Chapter 382 An Unusual Road

Harry experienced an unusual night on his first day after entering fifth grade.

It was Hermione who first noticed that Dumbledore and Sherlock were not in the Great Hall.

After her reminder, Ron and Harry saw the two vacant seats on the teacher's bench.

The new students hadn't arrived in the auditorium yet, and the dinner hadn't officially started yet, so Harry and the others didn't think it was a big problem at first.

"Perhaps Professor Dumbledore and Professor Forrester are discussing something in the principal's office?" Harry guessed, "The Order of the Phoenix has been very busy recently, and they must not be idle either."

Ron also said.

"Maybe they are welcoming professors for the new semester? I don't know if there will be new professors coming this year."

"Isn't Moody coming to Hogwarts this year?" Hermione asked doubtfully.

Harry shook his head: "I heard them talking about this at breakfast before. Moody has other jobs and can't come to Hogwarts this year."

Hermione had a look of regret on her face.

"I originally wanted to ask him about some things in the Ministry of Magic at school, but it seems I have no chance."

When she said this, Ron immediately stared at her.

"You are still so interested in the Ministry of Magic. When you were at No. 12 Grimmauld Place, you already asked my father and Kingsley for enough advice! What are you thinking about, Hermione?"

Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron's fussy reaction.

"What else do I want to do, I just want to know more about the political system of the wizarding world. This summer I read a lot of books about the Muggle political system. Compared with the wizarding world, the loose government of the Ministry of Magic is very unique. But this is indeed in line with the shape of wizard society."

Harry and Ron looked at each other. They had been with Hermione throughout the summer vacation, and of course they knew what books she had been reading during this time.

But just because the more they knew, the more they felt that Hermione was developing on a path that they had never thought of.

They couldn't tell whether this was good or bad, but the feeling made people tremble uncontrollably.

After being promoted to fifth grade, Ron and Hermione were also elected as Gryffindor's male and female prefects respectively. Although Ron was very excited about this matter, he still felt a little awkward in front of Harry. and embarrassment.

After all, whether it was based on reputation or magic learning status, the person who should be the superior was already Harry, but I don't know what reasons Professor McGonagall had in choosing Ron.

Harry actually didn't feel much about this. He was not very enthusiastic about power or being in the limelight.

On the contrary, he wished that he would be safe and sound, so that he could have time to talk to Lily in private.

While they were chatting, Professor McGonagall also led the freshmen into the auditorium.

There was something obviously wrong with her expression, and most of the students in the auditorium finally realized the problem at this time.

Until now, Dumbledore and Sherlock have not returned.

Valley

Even the professors sitting in the teachers' seats had puzzled faces. Several professors turned to ask Hilke something, but Hilke also frowned slightly and shook his head. Sherlock was leaving home today. I never told her before what I was going to do today.

When there was a burst of noise in the auditorium, a golden-red light suddenly flashed around Professor McGonagall, and Fox appeared in the auditorium under everyone's gaze.

There was a burst of exclamation from the students, and the freshmen who had just been brought in looked at the red bird with wide eyes.

Most students in the castle are actually not very unfamiliar with Fox. Anyone who has been to the principal's office has basically seen it.

But this is the first time it has appeared in such a public auditorium.

Professor McGonagall frowned and got the letter from Fox. After reading it quickly, her expression improved significantly.

"Professor Dumbledore and Professor Forrest are involved in some things right now. There is no way to make it to the opening dinner tonight, so let's get started first."

She didn't explain much, or that was all Dumbledore wrote to her in the letter.

The voices of discussion in the auditorium did not decrease, but became louder. It was in this environment that the sorting ceremony began.

Without Dumbledore, there would naturally be no speech he used in previous years after the dinner, and even the Weasley twins' favorite school song had been cancelled.

After the students had a sumptuous dinner, they were taken back to the lounge by the prefects of each college.

As the prefect, Ron handed out this year's class schedule and returned to the dormitory before they discussed the specialness of this year's opening dinner.

"Perhaps Professor Forrester discovered the lair where the mysterious man is hiding, and went to capture him tonight with Professor Dumbledore."

Seamus, who lived in the same dormitory as them, said with a hopeful look on his face.

After hearing his words, Neville nodded in agreement like a chicken pecking at rice.

After a summer of public opinion fermentation, Sherlock's reputation in the wizarding world has reached a level comparable to that of Dumbledore, and can even be said to surpass him in some aspects.

The students in Hogwarts are even more enthusiastic about this. After all, Sherlock teaches them every day in this castle, giving them a feeling of both prosperity and loss.

Harry and Ron did not join in the discussion.

The Order of the Phoenix was not a secret, but it could not be said casually, not to mention that Seamus's guess was indeed possible.

Although they were not allowed to attend the adults' meeting, they could still judge from some words that Dumbledore and Sherlock's main focus was obviously on the mysterious man, while others focused on the Death Eaters.

In the dormitory, they did not chat for a few words and lay back on their beds to prepare for sleep.

Harry felt a little tired, but in fact he did not do anything today, but after his head touched the pillow, his consciousness began to be groggy and he seemed to be about to fall asleep.

Beside his pillow, on the old locket brought from No. 12 Grimmauld Place, a snake-shaped relief was faintly lit with an imperceptible green fluorescence.

The locket that had been impossible to open became loose, and there seemed to be a green stream of light emanating from the gap.

Harry, who had already fallen asleep, had a face that slowly began to look somewhat painful as he slept. His brows furrowed at some point, and he looked like he was having a not-so-pleasant nightmare.