The Petrified Muggle-borns and Ghosts (3)

The Owlery had never been this busy. From dawn to dusk, owls streamed out of the castle towers like patches of gray cloud, then returned from the horizon. Tied to their legs were not ordinary letters, but urgent family messages sealed with red wax, marked "For Your Eyes Only" and "Reply Immediately."

Parents filled their letters with anxiety and worry. Some demanded that their children come home at once; others told them not to leave their common rooms. Some sent all sorts of amulets and magical items said to "ward off evil gazes."

And those amulets and magical items were currently the hottest goods on the market.

"Special Anti-Petrification Glasses! Mithril-coated lenses with Dragon Crystal powder, effectively refracting and scattering deadly rays! Certified by Goblin craftsmen of Gringotts! Only fifteen Galleons! Limited stock, first come, first served!" Owl-order advertisements began circulating privately among the students, complete with exaggerated diagrams.

The glasses came in bizarre styles, their lenses colored strangely. Some were blue, some purple, while others had a reflective silver coating that made the wearer look like some kind of alien creature.

"Egyptian Scarab Amulets! Mysterious runes passed down from the age of the Pharaohs, capable of resisting evil stares! Recommended by the Cairo Society of Mystics! Twelve Galleons each!" In corners of the corridors, older students furtively peddled them to frightened younger students, holding little paper-wrapped boxes printed with incomprehensible hieroglyphs.

"Pure Silver Protective Cloak Linings! Woven with ancient protective runes! Close-fitting protection for twice the peace of mind! Newly arrived at Dervish and Banges in Hogsmeade—expensive, but worth every Galleon!" Enticing notices were pinned to the bulletin boards, accompanied by color photographs of models wearing the linings. Their expressions were stern and confident, as though they were saying, "Wear this, and you'll be safe."

"Special Anti-Petrification Potion! Exclusive