Chapter 51: Chance encounter

　　 Matthew Wickfield’s mood can be said to be terrible.
　　 He had guessed that the book might be scary, but he didn't expect it to be so scary!
　　 What Slughorn said just now can be completely matched with his previous experience.
Hogwarts does have certain precautions against black magic items, and also has strict restrictions on space rules... So the book went to the "House of Requests"; and according to some descriptions in the original works of previous lives, although the House of Requests is in Inside Hogwarts, it will not be bound by many Hogwarts rules!
　　At the same time, Slughorn said that the true mystery is impossible to escape...So no matter what method he uses, it is almost impossible to "throw away" the book. It is always in the shadows.
As for Slughorn’s judgment, it was an extremely weak mysterious black magic item that attacked Malfoy... His guess is very likely to be completely opposite to the fact... It is precisely because the book is too powerful. In order to escape their search and arrest at that time, he successfully escaped to the "House of Request".
　　 So, what should I do?
　　 Matthew had originally planned to escape the truth from Horace Slughorn. Then, I hope that the potions teacher can help myself and completely get rid of this threat.
　　 But what Slughorn said directly made him retreat... Could it be that he really let the Slytherin chief kill himself?
　　 and Slughorn’s tone directly gave Matthew a sense of despair...
　　 If that book is really that terrifying, wouldn't it be sure to die?
　　 Or, worse, to get into what Slughorn said was a terrifying ending than death?
　　No...no...no...
　　 hasn't reached that point, Matthew desperately comforted himself.
　　 He recalled what Slughorn had said earlier:
　　 "You can only pray that you will never encounter something like that unless you are a powerful wizard like Professor Grindelwald."
　　 Does the meaning of this sentence mean that if you become a powerful wizard like Gellert Grindelwald, you don't have to fear that book?
　　 should mean this...so, my own ending is not completely doomed yet.
　　 should be... should be...
　　……
　　 In the dark hallway, Matthew shook his head, not allowing himself to continue his thoughts.
　　 looked down at his watch, it was too late, and it was about to pass ten o'clock... That would have exceeded the light-off time, which was considered a violation of school rules.
　　 went down the marble steps, and he began to step into the basement.
　　 The corridor in the basement was there, and it looked extremely long and gloomy in the darkness.
　　 I can hear some weird sounds from time to time. Of course, this may just be an illusion caused by the wind.
　　 The torch on the stone wall also appeared extremely weak, and could not even illuminate the road ahead.
　　 Matthew took out his black walnut wand from his waist, and gently raised the wand with his left hand:
　　 "Fluorescence blinking (Lumos)!"
　　 he sang softly.
　　 A faint light lit up from the end of his wand, suddenly illuminating the road ahead of him.
　　 The spells taught by Professor Felius Flitwick in the spell class two weeks ago, although simple, are often very practical.
　　 But just as Matthew passed the door of the potions class—
　　 It seems... there is a sound?
　　 Matthew pricked his ears slightly.
　　 Yes, there is a sound!
　　 came from the potions classroom.
　　 Although it is very small, but this time Matthew can judge that it is definitely not an illusion caused by wind.
Who will 　　 be?
　　 Horace Slughorn, the teacher of the Potions class is excluded first. The old man had just said goodbye to Matthew in his office, and he had no reason to suddenly appear in the potions classroom.
　　So... is it another teacher who came to his classroom to fetch things with Slughorn's permission?
　　 Still saying... Someone is stealing something inside?
　　 Or... the murderer who attacked Ronald Weasley before?
　　 But Matthew did not turn around, and continued to walk forward at a steady pace, as if he had never heard the sound.
　　 No matter who is in the potions classroom right now, it has nothing to do with him!
　　 At the same time, he also pricked up his ears very cautiously...Fortunately, the sound seemed to stop abruptly.
　　 Just when I walked through this corridor and turned into the next passage
　　 "Who is it?" A stern voice suddenly sounded from behind Ma Xiu.
　　 The voice is full of alertness.
　　……
　　 A familiar young female voice is undoubtedly the voice that Matthew Wickfield would not want to hear.
