After seeing Professor Dumbledore, Kael knew that this matter basically had nothing to do with them anymore.
Soon, the other professors arrived.
A tabby cat gracefully jumped down from the pillar beside the staircase, transforming into the form of Professor McGonagall mid-air.
Snape ran over, tense, only relaxing after he saw that Conna was alright.
Professor Lupin followed him, tightly clutching his wand.
"Chasing Blake... What kind of nonsense are you playing at?" Professor McGonagall was so angry her lips turned white, her tone icy.
"Blake is one of the most vicious criminals in the history of the Magic Realm. Do you know how dangerous this is... Consider yourselves lucky for not being killed by him!"
Snape shot a penetrating glance at Kael.
"So, can anyone explain this to us?" Professor Dumbledore's expression was equally solemn.
"It's like this, Professor..." Fred and George immediately stepped forward to describe the earlier events in detail.
However, they did not mention the Room of Requirement, nor the Mist Gem, but simply said they were playing with newly purchased joke items in an empty room.
"By the time we noticed the time, the banquet had already started..."
"We saw Blake on the way to the Auditorium..."
"He was standing in front of the Fat Lady's portrait, trying to break into the Gryffindor common room..."
"If we hadn't happened to show up, he might have succeeded..." Fred didn't forget to boast at the end, "So thrilling, it was a close call."
"In fact, only the Fat Lady can open the entrance to the common room." Professor McGonagall, though stern, spoke with a softened tone.
"Without the Fat Lady's consent, Blake couldn't get in even if he dug through the wall."
Fred and George were momentarily speechless, awkwardly turning their heads aside.
"Then why did you chase him after discovering he ran!"
At this, Professor McGonagall was exasperated again, "Why couldn't you just be like Cho Chang and directly notify the professors in the Auditorium!"
"We were worried he'd attack other students..." Fred said, "We thought we could catch him quickly."
"Blake was without a wand, it was the best opportunity."
"Mr. Weasley..." Professor McGonagall said, "Can you guarantee Blake hadn't stolen another wizard's wand beforehand?"
"Then why did he run..." George muttered quietly, "I mean, we're just students. If he had a wand, why would he run..."
"Perhaps he was just trying to make you drop your guard, then kill you one by one."
Snape spoke darkly, "That scum, rogue wizard..."
Listening to Snape, Professor Lupin's expression was complex. He didn't argue but sighed painfully.
"Which way did he run." Professor Dumbledore asked.
"I lost him, Professor." Kael said, "He knows the school well, I couldn't catch up."
"Exactly, no one knows it here better than he does."
Lupin walked to Dumbledore's side, "Professor, we need to conduct a full search of the castle."
"Do you really want to capture Blake?" Snape sneered, "Or is there another reason?"
"You know it, Severus." Professor Lupin said sternly, "I want to catch him more than anyone."
"I hope so..." Snape's lips moved, seeming unwilling to let Kael and the others hear too much.
"Professor McGonagall..." Dumbledore timely said, "I think they must be starving. While the banquet hasn't ended, could you take them to the Auditorium?
Also, we're going to conduct a thorough search of the castle, students might have to stay in the Auditorium tonight, so it's okay to extend the banquet a bit."
"Understood." Professor McGonagall nodded, and led Kael and the others away.
When passing by the Fat Lady's portrait, Kael noticed a large piece of canvas had been completely torn off.
The Fat Lady wasn't there, she had probably hidden in another painting.
Professor McGonagall noticed this too, and her expression turned even sterner.
"Seeing this, ruthless Blake doesn't even spare a painting, do you guys realize how stupid your actions were just now..."
Upon reaching the Auditorium, she opened the door for them to enter.
Professor Flitwick and Professor Sprout were guarding the door.
"Minerva, how did it go..." Professor Flitwick put down his wand and asked.
"It was Blake." Professor McGonagall said quietly.
Professor Flitwick clutched his chest, breathing heavily, "How did he get in, didn't the Dementors at the gate see him?"
"Unknown, but they already let Blake pass once..." Professor McGonagall said, "We're about to conduct a thorough search of the castle, students will spend the night in the Auditorium."
"Come in quickly."
She turned to the group behind her and said, "Because of your recklessness, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff will each lose ten points... Ravenclaw gains twenty points because only Cho Chang made the correct decision."
After speaking, Professor McGonagall left again.
Kael, Conna, and Cedric walked to the Hufflepuff table.
The table was filled with delicious food, but no one was eating. All eyes were on them, buzzing with questions about what happened.
"Quiet!" Professor Flitwick shouted loudly, "Don't worry, nothing will happen, the banquet continues..."
The Auditorium quieted down a bit, but faint discussion was still audible.
"Are you all okay?"
Cho had somehow quietly slipped to the Hufflepuff side, hiding between Conna and Cedric, peering and asking.
"We're fine." Cedric said, "Professors arrived in about two minutes, but how did you get here so quickly, all the way from the eighth floor to the Auditorium."
"Certainly not by running." Cho said, "I went to the Room of Requirement and took a broom from there, flew straight to the Auditorium."
"Oh... So clever." Cedric gave a thumbs up, "Indeed, worthy of Ravenclaw."
"Enough of this, I haven't settled accounts with you all yet." Cho looked at them displeased, "We said to inform the professors, but you all ran faster than anyone."
"Mostly didn't think much at the time..." Cedric scratched his head, "Instinctively chased after."
"So why did you drag me..." Cho glared at Cedric, "Don't deny it, I saw it," Do you think I'm weak and will hold you back."
"Someone had to report, right..." Cedric said somewhat awkwardly.
"And it turns out I was right, Gryffindor and us both lost ten points, Ravenclaw gained twenty."
"Ha..." Cho coldly chuckled, continuing to glare at Cedric, "We Ravenclaws are short of those twenty points?"
"Ahem... Ravenclaw's House points are first." Kael pointed at the score hourglass, saying softly, "And exactly five points more than Slytherin."
Cho's next words got stuck in her throat, unable to be spoken.
"Exactly, that's it." Cedric quickly nodded too, "You're now neck and neck with Slytherin, perhaps those twenty points will win you the House Cup in the end."
...