Xiao Hei: …Where Are They?

Amid the shimmering ripples, the Auror seemed to see a human face!

No… it did not merely seem that way!!!

Once he confirmed that there truly was a pale face in the water, all color drained from the Auror’s own face. He wanted to scream, only to realize he had lost his voice.

Overwhelmed by extreme terror, the Auror could only force his barely movable fingers to pinch his thigh hard, trying to make himself move.

"What’s wrong?"

His companion noticed that something was off and asked with a frown.

"…"

Having regained control of his body—and finally gotten a clear look at that face—the Auror swallowed.

"Nothing."

Seeing his expression, the mermaid whose head had emerged from the water gave a lovely smile, and the Auror’s face instantly turned bright red.

Her skin was fairer than moonlight and looked soft enough to break at a touch. Water droplets constantly slid from her hair onto her skin, and her glancing eyes shone brighter than the glittering waves.

As though bewitched, the Auror leaned his entire upper body out of the boat, wanting to embrace the mermaid. Before his companion could stop him, he watched helplessly as the man plunged into the Black Lake with a splash.

His companion: ???

No, were you really that nostalgic for the Black Lake? You had to jump in for a swim right now?

There was still a mission to complete!

He hurried to the side of the boat. Before the worry on his face could fade, he saw the man floating on the lake’s surface, kissing a figure as they slowly sank beneath the water together…

!!!

What… was going on?

Before he could make out what was happening over there, the sound of water below made him instinctively lower his head, only to meet a pair of curious emerald eyes.

As the other party slowly emerged from the water, a face so beautiful that words could not describe it forcefully filled his vision and his heart. Then came a slender neck, smooth shoulders…

He could not help covering his mouth and nose. Only two thoughts remained in his mind—

The legends were true. There really were mermaids in the Black Lake!

The legends were false. So mermaids… did not wear shells!

Splash—

Splash—

At first, Scrimgeour thought it was the wind-driven waves striking the boats, or fish in the Black Lake making noise. But the similar sounds became increasingly frequent, and behind him, it sounded like vegetables being tossed into a pot of soup.

He turned around in confusion, only to discover that of the seven boats behind them, only three still had people on them.

"Where are they?"

Scrimgeour’s heart clenched.

"What?"

The Auror behind Scrimgeour turned to look as well and discovered that the people on four boats had vanished. Every hair on his body stood on end.

The mermaids had acted from back to front, so no one had seen those ahead of them jump into the lake. Besides, the boats they rode in were fairly small, and they made plenty of noise as they traveled across the Black Lake. Coupled with everyone’s nerves…

No one had suspected anything had happened behind them the entire way!

"Where did everyone go?"

"In a place like this, where else could they have gone besides falling into the lake?"

"But there wasn’t any other commotion. Even if the Giant Squid dragged them into the lake, there should have been cries for help, right?"

"How about… we jump in and take a look?"

"…"

So many people had disappeared just like that. Who would still dare jump into the lake?

The group fell completely silent, watching one another in fear that someone else might vanish.

"Once we get ashore, we’ll find Gandalf."

Scrimgeour finally announced his decision, making everyone breathe a sigh of relief.

As long as they were not being asked to jump in and rescue people now. Besides, Gandalf could not possibly just kill Aurors from the Ministry of Magic, could he?

And they had heard that killing was forbidden during this festival at Hogwarts!

After disembarking, they stared as though facing a great enemy at the stretch of woods they had to pass through before reaching Hogwarts Castle, as if monsters that ate people lurked within.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk… Hurry up. There’s nothing else before the final boss battle."

Adam closed his eyes. If these guys dawdled any longer, they would be singing "Unforgettable Tonight" over here.

In the end, Scrimgeour took the lead and brought everyone straight through the woods to the lawn before Hogwarts Castle, earning admiring looks from the Aurors.

"Let’s go."

Scrimgeour’s expression was dreadful. The Ministry of Magic had humiliated itself beyond measure along the way!

Intent on demanding answers, Scrimgeour raised his hand and fired a spell at the gates of Hogwarts Castle. Only afterward did he remember that the gates might have protective magic that reflected spells, and hurriedly prepared himself.

Yet the castle gates did not reflect his spell.

"Heh, so everything before was just a bluff…"

Before Scrimgeour could finish speaking, a fierce gust suddenly blew in from ahead. Even as he shut his eyes and raised his arm to block it, the mounting force of the wind swept him off his feet.

"Armor…!"

The immense wind pressure made even opening his mouth to breathe somewhat difficult. Scrimgeour’s spellcasting was interrupted, so he decisively cast a silent Shield Charm—but it was ripped apart by the gale within seconds.

The wind grew stronger! And it was still getting stronger!

His body was nearly helpless as it was swept into the air. Thunder rumbled in his ears, biting cold and scorching heat continuously brushed past him, and countless droplets pelted his body…

Scrimgeour’s mind was in utter chaos. Had he been swept into a tornado?

A tornado suddenly appearing on a calm night?

And right outside Hogwarts Castle?

Was he crazy, or had the world gone crazy?

As that final thought flashed through his mind, Scrimgeour completely lost consciousness.

Having returned to his full size, Xiao Hei released the energy he had suppressed within his body and let out a joyous roar. Then, with one beat of his wings, his massive body soared into the sky, his dragon wings directly blotting out the entire firmament!

With a flick of his tail, Xiao Hei landed atop the shield surrounding Hogwarts Castle. He lowered his head toward the lawn before the castle, black smoke flecked with sparks spilling from the corners of his mouth…

Hm?

His downward motion paused slightly, and confusion flashed through those ferocious golden vertical pupils.

Where were they?

Hadn’t Father said the people were on the lawn in front of the castle?

Xiao Hei crawled forward a little and lowered his head again. The castle gates in his vision were upside down, but the direction was right… Had he remembered wrong? Was this actually the back entrance?

Xiao Hei clung to the shield over the castle, changed directions, and looked again. There was still no one there.

Xiao Hei tilted his head in confusion.

"…No, never mind. Put the energy away. You did very well. Tonight, I’ll let you eat your favorite nuclear reactor."

Adam suddenly appeared atop Xiao Hei’s head. Holding his forehead with one hand, he spoke with difficulty.

"It was my fault. I shouldn’t have pursued such a realistic and cool entrance. I could have solved it with an Illusion Card… But if I used an Illusion Card, why not just use illusions for everything? It would have no soul at all…"

Xiao Hei could not understand what Father was muttering about. He only knew that he would get another good meal. Though having to suppress his energy again so soon made him a little unhappy, he obediently did as he was told.