Chapter 105: Hidden Truth

Professor, why would I want to find Black?! Harry asked slowly in a skeptical tone. He escaped from Azkaban to kill me, didnt he? He came to find me and get his revenge for Voldemort, isnt that the case?

Yes, thats the way it is. Prof. Lupins expression was somewhat unnatural. He subconsciously avoided Harrys gaze.

But that is certainly not the whole truth. I can feel that you are hiding something from me! Harry continued staring at Professor Lupin.

Theres nothing at all

Professor, Im not a child anymore! Harry said quickly, You once told me that you were my fathers friend, and that you were also very familiar with Black. You must know something! Why does Black want to kill me? Why do you want me not to look for him?

Hearing Harry, Professor Lupin went silent for a moment, then said: Harry, there are things that I shouldnt tell you. I dont have such qualification.

So you just avoid me and say nothing, as if I were a fool! Harry took a deep breath and said in a lost, sad voice. Professor, when the Dementors approached me, I saw and heard something, you know?

Professor Lupin shook his head and looked worried.

I could hear my mother screaming and entreating Voldemort. If you heard my mother screaming like that before being killed, you wouldnt forget it. Harrys eyes were red I can feel it, Professor; Black has something to do with my parents death! Malfoy once told me: If I were you, I would choose revenge. I would find him by myself!

Harry, Malfoy was talking nonsense Hermione said worried.

No, he must have known something. Harry shouted, looking back at Professor Lupin. Please Professor, tell me the truth, for my parents!

Professor Lupins expression was very sad. Harrys words greatly touched him. He looked at Harry and vaguely seemed to see his former friend, James.

I need to talk to you alone, Harry! Lupin sighed. Youre right. We shouldnt keep it from you. If his son doesnt know about Sirius, James will be disappointed.

Lupin led Harry to his office. Evan, Hermione, and Ron stood in the dark hall following them with their eyes anxiously.

Evan, what do you think Professor Lupin would say to Harry? asked Hermione.

Anything about his parents past is possible. Evan thought for a moment and didnt know how much Lupin was going to tell Harry. He was afraid that Harry wouldnt take it well at that time.

Well, can you wait for Harry in the Common room? I still feel that theres something wrong. Hermione said in an uncertain tone. Ron and I will go to Hogsmeade to buy everyones Christmas gifts.

Im going to look for Scabbers! Ron, who hadnt spoken yet, suddenly talked, with a dull and monotonous tone.

Ron?! Hermione wanted to tell Ron not to worry about his rat and that it would be back by itself.

But when she saw Rons appearance, she hesitated and said nothing.

Because of Crookshanks, she felt very awkward dealing with the rats issue.

Im going to look for Scabbers! Ron repeated again, not caring about Evan and Hermiones reaction, he then went back to the tower.

Under the torchlight, his silhouette seemed extremely gloomy and strange.

Evan frowned and looked at Ron. The latters behaviour was too unusual today. Whether it was when facing Snape or Professor Lupin, he was too calm and different from the Ron that he knew.

And how did Ron know that the parchment was the Marauders Map?!

Whats the matter with Ron?! Hermione said in surprise.

I cant go to Hogsmeade alone. There are so many things to buy. I wont be able to handle it!

If you do not mind, I can accompany you, Hermione, Evan suggested.

No, Evan, you will be discovered by professors.

I dont think so. Ive been there many times and Im very familiar with the Hogsmeade stores. I just have to avoid being noticed by Filch. Evan picked up the schoolbag in his hand. Moreover, Harrys invisibility cloak is still here.

But

Hermione was hesitant. She knew that Evan had been to Hogsmeade many times before, and that unlike Harry, Evan didnt have to worry about Sirius Black and the Dementors.

Since there was not much risk, and he would not be discovered by professors, it seemed that she had no real reason to oppose it.

Although it might violate school rules, Hermione was no longer as strict as she used to be when she first entered school. After all, she couldnt even count the times that she violated the rules herself.

Hermiones also had a strange feeling deep down in her heart that she could not tell.

She hoped that Evan could accompany her to Hogsmeade, especially on Christmas Eve.

Ill take the secret passage beneath the one-eyed witch statue on the third floor, Hermione. Evan said in a relaxed tone. The secret passage leads to the Honeydukes Sweetshop. You can wait for me there. See you soon!

Evan left the hall and quickly walked behind the one-eyed witch statue on the third floor. He looked around in the hallway and didnt find any one besides him.

Dissendium! Evan gently knocked on the stone witch.

The hump on the statue immediately opened just wide enough for a small person to slide down to the hidden passageway.

Evan climbed into the hole and then moved forward.

Compared with this narrow secret passage, he preferred the more spacious one behind the large mirror on the Fourth floor. He passed through that passage to Hogsmeade last semester.

But just a few days after the start of the school year, Fred and George told him that the secret passage collapsed and was completely blocked. Now, among all the routes in the castle that lead to Hogsmeade, the one hes taking now was the only one left thats unknown to Filch.

Evan slipped a long way forward. This road was just like a stone slide. Then he fell into a cold, damp land.

He stood up and looked around, and found only darkness.

Lumos! Evan raised his wand.

The path in front of his eyes was curved, it was no different from a rabbits tunnel.

Evan hurriedly walked, and because of the unevenness of the ground, he was staggering from time to time. He held his wand in front of him all the way.

About an hour later, Evan reached the bottom of a broken stairs, and found that the stone steps stretched out to where he could not see.

He rested for a while, gasped, and began to climb upwards. One hundred, two hundred steps, Evan climbed the stairs, putting all his attention on his feet. After over three thousand steps, he slammed into something hard.

It was a floor door. Evan pushed it open and climbed out.

When he came out of the floor door, he smelled a strong odor of blood, as if there was a dead body hidden in the cellar.