The Prisoners of Hogwarts

Chapter 244 Concluding with Protests and Questions

Chapter 244 Closing Protests and Questioning (5K) (2/2)

Lynch continued, "How are you feeling, Harry?"

"I—I think I passed out," Harry recalled, still shaken. "Outside—those things—"

"They're Dementors, guards of Azkaban," Hermione interjected, breaking off a large piece of chocolate from her hand and handing it to Harry. "Here, eat this. The professor said it would help you. They affected the whole train, but it's all over now."

Harry took the chocolate and took a bite as instructed. A comforting warmth immediately spread down his throat, dispelling the lingering chill and numbness in his body.

He noticed that Ron was also sitting next to him. Although his face was still a little pale, he looked much better and was sipping a hot drink.

"Thanks to Professor Lupin and Professor Lynch," Hermione whispered to Harry, her voice filled with lingering fear and gratitude, "they drove away all the Dementors."

"Thank you, Professor Lupin. And thank you, Professor Lynch." Harry thanked the two professors sincerely, especially Lynch.

He recalled pressing the badge before he lost consciousness and realized that Uncle Lynch's appearance was not as simple as "just happened to be nearby".

Thinking of this, he subconsciously reached into the inner pocket of his robe, wanting to touch the badge for a sense of reassurance, but his fingertips unexpectedly found nothing. His heart tightened, and he quickly groped around a few more times—the badge was gone!

"Is this what you're looking for?"

Lynch's gentle and steady voice rang out.

Harry looked up and found that the other person's gaze was on him. He raised his right hand gracefully, his index and middle fingers gently twirling the dark Stone Tower Merchant Guild emblem, the metal surface gleaming under the light.

"Yes—yes." Harry nodded somewhat awkwardly.

Lin Qi didn't say anything more, but just flicked his fingertips almost imperceptibly.

The badge seemed to be lifted by an invisible force, floating steadily and precisely through the air in the box, and quietly falling into Harry's unconsciously outstretched palm.

"It fell out of your hand when you fell," Lynch explained, his gaze lingering on the badge for a moment.

Harry had no suspicions, but felt a little annoyed that he had accidentally lost such an important item. He quickly gripped the badge tightly, preparing to put it away again.

Unbeknownst to him, during his unconsciousness, the badge hadn't "fallen out of his hand," but rather been retrieved by Lynch. In that brief contact, the crucial trigger spell within had been re-examined, stabilized, and infused with more energy to ensure a faster and more precise response when needed.

Lynch watched as Harry carefully put the badge back on his body, then turned to Lupin across from him.

"As I said before, Hogwarts is aware of what happened on the train. Professor McGonagall will be waiting at the station to help settle the frightened students and get more details."

Lupin nodded: "I understand. I will explain the situation to her."

Lin Qi nodded slightly.

Then, his gaze finally fell on Harry, and his voice softened: "I have other things to take care of, so I must leave now."

Upon hearing this, Harry felt a sudden tightness in his chest.

He had just recovered from that terrible ordeal, and his mind and body were still filled with cold fear and unease. Uncle Lynch's presence was like a solid barrier, making him feel at ease.

He instinctively wanted to say, "Could I stay a little longer?" or ask more about the Dementors, anything that would allow him to keep this elder for a few more moments.

But when he opened his mouth, he couldn't say anything. Uncle Lin Qi was obviously a person with an important position, and he had too many things to deal with on a daily basis. He had personally seen him constantly reviewing documents in the Chamber of Commerce and knew how busy he was.

So he could only swallow his faint desire and nod slightly.

"See you at the castle, Harry." Lynch seemed oblivious to Harry's momentary hesitation, or rather, he noticed but chose to act as usual.

He nodded to Ron and Hermione again, and then, without further delay, in the private room, accompanied by a soft but clear crackling sound, his figure instantly twisted and vanished without a trace.

His main duty as a raven clone was to maintain the daily operations of the Stone Tower Merchant Guild and the First Order. He had temporarily left due to Harry's emergency summons, and now that the crisis was over, he had to return to Diagon Alley immediately to deal with the backlog of affairs.

Lin Qi's sudden departure brought a brief silence to the private room, as if taking away some invisible support.

Harry stared at the spot where he had disappeared. The sense of security that had risen in his heart because of the recovery of the badge and the timely appearance of his elders seemed to dissipate a little with the explosion, and the lingering chill seemed to creep back up his spine.

Professor Lupin noticed Harry's subtle disappointment. He gently clapped his hands to bring everyone's attention back. "Alright, we'll be there soon. Pack your things. I need to check the carriages one more time." Before leaving the compartment, he looked at Harry and added, "Eat some chocolate. If you feel unwell, tell me immediately."

A little earlier, before Harry woke up.

Hogwarts Castle, Headmaster's Office.

The silverware spun on its own, emitting wisps of steam, while portraits of past principals posed on the wall.

