great-warnovel Chapter 161 Summer Vacation Arrangements and the Curse
Chapter 161 Summer Vacation Arrangements and the Curse
Chapter 161 Summer Vacation Arrangements and the Curse
"Really? We're really that good?" Harry asked, his eyes wide with anticipation.
Hermione thought for a moment and replied, "In my opinion, even if George and Fred team up, they probably can't beat you and Ron together."
The Weasley twins are among the top fourth-year students, and they also possess the troublesome Twin Fusion technique. Even against two fifth-year students, they would probably be able to put up a fight.
But nowadays, although Harry and Ron are limited by their magical powers and have fewer spells than the others, their solid defense, powerful destructive force, and tacit understanding from years of adventuring and fighting together make them a formidable force. If they work well together, the twins probably won't have much of a way to deal with them.
"We've become this amazing!" Ron exclaimed with delight. He had never imagined that his two older brothers, who used to seem like devils to him, were no longer so unattainable.
Hermione continued, "Given your current progress in Transfiguration, I truly cannot teach you Animagus."
She did the math: "There's not much time left in second grade. I promised Mrs. Molly this summer that I'd spend the summer at the Weasleys' house—"
"So Harry, if you can master the third-year Transfiguration material by the end of summer vacation, or even learn ahead of the fourth-year textbooks, then I think you should be able to convince Lily and Professor McGonagall when school starts again."
This is to allow you to try Animagus early on.
She then looked at Ron and Neville: "Your Transfiguration skills are not as good as Harry's. If you don't want to fall too far behind, you'd better learn from him. If you can all meet my requirements next year, then maybe I can tutor all three of you at the same time."
Having acquired the moon form, she felt she could directly use her own moonlight to illuminate the Animagus potion.
That might be more effective than Moonfox dung.
Harry immediately became highly motivated. Before Christmas, he thought it was impossible to finish the third-year Transfiguration textbook, but he actually did it. Now he was just practicing and consolidating what he had learned before and learning ahead of time. Having suffered so much, he no longer considered it a task.
He thought for a moment, "If you're going to the Burrow this year, why don't we both go this year?" He looked at Neville, and suddenly another good idea came to him.
"I'll talk to Mom! I don't think she'll object! She'll be so happy to have one less kid to take care of during the summer vacation! What do you think, Ron?"
Unlike last year, Lily will definitely be assigned students again this summer. Then she'll have to manage both the students and Harry.
"Mom will be happy that you're all coming. She's great at cooking big meals, you know, we have a lot of family members," Ron said, welcoming them.
"But don't have too high expectations for my mother's cooking skills; it's only good enough to keep her alive."
'
Neville thought for a moment: "Mom and Dad are both very busy, so it'll probably just be Grandma and me at home during the summer vacation. Maybe I can invite Grandma to come to the humble abode? She's a bit fierce, but she's a great cook!"
"Oh! I need to hurry to the Ghost Owl Tower! Mom knows so many people are coming, she'll definitely have to expand the rooms in advance!"
Hermione smiled as she looked at the three people who had suddenly agreed on the plan. Although they had only known each other for less than two years,
But at some point, it seems that a bond had quietly formed among the four of them. They could make decisions immediately without any hesitation to stay at each other's homes without worrying about being rejected. This was a connection like that of family.
As the days went by, the next field practice class was getting closer and closer.
Lately, Dumbledore and McGonagall have been frequently absent from the school. No one knows what they've been up to, but they speculate that perhaps it's because they're getting closer to Paris and need to handle matters related to the Malay Party.
But in fact, the two headmasters had gone to Verdon Canyon in advance to scout the location. They had to ensure that this "trial" was safe and controllable. Once Lockhart and Hermione were brought over by the Portkey, Dumbledore would directly seize control of the Anti-Apparition barrier to ensure that the Carol siblings would not escape if things went wrong. To a wizard of his level, the Carol siblings' magic was like a joke.
There were also other unexpected dangers that might arise in the vicinity. Professor McGonagall quietly cleared away many fiendish crypts that were about to erupt and buried many stone statues that had been enhanced by the Transfiguration spell underground in order to deal with any possible emergencies.
It can only be said that the Carol siblings have now completely become a dish on the table, even if Harry and his friends are no match for them.
They would be subdued by the two principals in an instant.
Lockhart has recently become unusually serious. He contacted Professor Flitwick in advance, claiming that the next field trip would involve a wilderness survival training exercise for the second-year students, and he might not be able to manage it all by himself, so he would need an experienced teaching assistant.
Obviously, a Charms professor with whom you have a good working relationship in practical classes is a great choice, and the kind-hearted Flitwick rarely refuses such a legitimate request.
Lockhart and Hermione would then use the Portkey to deal with the Carol siblings and the Basilisk, while the children would be temporarily cared for by Flitwick. (Of course, this was the Defense Defence Professor's assumption.)
Just when everything was arranged and the field practice was about to begin, another unexpected event disrupted Hogwarts.
Barty Crouch Jr. arrived again, this time looking anxious, with a stretcher floating beside him, searching the Great Hall for Dumbledore and McGonagall.
"I've already told you, the headmaster isn't at Hogwarts right now," Filch said, frowning, trying to be as polite as possible.
"But my father is dying! It's that curse from before! Dumbledore knows!" Barty the Younger roared.
The veins on his neck stretched down to his cheeks.
"Someone is spreading curses in Malfoy Castle! Last time it was just one of my elders, this time it's my father!"
He grabbed Filch tightly: "Where is Dumbledore! How do we find him! Or when will he be back!"
The people who were eating craned their necks to look, and saw that the person lying on the stretcher was none other than Barty Crouch, the current Speaker of Malfoy Castle!
At this moment, his face was completely blackened, and a stench emanated from his body. From one hand to his neck, he was covered with black and purple patterns, clearly some kind of extremely terrifying black magic.
Barty Jr. tried to calm himself down, and he said breathlessly, "I know that Dumbledore's secret to breaking the Dark Lord's curse is extremely precious, but time is of the essence! I'm willing to pay any price for that secret!"
"Please tell me! Where is he! Please!" His eyes were red, and he looked like a filial son, clinging tightly to Filch's clothes.
"Mr. Crouch, I sympathize with what you've been through," Filch said in a low voice.
"But Merlin behold, I swear, neither Dumbledore nor Professor McGonagall are at the school right now, and they obviously won't tell me where they are."
"Perhaps you could ask Professor Potter for a look? Or maybe send it to Beauxbatons' Mercury Room?"
Crouch Jr. shook his head: "Professor Slughorn has already seen the useless stuff; all the conventional measures are ineffective."
With tears welling in his eyes, he looked up and said, "I will do everything in my power to prolong Father's life. If Dumbledore returns, please inform me immediately!"