Chapter 115: The Perfect Alibi! This Wave is a Massive Win!
Draco shook his hand.
"The show is over. Time to clean up."
He murmured softly, his gaze sweeping over the chaotic battlefield.
First, there was the Basilisk, which lay like a small mountain in the drainage channel.
Its entire body was covered in highly poisonous, bright green scales, each one worth a considerable sum.
Its venomous fangs were also excellent materials for crafting top-tier Dark Arts artifacts and Potions.
And its skin, its eyes, its blood... this was practically a moving Galleon treasury.
Leave it here for Dumbledore to find?
Or let those useless lot from the Ministry of Magic handle it, only for most of the benefits to end up in Fudge's pocket?
Draco scoffed.
A faint light, visible only to Draco, enveloped the Basilisk's massive body.
The next second, the giant beast, large enough to fill half the Great Hall, vanished into thin air.
The water surface in the channel shook violently for a moment, then quickly returned to calm, as if the monster had never existed.
In Draco's System Space, an independent storage slot labeled "Basilisk" appeared.
He nodded with satisfaction and moved toward the next target.
On Harry's right arm was the broken, dagger-sized Basilisk fang.
It was still deeply embedded in the flesh, and the surrounding skin had turned an ominous grayish-black color.
Draco squatted down, grasped the base of the fang without hesitation, and yanked hard.
"Pffft."
Accompanied by a dull thud, the fang was pulled out, bringing some flesh and blood with it.
Harry's unconscious body twitched involuntarily.
Draco didn't even glance at him, pulling out a clean white silk handkerchief to carefully wipe the blood from the fang.
Then, he took a small, pre-prepared alchemy box from his sleeve, which was engraved with Ancient Runes.
He carefully placed the sharpest and most venomous fang inside.
"Click."
The lid closed, perfectly sealing all the venom.
Only after completing all this did he turn his gaze to the "savior" lying on the ground.
Now, it was time to stage the scene.
He picked up the diary nearby, which had been pierced by the fang and was still oozing black liquid.
This was Riddle's Horcrux, and the source of the entire incident.
Draco gently placed the diary beside Harry's hand, adjusting the angle to make it look like Harry had stabbed it with his last ounce of strength.
Next, he grabbed Harry's feet and dragged him a few steps.
He changed his body posture from a passive fall to one of exhaustion after an active charge.
He even meticulously placed the sword of gryffindor back into Harry's relatively intact left hand, ensuring his knuckles gripped the hilt.
Done.
A hero image—one who battled the giant beast, cleverly destroyed the Horcrux, and finally collapsed from poisoning and exhaustion—was freshly created.
As for who truly destroyed the Horcrux and conveniently devoured Riddle's soul?
No one would ever know.
"Harry, you should thank me."
Draco stood up, looking down at him.
"I gave you the glory you desired most."
"Of course, you will also pay a price for this."
"For example, living forever within the script I wrote for you."
"Scourgify."
He waved his wand, and a powerful, non-verbal Cleaning Charm erased all the footprints, scents, and magical traces he had left behind.
Finally, he cast the advanced Disillusionment Charmagain, his figure completely merging into the surrounding shadows and moisture.
He silently retreated into the tunnel outside the core area of the Chamber of Secrets, preparing to confirm the subsequent developments... A few minutes later.
The magnificent figure of the Phoenix Fawkes appeared in the Chamber of Secrets. Its tears dripped onto Harry's wound, healing the fatal snake venom.
Harry slowly woke up.
He looked around blankly, his memory showing a distinct gap.
He only remembered stabbing the Basilisk with the sword, then being bitten by the fang, and finally... seeing a blurry figure.
"It was... Professor Dumbledore who saved me..."
He muttered to himself, his belief solidified.
He struggled to stand up, seeing Ginny lying on the ground and the destroyed diary.
The entire scene perfectly matched the "mutual destruction" script in his mind.
In the distance, Ron's shouting was heard.
"Harry! Are you here?"
Harry quickly responded, helped the still-unconscious Ginny up, and walked toward the sound.
Seeing all this, Draco, hidden in the shadows, was completely relieved.
He turned and silently left the tunnel leading underground, moving quickly toward the Slytherin Dungeon.
He stopped on the last corridor leading back to the Common Room.
He deliberately brushed against the wall a few times, allowing his meticulous black robes to pick up some dust and look wrinkled.
He raised his hand and messed up his neatly combed platinum-blond hair.
Finally, he adjusted his breathing rate, changing it from steady to rapid, his chest rising and falling slightly.
Having done all this, he put on a perfectly calibrated expression of anxiety and panic, and violently shoved open the stone wall entrance to the Slytherin Common Room.
"Bang!"
The loud noise startled everyone in the Common Room.
Pansy Parkinson was the first to rush over.
"Master! You're back!"
Seeing Draco's "disheveled" appearance, her eyes were full of worry.
"What happened?"
Draco leaned against the wall, gasping for breath, his face etched with lingering fear.
"I... I just went up to the second floor... trying to see if there were any clues..."
His voice carried a slight tremor, his performance flawless.
"Then I heard Professor McGonagall's voice... it sounded like... like they found the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets!"
The Common Room erupted in an uproar.
"Really?"
"What about the little Weasley girl?"
Draco shook his head, a look of "extreme" worry on his face.
"I don't know... I just heard chaos over there, and it sounded like someone was injured... I was worried our House would be implicated, so I rushed back to inform everyone!"
This statement perfectly explained why he was present and established his timeline as the "first eyewitness."
Just then, the system's cold prompt sounded in his mind.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the Host for completing the hidden mission: Chamber Hunter!]
[Mission evaluation: Perfect!]
[Processing mission settlement...]
[Reward received: Dark Lord's Pressure (Partial)!]
[Dark Lord's Pressure (Partial): You can release a trace of Dark Lord Voldemort's Soul Pressure. It has a powerful deterrent and suppressive effect on the weak-willed, low-level magical creatures, and some Dark Arts creatures.]
A cold and dominating power instantly merged into the depths of Draco's soul.
He could feel his spiritual power becoming more solid, as if he were wearing an invisible armor.
If he wished, a single glance could make the younger students' legs turn to jelly.
Draco lowered his head, letting his messy fringe cover his eyes.
No one saw the cold smile playing on his lips.
Just then, sensing something, he looked up toward the ceiling.
That was... the Principal's office.
The old fox was back.
Almost simultaneously, a dignified and clear voice, broadcast via magic, echoed throughout every corner of Hogwarts.
"All students, please return to your respective House Common Rooms immediately. Do not linger in the corridors!"
It was Professor McGonagall's voice.
But this time, her voice lacked the previous panic and instead carried the stability of relief.
"Harry Potter of Gryffindor, Ron Weasley, Ginny Weasley, and Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, please report to the Principal's office immediately."
"Mr. Draco Malfoy, prefect of Slytherin, I also ask you to come to the Principal's office."
His name was called.
The moment of judgment, or rather, the moment of performance, had finally arrived.
The Slytherin students all looked at Draco with worried eyes.
"Master, why is the Principal looking for you?" Pansyasked nervously.
Draco straightened up, tidied the robes he had intentionally messed up, and let the "panic" fade from his face, replacing it with the expression of a prefect.
"I don't know, but I think it's time to witness... the birth of a hero."
Leaving behind that meaningful statement, he turned and walked out of the Common Room, leaving the confused Slytherins to exchange glances.
Chapter 116: Confronting Dumbledore! Sorry, I Fooled You!
Harry woke up under Fawkes's tears, supporting the equally weak Ginny, and met up with Ron.
The three of them dragged the now-idiotic Lockhart, scrambling out of the secret passage in the second-floor girls bathroom.
