Keep Another Card Up One's Sleeve

"It's really nothing, it's really nothing."

"Oh, I'm sorry, the professors will probably explain it to you later."

"Thanks, buddy, thanks for helping me tonight."

In the crowd, Sean patiently repeated these words to his friends, explaining everything that had happened that night.

"Sean! How is it?" The brown-haired girl squeezed through the crowd and came to Sean.

Sean smiled and let Hermione examine him, then said after she finished checking him, "See, are you alright?"

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced discreetly at Daisy, who was still clutching Sean's robe, then frowned and asked, "That was too dangerous... What happened inside?"

"Oh, I'll tell you both about that later," Sean said quietly.

"And you!" Hermione glared at Daisy, hands on her hips, her eyebrows practically shooting up. "You were too impulsive! I saw you almost fall off the bridge just now!"

Daisy stuck out her tongue, released Sean's robe, and then hugged Hermione affectionately. "I... I was just in a hurry, I'm sorry, Hermione ~~"

"Hmph, so you know you're wrong?"

"Oh, so I didn't do anything wrong?"

"You're asking for it!"

The two girls hugged and played around, and no one paid any attention to Sean.

Sean touched his nose dejectedly. "So, nobody's going to help me now?"

Ah... Sean shivered again, turning his head in surprise to look in the direction from which the chill was coming from.

But all I saw were many glowing magic wands.

Sean's smile froze completely on his face. That looked like where Snape had just been...

"Everyone, evacuate in order, don't make noise, and go back to sleep early." The Prefect ' voices rang out everywhere, and Professor McGonagall told everyone to go back and rest.

"Snape, teach, teach, teach, teach... Master..." A Slytherin student was just about to ask his headmaster if he still needed to sleep in his sleeping bag in the Great Hall tonight.

However, as soon as he turned to face Snape, he saw a pair of sharp and gloomy eyes, filled with an anger he had never seen before.

The student was so frightened that he could barely speak.

"Speak, sir—" Snape raised his chin slightly, his voice extremely somber.

"I, I, I... teach, teach, professor... I, I..."

Before he could finish speaking, two students immediately pulled him away.

"I'm sorry, Professor, he's under a curse..."

Snape gave the three men a cold glance, and they fled in terror.

They ran quite a distance, and only after they were sure Snape wouldn't hear what they said did the two who had pulled the third person away say, one after the other, "Are you out of your mind?"

"Yeah, look at the pressure Professor Snape exerted. I bet half the bugs on the ground would have died."

The third student still looked shaken. "I was so scared... so scared..."

The other two, who seemed quite experienced, even wore expressions of pride, giving off a vibe of "I was unlucky before you, but I chickened out before you, so I'm smarter"...

"If Professor Snape's usual intimidation and oppressiveness were expressed as a number of ten, then the first time I saw him, it was fifty. And the second time?"

The student who almost got angry the second time puffed out his chest. "It's one hundred."

"And what about me?" the third student asked.

"Ten thousand!" the other two exclaimed in unison.

The big events of tonight have finally come to a temporary close, but Sean and Daisy have been stared at by countless people with all sorts of eyes on their way to the school Hospital Wing, making them feel subtly uncomfortable.

The main reason is Sean. Everyone thought he was seriously injured, fighting against that powerful, crazy, and deranged intruder. He not only held out until reinforcements arrived, but he even killed the intruder.

The news has slowly spread, and people are now looking at Sean with admiration.

The first and second-year students, who were not allowed to leave the Great Hall, received the news after anxiously waiting, and these young wizards, who already admired Sean, became extremely excited.

"Professor Wallop, I heard you fought that intruder head-on. The opponent is a very powerful wizard who graduated a long time ago!"

"That's not all! Didn't you hear what the seniors said? That infiltrator also had an incredibly powerful monster as an accomplice!"

"I heard that. It seems that several sections of the covered bridge leading out of the castle are broken, and I heard that the Dementor have also come."

