Chapter 262: The Three

Allen wasn’t interested in the Order of Merlin, Third Class—he didn’t want any honors anymore; he just wanted the Ministry to send actual Galleons or write off his debts.

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

Allen cursed inwardly upon hearing the news: Why didn’t you invite me when I was doing nothing here for the past seven days?

Still, Allen was curious about the Experimental Charms Committee and hoped to gain some knowledge there, so he accepted the invitation.

“Look! Allen’s on the front page!” Ron said, holding today’s Daily Prophet; the front page featured a large black-and-white photo of Fudge and a black-and-white panda, Fudge beaming widely, while the panda looked distinctly downcast.

“This is the first time I’ve seen someone’s photo in the paper with no color at all,” Ron began complaining again, handing the paper to Hermione.

Hermione glanced at the paper and looked away—they still hadn’t found Crookshanks, who seemed to have vanished entirely from Hogwarts Castle.

Today was Saturday; they had just finished breakfast, and Hermione had eaten barely anything.

Ron and Harry exchanged a worried glance; they had done everything they could to help search for Crookshanks.

Harry had even lost the Marauder’s Map—he’d worn the Invisibility Cloak last night to check secret passages for traces of Crookshanks, only to be caught by Professor Lupin.

Professor Lupin confiscated the Marauder’s Map and warned him not to wander around at night.

This left Harry deeply depressed, but the gentle Professor Lupin had been firm on the matter.

So Allen had lost his Marauder’s Map.

Because of Crookshanks, Hermione had become guilt-ridden and worn thin; Harry even heard rumors that she’d skipped some classes—something that had never happened before.

At this point, Harry began to miss Allen; if Allen were here, he could transform into a pig’s snout and surely track Crookshanks by scent for useful clues—but from today’s paper, Allen had completed his registration and become a registered Animagus; he should be returning to Hogwarts soon, and if he did, maybe he could come up with a plan.

The turning point came in the evening.

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

The letter said he had found Crookshanks at the edge of the Forbidden Forest that day and had brought it back to his hut, but because several unicorns were about to give birth in the forest these past few days, he was too busy to leave, so if they had time, they could come to his hut to pick up Crookshanks.

Upon reading the letter, Hermione leapt up in delight, her gloom vanishing instantly; she immediately set off for Hagrid’s hut to retrieve Crookshanks.

Harry grabbed her arm. “Leaving the castle now violates school rules. Hagrid will take good care of Crookshanks. Let’s wait until he brings it back.”

But Hermione, who had worried for days, had lost her usual reason and insisted on going alone, wearing the Invisibility Cloak to fetch Crookshanks.

Harry naturally refused this proposal and continued to persuade her.

At that moment, Ron returned to the common room from outside; Scabbers had been unwell, so he’d gone to the school infirmary to see Madam Pomfrey.

Harry felt as if he’d spotted a savior and told Ron the whole story. “Come help convince Hermione,” Harry said to Ron.

“Allen warned us before he left—we can’t leave the castle,” Ron joined in the persuasion.

But Hermione, having lost and then regained her pet, had grown stubborn and refused to listen.

“Then let’s all go together. Even though we’ve all grown taller, without Allen, the Invisibility Cloak should still cover all three of us.”

Ron suddenly said.

“I understand how Hermione feels about losing a pet—it’s like how I’d feel if I lost Scabbers,” Ron continued.

Harry suddenly felt his arguments ring hollow.

“Besides, don’t we still have Allen’s scrolls? With those on us, what’s there to fear?” Ron spread his hands.

Harry felt convinced; Allen had always been practical, never exaggerated, and his scrolls were surely as powerful as he claimed—so Ron was right.

Besides, they still had the Invisibility Cloak.

Far away in London, Allen never imagined his scrolls would become a decisive factor in the trio’s decision.

Hermione initially opposed all three going, but eventually gave in under Harry and Ron’s persuasion.

So they decided to go together to Hagrid’s hut to retrieve Crookshanks.

They immediately retrieved Harry’s Invisibility Cloak and headed toward the castle gates.

They had grown quickly; even with only three of them, the Invisibility Cloak couldn’t fully conceal them, so they bent low as they walked.

When they reached the castle gates, Ron suddenly cried out.

“What is it?” Harry whispered.

“Scabbers was asleep in my arms, and I forgot to put him back in the dorm—now he’s awake and struggling—he hasn’t struggled like this in ages,” Ron replied quickly.

“Then what? You should go back,” Hermione whispered.

“No problem, I’ll calm him down,” Ron refused to be left behind.

After a brief adjustment, the trio set off again toward the castle gates.

There were no Dementors visible on the distant horizon, and they all breathed a sigh of relief.

They walked across the green lawn, breathing the warm, grass-scented air, feeling much lighter—except that Scabbers in Ron’s arms was still struggling, forcing Ron to shove him into his chest pocket; night was falling, and if Scabbers ran off now, they’d never find him again.

As they reached halfway, two beams of light suddenly appeared from within the Forbidden Forest beside them...

“It’s Dad’s magic car!” Ron instantly became excited.

He burst out from under the Invisibility Cloak and sprinted toward the light beams.

Harry and Hermione tried to grab Ron but failed; they drew their wands and hurried after him, entering the Forbidden Forest.

At that moment, a ginger shadow suddenly emerged from within the forest.

“Crookshanks!” Hermione cried out.

She too burst from under the Invisibility Cloak and rushed toward the ginger shadow, leaving Harry alone beneath it.

The ginger shadow was indeed Crookshanks, who leapt toward Hermione.

Hermione, overjoyed, threw her wand aside and caught Crookshanks with both hands...

And at that moment, a thin hand picked up Hermione’s wand...

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