This is the penultimate week until the end of the semester.

Unlike the tense atmosphere of the second half of the academic year, when exams are required, the atmosphere before the end of the first half of the academic year has always been warm and cozy, and even a few professors who are known for their rigor will be a little less tormenting during this time.

During the lunch break, the Gryffindor Lounge was much more noisy than ever.

Among Harry's roommates, Dean and Seamus were already packing their bags for home, and the eldest brother of the Weasley family was also taking advantage of this effort to persuade Ron to go home for Christmas.

"Fred and George, and Ginny will all go back, and even Charlie will rush back from Romania to spend Christmas with Mom and Dad, just you, Ron!"

After learning that Ron had signed Professor McGonagall's form, Percy immediately approached Ron and said unhappily.

"Bill is also in Egypt, and he can't go back."

"Bill isn't going back because he hasn't been able to get rid of the goblins at Gringotts," Percy said proudly, but, after Ron gestured to Harry who pretended not to hear anything, Percy frowned and reluctantly walked away.

"You don't have to, Ron--" Harry said sincerely, "this is a time for a family reunion, and you should go back to Mrs. Weasley." ”

"Oh, you don't know, Harry!"

Ron shook his head and pretended to be annoyed, "There are already so many people crowded into the house, I will only cause trouble for my parents when I go back!" ”

"Hey, Harry!"

Harry knew that Ron was doing this for him, and he was about to say something with emotion, but Colin, a second-year student, suddenly walked over with Ginny with a look of anticipation with his camera.

"Can I take you a Christmas close-up, my brother Dennis will be old next year, but he's not sure if he's eligible to be accepted into Hogwarts, I'd like to give him your picture, maybe it will give him some confidence!"

"Oh, well, if you insist--"

Harry didn't understand why Colin thought his photos had a lucky function, but he couldn't find any reason to refuse.

Harry was pulled down by Colin in front of the Christmas tree with mistletoe and holly and lots of fairy lights flying around in the lounge, and he was left to fiddle with it for most of the day before he could take the picture that Colin wanted.

"Can you give me one, Colin..."

Ginny's whispered prayer came from a few paces away, and Harry's ears turned red at Ron's inexplicable snicker,

"Hermione, why didn't I see her and go to the library again?"

In order to prevent Ron from bringing Ginny's admiration to him again, Harry urgently changed the subject.

"Convincing Neville to overcome his fear of his grandma and come home for Christmas--"

Ron shrugged his shoulders and pointed in the other direction of the noisy lounge,

"She always loves to challenge the impossible."

Harry grinned, the gloom in his heart washed away by the tumultuous common room, both about Christmas and what had happened in Professor Bryan's office last night.

"Speaking of--"

Seeing that Harry's mood was finally high, Ron was also relieved, and he asked casually,

"Lupin's reaction yesterday, do you want to understand anything?"

"I don't know," Harry said with a sigh, "I don't understand why he cares so much about that secret passage under the beating willow, but he's a friend of my father, and I think he's just like Professor Bryan and doesn't want me to use these secret passages to get out of Hogwarts." ”

The portrait of the Fat Lady was frequently opened for the young wizard to enter and exit, but this time, the walk-in made the noisy common room quickly quiet.

Amosta gently looked at the young wizards with surprised expressions, and then found Longbottom in the corner.

"Good news, Mr. Longbottom—"

Without pretending, Amosta took his wand out of his pocket and handed it to Neville,

"Your wand has been recovered, Mr. Longbottom, you don't have to worry about your grandmother kicking you out of the house now."

"Where did you find that, Professor?"

Neville's mournful face, worried that he might never be able to return home in the future, suddenly relaxed, and he didn't know how to express his gratitude, and Hermione asked the question on his behalf.

"I saw it unexpectedly when I was passing through the yard last night... Oh, yes."

Amosta smiled, and after thinking about it, he lowered his voice and said to Hermione,

"Last night, um, I spotted Crookshant in Hogsmeade, and considering the cold weather lately, I brought it back directly, and if you like, you can take me to the office and bring it back to the dormitory."

After glancing at Harry and Ron, who were peeking in this direction, Hermione's still immature cheeks appeared a gloomy,

"Crookshank doesn't seem to like to be in Hagrid, Professor, can I ask you to help take care of Crookshank for a while?"

Afraid that Professor Bryan would think he was just trying to save trouble, Hermione hurriedly added, "I'll visit it often!" ”

"Not a problem, Hermione,"

Amosta nodded,

"Crookshank found himself a playmate in the wild, a black cat, and I brought both of them back, so you don't have to worry too much about it being lonely."

"You're such a nice guy, Professor!"

Hermin was about to cry out, and Neville on the side was nodding frantically.

Amosta was embarrassed enough to say that, but Harry and Ron rushed over as if they had something to say.

"Let's go out and talk, Harry."

Amosta knew what Harry wanted to ask, but the topic was obviously not suitable for discussion in public, and after giving him a command, he turned and walked out of the common room first, and Harry and the others followed without hesitation.

Walking down the corridor, Amosta stopped at the corner of the stairs.

"Did you find anything, Professor?"

Harry's eyes burned as he asked the question, and when he got the answer, he predictably showed obvious disappointment.

"Still thinking about slashing Sirius Black and avenging your mom and dad?"

"Harry wouldn't think so, would he?"

Afraid that Harry would be on another muscle, Hermione said hurriedly.

"I didn't think so, Professor," Harry said frankly, "I just hope you get that criminal back to where he belongs, as soon as possible." ”

It's a mess...

Looking at Harry, who was trying to hide his hatred, Amosta shook his head in his heart,

"Don't worry, Harry, I'll find a way to make the real murderer pay as soon as possible."

"The real murderer?"

After Professor Bryan left, Hermione immediately furrowed her delicate brow and fluttered her eyelashes in confusion, "What does Professor Bryan want to express?" ”

"What's so hard to figure out about this--"

Ron folded his arms and said confidently, "The wizards in the wizarding world know that it was the mysterious man who killed Harry's parents, but few people know that their sacrifice was caused by Blake, which is why Professor Blake said that he wants to make the 'real murderer' pay... Anyway, I don't know if Professor Bryan will stay in school for the holidays, maybe I should write to my mom and ask her to knit a sweater for him, I bet my mom won't refuse, she can't thank him enough. ”

"I don't think so,"

Harry, who was also puzzled by Professor Blaine, didn't keep his mouth shut, and subconsciously said,

"Normally, he would go back to the orphanage every year to spend Christmas with the children—"

"Where did you hear that, Harry?"

Hermione suddenly tilted her head and stared at Harry suspiciously, which made Harry realize that he seemed to have said something he shouldn't have said, and his heart beat hard, pretending to be light,

"Oh, as you all know, I spent a month alone with Professor Bryan during the summer vacation, and he told him a little bit about his past."

"Oh, you keep it a secret from us, brother!"

Ron was also interested, grabbing Harry's shirt and forcing him to ask,

"Tell me, what do you know about Professor Brian?"

"If you want me to die not at the hands of Black, but at the hands of Professor Bryan,"

Harry said with tears streaming down his face, "Then just push me!" ”

................

Reading Pavilion