Chapter 123: A Smile, Making Ginny Relive the Terror of the Chamber of Secrets!
Flourish and Blotts was in a state of chaos.
Inside a giant iron cage in the center of the shop, dozens of copies of The Monster Book of Monsters were frantically biting each other, with shredded paper and fur flying everywhere.
A shop assistant was trying to separate them with a long pole, but the pole was bitten hard by one of the books, scaring him into letting go on the spot.
"Someone make these monsters quiet down!" the manager's shout was filled with despair.
Harry and Ron stood at a distance, equally helpless.
Hermione frowned deeply, trying to search her mind for relevant knowledge.
"The book says... the way to handle them is..."
Before she could finish, Draco had already stepped forward.
He didn't take out his wand or use any tools; he simply reached out through the iron bars of the cage and, with his fingertips, lightly and gently stroked the spine of one of the books.
The movement was like soothing a startled cat.
The sound of biting inside the cage came to an abrupt halt.
That manic monster book, under his fingers, actually closed its tooth-filled mouth docilely, its pages stopped shaking, and it even rubbed its spine against Draco's finger.
There was a dead silence around them; everyone was stunned.
Draco withdrew his hand and turned to Hermione, the surprise in her eyes not yet faded.
"They need soothing," he explained softly. "Just stroke the spine, and it will know you mean no harm."
This simple move, using the Natural Affinity talent against such low-intelligence magical creatures, was remarkably effective.
But in the eyes of others, this was undoubtedly proof of profound knowledge and extraordinary ability.
Hermione looked at him, something different in her gaze.
Harry and Ron exchanged a look, their hearts filled with mixed emotions. In every aspect, Malfoy seemed to have left them far behind... After the shopping ended, because Harry had a falling out with the Dursley family, the Ministry of Magic arranged for him to stay at the Leaky Cauldron.
That night, after Draco finished handling family business, he also came to the Leaky Cauldron.
At a table in the corner of the lobby, Harry Potter was sitting alone, with the gazes of several plainclothes Aurors falling on him every now and then.
Harry was drinking Butterbeer with his head down.
A glass of Firewhisky was placed on the table opposite him, and Draco pulled out a chair and sat down.
The surrounding Aurors' bodies tensed up, their hands moving toward the wands at their waists.
Draco didn't even spare them a glance.
"Good evening, Potter."
Harry looked up, his expression darkening. "What are you doing here?"
"To see savior." Draco lowered his voice, his words carrying a hint of playfulness. "How does it feel to be protected like a baby?"
Harry's hand under the table clenched into a fist.
"I heard Sirius Black has escaped from prison." Dracoleaned forward, his voice audible only to the two of them. "He's coming for you."
He stared into Harry's eyes, saying it word by word.
"He betrayed your parents; he's Lord Voldemort's most loyal lapdog. Now, he's coming to fulfill his master's dying wish."
"To kill you."
Lily Potter's scream before she died echoed in Harry's mind.
The color drained completely from his face.
"You're lying!" His voice trembled.
"Lying?" Draco chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Go ask your bodyguards and see if I'm lying."
Harry glared at him, wanting to pull his wand but not daring to move.
This sense of powerlessness made him feel like he was suffocating.
Draco's gaze moved past Harry's shoulder and fell on Ginny Weasley, who was not far away.
When the girl met his gaze, her body stiffened, and she shrank back.
He smiled at her, that smile exactly the same as the one in the Chamber of Secrets.
Ginny's face turned white instantly. Memories of being controlled by the diary flooded her mind, and she couldn't stop shaking.
"Ginny! What's wrong?" Molly Weasley immediately hugged her youngest daughter, sensing something was wrong.
Arthur Weasley stood up, glaring at Draco. "Malfoy! Stay away from my child!"
Draco stood up, ignoring Mr. Weasley's anger.
He took a Galleon out of his pocket and tossed it onto Harry's table with a crisp clink.
"A tip for you, Potter. Buy some Calming Draught so you don't have nightmares at night."
After saying that, he turned and left under the complex gazes of the Aurors.
Harry stared at the reflective Galleon on the table, humiliation and anger burning within him, along with an uncontrollable sliver of fear deep in his heart.
The seed Draco had planted began to sprout.
That night, he had a nightmare.
