Chapter 51: The Legend of the Shrieking Shack

The Shrieking Shack? That legendary haunted place?

Hearing Titus's words, Ryan and Ethan were also stunned.

Clearly, they also knew about the Shrieking Shack.

Legend had it that this hut appeared out of thin air, and no one knew who lived there.

It was just that every time the night was quiet, this small wooden hut would emit shrill shrieks, making people's hair stand on end.

Someone had once snuck in during the day, trying to find the truth, but found no traces of any living person inside.

There were only ferocious scratch marks all over the walls and spots of blood on the ground, as if telling of some terrifying experience.

Later, for some reason, this hut was sealed off.

People were no longer allowed to approach or step inside, and over time, it became a forbidden place in the town.

Despite this, the rumors about the Shrieking Shack never stopped; instead, they became increasingly mysterious through word of mouth.

And now, they had actually stumbled into this forbidden place.

Ryan's heart rate accelerated, and Ethan's fists clenched involuntarily.

Only John was indifferent.

In his view, even if there really was some terrifying existence here, that was a matter from over a dozen years ago.

Now, this was just an abandoned wooden hut.

It had even been occupied by Xiaohei, this stray dog.

John leaned back on the cushion and said leisurely.

"Don't let your imagination run wild."

"These are all just things from legends."

"Even if there really was something terrifying, that was over a dozen years ago."

Hearing John's words, the others calmed down.

Titus also sat back down.

"I heard that the Shrieking Shack really hasn't emitted those shrill shrieks for many years."

"However, no one has gone to delve into it again, and this place slowly became a tourist spot in Hogsmeade."

"Sometimes it's even used by adult wizards to scare children."

Hearing Titus's words, Ryan and Ethan gradually relaxed.

John smiled and reached out to stroke Xiaohei's dog head.

"Xiaohei has made this place its home; how could there be any danger?"

"Maybe those shrieks were just some animal that used to live here being in heat."

"Right, Xiaohei? I'll take you to get neutered another day, and then that kind of thing won't happen again."

Everything had been going well, but upon hearing the word "neutered," Xiaohei stood up with an "Awoo!"

Xiaohei's eyes were wide open, as if it understood John's words, and it flicked its tail and hid behind Titus.

The group couldn't help but burst into laughter, and the atmosphere instantly became much more relaxed.

Afterward, they worked together to tidy up the room.

Trying their best not to make any noise.

Knowing that this place was on the outskirts of Hogsmeade Village, they became even more cautious.

Because today was exactly the day when Hogsmeade had the most people, and it would be troublesome if any students came to visit the area and discovered them.

John went downstairs to check if the wooden boards on the doors and windows were secure, ensuring that no bold students would accidentally break in.

Ryan and Ethan were responsible for cleaning up the debris on the ground, piling it into a corner on the first floor.

Titus laid out some of the supplies they had brought, decorating the second-floor room to look like a temporary dormitory.

The first floor was kept in its dilapidated state, so even if someone peeked through the cracks in the first-floor windows, they would only find that the place was still desolate and wouldn't arouse any suspicion.

Xiaohei watched their busy figures and the smiles on their faces.

It sat on the rug, occasionally looking out the window, not knowing what it was thinking.

Soon, most of the day passed, and it was time to return to school.

Today they had tidied up the secret base, and afterward, they sat around together, occasionally playing cards or games, and occasionally chatting and eating snacks.

They finally got their wish and enjoyed the feeling of a secret base here.

"Let's go, time to head back."

John put on the backpack he had brought, but now his backpack was empty.

Ryan and the others also stood up one after another, taking away the trash they had produced.

They would have to come here often in the future, so they couldn't turn it into a trash heap.

"All Hallows' Eve is in two days, and the school will prepare a luxurious banquet."

"Xiaohei, we'll bring you something delicious then."

Titus stroked Xiaohei's dog head and said.

"I would have forgotten about Halloween if you hadn't mentioned it."

John also remembered; Titus had mentioned before that at Hogwarts, besides the opening banquet being the most luxurious, the Halloween banquet was the next most luxurious.

At that time, all the teachers and students in the school would participate.

Hearing Titus's words, Xiaohei suddenly raised its head, as if it remembered something, and a flash of light appeared in its eyes.

However, none of them noticed it.

Before leaving, Xiaohei seemed to have an exchange with Big Orange, although they couldn't understand it.

Sometimes they really felt like these two creatures had become spirits.

Dinner time.

John and the others had already returned to Hogwarts, peacefully enjoying their dinner.

"John, hurry up and try this Cockroach Dumpling!"

"Ryan, don't force me to break off our friendship!"

Ryan was holding a pitch-black, indescribable little snack in his hand, insisting on stuffing it into John's mouth.

And John was struggling to push Ryan's hand away, his expression ferocious.

"Trust me, John!"

"Get lost, ahhh!"

Ryan was pulling at John's face with one hand, while John was holding down Ryan's face that was trying to get closer.

Watching the two of them like this, Titus and Ethan couldn't help but burst into laughter.

After the seniors returned from Hogsmeade, the goods they had ordered from the seniors finally arrived.

They didn't know how Ryan had picked such a bizarre snack.

He insisted on sharing it with them, but John refused to eat it no matter what.

And when Ryan discovered that John was avoiding cockroaches like the plague, he insisted on using this to tease him.

He had been tortured enough by the "Guangdong elves" in his previous life; he didn't expect he wouldn't be able to escape it in this life...

"It looks like you're having a lot of fun, John."

At this moment, Hermione's voice came.

Hermione was standing not far away, holding a gift bag, looking at John and his companions playing around with a smile.

As soon as she appeared, John and Ryan stopped their movements.

"Senior Hermione!"

And John, as if he had seen a savior, immediately shook off Ryan's hand and ran to Hermione's side.

"You must have something to talk to me about; let's go outside and talk."

John had an expression that said "I understand without you saying it," and then said to his friends.

"You guys eat slowly; I'm going out with Senior Hermione first."

After saying that, John pulled Hermione's wrist without any explanation and dragged her out of the Great Hall.

Leaving his friends looking at each other in dismay.

Hermione had simply wanted to give John the gift she bought in Hogsmeade today and leave after giving it to him.

As a result, she was suddenly pulled by the hand by John, which made her feel at a loss.

Clearly, John wanted to use her as an excuse to escape this "Cockroach Dumpling" farce.

Hermione didn't resist John's actions and followed John out of the Great Hall together. ===== CHAPTER 52 =====