Taking Leave

Crouch walked forward without a word, followed by the people behind him. When they reached the open space at the bridgehead, one after another, Apparition, their figures twisting violently before disappearing. Several muffled sounds echoed in the air before dissipating completely.

As the last Auror left, the young Wizards erupted in a cacophony of noise.

People in the front row turned around to find their companions, while those in the back row pushed forward. Seven or eight people surrounded someone who had witnessed the bluebird taking shape. Before they could finish speaking, several more squeezed in from the side.

Several younger students jumped for joy, only to be pushed away by older students from the same college who held their heads down.

The professors began ushering the students away. McGonagall was the first to turn around, waving to the crowd, her voice cutting through the noise of the Front Courtyard: "Back to the Castle! Lunch is still being served, everyone. Follow the steps, don't push!"

Flitwick tiptoed through a group of tall people, waving his short wand and pushing back the heads of those still trying to push forward.

Sprout spread his arms, blocking the Hufflepuff group, and hurried toward the Castle.

A throng of school uniforms poured into the main entrance, the echoes in the Entrance Hall were filled with blue flames, and plates and steaming food appeared on the four long tables in the Great Hall.

As soon as Slughorn reached the Slytherin table, a piece of parchment was handed to him, followed by another.

Several upperclassmen, who usually waited for others to make way for them, crowded around him, stretching out their arms and vying to call him "Professor."

"Professor, I have something to do at home in the afternoon, so I have to go back."

A man standing nearby chimed in, "My mother wrote the day before yesterday saying she might not be feeling well today, so I need to go back to take care of her."

People from other colleges also left their seats.

McGonagall accepted the leave slip that was handed to her again, and looked up at the students moving back and forth in the Great Hall. The hall was crowded with people, noisy, and some were still pushing towards the door. She knew that no one would be able to concentrate on class in the afternoon.

She summoned two Prefect and gave them a few instructions.

"Classes are suspended this afternoon. Those leaving campus should register with their respective college Prefect, clearly stating their destination and return time. The fireplaces in each college are temporarily connected to the Floo Network and can be used today. When returning, please use the main gate, register, and then go back to your dormitory."

Students who were granted permission to leave campus returned to their respective colleges via the stairs, Common Room quickly became lively again.

The sofa was moved aside, clearing a long path in front of the furnace. The Prefect stood beside it, checking names. Green flames rose one after another. The first person was swallowed by the flames, and the next person grabbed Floo Powder and stepped inside.

Those who stayed on campus were also busy; the Owlery was packed with people, and the school's public owls flew out one after another, clutching rolled-up letters in their talons, their wings flapping wildly.

Earlier, when the professors had just ushered the students back from the bridge, Lily also joined the crowd and went upstairs.

She walked somewhat unsteadily; when people in front of her turned at the top of the stairs, she turned too; when people behind her passed her, she didn't give way.

Marcia and Susan each took her arm, supporting her on one side, and led her into the tower.

After entering the Gryffindor Common Room, I went through the round doorway and up the Dormitory stairs.

As Lily turned past the Dormitory door, she glanced back at the window behind her. The sky outside had long since returned to its original gray-white state, but the expanse of blue that filled her vision kept rising upwards, sometimes covering the entire window and sky.

Marcia closed the door, turned around and leaned in, her eyes shining brightly. She pushed herself up with both hands and sat down on the edge of Lily's bed, leaning towards her. "The friend Black mentioned, is it you?"

Lily had just sat on the edge of the bed when she looked up at her.

Susan put down her schoolbag, looked over, and said with certainty, "This is the same question you asked him the other day."

The image of the people on the bridge floated before Lily's eyes again.

When Regulus mentioned his friend, he brought up a question she had asked, which she immediately recognized.

A secret thrill ran through him, but before he could think any further, the row of Auror opposite him raised their wands.

She had seen Crouch in the newspaper, but it was a photograph, in black and white. Only today, upon hearing the name, did she match the figure standing at the front with the person in the photograph.

The Department of Magical Law Enforcement brought a large group of people, including Mr. Black. and Mrs. Black, and behind them stood a whole row of black robes. The professors all stayed in front of the students.

Someone died, the Ministry of Magic is investigating, Regulus injured their people, and they are demanding an explanation from the Black family, their words becoming increasingly harsh.

