Harry Potter: Reborn as a Prisoner in Azkaban

Just as William feared, Hagrid showed little concern for the second chicken victim. William even believed that if Adams hadn't brought the news back to the castle, Hagrid might not have even known about the second chicken's death.

So, apart from learning that the posture of the second dead rooster was almost identical to the first, William didn't get any useful information from Hagrid.

After politely declining Hagrid's invitation to go shopping together, William walked away deep in thought.

I'll investigate the twins instead; I think my initial guess was wrong. The two of them have no reason to commit a second offense.

Unlike last time, when the twins' whereabouts were difficult to trace, William was now fully aware of how active the students serving detention had been during their free time in recent days. They had practically been glued to each other, with everyone fully informed of one another's movements. By pretending to check on their investigation's progress and calling them in for a brief chat, William could easily deduce whether the twins had had any opportunity to commit the act.

***

"Good afternoon, Mr. Green."

William sat at his desk, greeting the slightly nervous student standing before him. Perhaps it was because this was the first time the boy had been called into the office without being in trouble, but Green appeared visibly tense.

"Good afternoon, Professor."

"I trust you received the note I sent? There's no need to worry. I called you here today to ask about your progress on the investigation."

As he spoke, William pushed a plate of candies across the desk, doing his best to appear kind and conceal his true intentions.

"We've investigated many secret passages and empty rooms. We even discovered a passageway that no one seemed to know about before—" Green's face lit up with excitement as he spoke. It was clear that exploring the school under the guise of investigation thrilled them.

"But, Professor, we haven't found anything like what you described… Something resembling, um, a dark ritual. There are no signs that anyone else has been in those places."

Green tried to hide his disappointment, but William could tell that the boy's confidence in the investigation was waning. Truth be told, it was already impressive that this group of pranksters had sustained their enthusiasm for a full week.

I was too careless in my previous investigation. Fortunately, these kids have been persistent, which means the second round of investigation can rule out many areas. I need to boost their morale; maybe a small party to reward them?

Professor McGonagall had allocated a generous budget for compiling the school's history, and this funding was renewed annually. A small party's expenses could easily be charged to the same account, just like the budget Percy had received. While handing out money to students serving detention was out of the question, rewarding them with a party for excellent performance was perfectly justifiable.

After all, investigating paranormal activity within the school is a service to Hogwarts. Using the same budget is entirely reasonable.

Having made up his mind, William's smile grew even warmer. "So, you've investigated many places but still haven't found anything? That's a bit troubling. Are you continuing your investigation today?"

"Of course, Professor. We've been using almost all of our free time for this."

Green's tone carried a hint of pride, as if to say, 'Even if we haven't accomplished much, we've worked hard.'

"Is there anyone particularly diligent among you? I'm not accusing anyone of slacking off—I've heard from Mr. Filch about how hard you've been working. I just want to know if there's anyone who hasn't taken a single break. I'm considering reducing their detention time a bit more as a reward."

William dangled a carrot in front of him. Asking outright about slackers would only yield falsehoods, but rewards? Those would prompt more honest answers, aside from potential bias toward close friends.

"Definitely the Weasley twins. They've been leading the group and investigating late into the night every day."

Green's response was immediate.

William had initially considered probing subtly if the twins weren't mentioned, but that was now unnecessary.

"They've been that dedicated?" William feigned surprise, rising from his desk. "Thank you, Green. Could you please inform the others involved in the investigation? I'm planning to host a party Saturday evening to thank you all for your hard work. Detention will be canceled that night, and I'll notify you about the venue later. If you don't have other plans after the cancellation, I'd like everyone to attend."

"A party?" Green was momentarily stunned. Any lingering frustration from a week of fruitless investigation vanished instantly.

"Indeed, a simple party to express my gratitude for your efforts this past week. Of course, those who choose not to attend won't have to serve detention that evening either. They're free to do as they please."

Only a fool would skip this!

That thought immediately flashed through Green's mind. For students like them, who rarely received rewards, even avoiding point deductions was cause for celebration. A party held specifically for them? How could they possibly miss it?

Although the Professor's face still maintained the same smile as before, Green suddenly understood what the other girls meant when they said, 'Professor William has a really handsome smile.'

That smile is truly dashing!

This thought lingered in Green's mind as he left the office, entirely unsure of how he had managed to walk out.

***

[Eliminating the unlikely possibility that these kids are covering for each other, the daily movements of the Weasley twins are now confirmed. Tomorrow's party will serve as a final check, and my earlier assumptions can then be overturned.]

William absentmindedly scribbled on a piece of parchment with his quill as he pondered his next steps in the investigation.

And then there's tonight—the entrance to the Gryffindor common room is a portrait. I can easily ask whether anyone entered or exited after lights-out on Friday night. That will also rule out the Weasley twins as suspects once and for all. However, I'll probably need Professor McGonagall's help. Without her, the lady in the portrait might not cooperate.

As for the party, I'll need to figure out how to organize it. I certainly don't have enough servants to pull it off, but perhaps I could ask the house-elves for suggestions or assistance.

He stood up and ran his hands through his hair, feeling as though everything was tangled into a chaotic mess. He truly didn't know where to begin.

Killing a rooster; twice in a row. Even if he didn't kill them, wouldn't Hagrid and Adams have eventually eaten those roosters anyway?

I'll start by submitting a request to Professor McGonagall. I need to ask the portrait for clues. I'll also check with Filch again. If no other avenues present themselves, I'll have to resort to the most tedious methods. Hopefully, this won't end up being a waste of effort.

William sighed, unwrapped a piece of chocolate, and hesitated for a moment before breaking off just a small piece and popping it into his mouth. He had a feeling he was going to be relying heavily on chocolate in the coming days.

I hope this matter resolves soon. If there isn't a breakthrough soon, I might have to ask Singed for some of his latest product.

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