The fourth floor of the castle,
"Big Dummy" Wales patrolled the Trophy Room as usual.
He lit the lantern to illuminate each trophy and, as was his habit, glanced at them one by one.
Those whose names are recorded here have all made outstanding contributions to Hogwarts.
But there was one name that he hated so much he wanted to grind his teeth.
"Vincent Wayne ..."
Wales stands in front of the 1991 Quidditch Most Valuable Player trophy.
Next to him is the 1992 MVP, also from 1992.
A student who rides a broomstick into the Forbidden Forest in Big White, in full view of everyone, can still be commended? And for two consecutive years at that?
Kingsley, Kingsley's superior, didn't care; Scrimgeour, the Head of the Auror Office, didn't care; Fudge, the Minister for Magic, didn't care either.
How could he possibly let such a dangerous individual go unchecked?
"Tap tap tap—" Footsteps sounded from outside.
Wales composed himself, picked up his lantern, and went outside.
The person who arrived was the last Auror on patrol tonight.
He did look rather comically shabby, and was as thin as a monkey.
"Wales, I've patrolled the dungeon up to the third floor."
"Okay, I'm almost done too."
The two walked side by side toward the Charms class classroom.
"Hey Wales, what exactly are you trying to do by staring at Wayne?"
"He is a dangerous element in the school. Once we have evidence of his violations, we will do whatever we need to do."
"Huh?" The Clownish Monkey was startled. "He's our Britain Wizengamot youth representative! Will Minister Fudge agree to let us punish him?"
Wales's eyes were resolute. "We are Auror! We will never compromise easily!"
The Clownish Monkey's facial features were squeezed together, making it look even more comical.
Perhaps he had encountered someone even more stubborn than himself, for he opened his mouth several times but could not utter a word.
Well, Wales is the vice-captain after all, so following his superior's orders is the right thing to do.
The two left the Charms class classroom and headed straight for the library at the end.
From the darkness behind them, seven figures emerged one after another.
"So it was this Big Dummy who was targeting me..." Vincent reached out and stroked his exposed, sexy chin.
The Roly-Poly upstairs has already been knocked unconscious and hung up, so why not just go all the way?
His idea was immediately endorsed by Fred and George.
Hermione, unusually, did not object, nor did Rolf or Cedric.
Daphne, beaming with excitement, raised her grappling hook high. "Let's go!"
Unexpectedly, the eldest daughter of the Greengrass Family has this side to her.
The library was just as quiet at night as it was during the day, and Madam Pince's room was at the very back.
"One for each of us." Wales walked toward the bookshelf on the left.
The Clownish Monkey came to the row of bookshelves on the right.
Suddenly, a blurry black shadow flashed past the corner at the end.
I rubbed my eyes; I must have been seeing things.
When he reached the corner, he bumped into something hard.
The Clownish Monkey raised its lantern and saw a Red Hood that was almost touching its own face.
Just as he was about to shout, a pair of strong arms reached out from behind him.
His mouth was tightly covered, and the man in the Red Hood raised a crowbar.
"Bang—" The force wasn't controlled well, and the blow was too light.
"Let me do it."
In his dazed state, the Clownish Monkey seemed to see a pair of black cat ears.
After a heavy, clanging sound, he seemed to see a black claw.
The commotion was quite loud, Wales reacted quickly after noticing it, drawing his wand as he ran.
But he was in such a hurry that he didn't notice the thin ropes between the bookshelves.
I tripped and fell with a "thud," but luckily I didn't land face down.
The lantern in his hand rolled down in front of a figure.
He was half-lying down when he saw a pair of calves that looked like armor.
The matte black metal only reached the knees, and above that was the gray-black thigh.
Wales' pupils contracted, and with all his might, he pointed his wand forward, "Drowsy—"
"You're the one who's about to Stupefy!" a cold female voice rang out.
Then, a tremendous force struck the back of his head.
Before losing consciousness, he tried to look up at the lantern.
The same matte gold belt, and the sharply defined eight-pack gray abs.
Finally, Wales saw a black bat pattern and then completely fainted.
Early morning,
Madam Pince woke up in bed.
She changed her clothes as usual, went out of her room and went to the library.
"Ah—" The scream startled the two Auror who were tightly bound and hanging upside down in mid-air.
"Mmm-mmm-mmm—" Their mouths were stuffed with a pair of smelly socks.
While the students were enjoying their breakfast, Kingsley at the Hospital Wing was suffering from a terrible headache.
Black cat?
Red Hood?
Bat-Person?
What kind of nonsense is this description?
Wales, lying in his hospital bed, shook his head. "I'm sorry, Captain Shacklebolt, I couldn't see the faces of those intruders."
"Get some rest." Kingsley turned around.
On the other hospital bed, Clownish Monkey stared blankly at the ceiling, muttering something under its breath.
Upon closer listening, all they could hear were phrases like "Don't kill me" and "Please take your claws off me."
Kingsley raised his hand and pinched the bridge of his nose, then walked to the bedside of the Roly-Poly toy.
He was in relatively good condition, but he kept looking around furtively, probably because he was terrified by the Bat-Person.
It seems that only Wales is in a normal mental state.
But he couldn't provide any more clues, so what direction could the investigation take?
My head hurts so much.
Kingsley walked out of the ward without saying a word.
To question the students?
That's all we can do for now.
One day later,
There are new rumors circulating about Hogwarts.
Have you heard?
"I've heard that the mysterious Bat-Person has reappeared."
"It's not just him, there's also a mutated black cat and Red Hood."
"Yes, yes, they drove the Auror on patrol that night insane..."
Vincent at the Gryffindor table slowly took a sip of milk.
Unable to find a direction for their investigation, the Auror, as expected, went to question the students.
Over the years, not a single rumor about Hogwarts has been unfounded.
By nightfall, Kingsley had been kidnapped by the Bat-Person and his fate was unknown.
Soon, the Auror's investigation turned to Snape.
It's because he has a connection with bats; the students always call him "Old Bat, Old Bat."
Besides, he has a criminal record.
Kingsley led several Auror into the dungeon and stopped in front of the Potions Office.
I knocked twice politely, and a very impatient voice came from inside.
"Come in."
Auror entered the office, Snape's already bad mood instantly plummeted.
Kingsley walked slowly towards him, placed his hands on the workbench, and went straight to the point without any pleasantries.
"Professor Snape, I have a few questions I'd like to ask you."
"Hmph—" Snape let out a cold laugh, which was his way of expressing his attitude.
Kingsley, seemingly oblivious, asked on his own, "Professor, are you the Bat-Person?"