Chapter 31: I Thank You All

Setting aside the warm and friendly mutual help between colleagues, Dumbledore really couldn't stand Hagrid's pitiful eyes any longer, and took the initiative to put the irritable three-headed dog into a deep sleep.

When all was said and done, this incident wasn't the three-headed dog's fault; there was no need to keep it hanging there.

At Dumbledore's signal, Professor McGonagall also lowered the three-headed dog down.

"Thank you, thank you…" Hagrid wiped his tears, stepped forward, and tore off the iron chains.

During this process, Dumbledore suddenly noticed that several scraps of cloth were hooked on the teeth of the three-headed dog's middle mouth.

"What's that?" Dumbledore asked.

At his reminder, Hagrid also noticed this point, took the scraps down and turned them over and over, "Clothes from a troll?"

"Trolls don't wear clothes."

"Oh, sorry, Professor Snape." Hagrid said, taking the initiative to hand the scraps to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore raised his hand and pointed lightly,

"Reparo!"

The scraps were clearly not limited to this one piece; under the effect of the spell, other fragments flew in from everywhere, actively attaching themselves around the largest piece.

Before long, a pointed hat appeared before everyone.

"Is this the hood of a school uniform robe?" Professor McGonagall was stunned at first, seeming to think of something, then immediately shook her head,

"That's impossible. We came as soon as we heard the commotion. If any student had left, I would definitely have seen it."

After saying that, she looked at Professor Flitwick, who had just arrived.

Professor Flitwick immediately understood and said, "There wasn't one upstairs either. I've been keeping an eye out."

"What about Mr. Ollivander?" Dumbledore suddenly spoke up and asked. "I heard he never went to the feast."

"Silven Ollivander?" Professor Flitwick was stunned at first, thought for a moment, then nodded. "He's here too. He even helped maintain order. I remember it clearly."

"Where?"

"Second floor, near the library," Professor Flitwick said.

"Aha, looks like Potter was lying." Snape said coldly. "Just like his father — arrogant, conceited, full of lies…"

"Severus." Dumbledore cut him off.

Snape didn't look very happy, but he still shut his mouth.

"Should we check the students' hats?" Professor McGonagall spoke up in time, changing the subject.

"No need." Dumbledore shook his head. "It was probably brought in by the troll by accident. It's not important."

In fact, this kind of plain pointed hat is in a sense standard issue with the school uniform robe, and is far too common at Hogwarts. Moreover, the person who lost the hat couldn't possibly have done nothing about it, so checking this would be pointless.

"I suppose I should still go to the school hospital." Snape stepped forward. "I'll brew a batch of special-effect potion for Professor Quirrell. Perhaps we can get the correct answer from him."

Of everyone present, only Snape could be said to have remained true to his original intention — he just wanted to get Quirrell.

As for whether the special-effect potion he mentioned might have something else mixed in… ask and the answer is no.

However, Dumbledore didn't agree.

After staying at the scene for a while longer and confirming there were no other overlooked clues, everyone gradually left, leaving only Hagrid there to take care of the injured three-headed dog, Fluffy.

On the way back, Snape said again, "Dumbledore, I still feel it's not appropriate. Letting that three-headed dog stay in the castle is really too dangerous.

"You saw it yourself — even with only two heads left, it can kill an adult troll in minutes. What if one day it gets hungry and breaks into the castle regardless…"

"Don't worry, the three-headed dog can't break through that door," Dumbledore said. "And the house-elves in the kitchen will take good care of it."

"But…"

"I assure you, there won't be a problem."

Originally Snape still wanted to say something, but now he could only shut his mouth and instead said, "I'll go keep an eye on Quirrell. This time it must be him causing trouble."

"Sorry to trouble you."

The two parted ways at the stairway.

……

Meanwhile, the Gryffindor common room on the eighth floor.

"When did you get back!" Harry, who had just returned, stared at Silven sitting in the armchair, completely stunned.

"I came back with everyone," Silven said. "I was about to ask where you went. Everyone said they didn't see you."

"We went looking for you, to tell you the news about the troll in the school," Harry said.

"You guys?" Silven looked at him, then at Ron and Hermione beside him.

"Since when are you guys on such good terms?"

"Who's on good terms with her!" Ron immediately distanced himself. "If she hadn't taken the initiative to beg for Harry, we wouldn't have come with her."

"I just stated the facts!" Hermione glared at him. "Do you think I wanted to come with you?"

Silven looked at them in surprise.

Later, from Harry, he learned the truth.

Before the Halloween feast, Hermione had taken the initiative to go find Professor McGonagall, providing her with a complete account of the flying class process, attempting to prove that Malfoy was the one who had broken the rules, and that Harry, in order to protect a classmate's belongings, had been dragged into it against his will.

Whether it was telling the plain truth or adding some harmless embellishments, in any case, after Hermione came out of Professor McGonagall's office, Harry's detention was cancelled.

Then came the Halloween feast, where Quirrell burst in to tell everyone about the troll. The three of them simultaneously decided to go find Silven, who was still outside, and so they set off together.

To be fair, Silven felt a little touched inside.

Although one couldn't rule out the influence of "Gryffindor spirit," when something came up, they really stepped up. More importantly, they preferred to risk facing the troll head-on rather than reveal their whereabouts to the professors — these were friends worth keeping.

Silven felt a bit of relief.

"Don't worry." Harry thumped his chest. "Professor McGonagall only deducted points from us, not from you."

Wait…

The smile on Silven's face stiffened. "Didn't deduct points from me… you mean Professor McGonagall knows I wasn't at the feast?"

"That's right." Ron nodded matter-of-factly. "But we've already explained that you hadn't had time to go to the feast yet, so you didn't know about the troll, and you didn't leave in the middle of it."

"Well, thank you so much." Silven said expressionlessly.

Great, that relief was premature.

Silven felt a bit helpless; he truly didn't know how to describe his current mood.

Ten minutes earlier, using the map Fred and George had given him, Silven had successfully slipped into the secret passage before Professors Snape and McGonagall arrived, taken the shortcut to the second floor, and blended into the student crowd while also finding a way to draw Professor Flitwick's attention.

Everything had gone smoothly, and he'd thought he could finally stay out of it this time, but who would have thought…

Silven sighed.

Fine, whatever.

Even if the professors found out, what could they do? He'd indirectly helped them deal with the troll threat — they couldn't take points from him for that.

As for the injured three-headed dog, that was the troll's doing — what does it have to do with him, Silven!

……

(End of Chapter)