Chapter 124 Anomalous Slytherin
It was the owls that reassured the young wizards. In the blink of an eye, more than a hundred owls swooped into the Great Hall, circling above it hooting.
It was like the daily morning owl rainfall, but even more spectacular.
Indeed, it was dinner time. Why would so many people be writing at that hour? Besides, the next day would mark the beginning of the Christmas break. Almost all young wizards would be returning to their homes. However much they looked, there were no letters or packages to send them at that moment.
This was truly unusual. Harry absentmindedly gazed at the owls.
The werewolf attack on Evan and Hermione, the disappearance of the professors, and the sudden appearance of over a hundred owls all made him feel an ominous sensation, as if something bad was about to happen.
Harry desired to know what news those owls were bringing, but there was no letter for him.
Fred and George rose from the table, waving their wands. They attempted to catch an owl, but Percy quickly intervened to stop them.
The owls clustered together and all flew towards Slytherin's long table. They had envelopes in their beaks and competed to be the first to deliver their letters.
The other three houses observed in silence. They all craned their necks, hoping to glean some clues from the expressions on the Slytherins' faces.
Harry noticed Malfoy receiving his envelope as if he had received a great honor.
He smirked sardonically at the envelope in his hand and mocked his face sarcastically. Harry clenched his fist watching Malfoy read the letter in his hand. Initially, he seemed terrified, but then a malicious smile spread across his pale face.
Harry not only focused on Malfoy; he also looked around to see the reactions of the other Slytherin students.
Several of the senior students nodded and all of them were offspring of some of the most powerful pure-blood families. Among them was Marcus Flint, the captain of Slytherin's Quidditch team and leader of his class.
He rose from his seat, signaling for all Slytherin students to do the same.
Not a word was uttered; all remained silent and appeared fearful.
Under the horrified gaze of students from the other three houses, they began to leave in an orderly fashion. The behavior of all was intense and thrilling simultaneously.
Everyone wanted to ask them what exactly had happened, but no one dared to do so in reality.
Percy looked pale as if he wanted to stop the Slytherin students. He took a slight step forward but ultimately took no action.
Everything seemed truly abnormal. Watching the Slytherin students begin to depart one by one, the Great Hall erupted with the murmurs of students talking amongst themselves. The atmosphere grew more tense, and everyone had that kind of feeling one has before a storm.
At that moment, even the most foolish student could feel that something bad was about to happen.
"Malfoy, what are you trying to do? What kind of conspiracy are you plotting this time?" Harry stood up and shouted at Malfoy, who was about to leave the Great Hall.
He couldn't explain why, but he was extremely furious.
The truth about his parents' death, the fact that they were betrayed by his best friend, the fear for Evan and Hermione who were attacked by the werewolf, and the oppression and discomfort caused by the Slytherins' abnormal behavior all combined to make him furious.
He glared at Malfoy with anger and wanted to pounce on him.
The Slytherin students who were in motion stopped upon hearing Harry's voice. They held their breath and looked back and forth between Harry and Malfoy.
"Do you not know, Potter?" whispered Malfoy, a malicious smile forming on his face. "It's regrettable. It seems you're not qualified to be in on this news."
"Keep talking, Malfoy, and I'll give you some real news!" growled Harry loudly, pointing his wand at Malfoy.
Gryffindor and Slytherin students drew their wands. Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students, familiar with the scene, stepped back to give them more space.
"Enough is enough!" Percy strode to the center of the Great Hall. The Student Prefect badge on his chest gleamed in the candlelight. He addressed the Slytherin students, "Stop it, lower your wands or I will start deducting points!"
"Tell that to someone who cares, Weasley," Malfoy sarcastically remarked, looking at Percy standing amidst the crowd.
"Deducting five points from Slytherin. I don't like your attitude, Malfoy. You should show more respect to the Student Prefect!" Percy appeared extremely agitated. His ears were red. "Now, quickly back to your table before I deduct another 5 points!"
"We've finished eating, do you still want us to stay here, Prefect?" Malfoy taunted. He looked past Percy at Potter and provocatively said, "Do you want to know what we're going to do, Potter? Come then. But you must be mentally prepared, or you won't be able to handle it!"
With those words said, he followed the rest of the Slytherin students out of the Great Hall.
Harry hurried through the crowd to catch up with Malfoy. The other students glanced at each other and then followed them out of the Great Hall.
Everyone was curious: What did the Slytherins really intend to do?
They exited the Great Hall, passed through the torch-lit Entrance Hall void. They then climbed the stairs, reaching a long, dark corridor where not a sound could be heard except for their steps falling simultaneously on the floor hundreds of times.
The Slytherin students led everyone to the third floor, and Harry couldn't fathom why they were there.
He glanced sideways at the girls' bathroom at the end of the hallway, which was the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.
Did they know the secret? Even if they did, it would be completely irrelevant. He himself had slain the giant snake last semester. Although it was a weapon left by Salazar Slytherin for his heir, Harry knew there was no use for a dead giant snake.
But what surprised him was that they were not heading there. Instead, they all walked straight to Professor Lupin's office door and halted. Their faces looked focused and tense.
They drew their wands again and cautiously faced the door as if there were monsters inside.
Seeing what they were doing, Harry was even more puzzled.
What kind of game were these detestable Slytherins playing? Did Professor Lupin have a troll or something in his office?
He still remembered the professor had told him that morning that he had something to attend to and had to leave Hogwarts. He shouldn't be there at all! All the students were simply staring at an empty room!