In the dream, a gaunt man walked into his room with a cruel grin, his wand pointed at Harry's forehead... Harrywoke up from the dream with a start, covered in cold sweat.
Platform Nine and Three-Quarters was covered in dark clouds.
Students dragged their trunks and crowded onto the Hogwarts Express.
Draco sat down in the exclusive Slytherin compartment, with Pansy and Daphne close beside him, one on each side.
The train started in a torrential downpour, and soon there were only blurred shadows and the muffled sound of rain hitting the glass outside the window.
The air in the compartment was as gloomy as the weather outside.
Suddenly, the screeching sound of brakes rang out, and after a violent shake, the train stopped on the tracks.
All the lights in the compartment went out, falling into a dead, dark silence.
"What happened?"
"Is the train broken?"
The students' panicked voices rose and fell in the darkness.
The next second, the temperature in the compartment plummeted.
A layer of frost quickly condensed on the windows of the Slytherin compartment.
Pansy and Daphne shivered, instinctively leaning toward Draco for warmth.
Draco, however, remained motionless, not even changing his sitting posture.
He knew that something was coming.
Outside the frosted door of the compartment, a tall, cloaked silhouette appeared.
A decaying, scabbed, dead-gray hand rested on the doorframe and slowly pushed the door open.
A Dementor.
In the shadow under its hood, it was like a black hole, greedily devouring all happiness around it.
The Slytherin students in the compartment were so scared that they held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
The Dementor paused at the door for a moment, and appearing not to find the person it was looking for, it silently withdrew and continued to float toward the back of the train.
Just then.
"Ah—!"
A woman's scream, followed by a boy's cry of pain, came from the Gryffindor compartment not far away.
It was Harry Potter.
Draco didn't need to look to know what was happening next door.
Another Dementor was leaning in front of Harry.
That face was twisted in pain.
"No... don't kill him... kill me instead..."
Lily Potter's plea before her death was dug out from the deepest part of his memory by the Dementor, replaying over and over in his ears.
"Ah!"
Under the terrified gazes of Ron and Hermione, Harry Potter's eyes rolled back, his body went limp, and he fell straight down, completely motionless.
Almost at the same time, the door to Draco's compartment was pushed open again.
Another Dementor.
It seemed to have taken an interest in the only calm and composed youth in this compartment and approached Draco.
Pansy and Daphne were nearly suffocating from fear, their bodies as stiff as two stones.
Draco remained seated.
He calmly operated his Occlumency, hiding all his positive emotions deep within his soul.
In the Dementor's perception, he was just a cold stone.
Summon a Patronus?
That would be a waste of magic.
These monsters that spread fear were no threat to him.
This was a dinner delivered to his door.
With a thought.
An invisible suction force suddenly opened up with Dracoas the center.
The Dementor that was about to approach froze.
It discovered that the aura of fear it released was being frantically sucked into the body of the youth before it!
Instead of being afraid, the other party... seemed to be feeding?
What kind of thing is this?!
For the first time, the Dementor's instinct felt dread.
It stopped in its tracks, not daring to step forward again.
Draco felt his mental power skyrocketing.
Those converted fear energies became the purest nourishment, nurturing his soul.
This feeling... was truly wonderful.
Just as Draco was preparing to suck this reckless Dementor dry—
"Expecto Patronum!"
A brilliant silver light shone from the back of the train.
A majestic silver stag charged through the corridor, knocking all the Dementors out of the train.
The new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Remus Lupin.
The freezing cold in the train quickly receded, and the lights came back on.
Everything returned to normal.
A chaotic noise came from the next compartment; Professor Lupin was treating the unconscious savior.
In Draco's compartment, Pansy and Daphne were still gasping for air, their shock not yet faded.
Draco, however, stood up, a hint of lingering desire on his face, and slowly adjusted his unwrinkled robes.
He pushed open the door and walked out.
Just in time to see Harry Potter being carried out of his compartment.
That face was deathly pale, his lips blue, looking like a dead man just pulled from the water, miserable to the extreme.
Students all around poked their heads out to watch the scene.
Draco leaned against the doorframe, watching the carried-away Harry, his lips curling into a mocking arc.
The heir of the Malfoy Family was safe and sound in front of the Dementors.
The famous savior, however, fainted on the spot.
This news wouldn't need to wait until the train reached the station to spread through every compartment.
Harry Potter should really like this first big gift of the new school year.
