The Prisoners of Hogwarts

Chapter 234 The Encounter of Escaping in the Middle of the Night

Chapter 234 The Encounter of Escaping in the Middle of the Night

At number four Privet Drive, after Harry transformed Aunt Marge's enormous body into a balloon and floated into the sky, he understood that he could finally say goodbye to the unrealistic hope of Uncle Vernon or Aunt Petunia signing the "Hogsmeade Weekend Visit Application Form".

But that's perfect, I don't want to stay in this house for even a second longer.

So he grabbed his prepared suitcase and Hedwig's cage, rushed out of the gate of No. 4 Privet Drive like a gust of wind, and plunged into the night without looking back.

But after driving through several blocks in a fit of rage, the fear of reality gradually gripped him.

Finally, after being startled by a large black dog in a dark alley and tripping, Harry, carrying his suitcase and Hedwig's cage, boarded the suddenly appearing Knight Bus and arrived at the Leaky Cauldron.

He plans to stay here for a while.

He didn't choose to join Ron or Hermione. Perhaps he wanted to preserve his dignity in front of his friends and prove that he could handle these changes on his own.

Moreover, he still has a large amount of Galleons left by his parents in Gringotts, so he doesn't have to worry about making a living for the time being.

But to his surprise, he met a big shot before he even entered the Leaky Cauldron.

He was a short, stout wizard wearing a long striped cloak, who introduced himself as Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic.

Fudge took him into the Leaky Cauldron and told him that the matter of inflating his aunt had been handled by two officers from the Accidental Reversal Department, and that he would not be punished for it.

Harry felt that things were unfolding so beautifully that it was almost unreal.

But just when he thought this was the pinnacle of his luck, something even more unexpected happened.

Just as Minister Fouché was preparing to arrange for him to stay temporarily at the Leaky Cauldron, a familiar voice rang out from the side: "I think it would be more appropriate for this child to stay with me."

Harry turned around abruptly and saw his Uncle Lynch, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, standing not far away with a gentle smile on his face.

Uncle Lynch!

'

Harry was so excited that he jumped off his chair and ran to the other person in a few quick steps.

He instinctively wanted to give the other person a hug, but restrained himself at the last moment. His hands just clasped together unconsciously, and a shy blush spread across his face.

Seeing the boy's expression, Lynch's smile deepened. He naturally reached out and ruffled Harry's always messy black hair, as he always did, then turned to Minister Fudge, his tone calm but undeniable: "After all, I'm this boy's uncle."

Minister Fouchi's round face froze instantly, as if he had been frozen in place.

He unconsciously pressed his grey-green bowler hat even tighter.

As the Minister of Magic, he was naturally aware of Lynch's true identity.

In fact, the moment he learned that Dumbledore had hired Lynch as a Hogwarts professor, he took out the sealed hangman's file and read it countless times.

After all, he was the only legendary wizard besides Dumbledore who stood on the side of justice.

Fudge knew that dealing with such a dangerous and powerful entity was a necessary lesson for him as a minister.

After all, such a powerful wizard possesses immense power capable of changing the course of events and should not be underestimated.

In the early days of his tenure as Minister for Magic, Dumbledore frequently sought his advice and opinions on government policies due to the instability of his position. It was only through Dumbledore's influence that he was able to secure his position.

Therefore, even today, I still harbor deep fear of Dumbledore.

If I could gain the support of another legendary wizard, I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Unfortunately, the more he reviewed the hangman's file, the more clearly he realized that this was not someone he could control.

So when he saw Lynch at this moment, his eyes were filled with a complex mix of emotions—on the one hand, a sense of relief, because with this man in front of him, Sirius Black was probably no real threat; on the other hand, there was a deep-seated, indelible fear.

"Mr. Lynch!" Fudge's voice was a few decibels higher than usual, with a hint of nervousness that even Harry could detect. "I never expected to run into you here. Aren't you at Hogwarts—"

"It's summer vacation now, Minister," Lynch replied gently, his gaze remaining steadily fixed on Fudge, as if he could see right through him. "I just happened to be passing by. It seems I've come at the perfect time."

In fact, Lynch wasn't just passing through.

He arrived here after receiving news that Harry and Fudge had appeared.

As one of the entrances to Diagon Alley, the Leaky Cauldron is arguably the most frequently used entrance, with a large number of wizards passing through it every day. Naturally, the First Order set up a surveillance point here.

Lynch's words were calm, yet they carried an undeniable meaning.

Fudge took out a handkerchief and wiped away non-existent cold sweat.