Dumbledore sat behind his desk, his fingertips lightly touching, listening to Lynch's narration as he stood in the center of the office.

Lynch's original body had just succinctly described everything that happened on the Hogwarts Express: the boarding of the Dementors, Harry's coma, and his teamwork with Lupin to expel them.

"I understand," Dumbledore said slowly, his deep blue eyes, peering through his half-moon spectacles, conveying a sense of gravity and a barely perceptible anger. "Thank you for your prompt action, and thank you for informing me, Professor Lynch."

"It's my duty." Lin Qi's voice was calm, revealing no emotional fluctuation.

Dumbledore took a deep breath, a cloud hanging over his usually gentle face.

"Connelly assured me—he swore they would only stay at the border." He shook his head, not continuing, but instead waved his wand, and a silver phoenix guardian flew from the tip of the wand, past Lynch, and disappeared through the wall.

A moment later, the office door was pushed open, and Professor McGonagall, Professor Sprout, and Professor Flitwick walked in one after another, all with puzzled expressions on their faces.

Snape followed silently at the back like a gliding bat, his black robes billowing, his face bearing its usual somber expression.

"Professor Dumbledore, what's going on?" Professor McGonagall asked first, keenly sensing the unusual atmosphere in the office and Lynch's presence there beforehand.

Dumbledore stood up and glanced at his colleagues.

"I just received some bad news from Professor Lynch. Just moments ago, the Hogwarts Express was raided by Dementors while it was traveling on its way."

"What?!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed in shock, her hands clenching tightly. "How dare they! Where are the students?"

Professor Sprout let out a short gasp, and Professor Flitwick cried out, "Merlin! This is terrible!"

Snape's jaw tightened, but he said nothing; his dark eyes were as deep as tunnels.

"Most of the students are just frightened and are fine," Dumbledore continued, his voice heavy, "but—Harry Potter was directly attacked and is temporarily unconscious."

"7

This remark made the atmosphere in the office tense.

Professor McGonagall took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her surging emotions.

Her anger did not disappear; instead, it settled into something colder and harder.

She turned to Dumbledore, her voice regaining its usual restraint, but every word carried immense weight: "Professor Dumbledore, the Ministry of Magic's actions have severely crossed the line. Cornelius-Fudge's guarantee is meaningless. The Dementors' boarding and search of the vehicle is a blatant violation of the Hogwarts Express's contractual protection and places the safety of all students in extreme danger. I strongly urge the school to lodge the strongest protest with the Ministry of Magic."

The Ministry of Magic must restrain its employees!

Her words were clear and concise, expressing the thoughts that had been lingering in the minds of the other professors.

"I completely agree with Professor McGonagall!" Professor Flitwick exclaimed, waving his little fist. "This is a provocation against the school's autonomy! We must lodge a strong protest immediately!"

Professor Sprout nodded repeatedly, her voice tinged with lingering fear: "We must make sure this never happens again! Just think, if the professor hadn't been there—" She didn't finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear.

At that moment, a cold, slippery voice broke in—it was Snape.

A mocking smile twisted at the corner of his mouth: "Perhaps we should be more concerned with why the Dementors are showing such an unusual interest in our renowned Mr. Potter?"

His self-shine swept across the crowd like viscous asphalt: "Is this merely an accident, or does it foreshadow some connection we are not yet aware of?"

"Because while Dementors do feed on happiness and hope, they are actually drawn to the deepest pain and trauma within an individual," Lynch said, answering Snape's question. "We all know what that child went through."

So it would be strange if Dementors weren't attracted to him.

Snape's face grew even longer: "Have you suddenly become an expert on Dementors?"

Lynch smiled and said, "Of course not. I just saw one, and it's clear that it likes me more than I expected."

Snape let out a barely audible groan and said nothing more.

Dumbledore's deep gaze lingered on Snape and Lynch for a moment, then he looked at Professor McGonagall.

"Your suggestion is absolutely correct, Professor McGonagall." Dumbledore's voice carried an unquestionable authority. "The protest must proceed, and the stance must be clear. Now, proceed immediately to the station and ensure that every student is properly accommodated."

Harry's case, in particular, requires a detailed assessment.

Professor McGonagall straightened her back: "We'll go now, Professor Dumbledore."

After she finished speaking, she walked out first, followed closely by Flitwick and Sprout.

Snape paused for a moment, seemingly waiting for further instructions. When Dumbledore gave no further orders, he slipped out the door silently like a black shadow.

Only Dumbledore and Lynch remained in the office.

"It seems this semester was destined to be anything but peaceful from the very beginning," Dumbledore said softly.

Lynch looked at Dumbledore: "Trouble was inevitable from the moment Sirius escaped from prison."

After a pause, Lynch asked, "I remember he used to be a member of the Order of the Phoenix. Did he try to contact you after he escaped?"