Professor McGonagall and several Deans were waiting outside, looking at them with complex expressions.
The Principal's Office.
The Phoenix had already returned to its perch, leisurely preening its tail feathers.
The door closed behind them, and the atmosphere in the room was heavy.
Harry was covered in blood and mud; he tried his best to stand up straight and recounted the events in detail, especially about Tom Riddle and the diary.
When he reached the most critical part, he got stuck.
"...I only remember that I pierced the Basilisk's mouth with the sword of gryffindor, and its venomous fang also sank into my arm."
Harry rubbed his temples, looking confused.
"I thought I was going to die... what happened after is very blurry... it felt like a burst of power, and then... I passed out."
"When I woke up, the Basilisk was dead, and the diarywas destroyed."
His memory cut off here, a version carefully trimmed by Draco.
Professor McGonagall's heart tightened as she listened, her gaze toward Harry a mix of lingering fear and admiration.
"Potter, you... you killed an adult Basilisk all by yourself..."
A gentle voice interrupted her.
"Harry, you said there was a blurry burst of power?"
An old man was sitting in the office chair, though no one had noticed when he arrived.
A long silvery-white beard, half-moon spectacles, and a pair of blue eyes that seemed to see through everything.
Albus Dumbledore was back.
His gaze fell on Harry, scrutinizing every word of his story.
Harry felt a bit unnerved by his gaze and nodded.
"Yes, Professor. I... I'm not sure what it was."
Dumbledore didn't respond, his fingers tapping lightly on the desk, lost in thought.
A twelve-year-old boy, poisoned by a Basilisk's venom, relying on a "blurry burst" to counter-kill a thousand-year-old beast and conveniently destroying a Horcrux?
In this story, the most critical piece of the puzzle was missing.
The atmosphere in the office was tense when a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Dumbledore said.
The door opened, and Draco Malfoy walked in.
He had changed into clean robes, his platinum-blond hair was neatly groomed, and his face held the reserve expected of a Slytherin prefect.
"Mr. Principal, Professor McGonagall," he bowed slightly.
Then, his gaze turned to Ginny Weasley, who was hiding behind Ron, and his face showed just the right amount of concern.
"Miss Weasley, are you alright? When we heard you were taken, all of us in Slytherin were worried about you."
These words were flawless, expressing condolences while completely distancing Slytherin from the incident.
As soon as Ron saw his hypocritical behavior, his anger flared, and he opened his mouth to curse.
"Mr. Malfoy," Dumbledore spoke first, interrupting Ron.
"Please sit. I called you here to ask if you saw anyone suspicious near the second floor before you noticed the anomaly and returned to the common room?"
Draco's expression became serious.
"No, Mr. Principal. I just felt the corridor was unusually quiet, so I went to patrol out of my duty as a prefect and didn't see anyone."
"I didn't realize something had happened until I heard Professor McGonagall's broadcast."
His story was exactly the same as the one he had told the Slytherin students before.
Dumbledore watched him quietly, those blue eyes appearing bottomless.
Here it comes.
Draco's heart sank.
An invisible mental force crept over silently.
Wandless, silent.
Top-tier Legilimency.
Draco maintained his outward calm, even showing a hint of nervousness at the right time due to Dumbledore's gaze—a reaction a student should have.
But deep in his mind, that forged memory barrier was already in place.
Dumbledore's mental force touched the barrier.
He "saw" Draco's thoughts.
In the images, Hermione Granger lay stiffly on a hospital bed.
Draco's "inner self" was filled with worry for Hermione.
[Damn heir, how dare they target Hermione...]
[She's so smart, she must have discovered something...]
[If anything happens to her... I'll never let the culprit go...]
The scene shifted to the fear that Slytherin might lose points because of the Chamber of Secrets incident.
[If Father finds out we lost the house cup, he'll definitely be disappointed...]
[It's all Potter and his lot's fault. Why should our house bear the consequences?]
These thoughts perfectly matched the image of a Slytherin prefect who cared for his girlfriend and was extremely concerned about his house's honor.
Selfish, protective, yet hiding the genuine feelings of a young man.
Dumbledore's mental force circled around once and found no flaws.
He slowly withdrew his power.
Draco secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He had gambled correctly.
Although the old fox was strong, he also had his scruples. Without evidence, he couldn't forcibly tear through a student's mental defenses.
"Very well, Mr. Malfoy, thank you for your cooperation. You may go back now." Dumbledore's tone returned to being gentle.
"Yes, Principal."
Draco bowed politely and turned to leave.
As he reached the door, Dumbledore's voice rang out again.
"Oh, by the way, Mr. Malfoy."
Draco stopped and looked back.
"I'm sorry about Miss Granger. But rest assured, Madam Pomfrey has informed me that the mandrake potion will take effect soon."
"Perhaps tomorrow, you will see her alive and well."
Draco's face immediately lit up.
"Really? Mr. Principal! That's... that's wonderful!"
His voice even trembled with excitement.
This bit of acting left Harry and Ron in the office stunned.
Draco left with "joy."
The heavy wooden door closed behind him, and the smile on his face vanished, leaving only coldness.
In the office, Dumbledore withdrew his gaze.
Draco's thoughts were impeccable, but the slight doubt in his heart hadn't dissipated.
However, for now, stabilizing people's hearts and... clearing savior's name were the most important things.
He looked at Harry and gave a kind smile.
"Harry, although the process was somewhat convoluted, there is no doubt that you killed the Basilisk and saved the student who was taken."
"To commend you for such a great contribution that goes beyond school rules, I have decided to award GryffindorHouse two hundred points!"
"And Mr. Ron Weasley, you have shown extraordinary loyalty and friendship. Likewise, two hundred points for Gryffindor!"
Four hundred points!
This was enough for Gryffindor to overtake Slytherin and win the house cup!
Harry and Ron's breathing hitched for a moment; they looked at each other and saw the wild joy in each other's eyes.
But before they could cheer, the office door was pushed open again.
Lucius Malfoy walked in.
He leaned on his snake-headed cane, followed by several members of the Board of Governors with unpleasant expressions.
"Dumbledore!" Lucius's voice was cold. "I heard my son was called in for questioning?"
"Oh, Lucius," Dumbledore still smiled. "A routine inquiry. After all, something so significant has happened in the Castle."
"Significant?" Lucius sneered.
"I only know that under your management, Dumbledore, Hogwarts almost closed! Shouldn't you give the Board of Governors an explanation?"
While the two were at loggerheads, Draco returned.
He stood at the door, holding a thick book.
"Sorry, excuse me, Mr. Principal." Draco's expression was innocent. "On my way back, I suddenly remembered something."
He opened the book and pointed to one of the pages.
"According to 'Hogwarts: A History' and Article 32, Bylaw of the School Rules: 'Anyone who, due to serious disciplinary violations, poses a major threat to school property or student safety, regardless of their subsequent achievements, shall not receive special bonus points at the end of the academic year, as a warning to others.'"
Draco looked up, his gaze sweeping over Harry and Ron.
"I remember that at the start of the term, Potter and Weasley were publicly criticized by the whole school for driving a flying car into the Whomping Willow."
"That counts as a serious disciplinary violation and a major threat to school property, doesn't it?"
"Moreover, they trespassed into the Chamber of Secrets. Although the result was good, the act itself was a serious violation of rules and put them in grave danger."
His voice was clear and calm, echoing in the office.
The joy on Harry and Ron's faces froze.
Dumbledore's eyes narrowed as well.
Lucius looked at his son, a flash of approval in his eyes, and immediately followed up.
"My son is right! Dumbledore, if you dare to openly violate school rules to give Gryffindor points, we, the Board of Governors, have the right to immediately initiate dismissal procedures against you!"
The father and son worked in tandem, blocking all possibilities.
