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Chapter 144: Like a Pair of Lovers Who Broke Up
🕑 Added 2025-05-08 15:30:03 +0000 UTCHogsmeade was the only all-wizarding village in Britain, nestled near Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This quaint village, untouched by Muggles, was a charming blend of cobbled streets, snow-capped cottages, and enchanting little shops.
During holidays, the trees in Hogsmeade shimmered with floating magical candles. The Great Lake stretched out nearby, its waters connecting the village to the castle. The Hogwarts Express, which ferried students to and from school, terminated at Hogsmeade Station. From there, a winding path along the lake led straight to Hogwarts Castle.
Both students and teachers loved visiting Hogsmeade—Headmaster Dumbledore and Hagrid included. It was one of the few recreational escapes for those at the school.
Noah passed by the village about four times a year, but he'd never had the chance to enjoy it properly. The main reason: only third-years and above were allowed to visit, and only with a signed permission form from a parent or guardian. Without that, first and second-year students like Noah had no access.
There’s an old legend that Hogsmeade was founded around the same time as Hogwarts itself, by a wizard named Hengist of Woodcroft, who supposedly fled here to escape Muggle persecution.
But Noah, like many, took that with a grain of salt. Most wizards didn’t exactly fear Muggles.
He’d read versions of the so-called "burning times" in A History of Magic: Muggles and Misconceptions. Many of the witches who were burned had either violated magical laws and had their powers sealed—or were eccentric enough to want to be caught.
Some witches even let themselves be discovered deliberately just to feel the flames or revel in the twisted sense of superiority as Muggles watched them burn—unaware that the witch could end the suffering at any time.
Noah could only shake his head at such behavior.
“They’re either insane or just bored out of their minds. Delusional, thinking they’re outsmarting the Muggles... Well, technically they are.”
Noah thought sarcastically. He figured with long wizard lifespans, madness was probably an occupational hazard. After all, Voldemort was one of the most infamous examples of magical insanity.
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“It’s truly impressive magic,” said Professor Snape as he emerged from the hidden passage, scanning their surroundings.
Hogwarts had powerful enchantments in place that prevented Apparition. Teleporting in or out was impossible for most. But that only applied to ordinary magic.
Noah's magic bypassed the school’s wards entirely, which left Snape visibly surprised.
However, his curiosity was soon replaced with unease. The environment felt too familiar.
And then he saw it—the towering, twitching tree ahead of them.
“Noah… don’t tell me this is—”
“The Whomping Willow. And yes, our destination is the Shrieking Shack beneath it.”
“You seem well-informed,” Snape replied flatly.
Noah shrugged. “You said Lupin was a werewolf, remember? I did some reading. And it was your Wolfsbane Potion that helped him stay in control, wasn’t it?”
Snape gave a curt nod. He’d indeed covered the topic of werewolves in Potions class, clearly directed at Lupin. The memory of nearly being mauled by Lupin during their school days remained fresh in his mind.
The Shrieking Shack had been Lupin’s transformation site back then, and the Whomping Willow was planted to guard its entrance. Given that, it wasn’t a stretch for Noah to suspect this place.
Snape frowned. “How exactly did you figure it out?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Noah raised an eyebrow. “Aside from your not-so-subtle hint, I have connections with exorcists. I can sense certain… presences.”
Snape narrowed his eyes.
“I’ve read that the Shrieking Shack is said to be the most haunted building in Britain. But I’ve read between the lines. The building was constructed around the same time Professor Lupin was at school. The tree was planted then too. It’s not hard to connect the dots.”
“Hmph. Remarkable deduction,” Snape muttered. “You’re not wrong.”
He felt a twinge of guilt. Students like Noah were unusually talented. It sometimes made even professors like him feel… obsolete. But he brushed the thought away.
Noah wasn't the standard.
“If every student were like you, Hogwarts might as well close,” he thought.
“Bind it.”
Snape’s command snapped Noah out of his thoughts. Without a word, Noah stepped forward and cast a binding spell.
The Whomping Willow froze instantly, its limbs locked in place as if frozen in time.
Snape’s eyes widened again—wandless casting?
Sure, it wasn’t unheard of, but still... it required immense control. Snape himself hadn’t mastered it until years after graduation.
How old is this kid again?
If Noah had heard his thoughts, he might’ve sighed and said, I trained for two months in Kamar-Taj, Professor. You try surviving that.
They moved through the dark tunnel beneath the Willow. Snape stopped suddenly, crouching to examine the dirt.
“Footprints. Dog,” he muttered, standing and drawing his wand.
“Animagus?” Noah asked. “Sirius Black?”
Snape didn’t respond, but his silence confirmed it.
They approached the Shrieking Shack cautiously. The eerie quiet made every step more tense. Just as they neared the front door—
BANG!
The door exploded outward.
Snape had no time to react before he was tackled to the ground.
“Severus?!” the man on top of him gasped in shock.
It was all the pause Snape needed. WHAM!
His fist landed squarely on the man’s face, knocking him to the ground.
“Sirius Black!” Snape snarled, raising his wand.
The filthy, disheveled figure on the floor groaned, rubbing his jaw.
“Damn it, Severus! That hurt!”
Noah wrinkled his nose. “He smells worse than a troll’s armpit.”
Sirius groaned, still rubbing his face. “Who’s this kid? Severus, how did you find me?”
Snape didn’t lower his wand. “I could smell your stench from thirty miles away. I’ve come to escort you back to Azkaban. I’m sure the Dementors missed you.”
“Damn it, Severus! Use that oversized bat head of yours! Why would I betray James? I’d rather rot in Azkaban!”
“Tell that to the Dementors,” Snape said coldly.
“Why won’t you believe me?! You’re still the same blind idiot from school!”
Watching the two argue like bickering exes, Noah couldn’t help but sigh.
Snape didn’t actually seem intent on turning Sirius in. Noah could see that. Maybe he was just riling Sirius up for fun. Or maybe for revenge.
Still, the tension between them was thick.
“Alright, enough!” Noah shouted. “You two sound like a couple that just broke up.”
Both men fell silent.
Sirius blinked, turning to Noah. “Who the hell are you?”
Snape sheathed his wand. “Ravenclaw. Finnel. Don’t waste your breath. Dumbledore’s waiting for you.”
“Dumbledore…?”
“You’re lucky we found you first,” Noah added. “At least we know the truth.”
“What?”
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