bioinnovel Chapter 96 Terrifying Ideas
Chapter 96 Terrifying Ideas
Chapter 96 Terrifying Ideas
At dawn, while the campus was still asleep, the Gryffindor Quidditch team had already arrived at the pitch.
Captain Oliver Wood, true to his reputation as a master of curling, led his team into curling up on the first weekend after the start of the school year, determined to defend his title.
Also starting their own tournament was the Slytherin team, with Marcus Flint leading his players to the pitch. Last school year, they lost both the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup, failing to win any honors.
Whether the Slytherin team is genuinely smug or just showing off their new flying broomsticks and taking a jab at their old rivals Gryffindor remains to be seen.
After a year of being a spectator, Draco Malfoy finally got his wish and was selected for the Slytherin team as the starting Seeker. He shared the same position as Harry Potter.
Perhaps out of indulgence for his children, or perhaps to flaunt his wealth, Lucius Malfoy made a grand purchase of seven of the latest flying broomsticks—Nihilos 2001.
Belvina, still lazing in bed, was completely unaware of this.
If Belvina knew about this, she would only use the word "idiot" to describe Lucius Malfoy's wasteful spending.
Draco's cowardly, reckless, and foul-mouthed personality is partly inherited and partly a result of his father's spoiling. With a father like Lucius, Draco has no problem getting into Azkaban for further studies.
Everyone says a new school year brings a fresh start, but Draco Malfoy's new school year has been nothing short of a return to his old ways. While flaunting his wealth, he also makes sarcastic remarks about the Gryffindor team members, especially the Weasley twins who sweep the five stars with their outdated old brooms.
This summer, Diagon Alley hosted a no-holds-barred boxing match featuring Lucius Malfoy and Arthur...
Weasley, the young Malfoy, always held this grudge in his heart.
With his foolish father's financial backing and the verbal skills he learned from his aunt, young Malfoy, wielding Nimbus 2001, felt invincible and launched into a torrent of chatter.
What young Master Malfoy didn't know was that Belvina dared to face the world because she had enough personal strength to not have to worry about being beaten.
The young master only learned how to talk big, but neglected the most important thing: personal strength. As a result, he was beaten so badly that even his own mother wouldn't recognize him.
If it weren't for Ron Weasley stepping forward and sacrificing himself to quell the fight, young Malfoy might have been on his way to greet Madam Pomfrey before even stepping onto the Quidditch pitch.
By the time Belvina struggled to get out of bed, dressed, and walked out of the lounge, the little commotion between the two teams had passed, and even Ron, who had sacrificed himself, had stopped spitting out snot.
Belvina chose to spend the first weekend of the new school year at Hogsmeade, where she met up with Bassheda and Paul at the castle gate. The three elective professors then left the school together.
Hogsmeade is the only village in the world composed entirely of wizards. It was founded a thousand years ago by Hanges of Woodcroft to help Muggles escape persecution of wizards.
A thousand years have passed, and Hogsmeade has witnessed the rise and fall of wizards from the Middle Ages to the present day. It was also once the headquarters of a goblin rebellion.
The afternoon sun felt warm on their skin as Belvina and her two companions entered the historic village, where the shops lining the streets were particularly attractive.
The Joko Joke Shop, a favorite among boys, sells all sorts of prank props; Honeydukes, a paradise for sweet lovers and a dentist's hell, sells every kind of candy imaginable; and Madame Patif's Tea House, a favorite among couples, has an air that's sweet and cloying.
There's also Devs-Bans, the perfect place to get repair tools; and Elegant Wizard Clothing, a very unique and stylish clothing store with lots of weird and wonderful socks.
Of course, there's also the Three Broomsticks tavern, which is extremely important to Hogsmeade. This little tavern is a landmark of the village, and Lady Rosmerta even has a hint of Hogsmeade's mascot.
It is said that a long, long time ago, this tavern was called "Two Brooms," and it was changed to its current name when Ms. Rosmerta took over.
The only certainty is that since Lady Rosmerta took over, the tavern has flourished and become a must-visit destination in Hogsmeade.
As for Lady Rosmerta, she has long been the goddess in the hearts of generations of Hogwarts boys. From the older sister who sold drinks in the tavern at the beginning to the friend of the mother who is now nearly forty years old, Lady Rosmerta's goddess status has never been shaken.
Belvina and her two companions pushed open the door and entered the Three Broomsticks tavern. The place was warm and filled with smoke, and the still-charming Lady Rosmerta was carrying a large jug of mead. The Three Broomsticks' mead was very popular, and Dumbledore had praised it highly.
"Dear Miss Black, it's been a long time!" Mrs. Rosmerta greeted loudly. The well-connected tavern owner knew all the professors at Hogwarts, and was also familiar with some of the officials from the Ministry of Magic.
"Long time no see, dear Ms. Rosmerta," Belvina replied with a smile. "A glass of oak mead, a glass of single malt whiskey, and a glass of whelk cherry syrup soda, thank you!"
