Charlie stared at Peeves, his brows slightly furrowed.
"Peeves, what did that dog look like?"
Peeves did a somersault in the air, laughing even harder.
"Really big! Almost like a calf! All black fur, ran super fast! Hehehehe—"
Charlie's gaze deepened.
Such a big dog was already rare, and they were all black.
He was almost certain this was the dog from the Shrieking Shack.
Could it be that the dog just happened to find a secret passage, just happened to find the Gryffindor common room, and just happened to tear up the fat lady's portrait?
That was too much of a coincidence, trying to fool a ghost?
Charlie didn't believe in coincidences; that couldn't be an ordinary dog.
Who would want to infiltrate Gryffindor?
The answer was obvious: Sirius Black.
A thought flashed through Charlie's mind—could Sirius be that big black dog? Could he also be an Animagus?
Once this thought emerged, it wouldn't go away.
Charlie turned his head to look at Harry.
Dumbledore, seeing that Charlie seemed to have an idea, looked at him with an inquisitive gaze.
But Charlie didn't say much, and Dumbledore didn't press the matter.
The surrounding students began to whisper amongst themselves.
"A big black dog? I don't believe an ordinary dog would attack a portrait."
"Could it be an Animagus?"
"But there are only seven registered Animagi, and none of them can turn into a dog."
"I don't think it's an Animagus; it must be a hellhound from hell, an Asura."
The students' voices grew louder, and the corridor outside the Great Hall became chaotic.
Dumbledore raised his hand, signaling for silence.
"All students, return to the Great Hall immediately." Dumbledore's tone was calm, but brooks no argument.
"Prefects, lead your house members."
Percy, as Head Boy, immediately stepped forward and raised his wand.
"All students, follow me!"
The students, led by their respective house Prefects, lined up and walked towards the Great Hall.
In the Great Hall, Dumbledore waved his wand.
Purple light flowed from the tip of his wand, condensing into sleeping bags on the Great Hall floor.
The sleeping bags were neatly arranged between the four long tables, each with a soft mattress, looking quite comfortable.
"For everyone's safety, you will all rest here tonight. I will have the Head Boy and Prefects manage you." Dumbledore's voice echoed through the Great Hall.
"The Professors and I will search the entire school."
Then he instructed Percy, who was standing nearby.
"If anything happens, have a ghost report to me."
Percy, having received the instruction, looked incredibly proud.
The students exchanged glances, some excited, some nervous. They couldn't help but whisper, and the Great Hall buzzed.
It was like a self-study session when the school's power went out.
Percy stood at the front, raising his wand and tapping the air, producing a few crisp sounds.
"Quiet! Everyone, find your sleeping bags immediately!" Percy's voice was loud, clearly trying to project the authority of a Head Boy.
"Lights out in ten minutes, no one is allowed to leave the Great Hall!"
The students began to find their sleeping bags.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione grabbed their sleeping bags, squeezed through the crowd, and walked over to Charlie.
Hermione's face was a little pale, and she whispered:
"Is the dog tonight… the same one we usually see at the Shrieking Shack?"
Harry also thought of this question; his hands were tightly clutching his sleeping bag.
Charlie stood up and brushed the dust from his robes.
"It's not certain yet, but it's highly probable."
Hermione froze.
"Where are you going?"
"I have a way to find out where Sirius is." Charlie's tone was calm.
Ron's eyes widened.
"Now? But Dumbledore said to stay in the Great Hall—"
"I know what he said." Charlie interrupted him, turning to walk towards the door.
Percy happened to be standing there, and he stopped Charlie.
"Charlie, you are not to go anywhere." Percy's face was stern, and his Head Boy badge gleamed in the candlelight.
"As Head Boy, I have the right to manage all students, including you."
Charlie stopped, looking up at him.
Percy's expression became even more serious.
"Go back to your sleeping bag; this is for your safety."
Charlie didn't speak, just pulled out his wand.
Percy took two steps back, swallowed, and looked a little nervous.
"What do you want to do? I warn you—"
Before he finished speaking, Charlie's figure suddenly twisted, as if being wrung by an invisible hand, and then he vanished into thin air.
Percy froze in place, his hand still in the gesture of blocking someone, his mouth slightly open, his expression changing from serious to shocked.
Was that Apparition just now?
But *Hogwarts: A History* said that the Castle has various protective Magic Spells, and Apparition is ineffective inside the Castle.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged glances.
Ron swallowed.
"As expected of Charlie."
Hermione frowned.
"But Apparition requires passing an exam to use, and Hogwarts has anti-Apparition magic…"
"Apparently, it doesn't work on Charlie," Harry whispered.
Percy finally came to his senses. He took a deep breath and said to a ghost nearby.
"Sir Nicholas, please inform Dumbledore that Charlie has left without permission!"
…Charlie Apparated to his dormitory.
[Your Majesty disregarded the Grand Tutor's regulations, tyrant points + 10]
He ignored the system, skillfully taking out the marauders map from his bedside table drawer.
This map could show the names and locations of everyone within Hogwarts. Fred and George had given him the map, but he hadn't used it much yet. Now it would come in handy.
He unfolded the parchment and tapped it with his wand.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
Ink lines spread from where his wand touched, quickly outlining every corridor and every room of Hogwarts.
Dense little black dots moved on the map, each labeled with a name.
Charlie's gaze scanned the map, looking for the name "Sirius Black."
Currently, almost all names were concentrated in the Great Hall, with only a few Professors scattered around the school.
Dumbledore was on the fourth floor, Professor McGonagall on the third, Snape in the basement… Charlie frowned.
Had Sirius already escaped the school?
He turned his gaze back to the Great Hall, carefully examining every name.
What if he was still hiding among the students? After all, with so many people crowded together, it wasn't impossible to blend in.
Names scrolled past his eyes one by one.
Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Neville Longbottom… These names were arranged in order.
Suddenly, Charlie's hand stopped.
He saw two names overlapping.
Ron Weasley.
Peter Pettigrew.
Charlie's eyes widened, and he froze in place.
Who?
Who was Ron sleeping with?
-------------------------
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!"