The influence of the Horcrux.
Draco's suspicion was not baseless.
No one could guarantee that there had been absolutely no side effects after that contact, nor could anyone say for sure whether Voldemort had left behind some hidden trick that no one had noticed.
After all, a Horcrux was profound magic that involved the soul itself.
Leaving aside whether Draco, with his broad reading and elite education, fully understood that field, the truth was that even a wizard like Dumbledore would not dare claim that he completely understood magic like Horcruxes.
Anything involving the soul, whether as knowledge or practice, was far beyond what ordinary wizards could come into contact with.
And even among those who had encountered it, most would never dare study it deeply, much less attempt it personally the way Voldemort had.
Over time, it had gradually come to be regarded in the magical world as a true taboo...
Compared with dark magic like the three Unforgivable Curses, which were openly forbidden, knowledge related to the soul was even more feared and rejected.
Some people had even deliberately concealed the very existence of such magic.
It was as if there were wizards working behind the scenes, quietly allowing this kind of magic to disappear little by little into the river of time.
Probably only those wizards who had once specialized in this kind of magic, or families with deep enough foundations, knew even a little about it.
And as for why anyone would deliberately want it erased from public view.
It was probably because it was simply too dangerous, and far too uncontrollable.
Especially after Voldemort created Horcruxes and successfully returned to life through them...
It is like he has become a different person. Inside and out.
As a green beam of light shot past the corner of his eye, Draco found himself growing more curious about what had happened to Ron Weasley.
Could a Horcrux really influence someone that deeply?
Or was it because the one involved was Voldemort?
Whichever it was, one thing was certain now. The Ron Weasley in front of him was no longer the same Ron Weasley who used to love showing off and would blush bright red the moment everyone looked at him.
Especially not with that dark magic he was using so skillfully and without hesitation. The Ron from before could never have mastered magic like that, nor even had access to it.
But how exactly had that kind of change been brought about...
...
As he recalled the vivid dreams he experienced every night, Ron Weasley's face twisted more and more violently...
"Why? Why do all of you always look at me like that, like you are above me?!"
"....."
"I can do it too! I have talent too!"
He was not shouting, yet Draco could still hear the anger in Ron Weasley's voice, the anger he seemed to have suppressed for a very long time.
And beneath it, there was bitter resentment thick with hatred.
Draco, however, paid no attention to Ron Weasley's rage. His mind was focused on something else.
This is different from last time. He still seems conscious.
Unlike the diary from before, it was obvious that Ron Weasley still had his own thoughts. He did not look like someone being directly controlled by the soul inside a Horcrux.
If anything, it was more like he was being influenced by someone...
"That person... it is Voldemort, isn't it?"
Hearing Draco mutter to himself, Ginny grabbed his robe and tugged hard.
"...Do you know something, Draco? Tell me, quickly!"
"Even if I do, this is not the place to talk."
He did not think he had any obligation to explain anything to Ginny, but sensing that she was on the verge of losing control, Draco still gave an answer that was neither confirmation nor denial.
What Draco did not say was that he did not believe Dumbledore could have failed to notice the changes in Ron Weasley.
In fact, it was very possible that Dumbledore had deliberately allowed it to happen...
...
Just after Ginny was calmed down, another wizard suddenly forced his way between Draco and Ron during a gap in their fight.
And from the newcomer's attitude, it was obvious which side he was on.
"What are you two doing?! Ron, stop it right now! Why are you attacking Ginny?!"
"Was this your doing, little Malfoy?!"
And the moment that wizard appeared, it was as though some switch inside Ron Weasley had been triggered.
Ron, who had looked frenzied only a second ago, suddenly clutched his head and let out an utterly chilling scream.
That abrupt reaction made Draco instinctively glance down at Harry Potter, who had already passed out below.
"Ah! It hurts!"
"Ron?!"
Ron Weasley's body wavered, then dropped sharply toward the ground in the next instant.
As for taking the chance to finish him off, Draco could only give up on that tempting idea the moment another figure moved in to block him.
"Did they switch people?"
"No they did not, so can you please stop talking for a second!"
"Ginny, why are you with..."
"Wait, Draco is not on the Death Eaters' side. This is all a misunderstanding."
The one who had appeared and caught Ron after he suddenly lost consciousness was naturally one of Ginny's closest family members.
Now caught between both sides, Ginny was anxiously trying to explain the whole situation, but in her panic she had no idea where to begin.
And just like a scene in a play, the moment one side entered, the other side appeared as well...
"Arthur Weasley, what do you think you are doing to Draco?!"
"You! Lucius Malfoy!"
Yes.
The wizards who had just appeared were Ginny's parents and her other two older brothers, not counting the Weasley twins.
Arthur and Molly Weasley, Ginny's eldest brother Bill Weasley, and her second brother Charlie Weasley, the one who had caught Ron.
And above Draco, arriving with a large group of wizards, were Lucius Malfoy, who had just reached the scene, and Narcissa Malfoy, whose face was full of fear and worry.
If you looked carefully, you could also spot Kreacher, who had just disappeared into the air, along with Crabbe and the others blinking over in this direction.
Clearly, Lucius and the others had received information from someone about this place and about what was happening here.
Just as Draco froze for a moment, a tense cry sounded in his ear...
"Draco!"
"Looks like everything is fine now."
It was a familiar figure who should not have been here.
Looking up, he saw them.
Pansy and Astoria, both carefully protected...
At this point, just about everyone was here.