Happry Potter: The New Player

"What is happening, what occurred?"

Filch was drawn by Malfoy's cry, making his way through the crowd.

"My cat! My cat! What has happened to her?" Filch yelled, almost fainting.

"It's you, you killed my cat," Filch said as he approached Evan and grabbed him, "I will kill you."

"Let me go!" said Evan, pushing Filch's hand away, "I didn't touch a single hair of your cat, no one did, it was already like that when we arrived."

"Liar, you're lying! Someone saw you, didn't they?" Filch cried.

"Filch!"

Dumbledore arrived on the scene, followed by other professors. In an instant, he approached Evan, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and took the cat from Filch.

"Come with me, Filch," Dumbledore said to Filch, "And you, Mr. Mason, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, and Miss Granger," said Dumbledore.

Lockhart hurriedly said, "My office is closer, you can use it if you wish."

"Thank you, Gilderoy!" nodded Dumbledore.

The silent crowd parted to let them through.

They were led to Lockhart's dark office, followed by Professor McGonagall and Snape. Evan saw Lockhart quickly clearing his photos from a table.

Then Lockhart lit a candle on a table and withdrew to the back. Dumbledore placed the cat on the clean table and began to examine it closely.

Dumbledore carefully observed the cat while Professor McGonagall stood so close that she almost touched it as she watched.

Snape lingered behind them, partially hidden in the shadows, looking gloomy; his face bore a very peculiar expression, as if trying to contain laughter. Lockhart circled around them, still giving advice.

Evan, Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged nervous glances; they were seated in chairs not illuminated by the candlelight. Filch stood behind them, staring at Evan as if he had already identified him as the culprit.

"It must have been a curse that killed her, probably a spell that deforms and tortures the subject," said Lockhart, "I have seen this spell used many times. I regret not being there because I know the spell that could have saved her."

Upon hearing Lockhart's words, Filch shuddered slightly in pain.

Then, suddenly, he collapsed into a chair beside the table, holding his face in his hands; he dared not look at Mrs. Norris's wretched state.

At that moment, Dumbledore whispered a few words and used his wand to lightly touch Mrs. Norris, but there was no response, Mrs. Norris remained stiff.

"Headmaster, this cat is dead! I recall a similar event in one of my books, where there was a series of attacks," said Lockhart, "I then gave the common people a variety of amulets to solve the problem."

"Professor, she is not dead, just petrified."

Evan felt he should say something before Lockhart made Filch attempt to kill him.

"Nonsense, you killed her!" Filch roared.

"Mr. Mason is right, she is not dead," Dumbledore whispered to Filch, "She was petrified by a strong curse, first-year students cannot do this."

"He did it, he did it! You saw the words written on the wall with Mrs. Norris, she has repeatedly prevented him from entering the girls' bathroom on the third floor!" said Filch, "He must hold a grudge."

"I didn't touch your cat!"

"I am seeking ghosts from the castle to help me provide sources for my newspaper. I believe it is necessary to speak with Moaning Myrtle, she knows Hogwarts very well, and many girls like her," explained Evan, but Filch did not believe his words.

"I am deeply skeptical about it," said Snape with a hint of mockery as he glanced at Harry, "All of this is full of gaps, why did you go upstairs instead of attending the Halloween feast?"

Snape posed a series of questions that made Evan feel aged.

Fortunately, he didn't have to elaborate as Harry, Ron, and Hermione hurried to explain that they were at the Day of the Dead celebration.

"Hundreds of ghosts can attest to our presence there."

"But after that, why didn't you come to the party?" Snape asked, his eyes gleaming in the candlelight. "Why did you head up the hallway?"

"Because Ron had a minor misunderstanding with Moaning Myrtle, we were going to apologize to her."

"Apologizing to a ghost instead of dining," Snape said with a proud smile, "I don't believe the food at a ghost party is suitable for the living."

"We weren't hungry," Ron said loudly, but his stomach growled, causing Snape's smile to become even more prominent.

"In my view, Headmaster, I don't think they have been entirely truthful. So, we should probably revoke some of their privileges until they are willing to tell us the truth," Snape said. "Personally, I think we should suspend Mr. Mason's newspaper and have Mr. Potter leave the Quidditch team until they are honest."

"To be frank, Severus," Professor McGonagall retorted, "I see no reason to have these children give up their favorite extracurricular activities since neither the cat was struck on the head with a newspaper nor with a broomstick, and there is no evidence they have done anything wrong."

Dumbledore gazed at the four individuals with a probing look, his eyes seeming to see through everything.

"Until their guilt is proven, they are innocent, Severus," Dumbledore stated firmly.

Snape and Filch appeared irritated.

"My cat is petrified, and I want to see someone punished!"

"We can heal her, Filch," Dumbledore said patiently, "Professor Sprout has recently obtained some mandrakes, and once they are fully grown, we can brew a potion to cure Mrs. Norris."

"I will do it," Lockhart interjected, "I have done it hundreds of times, I can even make it in my sleep."

"Allow me! I believe I am the school's Potions Master," Snape insisted.

There was an awkward silence with Lockhart feeling slightly uncomfortable.

"You may go," Dumbledore told Evan, Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

They left quickly, almost running. Exiting Lockhart's office, they entered an empty classroom and closed the door gently.

In the darkness, Hermione squinted at Evan, Harry, and Ron.

.....

Join my P*atreon and dive into over 60 advanced chapters!

Link: p*atreon.com/Nebula_Scribe (Remove the *)

Plus, enjoy the next two chapters for free—grab them while they're fresh!