Chapter 126 The diary disappeared
The auditorium was quiet again, but there was still some commotion, because many students were looking forward to this game, which is the biggest and most popular event every year.
Professor McGonagall glanced at the little wizards in the audience. She was about to continue talking about the new rules, but she pondered for a while and changed her words:
"I know everyone is looking forward to the Quidditch game. Every student loves this sport and every Quidditch player in every house is training hard for it."
"But," said Professor McGonagall,
"Everyone is also aware of what has happened these days. Several students have been suddenly petrified for some unknown reason and are still lying in the school hospital."
"Now that the mandrakes are not yet mature, it is difficult for them to recover from their petrified state. It seems that this kind of thing will continue to happen, and Professor Dumbledore is also worried that more accidents will happen."
"For this reason, we must take certain measures to protect everyone."
The little wizards below looked at each other, but after hearing this reason, they finally stopped.
Professor McGonagall seemed satisfied and nodded:
"Now, I am announcing the new rules that will be enacted by the school."
"From now on, after six o'clock every evening, all students must return to their respective college common rooms and cannot stay outside."
"In addition, all students must be escorted by professors when going to and from get out of class..."
At this point, her expression became extremely serious again.
"I hope that no one will take any chances and think that they can not abide by these two regulations."
"Otherwise, even if he does not encounter misfortune, I will make him feel the most severe punishment from Hogwarts..."
After Professor McGonagall finished speaking, she whispered a few words to several professors on the stage, and then left.
As soon as she left, the audience exploded again.
"What happened again?" Ron said frustratedly, "Why has even the Quidditch match been cancelled? There are still so many days until the end of the semester. The next days will be really sad..."
Harry's face was a little solemn and he said, "The professors must have learned some news and are worried that something unexpected will happen next."
Hermione was also thinking deeply, and then said: "It is only possible that Hogwarts can suddenly formulate new rules. But I am curious, what news did the professors learn?"
On the side, Meka was continuing to enjoy the food, slowly, while focusing on the door of the auditorium.
His ears were very sensitive and he heard Hagrid's voice, and he was talking to Professor McGonagall.
"Buy a batch of roosters?" Meka heard this and smiled silently.
It seems that his letter did attract the attention of Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall.
With these roosters installed in Hogwarts and professors watching over them at night, the basilisk's range of activities was further restricted.
In this way, the probability of recurrence of petrochemical events will become very low.
Meka continued to listen. Suddenly, an owl flew in and dropped a package and a letter in front of him.
Meka picked it up and looked at it, smiling.
"Eva sent me ripe mandrakes."
This was something he sent to Eva a few days ago to purchase on her behalf. He planned to use these mature mandrakes to replace the immature mandrakes in Professor Sprout's shed.
In this way, the mandrake 'matures in advance' and can be directly used to refine the potion to relieve the petrified state.
However, it is not easy to obtain this batch of mandrakes. Eva wrote in the letter that this batch of mandrakes is much harder to find than the immature mandrakes last time.
She asked nearly a dozen large families who frequently communicated with each other, even across countries and continents, and passed the Portkey to prepare all the mandrakes. It was not easy.
"Although the price is a bit expensive, it's worth it." Meka smiled.
This batch of mandrakes, after being refined into a potion, can restore all those who have been petrified.
When the petrification of all victims is lifted, Meka believes that the fear and worry caused by the 'Chamber of Secrets' and the 'Heir of Slytherin' to the students will be minimized.
At that time, perhaps 'Lily Evans' last wish' will be completed.
…
In the night, the purple-eyed bat vibrated its wings at an astonishing speed, and the strong wind came towards it, bringing with it a chill.
Meka took advantage of Professor Sprout's departure and came to the shed full of herbs.
After replacing the mature mandrakes, he took away the immature ones, and then with a whisper, he turned into a bat and flew out of the skylight.
Soon the shadow left and rose into the sky.
"Is the diary containing the mysterious man's separated soul still with Ginny?" In the night sky, Meka suddenly thought of this question.
Whether he intended it or not, he had changed the course of events.
So will the original incident of Ginny throwing away the diary still happen?
"You can look for a chance to take a look." Meka noticed.
However, he was still very wary: "The mysterious man seemed to have gained temporary power after absorbing the soul of the rune snake last time, and cast the Imperius Curse on Ginny, completely controlling her.
I don’t know if he also wrote some articles in the diary at that time and had some backup plans? "
It was for this reason that Meka never took the initiative to look for the diary.
Of course, this is not the only reason. He currently has no way to destroy the diary, because this diary is one of the mysterious man's Horcruxes.
There seemed to be only three ways to destroy a Horcrux.
One is the sword left by Gryffindor, one of the founders of Hogwarts.
One is the fang of a basilisk, but this thing seems to be very hard and terrifyingly poisonous, and it is not easy to obtain.
The last one was the Fire Spell, which Meka had never learned before.
If there was no way to destroy the diary and it was still with him, Meka believed that the mysterious person would have various means to monitor him.
Then many secret things about him, including the space in his mind, may be exposed.
This was the last thing he wanted to happen.
The next day, Meka quietly passed by Ginny Weasley's seat in the Great Hall. She was enjoying lunch and seemed to know nothing about it.
Meka suddenly noticed that the diary she always carried with her had suddenly disappeared, and she suddenly showed a thoughtful look:
"Sure enough, the diary is missing."
"But was it left in the bathroom?"
Meka quickly left and came to a certain abandoned bathroom.
With his face covered and his head lowered, he opened the compartments one by one, ignoring Myrtle's inspection and questioning, which was lying on the skylight above him, but still found nothing.
"Not here either." Meka's expression became serious.
He had been observing Harry and others these days, and they did not get this diary.
This means that the diary may have 'changed ownership'.
"Next, we have to maintain a high degree of vigilance." Meka thought.
If the diary can also cast the 'Imperius Curse', or confuse people's minds and make others do things for it, then that person will probably do something to himself or Harry.
Therefore, he must be alert to all people who approach suddenly, whether they are strangers or acquaintances.
…
"Professor Sprout."
The Herbology class was about to start and Professor Sprout was about to go to the classroom to teach. Professor Dumbledore suddenly came to her.
"How is the mandrake cultivation going?" Professor Dumbledore asked with concern.
Professor Sprout was still wearing the simple dress, and she replied thoughtfully:
"The mandrakes are in good condition, but I estimate it will take at least another month or two before they are fully mature."
"It's a bit long." Professor Dumbledore frowned in thought, then quickly relaxed and said with a smile:
"Then I have to trouble you to take good care of these mandrakes in the past few months. These are the hope of recovery for those petrified children."
"I will." Professor Sprout nodded solemnly.
She also felt that it took too long for these mandrakes to mature, actually taking several months.
You know, Mrs. Lorris, who was first petrified, has not heard its cry for almost four months now.
At this time, the two of them had arrived in front of the shack in the Potions classroom.
"Professor Sprout!" A Hufflepuff student greeted from far away.
Professor Sprout smiled and waved in response. She turned to Professor Dumbledore and said goodbye. The class was about to begin.
Professor Dumbledore nodded and smiled at her:
"It seems that Professor Sprout is still so popular among students."
"You go ahead and don't worry about me, a bad old man."
…
…
