The Prelude to Unrest Is About to Begin / Some People Will Get What's Coming to Them

Especially since these five chickens are all so fierce, if we let them huddle together and keep squawking like this, they might eventually get sick.

"Then I'll stay. Remember to tell Harry when you leave."

However, to the two boys' surprise, Luna Lovegood said she wanted to live in the box!

Chapter 166 The Prelude to the Riot is Imminent

"Huh? You said you're going to stay here..."

"Okay, we'll tell Harry later."

Upon hearing that Luna Lovegood was going to live in the suitcase, Neville and Cedric Diggory exchanged glances for a moment before finally having no choice but to agree.

After spending several days together, they had come to know Luna Lovegood quite well, knowing that this Loony was always doing things her own way and had wildly unpredictable ideas.

Aside from Harry, she basically wouldn't discuss anything with anyone else, and even when Hermione came, she would ignore her; you could say her personality was extreme.

"Then it's decided. I won't be leaving with you guys. Remember to bring me food next time you come."

After saying those words to herself, Luna Lovegood turned around and went to tease the Mooncalf, completely ignoring the two boys.

"Sigh... Oh well, let's just leave her be." Cedric Diggory could only shrug helplessly. After quickly preparing the Mandrake with Neville, they left the Room of Requirement together.

"Have they left...? Well, maybe I'll have a chance to see more of them then."

However, after the two boys left, Luna Lovegood also left the suitcase, muttering to herself.

She went to a corner of the Room of Requirement and quietly lifted the tattered sheet covering the mirror.

"The person I saw after my mother was him; it can't be a coincidence..."

Gazing at the bespectacled figure reflected in the Mirror of Erised, Luna Lovegood blinked her large eyes, lost in thought...

However, at this very moment, Neville and Cedric Diggory, who had lost the guidance of these 'eyes,' unexpectedly encountered Gilderoy Lockhart in a corridor.

"Oh, Mr. Diggory and Mr. Longbottom, that's quite an intriguing combination," Lockhart said with his signature smile. "Where did you two go after dinner instead of returning to your respective common rooms?"

"We..." Neville, who couldn't lie, was immediately stumped by the question.

"I went to the library to study some Herbology questions, Professor Lockhart." Fortunately, Cedric Diggory answered fluently, "As you know, now that Professor Sprout is in trouble, we can only rely on self-study for the time being."

"I see. Your diligence is truly commendable. But..." Lockhart wrinkled his nose and sniffed, "Mr. Longbottom, perhaps you should hurry up and take a bath."

"I will... Professor." Neville nodded nervously, hiding his hands, which still reeked of chicken droppings, behind his back.

"Then we'll be leaving now."

Seeing that they had successfully dealt with the incompetent Professor Lockhart, Cedric Diggory quickly took his leave, grabbing Neville and hurriedly departing.

However, he didn't notice that Lockhart behind him was staring intently at the chicken feathers that were tumbling out from the hem of his robe, his face grim!

"They actually managed to get them in?!"

Upon discovering the chicken feather, Lockhart panicked completely.

He already sensed something was wrong when he couldn't hear any chickens crowing outside Hagrid's Hut, but he never expected to see chicken feathers inside the castle!

Even if Lockhart himself were incredibly stupid, he would never mistake this for a hen's feathers!

But... where exactly are they kept?

At that moment, Lockhart realized that Harry, like him, probably possessed a key item that could determine the course of events.

Harry's lack of understanding of the Chamber stemmed from his inability to find the key item in Lockhart's possession, and he still doesn't know the true identity of the Heir of Slytherin.

Lockhart was in the same boat. He could only vaguely deduce that Harry possessed an item that could conceal his tracks and secretly transport the rooster. It was likely a box or something else that could be used for storage!

Moreover, Lockhart also discovered from Cedric Diggory and Neville that Harry might be secretly raising more than just roosters!

Cedric Diggory, Hufflepuff, was Professor Sprout always praised; while Neville Lockhart once caught him secretly looking through the Herbology textbook during class.

So... Mandrake!

Damn, why were they so fast?!

