The search of the castle lasted until about three in the morning, but naturally nothing was found, as if Black had never broken into Hogwarts Castle.
Professor Dumbledore should have expected this result a long time ago, but he still had to ask the professors to search the entire castle to reassure the teachers and students in the school and to give an explanation to the Dementors stationed outside the school.
This was tough for the professors and prefects who were searching the castle. They couldn't sleep the whole night. It was really difficult to stay awake, especially when they were full and sleepy.
When Albert and Sana returned to the auditorium, everyone had fallen asleep. Only Percy, who was very energetic, and the sleepy prefects were still on guard.
Sure enough, instead of staying to keep watch, it is better to take a walk outside. At least I can talk to people around me and find an excuse to be lazy.
It is not until dawn that the prefects and the head student council president who have been on night watch are allowed to go back to sleep, and the ghosts will take over their work.
As for the morning classes, they were naturally cancelled.
Sir Cadogan, who temporarily took over the Fat Lady's job, was a rude guy. When he saw Albert, he provoked him with rude insults and planned to duel with Albert.
"If you can come out of the painting, I will duel with you."
Albert held back his yawn with his hand, not wanting to listen to the other person's nonsense, and said directly, "The password is 'mutt', open the door now."
Sir Cadogan reluctantly let them into the common room.
The four of them returned to their dormitories to rest. Naturally, Nearly Headless Nick was responsible for passing on the password to the common room to the other Gryffindor students.
When Albert woke up again, it was already noon.
Tom was arching his back and forth in front of the cat bowl. When he heard the noise, he wagged his tail and continued eating. He only stopped eating when Albert reached out and stroked his head.
"You should lose weight." Albert picked up Tom, stroked his fat belly, and murmured, "If I hadn't raised you from childhood, I would have suspected that you were a hairy pig."
Meow!
Tom protested against Albert interrupting his meal and tried to use the cat mat to push Albert's hand away.
"Although fat cats do look better, they can't be too fat, or they'll become too fat to walk."
Albert let the fat cat go and looked at Tom who was eating again. He decided to leave Tom to the care of the house-elf Bit while he was attending the Magic School Potions Championship. He asked the house-elf to keep an eye on Tom and make him run the wheel every day.
As long as he exercises enough, Tom's fat will soon disappear.
After washing up, Albert planned to go downstairs to eat. As soon as he opened the door, he found that the common room was crowded with Gryffindor students.
"What are you doing here?" Albert asked puzzledly.
"Thank God, someone finally opened the door." Neville was so excited that tears were about to fall.
"He said the password was wrong and wouldn't let us in," a senior boy said angrily. "The password this morning was clearly 'mutt'."
"The password has been changed," said Lord Cadogan.
"What's the password now?" Albert asked Sir Cadogan.
"I can't tell you." Sir Cadogan refused to reveal the password to Albert.
"If you change the password, you have to tell the prefect in advance. Otherwise, even the prefect won't know. Do you plan to leave everyone outside staring blankly?" Albert looked at the portrait on the door and said in a commanding tone, "Okay, tell me what the current password is."
Although the door of the common room was opened, many students did not plan to go in immediately, and prepared to stay outside to watch Sir Cadogan get humiliated.
"What's going on?" Percy saw the corridor outside the common room was crowded with students and walked quickly towards this side.
"I was negotiating with Sir Cadogan. It seems that he changed the password but did not tell the prefect. A lot of people were blocked outside the door just now." Albert said impatiently, "I suspect that this guy is just looking for trouble for students."
Many students immediately agreed and expressed their dissatisfaction with the rude knight who was in charge of guarding the gate.
"It's Sir Cadogan," the portrait roared at the crowd.
"Shut up."
"The password is: Pony." Percy frowned and said to Sir Cadogan, "If you change the password, you should tell the prefect as soon as possible. This is your responsibility. I think Professor Dumbledore should have told you."
"I think he did." Sir Cadogan curled his lips and rode away on his pony.
"No other painter is willing to do this job," Percy explained to the people who were full of resentment. "Sir Cadogan is the only one who stood up. Even if you complain, it's useless. We have no other choice for now."
After that, Percy turned to Albert and said, "By the way, Professor McGonagall wants to see you. You'd better go to her office."
"knew."
Albert went to Professor McGonagall's office first, as expected, for the magic school's Potions Championship.
"Pack your things tonight. Someone will pick you up for the competition tomorrow morning." Professor McGonagall said straight to the point.
"Who leads the team?" Albert asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Professor Slughorn has extensive experience in leading teams and is willing to take you to the Potions Championship. He was once the Potions Professor at Hogwarts, but he has retired." Professor McGonagall looked at Albert and asked, "Do you have any other questions?"
"there is none left."
It was not difficult for Albert to guess why Professor Slughorn was willing to help lead the team.
Professor Slughorn likes to associate with famous, successful, and powerful people.
Albert obviously agrees with the first two points.
When I left Professor McGonagall's office and entered the hall, I found that everyone was talking about how Black entered the castle.
"How many versions are there now?" Albert asked Lee Jordan, who had just sat down next to him.
"It's too much to count," Lee Jordan said, counting on his fingers. "Most people think Black Apparated in."
"Apparition is prohibited at Hogwarts School." Albert started making himself a ham and sausage sandwich.
"I know that people who say such things simply don't know enough about Hogwarts School." Lee Jordan complained, "I think they just want to attract everyone's attention."
"I agree with that." Albert took a bite of the sandwich. The bacon was very salty.
"Some say Black flew into the school on a broomstick, and some say he disguised himself to trick the Dementors guarding the gate." Lee Jordan looked at Albert who was eating a sandwich and asked, "Which one do you think it is?"
"Enter the castle through the secret passage." Albert said while eating.
"Fred and George thought so too. They went to check the secret passage leading out of the castle early in the morning." Lee Jordan said in a voice that the two of them could hear.
"Did you find anything?"
"I don't know, they haven't come back yet." Lee Jordan naturally knew that there were several passages in and out of the school. He was a little worried that Fred and George would get into trouble, and Blake might be hiding in the secret passage now.
"Don't worry, Black must have left." Albert finished his sandwich and said to Lee Jordan, "By the way, I have to participate in the Potions Championship tomorrow and have to leave school for a while."
"When will you be back?"
"I don't know, but it shouldn't be too long. Maybe he'll be back the next day."
"After you win the championship, remember to treat us." Lee Jordan reached out and gently patted Albert's shoulder, saying, "I have confidence in you."
To be honest, Lee Jordan felt sorry for the students from other schools who had to compete with Albert. This guy was like a train, and anyone who got in his way would be ruthlessly crushed.
"I thought you were the ones celebrating for me." Albert said in a strange tone.
"You are so kind to let us invite you. I heard that the champion will get a large bonus."
"Who said that?" Albert asked.
"Fred and George."
"Don't talk nonsense. Be careful that we don't tell on you or you will slander us. We have never said anything like that." Fred and George came over to them.
"Did you find anything?" Albert asked.
"No." George shook his head, "But I still think that Black entered the castle through the secret passage."
“Should we tell the professors?”
"Tell them what to do?"
Fred disagreed.
Albert asked Fred and George to sprinkle some chalk dust in those hidden passages. If someone really entered the school through the secret passage, there would definitely be footprints left. Then they would be able to figure out which day Blake entered the school through the secret passage.
"Do you think Black will continue to invade Hogwarts?" George immediately realized what Albert meant.
"Black won't give up that easily, otherwise he wouldn't have been in the castle last night."