For the next five days, the Daily Prophet was not late once.
Every morning, at least a dozen owls would burst through the curtain of rain above Hogwarts and slam soaked newspapers into porridge bowls in the Great Hall.
The students no longer cried out in surprise.
They simply fished the newspapers out of their cereal, spread them across the table, and read increasingly terrible news while chewing cold toast.
Daily Prophet
June 5 Front Page: London Attacked by Dark Wizards Again
Reported by Barnabas Cuffe
At 8:20 last night, Dark wizard activity once again appeared near the River Thames in London. This is the third case of Dark wizard activity within England in the past three weeks, and the first to occur in a densely populated Muggle area.
According to eyewitnesses, a massive explosion occurred near the South Bank and could be clearly seen from several kilometers away.
The Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes swiftly dispatched Obliviator teams to cover three nearby blocks and carry out emergency treatment on Muggle witnesses.
No casualties have been reported so far, but an unnamed Ministry official privately told this paper that "the continuous sudden incidents do not resemble coincidences. They look more like organized intimidation."
The Ministry has raised the national alert level from Level Two to Level Three, with Level Five being the highest.
Britain's representative to the International Confederation of Wizards will submit an internal report next week concerning Britain's recent extraordinary magical security incidents. This is the first time since the defeat of You-Know-Who that Britain has been forced to formally explain domestic Dark Magic activity before the international community.
June 6.
The practical Charms exam was scheduled for today.
The examination site was set outside the castle, in a clearing at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
Before the exam began, Professor Flitwick stood at the edge of the testing ground.
His height was not enough for everyone to see him, but no one would ignore his wand. The tip of it shone constantly with a cool blue light.
During the exam, Sean completed a Shield Charm beyond third-year requirements and reflected the Jelly-Legs Jinx Professor Flitwick fired at him.
Flitwick collected the spell with his wand, fell silent for a moment, then quietly said,
"Outstanding, Mr. Green. You may finish early."
When he walked out of the testing ground, he saw a Gryffindor witch, Lavender Brown, crying on a bench by the entrance.
"Her mother works in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Yesterday, she was temporarily transferred into an Auror support team. The letter Lavender received says her mother hasn't replied in three days. Ah, and she still has her Herbology exam tomorrow—"
Parvati Patil and her sister Padma Patil walked past Sean, and he heard their quiet conversation.
He stood at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, silently watching the two sisters sit beside Lavender, accompanying her with a hug and a packet of Chocolate Frogs that had almost been crushed.
The next day, June 7, the Daily Prophet arrived as scheduled before the exams.
Werewolf Attacks Draw Closer; Several Wizarding Families in Central England Evacuated Urgently
Reported by Rita Skeeter
According to an emergency notice issued late last night by the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, the range of activity of werewolf packs has expanded significantly toward central England over the past week.
Multiple wizarding families in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Nottinghamshire have received evacuation notices. This is the first large-scale preventive evacuation launched due to the threat of werewolf packs since the establishment of the British Ministry of Magic.
A spokesperson for the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures stated at last night's press briefing that there is now "sufficient evidence" indicating that werewolf groups are carrying out coordinated actions under the organization of Fenrir Greyback.
When asked whether other dark forces were involved in the coordination, the spokesperson refused to comment.
The evacuation list includes the families of at least four Hogwarts students, two of whom are Muggle-born students whose parents have been taken into the care of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes during the evacuation process.
This paper notes that more than ten Hogwarts students currently have direct relatives in St. Mungo's Hospital, frontline Ministry posts, or on evacuation lists.
This means that across Hogwarts Castle, nearly every student knows someone being affected by this "unofficial war."
The Herbology exam was held in the greenhouses.
Outside, it was raining again.
As Sean reached into the soil to transplant Scent-Illusion Grass, a suppressed sob suddenly came from the worktable beside him. A Hufflepuff girl had received a note delivered by owl. Her hands were trembling badly, and soil slipped between her fingers.
Professor Sprout walked over, crouched down, and gently pressed her rough hand on the girl's shoulder.
