Chapter Sixty-Four: The Paralyzed Castle

"Something’s wrong—Scholar Angulo must be the ghost who helped Professor Loray find the magical nodes!" Siwen suddenly uttered this sentence, sending a chill through everyone present.

"What?" Headmaster Dippet struggled to lift himself from the chair, his voice strained. "Are you sure?"

A tremendous crash echoed throughout the castle just then, accompanied by violent tremors.

The truth was self-evident.

"The third magical node has been destroyed?" Professor Melos covered her mouth in horror, her voice trembling. "How could it happen so quickly?"

She quickly sank into guilt and self-reproach, murmuring, "It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t trusted Scholar Angulo so easily, Hogwarts wouldn’t be in such danger..."

"Galadia, this has nothing to do with you!" Headmaster Dippet suddenly radiated a powerful presence. He quietly removed the ring from his right arm, stood up, and said, "If I had listened to Rozier’s advice last night and interrogated Claude directly, none of this would have happened today. I will bear all the responsibility!"

"Headmaster..." Mrs. Dalarelf looked at Dippet worriedly, wanting to say something.

"I’m fine." Dippet shook his head, then forced himself to take a deep breath, bringing a bit of color back to his cheeks.

After that violent tremor, Siwen was completely stunned—his whole being plunged into a numb state.

"Are you feeling unwell, son?" Sandrine noticed Siwen’s oddness and asked with concern.

Siwen stiffly shook his head.

He then drew a deep breath, looked at Headmaster Dippet, and said, "Headmaster, I share responsibility for this as well."

"If I hadn’t insisted on calling the Board of Governors to interrogate Professor Loray, perhaps the third node wouldn’t have been destroyed so quickly. Maybe your approach would have ensured a safer capture of Professor Loray."

"What nonsense!" Sandrine gave the dejected Siwen a sharp slap and said unceremoniously, "If you hadn’t notified us, that rigid headmaster might never catch that scoundrel Loray!"

"Enough!" Mr. Malfoy struck the floor with his cane, interrupting the group as they vied to claim blame. "This isn’t the time to agonize over whose fault it is. Right now, the most important thing is to catch that damned Professor Loray!"

Headmaster Dippet nodded, forcing himself to rally his spirits and began assigning specific tasks.

...

Siwen left the headmaster’s office dispirited, heading toward the Slytherin common room.

The professors and Sandrine’s group had firmly refused to let first-year students participate in the hunt for Professor Loray—they had to safeguard the students’ safety!

Mr. Malfoy remained in the headmaster’s office, drafting a letter to the Ministry to notify them to put out a warrant for Loray, with Abraxas staying by his side. Sandrine, at Dippet’s request, went to help the professors manage the chaos overwhelming Hogwarts Castle.

Concerned for Siwen’s safety, Sandrine sent him back to the common room to stay with the other young wizards.

As Siwen walked, he saw countless dimmed lights throughout the castle, the magic supply lost; the moving stairs inside the main tower had ceased to operate, some even falling from midair and shattering on the ground below—who knew if anyone had been hurt; several unfamiliar professors were clearing away debris, opening up blocked corridors so people could pass...

Each scene pierced Siwen deeply. He had hoped to help Hogwarts through this crisis in his own way, but had instead indirectly brought about an even greater disaster!

Siwen walked in silence to the first floor. The marble staircase leading from the main tower to the Great Hall, unaffected by the lack of magic, posed no difficulty; he easily reached the entrance courtyard.

But upon arriving, he found many Slytherin students standing in the courtyard, waiting in confusion.

"Siwen, where have you been? Do you know what’s happened?" Elciona stood helplessly. Seeing Siwen arrive, she rushed to his side, gripping his arm tightly, her voice trembling.

"I just came from the headmaster’s office. What’s wrong?" Siwen noticed Elciona’s distress and asked softly.

"We were walking in the main tower just now when a moving staircase suddenly crashed down... Walburga’s sister was nearly struck!" She seemed terrified, her words faltering.

"Thankfully, Prewett used a spell to shift the stair’s fall just in time, so Lucretia wasn’t hit directly. But she was struck on the shoulder by flying debris! Prewett has already taken her to the hospital wing..."

Siwen’s face paled. He dared not imagine how deep his guilt would run if someone really lost their life because of this.

"The walls of the Slytherin common room won’t open now—no one can get in, and those already inside can’t come out. Your two roommates are probably trapped in there," Elciona continued, her tone steadier.

"No one left in the entrance courtyard wants to stay underground; everyone’s afraid the dungeons will collapse like the moving stairs did."

‘Mobley and Gomez at least are safe.’ Siwen felt some relief, then gently patted Elciona’s back to comfort her. "It’ll get better."

A silence fell between them.

Siwen pondered quietly—he was pessimistic that the professors could capture Professor Loray. From Loray’s teaching and his performance in the Forbidden Forest, it was clear he possessed strong magical abilities and combat prowess—not someone a couple of professors could easily subdue. His mastery of the Disillusionment Charm was flawless—he could probably slip out of the castle unnoticed.

‘Where would Professor Loray escape from?’ Siwen mused aimlessly.

He immediately recalled the attack in the Forbidden Forest, and thought of Loray’s accomplices who had infiltrated the forest. Since they could get into Hogwarts through the Forbidden Forest, they must also have a way to escape via the forest. So, Professor Loray might very well flee toward the Forbidden Forest?

As he was lost in thought, Siwen suddenly felt something furry climb onto his leg.

His mood instantly relaxed. He scooped up the silvery little kitten, cradling her in his arms, stroking her head, and half-chided, "Little cat, why aren’t you staying safe in the dormitory? It might be dangerous out here..."

Looking into the kitten’s golden eyes, Siwen couldn’t continue. Judging by her abilities, she certainly wouldn’t be afraid of falling debris.

Wait—her abilities?

A sudden inspiration flashed before Siwen’s eyes. He hugged the kitten tightly and rushed out of the courtyard.

Seeing Siwen leave in such a hurry, Elciona quickly followed, anxious. "Siwen, where are you going?!"

"I have something very important to do. Please wait here for me, alright?" Siwen turned to look at Elciona, his voice resolute.

...

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