In the corner, Draco gave his father a mocking smile that others couldn't understand.
Harry stood there, not knowing what to do with his hands and feet. The hero's halo he had just acquired seemed utterly ridiculous in the face of the Malfoys' cold rules.
Then, an even more lethal voice came from the doorway.
Snape had also arrived at some point, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, saying slowly:
"Oh, by the way, Principal. I must add that the Riddlediary Potter destroyed in the Chamber of Secrets was a collection item from the Library's Restricted Section."
"According to regulations, damaging precious collection books requires a fifty-point deduction from their house."
This blow completely tipped the scales.
Dumbledore looked at the faces before him—Lucius's threat, Snape's finishing blow, and Draco's seemingly innocent but lethal citations.
He knew that today, these points could not be added.
"Very well..." He sighed, his voice sounding weary. "Slytherin has won this year's house cup."
Outside, cheers from the Slytherin common room could be heard faintly.
And Harry Potter, the "hero" who had just saved the school, could only watch helplessly as the glory that belonged to him was ruthlessly stripped away.
Just then, Madam Pomfrey from the Hospital Wing ran in hurriedly, her face full of joy.
"Principal! The mandrake potion has taken effect! Those petrified students have all woken up!"
This news was like a beam of light shining into the oppressive office.
Wild joy reappeared on Ron and Harry's faces.
"Hermione!"
The two of them called out the name at the same time.
But there was one person who was faster than them.
As soon as Madam Pomfrey finished speaking, a dark shadow flashed past the door, being the first to rush out of the Principal's office and sprint toward the Hospital Wing.
Chapter 117: Intimacy in the Ward, Hermione Under the Guise of Treatment!
Hermione's consciousness was trapped in darkness.
Her body wouldn't move, she couldn't feel it, only sounds could penetrate.
A familiar voice, there every day.
"Hermione, you need to get better quickly."
"Without you, the Library has become boring."
"The heir has been caught, you're safe now."
It was Draco's voice.
He seemed to have been keeping vigil by her side.
This voice was the only light in the darkness, sustaining her.
Now, control over her body was returning.
Her stiff limbs regained sensation, and her blood seemed to flow once more.
With all her strength, she opened her heavy eyelids.
Her blurry vision slowly cleared.
A handsome face filled her entire field of view, etched with exhaustion.
His platinum-blond hair was slightly disheveled, those grey-blue eyes were bloodshot, with faint dark circles beneath.
Draco Malfoy.
He sat by the bed, tightly holding her hand. Seeing her awake, irrepressible joy spread across his face.
"Hermione... you're awake?"
His voice was hoarse, trembling slightly.
Hermione's eyes instantly welled up.
So those voices were real.
During the days she was petrified, he really had come to be with her every day.
She wanted to speak, but her throat was too dry to produce a single syllable. She could only nod weakly.
"That's wonderful... you're finally awake!"
Draco leaned down, gently resting his forehead against hers.
His warm breath brushed her cheek, and Hermione's heart skipped a beat.
"I was so afraid... I'd never see you again..."
That whisper caused the softest part of her heart to completely crumble.
A wave of grievance and lingering fear surged up, and tears slid from the corners of her eyes.
"Don't cry, it's all over."
Draco straightened up, using his thumb to tenderly wipe away her tears, his movements as careful as if handling a priceless treasure.
"Madam Pomfrey said petrification can cause numbness. Let me check you over."
His voice was full of concern, brooking no refusal.
Hermione nodded obediently.
Draco's fingers, warm to the touch, moved from her smooth forehead, down the bridge of her nose, and paused on her slightly trembling lips.
Hermione's breathing hitched.
His fingers continued downward, tracing her chin, arriving at her slender neck.
The skin there was most sensitive. The brush of his fingertips sent a faint shiver through her.
Hermione instinctively flinched slightly, her cheeks flushed crimson.
"Don't move," Draco's voice dropped low, possessing a peculiar magnetism, "I'm using magic to warm and nourish your body, clearing the stagnant blood flow."
This reason left her unable to argue.
His fingers finally came to rest on the delicate hollow of her collarbone, just beneath the collar of her school robes.
The skin there was thin, allowing her to clearly feel her heart beating rapidly beneath.
Draco's fingertip traced slow, almost imperceptible circles there.
A wave of warmth seeped from the point of contact, spreading rapidly along her blood vessels.
Hermione's whole body went limp, unable to support itself any longer, and she leaned into that hand, her head gently resting in the crook of Draco's arm.
She closed her eyes, long eyelashes glistening with tears, yet her face wore an expression of peace and dependence.
[Ding!]
[Detected significant emotional breakthrough in target Hermione Granger: Physical and Mental Submission!]
[In-depth Communication Task Completed!]
[Congratulations, Host, for obtaining a special reward: Granger's Wisdom Bonus (Passive)!]
[Granger's Wisdom Bonus: Your learning ability, memory, and logical analysis receive a permanent minor boost. When conducting magical research or solving puzzles, there is a chance to trigger a 'Flash of Insight' effect.]
A triumphant smile tugged at the corner of Draco's mouth.
Just then.
BANG!
The ward door was violently shoved open.
"Hermione!"
Harry and Ron rushed in, panting and beaming.
The next second, their smiles froze on their faces.
What were they seeing?
Their good friend Hermione was nestled in the arms of their arch-enemy Draco Malfoy, like a docile kitten!
And Draco's hand was still resting on Hermione's collarbone!
The scene was an uncomfortably intimate sight.
Harry's recent self-satisfaction at being praised as a 'hero' by Dumbledore was doused by this cold water.
Ron's face flushed bright red, his eyes fixed furiously on Draco.
"Malfoy! You bastard! Get your filthy hands off Hermione!"
Ron roared, pulling out his broken wand held together with Spellotape, ready to charge forward.
Hermione, startled by the shout, abruptly pulled away from Draco's embrace, looking at the two at the door in alarm.
Draco, however, remained exceptionally calm.
He rose unhurriedly, straightening his robes, composed as a noble.
He didn't even glance at Ron, his gaze settling on Harry.
"Potter. Weasley."
His voice was flat, yet carried a condescending pressure.
"Is this how you show concern for a friend? Bursting in here like a pair of Trolls, shouting, just when she's woken up and needs quiet the most?"
Harry was left speechless by the question.
Draco took a step forward, shielding Hermione behind him.
This protective stance only fueled Ron's fury further.
"Don't you act all caring! What have you done to Hermione?"
"What have I done?" Draco sneered. "I did what you failed to do."
"For the weeks Hermione was petrified, I visited her every day, stayed by her side when she was most helpless."
"I was here to comfort her the moment she woke up."
His gaze sharpened, staring directly at Harry.
"And you, Potter? Busy playing the hero, basking in your savior fame, did you visit her even once?"
He turned to Ron, his eyes filled with contempt.
"And you, Weasley? What can you do besides useless rage? You can't even afford a proper wand. What are you going to protect your so-called friends with?"
Each word cut into them like a knife.
Their faces paled and flushed, because everything Dracosaid was true.
"Enough, Draco!"
Hermione tugged at his sleeve from behind, not wanting the situation to spiral.
To Harry and Ron, this action looked like she was defending him.
"Hermione! Why are you protecting him?" Ron cried out, unable to accept it. "He's a Malfoy! He used to call you..."
"He didn't!" Hermione finally cried out, tears streaming. "He was the first one to rush to the hospital wing after I was attacked! He hurt his hand because of me!"
She pointed at Draco's hand, still wrapped in bandages.
"He's the one who truly cares about me! Unlike you two, who only ever cause trouble for me!"
That sentence completely shattered Harry and Ron.
Hermione... blaming them, for Malfoy?
