bioinnovel Chapter 199 Reprimand and Test
Chapter 199 Reprimand and Test
Chapter 199 Reprimand and Test
Before today's meeting, Belvina had made many assumptions, speculating about Harry's attitude.
Belvina had considered that Harry would distance himself from her, and she had also considered that even if Harry came looking for her, he would make a scene, but she never expected Harry to be so quiet.
Quiet and composed, seemingly dejected and listless, yet within that wavering heart lies an unwavering persistence.
This unexpected performance is somewhat unlike Harry, and doesn't fit his usual Gryffindor scarred brute persona.
Seeing Harry deep in thought, Belvina was not angry or embarrassed by the unexpected turn of events. Instead, she was very pleased, as her efforts had been rewarded.
Harry Potter is constantly growing, although it is very slow compared to the limited time available, but he is definitely growing.
At the same time, Harry's trust and dependence on Belvina allowed Belvina to experience a little bit of the joy of raising a pet.
Unfortunately, Belvina neither pursues alchemy nor philandering; she remains a staunch advocate of singlehood, believing her life is fulfilling enough and she needs no one else to disrupt it.
The silence in the classroom lounge lasted for a while. Belvina drank her tea, Harry was deep in thought, and only the crackling of the fire in the fireplace could be heard.
When the tea in the cup cooled down, Harry looked up again. He might have figured things out, or he might have just given up.
In short, the thinking process has come to an end.
Harry picked up the cool teacup, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp. Then he said, "I'm not going to see Sirius Black, whether he's the snitch who betrayed my parents or not, I'm not going to see him."
Then, as if making a decision, Harry slammed his teacup down and said, "I'll wait for him in the castle. I want to ask him about what happened back then in person."
For a fleeting moment, Belvina felt that Harry had indeed grown up, learned to think rationally, and handled matters concerning himself calmly.
But the next second, Belvina felt that Harry hadn't grown up at all, and that his rationality and composure were only temporary.
"If he didn't betray my parents, I'll thank him for not betraying their trust," Harry said in a hoarse voice. "If he really is the informant, I'll kill him without hesitation!"
Belvina scratched her smooth forehead awkwardly. No one had told her that raising simulation games were this difficult!
One second he's perfectly fine, the next he's all murderous. How can that scarred brute have two faces?
"Fine, it's your own business, you decide for yourself," Belvina said helplessly. She would rather scheme against those old men in the Ministry of Magic than guess what the boy was thinking anymore.
Belvina continued, "Now that we've finished talking about your business, it's time to talk about mine."
What's wrong?
What is she going to say?
A bad feeling suddenly welled up in Harry's heart; he felt that he might be scolded.
"Is Lady Rosmerta with Three Brooms pretty?" Belvina asked. "Is the butterbeer there good?"
She knew I went to Hogsmeade! She could even see through the Invisibility Cloak!
Harry thought to himself. When Mrs. Rosmerta brought over three bottles of butterbeer, Harry realized he had been exposed. Since Belvina didn't mention it, he pretended nothing had happened and tried to get away with it.
"I remember Professor McGonagall didn't allow you to spend the weekend at Hogsmeade, did she?" Belvina continued. "Professor McGonagall complained to me about it for quite a while."
"I was the only one left at school throughout the entire third year; I was the only one left in the whole tower," Harry tried to explain.
Use your pitiful situation to gain sympathy.
However, Belvina completely ignored her, saying to herself, "Is Hogsmeade really that interesting? You just have to go?"
Yeah?"
Harry opened his mouth, but couldn't find the words to refute it; he really had no reason to go to Hogsmeade.
Harry was still very happy in his first two years of school life even without Hogsmeade. This year, he secretly went to Hogsmeade partly out of curiosity and partly because he felt unbalanced.
All students (third year and above) can go to Hogsmeade Village together for the weekend, why can't I?!
"I'm relieved that you didn't act rashly and seek revenge on Sirius. But—"
Belvina then changed the subject, "I am very disappointed that you went to Hogsmeade without permission."
"I didn't know back then—" Harry's voice trailed off as he lowered his head guiltily, staring at his toes.
At the beginning of the school year, Mr. Weasley repeatedly warned Harry at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters that he must promise Harry never to go looking for Sirius Black, and that he should be a good boy and not leave the castle.
Before the first Hogsmeade weekend, even though Harry had Belvina's autograph, Professor McGonagall still didn't approve his trip to Hogsmeade Village, leaving him alone at the school.
Then Sirius Black broke into the Gryffindor tower, and Professor McGonagall approached Harry again, telling him some things in private, much like what Mr. Weasley said.