Lynch's question was like a pebble thrown into calm water, creating invisible ripples in the principal's office.

The posed portraits on the wall seemed to hold their breath.

Dumbledore's fingers, which were resting on the table, twitched almost imperceptibly.

He raised his deep blue, penetrating eyes and looked at Lin Qi. There was no surprise in his gaze, only a deep, complex emotion mixed with regret and scrutiny.

"No." Dumbledore's answer was clear and certain, tinged with a heavy tone. "Since—that night, I have had no contact with Sirius Black. The only thing I received was an urgent notification from Azkaban confirming his escape."

He leaned back slightly in his chair, his gaze behind his crescent-shaped glasses seemingly piercing through Lin Qi and looking back to that night twelve years ago, a night filled with betrayal and death.

"Even though he was a member of the Order of the Phoenix," Dumbledore continued slowly, his voice low, "the deaths of James and Lily, and the murder of Peter Pettigrew—changed many things. Once trust is broken, it is difficult to rebuild."

I do not believe that a vicious Death Eater who escaped from Azkaban would try to contact me, his former leader—who, in a sense, witnessed his crimes.

Dumbledore states the cold, cruel truth, highlighting the chasm between him and Black, forged by bloodshed, betrayal, and twelve years of imprisonment.

Lin Qi listened quietly, his face showing no change in expression, as if he were simply receiving ordinary information.

His dark eyes were deep and unfathomable, revealing whether he accepted the statement or whether he had gleaned something deeper, unspoken, from Dumbledore's answer.

A brief silence descended, filled only by the soft hum of silverware.

"Have you ever wondered why he only chose to escape recently?" Lynch asked. "The Daily Prophet said that he was like a lifeless corpse in Azkaban until recently, when he suddenly changed, constantly muttering 'He's at Hogwarts,' and then he escaped shortly after."

Dumbledore was silent for a moment, his long fingers gently touching together, his gaze lowered, as if examining his interlaced knuckles, or as if gazing at the river of twelve years.

"Thinking about 'why' is a habit that's hard to avoid at my age, Professor Lynch." He finally spoke, his voice calm and humming. "Azkaban can destroy the will of most people, make madness the norm, and despair the ultimate destination. In such a context, the motives of any successful escapee deserve in-depth investigation—was it for freedom itself? For some unfulfilled obsession? Or—" He paused, his azure eyes lifting sharply to look at Lynch, "—to complete what was left unfinished twelve years ago?"

He didn't explicitly say what the "unfinished business" was, but both men present knew perfectly well—Harry Potter.

"The official statement portrays him as a vicious, vengeful dark wizard who escaped from prison to hunt down Harry and complete his master's unfinished business." Dumbledore's tone was flat, and it was impossible to tell whether he fully agreed with this statement. "This motive aligns with the public's perception of him—simple, direct, and enough to incite panic and vigilance."

"But?" Lynch chimed in at the opportune moment, sensing the unspoken twist in Dumbledore's words.

“However,” Dumbledore nodded slightly, “a person completely dominated by hatred and the urge to kill will usually attempt to escape earlier, or exhibit more extreme destructiveness while in prison. As you said before, Sirius Black was unusually quiet for a long time during his imprisonment in Azkaban.” This quietness, coupled with his recent sudden outburst of activity—enough to break through the Dementors' tight control—created a perplexing contrast.

He didn't say he didn't believe the official account, nor did he offer any clear alternative theories. He simply pointed out the doubts, like the most cautious scholar, stating only what he observed rather than drawing hasty conclusions.

"So, you think his escape might not have stemmed from a simple urge to kill?" Lynch pressed, his gaze sharp, as if trying to catch every subtle hint in Dumbledore's words.

"I believe," Dumbledore carefully chose his words, "that the inner turmoil of someone who could maintain a certain quiet in Azkaban for so long and ultimately escape was likely far more complex than we currently imagine. Whatever his motives, his actions have dragged Harry, Hogwarts, and indeed the entire wizarding world, into a new and unpredictable situation."

He looked at Lynch, his gaze deep: "And this is precisely what I'm most worried about. We're not facing a madman who plays by the rules, but a variable whose motives are unclear, whose abilities are unknown, and who has successfully broken through the most severe imprisonment in the magical world."

Lin Qi listened quietly, his gray eyes reflecting a range of thoughts.

"I understand," he finally replied with just a few words.

No further questions were asked, and it seemed that the topic had come to an end.

He nodded slightly: "Then, farewell, Headmaster Dumbledore."

Lin Qi didn't linger. He turned and left the office, gently closing the heavy wooden door behind him.

Dumbledore sat alone behind his large desk, his gaze fixed on the doorway where Lynch had disappeared, remaining there for a long time.

Lynch's last question about Sirius Black lingered in the air like a delicate spider's thread, also coiling around his mind.