"Tick tock...tick tock..."
In some dark and deep place, the hollow sound of dripping water echoes day after day. The dull and humid air flows slowly here, mixed with an unspeakable stench.
Occasionally, there will be a string of rustling sounds, ringing in the darkness. They approach from a distance, and then leave in a hurry through the standing water.
Those little passers-by are mostly just mice.
Basically no one comes here, only snakes, insects, rats and ants that live together with humans in the city, adding a bit of unknown vitality to this deep and empty underground world.
Yes, logically speaking, this should be like this - it is dirty but peaceful, gloomy but not dangerous. It is a man-made "pure land" under the bustling city.
But recently...
"hiss-"
Accompanied by a chilling low neighing sound, a moderate friction sound came from a distance, and it was getting louder and louder.
And as the friction sound got closer, even the ground began to shake slightly, as if something huge was approaching quickly in this endless darkness.
Not long after, the movement slowly turned into a rumbling vibration, and the neighing became more and more permeable.
Finally, when a group of mice were squeaking and being driven away in all directions, the sound that had come closer suddenly stopped. Then, a pair of huge eyes flashing with a gloomy green light suddenly appeared in the darkness.
"Don't stop, we're not there yet."
Suddenly, a voice sounded near the eyes. It was a person's voice. The voice sounded slightly old, but it was also exceptionally calm.
As soon as he finished speaking, those eyes suddenly disappeared again. Immediately afterwards, the rumbling sound sounded again, followed by a gust of fishy wind, and it was heard a moment later that it swaggered away.
After a long time, the original sound of dripping water reappeared - it still followed the original rhythm, unchanged and echoing endlessly in this wide passage.
…
Around three o'clock in the afternoon, Mrs. Puddifu's teahouse.
Maka and Hermione, who were drinking black tea and tasting desserts while chatting, finally stopped picking up the teapot that had already been refilled and poured it into the empty teacup.
Although the two chatted happily after that, it seemed like there were countless things to talk about.
From the men and women in the teahouse to the classmates and professors at Hogwarts, to the strange people and strange things in the entire magical world, Maka and Hermione, who are both knowledgeable, will never lack topics.
But no matter how happy the conversation was, we wouldn't spend an entire afternoon here.
"What time is it now? After drinking a lot of tea, they should be getting down to business, right?"
Outside a certain window in the teahouse, a sneaky voice sounded from under the window sill. Those familiar with it would be able to recognize it at once - it was Ron's voice.
Immediately afterwards, another voice came out, which seemed a little weak:
"Ron, why don't we forget it! Maka and Hermione are dating, and it's not good for us to peek in like this... Besides, my legs are numb from squatting."
"Neville, can't you just hold on!" Ron said helplessly, "Your legs are numb... do you think I'm not numb? Look at your girlfriend Hannah, she hasn't even said tired yet!"
"Because she has been sitting on the ground for a long time!" Neville said with a grimace, "Originally I wanted to sit down too, but seeing you squatting like this all the time, I had no choice but to hold on with you..."
"Oh!" Ron couldn't help but patted Neville on the shoulder after hearing this, "Hey, okay! You are indeed my good buddy!"
But who would have thought that with such a slap, Neville could no longer squat. He tilted his body and fell to the wall with an "ouch".
Pedestrians passing by looked at the three of them squatting, sitting and lying down, and looked at them with subtle eyes, so much so that Hannah, who was sitting silently next to Neville, couldn't help but cover her face.
Although she was very satisfied just to be with her boyfriend, she, who was already introverted, still couldn't bear such shameful behavior.
"Neville, should we go?"
"No, wait a little longer!"
Hearing that Neville was still able to refuse Hannah's proposal to leave despite his complaints, Ron couldn't help but said happily:
"I knew that our friendship was the strongest!"
However, Neville, who collapsed on the ground, immediately shook his head decisively.
"What kind of friendship?" I saw him rubbing the crook of his leg with a painful look on his face, sighing, "My legs are so numb that I can't even feel it. I can't even walk!"
"Pfft—"
A chuckle suddenly sounded from beside the three of them, causing Neville to turn around with difficulty, and Hannah, who was covering her face, quickly spread her fingers and looked over.
"Hermione? Mal... Oops!"
Ron, who was still trying to squat under the window sill, turned his head. His legs, which were also sore, finally could no longer maintain their balance, causing him to fall to the ground.
