Chapter 262: The Three's Decision

Allen had no interest in the Order of Merlin, Third Class; he didn't want any more honors. He simply wanted the Ministry of Magic to issue some real Jin Jin Jialong, or to reduce his debts.

Just as he thought he could return to Hogwarts, he received notice: the Committee on Experimental Charms had invited him for a few days' visit.

Upon hearing this news, Allen cursed inwardly: "Why didn't you invite me during the first seven days when I was doing nothing here?"

However, Allen was still curious about the Committee on Experimental Charms. He hoped to gain some knowledge there, so he accepted the invitation.

"Look! Allen is on the front page!" Ron said, holding today's Daily Prophet. The front page featured a huge black-and-white photograph showing Fudge and a black-and-white panda. Fudge was smiling brilliantly, but the panda gave off a somewhat gloomy feeling.

"This is the first time I've seen a newspaper photo with no color distortion," Ron began to complain again. He handed the newspaper to Hermione.

Hermione only glanced at the newspaper before looking away. They still hadn't found Crookshanks; it was as if Crookshanks had simply vanished from Hogwarts Castle.

Today was Saturday, and they had just finished breakfast. Hermione had eaten only a very small amount of food.

Ron and Harry exchanged a worried glance; they had already done their best to help search for Crookshanks.

Harry had even lost the Marauder's Map because of this. Last night, wearing the Invisibility Cloak, he had gone to check some secret passages for any traces left by Crookshanks, but he was accidentally discovered by Professor Lupin.

Professor Lupin confiscated the Marauder's Map from his hand and warned him not to wander around at midnight.

This matter left Harry extremely depressed, but the gentle Professor Lupin was very firm on this issue.

Thus, Allen lost his Marauder's Map.

Because of the Crookshanks situation, Hermione became very self-blaming and haggard. Harry even heard people say that Hermione had skipped some classes, something that had never happened before.

At this moment, Harry began to miss Allen. If Allen were here, he could transfigure a pig's snout and surely find some useful clues by Crookshanks' scent. However, judging from today's newspaper, Allen had completed registration and become a legal Animagus. He should be returning to Hogwarts soon. If he came back, perhaps he could think of some solutions.

The turning point occurred in the evening.

In the evening, Hermione received a letter from Hagrid in the common room.

The letter stated that he had found Crookshanks at the edge of the Forbidden Forest today and had brought it back to his hut. However, since unicorns were about to give birth in the Forbidden Forest these past few days, he had been very busy and unable to leave. So, if they had time, they could come to his hut to pick up Crookshanks.

Upon receiving the letter, Hermione jumped up happily. Her despondent state vanished instantly, and she immediately wanted to go to Hagrid's hut to pick up Crookshanks.

Harry quickly stopped her. "Going out of the castle now violates school rules. Hagrid will take good care of Crookshanks. We might as well wait for Hagrid to bring Crookshanks back," Harry said very reasonably.

But Hermione, who had been worried for several days, had now lost her usual rationality. She proposed going alone, wearing the Invisibility Cloak, to retrieve Crookshanks.

Harry naturally would not accept this proposal and continued to persuade Hermione.

At this time, Ron also returned to the common room from outside. Scabbers was not in good condition today, so he had gone to the hospital wing to ask Lady Pomfrey to check on Scabbers' condition.

Harry felt as if he had seen a savior. He told Ron what had happened. "Come quickly and persuade Hermione," Harry said to Ron.

"When Allen left, he already warned us that we cannot go out of the castle," Ron joined in the persuasion.

But Hermione, who had suddenly regained what she thought was lost, became stubborn and would not listen.

"Then let's go together. Although we have all grown taller, without Allen, the Invisibility Cloak should still be able to cover the three of us,"

Ron suddenly said.

"I understand Hermione's feeling of losing a pet, just like how I feel about losing Scabbers right now," Ron continued.

Harry suddenly felt that his words of persuasion had become pale and weak.

"Besides, don't we still have the scrolls Allen gave us? With these scrolls protecting us, what are we afraid of?" Ron said, shrugging his hands.

Harry felt he was convinced. Allen had always been very practical and never made empty boasts. The power of the scrolls he made should be exactly as he described. In that case, Ron was indeed quite right.

Besides, they still had the Invisibility Cloak.

Allen, far away in London, never expected that the scrolls he made would become an important factor prompting the three to make a decision.

Hermione initially opposed the three of them going together, but in the end, she could not withstand Harry and Ron's persuasion and agreed.

Thus, they decided to go together to Hagrid's hut to pick up Crookshanks.

They immediately found Harry's Invisibility Cloak and walked toward the castle gate.

They had all grown very fast. Even with only three people, the Invisibility Cloak could not completely cover them all, so they knew they had to walk bent over.

When they reached the castle gate, Ron suddenly let out a cry of surprise.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked in a low voice.

"Scabbers just fell asleep in my arms. I forgot to put him in the dormitory. Now he has woken up and is struggling—he hasn't struggled like this in a long time," Ron replied quickly.

"Then what should we do? Maybe you should go back," Hermione also said in a low voice.

"It's fine. I'll calm him down," Ron said, unwilling to be left behind.

After a period of adjustment, the three-person squad immediately walked out of the castle again.

There were no Dementors on the distant horizon, which made them all breathe a sigh of relief.

They walked on the green lawn, breathing air that was somewhat stuffy and carried the scent of fresh grass. They felt much more cheerful, except that Scabbers in Ron's arms was still struggling. Ron had to stuff him into his chest pocket. It was already getting dark; if Scabbers ran away at this time, it would truly be hard to find him.

And when they had walked halfway, suddenly two beams of light appeared from the Forbidden Forest nearby...

"It's Dad's flying car!" Ron suddenly became excited.

He suddenly burst out from under the Invisibility Cloak and ran toward the beams of light.

Harry and Hermione tried to stop Ron but failed. They had no choice but to draw their wands and quickly chase after Ron, entering the Forbidden Forest.

At this moment, a ginger-colored shadow suddenly appeared in the Forbidden Forest.

"Crookshanks!" Hermione also cried out.

She also burst out from under the Invisibility Cloak and rushed toward that ginger-colored shadow, leaving only Harry under the cloak.

The ginger-colored shadow was indeed Crookshanks, and Crookshanks also pounced toward Hermione.

Excitedly, Hermione threw her wand aside and used both hands to catch Crookshanks...

And it was a thin hand that picked up Hermione's wand...

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