Draco watched the scene unfold, then raised a hand, making an elegant 'please' gesture.
"Now, if you gentlemen are quite finished, please leave. Hermione needs rest, not to listen to you argue."
With the demeanor of a Host, he gave them their dismissal.
Harry gave Hermione a deep look, his eyes full of disappointment and confusion.
Without a word, he turned and walked out of the ward.
Ron still wanted to say something, but seeing Harryleave, he could only glare furiously at Draco before following.
Finally, quiet returned to the ward.
Hermione watched the retreating backs of her two friends, tears falling again.
An arm gently pulled her into an embrace.
"There, don't be sad over people who aren't worth it."
Draco's voice sounded softly in her ear.
"From now on, you have me."
Hermione could no longer hold back, burying her face in his chest and sobbing loudly.
She didn't see, above her head, the cold, triumphant smile that spread across Draco's face.
The end-of-year feast was about to begin.
The Great Hall was already decked out in Slytherin's green and silver.
Dumbledore still wanted to play his last-minute point-awarding trick.
Unfortunately, he didn't know that on the chessboard, there was already a player who didn't follow the rules.
Chapter 118: Seven Consecutive Championships! Harry Potter's Mental State Collapses Again!
The Great Hall at Hogwarts was exceptionally lively tonight.
Starlight glittered on the enchanted ceiling, and the long tables of the four houses were laden with sumptuous dinner delicacies.
But everyone's gaze was focused on the huge banner hanging on the wall behind the faculty table.
Displayed there was the Silver Serpent Crest of Slytherin, and the green color representing victory.
The Slytherin table had already erupted into a sea of joy.
Students cheered and banged on the tables, celebrating their impending seventh consecutive house cup victory.
Draco Malfoy sat at the very front of the long table, flanked by Pansy and Daphne.
He elegantly cut the steak on his plate, ignoring the surrounding noise, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Everything was under control.
On the other side, the Gryffindor table appeared somewhat subdued.
An awkward distance separated Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
Hermione sat diagonally opposite Draco, occasionally glancing toward the Slytherin table with a sweetness in her eyes that she herself hadn't noticed.
Harry and Ron, meanwhile, buried their heads in their food, as if trying to vent all their frustration through eating.
Finally, Dumbledore stood up.
The Great Hall immediately fell silent.
"Another school year has ended!"
The Principal's voice was loud yet gentle, echoing in every corner of the Great Hall.
"Before we enjoy the feast, I believe we should make a final summary of this year's house cup."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the Slytherin table.
"Based on the current scores, in fourth place, Hufflepuff, with 352 points. Third place, Ravenclaw, with 426 points. Second place, Gryffindor, with 432 points."
"And in first place, Slytherin House, with a high score of 472 points, is temporarily ahead!"
The Slytherin table erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.
A rare smile also curled up the corners of Snape's mouth.
Dumbledore raised his hand, signaling for silence.
"Yes, yes, Slytherin has performed splendidly."
He changed the subject.
"However, some recent events must also be taken into account."
The atmosphere in the Great Hall began to grow subtle.
Everyone knew Dumbledore was about to start his traditional routine—arbitrarily adding points at the end of the year.
"First," Dumbledore looked toward the Gryffindor table.
"Certain students have demonstrated composure and wisdom beyond that of ordinary students. For this, I award Miss Granger fifty points!"
Hermione looked up in surprise.
Scattered applause broke out at the Gryffindor table.
Draco smiled and nodded to Hermione, as if saying, "You deserve this."
"Secondly," Dumbledore's voice became louder.
"Two students risked their lives, entered the Chamber of Secrets, faced a monster that even adult Wizards feared, and ultimately saved the entire school."
"For this, I award Mr. Ron Weasley two hundred points!"
"And Mr. Harry Potter, two hundred points!"
Four hundred and fifty points!
The Gryffindor table instantly exploded!
They cheered like maniacs, their screams almost lifting the roof off the Great Hall.
Their total score would reach an astonishing 882 points, far surpassing Slytherin!
The green banner on the wall began to tremble, seemingly ready to turn into Gryffindor's red at any moment.
The smiles on the faces of the Slytherin students froze, replaced by anger and indignation.
Snape's face was as black as the bottom of a pot.
However, just as Dumbledore was about to announce the final result, a calm voice spread throughout the Great Hall.
"Principal, I have a question."
Draco Malfoy slowly rose from his seat.
He adjusted his collar, still wearing that composed smile.
All eyes immediately focused on him.
Dumbledore looked at him, an imperceptible sharpness flashing in his blue eyes.
"Speak, Mr. Malfoy."
"I am merely confused." Draco's voice was neither servile nor arrogant.
"I greatly admire the courage of Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, however, I recall that Appendix 32 of the Hogwarts School Rules explicitly states that those who cause significant threats to school property or student safety due to serious disciplinary violations shall not receive special bonus points at the end of the school year."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Harry and Ron, whose faces had darkened.
"At the start of the year, they drove an illegally modified flying car and crashed into the school's precious Whomping Willow. I believe everyone remembers that incident?"
"Furthermore, they ignored the Professor's prohibition and trespassed into the legendary Chamber of Secrets, which holds a deadly monster."
"Doesn't this kind of behavior place themselves and others in immense danger?"
His questioning was clear, logical, and well-supported.
The Great Hall was completely silent.
Gryffindor's cheering also ceased abruptly.
Dumbledore's expression turned serious for the first time.
"Mr. Malfoy, rules are rigid, but sometimes we need to look at the spirit behind the rules..."
"A rule is a rule, Principal."
A cold and arrogant voice interrupted Dumbledore, coming from the entrance of the Great Hall.
Lucius Malfoy strode in, accompanied by several arrogant-looking Board of Governors members.
Their appearance instantly dropped the atmospheric pressure in the Great Hall by several degrees.
"Dumbledore," Lucius tapped his snake-headed cane on the floor.
"My son is entirely correct. Hogwarts' school rules are not a tool for you to favor students from your own house."
"If you insist on breaking the rules for your so-called 'heroes,' then the Board of Governors will have to consider whether you are still fit to continue serving as Principal of Hogwarts."
A naked threat!
Right in front of the entire faculty and student body!
Dumbledore's face finally darkened.
Before he could speak, another ghostly voice sounded.
"I concur with Mr. Malfoy's opinion."
Snape stood up, his black robes billowing without a breeze.
"Furthermore, in my capacity as Dean of Slytherin, I must deduct points from Gryffindor House."
He looked at Harry, a cruel curve twisting his lips.
"Harry Potter, while in the Chamber of Secrets, damaged a precious volume from the school Library—Tom Riddle's Diary."
"According to regulations, fifty points are deducted from Gryffindor House."
This series of combined moves caught Dumbledorecompletely off guard.
The obstruction by rules, the pressure of power, coupled with Snape's opportunistic attack.
He knew the tide had turned against him.
He took a long look at the platinum-haired young man standing straight before the long table.
This boy was far more troublesome than he had anticipated.
Finally, Dumbledore sighed, his voice filled with resignation.
"Very well... given the school rules and... the opinion of the Board of Governors."
He announced with difficulty.
"The ultimate winner of this year's house cup is... Slytherin."
"Boom—!"
The Slytherin table erupted in cheers louder than any before!
They had won!
They had forcefully protected their honor right under Dumbledore's nose!
The banner on the wall firmly remained the color of victory, green.
Snape wore a smile that was almost ferocious.
Draco slowly sat down, accepting the gazes from all directions, mixed with awe, admiration, and jealousy.
He picked up his goblet, which was filled with golden Pumpkin Juice.
He raised the goblet high and gave a winner's smile to the entire hall, especially to the disheartened Harry Potter opposite him.
[Ding!]