　　 "It's me...Matthew Wickfield!" He turned around and stammered:
　　 "Professor Rozier..."
　　Vita Rozier, the vice principal of Hogwarts, came step by step from behind.
　　 For a while, Matthew couldn't tell whether she came out of the potions classroom or came out of other places.
　　 But the way Professor Rozier walked, he became limp, as if he had been injured.
　　 When she got closer, Matthew found that her hair was a bit messy, and her face was uncertain, she didn't have the grace of the past.
　　 "Wickfield?" Professor Rozier snapped, "Why are you again?"
　　Matthew actually wanted to ask this question too.
　　 Hogwarts as a whole, the person he fears most is undoubtedly the Vice President Professor Rozier.
　　 On weekdays, he also tried his best to avoid her.
　　 But unexpectedly, I met her many times inexplicably...
　　 "I..." Matthew opened his mouth.
　　 Then he found out that Professor Rozier was pressing hard at him.
　　 Her beautiful face suddenly became a little distorted, even a little hideous.
　　 Matthew took a few steps back in shock and kept his back against the wall.
What should I do……
　　 What if Professor Rozier suddenly attacked himself?
　　 So what should I do?
　　 Matthew glanced at the wand in his right hand. The only offensive spell he could use was the Petrification Spell... In the Defense Against the Dark Arts class not long ago, Professor Rozier taught him.
　　 Matthew didn't think that this spell would work for the opponent now.
　　Professor Rozier is getting closer, and her slightly distorted face has become clearer.
　　 Matthew suddenly saw that in Professor Rozier's eyes, there was a faint red light, blood-like red light.
　　 Could it be that...
　　 Matthew has no time to think about it.
　　 chanted the petrification mantra in his heart: "PetrificusTotalus!"
　　 Just when he was about to yell this spell--
　　 "Is Professor Rozier there?" Another familiar voice came from not far away.
　　……
　　 The red light in Professor Rozier's eyes disappeared, and she turned around and stopped looking at Matthew.
　　 The familiar figure in the dark also slowly appeared in Matthew's sight.
　　 "Oh, and Wakefield!" Professor Edward Troca blinked and looked at Matthew.
　　Professor Troca’s face looked better than usual, not so pale, and not so haggard...
　　 or because of the weak lights in the aisles at night.
　　 "I'm very curious, Wickfield, why are you here?" Professor Troka asked with interest.
　　Matthew noticed that the transformation teacher had already taken the wand in his hand.
　　 "I am also very curious about this, so I am asking this question to Wakefield!" Professor Rozier said coldly.
　　 The twisted and hideous look of anger on her face seemed to disappear, replaced by the usual coldness.
　　 Professor Troka's appearance made Matthew breathe a sigh of relief.
　　 It seems that no matter whether my guess is correct, I will be fine tonight.
　　 "I just attended Professor Slughorn's Slug Club dinner..." he explained quickly.
　　 "The slug club dinner usually ends before nine o'clock in the evening!" Professor Rozier said coldly.
　　 Her eyes glared at Matthew again. At that moment, Matthew seemed to see the blood-like red light again.
"That's it." Matthew continued to explain, "Because my watch was forgotten in Professor Slughorn's office, when I went back to get the watch, I remembered some interesting things, so I went to Slughorn. Professor Ghoun asked for some advice, so the final time was a bit late."
　　 "So that's it!" Professor Troca looked at Matthew with a look full of praise: "It looks like Wickfield, you are very lucky. I heard that Horace has always had a high vision!"
　　 "I hope you haven't lied!" And Professor Rozier continued to say coldly: "Because I will know soon!"
　　 After speaking, she pulled out her wand from her waist.
　　 Just a light wave, a silver-white cloak-like thing flashed past Matthew.
　　……
　　 In the corridor, silence was restored again.
　　Professor Rozier still kept her position, that is, to completely push Matthew Wickfield to the corner of the wall, but he turned his head and closed his eyes there.
　　 Matthew is a little embarrassed at this time, he dare not move, because he only needs to move slightly, he may encounter Professor Rozier.
　　Professor Troca, suddenly winked at Matthew.
