A deafening blast rang out far through Hogwarts Castle and reached the noisy Gryffindor Common Room.
The young wizards stopped clamoring to ask Hermione questions.
They all turned toward the sound, but saw nothing except the wall and its decorations.
Su Er looked over too. That was the direction of the Headmaster's Office, and he thought to himself.
A clang of the gong, and the show begins.
Apart from Su Er, however, no one present knew what that explosion meant. Hermione might have guessed a little because of Su Er. She glanced toward the Headmaster's Office, her arms tightening around him.
The young wizards resumed their discussion from before the explosion. There was really only one topic: who was the traitor?
Since the list had been taken away, Hermione could offer no answer. Su Er knew who the traitor was, of course, but he could hardly speak now. Although talking fantastic beasts were nothing unusual in the Wizard World, Su Er looked like an ordinary badger in every way...
Still, that was all right. The young wizards would soon learn who the traitor was.
Not long after the explosion, Professor McGonagall returned with Harry.
Professor McGonagall's face was icy, and her lioness-like authority kept the young wizards utterly silent. Fortunately, she had no intention of venting her bad mood on innocent students. She glanced at Harry's large, round head on the noticeboard, then turned and left.
The members of the Defence Against Dark Magic group watched the Fat Lady's portrait around the corner closely. Once they heard the familiar sound of the portrait frame closing, they all let out long sighs of relief and crowded around Harry, asking whether he knew anything about the traitor.
Harry looked very pale, his eyes rather vacant. He seemed weighed down by worries.
Still,