[Congratulations to the Host for publicly and directly thwarting Dumbledore's authority and defending the House's honor!]
[The skill Leadership Aura (Passive) has been upgraded!]
[Leadership Aura (Intermediate): Your words and actions will possess greater persuasiveness and influence. In a team, your commands and decisions are more easily trusted and followed. Provides an additional charm bonus towards certain weak-willed members of the opposite sex.]
Harry Potter sat rooted to the spot, staring blankly at the celebrating Slytherins.
The Pumpkin Juice in his hand had become tasteless.
He felt like a joke.
So-called heroism and special contributions were worthless in the face of absolute rules and power.
This was the first time his Protagonist Halo had completely failed in the competition for the house cup.
And the instigator of all this, Draco Malfoy, was enjoying his moment of glorious coronation.
The feast ended, and students departed sequentially, preparing to take the Hogwarts Express home the next day.
Draco dismissed Pansy, Goyle, and Crabbe, and walked alone toward the direction where the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students were leaving.
His target was clear.
A blonde girl who always sat quietly in the corner like an iceberg.
Daphne Greengrass.
He saw her and her friends heading toward an empty compartment.
It was time to go melt that iceberg again.
Chapter 119: Compartment Wall-slam! Draco Forcefully Flirts with the Ice Beauty Daphne!
The Hogwarts Express traveled smoothly through the Scottish Highlands, the scenery outside the window flashing past.
The carriage was filled with students' laughter and their anticipation for the summer holidays.
Daphne Greengrass chose a compartment towards the back; she liked the quiet.
She leaned against the window, watching the rolling green hills outside. Her long golden hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her emerald eyes held a faint hint of aloofness.
Beside her, several friends from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were chattering away about the dramatic scene at the End-of-Term Feast.
"Did you see? When Malfoy stood up, he was absolutely handsome!"
"Yeah! He was so logical and well-reasoned; even Albus Dumbledore couldn't out-argue him!"
"And Mr. Lucius Malfoy—he was so imposing!"
Daphne didn't join the discussion, but Draco Malfoy's tall and upright figure uncontrollably surfaced in her mind.
This man seemed a bit different from the arrogant young master in her memory who only knew how to bully Potter.
Just then, there was a soft knock on the compartment door, and it slid open.
An elegant figure appeared at the doorway.
"Good afternoon, ladies."
Draco Malfoy had a perfect smile on his face, but his gaze landed precisely on Daphne.
"Miss Greengrass, could I have a word? Regarding some... small matters between our two families."
The girls in the compartment held their breath, their gossiping eyes darting back and forth between the two.
Daphne's brow furrowed imperceptibly.
She didn't like being the center of attention.
But since he mentioned family, she couldn't refuse.
She stood up, nodded to her friends, and followed Dracoout of the compartment.
Draco didn't take her to another empty compartment but walked directly to the narrow space at the carriage junction.
He turned around to face Daphne.
"Let's talk here; I prefer to get straight to the point."
He waved his hand, and an invisible barrier instantly enveloped the two of them.
A Silencing Charm and a Privacy Charm.
Now, this had become an absolutely private world for two.
Daphne's heart skipped a beat for no reason.
"Malfoy, what exactly do you want to say?" Her voice remained cold, like a piece of temperatureless jade.
Draco didn't answer directly but took out a magically sealed parchment scroll from his robes.
"This is a contract drafted by my father."
He handed the scroll over.
"A letter of intent regarding the House of Malfoy's exclusive cooperation with the Greengrass Family in the field of rare Potion ingredients for the next three years."
Daphne's pupils constricted slightly.
Although the Greengrass Family was also one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight, their primary industry was the cultivation and sale of Potion ingredients.
And the House of Malfoy was one of the largest buyers in the entire British wizarding world.
The weight of this exclusive cooperation contract was enough to make her father ecstatic.
She reached out to take the scroll.
Just as her fingertips were about to touch the parchment, the train went through a sharp turn.
The carriage jolted violently.
Daphne lost her balance, let out a cry, and was about to fall backward.
Draco was faster.
He didn't reach out to steady her; instead, he took a step forward, using his own body to pin her firmly into the corner of the carriage.
His left hand braced against the carriage wall by Daphne's ear, and his right knee rose slightly, pressing gently between her closed legs.
A standard and aggressive Wall-slam pose.
The distance between them was instantly closed until they could hear each other's breathing.
Draco could smell the cold fragrance coming from Daphne, like winter cedar.
And Daphne could clearly feel the heat and powerful heartbeat coming from Draco's chest.
Her face turned red in an instant.
"You... what are you doing! Let me go!"
Daphne's voice carried a hint of embarrassment and panic. She pushed hard against Draco's chest, only to find his body was like cast iron, unmoving.
"Don't move, Greengrass."
Draco lowered his head, his voice dropping even lower with a hint of playfulness.
"The carriage is still shaking; I'm protecting you."
It was a terrible excuse, but Daphne found her strength fading away.
Draco's gaze slid from her blushing cheeks to her tightly pursed lips due to nervousness, and finally landed on her hand, which had frozen in mid-air trying to take the contract.
"Did you know? Besides brewing Potions, I also know a few... little tricks that you girls like."
As he spoke, he actually let go of the hand on the wall and instead grasped Daphne's slightly cool hand.
"For example, Palmistry."
Daphne felt as if she had been burned and tried to pull her hand back.
But Draco held it firmly, not allowing her to break free.
"Let me see..."
Draco's voice had a hypnotic magic to it. His fingertips began to gently caress Daphne's fair and delicate palm.
"Your Life line is very long, indicating that the foundation of the Greengrass Family is very stable."
His fingertips brushed over the sensitive spots on her palm.
Daphne's body couldn't help but tremble.
"Your Career line... hmm, there's a fork here, indicating your family has recently encountered some bottlenecks and urgently needs a powerful ally to break through the predicament. For instance... the House of Malfoy."
His fingers scratched lightly, neither too hard nor too soft, bringing waves of strange itchiness.
Daphne's breathing was completely erratic now.
She felt her mental defenses crumbling inch by inch under this man's domineering and provocative actions.
From initial resistance and embarrassment, it gradually turned into a weak compliance after her body went stiff.
She could only bite her lip, allowing him to control her in this extremely ambiguous manner.
[Ding!]
[Detected continuous deep physical contact with high-potential target Daphne Greengrass!]
[Target's emotions are fluctuating violently. Plundering talent...]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Ice Magic Affinity (Intermediate)!]
A wave of cool magic flooded into Draco's body.
The smile at the corners of his mouth deepened.
He let go of Daphne's hand and stuffed the contract into her now somewhat limp hand.
"Now, we can talk about the alliance."
His voice returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
"I need the Greengrass Family to unconditionally support all of the Malfoy Family's proposals on the Board of Governors."
"As a reward, this contract, as well as the friendship of the House of Malfoy, belongs to you."
Daphne lowered her head, clutching the burning contract tightly, her chest heaving violently.
She knew she had no reason to refuse.
Whether it was for the family's interests or... her own heart, which was already in disarray.
"I... I agree."
She squeezed out the words from between her teeth.
"Very good."
Draco nodded with satisfaction.
Just then.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
The door to the carriage junction was knocked.
"Sister! Are you in there?"
A crisp girl's voice came through.
It was Daphne's younger sister, Astoria Greengrass.
Draco removed the spells and took a step back, creating distance.
Daphne felt as if she had been pardoned, hurriedly tidying her messy collar and hair.
The door was pulled open, and a smaller version of Daphne, also a blonde-haired, blue-eyed little beauty, poked her head in.
Astoria saw her sister and also saw Draco Malfoystanding nearby.
She keenly noticed that her sister's cheeks were abnormally red and her eyes were a bit evasive.
