Matthew Wakefield's mood can be said to be terrible.

He had already guessed that the book could be terrible, but he didn't expect it to be so scary!

What Slughorn had just said was completely true to what he had experienced before.

Hogwarts does have some precautions against dark magic items, as well as strict spatial rules...... So the book went to the "Room of Requirement", and according to some descriptions in the original book from the previous life, the Room of Requirement, although it was in Hogwarts, was not bound by the rules of Hogwarts!

At the same time, Slughorn said that the real mystery is impossible to escape...... So no matter what way I do, it is almost impossible to "shake off" the book, it is always haunted.

As for Slughorn's judgment, what attacked Malfoy was an extremely weak mysterious side dark magic item...... His guesses are most likely diametrically opposed to the facts...... It was because the power of that book was so powerful that it was able to escape their arrest at that time.

So, what to do?

Matthew was going to get the truth out of Horace Slughorn. Then, hoping that the Potions teacher would be able to help him get rid of this threat once and for all.

But Slughorn's words directly made him retreat...... Could it be that he really let the head of Slytherin kill himself?

And in Slughorn's tone, it directly made Matthew's mind a little desperate......

If that book was really that terrifying, wouldn't I be certain to die?

Or, worse, to be exposed to what Slughorn said, an ending that is more horrific than death?

No...... No...... No......

It wasn't that point yet, and Matthew tried his best to comfort himself.

He recalled what Slughorn had said earlier:

"You can only pray that you'll never encounter that kind of thing, unless you're a powerful wizard like Professor Grindelwald. ”

Does this mean that if you become a wizard as powerful as Gellert Grindelwald, you don't have to fear that book?

I guess that's what it means...... Therefore, his end is not completely doomed.

I guess so...... Probably so......

......

In the dark hallway, Matthew shook his head, not allowing himself to continue his thoughts.

I looked down at my watch, it was getting late, and it was almost ten o'clock...... That would be a violation of school rules.

Descending the marble steps, he began to walk into the basement.

The corridor in the basement was incomparably long and eerie in the darkness.

From time to time, I can hear some strange sounds in my ears, of course, this may be just an illusion caused by the sound of the wind.

The torches on the stone wall were also extremely weak, and they could not even light the road ahead.

Matthew pulled out his black walnut wand from his waist and gently raised it with his left hand:

"Luminos!"

He chanted softly.

A faint light, from the end of his wand, lit up the path ahead of him.

The spells that Professor Flitwick had handed in in Charms class two weeks ago were simple, but in many cases they were very useful.

But just as Matthew passed by the door of the Potions classroom—

Seem...... Got a sound?

Matthew pricked up his ears slightly.

Yes, there are sounds!

It came from the Potions classroom.

Although it is very small, this time Matthew can judge that it is definitely not an illusion caused by the wind.

Who will it be?

First of all, Potions teacher Horace Slughorn is excluded. The old man had just said goodbye to Matthew in his office, and there was no reason why he could suddenly appear in the Potions classroom.

So...... Is it another teacher who, with Slughorn's permission, came to pick up something in his classroom?

Or is it ...... Someone stealing something inside?

Or rather...... Is it the killer who attacked Ronald Weasley before?

But Matthew didn't turn around, and continued to walk forward with a steady pace, as if he had never heard that voice.

No matter who is in the Potions classroom now, it has nothing to do with him!

At the same time, he was very cautious about pricking up his ears...... Fortunately, the sound seemed to stop abruptly.

Just as he was about to walk through this corridor and turn into the next passage—

"Who is it?" a stern voice suddenly sounded from behind Matthew.

There was alarm in his voice.

......

A very familiar young female voice is, without a doubt, the last thing Matthew Wakefield wants to hear.

"It's me...... Matthew Wakefield!" he turned and stammered:

"Professor Rozier......"

Vita Rozier, the Deputy Headmaster of Hogwarts, arrived from behind.

For a moment, Matthew couldn't tell if she had come out of the Potions classroom or from somewhere else.

However, Professor Rozier walked with a limp, as if he had been injured in some way.

As she got closer, Matthew noticed that her hair was a little messy, and her face was cloudy, completely lacking in her usual grace.

"Wakefield?" Professor Rozier snapped, "Why are you again?"

Matthew would actually like to ask that question as well.

The person he feared the most in the whole of Hogwarts was undoubtedly the vice-headmaster, Professor Rozier.

On weekdays, he also tried every possible way to avoid her.

But unexpectedly, I met her many times inexplicably......

"I ......," Matthew opened his mouth.

Then he realized that Professor Rozier was pressing on him.

Her pretty face suddenly became a little distorted, even a little hideous.

Matthew took a few steps back in fright, keeping his back against the wall.

What to do......

What if Professor Rozier suddenly attacked himself?

So what to do?

Matthew glanced at the wand on his right hand, the only offensive spell he could use was the Petrification Charm...... Not long ago, in Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Professor Rozier taught him.

Matthew didn't think that the spell would work on the other side now.

Professor Rozier was getting closer, her slightly distorted face becoming clearer.

Matthew suddenly saw that Professor Rozier's eyes were faintly glowing red, a red glow the color of blood.

Could it be that he said......

Matthew didn't have time to think about it.

In his heart, he silently recited the mantra of the petrification spell: "Petrificus Totalus!"

Just as he was about to shout the incantation—

"Is Professor Rozier there?" another familiar voice came from not far away.

......

The red light in Professor Rozier's eyes vanished, and she turned away, no longer looking at Matthew.

The familiar figure in the darkness also slowly appeared in Matthew's sight.

"Oh, and Wakefield!" Professor Edward Troka blinked, looking at Matthew.