"You're kidding, right? The Weasley twins said the bridge was completely destroyed, and they heard the cliff below was smashed open. When they arrived, Professor Wallop was fighting dozens of Dementor!"

A young student vividly described the rumors he had heard from Fred and George, eliciting gasps of surprise from the other young wizards. Some of the more timid girls even clung to their companions.

The storyteller had a knack for public speaking; when he got really excited, he even stood up and mimicked Sean: "You monsters, if you want to attack Hogwarts, if you want to hurt my students, my friends, then you'll have to step over my dead body first! I, Sean Wallerup, will not back down a single step!"

Some people questioned, "Would Professor Wallop really talk like that? He's actually quite ruthless and doesn't talk much..."

The storyteller rolled his eyes at him. "Attending class with us and fighting the enemy are definitely not the same thing. Besides, this is a battle report sent back by the senior students at the front—if all else fails, just go see for yourself during the day tomorrow. I heard the covered bridge was destroyed."

The persuasiveness increased dramatically.

"Hey, by the way, I just noticed it was really bright outside, what's going on?"

"Hmph, you don't know this, do you? That particularly pretty senior, who was always next to Professor Wallop, remember?"

"Which one? Those two senior girls are both quite pretty..."

"Don't be delusional... It's Daisy Potter, the one with the really beautiful dark green eyes. I heard that when she saw Professor Wallop surrounded by Dementor, she panicked and flew up, summoning a gigantic Patronus!"

"Wow—" the little wizards exclaimed in unison.

"Hey guys, don't make me put you in solitary confinement, it's time for bed!" the patrolling Prefect shouted.

However, the young wizards retreated back into their sleeping bags, still discussing excitedly in hushed tones.

"Let me tell you, that Patronus is over a hundred meters tall!"

"Wow—what is Patronus?"

"I... I don't know either... It's just a really powerful spell. You wouldn't understand even if I told you, just listen!"

"Oh, okay, then you can continue..."

In a corner of Gryffindor, Fred and George were eavesdropping on the young wizards' discussion from a shady spot. The twin brothers exchanged a glance and grinned mischievously.

"Given Sean's personality, his face would definitely freeze if he heard these words."

"That's right, he'll definitely say, 'Oh, I swear, if I ever hear that again, I'll dig Hogwarts Castle out of my toes for you.'"

"Little Daisy will probably be too ashamed to lift her head?"

"Probably—but she should thank the two of us, now everyone thinks she and Sean are a couple."

"What about Hermione, buddy?"

"Oh, right—but that's Sean's business, what does it have to do with us?"

"Yes, Fred, you are a genius."

"George, you too."

The twins shook hands proudly, as if they had done something incredibly important.

Meanwhile, Sean had already arrived at the school Hospital Wing with Professor McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey was giving him a thorough examination.

"Sean, if you feel unwell at all, please say so. Don't try to tough it out, okay? Good heavens, after Daisy dispelled the Patronus, the whole place smells like Dark Arts." Professor McGonagall looked at him with considerable concern.

Sean smiled and raised his hand for Madam Pomfrey to examine, adding, "Of course, Professor, I'm not the kind of person who's all bravado, but I really don't have anything wrong with me."

After a thorough examination, Madam Pomfrey finally nodded seriously. "There's nothing wrong, just need to rest more."

"That would be perfect," Professor McGonagall said with a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Poppy. Well then, Sean, you can rest here for the night."

"Yes, Professor," Sean didn't refuse the offer. He looked around and lowered his voice, "Has Max Dawson's room and everything been thoroughly searched?"

"I checked, everything is normal. Also, I sent people to the Three Broomsticks, poor Rosmerta..."

There was nothing there... Sean rested his chin on his hand and thought for a moment, then blinked slightly.

"Professor, listen to me..." Sean leaned close to Professor McGonagall's ear and whispered.

Professor McGonagall first frowned, then seemed to realize something, and finally revealed a serious expression.

"I understand what you mean, I'll go right away."