Draco was very satisfied with this.
Chapter 124: The Discarded Chocolate! I Won't Eat Such Poverty!
For the first time, the Dementor's instincts felt fear.
It froze in place, not daring to step forward again.
Draco felt his mental power skyrocketing at an incredible speed.
The converted fear energy became the purest nourishment, feeding his soul.
This feeling... was truly wonderful.
Just as Draco was prepared to drain this reckless Dementor dry—
"Expecto Patronum!"
A dazzling silver light lit up from the back of the carriage.
A majestic silver stag charged through the corridor, knocking all the Dementors out of the carriage.
The new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Remus Lupin.
The chilling cold in the carriage quickly receded, and the lights flickered back on.
Everything returned to normal.
A chaotic commotion came from the neighboring compartment; Professor Lupin was treating the unconscious savior.
In Draco's compartment, Pansy and Daphne were still gasping for breath, their souls yet to find peace.
Draco, however, stood up with a hint of lingering excitement on his face, slowly and methodically smoothing out his wrinkle-free robes.
He pushed open the door and walked out.
He happened to see Harry Potter being carried out of his compartment.
His face was deathly pale and his lips were blue, looking like a corpse just pulled from the water, utterly pathetic.
The surrounding students all poked their heads out to watch the scene.
Draco leaned against the doorframe, watching the carried-away Harry with a mocking curl of his lips.
The heir of the Malfoy Family was perfectly fine in front of the Dementors.
The famous savior, however, had fainted on the spot.
This news would spread to every compartment before the train even reached the station.
Harry Potter would surely love this first great gift of the new school year.
Chaotic footsteps came from the neighboring compartment, mixed with Professor Lupin's gentle reassurances.
The Slytherins in Draco's compartment finally regained their senses, panting heavily.
Pansy and Daphne's cheeks were still pale, and they subconsciously huddled close to Draco.
Draco stood up leisurely, adjusting his expensive, wrinkle-free robes.
He even felt much more energized; the fear radiated by those Dementors just now was a great tonic.
He pushed open the door and walked out.
In the corridor, several Gryffindors were hurriedly carrying someone.
It was Harry Potter.
savior's face was as white as paper, his lips were blue, and his eyes were tightly shut, looking just like a drowned ghost pulled from icy water.
"Oh, Merlin, look!"
Pansy followed behind, making no effort to hide her schadenfreude.
"Our savior fainted from fear!"
Students from surrounding compartments poked their heads out, whispering amongst themselves.
Draco leaned against the doorframe, watching Harrybeing carried away, finding it quite amusing.
He cleared his throat and imitated Harry's state before he fainted, rolling his eyes and letting his body slump back exaggeratedly.
"Ah—help—Mommy—"
He pinched his throat and let out a comical scream.
"Pfft!"
"Hahahahaha!"
The entire Slytherin carriage erupted into unshielded roars of laughter.
Pansy laughed so hard she trembled, nearly falling onto Draco.
Even the usually cold Daphne had a slight curve at the corner of her mouth.
The Gryffindor students glared with fury, but they couldn't say a word.
The facts were right before their eyes.
Malfoy was calm and composed, while their hero was unconscious from fear.
The contrast was a slap to the face.
Just then, Professor Remus Lupin walked over.
His face bore obvious signs of fatigue, gray streaks were mixed into his brown hair, and his robes were covered in patches, making him look quite destitute.
"Everyone back to your seats."
His voice wasn't loud, but it caused the students to gradually quiet down.
Lupin walked into the Slytherin compartment and broke off a large piece of chocolate.
"Eat some, it will make you feel better."
He handed the chocolate to Pansy and Daphne, who took it hesitantly.
When he walked up to Draco, he forced a friendly smile onto his face.
"Draco, you have a piece too. This can alleviate the effects of the Dementors."
Draco didn't move.
His gaze slowly shifted down from Lupin's ingratiating face, landing on his faded, threadbare robes with shiny elbows.
A scent mixed with cheap tobacco and damp fur drifted into Draco's nose.
He extended two fingers and picked up the piece of chocolate as if he were holding something filthy.
"Professor."
Draco's voice was soft, yet it was clearly heard by the entire carriage.
"Members of the Malfoy Family do not eat cheap food of unknown origin."
The smile on Lupin's face froze.
The surrounding Slytherin students wore expressions of anticipation, ready for a good show.
