"Ding ding ding... everyone be quiet."
Professor McGonagall knocked on her glass just as the dinner was about to begin, silencing all the students who were discussing quietly.
"Before the banquet begins, we would like to thank a few people first. Applause to Professor Sprout. This year's mandrake harvest is very good. Applause to Professor Snape for turning mandrake into a special effect that removes petrification. Potion. Applause and thank Madam Pomfrey. The medical service has a very heavy workload this year and has to take care of too many petrified patients. The three of them worked together to rescue all the petrified students."
As Dumbledore called his name one by one, applause rang out again and again, and the students applauded the three of them one after another.
"In addition, based on the mass petrification incident that occurred this year, as an apology, the school has decided to cancel all exams."
Dumbledore's decision caused all the students to burst into excited applause. Only those good students like Hermione who studied seriously were disappointed, and the seventh graders who had passed the graduation exam ahead of schedule were not so excited.
The door to the hall was opened, and Hagrid's huge figure strode in.
"Sorry! I'm late. The owl with the newly constructed owl that proved my innocence got lost, because it was a stupid bird named Aurora."
Hagrid walked up behind Ron, held down Ron's red hair and rubbed it. Obviously he knew that Ron was responsible for delivering the letter.
"I have to tell you something. If it weren't for Harry and Ron, I would still have to stay in the Ministry of Magic. I want to say thank you!"
Hagrid thought that all this was just the work of Harry Potter and Ron. Of course, Regulus Black didn't care at all. Only Gilderoy Lockhart waved his hand on the professor's chair to signal Hagrid to look at him.
"You are leaving Hogwarts soon. Do you expect Hagrid to repay you?"
Regulus Black glanced sideways at Gilderoy Lockhart, cooling down his desire to continue waving his arms.
"Hogwarts can't be without you, Hagrid!"
Harry Potter couldn't help but be excited and threw himself on Hagrid.
Dumbledore stood up and led the applause, causing all the students who were watching to join in the applause.
After all, the truth about the Chamber of Secrets has been revealed, and it has become a consensus that Hagrid, who was accused of opening the Chamber of Secrets 50 years ago, is innocent.
"The grievances of 50 years have been washed away, but I don't know when my stupid brother will be able to wash away his grievances."
Regulus Black was one of the few who did not applaud. Amidst the cheers of the students, although these words were slight, they still reached Dumbledore's ears. The old headmaster couldn't help but turn his head to look at Regulus Black. A glance at Gulus Black.
"Hagrid! Hagrid! Hagrid! Hagrid..."
The students cheered loudly, which made Old Hagrid burst into tears. He was so moved. This moment touched him so much.
In the last few days of the term, the entire Hogwarts was filled with joy.
Ron's broken wand had long since disappeared, and it was all the fault of Gilderoy Lockhart, who lost his wand after taking the Sorting Hat.
But because of this, Ron agreed to Regulus Black's arrangement. In order to buy a new wand, Ron was taken to a Muggle club and began his chess challenge career.
"Mr. Black! This is a place only adults can come in, right?"
This was Ron's first time entering a club in the Muggle world, a place full of cigarettes, alcohol and sexy waiters in maid uniforms.
"Remember what I taught you. Call me Regulus outside. You are my distant poor relative. I found that you have a very good talent for chess, so I brought you out to see the world. And this is the future. Adults can be brought in by adults.”
Regulus Black was holding a cane at this time. The black nanmu cane body was just right for the drooping arms to support the ground. The head of the cane was a gold-plated part inlaid with seven pea-sized scarlet gems. They were slightly tilted to form a cane. A rotating pattern.
Although Regulus Black was not a regular at this club, he had been here a few times, so he quickly found someone playing chess in a corner of the second floor.
"Hughes! The relative I mentioned last time has found you. I wonder if you have enough pounds?"
Regulus Black came to the side of a chess table, waved the civilized staff in his hand, and knocked on the chair of a middle-aged man.
This is a tall, middle-aged, bald man who was looking at a half-played chess set in a daze.
Hughes was disturbed and looked at Regulus Black with dissatisfaction, and then at Ron beside him.
"This is the kid you're talking about. Do you need me to order him a glass of milk?"
Hughes said mockingly, obviously he still didn't look down on a teenage brat.
"Didn't you hear what Mr. Hughes said? A glass of hot milk."
Regulus Black said to the waiter dressed as a maid who was watching the show, and someone immediately went to prepare hot milk.
He pulled Ron out from behind and pressed him into the position opposite Hughes.
Regulus Black took out a roll of one-pound notes from his pocket, obviously prepared.
"There's not much money here! It's exactly one hundred pounds. How about we start with one pound a round?"
Regulus Black placed a whole roll of money on the table and looked at Hughes provocatively.
"It seems you are very confident! Blake, who is he to you?"
Hughes leaned back in his chair and began to take the child in front of him seriously.
"I told you, it's my distant cousin, Ron Weasley. Remember this name, and you will find that you did not lose unfairly."
Regulus Black said very confidently, remember this name! You will be Ron's first stepping stone.
The hot milk had been delivered, and Ron took a sip nervously. He was surrounded by onlookers who heard the sound, and they were all discussing in whispers how far this seemingly nervous child could go with Hughes. .
"Kid! Or should I call you Mr. Weasley? Have you ever played chess?"
Hughes began to overthrow the previous endgame and began to rearrange the positions of the pieces.
"Yes, we play it often at home, but the chess pieces are a little different."
Ron also began to sort out the chess pieces on his side. What he said was different. He meant that wizard chess was very violent and could break the opponent's chess pieces, while chess in the Muggle world did not have such changes. .
However, when the opponent heard these words, he thought that the so-called difference was because he had never used such advanced chess tools.
After all, the facilities in this club are first-class, and the chess set in front of them is a complete set of black and white crystal products.
Regulus Black said nothing after that. He believed that Ron knew what to say and what not to say. After all, the Wizarding Secrecy Act was not a joke. The Ministry of Magic strictly enforced this law. Children in the wizarding world know that this is the bottom line, and anyone who steps on it will bear the consequences.
Both of them tried by playing fast chess. The timer next to them was pressed by the two people in turn, like a swaying tumbler. In less than 5 minutes, the tumbler stopped.
"General! I win."
Ron smiled and picked up the already cold milk and continued to drink it.
The people around started talking. Everyone saw the chess moves of the two people just now. They just watched Hughes lose to Ron. This process was too fast.
Hughes stared at Ron's face for a long time, then took out a card from his pocket.
"Waiter! Bring me one hundred pounds in change."
As a long-term member of the club, you withdraw some small money to play some games. This is not gambling. The club is not a casino. How can there be gambling? It's just some gentlemen's entertainment.
Soon, the same roll of one hundred pound notes was placed next to Hughes. He took out a pound and pushed it in front of Ron.
"You got lucky today, but I'll win it back."
Ron looked up at Regulus Black, then placed the pound under his roll of money.
The chess game continued in the club from noon to evening, Regulus Black's roll of money being unopened, and Hughes's roll of one hundred pounds having been spent.
"Congratulations, Ron! You became famous in one battle. There is still a long way to go, but we can have dinner first and then think about the rest."
Regulus Black picked up the winning pound and took Ron to the club's restaurant, leaving Hughes alone in a daze.