Vid emerged from the Maze Area to see the Weasley Twins leading the students, blocking the entrance, waving their arms and shouting—
"Protest! Protest!"
"Give us back the Ultimate Challenge!"
"This is the result of everyone's hard work, the school can't just shut it down like that!"
"We want freedom! We want justice! We want the Ultimate Challenge!!!"
A bunch of teenagers, from different houses, mixed together, chanting slogans that startled the small animals outside, making them shiver and hide under the bushes.
Vid was surprised to see a few pearl-white figures mixed among the students—
More than half of the ghosts in the school had come, also joining in the protest for some unknown reason. Even Peeves stood shoulder to shoulder with the Weasley Twins, arms around each other, shouting loudly together.
Vid looked back, expecting the headmaster to say something, but Dumbledore was nowhere to be seen.
Professor McGonagall stood in front of the students, the Head of Gryffindor House pointed her wand at her throat and shouted, "Si—lence—"
An incredibly loud voice echoed like rolling thunder, like the roaring of a lion, with sound waves spreading in all directions, causing ripples on the surface of the Black Lake.
The lake water made a "glug" sound as a giant squid that had surfaced to watch the commotion dived back down.
The Forbidden Forest also suddenly became quiet, as if even the insects had stopped fluttering their wings.
The wind stopped, the clouds rested, and the students, covering their ears, showed expressions of being dumbfounded, with no one speaking again, the area around the maze becoming so quiet that it seemed you could hear everyone's heartbeat.
Professor McGonagall put down her wand, clasped her hands, looking dignified and graceful.
She looked at everyone and said, "A student was attacked by a Thestral in the maze, we need to suspend all activities and investigate the cause of the incident."
Fred boldly whispered, "We're not afraid of getting hurt..."
Professor McGonagall squinted her eyes.
Fred immediately corrected himself, "No... I mean... we'll be careful, we won't provoke the Thestral..."
"The Thestral wasn't provoked by any student's rude behavior, it was fed a large amount of Catha Edulis."
Professor McGonagall suppressed her anger and said, "This is a very malicious act! Whoever's prank it is, you'd better confess to me immediately! Otherwise, when I find out who did it, they can expect to be sent home!"
She meaningfully swept her gaze over a few mischievous students.
Most students looked at the Weasley Twins, but some suspiciously stared at a few Slytherin students with bad reputations.
The twins immediately raised their hands and said in unison, "I swear, it was not us, Professor!"
George added, "Catha Edulis is expensive, I know that, but I definitely wouldn't spend money on it for a prank."
The twins' denial didn't convince anyone, but once George said this, everyone believed it.
The Weasley siblings from the first year to the sixth, including two who have already graduated. Everyone knew about their family's situation. Among them, from Percy to Ginny, everyone used second-hand items.
The older Percy and the only girl Ginny occasionally had a few new things, but Fred and George, along with Ron, seemed like they were picked up, wearing old clothes for years.
Of course, Fred and George secretly found ways to earn money for themselves, which everyone knew, and also knew they had some savings.
But to think they would spend a lot of money on some impractical grass, to pull a meaningless prank, randomly harming a student...
No one thought they could be so foolish.
Percy gave the twins a hard glare, raised his hand, and seriously asked, "Professor, may I ask which student was injured?"
Professor McGonagall pressed her lips together, initially reluctant to say, but seeing the students' gazes around her, she finally said, "Harry Potter. He was scratched by a Thestral, just sent to the hospital wing."
Ron's and Hermione's faces turned pale among the crowd, they exchanged a glance, and then ran towards the hospital wing.
With a "boom," a buzzing discussion erupted among the students, with many turning their gazes toward the Slytherin students.
In fact, even the Slytherins themselves suspected it was done by someone from their house, they didn't voice their suspicions, but instinctively looked at those students who often insult Gryffindor and promote pure-blood supremacy in the Slytherin Common Room.
Such as those who previously often clashed with Harry and the others, like Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, and so on.
Such as upperclassmen like Fry and Yaxley.
As a result, some Slytherins suddenly found themselves isolated by their fellow classmates around them.