She understood some of the demands and negotiations, and even those she didn't understand, she knew weren't pleasant words.

Then the blue flame spread across the sky, and when she looked up, she couldn't even see the edge. The little bit of joy she had just felt was suddenly overshadowed by what rushed up.

Her shoulders suddenly swayed, and Marcia bent down close to her. "Lily! I'm asking you."

Lily snapped out of her daze, saw two pairs of eyes, and her face gradually flushed. She nodded gently, "I did ask him."

Marcia laughed so hard her shoulders shook, and she leaned closer to look at her face. "Why do you only admit it now that you're back? You were standing right next to me just now, not saying a word."

Lily felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, so she put her hand on the shoulder where Lily was leaning in and said irritably, "What did you say back then? Did I ask you when I grabbed you and yelled at you?"

Susan couldn't help but laugh out loud, and Marcia laughed and stepped back. Lily glared at them, while the corners of her mouth curved into a smile.

Halfway down the bend, my heart sank again.

Regulus left again, this time with the Black family, in front of the entire school and the Ministry of Magic.

She recalled listening to the news on the radio with her father when she was a child. The news reported that when wealthy and powerful families went against the government, the consequences were often bad.

She didn't understand then, but just now, seeing the Black family and the Ministry of Magic facing each other on the bridge, those news reports kept popping into her head.

In her world, those who go against the government usually don't end well.

They have rules, people, and everything they can use to restrict you. They have money that they can't spend, and power that they can gradually shatter.

My dad always said, "You can't fight city hall."

Lily frowned slightly, her thoughts drifting to the other side.

But this is the Wizarding World, with wizards and Magic. Today, when that fire broke out, the entire sky changed color.

In Muggle, no matter how rich you are, you can't beat the government. So here, is there anything the government can't beat?

If someone has that much power, does that mean they don't need to follow the rules she's heard about since childhood?

As she thought about this, two opposing ideas began to fight within her.

On one side is the world she grew up in, and on the other side is the world she now lives in.

She understood a little about both sides' arguments, but she wasn't sure which one was right or which one could be applied to the current situation; all she knew was that she was worried.

Susan sat down on the opposite bed, glanced up at the Dormitory window, and casually asked, "Does Grindelwald also set fires like this?"

Lily's gaze followed.

When Regulus was talking about Paris in the classroom, she thought of many streets and houses, but she couldn't imagine what it would actually be like when it burned down.

I saw it today, but what I remember is the magic wand and the voices of those adults.

Marcia noticed that she was lost in thought again, and turned to Susan first, hurriedly correcting her. "Lily said last time it burned from the ground up, Black put the bird in the sky."

Susan glanced at Marcia's wink at Lily, then changed the subject, gesturing towards Lily: "It was only this small at first; I thought it would fly around the Castle."

Marcia turned back to Lily and asked, "Did he show you the little bird back then?"

Lily shook her head.

That day he listened to her read her father's letter, helped her dry her sweaty hair, and there were no birds.

Marcia picked up the pillow, her voice softening, still tinged with lingering amazement. "So wizards really can be this powerful."

Susan got out of bed, moved to Lily's other side, kicked off her shoes, and sat up with her knees drawn up. "I've been thinking all day, where does the Shield Charm in the textbook block?"

Marcia looked up at the ceiling, sighed deeply, hugged her pillow, and fell back down, burying her head in it.

The pillow slipped off the edge of the bed, and Lily reached out and pulled it back, finally amused by her reaction.

Susan then asked curiously, "Did Black say he was going to teach you how to set fires?"

Lily paused for a moment.

Regulus had said he would teach her how to blow up houses, but he hadn't mentioned setting them on fire. She nodded first, then shook her head.

Marcia peeked out from under the pillow, propping herself up on the bed with her arm, and sighed deliberately, "Never mind, I'll have to wait a while to ask her anything today."

Lily finally realized what was happening and wrinkled her nose at her. "I'm listening."

"Then I'll ask an easy question," Marcia hugged the pillow to her chest, "Which one should you wear to practice next time?"

Lily blushed slightly and reached out to grab her pillow.

Marcia laughed and rolled inside, while Susan, clinging to Lily's arm, earnestly suggested, "The purple one, shall we? We spent ages picking it out last time."

"You come too!" Lily turned and glared at her, while Susan laughed and shrank back towards the bedpost.