From then on, Ms. Hodge would be present at the pitch for every Gryffindor Quidditch practice to supervise the team's training.
All of this was to protect Harry, to keep danger away from him, and to prevent the escaped convict Black from harming him.
What did Harry do?
He insisted on secretly going to Hogsmeade, not only betraying everyone's good intentions but also treating his own safety as a joke.
"I know what you're trying to say. Because of what I said during the holidays, you think Sirius Black was wronged and that he wouldn't hurt you," Belvina said coldly. "What if I've been lying to you all along? What if everything I did was to lure you out of school and into danger? Have you thought about those things?"
Harry jumped to his feet and retorted loudly, "But I believe you! I know you wouldn't lie to me! If you wanted to hurt me, you wouldn't have waited until now!"
The scarred boy's face was flushed, and his chest heaved violently with emotion. The rebellious spirit of the thirteen-year-old boy reached its peak at this moment.
Belvina sat there expressionless, slowly revealing an extremely cruel truth, a truth that would be cruel to anyone.
She said, "Your parents lost their lives because they chose to trust their liaison."
Speechless, Harry slumped back into the armchair by the fireplace, unable and unwilling to refute.
Belvina continued, "I don't object to you going to Hogsmeade, provided you get Professor McGonagall's permission, and don't go secretly without telling anyone, do you understand?"
Going to Hogsmeade openly and going there secretly are two completely different things.
If Harry gets permission to go to Hogsmeade, the professors at the school and the Aurors outside the school will know he's in the village.
The focus of work will shift accordingly.
Even if Harry were attacked or had an accident in the village, everyone would know he was there and could rush to the scene to provide assistance immediately.
But Harry went to Hogsmeade secretly without telling anyone. The professor and the Aurors all thought he was still at the school and under heavy protection.
If an uncontrollable accident were to occur suddenly, there is a high possibility that rescue efforts would not be timely, resulting in injury or death to Harry or other students.
If Cornelius Fudge dared to use Dumbledore's name to implement his policies, who can guarantee that the remnants of the Death Eaters won't take risks under Sirius's name?
The Potter family's ancestral invisibility cloak can provide some protection, but it is not omnipotent; it cannot hide from everyone's eyes.
"Don't keep your head down and stay silent. You have no right to remain silent now," Belvina said. "You say you're not a child anymore, but aren't the things you're doing things only a child would do?"
"I'm sorry," Harry said in a muffled voice. "I didn't think much of it at the time. I thought there wouldn't be any danger."
Whether he hadn't thought about it that much, or hadn't thought about it at all, only Harry himself knows the answer.
Belvina's words during the summer vacation led Harry to believe that Sirius was likely innocent, causing him to disregard the escaped convicts of Azkaban.
However, the real reason that prompted Harry to go to Hogsmeade without permission was not the Black siblings, but his own deep-seated resentment. Harry himself was the main reason.
"I won't ask you how you got into Hogsmeade, and even if I did, you'd resist to the end and refuse to say anything," Belvina said. "You'll have to figure it out yourself from now on."
Upon hearing this, Harry secretly breathed a sigh of relief; he didn't want to betray the Weasley twins.
As for the Marauder's Map, Harry had no recollection of that magical map at this point, and had never even considered handing it over.
"But one"
Harry's heart leaped into his throat, pounding wildly.
"Don't expect me to cover for you next time," Belvina continued.
Harry's pounding heart returned to normal, and he said sullenly, "I'm sorry, I understand."
The scarred boy's skin was sometimes thin and sometimes thick; he would admit his mistakes and correct them, only to repeat them again. His main characteristic was that he was tempered and refined through countless trials, and his Gryffindor-like recklessness was ingrained in his bones.
"Another one"
Harry's heart pounded in his throat again.
No, why is there a third part to this?!
"Don't be afraid, this isn't about you."
Harry breathed a sigh of relief once again, as long as he wasn't scolded.
Strangely enough, no matter whether Belvina's tone was sarcastic or reprimanding, Harry always listened to what she had to say.
Of course, whether or not to change it is another matter.
Belvina asked casually, "Did Hermione have a fight with you two boys? I've noticed she hasn't been in a good mood lately."
"Maybe she's just too tired from studying. She has at least ten classes a day. I don't know how she manages to schedule so many classes," Harry said without hesitation. "Another possibility is that she's angry with Ron."
"Is Ron involved in this too?" Belvina said, her indirect questioning successfully leading to Ron, which was simpler than she had expected.
Harry sighed heavily, like an adult, and said, "Ron and Hermione's friendship is probably coming to an end."
"What's wrong with those two?" Belvina asked in a gossipy tone.
"Because of their pets," Harry said without hesitation, "a cat and a mouse."