This Hogwarts is not normal

Chapter 1331 A Fresh-Faced Newbie

Early morning, Gryffindor Tower.

Hermione left the girls' dormitory, intending to go to the kitchen to meet up with her friends and attend the dessert workshop hosted by the twins.

Just like last night, the common room was bustling with activity.

Harry and Ron were playing cards around a small round table by the fireplace.

“Hermione, are you going out?” Harry looked up at her, then played a card that left Ron speechless, Snape’s gaze.

Amid Ron's wails, Hermione pointed to the hole in the Fat Lady's portrait and said, "Want some dessert? Want some too?"

Before Harry could speak, Ron, who had already put away the cards, answered for him: "No, Harry, I'm going to have a three-hundred-round battle with you tonight!"

Hermione smiled and walked towards the cave entrance. A three-hundred-round battle would take at least until dawn.

As usual, she hurried to the stairwell and quickly made her way to the dungeon, making almost no sound.

She turned into a quiet corridor, and just as she reached the huge fruit painting, she heard a soft clattering sound in the distance, as if someone had bumped into something.

“Fred?” Hermione turned around. “George? Is that you?”

No one responded; it was probably just her imagination.

She reached out and scratched the pear in the painting, and after a burst of mischievous laughter, the doorknob leading to the kitchen appeared.

With a click, the door opened.

Just as she was about to open the door, she heard the rustling sound of fabric rubbing together in the distance.

Once might be an illusion, but what about twice?

Hermione casually opened the door, quickly drew her wand with her other hand, and gently touched her chest.

With a click, the door closed.

The silent dungeon was filled with slightly hurried breathing. Hermione, under the Illusion Charm, finally realized that it wasn't her imagination; there was indeed someone on the other side of the corridor, and they were deliberately hiding their presence.

However, this person's skill level is not high, and he doesn't seem like a habitual offender who frequently goes out at night.

The sound of light footsteps rang out, and Hermione's eyes immediately locked onto the source of the sound.

There was nothing there, or rather, it looked like there was nothing there.

The sound grew fainter and fainter, but Hermione didn't hesitate at all and decisively chose to follow it.

As I passed through the lobby, something flashed by in front of the notice board.

She stared intently at the edge of the bulletin board, almost certain that the other person was wearing an invisibility cloak.

That fleeting thing was probably an invisibility cloak accidentally brushing against the edge of the notice board, revealing the clothes underneath.

So late at night, who else would be wandering around the castle besides these habitual offenders?

Harry and Ron were clearly playing cards in the common room, and they certainly wouldn't make such a basic mistake.

He's not sleeping at this hour, and he's not a habitual night owl, this guy...

Hermione gripped her wand tightly and quietly followed behind.

The guy was clearly very nervous, walking around and stopping frequently, with suppressed gasps for breath escaping his lips.

She kept her distance and patiently followed.

The other party seemed focused only on moving forward and avoiding making noise, their alertness concentrated on hearing rather than sight, completely unaware that a more professional figure was following behind them.

They passed through the entrance hall and came to another rarely used side door of the castle.

Students trying to sneak into Hogsmeade? But it's already past midnight, and most shops are closed.

Could it be that a professor is going out on some business? Impossible, that professor is more professional than her, how could he possibly give himself away?

A bad guy who infiltrated the school? What ulterior motive does he have?

Hermione watched as the side door opened silently a crack, and as the guy in front of her squeezed out, he accidentally lifted his invisibility cloak, revealing a section of high-quality silk fabric that was still easily recognizable even in the dim light.

Coming from a wealthy family and wearing an expensive invisibility cloak, this guy is very likely from a pure-blood family.

Leaving the castle quietly dressed like that is highly suspicious.

With a soft click, the side door closed gently.

Hermione took a deep breath, opened her magical communicator, sent the twins a text message saying "I'll come back later," and then opened the side door and quietly left the castle.

The cold night wind invigorated her; ahead, that guy hadn't even erased his footprints!

This can no longer be explained by being an amateur; this guy is definitely a first-timer, and a complete novice.

Hermione quickly followed the footprints.

The guy had a clear direction and headed straight for the Forbidden Forest.

She followed carefully behind, using the terrain and the shadows of the trees for cover.

Suddenly, the guy stopped in an area west of the willow tree, seemingly trying to determine his direction.

A moment later, footprints reappeared on the ground.

Hermione watched in surprise as the footprints drew ever closer to the Whomping Willow. Did this guy know the secret passage to the Screaming Shack?

The Man-Slaying Willow cannot see people wearing invisibility cloaks, but it will attack based on footsteps, touch, magical fluctuations, or air disturbances.

Sure enough, the willow branches began to lash out wildly, but the attack quickly subsided.

Hermione turned to look at the castle.

Tonight is a full moon night, which reminded her of some unpleasant memories.

She hesitated for a moment, but finally rushed towards the willow tree, nimbly dodging the attacks of the willow branches, and reached out to press the knots on the trunk.

The secret passage was pitch black, and in the damp and narrow space, only the occasional panicked sounds coming from ahead could be heard.

In the darkness, Hermione moved as quietly as a cat, and after about 20 minutes, a faint light appeared ahead.

The exit has finally arrived; the secret passage leads to the screaming shed, which was Lupin's safe house when he went to school.

She did not leave the secret passage rashly, but instead perfectly concealed herself in the shadows.

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The guy finally revealed himself. In the dusty room, the invisibility cloak was lifted, revealing Draco's figure.

His face was as pale as paper, and he was frantically rolling up his invisibility cloak into a ball.

On the other side of the room, a figure wearing a heavy travel cloak with his face covered by the hood approached him.

“Draco.” The voice was hoarse and tired, but Hermione still recognized it as Lucius Malfoy’s voice.

"Dad, we—"

"Wait a minute," Lucius interrupted him, glancing towards the secret passage. "Has anyone followed us?"

Draco shook his head. "No, I'm being very careful."

Lucius hesitated for a moment, then pulled out his wand from his pocket, which he had always kept hidden in the snake-head cane.

"Reveal yourself immediately!"

A flash of bright light illuminated the pitch-black secret passage.

The revealing spell almost grazed Hermione's nose. Before she could even congratulate herself on finding a good spot, she heard Lucius say, "Just in case."

Arranging to meet at this time and place, and deliberately concealing their whereabouts, this is definitely not a simple meeting.

The Malfoys fell silent for a moment.

Lucius seemed to have something important to say, but he never spoke.

Finally, Draco spoke first: "Dad, the Daily Prophet is lying, isn't it? Those Muggle curses, and the Ministry of Magic's attack... weren't Wayne's doing."

Lucius did not deny it.

"They did it, didn't they?" Draco's voice tightened slightly. "It was that person's order, you carried it out, but you failed."

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