Chapter 172: Back to school

There is no doubt that this is not a happy Christmas.
Matthew Wickfield’s second-year Christmas Eve was spent in the icy ward of the St Mungo’s Magical Injuries and Injuries Hospital... The only ones who accompanied him except the blond therapist were those in the same ward. Several "patients".
　　 The Halloween dinner here is not that rich, at least it can’t compare with the holiday dinner at Hogwarts.
　　 Not to mention the joyous atmosphere of Christmas.
　　 After dinner, Matthew fell asleep and hoped to leave this ghost place as soon as possible.
　　……
　　 Early the next morning, when Matthew woke up, he found a pile of gifts at the foot of the bed.
　　 He also suddenly realized that since the beginning of the Christmas holidays, he has been "locked" in St Mungo... There is no time or opportunity to prepare Christmas gifts for his friends.
　　 It seems that when the new semester begins, he has to go to the door to "compensate" and make up for the gifts owed.
　　While thinking like this, Matthew opened the large and small packages--
　　 Soon, he turned to a gift bag with Neville's handwriting, and Neville gave himself a palm-sized small wallet. Although it is small on the outside, the space inside is very large, and it can be stuffed into something dozens of times the volume (it should be a very advanced non-marking stretch curse)... the visual inspection is quite practical.
　　 Another gift bag contained a large box of horseshoe-shaped chocolates with Hermione’s name written next to the gift box.
　　 There is also a large box of skim fudge...
　　 An unsigned rehabilitation card...
as well as--
　　 Matthew glanced at the last gift bag, it looked a little weird. Like the rehabilitation card, this gift package is also unsigned.
　　 took it apart very carefully, and then Matthew was surprised to find that there was a wizard chess set inside.
　　 No, it is not an ordinary wizard chess. The black and white pieces are completely unusual.
　　 Matthew picked up the pieces of chess pieces and began to examine them carefully.
　　The black and white soldiers have become wizards in robes...
　　The black king looks a little familiar; after a closer inspection, Matthew recognized that this chess piece is quite similar to Gellert Grindelwald...
　　 As for the queen of the black square, she looks like the vice-principal of Hogwarts, Professor Vita Rozier.
　　 The two bishops have become vampires with fangs, the knight has become a werewolf with four legs facing the ground, and the castle is two giants who are a circle larger than the other chess pieces.
　　 Matthew couldn't help blinking, then moved his gaze to the white chess piece
　　 The white king is also an old acquaintance, and the king is an old wizard with white hair, much like Albus Dumbledore in memory.
　　 and the queen is a witch with square glasses and curly hair in a high bun...
　　 The bishop has become an old cunning goblin, the knight is a strong horseman; as for the castle, it has become two Muggle tanks.
　　……
　　 Matthew looked at this unsigned Christmas gift very surprised.
　　Because he can vaguely understand the meaning of these chess pieces, he thinks this matter is very strange.
　　 At the same time, he was also very curious, who sent this to himself? What is the purpose of giving it to himself?
　　 searched carefully in the gift box, but there was no gain, except for this box of wizard chess, it was empty.
　　 Just then, the door of the ward was suddenly pushed open, and the blond therapist in charge of Matthew's recuperation broke in.
　　 "Opening the gift?" She gave Matthew a curious look, and at the same time noticed the set of chess pieces in Matthew's hand, "Oh, is it wizard chess...I also like wizard chess..."
　　 "Yes." Matthew said calmly, and quickly put away the pieces. He didn't want his healer to see the true appearance of this wizard chess piece.
　　 Fortunately, the witch did not show more interest.
　　 "By the way, Matthew Wickfield," she called Matthew's name, "After our careful confirmation, your condition is completely stable. You can go through the formalities and be discharged!"
　　 "Can you leave the hospital?" Matthew looked a little excited, "Awesome!"
　　 To be honest, he was a bit fed up with the boring and unfree life in Saint Mungo during this period... Besides, the living environment here is actually not flattering.