"Yes, yes, it is indeed time." Fudge said quickly, his gaze shifting between Harry and Lynch before finally settling on Lynch decisively. His tone became unusually serious, even with a hint of seeking instructions. "Uh—are you sure? I mean, the current—well, situation, you must be aware of it."

We had a very meticulous plan for Harry...

He used the word "situation" vaguely, but Lynch nodded knowingly.

"It's more appropriate for him to stay with me." Lin Qi still had that faint smile on his lips. "I'm his uncle, his mother's—old friend. At this time, both emotionally and logically, he should be with me."

Fudge's lips twitched. He was indeed wary of Lynch, but he trusted Lynch's abilities even more. Entrusting Harry to this man, whose very name had once struck fear into the hearts of dark wizards, was certainly more reassuring than any public protection the Ministry of Magic could offer. Moreover, it saved the Ministry of Magic the trouble of worrying, so why not?

"Of course, of course!" Fudge finally made his decision, his tone becoming urgent and certain. "It would be wonderful if you could take care of Harry! The Ministry of Magic is completely at ease with this! I just—need to make sure everything is done according to procedure."

He turned to Harry, his face regaining its enthusiastic, albeit slightly exaggerated, smile. "Harry, look, this is wonderful! With your Uncle Lynch looking after you, we're all relieved. Just go with him without worry. As for the Hogsmeade application form you mentioned earlier—" He paused, seemingly weighing his options, then looked at Lynch with an expression that seemed to ask, "Is this the right way to handle this?" "I believe Mr. Lynch, as your temporary guardian, is fully qualified to sign it."

This is such a pleasant surprise!

Harry looked up sharply at Lynch.

Lynch nodded slightly to him.

"Thank you, Minister." Harry tried to keep his voice from sounding too excited.

Although he was puzzled by Fudge's vague "situation" and the appearance of Uncle Lynch, the joy of the series of good things that followed after he left the Dursleys' house that night overwhelmed everything.

"You're welcome, child, you're welcome!" Fudge patted Harry on the shoulder, then quickly turned to Lynch with a hint of respect, "Well then, Mr. Lynch, Harry is in your care. If there's anything you need, the Ministry of Magic will be there anytime—"

"We'll handle it." Lynch interrupted Fudge's pleasantries succinctly, extending his hand to naturally take the heavy suitcase from Harry's hands. "Let's go, Harry. It's late; you need to get some rest."

Harry quickly picked up Hedwig's cage and hurried to catch up with Lynch.

After taking a few steps, he couldn't help but turn back and see Minister Fudge still standing there, watching their backs. His expression was somewhat inscrutable in the dim light of the Leaky Cauldron, but he was unconsciously turning his bowler hat in his hand.

Lynch led Harry through the brick wall behind the Leaky Cauldron into Diagon Alley, and the cool night breeze invigorated Harry as they walked along.

He found that Diagon Alley was much quieter at night than during the day.

The cobblestone pavement gleamed damply under the shop window lights. A strange smell filled the air, a mixture of old books, toads, and syrup.

In the window of Ollivanders Wand Shop, several wands lay quietly on a dark cloth. In the distance, the sound of a cauldron shop closing came from behind, and several figures in robes hurried past under the streetlights, some of their wands still glowing faintly.

The Quidditch shop was still lit, and the winged golden balls were still spinning in the window. The joke shop next door was dark, but the faint smell of chocolate frogs still lingered in the air.

As the night deepened in Diagon Alley, Harry's tense nerves finally began to relax. The panic that had been building up around Aunt Maggie, the anxiety of running away from home, gradually melted away with the steady footsteps of Uncle Lynch. The cobblestone street after the rain reflected the scattered lights of the shops on either side, like a shimmering galaxy.

He secretly glanced up at the person beside him—Uncle Lin Qi's figure appeared exceptionally upright in the night, the hem of his black trench coat swaying gently with each step, carrying a reassuring rhythm.

"Uncle Lynch," Harry finally couldn't help but speak, his voice unusually clear in the quiet alley, "where have you been all this time? You didn't even show up for the end-of-year exams." This was a question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time.

Lynch glanced down at Harry, the moonlight shimmering on his glasses. "Going to test a new spell."

"What kind of spell?" Harry's curiosity was completely piqued.

Lynch slowed his pace slightly: "A spell that could potentially save countless lives."

"6

"Did you succeed in your experiment?" Harry pressed.

Lin Qi did not answer immediately. His gaze followed the street to the brightly lit Stone Tower Chamber of Commerce in the distance, as if he had pierced through the scene before him and returned to that cold and damp secret room.