"Was it you, Draco?" Pansy quietly asked Malfoy, excitedly saying, "It's okay, you can tell me, I'll keep your secret!"
"I wish I had taught that scarhead a profound lesson!" Malfoy said gloomily, "But unfortunately, it wasn't me... I suspect it was done by some idiot."
He glanced in a certain direction, Pansy followed his gaze and saw several Slytherin boys standing together, all with the same cold expressions, unable to figure out who exactly Malfoy had been looking at.
"No matter what." She said to Malfoy, "I always support you."
Malfoy nodded absentmindedly, still looking rather upset.
Professor McGonagall had her own suspects, of course, but without evidence, she couldn't speak them aloud.
She reiterated a few cautions and loudly emphasized that students should not sneak into the maze at night, glancing at the Weasley Twins once more, and warning that those who broke the rules would face serious consequences.
The students dispersed with disappointment, and as they left, the Tree-Protectors left too, returning to the hedges.
"Can I keep it? I feel like it likes me, and I really like it too."
Luna asked Professor Kettleburn.
The old professor didn't refuse outright but smiled warmly and said, "You can ask it yourself. If it's willing, I certainly have no objections."
Luna's eyes lit up, she quickly sought the Tree-Protector's opinion, but the little one eagerly burrowed into the hedges, only leaving her with a view of its back.
"Oh... it doesn't seem to agree..." The old professor mischievously added.
Luna's eyebrows drooped in disappointment, she stared blankly in the direction where the Tree-Protector disappeared, looking foolish.
"Um... do you like the Tree-Protectors?"
Nearby, Rolf saw her and stepped over, saying, "A lot of people think they have an old man's face."
Luna glanced at him and said, "Very cute, I think they are like friends. Of course, the Curved-Horned Snoring Beasts are also adorable, but they are larger... I think."
"What is a Curved-Horned Snoring Beast..."
Rolf hesitated for a moment, not delving into that question, instead pulling out from his pocket a small Tree-Protector.
"Look, this is my friend Archer, out of all the Tree-Protectors I like it the most."
Little Archer clasped Rolf's finger, the two leaves on top of its head gently swaying.
"That's wonderful... it wants to follow you." Luna said enviously.
"You can shake hands with it." Rolf suggested, "It's very friendly..."
Fred and George found Vid.
"Hi, Vid, I have an idea..." Fred put his arm around Vid's neck and said.
"What idea?" Vid asked.
"You know the Disillusionment Charm, and we seem to be the suspects—" Fred said.
"To clear suspicion, we're willing to take a little risk—" George said.
"And we certainly don't lack courage—to explore any corner of Hogwarts—"
"There's a place we've been curious about for a long time, but have never had the chance to sneak in... ahem, explore—"
"Just when everyone's heading back, you can cast a Disillusionment Charm on me, and we'll sneak in—"
Vid raised an eyebrow, "Don't tell me you want to sneak into the Slytherin Common Room?"
"I knew you'd think of that with us!" George clapped his hands and said.
"Don't you think it's a good idea?" Fred also said, "It's surely the Slytherins who did it... after returning to their common room, they absolutely won't be able to resist bragging—"
"Just slipping in to eavesdrop for a little while, the truth will surely come out—" George added.
"What do you think?" Fred then asked.
"Not so good."
Vid said as he walked toward the school infirmary, "You forgot one person... didn't Harry mention at the start of the term? There was a house-elf trying to stop him from returning to school..."
Fred and George exchanged a glance, "That must be a nasty little fellow... like Malfoy... sending their house-elf to mess with him, right?"
"That's hardly possible."
Vid said, "If Malfoy could send their house-elf into Harry's house to mess with him, why hasn't he been targeted by Death Eaters' remnants all these years?"
"I heard quite a few people have escaped punishment, isn't there anyone seeking revenge on Harry Potter?"
"Hmm..." George pondered, a faint idea in his mind, "You mean to say..."
"I suspect that Dumbledore must have set up extremely powerful protective spells or Expel Curses where Harry resides."
Vid said, "Anyone with malicious intent can't find him, and that's why he's never been avenged."