The young girl's eyes were instantly filled with the light of gossip.
"Hello, Senior Malfoy," she greeted politely, then took Daphne's hand. "Sister, Mother wants us to come over for a moment."
"Oh... okay," Daphne replied, almost fleeing as she followed her sister away.
Draco watched her hurried back and smiled... the train arrived at the station.
On Platform Nine and Three-Quarters at King's Cross Station, Draco saw the Greengrass couple who had come to meet the sisters.
He walked forward with a smile.
"Mr. and Mrs. Greengrass, good afternoon."
He proactively extended his hand and, in front of the two elders, took Daphne's hand and performed an elegant Hand-kissing rite on the back of it.
"I look forward to the cooperation between our two families."
Under her parents' surprised gazes, Daphne did not pull her hand back this time.
Her cheeks were once again stained with a faint blush.
After saying goodbye to the Greengrass Family, Dracoreturned to Malfoy Manor accompanied by Narcissa.
As soon as he entered, he felt something was slightly off.
There was a faint but familiar magical fluctuation in the manor.
It was House-elf magic.
Moreover, the target of this magical fluctuation seemed to be pointed... in the direction of Harry Potter.
Draco's eyes instantly turned cold.
Dobby.
This disobedient House-elf was once again trying to send some kind of signal to his "great hero," Harry Potter.
It seemed it was time to give it a lesson it would never forget.
Chapter 120: Draco takes out the Basilisk fang, and his father's expression changes on the spot!
In the study of Malfoy Manor, the atmosphere was terrifyingly oppressive.
Lucius Malfoy's face was ashen, and the snake-headed cane in his hand struck the polished floor heavily.
"Draco!"
His voice was suppressed with rage.
"That diary! Tom Riddle's diary, where did it go?!"
His original plan was to use that diary to have the Chamber of Secrets opened, frame the weasley family, and at the same time, get Dumbledore kicked out of Hogwarts.
The first half of the plan was successful, but in the end, the diary disappeared.
Most importantly, the fragment of the soul that Lord Voldemort had left inside could no longer be sensed.
This caused him to feel a hint of panic.
Draco stood before the desk, facing his father's wrath without the slightest trace of fear on his face.
"Father, that diary was destroyed by Harry Potter using a Basilisk fang."
He said nonchalantly.
"What?!" Lucius's voice rose sharply. "A Basilisk? There really was a Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets? Then how could Potter have survived?"
"Of course he survived," the corner of Draco's mouth curled into a sneer, "with the help of Dumbledore's Phoenix."
Lucius paced back and forth in anger.
"Damn it! All for nothing! Not only did we fail to get rid of Dumbledore, but we also lost an important item of the Dark Lord's!"
He stopped in his tracks, his wand already pointed at Draco.
"You were right there at the time, why didn't you stop him?!"
Facing his father's wand, Draco remained calm.
He didn't speak, but slowly took out two items from his spatial storage.
The first was an alchemical box containing the sharpest Basilisk fang.
The second was a stack of parchment manuscriptsregarding Dark Arts research, stripped from Riddle's soul.
He placed these two items gently on the desk.
"Father, although Riddle's soul fragment has disappeared, I brought back some... more valuable things."
Lucius's gaze was instantly drawn to the two items.
He opened the alchemical box, and a wave of pure and lethal magic rushed towards him.
"This is... the fang of a thousand-year-old Basilisk!" His breathing became rapid.
He picked up the manuscripts again, and with just one look, his eyes turned from anger to ecstasy.
"These are... the Dark Lord's early research manuscripts on Horcrux creation! Heavens! This is a hundred times more precious than the diary itself!"
He looked up and re-examined his son, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
"Draco... these... how did you get them?"
Draco smiled slightly.
"A secret. You only need to know that from now on, the House of Malfoy no longer needs to look up to anyone."
"We shall become the new masters."
Lucius looked into his son's unfathomable grey-blue eyes and felt for the first time that he might no longer be able to see through this child he had watched grow up.
He put away his wand, the anger on his face vanishing, replaced by a fervor mixed with excitement and ambition.
"Good! Good! Well said! Truly my son!"
Just then, a faint magical pop came from outside the study, followed by a muffled groan of pain.
Draco's eyes turned cold.
"Father, it seems our family has a little traitor in its midst."
As he spoke, he pulled open the study door.
On the corridor, the House-elf Dobby was rolling on the ground clutching his head, with the magical afterglow of a broken barrier shimmering on his body.
That was the "Anti-House-elf Apparition Ward" that Draco had quietly set up as soon as he returned to the manor.
Any attempt to transmit information to the outside from within the manor via Apparition would be bounced back by the ward and punished.
"Dobby!" Lucius's face turned ugly again. "What are you doing!"
Dobby trembled all over, looking at his two masters in terror with his tennis-ball-sized eyes.
"Dobby... Dobby just wanted to do some cleaning..."
"Cleaning?"
Draco walked slowly up to it, looking down from a height.
"You wanted to clean the Malfoy Family's secrets right into Harry Potter's ears, didn't you?"
Dobby's body shook even harder.
"No... Master... Dobby didn't..."
"Still lying."
Draco's voice became cold.
He reached out his hand, and a complex black magical contract rune appeared in his palm.
"It seems the old contract no longer has any binding force over you."
He made a grasping motion towards Dobby in the air.
"Ah—!"
Dobby let out a shrill scream.
Lashes of black magic appeared out of thin air, whipping its thin body mercilessly.
This was a soul-lashing more painful than physical punishment.
Lucius watched coldly from the side, not stopping it.
Disloyal slaves should be treated with the most brutal methods.
Just as Draco was asserting his authority, a commotion came from outside the manor's main gate.
A butler rushed over to report.
"Master, Young Master, Harry Potter is here! He insists on seeing you!"
Harry Potter?
Both Draco and Lucius frowned.
What was he doing here?
"Tell him to get lost!" Lucius waved his hand impatiently.
"No, Father," Draco stopped him, a playful smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Let him in. I'd like to see what kind of tricks our great savior wants to play this time."
Soon, Harry Potter was brought into the manor's courtyard.
At a glance, he saw Dobby, who was being whipped by invisible lashes and groaning in pain.
"Stop!" Harry shouted angrily. "You can't treat him like that!"
Lucius looked at him arrogantly, as if looking at an idiot.
"Potter, this is my House-elf. How I choose to deal with it is none of your business."
Harry's face turned red with anger, but he knew he couldn't make a move here.
He took a deep breath and pulled out the ruined, blackened diary from his robes.
"Mr. Malfoy, I've come to return your property."
As he spoke, he quickly pulled off a dirty, ragged sock from his foot and stuffed it inside the diary.
Then, he threw the diary forcefully towards Lucius.
This was a scheme he had thought about for a long time.
Lucius gave the ruined book a look of disgust and casually tossed it to Dobby nearby.
"Take it, Dobby."
Dobby instinctively reached out to catch it.
As long as he caught this piece of "clothing" bestowed by his master, he would be free!
A light of hope, unprecedented, burst forth in Dobby's eyes!
However, just as his fingers were about to touch the diaryand the dirty sock...
"Leave the item, take the sock."
A calm voice rang out.
Draco's wand twitched slightly.
"Accio!"
The sock tucked inside the book, as if grabbed by an invisible hand, instantly flew out of the book and landed steadily in Draco's hand.
Dobby's movements froze in place.
The light of hope in his eyes was instantly extinguished, turning into endless despair.
Harry's scheme had also completely failed.
"Potter, your little trick is truly... laughably childish."
Draco held the foul-smelling sock, his face full of mockery.
A small cluster of black flames emerged from his fingertips.
"Incendio."
The sock instantly turned to ash in the air.
"You!" Harry shook with rage.