He recalled the basilisk's cold body and the transformation of the Soul Armor at the last moment.

"It's a success," he finally said, his voice not filled with joy, but rather with a calmness. "But there are still some key details that need to be perfected."

Harry wanted to ask more, but seeing Lynch's thoughtful profile, he swallowed his question.

I just silently quickened my pace.

Harry followed quietly beside Lynch into the Stone Tower Merchant Guild in silence.

They boarded the self-moving elevator and went straight to the top floor of the building. Lynch led him through a thickly carpeted corridor and stopped in front of a carved wooden door, gently pushing it open.

Behind the door is an elegantly decorated suite.

The dark wood furniture gleamed with a warm luster under the soft light of the wall lamps, a cashmere blanket was casually draped over the sofa, and several open books on magic theory sat on the coffee table. The whole space was both luxurious and full of life.

Lynch stood in the center of the living room and gave Harry some simple instructions.

"You'll be staying here until you return to Hogwarts." He pointed to a bedroom on the right. "That's your room."

Then she pointed to another door inlaid with mother-of-pearl: "The bathroom is over there. You must be tired today, go take a hot shower first."

The fire in the fireplace crackled at just the right moment, adding a touch of warmth to the unfamiliar surroundings.

Harry picked up his somewhat worn suitcase, then carefully lifted the cage containing Hedwig, and headed towards the bedroom Lynch had pointed out to him.

Harry pushed open the bedroom door, and a faint scent of sandalwood wafted towards him.

The room was more spacious than he had imagined, and a suspended crystal ball slowly rotated in the dome, casting a soft, moonlit glow.

A four-poster bed was placed by the window, with deep purple curtains embroidered with constellation patterns in gold thread.

Harry noticed that the constellations seemed to be moving slowly, like the magic on the Hogwarts ceiling. Several potted moonflowers sat on the windowsill, their leaves swaying gently in the breeze blowing in from outside.

What attracted him most was the bookshelf against the wall—it wasn't an ordinary wooden structure, but rather made of twining wisteria vines, with pale purple flowers blooming among the branches. The books on the shelf were clearly enchanted; when his own light swept across them, golden titles appeared on the spines of several books before quietly disappearing.

Harry walked to the low cabinet and gently lifted the velvet cloth covering Hedwig's cage.

Snow Owl quieted down, its round, yellow eyes reflecting the soft light in the room.

He turned around, opened his suitcase, and prepared to hang his clothes in the closet.

The wardrobe door slid open automatically, revealing several brand-new wizard robes hanging inside.

Harry noticed that each robe had an exquisite emblem embroidered in silver thread on the cuffs—the logo of the Stone Tower Merchant Guild.

After putting a few simple clothes into the self-organizing wardrobe, he decided to take a hot shower first.

When he pushed open the bedroom door and returned to the living room, he found that Uncle Lynch was still there.

The man had already taken off his signature long black trench coat and casually draped it over the sofa armrest.

He was only wearing a well-tailored dark gray suit vest that accentuated his sharp waistline, and white shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing his muscular forearms.

He was sitting on the sofa, leaning slightly forward, intently looking at several parchment reports spread out on his lap, with a steaming cup of black tea beside him.

The light from the crystal chandelier fell on him, softening his usually somewhat cold and hard features.

Hearing Harry's footsteps, Lynch looked up from the report, his gaze lingering for a moment on the towel and clothes in Harry's hands.

"The hot water is ready," he said gently. "Take a break."

Harry nodded, whispered "Okay," and strode toward the bathroom door inlaid with mother-of-pearl.

The bathroom was spacious, filled with warm steam and a refreshing scent of pine.

The brass-decorated magical shower system looked intricate and efficient. Harry took off his clothes, stood under the hot water, and felt the fatigue accumulated from the night's journey being slowly washed away.

He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.

When he returned to the living room after showering, dressed in clean clothes with his hair still wet, Lin Qi remained in the same position as before, except that there was now a floating crystal beside him that constantly displayed numbers and charts.

He seemed completely absorbed in his work, only glancing up as Harry passed by and casually saying, "Get some rest."

Harry responded and gently closed his bedroom door.

He placed the wand beside his pillow and lay down in the soft bedding.

The next morning, Harry was awakened by the soft, continuous hum of a small bronze bell on his bedside table.

The sound wasn't harsh like a regular ringtone; it was more like a gentle reminder that rang directly in your mind.

He opened his eyes and saw that the surface of the bell was shimmering with a faint halo.

He had never woken up in such a soft, warm bed.