Nox stood up from the foot of the bed, stretched out his two front legs, stuck his butt out, and wagged his tail as he walked to Lily's legs and meowed at her.

There was a knock on the door, and a girl from the same grade poked her head in. "Classes are cancelled this afternoon. Anyone who needs to be absent should come downstairs to register. The fireplace is working."

"Are you taking a day off?" Marcia hugged her pillow and tried to turn over, but couldn't get up. She then climbed off the bed herself.

If her father knew that she had witnessed today's events firsthand and received only a letter, he would probably send the matter back that very night.

It's not clear in a letter, and going back and forth several times won't be enough; she needs to go back and tell him in person what she saw today.

Marcia looked up at the door, her eyes lighting up. School was closed in the afternoon, the fireplace was on, and she could go home now.

She took off her small bag, turned around and called out, "Come home with me, Susan, you come too."

Susan glanced at Lily first, then smiled and asked, "Now?"

"Hurry up, the downstairs will be packed with people soon," Marcia walked to the bedside, picked up Lily's small Handbag and handed it to her, "Don't just sit there, come on."

Lily took the bag, and Susan got out of bed to put on her shoes. The Dormitory door was still open, and someone ran past outside shouting that they wanted to go home. The sound carried all the way up the stairs.

In the Corridor, James and Sirius wandered around, with young wizards constantly passing by, arguing about the fire on the bridge.

Sirius dragged his feet, his hands in his pockets, his eyes fixed on a section of ground ahead, somewhat lost in thought.

James glanced at him, then turned to Remus and continued talking about the vanished Bronze Door.

"It's that corner, I even touched the wall next to it," James said, gesturing as he spoke. "Sirius saw the wand hole too, you'll have to come with us next time."

After saying that, he turned to Sirius, Sirius lazily replied, "We'll see."

James curled his lip, knowing that this guy had been provoked by that Little Viper from Slytherin again. He was about to continue the conversation when he looked up and saw a few people walking towards them, and his face immediately turned sour.

Cuthbert walked in front, followed by Roxier and Mulciber, along with the two Half-bloods.

James stood next to Sirius, reached for his wand, and said sharply, "What? Want to fight?"

Avery snorted. That's all Potter is good for. Usually, he's all talk and no action, but today he's here to get down to business.

He turned his gaze to Sirius, his tone becoming serious. "Black, Regulus asked me to pass on a few words to you."

After saying that, he turned his head slightly towards the window. Sirius glanced at him and walked straight over.

James followed, and Remus reached out and grabbed his arm. James turned and glared at him, Remus shook his head.

The two walked over, Avery straightened his collar. "Regulus wants you to stay at the school. Don't go to Hogsmeade yet, and don't go through the secret passage either."

Sirius frowned. "What is he planning to do?"

Avery shook his head. "You'll have to ask him yourself when he gets back. He said things might get chaotic outside recently."

Sirius frowned even deeper, and Avery continued, "Also, don't train the Patronus yet. If you start training, stop and wait for him to return."

"Patronus?" Sirius squinted at Avery, who was looking very serious.

Staying at school and avoiding outside trouble is understandable, but even the Patronus has to stop? What is Regulus planning to do next?

He thought for a moment, then slightly raised his chin towards the other side of the Corridor: "And you?"

Avery gave a reserved smile, "The same goes for us."

Sirius looked a little awkward, then nodded after a moment. "Understood."

Avery relayed the message, then turned back to his companions. Alex nodded to Sirius and followed.

Hermes walked past James with his hands in his pockets, not even bothering to look at him. Lina and Samuel followed without saying hello.

Sirius returned to his best friend's side, and James watched the five of them walk away, his face still sour.

A group of young wizards ran by, saying they needed to ask the Prefect for leave. He heard them and his eyes suddenly lit up.

Classes are cancelled this afternoon, can I still go home?

James put his arm around Sirius and called to Remus and Peter, "Let's go back too, come to my house, we can fly for a while this afternoon."

Sirius, slightly tilted by James's embrace, pulled his arm off his shoulder. "I'm staying at school."

James frowned. "Classes are cancelled this afternoon."

Sirius stood there lazily, glancing at the stairs. "Go back, nobody's stopping you."

James's eyes looked hurt.

Sirius, annoyed by his stare, raised his chin irritably and said, "Are you crazy?"