"Thank you, Professor. We need to get there as soon as possible, or everyone will be asleep."

"I understand. By the way, where should I put it?"

Sean stroked his chin and thought for a moment, "It would be perfect to put it in your office, especially since Professor Dumbledore isn't here."

"Good."

Professor McGonagall nodded, then hurriedly left.

Sean lay heavily back down on the hospital bed, his eyelids becoming heavy.

Meanwhile, the Great Hall finally calmed down a bit. The returning students told the rest of the story, and small groups of students discussing the events could be seen everywhere. However, it was late at night, and many people had used up their magic power, so they were starting to feel sleepy.

Just then, footsteps could be heard outside.

The students near the door immediately looked up.

Many people heard the argument coming from outside.

"Are you sure you really want to do this?" The sharp, short voice came from Professor Flitwick.

"...Of course, I have a gut feeling." Professor McGonagall was serious and composed.

Several students near the door turned around and looked at each other, then simultaneously pulled their sleeping bags closer to the door.

They knew that Professor Flitwick was responsible for staying behind to clean up the battlefield, and now it seemed he had returned.

Are the professors talking about some of the discoveries made tonight?

Thinking of this, the students leaning against the door moved closer, looking slightly excited.

"What should we do about this?" Professor Flitwick asked.

Professor McGonagall seemed to be thinking for a moment before making a decision, "Let's keep it for now; this thing gives off a very bad feeling..."

"That works," Professor Flitwick agreed. "Then where should we put it?"

"It's my office. I usually live there, so there's no need to worry about any problems."

"Good."

The two professors whispered some minor details that were difficult to hear, and then footsteps sounded again.

One of the bolder students secretly sat up and peered through the crack in the door in surprise to see Professor Flitwick carrying a huge box.

The box was pure black, and you could see many spells and magic circles on it with the naked eye, just like the kind of barrier used to suppress demons.

The student who witnessed this finally couldn't help but tell his friends about it late at night...

The next day, when the students woke up from their uncomfortable sleeping bags, Hogwarts was greeted by long-awaited sunshine; even in April and May, the weather in the Scottish Highlands was terrible.

At breakfast, Professor McGonagall gave a brief account of what happened last night. Upon hearing that someone had indeed broken in and been repelled by Sean, most people gaped in astonishment.

Many younger girls are already seeing stars in their eyes.

"... In view of Mr. Wallop. Sean Wallerup's bravery and outstanding magical abilities in this incident, Ravenclaw gets 100 points."

After Professor McGonagall finished speaking, even though Sean was still in the hospital room, enthusiastic applause still rang out in the Great Hall.

Professor McGonagall continued, "And Miss Daisy Miss Potter, your heart was touching in saving your friend. At the same time, I saw the most beautiful Expecto Patronum Charm I've ever seen in all my decades of teaching, no, in all my years as a wizard. I'm so proud of you—I'll add another fifty points to Ravenclaw."

Daisy had been quietly sneaking a bite to breakfast, suddenly found herself in an awkward situation. She felt quite uncomfortable receiving greetings from the students around her, and her face began to turn red.

Fortunately, Professor McGonagall didn't mention this matter too much, and her speech ended quickly.

Once breakfast was over, the impatient students immediately ran out of the castle.

They wanted to see for themselves what the covered bridge looked like after it was completed.

The professors didn't stop them, but they had many teaching assistants follow them to ensure that nothing went wrong.

As the students marveled at the horrific scene, a figure moved silently and rapidly inside the castle.

Soon, the man arrived in front of Professor McGonagall's office.

He looked around to make sure no one was there, then quietly pushed open the wooden door to Professor McGonagall's Professor's Office.

"Professor, I have a question for you. Sorry to bother you..."

After that greeting, there was no more sound in the office.

At that moment, two invisible figures emerged from the Illusion Charm.

"There really are more..." Professor McGonagall frowned.

That's 10,000 words for now, here's the second update, please vote!