"Maybe, we should hurry up, I suspect we'll be late."
"The agreed time is twelve o'clock noon."
Walking to Hogsmeade in the wind, rain and snow was by no means a pleasant experience. They had to bend down and walk slowly against the cold wind, rain and snow, even if they had wrapped themselves in thick scarves
, the exposed skin was still sore from the cold.
Even Harry himself admitted that staying in the warm common room in this damn weather would definitely be more comfortable than it is now. Unfortunately, they have no choice now, and turning back to school is obviously not a good option.
"It would be great if I could apparate directly to Hogsmeade." Ron pulled the scarf around his neck, looked at the Hogwarts students in front of him and complained in a low voice, "I feel like
His cheeks were so cold that he lost consciousness."
"Don't complain, we can start learning Apparition this semester." Hermione seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly turned to the person next to her and said, "Harry, I remember you are not old enough."
"My birthday is at the end of July." Harry said a little depressed, "I may not be able to take the Apparition test until next semester."
"I think you should learn to apparate first, just in case." Hermione suggested seriously, "And Ron, the same goes for you. It's best to pass it in one go."
"Hermione, do you know something?" Harry suddenly asked: "Did Albert tell you anything?"
"No." Hermione shook her head and said, "But do you still remember? He once predicted it."
"Prophecy? What prophecy?" Ron asked loudly.
"The real turbulent period... is coming." Hermione glanced at Ron and lowered her voice to remind, "According to Albert's prediction, it is not yet a turbulent period. So what do you think is the real turbulent period?
?”
"The situation is worse than it is now." Harry really couldn't imagine what the scene was like.
"He also reminded other Muggle wizards that they had better learn something useful before the turbulent times come. That's why the Self-Defense Guide was born." Hermione told her two companions about the idea she had worked out.
"I think he wants to tell us that after the real turbulent period arrives, Muggle wizards will be in big trouble. I suspect that the mysterious man will completely control the Ministry of Magic and persecute Muggle wizards."
"But, as long as Dumbledore is still there, it is almost impossible for Voldemort to control the Ministry of Magic." Harry felt that this possibility was not high. He had confidence in Dumbledore, but even a weakling like Fudge did not give in to Voldemort.
, let alone Scrimgeour.
"Yes, I thought so too." Hermione's voice was very low, and only a few people around her could barely hear it clearly: "Do you remember the injury on Dumbledore's hand? It was probably caused by some kind of very terrible
It was hurt by the curse, I doubt Dumbledore would..."
For a moment, the three of them were silent.
This is undoubtedly a very serious topic.
Perhaps, without Albert's prophecy, they would not have thought about this, but everything at the moment points to one thing. Dumbledore is likely to gradually lose the power to control the mysterious man, or leave forever.
them.
…
Without Dumbledore's intimidation, nothing the mysterious man does will be surprising. Perhaps at that time, the real period of turmoil will arrive.
Harry actually had similar thoughts, but he suppressed them quickly. At least, he didn't think the situation would be that bad. After all, Dumbledore was an omnipotent existence in Harry's heart.
"I remember that Fred and George were taken by Albert to practice Apparition." Ron seemed to feel the depressing atmosphere around him and randomly found a topic, "They both passed the Apparition exam easily, and now they are able to
Being led by Albert to make a lot of money, dad said they are becoming the richest people in the family."
Ron envied the twins' good luck. Even though Fred and George were hiding now, they were still doing owl mail order and continuing to make a lot of money.
Feeling that the atmosphere around him was still very stiff, Ron changed the topic again: "Those two bastards also said that if they can't find a job in the future, they will go to the store to help. What are you going to do in the future?"
"When I entered the Ministry of Magic, I wanted to help the house elves change their current predicament." Hermione said without hesitation, "Wizards should not treat house elves like that."
"I think this may be difficult to do. The probability of Percy becoming the Minister of Magic is higher than this." Ron ignored Hermione's dissatisfied look and continued to ask, "Harry, what about you? Or do you plan to become one?"