The Dursleys' hard mattress, the Hogwarts' cozy but ultimately communal four-poster bed, and even the Weasleys' creaky old bed, full of life, could not compare to the feeling of being enveloped in clouds beneath me.

The heavy exhaustion of last night made him almost lose consciousness the moment his head hit the pillow. Only now that he is awake can he truly appreciate the comfort of the room—so quiet that there is no annoying noise, the air is filled with a reassuring sandalwood scent, and even the light is just the right amount of gentle.

This was a strange kind of luxury that almost made him feel a little uneasy.

Turning to look out the window, the London sky was already bathed in the clear morning light.

Harry rubbed his eyes, pulling himself out of that unreal comfort, and found that Hedwig was already awake, tilting her head to look at him, seemingly also interested in the awakening device.

He quickly got up, opened the wardrobe, and reached for the clean wizard's robe inside, but hesitated for a moment before changing into his old T-shirt and jeans.

He took a deep breath, pushed open the bedroom door, and went out.

In the living room, the warmth of last night was replaced by the brightness of the morning.

Sunlight streamed in through the huge windows, and the fire in the fireplace burned quietly, leaving only a little warmth.

Lynch was already seated at the dining table.

He changed into a sophisticated dark gray suit, still impeccably tailored.

He held the Daily Prophet in one hand and a cup of black coffee in the other, the food on the plate beside him appearing untouched. Hearing Harry's footsteps, he put down the newspaper and looked over calmly.

"Good morning, Harry. Did you sleep well?" His tone was as clear and warm as the morning light.

"Good morning, Uncle Lynch. Very good, thank you." Harry replied cheerfully, then sat down somewhat awkwardly across the table at Lynch's gesture.

He still felt a lingering sense of awe at the room's comfort, along with a persistent unease—it was too wonderful, too wonderful for someone like him to possess.

In the center of the table sat a silver tray filled with steaming food: golden scrambled eggs, sizzling sausages, perfectly roasted tomatoes and mushrooms, and next to it a small basket of tempting croissants and a pitcher that looked like pumpkin juice.

"Buffet style," Lin Qi said succinctly, picking up the newspaper again, but his attention was clearly back on the news, as if he was merely fulfilling an obligation to inform others about having breakfast together.

Harry silently picked up some food for himself. The only sounds in the dining room were the soft clinking of cutlery and the occasional rustling of Lynch turning the pages of his newspaper. The atmosphere was subtly tense, unlike the warm, quiet atmosphere of the previous night.

Harry ate the scrambled eggs in small bites; they tasted good. But he was more focused on observing the man across from him and thinking about what might happen today.

Lin Qi stared intently at the financial section of the newspaper, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, as if he had seen some unpleasant news.

A few minutes later, Lynch put down his newspaper and looked at Harry.

"We'll leave in ten minutes." He stood up. "Today you need to understand some things. About your—new situation." Then he strode briskly toward the door.

Harry replied, "Okay, Uncle Lynch," but his gaze unconsciously drifted back to the almost untouched plate in front of Lynch. The sausages and scrambled eggs had lost their heat and lay forlornly on the delicate porcelain plate.

A question flashed through his mind: Uncle Lin Qi had prepared such a lavish breakfast, so why wasn't he eating a single bite? Wasn't he hungry?

Unable to figure it out for a moment, Harry put the little question out of his mind and hurried to eat.

Ten minutes later, almost at the same time Harry swallowed the last bite of food, the carved wooden door to the living room was gently pushed open, and Lynch walked in.

He had already put on his long black trench coat, his figure was upright, and his face wore his usual warm smile.

"Time's up." His gaze swept over Harry's empty plate, then fell on Harry's slightly oversized old T-shirt and jeans—the ones he had just changed into for breakfast. "Go change into something more suitable for going out. The place we're heading to requires you to look—more formal."

His tone left no room for argument.

Harry immediately stood up and nodded. "Almost done." He hurried back to his bedroom, closed the door, and his heart inexplicably raced. Lynch had just returned from outside? What had he been doing so early? And, "suitable for going out," "more formal"—did this imply they were going to meet someone, or attend some important occasion?

He quickly changed out of his casual clothes and into the well-fitting dark wizard's robe that Lynch had prepared for him the day before, carefully tucking his wand into its inner pocket. When he came out of the bedroom again, Lynch was standing in the middle of the living room, his back to him, looking out the window.

Hearing the noise, Lynch turned around, his scrutinizing gaze lingering on Harry for a moment, seemingly confirming that his attire was correct.

"Grab my arm," he said sternly, extending his arm to Harry. "Don't let go."

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