Chapter 189

"Two Sickles."

George blinked.

The two looked at each other and smiled, clapping their hands.

But just as they turned to leave, a sharp cat's meow sounded.

This made the two figures who had just entered the secret passage run for their lives.

"Nine o'clock at night, how could Mrs. Norris appear here! Fred!"

George shouted.

"How would I know!"

Fred threw a ball containing Puffskein powder, but unfortunately, Mrs. Norris had already chased them.

Sean, who had been waiting for Mrs. Norris in the corridor for a while, left the corridor with some disappointment.

In short, when Sean saw the two seniors again, it was in the dungeon watching them serve detention.

For five whole days, they hadn't been able to escape from Professor Sineipu—even though they promised they would sneak out for an hour to help Sean buy cold-weather clothing.

Until today, the two who were arranged by Professor Sineipu to scrub the toilets finished their detention; according to Fred, the reason they finished early was because they gave up a few Gryffindors.

"Oh, them, although they are our brothers—"

George said nostalgically.

"But the money you added was enough!"

Fred blinked.

This fit Sean's stereotype of the twins; for a moment, he worried, if someone else gave them money, would they give him up?

In reality—

"Tell me—you snuck out, for what?"

Professor Sineipu's voice was like a biting cold wind, making Fred, who was scrubbing glass, and George, who was sweeping the floor, shiver in the dungeon.

"We were just verifying a secret passage."

Fred said, biting the bullet.

"A secret passage that was supposedly abandoned long ago."

George said as if it were a serious matter.

Professor Sineipu didn't speak, just threatened with a fake smile:

"If I make you sweep the washroom for two weeks..."

"Buying a sweater, Professor!"

George said with a mournful face.

"We need a sweater, Professor."

Fred also put on a sincere look.

But he didn't expect Professor Sineipu to just watch them silently for a while before letting them get out of the dungeon.

In the Hogwarts Great Hall.

The enchanted ceiling presented a clear gray-blue, with wisps of thin clouds drifting slowly across it, and the air was filled with the warm fragrance of toasted bread, mixed with the moisture of the early morning.

Suddenly, a sound of flapping wings came from afar, getting closer and closer, like heavy rain hitting a window.

Hundreds of owls poured in from the high windows like a tide, brown, gray, and white wings intertwined together, blurry, and the young wizards couldn't recognize them at all—until the owls flew back to their long tables.

Somewhere, the sharp sound of a Howler suddenly rang out, and Sean, Hermione, Neville, and Jia Siting, who were sitting on the side, covered their ears out of habit.

Jia Siting watched outside the stained-glass window; the heavy rain had just stopped, but those trees weren't so lucky; at least half of their leaves had fallen.

A silver-gray owl flew to Jia Siting's front with its head held high, carrying a thick, deep-colored package.

He watched Sean quite cautiously; the other party was still attacking the apple pie. So he let out a deep sigh of relief.

Inside the package was a thick sweater and gloves, accompanied by a photograph of four young wizards—the young wizards in the photo were basically all shivering from the cold, their expressions varied, but strangely, they were all looking at the young wizard in the center.

His emerald eyes warmed slightly in the firelight.

On the back of the photograph was a line of handwriting:

【Dear Finch-Fletchley:

I've heard many stories; I think the area of his eyes must be smaller than the lake;

I think such eyes will not weep;

Perhaps standing in front of him is like standing by the lake, with fine mist stretching across the sky.

Always cherish your friend.

—Always proud of you: Liliana】

Jia Siting silently put away the letter and left the Great Hall when Sean didn't seem to notice.

At the same time, a spotted owl landed beside Hermione, and the little witch also glanced at Sean before leaving the Great Hall lightly.

Sean silently moved his gaze away from the delicious food—why did he feel that Jia Siting and Hermione had been a bit strange lately?

In the classroom.

The fireplace was burning fiercely, and Sean entered the classroom holding *The Standard Book of Spells: Grade 1* and a small notebook belonging to Professor Fuliwei.

When he habitually approached the fireplace, a cold wind launched a final offensive, but Sean took a big step forward, making it miss.

On his usual seat, a letter with a gold edge lay quietly.

Sean walked over silently and saw the package under the letter.

He was slightly stunned and opened the envelope:

【Can't believe it's autumn so soon,

The trees are beginning to wither.

The good thing about autumn is,

You can wear warm and good-looking sweaters,

Sean, be a little warmer.

—Yours forever loyal: Jia Siting Finch-Fletchley】

Outside the stained-glass window, an owl streaked by, taking away the last trace of autumn's chill.

There are two more consecutive chapters, to be posted tomorrow morning.