0223 Secrets

0223 Secrets

"Where is your courage, Potter?"

When Professor Watson uttered these words, Hermione let out a sigh of relief, feeling a heavy burden lift from her shoulders. She finally understood that Professor Watson was not going to kill them, but just wanted to teach Harry a valuable lesson in his own unconventional way.

Harry realized this too, but his lips were dry and pale, and he couldn't utter a word. He looked like a lost soul, wandering in the dark.

'Yes, where is my courage?'

Harry asked himself, his thoughts racing. He had thought that his hatred for Black would make him disregard everything and take a life at all costs, but he found out that he was not as brave as he had imagined. He didn't even have the courage to kill a fake Black, a mere illusion created using a dummy.

"I'm sorry, Harry, I misled you."

Professor Watson, who sat down calmly on a nearby chair, said with a gentle smile, making Harry stunned. He stared blankly at the powerful young professor, who made him feel no resistance, and didn't understand why he apologized. Professor Watson had already taught him a harsh lesson, one that he would never forget.

"I guess, you must be resenting yourself in your heart for being a cowardly little wizard, who doesn't have the courage to kill a fake person made of dummy." Bryan's sharp eyes saw through Potter's inner turmoil.

"But in fact, I misled you, Harry. Killing a person, taking away a person's life, never depends on courage."

Hearing this, Harry's green eyes flickered, and he regained some vitality. He looked at Professor Watson with curiosity and confusion. Bryan's eyes swept over the three little wizards, who were somewhat stunned by his words, and his voice was calm and steady.

"The reason why you didn't kill the fake person just now was not cowardice, but kindness, Harry, Hermione and Ron. You three are very kind wizards, who don't want to deprive the lives of any living being. I bet, even for Black, who is extremely wicked and has a blood feud with you, in the depths of your hearts, you just hope that he can go back to Azkaban and continue to be imprisoned." He paused, and then added, "Or maybe, you hope that he can redeem himself, and prove that he is not the traitor that everyone thinks he is."

"But what's wrong with that, Professor Watson?" Hermione's thin body swayed, and her cheeks were pale. She felt a surge of emotion in her chest, and she spoke with a trembling voice. "The followers of You-Know-Who, those wizards who are called Death Eaters, they have hurt many people, they have killed many people, but the Ministry of Magic only imprisons them in Azkaban."

Hermione felt suffocated, and she couldn't go on, but she still insisted on saying. She wanted to defend the law, the law that she believed in.

"The law does not allow the death penalty, professor, that was abolished long ago. We can't take justice into our own hands, we have to respect the law."

"Law?" Bryan sneered, ready to say something, but considering that Harry and the others were just underage children, whose world was just this fairy-tale castle, Bryan shook his head. He decided not to shatter their innocence, not yet.

"As a young wizard who has not graduated yet, Potter, you have to understand that the gap between you and an adult wizard with outstanding magic skills is insurmountable. I remember I once shared my opinion with you three—power is power, it is a pure thing, no matter love or hate, or courage, they can't make your power increase by leaps and bounds in an instant. So, the result of you going to find Black for revenge is to make so many people who worry about your life and health suffer in vain, including your parent's sacrifice."

Only Hermione seemed to want to say something, hesitantly. She was torn between her loyalty to Harry and Ron, and her respect for Professor Watson. She knew that lying was wrong, but she also knew that telling the truth could have serious consequences.

"Professor–"

Under Professor Watson's eyes, Hermione finally took a deep breath, after hesitating for a long time. She decided to tell a partial truth, hoping that it would be enough to satisfy him.

"Harry. He is not-"

Harry and Ron looked at Hermione nervously, and raised their heads suddenly.

'Don't tell him about the map!' Hermione knew what Harry and Ron wanted to shout, through their eyes. She could see the panic and the pleading in their faces.

'This is for your own good, Harry–'

Hermione also responded firmly to Harry with her eyes.

"Actually, Harry, he, um, accidentally found a secret passage when he was walking around the castle. He was curious and went in. When he came out, he accidentally found himself in Hogsmeade."

Hermione was evasive, hiding the truth not to keep the magical map, but to avoid implicating Fred and George.

Hermione didn't tell everything, which made Harry and Ron sigh with relief, but their faces didn't improve much. Because now there was only one secret passage that could be used to sneak out of Hogwarts, and since Hermione had said it, Professor Watson would surely seal it off to prevent Black from entering the castle.

"Secret passage?" Bryan's expression became serious suddenly. He was surprised and alarmed by Hermione's revelation.

"Secret passage, But Argus told me that the four secret passages in the school had all been sealed by him?" He asked, his voice doubtful and suspicious.

"I think–" Under Professor Watson's fierce gaze, who had just shown his power, Harry couldn't keep silent. He felt that he had to say something, to support Hermione's lie, to make it more convincing. He followed Hermione's lead, and said bravely, hoping that Professor Watson would believe him.

"I think... I must have accidentally found a secret passage that Filch didn't know about."

*******************************

For More Chapters; /FicFrenzy