Sean could not hear what Professor Sprout said, but he saw the girl's lips tremble. He saw her crumple the note into a ball and shove it into her pocket. He saw her pick up the shovel again and fill the pot of Scent-Illusion Grass with soil.
The entire process lasted no more than forty seconds.
No one asked what had happened.
Everyone pretended they had not seen the muddy water mixed with tears dripping from her sleeve.
June 9.
Early that morning, Sean was supposed to take the Transfiguration exam.
But the cries of shock rising and falling through the Great Hall stopped him.
He slowly opened his magic hand mirror and looked at the Daily Prophet section.
Giant Attack on Wizarding Family Farm—Retired Auror Marcus McGonagall, Wife, and Daughter Injured
He looked up. Professor McGonagall was not at the staff table.
Her seat was empty. The plate in front of it had not been touched, and the napkin was still folded neatly.
Rita Skeeter's style was as sharp as ever.
The attack occurred at midnight yesterday. The McGonagall family farm, located in the suburbs of London, was attacked by at least three giants.
The west wing of the farmhouse's main building was completely destroyed, and the livestock shed was razed to the ground.
Marcus McGonagall was struck by a boulder thrown by a giant during the confrontation and suffered multiple fractures. He is currently receiving treatment at St. Mungo's Hospital.
His wife and daughter suffered minor injuries and have already been discharged. According to this paper's sources, nearby Muggles have recorded the incident as a "natural gas pipeline explosion," and the Scottish Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes is carrying out joint memory modifications.
Additionally, Professor Minerva McGonagall was performing teaching duties at Hogwarts when the attack occurred and was unable to return in time.
She arrived at St. Mungo's Hospital at dawn the next day and refused to comment when questioned by Aurors outside the hospital ward. This paper will continue to follow this matter.
Sean silently closed the Daily Prophet section, then opened another communication.
[Sean Green: How are things lately?]
[Sirius Black: Respected Mr. Green, good morning. I must say, those idiots are acting like they've been put under the Imperius Curse. They keep provoking the Ministry, and the fools at the Ministry—what response do they have? They have no response at all!
They have no idea what is happening, nor do they understand the severity of the situation—damn it.]
[Remus Lupin: We have dealt with that group of giants, but what is unsettling is that there are probably more than just those. The terrorist attacks they intend to launch are probably not limited to these few incidents either.]
[Sean Green: I understand. Mr. Sirius, Mr. Lupin, please do everything you can to reduce casualties.]
[Sirius Black: As we should.]
Putting away the magic hand mirror, Sean looked into the distance.
The far sky was gray and misty, stained with rain fog.
Since that night, Lupin and Sirius had been participating in the pursuit of Voldemort.
Sometimes, they were also responsible for coordinating with Lucius.
Through them, Sean could clearly know the process by which Voldemort had completely gone mad.
Inevitably, he had hidden himself.
The better news was that, so long as he had to ensure his own safety, he did not dare show himself personally.
That meant the damage caused by those Dark wizards or dark creatures was limited.
But even if it was limited, it was enough to throw the entire wizarding world into panic.
And—
there had been casualties.
Sean silently left the corridor and merged into the crowd.
For most young wizards, the final two exams were Divination and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Sean and Hermione also had Muggle Studies.
Sean, Hermione, and Justin walked up the marble staircase together. Hermione parted from them there, while Sean and Justin climbed all the way to the eighth floor.
Many students were sitting on the spiral staircase leading to Professor Trelawney's classroom, hoping to cram at the last moment.
"She's seeing us one by one."
Neville was pacing at the door. Sean and the others walked over and sat beside him.
Neville had his copy of Unfogging the Future open on his lap, turned to the chapter on crystal balls.
"Have you ever seen anything in a crystal ball?"
he asked in distress.
"No."
Justin said helplessly.
The queue outside the classroom shortened very slowly. Whenever someone came down the silver ladder, the other students would whisper,
"What did she ask? Was it alright?"
But none of them would say.