Draco ignored him and walked up to the despairing Dobby.
He crouched down, pinched Dobby's chin, and forced him to look up.
"Remember, Dobby. Your life belongs to the Malfoy Family. Without my permission, you don't even have the right to die."
He pressed the black contract rune firmly onto Dobby's forehead.
"Aaaaaah—!"
Dobby let out a scream ten times more shrill than before.
He felt his soul branded with an eternal, inescapable mark.
His slave contract with the Malfoy Family was reinforced by Draco using even more overbearing and darker Dark Arts.
From this moment on, he would completely become a mindless puppet that only obeyed orders.
A true domestic slave.
Harry Potter watched all of this helplessly.
Lucius felt great seeing Harry's humiliated and impotently furious look, even wanting to pull out his wand and give him a jinx.
But Draco stopped him.
"Father, don't dirty our wands."
He stood up, walked to Harry, and said in a voice only the two of them could hear:
"Do you see, Potter? You can't even save a House-elf."
"Your so-called justice and courage are worthless in the face of true power."
"Get lost. Take your naivety and crawl back to your aunt's house."
With that, he turned and walked back into the manor without looking back.
Harry stood there, his fists clenched tight.
Draco, however, was in no mood to enjoy his holidays.
He changed into an inconspicuous black cloak and, alone through the Floo Network, arrived at a place where no ordinary Wizard would ever set foot.
Knockturn Alley.
He was going to meet the owner of Borgin and Burkes Shop.
An excellent pawn for building his underground black market network.
Chapter 121: The Power of Pillow Talk! HermioneDisdains the weasley family's Poverty!
Knockturn Alley's stone paths are always wet, with unidentified black-green liquid seeping from the cracks.
The musty smell in the air, mixed with the sour stench of low-quality Potions, makes one's nose itch.
With a creak, the door to Borgin and Burkes Shop was pushed open.
The shop owner, old Borgin, a hunchbacked man, looked up from behind the counter, squinting at the black cloak at the door.
"Welcome, looking to buy something, or sell something?"
The newcomer said nothing, reached out to take off the hood, revealing a head of platinum blond short hair that was particularly eye-catching even in the dim shop.
The fawning smile on old Borgin's face froze, and then his waist bent even lower.
"Ma... Master Malfoy! What wind blew you here? Does Lord Lucius have instructions?"
Draco ignored him, his gaze sweeping over the shrunken heads and bones of unknown use on the shelves, finally stopping in front of a glass counter.
He pointed to a string of Opal Necklaces inside.
"This thing, can it curse nineteen Muggle owners to death?"
"Exactly! The treasure of our shop! Infused with the most vicious Dark Arts!" Old Borgin hunched over, quickly boasting.
In Draco's mind, a line of cold text appeared.
[Item: Cursed Opal Necklace (Replica)]
[Description: The curse's core energy is weak, at most giving the wearer a heavy cold.]
[Value Assessment: 10 Galleons.]
"Mr. Borgin," Draco's voice was flat, "your shop's treasure is only worth ten Galleons?"
Cold sweat broke out on old Borgin's forehead.
"What... what are you saying, I don't understand..."
Draco then pointed to a withered monkey paw nearby.
"Hand of Glory, can penetrate any physical obstacle?"
[Item: Hand of Glory (Inferior Product)]
[Description: Made by drying a monkey paw and applying low-quality lighting and Confundo, the effect is about equal to a damp candle.]
[Value Assessment: 5 Sickles.]
"This thing," Draco's tone carried a hint of mockery, "I'm afraid it can't even push open your unlocked wooden door, can it?"
Old Borgin's face turned completely white.
He couldn't figure out how this teenager could see through his tricks for amateurs at a glance.
The other's gaze wasn't looking at products at all, but at a pile of trash.
"Master Malfoy... I... I..." He stammered, unable to say a complete sentence.
Draco stopped looking at him and walked straight to a hidden compartment at the very back of the shop.
"Open it."
"But... but inside is my private collection..."
Draco turned back, his grey-blue eyes staring at him.
[Dark Lord's Pressure (Remnant), Activate!]
Old Borgin shuddered violently, feeling his neck being choked by an invisible hand, his legs went weak, and he almost knelt on the spot.
It was a tremor originating from the soul.
He didn't dare to talk nonsense anymore, his hands trembling as he opened the hidden compartment.
Inside was the real stuff.
Draco's gaze swept over an old cabinet.
Vanishing Cabinet, it will be useful later.
He withdrew his gaze and finally took out his own item.
A small crystal bottle was taken out from his chest.
In the bottle, there was only a drop of dark green liquid, but it made the magic in the entire shop restless.
"This is..." Old Borgin's eyes widened, his face full of greed.
"A drop of venom from a thousand-year-old Basilisk," Draco said.
Old Borgin's breath stopped.
Basilisk venom! A legendary item!
This one drop could be exchanged for a manor on the black market!
"Master Malfoy... you want to sell it?" His voice was shaking.
"No," Draco shook his head, "I'm looking for an agent."
He placed the venom on the counter and threw out a piece of parchment.
A consignment contract prepared long ago, ten times more harsh than any agreement his father had given anyone.
"From today on, you, Borgin, are my exclusive agent in the underground black market."
"I supply the goods, you sell and collect intelligence."
"Profits, 90% for me, 10% for you."
"Sign it, and this bottle of venom is your startup capital. If you don't sign..."
Draco smiled, not finishing his sentence.
That smile, in old Borgin's eyes, was more terrifying than any curse.
First using absolute insight to crush his professional confidence, then using terrifying pressure to destroy his will, and finally throwing out bait he couldn't refuse.
He had no choice.
Old Borgin's hands trembled as he signed his name on the agreement.
The largest Dark Arts shop in Knockturn Alley now belonged to Malfoy... A few days later, Malfoy Manor.
Draco was in the breakfast room, leisurely flipping through The Daily Prophet.
The front-page headline showed the nine members of the weasley family standing foolishly in front of a Pyramid, waving.
Ron was wearing an old robe that was clearly too small, smiling so much his gums showed.
[Ministry of Magic Employee Arthur Weasley wins the Grand Prize, receives seven hundred Galleons!]
Seven hundred Galleons.
To the weasley family, it was an astronomical sum.
Draco's fingertip tapped lightly on Ron's stupid face in the newspaper.
He picked up a quill and wrote a short note on a new piece of parchment, addressed to Rita Skeeter.
The letter only mentioned a "brand new perspective" on the news, with a small bag of gold coins attached.
Two days later, in the society section of The Daily Prophet.
An article signed by Rita Skeeter, with a biting title:
"The Squandering of the Nouveau Riche: How Should We View the weasley family's Financial Disaster?"
"...When a family holds a huge sum of seven hundred Galleons, the first thing they think of isn't repairing their Burrow, which neighbors jokingly call a 'pigsty'..."
"...not buying new robes without patches for their children, but taking the whole family on a luxurious 'gilded trip' to Egypt..."
"...We can't help but ask, is poverty really just bad luck?"
"...Perhaps, deep-seated short-sightedness and vanity are the roots of their distress..."
A happy event turned into the laughingstock of the entire wizarding world in the blink of an eye.
Countless Wizards discussed the weasley family's stupidity and obsession with saving face over tea and after meals.
Draco put down the newspaper and picked up the two-way mirror.
Hermione's face was soon reflected in the mirror; she was on vacation in France and had developed a few small freckles.
"Draco!" Seeing him, Hermione's eyes lit up.
The two chatted for a few moments about their holiday experiences.
Draco mentioned seemingly casually: "By the way, did you see the article about the weasley family in today's paper?"
"I saw it," Hermione frowned, "that reporter is too mean. But... what she said seems to have some truth to it."