As she spoke, Belvina found a seat by the window and sat down.
Ms. Rosmerta, carrying a tray, quickly came over. She placed the mead in front of Paul, the syrup soda in front of Basilda, and the single malt whiskey in front of Belvina.
Next, Mrs. Rosmerta placed a plate of fish and chips on the table, the famous dish of the "Indiana Kingdom".
"Today's cod is from Iceland, please try it, professors," Ms. Rosmerta said warmly. "If you need anything else, just let me know."
As she spoke, Ms. Rosmerta swayed her hips and walked away gracefully, without lingering to exchange pleasantries or trying to get close to the three elective course professors, showing great tact.
Some of the tavern's customers were instantly drawn to the proprietress's graceful figure, thankfully without any embarrassing whistles.
Basilda's gaze darted back and forth between her two companions. She whispered, "You two are giving me strange looks. I can understand Paul's odd gaze, but what's wrong with you, Belvina?"
"What do you mean you can understand why my gaze is strange?" Paul was very dissatisfied. "Besides, what's strange about it? I'm appreciating it, you understand?"
Often, talking a lot indicates a guilty conscience. Professor Paul Bernard was clearly guilty, which is why he rambled on and on about something Bassheda said.
Compared to the guilty-looking Paul, Belvina was much calmer. She said calmly, "If I don't appreciate the flowers, I would seem unromantic, and the blooming flowers would lose their luster."
Paul Bernard was astonished; he never expected such an explanation. The alchemy professor said he had learned something, but Belvina's next words almost made Paul storm off.
"I simply appreciate beautiful things, but Paul certainly doesn't," Belvina said expressionlessly. "I don't need to elaborate on Rosmerta's status among the boys at Hogwarts!"
To put it another way, if Ms. Rosmerta were willing to take the dark route and venture into the adult entertainment industry, the line of people applying to be the male lead would stretch from Hogsmeade all the way to Hogwarts.
"No need to say more, I completely understand," Bassheda said quietly. "I remember one Valentine's Day, many boys wrote love letters to Rosmerta, but none of them sent them."
Perhaps in an attempt to change the subject, Paul steered the conversation toward Gilderoy Lockhart.
"Speaking of love letters, do you remember Lockhart writing love letters to himself?" Paul said. "It's said that someone counted that he wrote himself a total of eight hundred love letters, all handwritten, and in completely different styles."
Bassheda sighed and said, "Of course I remember. Breakfast was canceled that day, and the plates and bowls were covered in owl feathers and droppings. Eight hundred love letters—did we have that many students back then?"
Breakfast was forced to be canceled, which was something Bassheda could not tolerate under any circumstances, and it is one of the reasons why she still hates Lockhart to this day.
"Eight hundred love letters? Lockhart really knows how to make that up. No wonder he's a bestselling author; that's what you call professional." Belvina was quite impressed. "I never imagined anyone could be as bored as Lockhart, actually counting them one by one!"
The three men, who were close in age, sat in the Three Brooms Tavern like alumni.
If Gilderoy Lockhart weren't so abstract and so unlikeable, he would have a place here too.
"What do you think Professor Dumbledore is thinking? Last year it was Quirrell, this year it's Lockhart. Is he planning to give up on Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Bassheda asked, puzzled. When Belvina was around, she would habitually give up thinking.
Last year, Quirrell made a complete mess of Defense Against the Dark Arts. If it weren't for Snape's intervention, the Hogwarts students' exam results would have been unimaginable.
Lockhart this year was even worse than Quirrell last year, turning Defense Against the Dark Arts into a complete disaster. But the Wizarding Level Exams are held every year, and they are very important for the students.
"I don't know. Maybe Professor Dumbledore wants the students to take Lockhart as a mirror?" Belvina wasn't sure either. "As a negative example, Lockhart is undoubtedly very successful."
Paul took a sip of mead and said with a touch of sadness, "It's just a pity for the students who have to take the grade exams. The fifth graders are alright, but the seventh graders are the most miserable."
Wizarding society already has a terrible employment rate, and with Lockhart's Defense Against the Dark Arts spell on top of that, the graduating seventh-year students are probably thinking of taking Lockhart down with them.
Basilda and Paul were more concerned about the students at the school, believing that Dumbledore's choice was seriously flawed. Didn't he test Lockhart's true abilities before hiring him?
It's hard to believe that Dumbledore would make such a serious mistake. Including Quirrell, Dumbledore has now stumbled twice in this position.
Belvina swirls her wine glass in silence for a long time. She is thinking more deeply than her two companions, and a somewhat frightening idea is forming in her mind.
As headmaster, Dumbledore chose to sacrifice the interests of some students in order to expose Gilderoy Lockhart's true colors and provide them with proper guidance in life.
When the thought popped into her head, Belvina had to admit she was startled.