Hogwarts Card System Chapter 287

Chapter 287: Begging for Mercy

Where wizards gather, strange things are bound to happen, or peculiar magical creatures tend to breed.

As the only all-wizard village in Great Britain, Hogsmeade naturally experiences many odd occurrences.

However, wizards are hardened individuals who are accustomed to such sights and don’t pay them much mind.

A century ago, there was a famous haunted shop here.

The shop was a century-old establishment, but with no descendants left, no one inherited it.

Later, the Ministry of Magic planned to auction it off for funds, but it was returned several times after being sold, because it was haunted.

Its former owner was once a skilled wizard who, during the centuries when dark magic was more prevalent, researched puppet magic.

He built a vast workshop and residence underground, beneath his house, where he crafted various puppets.

He never committed any evil; he simply pursued his hobbies and created figurines. No one could say anything about that.

However, after his death, as time went on, strange things began to happen there.

Residual magic started to animate some of the puppets, and more importantly, an elemental creature—a Poltergeist—was born there.

It was similar to Peeves, but while Peeves was mischievous, he still held some fear for the professors.

This Poltergeist, however, tormented anyone who came near.

Three successive buyers considered themselves unlucky and returned the property, leaving it vacant.

Later, it was rumored that a powerful wizard bought the shop, but it closed after a few years.

After that, the wizard also disappeared, and the house reverted to public ownership.

For so many years, it had never been sold again.

Ted valued this underground palace and, making good use of it, arranged his current setup.

Now, within this underground labyrinth, there are many monsters, mostly repurposed puppets, and some are Smoker spirits that Ted placed there.

These things are formidable; they cannot inflict physical damage but can directly attack an enemy’s lungs.

Because they are just wisps of smoke, most spells are useless against them, and even the Shield Charm cannot defend against them.

Wind cannot disperse them, fire cannot burn them, water cannot drown them, and even the Severing Charm is ineffective.

When the companions encountered these things for the first time, they tried every method, but were forced to flee.

However, “luckily,” during their escape, they rescued the limping Ron, who was being chased by a puppet spider.

That puppet spider had legs made of a dozen puppet arms and legs, and its head was formed by several puppet heads. Not to mention Ron, even Harry was startled!

This appearance unleashed Ron’s potential, making him run at a hundred-meter speed despite his limp!

The “Book of Adventure” and wizard duels had given the companions extensive combat experience and mature mindsets, and Ted was very satisfied with their performance.

Now, it remained to be seen if he could inspire their potential to cast the Patronus Charm.

…

Meanwhile, Sirius and the other person finally had to accept the cruel truth that Peter was still alive, and might even be the culprit from back then.

And Peter had already skillfully run to the Shrieking Shack.

Hogsmeade had quite a few haunted buildings, and the Shrieking Shack was one of them.

However, this one was due to the commotion caused by Lupin’s transformations when Sirius and his friends were still at school over a decade ago.

Perhaps it was because he was so familiar with it that Peter chose to hide there first.

He planned to wait until nightfall and then flee far away!

At this point, he hadn’t thought of seeking out Voldemort; after all, serving under Voldemort was worse than being a rat.

The main reason was that Ron’s friends now had pets, and they were always eyeing him menacingly, plus the pressure Ted put on him was too great, almost like a younger version of Voldemort.

He was afraid of being exposed, so he planned to take this opportunity to disappear.

However, Ted had already planted a tracking charm on him. Forget the Shrieking Shack, as long as he was within Great Britain, he had nowhere to run.

His two closest friends were already on their way to find him.

However, there was one change Ted hadn’t anticipated.

That was Snape discovering Lupin when he left the house.

Lupin, due to his werewolf identity, was somewhat introverted and self-conscious. He usually stayed at school and rarely went out, let alone to Hogsmeade.

Coupled with Snape seeing Sirius, who joined Lupin halfway, he immediately felt that the two were up to something!

Follow them!

Thus, fate once again intertwined at the Shrieking Shack, the place where their friendship began.

…

“Hermione! Another one, I can’t hold on!” Ron cried for help from inside the Lil’ Bear Mech.

Hermione was clever enough to bring the Lil’ Bear Mech, which was already a development souvenir, with her.

This allowed Ron, who had a broken leg, not to be a burden and even become a combat force.

In this underground corridor, Unit- 01 was too large to use, but the Lil’ Bear Mech was just right—language function repaired!

Ron, as the frontline, blocked the attacks of seven or eight different puppets. As a tank, his aggro was truly stable.

Ron: Why are they always targeting me?

Jerry: The lowest fence is the easiest to cross!

However, the puppets weren’t the problem, but a Smoker was circling around, trying to seize the opportunity to get into the mech and attack him. There was no way to defend against this!

This thing had given the companions a lot of trouble. Now, the only thing confirmed was that Neville’s golden holy light was somewhat effective, but he could only use it on himself.

Now Ron was calling for help, hoping Hermione would once again use that crackling, electrifying bottle.

But Hermione just said irritably, “There’s none left! There was only one of those bottled lightning on the shelf. I already used it!”

The Alchemical Bomb – Bottled Lightning, captured a powerful chain lightning spell in a bottle; you just had to smash it when used. Its effect was powerful!

In English, the phrase “catch lightning in a bottle” is used to express the impossible.

Ted was making the impossible possible.

Finally, Neville’s wand glowed golden, and he bravely engaged the Smoker in close combat, striking it and forcing it back.

A large pile of puppet parts lay scattered on the ground. Those bald puppet heads with hollow eye sockets made one’s skin crawl.

Jerry kicked away a few puppet heads and suddenly saw an iron-bound chest in the corner, “Ha! A treasure chest!”

In the underground labyrinth, not only were there monsters, but also these chests containing many things: coins, materials, or other strange or valuable items.

Jerry had already opened two before reuniting with his companions, gaining at least 10 Galleons, which was great.

So he immediately rushed over to open the treasure chest.

Who knew the treasure chest opened by itself, and a several-meter-long purplish-red slimy tongue stretched out from inside, wrapping around Jerry’s waist, trying to eat him!

Looking at the treasure chest again, there were two large eyeballs on it, and two rows of sharp teeth inside the chest—it was a damn Mimic!

Who was so insidious?!

Ron drove the Lil’ Bear Mech, charging forward, holding open the Mimic’s large mouth with its two bear paws: “Don’t harm my mouse!”

Harry also jumped up, smashing a magical club onto the Mimic’s head: “Die!”

Mimics were easy to deal with, as long as one wasn’t ambushed while opening the chest alone.

But the Smokers in the labyrinth were increasing, and even Neville was struggling to cope.

Hermione: “Only that magic can resist this kind of monster!”

Ron: “What magic?”

Harry, Neville, and Jerry said in unison: “The Patronus Charm!”

…

In the Shrieking Shack, Peter Pettigrew, in his rat form, was stunned, then forced into his human form by Lupin’s spell.

He would face the terrible wrath of his two old friends!

“No! Don’t! Sirius, Remus, I was under the Imperius Curse, I couldn’t help myself…” Pettigrew began to cry.

He knew that his two friends were not cruel and ruthless people. If he cried pitifully enough, he might have a chance to save his life.

But at this moment, a dark figure hid outside the door, quietly listening to the three of them…


Thanks to “除恶次” and “尾号 4544” for their 100-point tips!

(End of this chapter)