Hogwarts: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me From Studying-Chapter 639 - 30: Killing Forest

The raindrops splattered on the leaves, flowing down thin branches, as the small trees swayed back and forth as if in agreement.

The man gently touched the tree crown, a satisfied yet cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

His whole body was shrouded in a pitch-black raincoat, only a small part of his face visible, obscuring his features.

Beside him, countless tall trees encircled him like silent giant guards or an impenetrable cage.

The man seemed to say something, but it was inaudible, his mouth opening and closing, while the rain splattered on the pooled water, creating circles of ripples.

Suddenly, a root like a giant python slammed down on the ground with a "splash," water splashing everywhere, startling him into stepping back instinctively.

In that retreat, it suddenly felt like he was stepping into air, a strong sensation of weightlessness surged over him, and Vid suddenly woke up.

He lay on the bed, still feeling a sense of uncontrolled descent and heart palpitations.

After a few seconds, Vid realized that the sound of rain was not only loud in his dream but also audible by his ear.

A night had passed, and the rain hadn’t stopped.

His palm swept forward, revealing a string of golden characters in the air, showing the current time.

[07:05]

Seven in the morning, Kreacher should have already prepared breakfast, wondering if the match had ended, whether Lupin and the others had returned.

As Vid pondered, he got up and dressed, unconsciously recalling the strange dream before waking.

Rainy night, giant tree, a wizard in a black robe.

This must be a case of thinking by day and dreaming by night, perhaps?

Vid casually glanced at the desk and saw the book, "Historical Quidditch World Cup," which he had read before bed for leisure, still lying open, the page featuring a simple black-and-white illustration matching what he had seen in his dream.

Beside it, in black font, was a title —

[Attack of the Killing Forest].

...

"Master Vid is awake! Kreacher has already prepared breakfast!"

Kreacher saw Vid, and eagerly approached, saying while opening Vid’s chair at the table.

Looking at the empty long table, Vid asked, "They haven’t returned yet?"

"The master, young master Harry, and Mr. Lupin haven’t come back because the match hasn’t ended."

Kreacher said, "Kreacher has already sent breakfast over, Master Vid should eat!"

Vid nodded, not asking further.

After eating breakfast and leaving the tent, the camp was still quite quiet, only a few government officials patrolling and some parents with young children preparing breakfast.

Most of the kids couldn’t stay awake through the match, and their parents likely returned to the tents early for rest last night. Besides the match, camping itself is quite fun.

The sky hadn’t cleared, the gray clouds hanging low, and the fine rain fell like needles, splashing like pearls.

The children, clad in raincoats, hopped around in the muddy puddles, laughing like a bunch of sleepy piglets.

Vid stood outside for a while but didn’t return to the tent to continue reading and instead walked towards the match venue.

It wasn’t the curiosity about who won; he knew Bulgaria’s team would surely win.

Vid simply wanted to see what state the players of both teams, soaked all night in the rain, were competing in at this moment. Would the audience still be as enthusiastic as before?

Walking through tents, he suddenly spotted a tent patched with fur, causing him to pause.

Recalling his nervousness last night, Vid couldn’t help but laugh at himself slightly and walked over, ready to check out the small tree that startled him.

However, beside the tent, it was empty.

Vid hesitated for a moment, looking at the brown-gray animal tail hanging by the door and the uniquely sewn pattern he confirmed was the spot he passed by last night.

Looking down, there was a small muddy pit beside the tent, now filled with rainwater, rippling with circles of waves.

It somewhat resembled the scene in his dream.

But who would be so bored as to uproot a tree in the camp?

Looking around, Vid noticed the cooking smoke rising amidst the drizzle, feeling speechless.

Could it be someone got up early to cook, too lazy to find firewood in the forest, and decided to use what was around?

Although technically trees can’t be ignited, magic can easily defy common logic.

Glancing at the nearby gray-green forest, Vid then headed toward the stadium.

At the entrance, the staff responsible for checking tickets leaned tiredly against the wall, barely glancing before waving Vid in.

He walked up the stairs, pushed open the booth door, and saw two adults slumped while Harry remained excited.

"You’re just in time, Vid." Harry said happily, "The visibility has improved, and I think they’ll soon catch the Golden Snitch and decide the victor!"

Really? Why do they look like they’re about to collapse?

Vid glanced at the pale athletes and asked, "Did you watch the match all night without any sleep?"

"What? Of course not!"

Harry replied without hesitation, keeping his binoculars on the two seekers, especially the Bulgaria Team’s Krum.

The eighteen-year-old athlete demonstrated remarkably superior flying skills and a fiercely determined competitive spirit, becoming Harry’s idol, even though he hadn’t caught the Golden Snitch yet.

"What about you, Vid?" Sirius yawned and asked, "Did you sleep well last night?"

"Pretty good, slept through the night, and in the morning had a strange dream about the Killing Forest," Vid replied casually.

"Killing Forest?" Harry turned his ear a bit, curiously asking, "What’s that?"

"It was the most notorious match in Quidditch World Cup history."

Even Sirius knew about it, showing more energy, eagerly sharing with Harry:

"About two hundred years ago, during the finals between Romania and New Spain, a bad-tempered Romanian player clashed with teammates, referees, and opponents, and as victory seemed out of reach, he allied with a Dark Wizard to cast an evil curse over the entire forest."

Lupin also knew this history, adding: "They say that then, the trees in the forest suddenly came alive, and they surged towards the stadium, trampling mercilessly, causing countless deaths and injuries. Even the one who cast the evil curse wasn’t spared, killed by a violent spruce."

Harry was silent for a moment, envisioning the scene of towering trees charging into the crowd and slaughtering, momentarily forgetting to watch the match.

He murmured, "...You call that ’bad-tempered’?"

Vid asked curiously, "What spell did that person use to wield such power?"

"Who knows?" Sirius spread his hands, "Such a dangerous spell was likely classified as a Forbidden Curse at the time, prohibiting anyone from learning it. The Ministry of Magic would seal all related information to prevent any lunatics from imitating it again."

Indeed, it should only be sealed, not permanently destroyed.

Vid instinctively thought.

In the nineteenth century, large-scale witch hunts had ended, only occasional persecution persisted in remote areas.

But the Ministry of Magic would always keep that spell, in case of another large-scale war, especially if Wizards were at an absolute disadvantage, allowing forests worldwide to turn into ’soldiers’ for the Magic World.

The only issue is these ’soldiers’ seem to indiscriminately attack, capable of eliminating Wizards too...