After Umbridge's "investigation," all of Hogsmeade had become very quiet.
Toby and several other members of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad patrolled until nearly dawn, and even The Three Broomsticks was not staying open all night as usual.
The two of them, having hidden in a cave, could finally come out for some fresh air.
Following the mountain path straight ahead, they saw a wooden house that looked abandoned: the Shrieking Shack.
Vincent raised the glowing tip of his wand to his chin and lowered his voice as much as possible.
"They say there's an especially vicious monster inside, the kind that eats people."
Hermione pretended to be frightened and backed away repeatedly. "If that's the case, then let's get out of here quickly."
Seeing how cooperative she was, Vincent raised a hand and lightly knocked on the wooden wall in front of him.
"I heard that one knock wakes the monster up, two knocks make it fix its eyes on you, and three knocks make it come out and eat us."
Hermione quickly rolled her eyes, then put on an utterly terrified expression.
She tightly clutched her trembling shoulders, her lips quivering. "Don't mess around. You still have time to stop now."
Vincent indifferently knocked a second time. "If the legend is true, then it's already too late for me to stop."
Hermione's mouth twitched sharply.
Forget it. They were only passing the time anyway, so she might as well play along with him.
"Ah—" She covered her mouth and widened her eyes as she watched him deliver the third knock.
Yet half a minute passed, and nothing happened.
Vincent naturally lowered the wand that had been resting against his chin. "Looks like the legend is false. There isn't any man-eating monster in the Shrieking Shack at all."
Hermione