The End of a Friendship
Throughout the Christmas holidays, Hermione and Ron had no contact whatsoever. Even the closest of friends, who used to share everything, could succumb to accumulated arguments and distrust. After Professor McGonagall returned the flying broom to Harry, and Harry and Ron sincerely apologized to her, Hermione finally understood that the pure friendship she and Ron had shared for two years might truly be over. She said nothing more, simply congratulating Harry before leaving with her books.
The new semester has quietly begun, but every night, the Slytherin students who go out for special training in groups slowly begin to notice something is amiss.
A large number of Goblin had appeared deep within the Forbidden Forest at some unknown time. They wandered around the forest in groups, their numbers increasing day by day. Many Goblin slowly approached the edge of the forest, quietly moving back and forth near Hogwarts Castle. No one understood why they had gathered there in such large numbers, nor did anyone know what they wanted to do.
Even the Dementor, who often roamed the area, ignored the Goblin completely. They didn't bother the Goblin at all, and the Goblin weren't afraid of the cold and terrifying Dementor. The Dementor craved human happiness and warmth of soul, while the Goblin themselves didn't have this kind of spiritual energy to draw upon. Naturally, they didn't interfere with each other and went about their own business, wandering around the Forbidden Forest together.
Large numbers of Goblin continued to gather and expand their territory, encroaching on the lands where the Centaur and Acromantula originally lived. They drove and harassed the Centaur Tribe and Acromantula clans away from the deep forests where they had lived for generations, forcing them to retreat to the outer areas very close to Hogwarts Castle.
This thrilled the young Slytherin wizards, who were just looking for training targets; it was like a godsend.
So as soon as night falls, groups of Slytherin team enter the Forbidden Forest in shifts.
The young Slytherin wizards began to unleash a variety of Ancient Magic spells in turn. Ancient Lightning Strike suddenly struck from the Sky Void, Cleansweep the entire woodland; Ancient Ice Thorns rose from the ground, sealing off the Goblin' escape route.
Faced with the approaching Goblin, the group simultaneously activated their Aura Concealment and quietly circled around from behind. They used their Magic Severing Touch sever the power attached to the Goblin, and then hurled Ancient Rock Throw into the air to smash the group of enemies.
In close combat, the Ancient Shattering was repeatedly triggered, disintegrating and exploding the Goblin's body, while a thick Ancient Magic Barrier was erected around him to withstand the onslaught. Some ruthless students even learned from Su Yu how to pull Goblin over, turn them into insects, and then crush them mercilessly.
The Forbidden Forest echoed with magical roars every night, and the Slytherin roamed the dense forest day after day, constantly wiping out the rampant and expanding Goblin hordes.
Several days of continuous clearing operations drastically reduced the number of Goblin, and the remaining Goblin were forced to abandon their territories around Hogwarts Castle, suffering repeated defeats.
They fled all the way, eventually retreating into the darker, denser forests deep within the Forbidden Forest, no longer daring to easily approach the castle's outer perimeter and the edge of the forest.
The clamor in the forest gradually subsided, leaving only charred tree stumps and scattered debris blasted by Ancient Magic. The entire Forbidden Forest returned to its surface silence, with only faint disturbances emanating from its depths.
At the breakfast table in the early morning, amidst the bustling noise of the hall, Hermione, as usual, sat down next to Su Yu and quietly ate her food while telling him in a low voice what Harry had told her about what happened in the boys' common room the day before.
Ron Weasley's ever-present Scabbers disappeared without a trace last night in the boys' dormitory. A small, still-wet bloodstain remained on the floor, and a few tufts of orange cat fur clung to the corner—clearly from Hermione's Crookshanks.
Everyone immediately and instinctively thought of Hermione, and secretly believed that Crookshanks had chased and eaten Scabbers, causing Scabbers to disappear and get injured.
However, recently, Hermione has never stepped into Harry and Ron's dormitory, and has had no chance to sneak in and do anything. Although everyone secretly suspects Hermione, there is no evidence to show for it, so they can only discuss and speculate in private.
Hermione felt extremely uncomfortable under the subtle gazes of those around her. She felt wronged but powerless to defend herself, and she felt utterly innocent. She hadn't done anything wrong, yet everyone was secretly suspecting her, and she didn't even know where to begin explaining herself.
Daphne gently comforted Hermione, who was feeling wronged, telling her not to care about other people's wild speculations behind her back.
Su Yu looked up at her, his gaze calm and gentle. He put down the spoon in his hand, raised his hand and gently took her hand, which was resting on the edge of the table. "Hermione, don't take it to heart. I've never doubted you in the slightest. This has absolutely nothing to do with you and Crookshanks."
Hermione paused slightly, her eyes instantly welling up with tears, and her tense shoulders relaxed a little. In this atmosphere filled with suspicion, Su Yu's unconditional trust was more powerful than any comfort.
However, Su Yu's thoughts went far beyond that. He glanced down at the sizzling sausage on his plate, his fingertips lightly tracing the texture of the glass, while countless chaotic clues churned in his mind. He knew all too well the original story's portrayal of Scabbers —it wasn't an ordinary rat at all, but a former Death Eaters had transformed into Animagus, Peter Pettigrew, nicknamed "Wormtail." He had betrayed Lily and James to side with Voldemort, a traitor with blood on his hands. He knew this truth better than anyone.
But he didn't say it.
This year, Hogwarts has been permeated with an eerie sense of unease from the very beginning. The once tranquil edge of the Forbidden Forest Goblin recently been graced by sporadic sightings of goblins. These creatures, which were originally only seen in Gringotts and in myths and legends, have been appearing one after another around the castle, and even occasionally leaving traces of their restlessness in the bushes surrounding the castle.
What struck him as even more odd was that many of the plot developments were completely different from the scenes in the movie he remembered. Events that should have unfolded in a predictable manner began to deviate one after another, as if an invisible hand was secretly turning the gears of fate.
The Goblin's strange behavior, the plot deviating from its course, the subtly changing atmosphere in the castle... all the clues, like scattered fragments, slowly pieced together a chilling outline in his mind.
Su Yu keenly realized that someone in the shadows was meticulously planning a massive and dangerous game. That person not only controlled the Goblin ' movements but might also be secretly altering the original trajectory, attempting to unleash a storm that could overturn Hogwarts and even threaten the entire wizarding world.
Peter Pettigrew's disappearance is merely an insignificant pawn in this game. Once the truth is revealed, it will not only plunge Ron into immense panic and anguish, but may also alert the mastermind behind the scenes, pushing Hermione, Harry, and Ron directly into the center of a dangerous vortex.
Su Yu's gaze slowly swept over the faces in the lobby, some filled with curiosity, others with suspicion. His eyes darkened, and he reached out to tuck a stray hair behind Hermione's ear. His voice remained gentle, yet held a subtle firmness. "I know you're upset, but rumors are just rumors. Time will tell." He paused, avoiding the topic of Scabbers, and simply added softly, "Just focus on your own work. I'll take care of the rest."
Hermione looked into his deep eyes, which were filled with the familiar calmness and reliability, and the grievances and unease in her heart gradually dissipated. She nodded gently, picked up the toast and took another bite. Although she was still a little sullen, she was no longer as flustered and helpless as before.
Su Yu lowered his head and took a sip of hot soup. He knew that this turbulent game had only just begun. As for Peter Pettigrew's secret and the mastermind hidden in the shadows, he would find clues to uncover the truth little by little.