"Is that so?" Draco guided her, "I think it reflects a family's planning ability."
"A far-sighted family will use every penny to improve themselves, rather than on one-time vanity spending."
Hermione fell silent.
She looked at the well-dressed and elegantly spoken Draco in the mirror, but in her mind flashed the image of Ron in the newspaper, smiling foolishly in his old robes.
She suddenly felt that although Draco's words were harsh, she couldn't refute them.
Was the weasley family's way of life really... right?
Draco looked at the subtle expression on her face and knew the point had been made.
He was about to hang up the communication.
Suddenly, a piercing alarm broke the silence of the manor.
The study door was pushed open suddenly, and Luciuswalked in quickly, his face ashen.
"Something has happened, Draco."
His voice was very low, revealing a rare solemnity.
"Azkaban... the first prison break in history has occurred."
"Sirius Black has escaped."
Chapter 122: Draco Personally Measures Hermione's Size, Breaths Intertwined!
Sirius Black's prison break made Azkaban, the prison known for being unbreachable, a laughingstock for the entire wizarding world.
Minister of magic Cornelius Fudge was being driven mad by public panic and media questioning.
To quell this scandal that could cost him his position, he thought of an old solution—finding Malfoy.
The day after the escape, Fudge, with two huge dark circles under his eyes, emerged from the fireplace of Malfoy Manor, drenched in sweat.
In the living room, Lucius was tasting tea while Draco sat to the side, flipping through a rare copy of Ancient Runes.
"Lucius, my old friend!" Fudge squeezed out a strained smile, "I need your help!"
He complained incoherently about public pressure, hinting that the Ministry of Magic needed a "political donation" to survive this PR crisis.
Lucius listened with a hypocritical smile, calculating how much profit he could squeeze out of this fool.
Draco didn't even lift his eyelids.
A person like Fudge had nothing in his head except using money and power to suppress problems.
Seeing that Fudge was about to discuss specific amounts, Draco closed his book.
"Speaking of which, if even the Dementors of Azkabancan fail, shouldn't the security at Gringotts also be strengthened?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it brought the conversation in the living room to a screeching halt.
Fudge's eyes suddenly lit up.
Right! Divert attention!
Shift the public's anger from the Ministry's negligence to another, more explosive topic!
For instance, preventing Black from ransacking Gringotts! This wouldn't just demonstrate the Ministry's "proactivity" but also shift the pressure onto those always-arrogant Goblins!
"Draco! You're a genius!" Fudge slapped his thigh in excitement.
Lucius also gave his son an appreciative look.
A simple sentence had secured a massive advantage for the family.
Fudge left full of gratitude, and before leaving, he even took the initiative to reveal a piece of intelligence.
"We have reason to believe that Black's sole purpose for escaping is to find Harry Potter and fulfill his master's final wish..."
After seeing Fudge off, only the father and son remained in the study.
"Big dog," a cold, sharp arc curved on Draco's lips, "another good dog that can bite Potter."
In the new school year, he already had several scripts in mind for how to use Sirius as a pawn to bring "surprises" to Harry Potter... In the final days of summer vacation, Diagon Alley was crowded.
Draco had an appointment with Hermione to buy supplies for the new term.
She had clearly dressed up carefully, wearing a brand-new light blue dress, and her bushy hair was tied into a neat ponytail.
When she saw Draco, her eyes sparkled.
"Draco!"
She ran over, habitually wanting to tuck her arm into his.
But Draco took her hand first, their fingers interlacing.
"Let's go. First to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions to pick out some new robes for you." His tone carried an undeniable arrangement and a hint of pampering.
Hermione felt a sweetness in her heart as he led her into the shop.
Draco had extremely high standards, choosing only the most exquisite fabrics and the latest styles of ceremonial robes for Hermione.
"This one, and this one, wrap them up."
He didn't even ask the price, as if he were picking out items in his own walk-in closet.
Madam Malkin's face blossomed into a smile.
"Miss Granger, your boyfriend is truly good to you."
Hermione's cheeks burned fiercely, and she whispered a defense: "He... he's not my boyfriend..."
The voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible.
"The size doesn't seem right," Draco picked up a dark green silk robe and held it against Hermione.
"It's a bit wide at the waist. Hermione, go to the fitting room; I'll help you measure."
"Huh? You... you'll help me?" Hermione's face turned even redder.
"Of course," Draco's reasoning was impeccable, "my spell control is more precise than a measuring tape."
After saying that, he half-pushed Hermione into the fitting room draped with heavy purple curtains.
The curtain fell, isolating them from the hustle and bustle outside.
In the small space, the light was dim, and even the sound of breathing was clearly audible.
Draco drew his wand, and the tip lit up with a faint glow.
He began to measure with a feigned seriousness.
"Waist... very slender."
That hot point of light traced along her waistline; wherever it passed, her skin shivered.
"Bust... developed even better than last year."
The cursor slowly moved up, stopping at the rising curve of her chest.
Hermione held her breath, feeling as if she were about to catch fire.
Draco put away his wand and leaned in close to her ear, his warm breath stirring her hair.
"Alright, the measurements are recorded."
His voice was very low, carrying a hint of seduction.
"However, I still think measuring by hand is more accurate."
Before he finished speaking, he reached out, and under the guise of helping her adjust her collar, his long fingertips precisely grazed her delicate collarbone.
The moment their skin touched, Hermione's whole body stiffened. She nervously closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling incessantly.
Just then.
"Hermione! Are you in there?"
An exasperated voice exploded outside.
It was Ron Weasley!
With a "clatter," the curtain was roughly torn open.
Ron and Harry stood at the doorway, seeing Draco and Hermione in an intimate posture, almost pressed against each other in the fitting room.
Ron's eyes instantly turned red.
"Malfoy! You bastard! Harassing Hermione again!"
He was mad with jealousy and tried to rush in, but was held back firmly by Harry.
Draco slowly straightened up, showing no sign of panic at being caught, only the indifference of being disturbed.
His gaze moved down, sweeping over Ron's old robes, which were much too short because he had grown taller, and a contemptuous smirk curled on his lips.
"Weasley, it seems seven hundred Galleons still couldn't buy you a decent set of clothes that fits."
These words were like poisoned needles, stabbing into Ron's most painful insecurity.
"None of your business!" Ron roared, "Hermione, come out now! Don't stay with someone like him!"
Hermione looked at Ron's face, distorted by jealousy, and then at Draco beside her—composed, elegant, and spending a fortune on her without a second thought.
A strong sense of disappointment surged in her heart.
She didn't listen to Ron; instead, she did something that stunned both Harry and Ron.
She took a step forward of her own accord, tightly clutching Draco's arm, and looked up, staring straight at Ron.
"Ron, please show some respect! Draco is accompanying me to buy things!"
"What I buy and who I am with is my freedom!"
"The way you're acting right now is truly embarrassing!"
After saying that, she no longer looked at Ron's face, which had turned the color of pig liver, and pulled Dracostraight toward the checkout counter.
Ron stood frozen on the spot, feeling as if his heart had been stabbed with countless holes.
Harry sighed from the side, unable to say a single word.
Their golden trio seemed like it was really falling apart.
The group eventually ran into each other again in front of Flourish and Blotts, the atmosphere so awkward it could freeze.
A massive figure squeezed over; it was Hagrid.
He excitedly announced that starting this term, he would be the new Professor for Care of Magical Creatures.
Both Harry and Ron were happy for him.
Draco looked at Hagrid's foolish appearance, a "congratulatory" smile appearing on his face as well.
But in his heart, he was sneering.
Hagrid as a Professor?
Just perfect.
He had already prepared a grand back-to-school gift for this new Professor and his precious Hippogriff named "Buckbeak."