Hogwarts Outsider

Ms. Millicent Bagnold, the Minister of Magic, proved to be more powerful than Matthew had initially anticipated.

As he held the “Daily Prophet” in his hand, he scanned its contents, growing increasingly frustrated.

There was still no mention of the attack he had witnessed.

The front page featured news of Montrose Magpies seeker Aidan Lynch’s upcoming wedding, while the second page announced the Ministry of Magic’s decision to temporarily lift the curfew in Hogsmeade.

Trivial matters, all of them…

Matthew flipped through the pages of the newspaper, hoping to find any valuable information.

Finally, tucked away in a corner, he stumbled upon an “interesting” piece of news.

“Merlin, the greatest magician in British history, where is his hidden legacy?”

For centuries, the British magical community had been intrigued by the mystery surrounding Merlin’s legacy.

As the wizard who allegedly lived up to 1,200 years, it was believed that he must have left behind a significant inheritance upon his death during the goblin rebellion in the 18thcentury.

However, despite extensive searching, no one could find it.

The prevailing belief was that when Merlin passed away, his legacy was taken by the fairies. However, there were dissenting opinions on this matter.

Though just a tiny piece of news tucked away in a corner, Matthew knew such intentional placements often carried hidden meanings.

He glanced at it briefly before turning his attention elsewhere.

He combed through the entire “Daily Prophet” but found nothing of value. Frustrated, he crumpled the newspaper into a ball and tossed it into the trash can.

It had been nearly two weeks since Hufflepuff first-year Justin Finch-Fletchley’s disappearance.

However, news of his vanishing had not reached Hogwarts, at least not openly. Matthew hadn’t heard anyone discussing it, not even the Hufflepuff students.

Clearly, the Hogwarts administration had suppressed any information regarding the incident. According to Neville Longbottom, Professor Rozier, and Professor Sprout had deceived them by claiming that Justin Finley had been bitten by a snow spider in the Forbidden Forest and was receiving treatment at St. Mungo’s Hospital.

Being Hufflepuffs, the students had taken their professors’ words at face value, especially considering Justin’s parents were Muggles. Hogwarts could easily hide the news without facing any consequences.

“Matthew!” Neville called out from the end of the corridor, waving at him discreetly. Matthew quickly surveyed his surroundings before making his way toward Neville.

Neville led the way, and the two of them found themselves in front of the closed door of the History of Magic classroom as if it had been planned beforehand. They exchanged a knowing glance and quietly entered the darkened room.

Neville closed the door with utmost care.

Inside, Hermione Granger was waiting for them. She stood up with a mix of excitement and seriousness upon seeing Matthew and Neville.

“How did it go?” Hermione asked eagerly, her eyes fixed on Matthew. “Does Professor Troka have any suspicions?”

Matthew paused, taking a moment to gather his thoughts. Perhaps he should choose his words carefully.

“You go first,” Matthew said, turning to Hermione. “What have you discovered about Professor Rozier?”

Neville spoke up first, recounting his observations. “It seems like there’s nothing unusual… She follows a strict routine, going to the auditorium for meals and classes. Apart from that, she spends most of her time in her office.”

“Is that so…” Matthew nodded, only to be interrupted by Hermione’s tone tinged with frustration.

“That can’t be all!” Hermione exclaimed earnestly.

Neville suppressed a chuckle and encouraged her, “Tell us more.”

Hermione continued, her voice serious. “Professor Rozier is highly suspicious. I’ve been more cautious than Neville. Lately, she has been visiting the Potions classroom frequently. It seems like something over there has been tempting her. Let’s not forget that the attacks on Adams and Carlo happened in that vicinity around Halloween.”

“The Potions classroom?” Matthew mumbled, intrigued.

Hermione turned to Matthew, her eyes eager for his report. “What about you, Matthew? You were supposed to keep an eye on Professor Troka. Have you noticed anything?”

Matthew replied calmly, “He hasn’t shown any unusual behavior for now. Apart from meals and class, Professor Troka remains in his office.”

“Okay,” Hermione sighed, disappointed with their findings.

Clearly, she had hoped for more important information.

The three of them continued their discussion for a while, exchanging ideas and theories. Eventually, they left the classroom one by one, their minds still buzzing with the investigation.

When Matthew returned to the Slytherin common room, he was greeted by a familiar figure.

“Matthew!” Vincent Crabbe, looking somewhat clueless, hurried over to him. “How did it go? What’s the situation with Professor Troka?”

“Professor Troka has been wandering around the school pretending everything is fine,” Fat Vincent Crabbe replied quickly. “What are you searching for in the school?”

“Alright, thanks for your help,” Matthew nodded. “And what about Gregory?”

“He’s still keeping watch in front of the Defense Against the Dark Arts office,” Crabbe responded honestly.

Matthew had decided to “borrow” Crabbe and Gregory from Draco Malfoy to assist him. With their help, they took turns monitoring Professor Troka’s office. This increased the chances of discovering anything out of the ordinary.