Professor Troka's face looked a little better than usual, not so pale or haggard......

Or maybe it's because the lights are faint in the walkway at night.

"I'm curious, Wakefield, how did you end up here?" Professor Troka asked with interest.

Matthew noticed that the Transfiguration teacher had already taken his wand into his hand.

"I'm curious about that, too, so I'm asking Wakefield this question!" Professor Rozier said coldly.

The distorted and hideous look of anger on her face seemed to disappear, replaced by her usual coldness.

Professor Troca's appearance couldn't help but make Matthew breathe a sigh of relief.

It seems that whether my guess is correct or not, I will be fine tonight.

"I just attended Professor Slughorn's Slug Club dinner......" he quickly explained.

"Slug Club dinners usually end before nine o'clock in the evening!" Professor Rozier said coldly.

Her eyes glared at Matthew again, and in that moment, Matthew seemed to see the blood-colored red light from before.

"That's right. Matthew continued, "I forgot my watch in Professor Slughorn's office, and when I went back to get it, I remembered something interesting, so I went to ask Professor Slughorn for advice, so I ended up late. ”

"I see!" Professor Troka glanced at Matthew with a look full of praise, "It seems that you are lucky Wickfield, I heard that Horace's vision has always been very high!"

"I hope you're not lying!" and Professor Rozier continued coldly, "because I'll find out soon!"

With that, she pulled her wand from her waist.

With a slight wave, a silvery-white, cloak-like thing flashed in front of Matthew.

......

In the hallway, silence returned once again.

Professor Rozier still held her position, which was to completely force Matthew Wakefield into a corner, but turned her head away and closed her eyes there.

Matthew was a little embarrassed at this time, and he didn't dare to move, because if he moved slightly, he might run into Professor Rozier.

Professor Troka suddenly gave Matthew a look.

Matthew realized that his glowing wand was still aimed at Professor Rozier's chest, almost poking it there.

He quickly lowered his wand.

They probably only waited two or three minutes.

There was only the sound of anxious footsteps, and then the fat, walrus-like Potions teacher Horace Slughorn trotted over in a comical manner.

"What...... Situation ......" ran in front of the three people, he gasped for breath, obviously a little tired, and stammered when he spoke: "What the hell...... Be...... What the...... Situation ......"

"We'll talk about that later. Professor Rozier still said extremely coldly: "Let's talk about Wakefield first!"

"Oh, Matthew!" Slughorn seemed to only see Matthew now, and he was visibly relieved.

"Wakefield told me he was just in your office, chatting with you?" Professor Rozier glanced at Matthew, then at Slughorn.

"Yes, that's right. Slughorn nodded: "We were discussing...... Well, some extracurricular knowledge!"

But Professor Rozier didn't seem to care about what they were discussing.

"So, what time did Wakefield leave from you?" Professor Rozier continued.

"About ten minutes ago...... It didn't take long anyway. Professor Slughorn replied.

Professor Rozier was silent for a moment, then took a few steps forward, freeing Matthew.

"Alright, you can go, Wakefield. She said very coldly, "But you are still active at Hogwarts after the lights go out...... I will ask Mr. Pringer to inform you of the duration and content of your confinement. ”

"......" Matthew opened his mouth, not knowing what was going on.

Why are you going to be locked up?

"I disagree with that, Principal Rozier. This time it was Professor Troka who spoke: "I think Wakefield showed up in the hallway before ten o'clock, and if it weren't for you catching him, I think there's a good chance he'd be back in the Slytherin common room before the lights go out." ”

Slughorn on the side also nodded.

Professor Rozier closed his eyes again:

"You're right, the confinement has been lifted. ”

...... Matthew didn't know what to say.

How did the confinement be lifted again?

"Let's go back to the common room, Matthew!" Slughorn made a urging gesture at him.

Professor Troca, on the other hand, walked up to Matthew and patted Matthew on the shoulder:

"Yes, go back quickly, Wakefield...... Don't be afraid, don't worry, but remember, don't walk around Hogwarts Castle at night lately. ”

This time, Matthew once again smelled the familiar smell of blood.

Matthew nodded somewhat incomprehensibly.

Listen to the tone of their voice...... What seems to be happening?

He didn't bother to ask anything, and after saying goodbye to the three teachers, he hurried back to the common room in Slytherin.

He didn't communicate with anyone else, and his mind was still on Slughorn's words......

Falling into bed, he fell asleep.

......

The next day, breakfast on Monday.

Matthew Wakefield came to the auditorium as usual for breakfast.

While he was smearing jam on his sausages—

"Matthew!" an excited voice suddenly came from afar.

Then, Neville Longbottom was seen walking through a few long tables and coming to him—

Then, he hugged Matthew tightly!

"What's going on?" Matthew was a little confused.

"Great...... Hello alive......" Neville said with tears in his eyes.

"Am I alive?" said Matthew.

"I thought it was ...... You've ......" Neville wiped tears from the corners of his eyes as he let go of his hand.

"What the hell is going on, Neville?" Matthew asked quickly.

Neville's voice was a little low, and he shook his head, "Slytherin seventh year Maria Adams, and fourth year Ricco Caro, both died last night!"

The news was like a bolt from the blue, and Matthew was stunned.

Maria Adams in 7th grade and Rico Caro in 4th grade...... Both of these names, in fact, Matthew has an impression.

At the Slug Club dinner last night, Slughorn and he introduced the two men.

It's just that they have little communication with Matthew at the round table in the senior year.

And...... The two of them, plus first-year Matthew Wakefield, were all Slytherin members of the Slug Club.