Chapter 144 — It Must Be Her Who Killed My Cat

Chapter 144: Chapter 144 — It Must Be Her Who Killed My Cat

Chapter 144 — It Must Be Her Who Killed My Cat

"Come with me!"

Dumbledore took Mrs. Norris from Filch’s hands.

"Mr. Filch, Severus, and, of course, you."

His gaze passed over Vesey and Harry before he turned and walked ahead with a serious expression.

At that moment, Gilderoy Lockhart squeezed his way through the crowd. He glanced feverishly at the cat in Filch’s arms, a look of astonishment on his face.

Obviously, he wanted to find out what had happened up close.

If he knew enough details, he could write a book about it and claim that he had handled everything himself.

Wasn’t it just a matter of casting a few Obliviate charms?

Lockhart thought excitedly.

"My office isn’t far away. Headmaster, you can use my office!"

Dumbledore did not refuse.

"Thank you, Lockhart."

Dumbledore nodded at him.

Lockhart grinned.

"It’s no trouble, no trouble. But I think the cause of this cat’s condition is still open to question. It probably wasn’t caused by a few children..."

Vesey quickly raised her head.

"Professor, Mrs. Norris isn’t dead. She’s just been petrified."

Lockhart disdainfully shook his head.

"Oh, Vesey, what do I always tell you? This isn’t petrification. This is death..."

As he spoke, he led them to his office.

Dumbledore entered the office and sat down in a chair. He looked at Vesey and said,

"Vesey is right. Mrs. Norris has indeed been petrified."

Harry and the others looked at Lockhart with disdain.

This man was even worse than Vesey.

But Lockhart showed no embarrassment whatsoever. He immediately changed his tune.

"Yes, she’s petrified. The moment I saw this cat, I knew she was petrified. I was merely testing Vesey just now..."

Snape gave Lockhart a sinister look, making Lockhart jump.

But he didn’t seem afraid at all. Instead, he patted Snape on the shoulder and laughed.

"Severus must feel inferior because he doesn’t know anything..."

Harry was stunned.

What a terrifying man!

Was Lockhart really not afraid of being killed by Snape?

If Harry saw Snape looking at him like that, he would have run as far away as possible. He never expected Lockhart to be so fearless.

Harry glanced at Lockhart sympathetically.

Hopefully, the man would still be alive to teach them tomorrow.

Hopefully!

Snape gave Lockhart a meaningful look before walking over to Vesey.

He said firmly,

"Dumbledore, I don’t think this has anything to do with Vesey. She can go back."

Vesey didn’t wait for Dumbledore to answer. She immediately turned to Snape and said apologetically,

"Professor, I can’t leave. My brother and the others are all here, and I am a suspect too. I’m willing to stay and cooperate with the Headmaster to find out the truth."

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

[...]

Snape fell silent.

He was a little stunned, and his heart ached for her.

After a long while, he said helplessly,

"It’s up to you."

Vesey immediately smiled happily.

"You’re so kind!"

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

Snape smiled.

Lily’s children were just too adorable.

He could never get enough of Vesey.

It would be even better if she were the child he and Lily had together.

But it didn’t matter.

Even like this, he was already very happy.

Lily...

I will definitely do everything I can to take care of your child.

As he thought happily, his eyes accidentally landed on Harry.

His expression immediately changed, and he looked away in disgust.

That one doesn’t count.

I really wish Lily had never given birth to this boy!

Dumbledore watched the exchange and helplessly shook his head.

He pointed his wand at Mrs. Norris and cast a series of diagnostic spells, but Mrs. Norris remained completely motionless.

At that moment, the door opened.

Professor McGonagall and the others finally arrived.

They examined Mrs. Norris and carefully investigated the strange condition of her body.

"She really isn’t dead!"

That was the conclusion everyone reached after examining her together.

Mr. Filch burst into tears.

He cried so pitifully, yet almost no one sympathized with him.

When he had insisted that Vesey was the murderer, he certainly hadn’t thought about being kind to her!

Vesey, on the other hand, seemed to sympathize with Filch.

She patted him on the shoulder, took out a handkerchief, and gently wiped away his tears.

"It’s all right. Mrs. Norris can still wake up. If I use..."

Before Snape could lose his temper, Dumbledore immediately raised his voice.

"All right, Vesey. I think there may be a better way to save Mrs. Norris. You don’t need to use your abilities like this."

Vesey could only lower her head, pretending to feel guilty.

Then, as though she had suddenly remembered something, she looked up in surprise.

"Can Mrs. Norris be cured by other methods?"

The corners of Snape’s lips curved upward.

"I suppose so. If you ask me—"

Before he could finish, Lockhart excitedly interrupted.

"I’ll do it! I’ll do it! I can handle this! It’s just a simple spell. I can wake Mrs. Norris right now!"

No one paid any attention to him.

Only Snape gave him a stern look.

Lockhart didn’t notice.

He continued introducing himself to everyone. In the portraits and photographs decorating his office, the many Lockharts all nodded vigorously whenever he spoke. One of them hadn’t even bothered to remove his hairband.

Dumbledore ignored Lockhart completely, treating him as nothing more than background decoration.

He looked at Vesey and the others.

"Now the situation is clear. Mrs. Norris is indeed not dead. She has been petrified, and she can be saved. I just want to know what happened..."

Filch immediately pointed at Vesey.

"I don’t know! But when I came over, I saw her pointing her wand at Mrs. Norris. She must have done it!"

Dumbledore shook his head.

"That is impossible. This requires extremely advanced magic."

"I don’t know how she did it, but you heard her yourself! She wanted to save my cat. If she didn’t do it, then why would she try to help me?"

Snape walked over and kicked Filch.

"Then by your logic, if I kick you, you must have done something wrong, right?"

Lockhart was startled by Snape’s sudden action.

He immediately shut his mouth.

The office became much quieter.

Vesey quickly stepped forward and grabbed Snape.

"Professor, don’t. Don’t fight..."

Snape nodded.

"I’m only making him examine his own logic."

He then looked at Filch, who had been kicked and was still struggling to recover.

"She helped your cat because she likes your cat. You said Mrs. Norris scratched her many times, yet she continued to hug her again and again. That is how much she cares about your stupid cat.

"Someone who loves cats this much—you accuse her of being the one who harmed a cat simply because she wants to save it?"

"Then why can she save her? So many students are here, and none of them can!"

Filch asked angrily.

Snape’s expression became slightly bitter.

He spoke softly,

"The problem is with her wand. As long as she truly wants to accomplish something, she can do it. The only price is that it will exhaust her magical power, potentially reducing her to a Squib. Dumbledore knows this as well. You can ask him."