Lockhart never imagined that simply being knocked unconscious by that Mudblood on the night of the Sprout attack would cause him to miss the opportunity to destroy all the Mandrake.

It must be Harry Potter! This kid actually saw through my plan?!

No, we have to find that thing of his!

Lockhart knew very well that there was no point in continuing to keep an eye on Snape.

Harry Potter had clearly figured out the order of his attacks and had made corresponding contingency plans. Even if he succeeded in ambushing Snape, he wouldn't be able to stop the brewing of the resurrection potion!

All he can do now is try his best to find what Harry has hidden; and to be on the safe side, he should return what he has to its original owner.

Two more days passed, and the campus remained relatively peaceful during this time, with no attacks occurring.

Even the 'disappearance' of someone did not cause much of a stir.

Harry was grateful for Luna Lovegood's decision to live in the suitcase to help take care of the rooster, and naturally also took care of any potential concerns she might have.

Given his standing with Professor Flitwick, wouldn't it be an easy and pleasant thing for him to get Luna Lovegood a leave of absence to gossip?

In most people's eyes, Luna Lovegood is an eccentric and invisible person, and no one would question why she would suddenly take leave... perhaps Lockhart is the only exception.

He thought Luna Lovegood must be hiding, but he couldn't find her anywhere, and could only rack his brains in private.

"Hmph, Harry Potter, you're going to play hide-and-seek? Then I'll launch a massive search! I refuse to believe... even if I mobilize the entire faculty, we still won't find what you've hidden!"

At this moment, Lockhart's eyes were filled with intense resentment and ruthlessness; he had decided to take action!

However, Harry was unaware of all this at the time. That afternoon, he was standing in front of the Cauldron in the Headmaster's Office, nervously observing the changes in the potion.

As he stirred it continuously, the potion in front of him gradually changed colors, but then, through repeated boiling, it turned back into a pot of colorless and odorless liquid.

"Now!"

Harry was overjoyed at the sight and quickly threw the last ingredient—the feather of the Jobberknoll— into the Cauldron!

Once the feathers are thoroughly boiled in the Potions with the help of the wand, the Veritaserum he has been waiting for will be completely ready!

"Peeves, you go find Hermione right now with the Invisibility Cloak. Go with her to the Room of Requirement and retrieve the briefcase. Tell her to wait for me in the common room at Eagle House after she's settled Luna Lovegood and the Mandrake!"

Now that the Veritaserum was almost impossible to concoct, and with less than two days left until the deadline agreed upon with Fudge, Harry decided not to wait any longer!

Once he had prepared the Veritaserum, he would go straight for Lockhart; there was no need to hide anything anymore!

At this very moment, due to the simultaneous actions of two groups with their own agendas, a riot is gradually sweeping through the entire Hogwarts...

Chapter 167 Some people will eventually face retribution.

"Is the potion finally almost finished...? Great!"

When Hermione was suddenly grabbed by Peeves was invisible, after the afternoon classes ended, her face immediately lit up with excitement.

After careful preparation for so long, we can finally fight back!

She practically ran all the way to the Seventh Floor, where she entered the Room of Requirement and retrieved the Invisibility Cloak.

However, she had some disagreements with the person in charge of settling Luna Lovegood, whom Harry had assigned her.

"I'm not going out." Luna Lovegood's tone was flat, but her attitude was firm. "I don't want to be alone in the Room of Requirement. At least I have Fantastic Beasts in my suitcase to keep me company."

"Hey, you actually think this box is yours?" Hermione glared at Luna Lovegood, annoyed. "Now get the Mandrake out of here and clear out the box so I can go help Harry!"

"No, I'm not going. No matter what you say, I won't go."

Luna Lovegood made the same adorable expression as the Mooncalf; she blended in perfectly with the Mooncalf.

"You... never mind, I'm not going to care about you anymore!"

Frustrated by Luna Lovegood's lack of cooperation, Hermione stomped her feet, but Hermione knew that her thinking was completely out of sync with this eccentric, crazy girl. In order not to waste Harry's time, she could only choose to let it be.