"I'm not tired even after squatting for so long. Thank you for your hard work!" Maka, who was standing next to Hermione, said with a smile, "Hermione and I just talked about a newly opened library in Diagon Alley. We are going to go there. How about taking a stroll there? Are you still interested in coming with us?"
"Of course I'm going!" Ron didn't mind being dirty, so he simply turned over and lay on his back and said, "But... Maka, is there a magic potion that can relieve the numbness in the legs?"
The numbness in his and Neville's legs was simply caused by poor blood flow after squatting for a long time. Even if they were left alone, they would recover on their own after a while. Maka just took out a small bottle and gave them both a sip, and soon the two of them stood up happily.
Immediately, Ron raised his hand and waved:
"Let's go!"
…
A few minutes later, in the backyard of the Leaky Cauldron, five figures appeared together in a burst of space distortion.
After Maka knocked on the courtyard wall and entered the crowded Diagon Alley, Ron suddenly stretched out his hand and blocked Neville and Hannah behind him.
"What's wrong?" Hermione looked at him confused.
In fact, not only Hermione, but also Neville and Hannah looked at him with puzzled expressions.
"Huh?" Ron said with a chuckle, "Let's take a look here and go back later... You and Maka should go first! You don't have to wait for us."
When it comes to this, his meaning has been very clear. This is to carry out the "peeping" to the end!
"You're already here, does this still make sense?" Maka waved her hand and said, "Stop poking your head behind like a fool, let's go shopping together!"
After that, he and Hermione took Neville and Hannah and walked forward together. Ron hesitated for a long time, and then he had to catch up in a hurry.
"... This can still be considered a 'date'!"
Although Ron knew something about the relationship between Maka, Hermione and Luna, the complicated relationship between the three of them was beyond Ron's ability to understand.
In fact, it's hard even for them to explain clearly, let alone friends like Ron.
In fact, the significance of this date does not lie in what was done specifically, but mainly in a mutual statement between Hermione and Luna.
Since this "Seeker Duel", the two girls have officially changed from "stalemate" to "competition". Although they are still good friends, they probably no longer compromise with each other like before.
Of course, as far as the current situation is concerned, the real competition will probably not be fully implemented until the Haierbo incident is completely over.
It was precisely because Maka finally understood the two people's thoughts after Luna said the word "date" that she took Hermione out for a stroll today without any scruples.
"Huh? Is this the library you're talking about? It doesn't look like much?"
Not long after, Maka led the four of them to the door of a store next to Ollivander's Wand Shop. He first glanced into the store, and then looked up at the sign above the door.
The reason why Ron said "not so good" was because this sign looked so ordinary.
"This was opened by old Barty," Maka said casually. "After resigning, he thought a lot at home alone, and finally organized the private library at home. Little Barty loved reading when he was alive. It is said that there is something wrong here. He has read many of his books."
It can be seen that on the signboard is a large brass key, the style is quite familiar, it is the one hanging around the neck of Barty Crouch Jr. who died under his hands that year.
It was because Little Barty pulled out the key before he died that Old Barty, who was locked up and almost died of thirst, was narrowly saved.
After Maka used the pensieve to show him his son's final performance, this old man who had been tough all his life finally became rickety in his always straight back.
"'The Bronze Key Library'... what a simple and crude store name!" Ron shrugged, but then said in surprise, "You just said 'Old Barty'? He was the previous director of the Department of International Magical Exchange and Cooperation of the Ministry of Magic. Sir, Barty Crouch?”
"yes!"
Maka nodded.
Back then, Barty Sr. was known as the most promising person to become the Minister of Magic, and he once won a lot of prestige because of his clear attitude in openly confronting Voldemort.
However, in the end, he sadly resigned because of his son, and was instantly reduced from a senior official of the Ministry of Magic to a commoner.
"Come on! Go in and take a look... I heard that old Barty has adopted two children, a boy and a girl, and they are ordinary Muggle orphans. It seems that he has completely figured it out..."
Although there is probably no third person in the world who can understand the meaning of the store name "Bronze Key", at least Old Batty has taken the first step after losing his son.
Things in the past are no longer that important to others.
"Mr. Crouch? I'm here to see you... Mr. Crouch?"
"Sir, are you an acquaintance of grandpa?"
A teenage girl stood by the door and asked timidly.