Harry Potter and the Hidden Treasure (Volume 3)

Chapter 525 The Ferret!

"Harry, are you alright?" Evan inquired anxiously.

"I'm fine, Ron is quite hurt. Malfoy spoke ill of his parents, he's furious!"

Evan, Harry, and Hermione helped Ron to his feet, the poor boy was completely knocked out by Goyle and Crabbe. Both were ruthless. Ron's face was bruised, and his school robe was covered in footprints.

There was a silence born of terror in the entrance hall as everyone gazed at Moody.

Goyle and Crabbe stood there staring at the trembling white ferret on the floor, not daring to move.

"Three of you better take Mr. Weasley to the school hospital. I'll take care of things here!" Moody said, his normal eye fixed on Evan, the other pointing toward the back of his head.

Evan and Harry struggled to help Ron up. They hadn't left yet when they heard another roar coming from their side.

"LEAVE IT!" Moody shouted.

Crabbe was about to pick up the white ferret, but when he heard Moody's shout, he was so frightened that he remained frozen.

Moody began to limp towards Crabbe, Goyle, and the ferret, waving his wand vigorously.

The white ferret let out a terrified squeal and dashed off towards the dungeons.

"I don't think so!" Moody roared, pointing his wand again at the ferret.

The white ferret soared ten feet into the air, landed with a thud on the ground, then bounced back up again.

"I dislike people who attack when their opponent's back is turned," Moody growled as the ferret bounced higher and higher, squealing in pain. "A vile, cowardly thing to do..."

The ferret flew through the air, its paws and tail thrashing impotently.

"Never... do... that... again-" Moody said, enunciating each word as the ferret hit the stone floor and bounced back up again.

"Professor Moody," a surprised voice said.

Professor McGonagall was descending the marble staircase, her arms full of books.

"Hello, Professor McGonagall," Moody said calmly, making the ferret bounce even higher.

"What, what are you doing?" Professor McGonagall said, her eyes following the ferret's progress bouncing in the air.

"Teaching," Moody said.

"Teaching... Moody, is that a student?" Professor McGonagall exclaimed, books spilling from her arms.

"Yes," said Moody.

"Good Lord!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed, rushing down the stairs and drawing her wand.

A moment later, with a loud crack, Draco Malfoy had reappeared.

He lay in a heap on the floor, his silky blond hair tousled and his face now brightly pink.

After a while, he got to his feet, groaning.

"Moody, we never use Transfiguration as a punishment!" Professor McGonagall said in frustration, "Surely Professor Dumbledore has told you that, hasn't he?"

"Perhaps he mentioned it..." Moody said, scratching his beard nonchalantly, "but I thought a good fright was necessary. Look what they've done to that boy."

Professor McGonagall looked at Ron standing next to him, supported by Evan and Harry, and gasped anew...

"Who can tell me what's going on?" Her mouth was tightly pursed.

"Three against one, and in a surprise attack, I saw it all from the stairs!" Moody said hoarsely.

"Well, 20 points deducted from Slytherin, Mason, Potter, take Mr. Weasley to the school hospital, and you too, Miss Granger!" Professor McGonagall turned to look at Moody, frowning. "Moody, what Mr. Malfoy did is wrong, but we usually don't use Transfiguration as a punishment. We give detentions or speak to the head of your House."

"Then I will," Moody said, staring at Malfoy with great disdain.

Malfoy, whose pale eyes still held pain and humiliation, glared malevolently at Moody and muttered something in which the words "my father" could be discerned.

"Really?" Moody said in a low voice, limping forward a few steps, the dull thud of his wooden leg echoing in the hall. "Well, I've known your father for a long time, boy... Tell your father that Moody is keeping a close watch on his son... tell him that from me... Now, your Head of House will be Snape, right?"

"Yes," Malfoy said resentfully.

"Another old friend," Moody growled. "I've been looking forward to having a chat with old Snape... Come on, you..." And he grabbed Malfoy's arm, pointed his wand at Goyle and Crabbe, and marched them off towards the dungeons.

Professor McGonagall watched them intently for a few moments and then waved her wand towards their fallen books, causing them to rise in the air and return to their arms.

"Please make your way to the school hospital promptly," she sighed and said, "The rest of you, hurry to dinner. Do not linger here."

Evan, Harry, and Hermione escorted Ron to the hospital, and on the way, the three continued discussing the matter.

"I can't believe Moody turned Malfoy into a ferret; it's a shame Ron didn't see it," Harry remarked.

"Professor McGonagall said it was wrong; you can't punish a student with Transfigurations," Hermione stated, "He could have seriously injured Malfoy. Luckily, Professor McGonagall stopped him in time."

"It's Malfoy, Hermione," Harry pointed out to Ron. "They made Ron end up like that, and they deserved to be punished."

"But..."

"Moody doesn't care about the school rules. He has his own set of principles," Evan remarked. "And he fears no one."

He had to admit that Caresius really acted like Moody, and what had happened was exactly what Moody would do.

As long as this continued, the entire school should focus on him, creating opportunities for Barty Crouch Jr. to act.

It was also uncertain who was impersonating Barty Crouch Jr. and it was a real issue to find him as soon as possible. But Evan had no idea who might be hiding.

Even if he hid well, he still wanted to get Harry out of school. Sooner or later, he would make his move and be discovered.

At that moment, if Evan played his cards right, he should be able to approach him and get even more information from him...

After taking Ron to the school hospital, Madam Pomfrey quickly healed him.

Ron woke up, and everyone told him what had just happened.

Even upon learning that Moody had turned Malfoy into a bouncing ferret, Ron didn't feel much better.

"It's what he deserved, isn't it?" Ron said, clenching his fist tightly, "He insulted my parents so much that any kind of punishment is not enough for him. I really want to be stronger and then teach Malfoy a lesson, as well as Goyle and Crabbe, turning all three into slugs and trampling on them!"