After a moment of excitement, he seemed to think of something again: "By the way, ma'am...Where should I go after I leave the hospital? Should I go to Diagon Alley? Or Hogsmeade? Excuse me, is there any Hogwarts? The professor and you mentioned this..."
　　 "Of course I returned directly to Hogwarts..." The blond therapist said as he deserved.
　　 Matthew was stunned, and asked softly, "But, there should be horsemen at Hogwarts..."
　　 "Horseman?" the witch said disdainfully, "Could it be that the stupid creatures you think can really occupy the Hogwarts castle?"
　　 "What happened?" Matthew asked quickly.
"I think you haven’t read the Daily Prophet for breakfast today... The report is very detailed. Just last night, Principal Gellert Grindelwald returned to Hogwarts and crushed the dark wizards. Trying to invade the Hogwarts conspiracy and wipe out the rebellious horsemen..." the blond therapist said cleanly.
　　 "So... the horse riots are over! Poor principal Grindelwald can't be at peace even at Christmas, can't accompany his family, and has to work on these trivial things." She seemed to be a little emotional:
　　 "Well, Mr. Wickfield, are you going to go through the discharge procedures immediately? Or do you want to stay in St. Mungo and observe for a few days?"
　　 Matthew answered without hesitation: "Of course, I hope to be discharged immediately."
　　……
　　 The discharge procedures went smoothly and quickly.
　　 After only half an hour, Matthew Wickfield appeared at the entrance of St. Mungo’s Magical Injury Hospital with heavy luggage.
In front of 　　 is an old-fashioned red-brick department store called "Tao Tao Co., Ltd.", which looks desolate and deserted.
　　 There are only a few broken dummies in the shop window. They wear wigs crookedly, with different poses, and they wear clothes from at least ten years ago. Signs "Closed for renovation" hung on the dusty doors.
　　 At the same time, Matthew saw a few Muggles passing by, and pointed at the shop window here: "This place has never been opened."
　　 In fact, Matthew has barely touched Muggles in the past year and a half...
　　 Just when Ma Xianxian was considering whether to take this rare opportunity to violate the regulations of the Ministry of Magic and contact the Muggle world--
　　 A deafening siren!
　　 A second later, a pair of huge wheels and car lights suddenly appeared in front of Matthew at the speed of lightning and thunder. Matthew took a closer look and found that the wheels and lights belonged to a three-story bus. The golden letters on the windshield of the car formed the words: Knight Bus.
"Welcome to the Knight Bus. This is an emergency passenger transport for witches or wizards in trouble. Just stretch out your wand and get in the car, and we can take you wherever you want to go. My My name is Stan Sunpark, and I will be your conductor tonight!" An 18-year-old wizard opened the door and said lazily.
　　 Matthew took another look at the direction where the Muggles were. They had completely disappeared from Matthew's sight.
　　 Sure enough, the current magic world has no loopholes in its rules.
　　 He took out his wand from his waist and said calmly: "My name is Matthew Wickfield, I want to go to Hogwarts!"
　　 "What is Hogwarts...seven silver sikes." Stan Sunpark replied.
　　 Matthew took out ten silver coins from his pocket and handed it to him, then climbed onto the Knight Bus with his luggage.
　　 There are no seats in the car; behind the curtained window, there are six beds with brass pillars. Candles were lit on the brackets beside each bed, illuminating the entire compartment.
　　 You sleep in this one, Stan points to a bed on his right.
　　 Matthew walked over quickly.
　　 "Sit down and go!" Stan commanded loudly.
　　 There was another huge bang, and Matthew could not help being knocked down on the bed. It was the result of the speed of the Knight Bus throwing him back.
He glanced out the window. The Knight Bus was racing along the road, making a very noisy sound; there were many Muggles on the side of the road, and they lived like Matthew had a year and a half ago. Life...except that no one can realize that there is a three-story bus passing by them unconsciously.
　　 Stan looked at the surprised expression on Matthew's face with some pride: "Aren't you surprised, the Muggles can't find us?"
　　 "Yes." Matthew answered casually.