An Auror?"
Talking a little can really distract you from the exhausting process of walking to Hogsmeade.
"Well, if possible, I do want to become an Auror, but the difficulty seems to be higher than I expected, and..."
After learning about the prophecy between himself and the mysterious man from Dumbledore at the end of last semester, Harry let go of many things and no longer cared about his future employment.
The first thing he should consider now is how to defeat the mysterious man, or be defeated by the mysterious man. If he fails, it will be meaningless to think about the future.
"I always feel like you all have your own secrets." Ron couldn't help complaining, and he changed the subject and talked about another thing: "By the way, I heard that Fred and George took Zuoko's Joke Shop
Become one of their branches? Maybe, we can see it when we go there later, they seem to have a large-scale discount event today."
Looking at the two people who were silent, Ron couldn't help but sigh and comforted: "Actually, you don't need to worry too much. Even if something happens, isn't there still Dumbledore? Isn't there still Albert?
I don’t believe they didn’t make any preparations, it’s not our turn to worry about those things.”
After several people arrived in Hogsmeade Village, they were shocked by the changes in Zoko's Joke Shop. This shop, which is very popular among Hogwarts students, has not only been renovated, but also has a
A comic statue.
It was clearly an upgraded version of the pink toad statue.
Umbridge, who was sitting on the toad, not only had rough skin, but also had pimples. She looked like she had taken a compound potion mixed with toad skin fragments. There was also a pink toad on her head, which surprised everyone the most.
Yes, three toads were arranged neatly and making croaking sounds.
…
"I knew they were the ones who made that statue." Hermione looked at the toad statue in front of her and lowered her voice to Harry and Ron next to her.
The statue of Umbridge undoubtedly helped Zoko's joke shop attract a lot of Hogwarts students. Everyone pointed at the toad statue, and some people actually took photos with the statue and took pictures for them.
The person who took the photo was clearly Lee Jordan.
"What the hell are you doing!"
The three of them walked over and asked Li Jordan, who was posing for other students.
"You can take a photo for two cents each, or you can buy ten galleons of goods in the store for free." Lee Jordan smiled and pointed to the statue in front of him and asked: "How about it, do you want one?"
"So expensive?"
Ron couldn't help complaining: "You are robbing money!"
"It's enough to take a group photo with a few people. Then we can share the cost together. In fact, it won't cost much at all. It's not easy to find someone to take photos for you now, and the film itself is more expensive than you think. If it's not a promotion,
Don’t expect it to be so cheap at all.” Lee Jordan said to the three of them, “If you want to take pictures, just go over there and line up!”
"I think that we should give up!"
Ron pulled Harry's shoulder, motioned him to look at the crowds of people in the joke shop, and said, "Let's go to the Three Broomsticks Bar for a drink first to warm up, and then come back when there are less people here."
Harry saw the crowds of people inside through the floor-to-ceiling windows, nodded and agreed to Ron's suggestion, and got down to business first, then asked, "Are Fred and George here too?"
"They are helping in the store. Well, you should go in and have a look. We have recently got a batch of good things. You will definitely like them." After Li Jordan finished speaking, he went about his own business.
The three of them looked at each other and went directly to the Three Broomsticks Bar. There they met Cedric and Cho Chang, who were laughing and whispering.
Harry looked away from the two of them and was about to find another table when he was stopped by Hermione.
"What's wrong?"
Harry followed Hermione's hand and saw Cedric waving to them. He hesitated for a moment, then walked over.
Ron and Hermione looked at each other, and they could see the worry in their eyes. They both knew that Harry had a secret crush on Cho Chang.
"I'm going to buy butterbeer."
Ron said and walked towards the bar. Hermione glanced at Mrs. Rosmerta, who was still charming and charming, and then looked at Ron's slightly hasty back. She couldn't help but curled her lips and walked towards Cedric's table with Harry.
