Chapter 149 The Gryffindor Test

Peter Pettigrew cried out, writhing on the floor.

Evan was taken aback to see Pettigrew start crying. He looked dreadful: resembling a bald oversized baby shaking on the floor.

"Listen to me, Evan. You're a clever boy..." Peter whispered.

He struggled to get up, swaying, clutching the edge of his robe.

"You've said enough today, Peter Pettigrew!" Evan pulled his robe out of Peter's reach; he stepped back towards the office door. "If you have more to say, you can wait a while and tell Dumbledore and the Ministry of Magic Aurors. I believe they'll be interested."

"No, no!" Peter murmured. "It was Sirius Black..."

"Of course, if you're innocent, they will naturally let you go," Evan looked at him, "But if you're guilty, you'll get what you deserve. The Dementors outside the school are eager. Perhaps they'll give you a kiss..."

Upon hearing "the Dementors" and "the Dementor's kiss," Peter Pettigrew's face instantly paled as if all blood drained from him.

"Let me go, lad!" Peter pleaded. "You gain nothing by doing this. Don't you want to be a powerful wizard? I'll help you. I know a secret, that thing with its magical power; it's in the Forbidden Forest. I know how to get it."

"If you're referring to the magical object left by Gryffindor hidden in the Centaur colony," Evan said slowly, "It's a shame Black promised to take me there before you."

"Without my help, you won't succeed!" Peter hurriedly said. "Even after a thousand years, the guarding magic Gryffindor wielded is still active. You must face your deepest fears in the depths of your heart and pass the final test to obtain that thing. The magic is so potent that nobody could succeed. But I know a way, a shortcut. The Dark Lord told me, I can..."

"You can't just cut corners for everything, Pettigrew," Evan looked at Peter with some pity and with incredible confidence in his voice said, "If that's Gryffindor's test, then I believe I can overcome it."

"Wait a moment, I have another..."

"We've wasted too much time. After handing you over to the teachers, I must find Sirius Black, rescue Ron, and then go to the Great Hall to dine. There are so many things waiting for me to do; I'll finish this as soon as possible. Let's see where Professor Dumbledore is. He might have returned!" Evan pointed at the Marauder's Map with his wand. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

With Evan's words, thin ink lines began spreading from the Marauder's Map like a spider web.

On the map, green and black lines intricately displayed every aspect of Hogwarts castle and its grounds. There were tiny moving ink dots, each labeled with a name in minuscule writing.

Evan first checked Dumbledore's office, and it was empty. He looked down and most people who stayed at Hogwarts for Christmas were gathered in the Great Hall. It was dinnertime, but Evan didn't see Harry, Ron, and Hermione. He quickly headed to Gryffindor Tower. Scanning it, he found Harry and Hermione there, with Sirius Black standing before them.

As soon as Sirius Black entered the castle, he should take Peter with him.

Wait, where did Ron go?!

Evan looked around the map but didn't spot Ron anywhere.

A moment later, on the third floor at Professor Lupin's office, where he was, he suddenly noticed another person besides Pettigrew and himself, standing in front of the door, outside the office...

In the Gryffindor Common Room, Evan had just left, and Crookshanks also communicated with Sirius Black with the new password.

Now, only Harry and Hermione remain here, standing in front of the third-year boys' dormitory.

"Ron?" Harry exclaimed fearfully.

No one answered. Harry and Hermione exchanged glances. Both assumed Ron was asleep.

Yet upon returning, they found Ron lying in bed, gazing at them with open eyes.

In the dim room, Ron's appearance was eerily strange, and the atmosphere was chilling.

After a while, Hermione timidly inquired, "Are you feeling unwell, Ron?"

"I'm fine!" Ron replied stiffly, rising from the bed.

Harry and Hermione exchanged another glance, concern evident on their faces.

"No, you look unwell. You should see Nurse Pomfrey. She will assist you."

"I don't need help. I've never felt better," Ron stated, moving towards the door as if to leave the room.

"We need to talk to you!" Harry reached out, halting Ron. He exclaimed, "I have something to tell you about what happened last night!"

Harry's anger shifted to concern upon realizing Ron was under control.

All he wanted was to awaken Ron. He also recalled Evan's advice that resisting the Imperius Curse required strong willpower. If one's will was strong enough, they could withstand the curse's invasion.

When someone falls victim to the Imperius spell, they experience a void in their mind and feel immense happiness. Subsequently, a voice commands the cursed person to do something. Hypnotized, the victim enters a subconscious state and subconsciously obeys the wizard's orders.

However, this is not absolute. The cursed individual can still receive external world information. That information could profoundly impact their decisions. If these events strongly resonate and evoke rebellion, the cursed person may choose to resist the Imperius Curse, significantly weakening its hold.

"Ron, I know what happened!" Harry grasped Ron's shoulder, looking at him with distress. He exclaimed, "I know. I know all about it. I don't blame you for what occurred last night. I shouldn't have struck you in the end. You are also..."

"What happened last night?" Ron lowered his head, repeating slowly in a monotone voice. "You must understand it was the best course of action, Harry! Last night, I saved you, I saved Hermione, I saved everyone. Once the werewolf entered the castle, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

"Professor Lupin is innocent, he won't harm anyone," Harry panted. He shook Ron vigorously and pleaded, "Please, Ron. Wake up. This isn't who you should be."