Charlie, of course, went too.
However, just like the previous few times, he still found no trace of Sirius.
Harry was a bit discouraged, but Charlie was not anxious. Fishing requires patience, and coming up empty is normal, but remember, no one stays empty-handed forever.
The feast was held in the Great Hall.
Hundreds of bats fluttered on the ceiling, jack-o'-lanterns floated in the air, and candlelight flickered.
The tables were laden with all sorts of food: roasted chicken, ham, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie.
Harry had barely sat down when Wood walked over from beside him.
"Harry," Wood's voice was serious.
"Remember to come to practice tomorrow."
Harry froze for a moment, then looked up.
"Tomorrow? But tomorrow is Sunday."
He had planned to go to Hogsmeade again tomorrow.
"I know," Wood nodded.
"But we must hurry."
With that, Wood turned and left, his steps firm, like a soldier going to battle.
Harry looked at his retreating back, then turned to Ron with a bitter expression.
"Wood is crazy." Harry's tone was full of helplessness.
"He's graduating next year, so this year is his last chance to win the House Cup."
Ron swallowed his food.
"So he's going to work you guys to death?"
"Pretty much."
Last year, the House Cup unexpectedly fell into Hufflepuff's hands.
Wood saw this as a great humiliation and spent the entire summer devising new tactics. This year, to compensate for the broom advantage, the intensity of training was simply inhuman to the team members.
At the end of the feast, the ghosts of Hogwarts floated out.
Nearly Headless Nick emerged from under the Gryffindor table, his head tilted to one side, held by his hand.
The Bloody Baron, covered in bloodstains, hovered by the Slytherin table.
The Fat Friar floated over from the Hufflepuff side, smiling cheerfully and greeting the students.
The students erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers.
Nick began to perform his specialty — taking his head off his neck and then putting it back on.
Headmaster Dumbledore stood at the faculty table, a faint smile on his lips, quietly watching the ghosts' performance.
Just then, a piercing laugh came from outside the Great Hall.
"Hehehe, hahahaha —"
Peeves flew in from the doorway, doing a somersault in the air. His tiny top hat was askew on his head, and his eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Intruder! There's an intruder at Hogwarts!"
Peeves' voice was sharp and shrill, but it didn't sound tense at all; instead, it carried a hint of schadenfreude.
The Great Hall instantly fell silent.
Students looked at each other, not knowing what had happened.
Charlie looked up at Peeves, who was tumbling in the air, and helplessly rubbed his forehead.
Damn it, who said this semester would be peaceful?
Dumbledore's expression turned serious. He stood up and spoke calmly.
"Peeves, what happened?"
Peeves reined in his smile. He wouldn't dare mock Headmaster Dumbledore.
"Follow me!" Peeves' tone was unusually serious for a moment.
Dumbledore walked down from the faculty table, following Peeves. Professors all rose, and students followed suit.
The entire procession moved grandly through the corridor, arriving at the Gryffindor Tower.
Charlie stood at the front of the student group, looking up at the portrait.
The portrait of the fat lady had been torn to shreds.
Long claw marks were left on the canvas, as if ripped by sharp claws.
the fat lady, who should have been in the portrait, was gone.
The figures in the surrounding portraits had all retreated far away, peeking out and whispering.
Filch hurried over, carrying his cat, his expression grim.
"Principal, I'll go find the fat lady right away."
Peeves did a somersault in the air and chuckled.
"No need to look! She doesn't want to see anyone right now. She's hiding and crying in a landscape painting on the fifth floor."
Dumbledore's gaze fell on Peeves.
"Peeves, do you know who did it?"
Peeves said fawningly.
"Of course, Professor Head! It was a big black dog!"
Charlie immediately reacted, looking at Harry, and Harry also happened to meet Charlie's gaze.
big black dog?
There's a problem, a big problem.
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read 70+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"