pulled a long-tubed medicine bottle from his pocket, which was full of indigo liquid.

"This is an aging serum, a really good stuff I got my hands on in Hogsmeade."

"Just a few drops, oh~ and you'll instantly look several years older." Fred winked. "If you want to pursue a certain senior, but she thinks you're too young, then this will come in handy."

"However, I must warn you that it only lasts for a very short time."

Upon hearing that the potion could age one, Harry was overjoyed. With such a miraculous medicine, why worry about not being able to lift a knife?

He put the potion into his pocket, then took out ten Galleons and said:

"I am fortunate to have met you two elder brothers, and I hope you will accept this small gift."

When Fred and George saw that stack of gold coins, they were both stunned, their smiles freezing on their faces.

After a long pause, George stammered, "Oh, that's completely unnecessary, Harry. A bottle of aging potion doesn't even cost half a Galleon."

Seeing that the two brothers were declining, Harry forcefully stuffed the gold coin into their hands, saying, "How could I let you two brothers spend so much? Consider it just a token of my appreciation for your trouble!"

Fred and George, though fond of fun, were not insensitive when it came to serious matters. They were men of honor, and certainly wouldn't accept the gold coin.

The ten gold coins were being passed around among the group. Ron, seeing this, advised, "You should just accept them. Harry has always been like this."

"You're getting even angrier if you don't take it."

Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Fred was startled. "Ron, could it be—no wonder you were so generous when hiring upperclassmen to do your homework!"

"I thought you'd won the Daily Prophet's grand prize!"

Ron shrugged. "I had no choice; Harry forced me to take it."

Seeing Harry's resolute words and knowing Ron's precedent, Fred and George accepted the money.

"Great Lion King, if you ever need anything in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."

Fred pressed his hand to his chest and solemnly said, "The Weasley family is willing to serve you forever."

Percy, who was talking to a female prefect, frowned upon hearing this and said, "Who are you going to serve? And what the hell is the Weasley family? Don't include me in that."

"Come on, Percy, Ron has been transformed into Harry's shape for a long time, I think it's only a matter of time before you are too."

"What Harry shape? What are you talking about?"

The Weasleys were arguing when the dining room door was suddenly kicked open. Everyone looked over and saw Quirrell, wrapped in a large turban, stumbling and shoving his way in.

After scanning over the hundreds of heads in the restaurant, he said weakly, "The troll is in the underground classroom—I thought you knew." With that, he collapsed to the ground and never moved again.

The restaurant was silent for a moment or two, then suddenly erupted in chaos, like a dam collapsing or a bolt of lightning striking a demon. The students screamed and panicked, and it took Dumbledore a few explosions with his wand to calm things down.

"Alright, prefects of all colleges, immediately take your students back to the lounge!"

"No student should be left behind!"

The presiding officer of the fourth division received the order and directed the students to evacuate.

Ron, squeezed in the crowd, suddenly saw Harry walking against the flow. Startled, he rushed to grab his arm. "Harry, where are you going?"

"I'm going to find my eldest sister!"

"We all know what kind of monster there is, but my sister was just sitting in that latrine eating stench, how could she know!"

On Halloween Eve, the Fourth House was celebrating when Quirrell stumbled in, saying a troll was attacking. Hundreds of heads exploded, and Scarface drew his sword to meet the calamity. The students scattered like birds, but Harry, driven by loyalty, risked his life to run into the troll's chest. To find out what happens next, please stay tuned for the next installment.