Go.
"I heard that you were in trouble a while ago?"
When Harry faced Cedric now, he no longer felt the same jealousy as before, and when he looked at Cho Chang, he no longer felt the same excitement as before.
"I met a group of dark wizards and suffered a lot." Cedric said lightly.
"You should pay attention to your safety, and this and Fu..."
"Ahem!"
Hermione quickly interrupted Harry with a quick cough and helped her continue, "It has something to do with You-Know-Who?"
"Relevantly, according to Albert's prophecy, turbulent times are coming. He believes that it is best for us to stay together and spend the most difficult years together." Cedric lowered his voice and explained.
…
"But this is not the same as..."
"We reorganized the Defense Association. When I was helping to recruit people, I ran into trouble. Maybe you have heard that the group of Death Eaters were using the Imperius Curse on wizards everywhere. I happened to encounter them.
It seemed that he really wanted to find the whereabouts of Albert, so he caught me and tried to extract some information from me." Cedric briefly explained the main reason for his trouble.
"So, you quit your job at the Ministry of Magic?"
Ron appeared at the wooden table holding three glasses of butterbeer, distributed the warm butterbeer to Harry and Hermione, and sat down next to Harry.
"Albert saved me, so I am not suitable to stay in the Ministry of Magic now, otherwise I will cause greater trouble." Cedric shrugged helplessly and explained, "In short, the situation is worse than you think.
, even worse than the last Wizarding War."
"What kind of organization is the Defense Association?" Hermione was a little curious about this, "Is it the same as the big party in school?"
"It is indeed similar to the previous da. It will teach everyone the knowledge of defense against black magic so that they will not be helpless when encountering danger."
"But isn't the Ministry of Magic also popularizing the knowledge of defense against dark arts to everyone?" Hermione felt that the "Defense Association" organized by Albert was not just for teaching everyone knowledge about defense against dark arts. There must be other more important things.
reason.
"That's different. The knowledge about defense against dark arts that Hogwarts students learn now is actually very general. The Defense Association will teach everyone more advanced knowledge about defense against dark arts." Cedric explained: "Moreover, the members of the organization will
Keep in touch with each other and help each other. When we encounter trouble, at least we will not be helpless. If we are targeted by Death Eaters, we will also help hide the person. You can also think of this as a mutual aid organization against mysterious people.
"
"After all, the Ministry of Magic is now occupied by heavy matters. If we want to protect our lives in the coming turbulent period, we need to unite everyone."
"So, this is the main reason why you are willing to go to Hogwarts to teach everyone Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Hermione stared at Cedric and asked, "You want the students at Hogwarts to join you."
"Yes, Hogwarts graduates are our targets, if they are willing to join us." Cedric admitted this directly, "However, the current students' defense against dark arts level is relatively average, and Albert
I feel that their level should be improved so that they have enough strength to cope with the coming changes and protect themselves and their families."
"I think what Albert said makes sense. Now the entire magical world is in panic, and Scrimgeour doesn't know how long he can support it." Cedric reminded without hesitation, "Albert thinks Scrimgeour
He has become a thorn in the side of the mysterious man and a thorn in the flesh. Maybe one day the mysterious man will find an opportunity, and Scrimgeour will die in the line of duty."
Harry, Ron and Hermione all couldn't help but widen their eyes.
"Don't look at me like that. These are Albert's exact words. Scrimgeour has killed so many people, and there must be many people who want to kill him." Cedric looked around and lowered his voice and said, "I doubt Scrimgeour."
In fact, Jie knew that he might be killed in the end, so he was so cruel to those dark wizards."
"You mean Albert told Scrimgeour about this, but why did he..."
"Why not hide?" Cedric shook his head and said, "Do you think he can drop everything and hide by himself?"
The three of them were silent.
At this moment, a shrill scream suddenly came from outside, attracting the attention of all the customers in the bar.