26. The Unspoken Rules Passed Down For Thousands Of Years

The Weasley twins faced the consequences of their arrogance.

At first, they were only threatening each other and didn't truly intend to seek revenge. They simply wanted to see Wayne humbled and begging for mercy.

However, Wayne managed to survive and was apprehended by Professor McGonagall, who had just arrived in the cafeteria.

McGonagall had suspected something was amiss when she spotted her little lion standing on the long table of Hufflepuff Academy. As I approached and heard what was happening, anger flushed my face.

Twins, who had been a student for only three years, had threatened a new student who had just arrived at the school.

When Wayne informed McGonagall about the twins' taunts, they brazenly claimed that they weren't even afraid of McGonagall finding out.

Not afraid, huh? I admire your willingness to risk everything rather than back down.

The punishment that was supposed to end after scrubbing the trophy three times was ironically doubled.

After cleaning the trophy, they were also required to make a handwritten copy of the life stories of notable Gryffindor alumni.

When they learned of this punishment, the twins were on the verge of fainting.

Three times! Those books combined must be at least a dozen inches thick!

The twins didn't care about seeking revenge against Wayne anymore. Under the stern gaze of Professor McGonagall, they returned to the Gryffindor table, crestfallen.

"You did it intentionally," Cedric declared with great certainty after witnessing the entire incident.

Wayne continued to calmly eat his sandwich and replied, "Everyone dies, and sometimes people just need a little help."

Cedric was left speechless.

How did this guy end up in Hufflepuff?

Sorting Hat, you must be blind!

After breakfast, Hermione energetically stood beside Wayne, while Norman and Toby silently gave him thumbs up from an angle that the young witch couldn't see.

It truly was incredible. I had a charming little witch following me around when I first arrived at school.

Though Hermione's hair was slightly disheveled, that was the only flaw. She was unquestionably the most adorable person ever, even without showing her teeth.

Other first-year students noticed their gathering and asked curiously.

In response, the group of students grew stronger, and more than a dozen little badgers surrounded Cedric. Out of desperation, he had to call a few friends to assist and they formed multiple teams.

Grandly, the group made their way towards the teaching area.

"There are a total of one hundred and forty-two staircases in the entire castle, and they can change shape and position at any given moment."

"Sometimes, you may be climbing the stairs from the third to the fourth floor, but as soon as you step on them, the stairs can change direction and carry you to the top floor."

"To be honest, I still haven't figured out the pattern after two years. Especially on Fridays, these stairs seem to have a mind of their own."Even senior students who are about to graduate sometimes get lost if they are not careful.

Cedric took Wayne and Hermione to the third floor, and his two roommates trailed behind the other seniors.

"Pay attention to this staircase. Don't use force or run when walking on it, otherwise it will take you directly to the eighth floor," Cedric warned.

"There are four more staircases like this... uh, I can't remember exactly, maybe there are more," Cedric added.

Hermione nodded vigorously and even took out a notebook to write it down.

Wayne, on the other hand, was a little bored.

"Cedric, are you just fooling your brother with this? Why don't you give me something useful?" Wayne complained.

"What do you mean?" Cedric looked at Wayne blankly, not understanding what he was referring to.

"Let's take a shortcut to the secret passage outside the castle," Wayne suggested.

"What are you talking about!" Cedric criticized Wayne: "How could I possibly know such a thing."

"Wayne, it's wrong to break school rules," Hermione seriously criticized Wayne's dangerous idea.

"If you haven't been caught, you haven't violated it," Wayne waved his hand, not caring.

Cedric patted Wayne on the shoulder, choosing not to respond.

He had figured out the school's most basic rules when he first entered and had gradually understood all of this only towards the end of last semester.

Many questions lingered in his mind. Why was Filch a squib and the school warden? Why was it that as long as students weren't caught in front of them, even if the teachers saw their backs, they wouldn't be deducted points or punished?

These were the unspoken rules of Hogwarts that had been passed down for thousands of years. It was a battle of wits and courage between teachers and students, and it served as a form of exercise.

Most people only grasped the secrets of this place after they graduated or even started a family, leaving them with regret for the missed opportunities and the many wonderful experiences they could have had.

Cedric smiled and said, "Since you say so, let me show you some of my tricks."

He led Hermione and Wayne to an empty picture frame and with three taps of his wand, the frame turned into a real door.

"Exit through here and you can reach the bushes near the Quidditch pitch."

"Time is limited, I won't take you to the next location."

Next, Cedric introduced two secret passages to Wayne. One led to the other side of the castle, which could be used to hide from Filch and his cat, Mrs. Norris, during a night trip. The other led from the fifth floor to the second floor, providing a means of travel.

Hermione's worldview gradually collapsed. She had originally thought Cedric was the same type of person as her, who loved learning and always ranked first every year.

But now, it seemed that wasn't the case at all.

"Okay, that's it for today. I have to head to the basement quickly. The first period is Potions class."As nine o'clock approached, Cedric hurriedly said his goodbyes and left.

"Let's go to the second floor," Wayne urged Hermione, who was still recovering slowly.

Their first lesson of the day was the joint History of Magic class, taught by Hufflepuff and Gryffindor.

Hermione followed the boy and couldn't help but complain, "This shouldn't be happening. Aren't rules supposed to be followed? Digory is a good student, so why would he..."

"This is Hogwarts," Wayne interrupted, turning around suddenly.

Hermione nearly clung to him in distress.

"Keep in mind that wizards have a very different worldview from Muggles. Many things that might seem excessive to you are insignificant in the magical world," Wayne explained.

"The same goes for the rules," Wayne impishly guided Hermione. "Do you want to follow the rules and miss out on the real Hogwarts experience, or do you want to develop your ability to evade teachers and explore this ancient castle?"

Hermione felt dizzy from the revelation, her mind going blank.

All she knew was that she subconsciously held onto Wayne's clothes to ensure she wouldn't get lost.

The two arrived at the classroom, where many people sat with excited expressions on their faces.

And then... a ghost floated through the wall and appeared at the podium.