SWNOVELXO Chapter 131: Secret Passage
## Chapter 131: The Secret Passage
For the first Defense Against the Dark Arts class of the new semester, Lockhart seemed to have learned his lesson from yesterday's failure, as he didn't bring in any creatures he couldn't handle himself.
He gave everyone half an hour to take a quiz, then spent the rest of the time critiquing it, occasionally having students open his books to read "remarkable" passages.
That is, parts that highlighted his strength, bravery, and indomitable spirit.
He easily coasted through the entire class this way.
Even so, when class ended, a few students still gathered around Lockhart, asking for his autograph.
"If the next class is like this again, I might try to call in sick," Michael grumbled to Wade, then asked, "By the way, I thought you wouldn't take that quiz seriously!"
"There are some books I want to borrow in the Restricted Section," Wade said.
"What's so hard about that? I've never met anyone as vain as this guy."
Michael said, pulling out a few pieces of parchment. He used a duplicating charm to copy Lockhart's photo from the textbook cover, then called out to Padma.
"Padma, Wade wants a few of Lockhart's autographs, can you help him get them?" Michael asked.
Padma tossed her braid back confidently and said, "Leave it to me!"
Today, she also wore a phoenix-shaped badge on her collar, and the tiny blemishes on her skin were invisible. She looked radiant and dazzling.
Padma approached Lockhart like the other girls, and soon returned with a few "signed photos."
"Just ask me anytime you need anything," she said with a flourish, handing the pieces of parchment to Wade. "All I have to do is giggle, and he'll sign a hundred of them without even looking closely!"
Michael gave a thumbs-up. "Thanks to you, it wouldn't have been so easy for us."
Wade touched his Wand, and the duplicated photos all vanished, leaving only Lockhart's flamboyant signature.
He couldn't help but smile.
He was in a good mood, but not because he had obtained blank signed slips.
As they left, Michael nudged him with his shoulder and whispered, "Easier than you thought, right?"
"Wade, don't always try to solve everything by yourself. You can rely on us too."
"Sometimes something that's very difficult for one person can be quite simple for someone else, right?"
...
Wade woke from a strange, vivid dream, pushed open the window, and fresh, damp air poured in, clearing the stuffiness from the room.
It seemed to have rained last night, as the windowsill was wet.
He remembered the faceless figures in his dream...
He remembered how his father in his past life had once lost everything after guaranteeing a loan for a "brother."
He remembered how his "friend" in college had stolen his research results and published them first, then deleted the data from his computer, accused him of plagiarism, and even incited internet trolls to cyberbully him.
There were some things Wade thought he had long forgotten, but they were actually etched in his heart.
But Michael and Theo's words also echoed in his mind.
Friends...
Children find it easy to trust, but the older you get, the harder it becomes.
However, suspecting everything and trusting everything are equally wrong... Without trust, loyalty and friendship will eventually fade away.
He took a deep breath, exhaling the accumulated bitterness that had weighed on his heart for so long.
...
After class that afternoon, Wade and Michael went near the hunchbacked, one-eyed witch statue on the fourth floor. They leaned by the window, and after a few students in the corridor left, Wade said, "I'm leaving now."
Michael nodded. "If anyone looks for you, I'll cover for you."
He pretended to admire the scenery, checking for anyone approaching, while Wade tapped the stone witch with his Wand and whispered, "Separation of Left and Right."
The statue's hump immediately opened, revealing a narrow passage.
Wade waved to Michael and quickly stepped inside.
Michael watched the Secret Passage close, then shoved his hands in his pockets and slowly walked downstairs, just as he brushed past Filch.
The caretaker stared gloomily at him. Michael nodded at him, and out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a few Slytherin students. His eyes lit up, and he immediately headed towards them.
...
Wade first slid down a long, sloping stone slide, then continued along the damp, cold Secret Passage. The ground was rough and uneven, seeming not to have been man-made.
It was dark and quiet all around, with only the tip of his Wand emitting a bright light.
The Secret Passage was long; it took over an hour of walking before Wade saw a long flight of stairs. These stairs extended far upwards, appearing to have hundreds of steps.
Fortunately, he only had to climb it this one time.
Wade grumbled to himself, resignedly climbing the stairs. After an unknown amount of time, he saw a Trapdoor above his head.
Wade pushed open the Trapdoor, and a hand reached down from above, grabbed Wade's arm, and pulled him out.
Lupin cast a Scouring Charm, cleaning the dirt off himself, and asked with a smile, "That wasn't an easy journey, was it?"
Wade took a moment to catch his breath before replying, "Much longer than I expected."
He felt like his legs weren't his own anymore.
Fortunately, he was still young... or perhaps it was the added benefit of being a Wizard, but after a moment, Wade felt significantly recovered.
"That Secret Passage is indeed long and difficult to navigate," Lupin said. "Actually, there's also a Secret Passage under the Whomping Willow that leads to the Shrieking Shack. If you press the knot on the tree, it'll stop attacking."
"If the Vanishing Cabinet is repaired, I won't need a Secret Passage," Wade said.
"Why is it so important to repair the Vanishing Cabinet?" Lupin asked. "You know, compared to a Secret Passage, the Vanishing Cabinet always carries some risk."
"But a Secret Passage only gets me around Hogwarts. If I want to go somewhere further, there won't be enough time," Wade explained. "And even for regular classes, I don't want to spend too much time traveling."
Lupin didn't ask where he wanted to go; he was a very discreet person.
"Pay attention," Lupin said. "I'll cast a Disillusionment Charm on you."
He tapped Wade's head with his Wand. Wade closed his eyes, feeling a cold sensation flow into his body from the top of his head.
Wade looked at his hands; no matter how he moved, his body's color would match the surroundings perfectly.
It was as if he were invisible.
Perhaps only someone with extremely sharp vision would be able to detect the subtle distortion.
"Let's go," Wade said. "After we repair the Vanishing Cabinet, I hope to learn this spell before returning to school on Sunday."
"It's not easy; it involves advanced applications of the Transfiguration Spell. But if it's you... you might be able to do it," Lupin said gently, closing the Trapdoor and walking behind Wade.
They ascended the stairs, arriving behind the counter at Honeydukes. Lupin flicked his Wand, and a bottle on a shelf suddenly toppled over.
The owner, a balding middle-aged man, went to pick up the bottle, and Lupin and Wade took the opportunity to slip out.
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