"Because they won't listen well or look good," Stan said with a disdain. "Compared with wizards, they are just inferior races... They should be our slaves just like the house elves. Instead of being at ease like this..."
　　 Matthew couldn't help but froze.
Stan Sampak gushed: "To be honest, if I were the Minister of Magic, I would definitely abolish the "International Wizarding Secrets Act" as soon as possible, and then drive the Muggles from our territory, or Let us be slaves instead of letting them occupy the magpie's nest like this..."
"...If there are Muggles who dare to defy us, they will be thrown into the crematorium... Of course, some beautiful Muggles are not necessary..." His face suddenly showed a greedy look. "They can help us pass on from generation to generation, can't they... just a small drop of ecstasy can make them fall under our feet..."
　　 Stan Sampark said a lot of excitement.
　　 Matthew's face showed a look of disgust, but he did not walk away.
　　 "By the way, Wakefield," Stan Sunpark continued, "have you heard, about Hogwarts..."
　　 "It's the horseman riot at Hogwarts?" Matthew asked coldly.
　　 "No, no, but more than that..." Stan Sunpark shook his head mysteriously:
"The impact of this riot is said to be so far-reaching that it affected the decision-making of some high-level Ministry of Magic... They generally believe that our control of inferior creatures, such as elves, horsemen and Muggles, should be too loose. Now... The "International Wizarding and Wizarding Secrecy Act" has become an obstacle..."
"For example, Lord Grindelwald was very gracious in the Hogwarts Forbidden Forest, giving horses a place to live; but they were betrayed by those inferior creatures, and even Hogwarts was once reduced to their hands... so We should change our strategy of treating them, and control them more strictly. Those inferior creatures that are born against the bones should all be eliminated..."
　　 Matthew frowned slightly.
　　 Although he cannot be sure of the authenticity of Stan Sunpark’s words... But if the rumors are true, then the recent series of events would be quite intriguing.
　　 "To be honest, I really look forward to that day." While speaking, Stan Sunpark greedily glanced at the Muggle girls passing by outside the bus.
　　……
　　 Stan Sampark is still talking about it.
　　 Suddenly, the driver slammed on the brakes, and the rider bus slid to a stop, and he almost fell to the ground.
　　 "Here, Hogwarts is here!" he said loudly.
　　 Matthew already took his luggage and hurriedly got off the Cavalier bus without looking back.
　　 The place where the Knight Bus stops is the Hogsmeade platform that Matthew is familiar with... At the platform, Mr. Pringle, the administrator of Hogwarts Castle, is waiting for the returning students to return.
　　 There are a lot of horse-drawn carriages parked beside him (actually, they are drawn by the invisible Ye Qi).
　　 "Here!" He waved at Matthew.
　　 "Mr. Pringle!" Matthew walked over quickly. UU Reading www.uukanashu.com
"Remember to stay in the common room these days and don't walk around... The castle was messed up by the horsemen and needs a thorough cleaning... Understand? Three meals a day will be sent to the common rooms of each college Yes!" Mr. Pringle exhorted.
　　 "I see!" Matthew nodded.
　　 He was alone, boarding a carriage pulled by the night skating... Following the route at the beginning of school, he entered the Hogwarts campus.
　　 There is indeed some chaos in the castle. Many portraits and sculptures have been damaged; but the overall damage is actually not great. The portraits and sculptures that Matthew is familiar with are basically intact.
　　 But what is even more shocking is that in many corners, you can see burnt mane, broken horseshoe, and bright red blood...
　　 It is conceivable that the castle has experienced a fierce slaughter not long ago... or a unilateral slaughter, more appropriate.
　　 Matthew covered his nose and went all the way back to the Slytherin common room.
　　 There is no change in the common room. Horsemen without a password seem to be unable to enter here.
　　 Matthew seems to be the first student to return to school at Slytherin College, because he did not see anyone else in the common room.
　　 went back to his bedroom, lying on the bed with green silk curtains
　　 "I always feel that something terrible is about to happen!" Matthew Wickfield said to himself.