Shall We Check Out That Corridor Again?

Umbridge's sudden spell casting surprised everyone.

Professor McGonagall was particularly startled. She had guessed these ghost masks were likely produced by Evan's Transfiguration spell. If they were exposed by a revealing spell, it would be game over.

However, to McGonagall and Fudge's surprise, the revealing spell didn't work; the ghost masks remained the same.

"That's impossible!" Umbridge shouted in disbelief.

Dumbledore didn't seem surprised at this outcome. When he first touched these masks, he had already estimated the level of Evan's Transfiguration spell. He just didn't understand why the structure of the wooden ghost masks transformed by Evan was so stable, even surpassing the expected level.

Dumbledore was unaware that Evan had accidentally used his magical power to analyze a mahogany round table during the second magical outburst, leading to his deep understanding of wood structures. Otherwise, Dumbledore wouldn't have been so surprised.

Compared to Dumbledore, Umbridge, a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Magic, was rather mediocre in her casting level due to years of consolidating power and playing political games. Even if she used a revealing spell, it wouldn't quickly dissolve the wooden ghost masks transformed by Evan.

Professor McGonagall was too surprised to speak. She remembered that Evan's Transfiguration spell hadn't reached this level a few days ago. If she hadn't known this was where the Cerberus was kept, she might have thought Snape really bought a bunch of masks and hung them here.

"Imp... Impossible! You must have done something!" Umbridge accused Dumbledore, believing he had hidden some secret that left her empty-handed.

She was convinced her judgment could not be wrong.

"Are you questioning me?" Dumbledore turned around, still wearing the vampire mask.

What scared Umbridge more were Dumbledore's eyes beneath the mask, which seemed to see right through her. As he stared, memories of her sordid past, which she thought she had long forgotten, resurfaced involuntarily in Umbridge's mind.

Umbridge's legs were shaking; fear, anger, anxiety, and other emotions simultaneously erupted. However, she dared not say another word.

Dumbledore didn't waste any more time on Umbridge, a minor character. He took off the mask on his face and casually put it in his pocket. Then he turned to Fudge and said,

"Fudge, have you seen everything? Everything here at Hogwarts complies with the regulations of the Ministry of Magic! There are no dragons or dangers here. The young wizards studying here are extremely safe..."

"Of course, I saw it," Fudge said, his expression changing. He was sure Dumbledore was hiding something from him, but he had no way to prove it. He had to reluctantly admit this fact.

"Umbridge, let's go," Fudge said, looking disgruntled. He threw the mask he was holding to the side and beckoned to Umbridge, who was trembling nearby. Her smile had completely disappeared.

"Or perhaps you might want to explore Hogwarts a bit more?" Dumbledore casually jested.

"No, there are many official duties in the Ministry that need to be handled," Fudge said, his face gloomy. He pushed open the door and left, with Umbridge closely following. She no longer maintained the nauseating smile on her face.

Professor McGonagall was the last one to leave. She closed the wooden door and casually glanced at the ghost mask that Fudge had thrown into the corner. After a twist, it turned into a small comb, and other items also transformed back into small objects, and hundreds of Every Flavor Beans scattered down with a rustling sound.

McGonagall chuckled, closed the door, and left.

"Wait, what was that sound?" Fudge, walking in front, seemed to have heard something, turned his head in doubt, but only saw the wooden door being closed.

"Do you want to go back and check that corridor again? I think you can pick a mask as a souvenir... how about this one?" Dumbledore took out the vampire mask from his pocket and showed it to Fudge.

"Forget it," Fudge replied, visibly annoyed. He had initially thought he could find something against Dumbledore, but he didn't expect to find such inexplicable things.

Dumbledore nodded and put the mask back into his pocket. Without his magic support, the vampire mask twisted for a moment and returned to its original form.

It was a small round mirror.

In the meantime, Evan, who had fallen from above, was unharmed. The Devil's Snare served as a cushion, and Evan had cast a Levitation Charm on himself before the fall, allowing him to land smoothly.

However, the others were not as lucky. They landed in a mess, their bones almost scattered. Yet, they dared not make a sound because the Cerberus, Fluffy, was still there. If they accidentally woke it up, it would be disastrous.

"Where are we? An underground chamber? I didn't expect such a place in the castle," Ron whispered, looking around.

"Didn't we guess before? This should be where Professor Dumbledore placed the Philosopher's Stone. Fluffy and the Devil's Snare are probably there to prevent invasions," Hermione explained in a hushed voice.

No, the Devil's Snare was designed by Professor Sprout to prevent you from falling straight to your death... Evan complained silently in his heart.

At the same time, Evan noticed this was a long corridor. The gray stone walls around were covered with moss and vines, indicating it was not a temporary space, but rather an existing one inside Hogwarts. Perhaps Dumbledore just slightly modified it.

To avoid possible conflict with Fluffy, who might wake up at any time, Evan had no choice but to continue forward.

The end of the corridor was a room. Through the light, they could see the wooden door had been blasted open, and round keys lay scattered on the ground.

"Somebody got here before us... He first cast a fire spell, then blew open the wooden door!" Hermione picked up a key, which showed signs of being scorched by flames.

"It must be Quirrell!" Evan's face darkened. It made sense why Fluffy was asleep when they entered; the Cerberus may have been hit by a Stupefy Charm, or Quirrell may have used a Transfiguration spell to create a flute.

Considering these flying keys, Evan guessed it was probably the former because the intruder didn't seem to have any intention of playing these puzzle games. He was likely very irritable and didn't hesitate to expend large amounts of magic to break through forcibly...

Was it because of him?

Evan felt a bit guilty...

"But Evan also wondered, where did Quirrell, or rather Voldemort, get the courage to enter Hogwarts again? And how did he get in?

"We should go tell Professor Dumbledore quickly!" Harry urged anxiously.

But after speaking, the four realized that today, with the Minister for Magic, Fudge, visiting Hogwarts, Dumbledore and McGonagall, as the headmaster and deputy headmaster, must accompany him throughout and couldn't get away...

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