The next day, wherever they went, they saw increased security measures.

Professor Flitwick was holding a large picture of Blake and teaching every guard the identification of the front door, and Filch suddenly ran back and forth in the hallway, nailing everything from small cracks in the walls to rat holes with wooden planks. Gryffindor's temporary portrait, Sir Cadogan, was dismissed. His portrait was put back on the lonely staircase on the eighth floor, and the fat woman returned.

The fat woman was professionally restored, but she was still extremely nervous, and her return to work was conditional and she had to be extra protected. A group of rough and rude gnomes were hired to protect her. They walked down the hallway at a menacing pace, muttering and comparing the size of the sticks in their hands.

Ron has instantly become a celebrity. It was the first time in his life that he had encountered such treatment, and he clearly enjoyed the experience. Whenever someone asked, he was happy to tell them what had happened, and added many details.

"I fell asleep - I woke up, one side of the curtain was torn off by the bed - I rolled over, and I saw him standing in front of me like a skeleton - " A group of second-year girls surrounded Ron, his story told differently each time, the third version Phoenix had heard.

"I'm sorry, why didn't he do it?" Draco ate his breakfast in dismay.

"It seems that he doesn't have a wand, maybe he's afraid Ron will scream, and the difference between the Avada Curse and killing with a knife is quite big. Phoenix took a sip of milk, "Don't you think I have the gift of being a prophet? ”

"Just before Professor Snape told us about the situation—an hour or two, is that a prophecy?" said Brace, grinning.

"Of course, this is level two. ”

The school owl flew into the hall and delivered the mail as usual, and a huge barn owl stopped at the Gryffindor table with a scarlet envelope in its mouth, a roaring letter.

Neville grabbed the envelope and ran out of the hall like a bomb in his hand, and the Slytherin students laughed at his sight. They heard the roaring letter talking in the antechamber.

Neville's grandmother's voice, a hundred times louder than usual, spieked at him for bringing shame on the entire family - it is said that Blake was able to break into the Gryffindor common room thanks to his poor memory and writing the password on a small note.

A flash of fire, a feather, and a small note appeared in his hand. Phoenix glanced at it, raised an eyebrow, and quickly put it away.

On Saturday morning, everyone was lining up to head to Hogsmeade. Professor McGonagall stood in front of the foyer and called out to Phoenix.

"Mr. Peverell, come here," McGonagall looked at the crowd, "Miss Granger." The two of them left the group one after the other, and Phoenix vaguely knew what was going on.

"At the end of this semester, the Salem Wizarding Academy in the United States is coming to the United Kingdom to participate in an event. Minister Fudge wants Hogwarts to send two student representatives to attend," Professor McGonagall took out two invitations and handed them them, "Headmaster Dumbledore has decided to let you go, this is an international exchange, I hope you will not relax your demands on your behavior, I will be very sad if you disgrace Hogwarts." ”

Finally, Professor McGonagall told them to prepare their gowns and robes.

"Where do you think we're going to buy it?" Hermione looked excited.

"Hogsmeade, there's a nice clothing store there. ”

"What the hell are they here for?" Professor McGonagall didn't seem to explain. ”

"It's probably going to various countries to experience the local customs and stuff, and to be honest - this is the first time I've heard of this kind of event. Phoenix slipped the invitation into his pocket disapprovingly.

Hermione kept chattering and asking this and that, and she was a little too excited.

In the Fengya brand wizard costume store, Phoenix quickly decided on his own dress, a silver-gray goose-down dress with a long chest. However, he had to add built-in pockets to his gown to carry a spare wand and emergency potions kit, and his father had written from him in the morning to keep him on guard.

Hermione kept trying different dresses, tirelessly posing in various poses to make Phoenix comment that one was better, and I have to say that women have difficulty choosing between clothes.

"Do you think this is good?"

"Isn't this too much like a wedding?"

"Look—"

Phoenix didn't get the slightest impatient, patiently and humorously picking for her. But the eyes kept glancing at the clerk and told him not to put other dresses there, but unfortunately the clerk misunderstood that he would bring more dresses for them to choose from.

By the time they finally walked out of the clothing store, many of the older students had already returned to school, and for them there was little to remember about Hogsmeade.

"I know of a small teahouse, do you want to go?" asked Phoenix, politely.

"No, Lady Parddev's teahouse. A faint flush appeared on Hermione's cheeks, which was a great place for couples to go on a date.

"Do you want me to take you?" said Phoenix, and Hermione quickly denied.

"I don't want to. ”

"It was a teahouse that my uncle owned, probably last year. You know, business sucks. Phoenix took Hermione onto a sparsely populated uphill road.

"Actually, it's a good shop, I like it. No noisy with three brooms or weird with a pig's head. ”

"Have you been to the Hog's Head Bar? where can the students go?" Hermione took Phoenix's arm as she could.

"Of course, it's a black market trading place, and all kinds of prohibited items can be obtained. ”

The two of them came to the front of a very small storefront: the Meditation Teahouse

"Are you sure, it's open today?" It did seem like there was no one inside, no customers, no waiters, and even no decorations.

"This is the wizarding world. "Phoenix pushes the door in, and the space is very small. The décor is typical of medieval wizard families, with elaborate carpets covering the entire floor, and various landscape paintings hanging on the walls, as if as a window into another world, and the two sit down at a round table next to the window.

"Two cups of coffee. "Coffee came out immediately.

"Actually, uh-I have something to say to you. Phoenix was in a low tone, staring at the coffee organization language, and the atmosphere was no longer relaxed.

Outside the window, a large group of girls walked by, and the Daily Prophet was still promoting Phoenix. Recently, no matter where he goes, there are girls who come to him for autographs. He had to use all kinds of methods to get rid of them. Otherwise, you will waste an entire day on this.

"Hagrid lost the lawsuit. I just got the message in the morning. ”

"Buckbeak going to be executed?" Hermione said, her lips trembling and her hands trembling slightly. Tears welled up in Phoenix's eyes as she nodded.

He sat down and took him in his arms, tears quickly soaking his shoulders. Phoenix understands that this semester has not been easy for her, not only to use the time turner to take all the subjects, but also to help Hagrid prepare the testimony, and to participate in Phoenix's study group, but the worst thing is that because of some things, there is a rift in the relationship with Harry and Ron, and she seems even more lonely because of some things.

Unknowingly, Phoenix gradually transcended the relationship of friends, and he himself was hesitant about Hermione.

After a while, Hermione finally calmed down.

"Malfoy's dad threatened the committee to make them do it. Hermione said, wiping her eyes, "You know who he is." The committee was a bunch of old and shivering fools, frightened by him. Although it is still possible to appeal, that is always possible. It's just that I don't see any hope - nothing can change. ”

"No, hope is the best thing for people. Phoenix said in a calm tone, "There's always a chance." ”

Hermione nodded, lying quietly in his arms.