So after temporarily moving the Mandrake outside the box, Hermione ignored Luna Lovegood, who was rolling around on the ground with the Mooncalf, and packed her up with the suitcase.

"She agreed... so why should I ask her?"

When Luna Lovegood was alone in the suitcase again, she rolled her eyes a few times and began to talk to herself again.

Luna Lovegood didn't really know why she got involved in this; she would have been safer staying in the Room of Requirement with Mandrake.

But more than safety, she seemed to want to be involved herself.

"Maybe it's for the waters of the Black Lake and these Mooncalf..." The blonde girl casually made up a rather dubious reason.

"Hmm..."

A little Mooncalf beside her gently tugged at her sleeve. Seeing this, Luna Lovegood also adopted the typical Mooncalf behavior and started playing with the little creature.

"It's definitely more fun being with you guys, so... do you guys even know the Moon Frog?"

'All students, return to your respective dormitories immediately! All faculty members, form groups and begin patrols! Please act immediately!'

In the corridors of Hogwarts Castle, Hermione, hurrying towards Ravenclaw Tower, suddenly heard a warning that was clearly Amplifying Charm shout.

Moreover, the warning was shouted several times, first by Professor McGonagall, then by other faculty members, and it was repeated over and over.

"What's going on... Has Harry started his operation?"

Hermione quickened her pace involuntarily. Because she was wearing the Invisibility Cloak and couldn't look straight ahead, when she reached a corner of a corridor, she bumped right into someone coming from the opposite direction!

"Ugh..." Feeling like she had bumped into a wall, Hermione accidentally fell to the ground, and her Invisibility Cloak was shaken off.

After that, she noticed a pair of high leather boots that were faintly visible beneath the robe...

"An Invisibility Cloak? How would a student like you have something like that?!"

A questioning voice came from ahead. Hermione looked up and found that she had bumped into Greengrass, the School Governor with whom Harry had a deep grudge!

Bad luck...

Hermione looked around nervously and realized that this guy had almost blocked her way, which made her feel bitter.

"Answer my question, Mudblood!" Greengrass demanded, looking down at Hermione and even reaching for the box in her hands. "What is this? Give it to me!"

"No!"

Seeing that the other party was trying to snatch Harry's trunk, Hermione screamed, flipped to her feet, and ran away with the trunk and the Invisibility Cloak in her hands.

She could tolerate being called a "Mudblood," but she absolutely couldn't stand for someone trying to steal Harry's chest!

"Stop! You wretched Mudblood, didn't you hear me say stop?!"

Hermione's run immediately enraged Greengrass, who chased after her relentlessly, spewing out all sorts of foul language.

These extreme Pure-blood individuals usually pretend to be respectable people within their own circles, but when it comes to situations involving ordinary people, they are eager to reveal their arrogant and condescending nature!

"Asshole..."

Hermione, who was running away, wrinkled her nose in frustration. That jerk behind her kept hurling insults at her; if Harry were there, he'd smash his head open!

"Stop right there! Don't force me to cast a spell, do you hear me?!"

"Oh no..."

The threatening voice behind her made Hermione's heart sink. She glanced back furtively and saw that Greengrass had indeed taken out his wand.

But just then, a hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Hermione's robe!

The sudden force made Hermione wince as her robes tightened painfully, but the hand seemed utterly merciless, gripping her shoulders tightly.

"Miss Granger, if your behavior happened outside of school, it would be considered resisting arrest."

"Professor Snape?"

To be fair, although Hermione had never really liked the Slytherin House Headmaster, seeing him in person did put her at ease.

From last year to this year, Snape has been helping Harry both openly and secretly. He even taught Harry how to brew Veritaserum, and didn't reveal that he had been robbed in order to avoid attracting attention... It's obvious who he's helping.

"Haha, thank goodness for you, Severus." Greengrass, who was lagging behind, had a hearty smile on his face, but when he looked at Hermione, his expression instantly turned disgusted and indifferent.

"This mud..."

"Don't say that word in front of me." Snape glared coldly at Greengrass.