　　 Matthew discovered that he was still facing Professor Rozier's chest with his fluorescent wand, almost even poking there.
　　 He hung down his wand quickly.
　　 They only waited for about two or three minutes.
　　 Only anxious footsteps were heard, and then the fat, walrus-like potions teacher Horace Slughorn trot over, acting very funny.
"What...the situation..." He ran in front of the three people, panting heavily, obviously a little tired, and stammered when he said: "What is...what...the situation? ..."
　　 "We'll talk about it later." Professor Rozier still said very coldly: "Let's talk about Wakefield first!"
　　 "Oh, Matthew!" Slughorn seemed to have only seen Matthew now, and he was obviously relieved.
　　 "Wickfield told me that he was in your office just now, chatting with you?" Professor Rozier first glanced at Matthew, and then at Slughorn.
　　 "Yes, that's right." Slughorn nodded, "We were discussing... well, some extracurricular knowledge!"
　　 But Professor Rozier does not seem to care about what they are discussing.
　　 "So, when did Wakefield leave from your side?" Professor Rozier continued to ask.
　　 "About ten minutes ago...not long anyway," Professor Slughorn replied.
　　 "He always stayed with you before?"
"Of course!"
　　Professor Rozier was silent for a moment, then walked a few steps forward to let Matthew regain his freedom.
"Well, you can go now, Wickfield." She said coldly, "But you are still active in Hogwarts Castle after the lights are off... I will let Mr. Pringle inform you. Confinement time and content."
　　 "..." Matthew opened his mouth, wondering what was going on.
　　 How come I am going to be confined?
"I don't agree with this, President Rozier." This time, Professor Troka said: "I think it was not ten o'clock when Wakefield appeared in the corridor; if it weren't for you Caught him, I think there is a high probability that he will be able to return to the Slytherin common room before the lights go out."
Slughorn next to 　　 also nodded.
　　 Professor Rozier closed his eyes again:
　　 "You are right, the confinement is cancelled."
　　 "..." Matthew had no idea what to say.
　　 How did the confinement be cancelled again?
　　 "Go back to the common room, Matthew!" Slughorn made a urging gesture at him.
　　 Professor Troca walked to Matthew's side and patted Matthew's shoulder lightly:
　　 "Yes, go back quickly, Wickfield... don't be afraid, don't worry; but please remember, don't walk around Hogwarts Castle at night recently."
　　 This time, Matthew smelled the familiar smell of blood again.
　　 Matthew nodded without understanding.
　　 Listen to their tone of voice... what seems to be happening?
He was not easy to ask anything. After saying goodbye to the three teachers, he hurried back to the common room in Slytherin~EbookFREE.me~ without communicating with other people, but Slug was still thinking in his mind. Horn's words...
　　 fell on the bed, and he fell asleep directly.
　　……
　　 The next day, Monday’s breakfast.
　　 Matthew Wickfield came to the auditorium as usual and had breakfast.
　　While he smeared jam on the sausage--
　　 "Matthew!" An excited voice suddenly came from a distance.
　　 Then, I only saw Neville Longbottom cross a few long tables and came to him
　　 Then, he hugged Matthew tightly!
　　 "What's the matter?" Matthew was a little dazed.
　　 "It's great... you're so alive..." Neville said with tears.
　　 "Am I still alive?" Matthew became more and more confused.
　　 "I thought...you already..." Neville wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes and released his hand.
　　 "What's the matter, Neville?" Matthew asked quickly.
　　 Neville's voice was a little low, he shook his head: "Slytherin seventh grade Maria Adams, and fourth grade Rico Carlo, they were all dead last night!"
　　 The news was like a bolt from the blue, making Matthew stunned.
　　 Maria Adams in the seventh grade, and Rico Carlo in the fourth grade... These two names actually have a slight impression on Matthew.
　　 At the dinner party of the Slug Club last night, Slughorn introduced these two people to him.
　　 It's just that they had little communication with Matthew at the round table in the senior year.
　　 And... the two of them, plus the first-year Matthew Wickfield, are the slug club, all members from Slytherin.