Chapter 51. The Second Attack.
"Professor Fawkes?"
"Yes." George withdrew his leg that had just stepped into the secret passage.
"I know you usually get along well with Professor Fawkes, Lynn, but I have to tell you, he really has some problems." He said seriously.
Fred continued George's words.
"We noticed something was wrong with him when school started, through the Marauder's Map. He was wandering around the castle almost every night, and it went on for a long time."
"Yes," George said, "During that time we didn't even dare to go out at night, afraid of running into him in the castle."
Lynn looked at them suspiciously, feeling that what he said was somewhat inconsistent with their personalities.
"Shouldn't you two be bold enough to investigate the truth behind Professor Fawkes's strange behavior in this situation?
Why are you too scared to go for a night walk?"
George and Fred laughed awkwardly, and it was George who finally spoke.
"You really know us. Well, I admit we tried to follow Professor Fawkes at night to see what he was doing in the castle, but every time we were about to follow him, Filch would suddenly appear. Although he couldn't catch us, we didn't dare to take the risk anymore."
Lynn lowered his head and thought for a moment, feeling that this was too much of a coincidence.
"And recently? Has he been coming out at night again?"
"No." Fred shook his head, thought for a moment, and said, "He hasn't been coming out at night since before the Christmas holidays."
"Thank you, I'll remember what you said." Lynn thanked them sincerely.
The Weasley brothers said goodbye to Lynn and went into the secret passage to go to Hogsmeade to do their shopping.
Lynn continued searching for the Room of Requirement, while thinking about what the two brothers had just told him. Finally, he smiled, shook his head, and stopped thinking about it.
At the beginning of the semester, Professor Fawkes frankly admitted that he had secrets, just like Lynn did.
Lynn didn't want to pry into Professor Fawkes's secrets, nor did he want anyone else to.
At least he was certain that since meeting Professor Fawkes, he had never intended to harm him; in fact, he had helped him a lot.
Therefore, the Weasley brothers' words did not shake Lynn's impression of Professor Fawkes.
He still thought of him as a lovable and respectable old man.
...
Mealtimes were when Lynn met with Cedric and Ian.
During dinner, Cedric told Lynn some news he had just learned.
"Raphael was discharged this afternoon.
Madam Pomfrey cured all his dark spells, but she couldn't cure your shaving curse. The hair-growth potion is rather unorthodox, the school infirmary didn't have any on hand, and Professor Snape didn't have the materials to concoct it either. So he had to leave with a shaved head."
Lynn was drinking pumpkin juice when Cedric's words made him choke.
"Cough cough cough, that's really unfortunate."
Ian retorted expressionlessly, "If you weren't smiling, at least it would seem more genuine."
"Who said I smiled? I was clearly feeling sorry for him." Lynn's explanation was so pale and weak.
"You'd better be careful," Cedric said worriedly, looking at him. "Although he wasn't removed from his position as prefect, he was put in confinement for a month. When he came out of the school hospital, he threatened to teach you a lesson in front of many people."
Lynn curled his lip. "Him? He might not even get his revenge on me before I send him back to the school hospital."
As soon as he finished speaking, Professor McGonagall ran to the Great Hall with a grim expression.
"Everyone stay in the Great Hall! No one is allowed to leave! Female prefects of each house, keep an eye on your students! Male prefects, immediately find your students! You must find every single one of them!"
"Hans Boscote, Slytherin, Professor Snape is appointing you as Prefect in place of Raphael Williamson."
A commotion erupted in the Great Hall. Prefects from all houses immediately rose to obey Professor McGonagall's instructions. The prefectresses comforted the young wizards remaining in the Great Hall, while the prefects hurried out.
Cedric and Ian simultaneously turned to look at Lynn, their gazes strange.
Lynn stared at them, bewildered.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
Ian's eyes were fixed on him. "Did you do it?"
"What did I do?" "
Professor McGonagall's words just now clearly implied that something happened to Raphael," Cedric calmly analyzed.
"So what does this have to do with your suspicions about me?" "Lynn is completely innocent now."
" You just said you were going to send him to the school hospital." Ian listed Lynn's statement.
"I just...I..."
"Just what?"
"Never mind, I'm not telling you guys. Anyway, I didn't do it. Even if I had a motive, I didn't have the time to commit the crime!" "
Not long after Professor McGonagall issued his orders, young wizards who hadn't been in the Great Hall began to return.
News of what had happened in the castle also reached the Great Hall.
Another attack!
The victim was none other than Raphael, who had just been discharged from the hospital less than half a day ago!
And he looked exactly like Hubert, tortured with a Heart-Piercing Charm near the Slytherin common room, ultimately having his memory erased.
The news spread rapidly among the young wizards, and the rumors that had been suppressed resurfaced.
"It's happening again, another attack by a dark wizard! The killer has never left; he's always been among us!"
"Is there even a question of who it is? Hubert still hasn't returned to us, and now even Raphael is dead. Who will be next? You? Or me!" "
Adrian Fawkes! He doesn't deserve to be called a professor! How could he be so cruel to his own students! The Aurors from the Ministry of Magic didn't arrest him last time, which led to this tragedy!"
Lynn and the others had lost their appetite. Cedric whispered.
"Professor Fawkes' situation looks very bad now."
Even Ian nodded.
"Unless the real culprit is caught, even without evidence, with so many people pointing the finger, he will definitely be taken away by the Ministry of Magic for a special investigation."
The wave of condemnation against Professor Fawkes from the young wizards grew louder and louder, and even a Slytherin student shouted at Professor McGonagall, who remained in the Great Hall.
"Professor McGonagall, I don't think it's necessary to have the other professors search for a non-existent murderer in the castle.
Where is Professor Fawkes now?" "The most important thing to do now is to subdue him!"
"Go back! Sit down! You don't need to worry about these things! Professor Dumbledore will be back soon!"
Professor McGonagall said coldly to the Slytherin student.
She had also heard the rumors circulating among the students, but she was now anxious and unable to even testify for Fawkes.
Because Fawkes had disappeared while Raphael was being attacked!
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(End of Chapter)