Chapter 85

Since the conversation on Valentine's Day, Harry and Luo En both felt they were prepared, ready to face any bad situation at any time. However, magically, for a long time afterward, their school life was very leisurely and peaceful, just as it should have been.

In March, Colin's petrification had faded to his ankles, and the Mandrakes planted by Professor Sprout were growing well. Justin's recovery was also just around the corner. The students almost forgot about the Chamber of Secrets. Even if someone mentioned it occasionally, they all felt that perhaps the attacker was no longer doing evil.

Ma Erfu's meeting was still held as usual, but their topics shifted from the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets to idle chat. Harry went to listen in once and found that they were gossiping about Percy and Penelope, saying that they were kissing in an empty classroom.

Harry went back and specifically asked who Penelope was, only to know that she was a prefect of Ravenclaw, a smart and beautiful girl. And quite a few girls who were jealous of her brought up her Muggle-born status, accusing Percy of "being blind".

Peaceful life, interesting knowledge, little gossip among students, Harry enjoyed such a life very much. It wasn't until the end of March that they started discussing course selection for the next term during the Easter break, which made him a little troubled.

The available courses were Divination, Arithmancy, Muggle Studies, Ancient Runes, and Care of Magical Creatures. The class times of the first three were conflicting with each other, and the latter two were also conflicting. Although Harry was very interested in both Ancient Runes and Magical Creatures, he had to make a choice between the two.

"Is there any way for me to take two courses at the same time." Harry looked at his course selection table in trouble, "Ancient Runes in odd weeks, Magical Creatures in even weeks would be fine."

"I remember Percy took all the elective courses at the same time." Luo En recalled, "But that wasn't a good experience. I remember he lost a whole circle of weight when he went home that year, and Mom thought he was sick."

"Oh, Divination, Arithmancy, and Muggle Studies are also courses I don't want to give up." Harry muttered, "Divination is so magical. Zhang Qiu's master predicted most of our lives."

"But you also have to admit that this thing is only effective when you don't need it." Luo En was organizing his Chocolate Frog cards, "At least I want to exclude Arithmancy first. This thing makes people have a headache just hearing it."

"Arithmancy can indeed not be learned; Muggles have studied this more thoroughly." Harry said, "Establishing mathematical models, quantitatively predicting the future, quantitative economics, time series, regression analysis, Markov analysis. It is said that they once successfully predicted the existence of Neptune."

"I can't understand what you are saying at all. I think I had better take Muggle Studies." Luo En shrugged, "I can find Zhang Qiu to learn Divination in the future, or find that Markov person to learn Arithmancy. But after leaving Hogwarts, it will probably be difficult to systematically learn Muggle Studies."

"What you said makes sense. I am also very curious about how wizards study Muggles." Harry pondered again and again and filled in the Muggle Studies course on his course table.

"Then how do you plan to choose between Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes?" Luo En asked, "It is said that the Magical Creatures class is taught by Haige."

"I know, this is also the place where I am struggling." Harry said, "I am quite curious about what Haige will teach, but Professor Haipu is also a very interesting person."

"Oh, I don't know if you remember." Luo En said, "When we went to find him for Avalon before, he said we were still too young to come into contact with Ancient Runes used for casting spells."

"Then perhaps the Ancient Runes class is not worth looking forward to. He is very likely teaching us to read the sonnets of ancient wizards." Harry remembered the painful experience of learning Old English and Latin, struggling to read various ancient literary works, trying to remember the meaning of those words.

"And the Magical Creatures class is indeed very worth looking forward to." Luo En also filled in the Magical Creatures class on his course table.

While Harry and Luo En were discussing taking classes together, they also asked Neville for his opinion, but he wanted to take classes with Hannah more, so Neville's final choice was Divination and Magical Creatures. It is worth mentioning that Hermione took all the courses she could take. Harry suspected that she intended to use the method of taking classes in odd and even weeks plus after-school tutoring to learn these courses, which made him very admirable.

Harry naturally also considered the possibility of taking more courses, but for him, there was still Quidditch to consider. After the Easter break, the final of this school year was about to be ushered in. They needed to get at least 210 points when playing against Hufflepuff, so that they could suppress Slytherin and win this year's Quidditch championship.

On the night before the match, Harry met Zhang Qiu in the corridor on the eighth floor. She looked a bit listless and absent-minded.

"Hi, Zhang Qiu, you don't look happy. What happened?" Harry asked.