"She said the crystal ball told her that if I told anyone, a great disaster would happen!"
Neville said from the ladder to Sean and Justin. By then, the two of them had reached the landing.
"I hope it can be over soon—"
Justin said softly.
Then the door opened.
Parvati came down with a face glowing with pride.
"She said I possess all the qualifications of a true Seer,"
she told Justin.
"I saw so many things—alright, good luck—to you both!"
She looked at Sean with not much confidence, then hurried down the spiral staircase toward Lavender.
"Justin Finch-Fletchley!"
The familiar, dreamy voice came from above.
Justin paused slightly, climbed the silver ladder, and disappeared.
Now only a few people were still waiting for the exam.
Sean sat on the ground with his back against the wall and opened the exam schedule.
Finally, about twenty minutes later, Justin appeared on the ladder again.
Sean did not ask, but Justin guessed what he wanted to ask.
"I think it was a complete mess,"
Justin said.
"I didn't see anything, but the nonsense I made up seemed to satisfy the professor—"
Professor Trelawney's voice was already calling,
"Mr. Sean Green!"
The room at the top of the tower was hotter than ever. The curtains were all drawn, the fireplace was lit, and the usual choking incense made Sean uncomfortable.
He moved around the disorderly tables and chairs and walked toward Professor Trelawney, who was seated before a large crystal ball.
"Hello, my dear,"
she said softly.
"Please look into this crystal ball—take your time—and tell me what you see—"
Sean leaned forward and gazed into the crystal ball, staring at it and thinking that perhaps it could show him something besides the swirling white mist.
However, there was nothing.
He could not help thinking back to his own gift for prophecy.
It was a large red color, which meant Legendary.
Then he thought of the slightly opened Inner Eye.
Outside the Borderland, could it reveal anything to him?
Even the location of the next terrorist attack?
"How is it?"
Professor Trelawney asked gently.
"Respected Mr. Green, what do you see?"
The room was unbearably hot, and the smoke from the nearby fireplace made Sean feel even worse.
Sean looked carefully for a long time, confirming that nothing was happening.
He sighed almost imperceptibly, then decided to start making things up according to the book.
At that very moment, Professor Trelawney suddenly froze in place.
Sean saw Professor Trelawney sitting rigidly in the armchair, her eyes unfocused, her mouth open.
Sean was extremely surprised. Was the professor about to make another prophecy?
He stood quietly in place and listened carefully to Professor Trelawney. It was still that harsh voice, completely different from her usual one.
"The dividing line has been blurred—those things are returning. No longer cold stones, no longer deep carvings—the mist is getting closer and closer. His will shall be obeyed when it is needed most—and so, the Void Talisman shatters, and the Legend appears—"
Professor Trelawney's head dropped onto her chest, and she made a rumbling, snoring sound.
Then, just like last time, her head lifted again.
"Did I—fall asleep again?"
she muttered.
"Sorry, my dear. Your exam was just now, wasn't it—oh, I believe that would be full marks—"
When Sean came out of the Divination classroom,
his mind was heavy.
Another prophecy.
The centaur teacher had told him that insignificant pain, the trivial accidents of human beings, compared with the vast universe, were as meaningless as crawling ants and were not affected by the movement of planets.
Observing the sky was to pay attention to important signs of great disasters or changes. Sometimes, those signs were marked in the heavens.
And common prophecy magic was an early description of such great changes.
The blurred dividing line—the returning things—the obeyed will—
Sean only knew one thing. If the prophecy said the Void Talisman would shatter, then he had better ask clearly in the Borderland why it would shatter.
Fortunately, today was rainy and misty.
After lunch, Sean finally saw the acting Defense Against the Dark Arts professor during the Defense Against the Dark Arts exam.
He was a hooded man.
After Sean entered the classroom alone, the hooded man quietly lowered his hood.
In this way, Sean could see that handsome, joyful, wild face.
He had indeed aged greatly, but there was no wizard who would fail to recognize that face.
"Hello, Mr. Grindelwald."
Sean instinctively greeted him politely.