"Lenny--"
Hermione looked at the black cat in Professor Lupine's arms that was staring blankly at Harry. She held Crookshanks' two front legs, lifted it in front of her, and said cheerfully,
"Oh, it's the good friend you made from outside that Professor Brain told me, isn't it, Crookshanks?"
Crookshanks was not angry with Hermione for keeping him outside the castle. He used his forelimbs to pull Hermione's hair a few times, then turned his head and rubbed Hermione's cheek. The persimmon face was no longer there. So gloomy, he seemed happy to see his master on Christmas Day.
And this attitude also made Hermione feel great joy. She hugged Crookshanks tightly and turned a blind eye to Ron, who was cursing under his breath.
"You must have guessed it--"
Professor Lupine patted Lenny's head and said regretfully,
"Professor Brain needs to spend Christmas with his relatives and friends. He asked me to keep an eye on the surveillance cameras in his office in case any little wizard who cannot go home for the holidays needs help-"
Harry, who had already guessed this was the case, hesitated, not sure whether he should ask Professor Lupin about the broom.
"That sweater--"
Professor Lupine had already seen the sweater with eye-catching patterns embroidered on Ron's arms.
"If you want to give it to Professor Brain, you can leave it here and I can hand it over for you. Of course, you can also hand it to him in person, but I'm afraid you have to wait a few days. I'm afraid he will at least We won't be back until a week later--"
"My mother knitted this, Professor Lupin,"
Ron hesitated for a while and said, "In order to thank Professor Blaine for saving Ginny and I last semester, so... I'd better hand it over to him in person."
"Oh, of course, that makes sense."
Professor Lupine nodded happily, and then he turned his gaze to Harry, who was staring at Lenny, "So Harry, are you here to return Professor Blaine's broom?"
"That's right, Professor -" Harry suddenly came to his senses. He hurriedly put the Sweeping Seven Stars on his desk. "If it weren't for it, I wouldn't be able to participate in the team's training. And, now I have a new broom." --"
"Yeah, I noticed--"
Lupine glanced at the golden registration number on the top of the broom handle. His eyeshadow, which was thick due to lack of sleep, became darker, his expression was not so happy, and even his voice sounded a bit serious.
"It's a beautiful broom, Harry. It's called the Firebolt, right? I heard it's expensive... Is it a Christmas gift you prepared for yourself?"
Harry took a moment to explain the situation, and after hearing the explanation, Lupine's expression immediately relaxed a lot. Just now, he thought Harry bought this sky-high price broom out of vanity. Although he was not qualified to tell Harry how to deal with his father's inheritance, he would indeed be disappointed if Harry really emptied his treasury for the broom.
"Do you think it was given to Harry by Amosta...oh, Professor Blaine?"
Lupine comforted Lenny, who was twisting in his arms, and said thoughtfully,
"Well... I'm sorry, I can't answer this question, because Professor Blaine hasn't told me about this before... But based on what I know about him..."
He saw Hermione immediately giving Harry and Ron a 'provocative' look, while the two young wizards looked unconvinced. After smiling in his heart, Lupine stared at the Firebolt and said,
"Of course, I'm not completely sure that this broom was not given by Professor Blaine. I will ask you when he comes back... But, Harry, I don't think I recommend you to use it until you figure out its origin. --"
Harry immediately showed a disappointed expression. Of course, he unexpectedly had the best broomstick in the world, but he couldn't ride her and could only watch.
"If it really comes from a wizard with malicious intentions, Harry, Professor Blaine also has ways to deal with possible traps on the broom, so don't worry about you losing...oh--"
Seeing Harry's disappointment, Lupine comforted him again, but at this moment, Lenny in his arms suddenly bit him lightly. Lupine lowered his head in surprise, and what he saw was a pair of upturned Eye roll.
Since Professor Blaine was not here, Harry and the others prepared to say goodbye after chatting with Professor Lupin for a few words, because each of them could detect the tired look on Professor Lupine's face that could not be concealed.
Lupine put Lenny on the desk, because its weight was really a bit difficult for him now. Then, he sent the three little guys out, and the moment the door was opened, there were people standing in the corridor. Several people in the office looked surprised.
It was Filch, the castle administrator.
Filch took off the brown coat he usually wore and wore an old, musty-looking tuxedo. It seemed that this outfit was specially prepared for the Christmas dinner at noon.
Filch, who usually never spoke politely to young wizards in the castle, now looked timid, and his face with a double chin was filled with an uneasy expression, and when he saw the room from this room Lupine and Harry also showed some surprise when they came out of the office.
"Are you here to see Professor Blaine, Filch?"
Lupine walked out from behind the three Harrys and said gently.
"Oh...um, um, yes--"
Filch hesitated. He bent his waist and glanced secretly over Lupine's shoulder into the office.
Looking at the always domineering Filch, who was so silent, Ron burst into laughter, but then, his ribs were hit hard by Hermione.
"It seems that Professor McGonagall didn't tell you, Filch," Professor Lupine turned sideways so that Filch could see the room more clearly.
"Professor Blaine left the school last night and may not return until more than a week later."
Hearing this, Filch did not show any disappointment. Instead, he immediately straightened up and breathed a heavy sigh of relief, as if a big mountain pressing on his back had disappeared.
"Oh, okay, excuse me."
Filch wiped the sweat from his head, bowed slightly to Professor Lupin, then turned around and left. Lupine and Harry were both confused and couldn't figure out what Filch was playing. .
However, before taking a few steps, Filch suddenly stopped again. He hesitated for a few seconds, then turned to Lupine and said,
"There is something, if you can help me convey it to Mr. Blaine--"
"Of course, no problem, Filch." Professor Lupine smiled and nodded.
"That's right, the piece of parchment that Mr. Brain came to look for before -" Filch added, fearing that Lupine wouldn't understand, "Mr. Brain said that there was a piece of blank parchment that I had obtained more than ten years ago. It was confiscated by several students, and he hoped that I could find it... I have rummaged through the entire office, residence and storage room in the past few days..."
Harry, Ron and Hermione, who were standing behind Lupine, exchanged hidden glances and immediately understood what Filch was talking about. And Lupine, after hearing what Filch said, his His body suddenly trembled, he narrowed his eyes and stared at Filch, and asked in a soft voice that sounded like babble.
"Amosta is asking you for a piece of parchment that was confiscated from a student more than ten years ago...is that right?"
Reading Pavilion