"Divination says someone will steal the 'Key to Opening Evil' from you today. I came to remind you specially." Zhang Qiu said, "As for me not being happy, it's just that I happened to see the ominous black dog again. Don't take it too seriously."

"Key to Opening Evil? Bad, it might be the diary!" Harry couldn't care about so much, and ran back to the dormitory hurriedly. Luo En was doing his homework, and it didn't look like a thief had come in.

Harry opened the box and found that the diary was still well hidden under the Invisibility Cloak, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.

Locking the box again and walking out of the dormitory, Harry said happily to Zhang Qiu: "It's okay, the diary wasn't stolen. I still have it hidden well."

"If that's the case, that's fine. You hurry up and rest. You still have a match tomorrow." Zhang Qiu left worriedly, muttering "Then the progress is behind..." in Chinese.

"I think she is not well-intentioned." When walking back to the common room, Harry could hear Jin Ni and Yi Fu whispering something.

"She must want to steal the diary, so she told Harry first that someone was going to steal it. In this way, when he was in a hurry to go back to check, he would expose where he hid the diary." Yi Fu said confidently, "This is a trick used by Sherlock Holmes."

"You guys don't discuss others behind their backs. It's too impolite." Harry said dissatisfiedly, "No one can steal the diary. I have hidden it well."

"Too biased, Harry!" Yi Fu retorted angrily, "Zhang Qiu can suspect that the opener of the Chamber of Secrets is among us, why can't we suspect that she has other plans!"

"That's right, we all sent you Valentine's cards, but you went to see Colin!" Jin Ni said dissatisfiedly, "You are a big idiot. I want to chat with Tang Mu now. It's too sad. No one has ever understood me—"

Seeing that Jin Ni's words even brought a crying tone, Harry was also at a loss. He really didn't know what these little girls were thinking. Harry looked around in the common room and grabbed Percy's sleeve like finding a straw.

"Good prefect, hurry up and care about your sister." Harry said helplessly, "I don't know why, but she suddenly became sad. I swear I really didn't do anything."

Taking advantage of Percy comforting Jin Ni, Harry escaped back to his dormitory. At this time, the diary entered his sight again, and he couldn't help but want to ask Tang Mu what Jin Ni was worried about.

But Harry restrained himself. He understood that tomorrow was a crucial Quidditch final, and he must have enough spirit tonight.

The next day, Harry came to the Great Hall early, had a hearty breakfast with Wood and other Quidditch players, and then began to discuss tactics.

They talked from the opening routine to the late-stage operation. Wood knew the ideas of Hufflepuff like the back of his hand. He could propose seven or eight different coping methods, but the only thing that worried him was Cedric Diggory.

"Harry, I hope you stay steady in this game." Wood said, "It's meaningless to rush to operate with him to fight for details. If you catch the Snitch before we get at least sixty points, then we are putting the cart before the horse."

"I understand. It's not easy to get an advantage in the duel with him." Harry said confidently, "But it's very simple not to make mistakes. Cedric is a player who is too balanced. I have this certainty."

Until one minute before the start of the game, Harry was recalling the various tactics of normal training. His mind was completely occupied by the game that was about to start. But just then, he saw Professor McGonagall walking and running across the field with a huge purple microphone.

Harry's heart sank suddenly.

"The game is canceled." Professor McGonagall shouted to the crowded stadium through the microphone. Boos came from all around. Wood looked very shocked. He landed immediately and ran toward Professor McGonagall.

"But Professor!" He called, "We must play. Gryffindor has been waiting for this trophy for seven years—"

Professor McGonagall didn't pay attention to him and continued to call through the microphone: "All students return to the common room. The Heads of Houses will give further notices later. Everyone go back immediately!"

All the Gryffindor students were crowded in the common room, listening to Professor McGonagall read the school's resolution.

"All students must return to the dormitory before six o'clock in the evening. After six o'clock, they are not allowed to leave the dormitory. The school will arrange for a teacher to accompany you to class. And, without the company of a teacher, you are not allowed to use the bathroom. Quidditch training and matches are delayed, and all evening activities are canceled."

Professor McGonagall rolled up the manuscript she had just read and said in a somewhat choked voice, "Undoubtedly, I have never been so grieved. If the criminal behind these attacks cannot be caught, this school is very likely to be closed. Please any student who has clues about this matter stand up bravely."