"It's just chocolate, Mr. Malfoy, there's no ill intent," Lupinexplained patiently.
"Is that so?"
Draco tilted his head, staring into Lupin's eyes.
"I smell a scent of... poverty."
"I'm worried it's contaminated and that eating it will make me sick."
As the words fell.
Draco flicked his wrist, and the piece of chocolate traced a parabolic arc.
*Plop.*
It was accurately tossed into the trash can by the door.
The compartment became deathly silent.
Lupin's face turned as pale as Harry's had just been.
His lips moved, but not a single word came out.
This kind of public humiliation in front of all the students was more embarrassing than any hex.
Draco took out a snow-white handkerchief and carefully wiped the two fingers that had just held the chocolate.
Then, he threw the handkerchief into the trash can as well.
"All right, Professor."
He looked up, his grey-blue eyes completely cold.
"If you have nothing else, could you please leave my compartment? The smell on you is affecting my breathing."
Lupin's body trembled slightly, but in the end, he said nothing and turned to leave silently.
His retreating figure looked incredibly desolate amidst the jeers of the Slytherins.
The door to the neighboring compartment opened, and Harry Potter walked out leaning against the wall; he had just woken up and heard the commotion outside.
He happened to see Professor Lupin's embarrassed back and Draco's arrogant posture of a victor.
A surge of anger rose in his heart, but then, a thought uncontrollably popped up.
Is this new Professor... too weak?
To be humiliated like this by Malfoy, and he didn't even dare to say a word in rebuttal.
Can a person like this really teach Defense Against the Dark Arts well?
The train slowly pulled into Hogsmeade Station.
Students poured onto the platform, cold rain drifting onto their faces.
"First years! First years, this way!"
Hagrid's booming voice rang out through the crowd.
Draco stepped off the train and immediately saw the creatures pulling the carriages.
They were a group of skeletal black winged horses with dragon-like heads; their bat-like wings looked eerie in the rainy night.
Thestrals.
Only those who have witnessed death can see them.
The soul characteristics of a Transmigrator made them clearly visible in his eyes.
Pansy and Daphne beside him were completely unaware, merely wondering why the carriages were moving on their own.
"Hey, Draco!"
Hagrid noticed him, his expression somewhat complicated.
Draco ignored everyone else and walked straight up to a Thestral.
He could feel the sadness and tranquility emanating from this creature.
He reached out, ignoring its hideous dragon head, and gently stroked its bony neck.
A wonderful connection was established through his palm.
The originally quiet Thestral suddenly let out a satisfied low hiss, submissively lowering its head and rubbing its cold cheek against Draco's hand.
This scene made the half-Giant Hagrid nearby widen his eyes.
He knew the temperament of Thestrals best; though gentle, they rarely took the initiative to be close to humans.
This Malfoy boy... what exactly was going on with him?
Draco withdrew his hand and turned to board the carriage.
His gaze swept over Hermione, who was walking over with Ron.
Under Hermione's collar, an extremely thin gold chain flashed for a moment in the light.
Chapter 125: The Start-of-Term Feast! The Secret of the Time-Turner!
Inside the Great Hall of Hogwarts, thousands of candles floated in mid-air, illuminating the long tables of the four Houses.
The enchanted ceiling above mirrored the stormy night sky outside; thunder and lightning crackled, yet they couldn't dampen the warmth and bustle within the hall.
The Sorting Ceremony was underway. Wearing the Sorting Hat, the first-year students waited nervously, one by one, for their fates to be decided.
Draco sat in the most prominent position at the head of the Slytherin table.
To his left was Pansy, her gaze full of fanatical devotion; to his right was the cool and elegant Daphne. He was surrounded by a group of pure-blood descendants who followed his every lead.
He looked like a young king presiding over his realm, enjoying the treatment of being the center of attention.
However, his gaze did not linger on those flattering faces.
He elegantly picked up his goblet, gently swirling the Pumpkin Juice inside, while his eyes pierced through the moving crowd to lock onto a specific figure at the Gryffindor table.
Hermione Granger.
She looked somewhat exhausted. Her bushy brown hair seemed even more lackluster than it had during the holidays, and she was absent-mindedly poking at the food on her plate.
The corners of Draco's mouth curled up slightly as he focused his mind.
[Spiritual Sight, Activate!]
In an instant, the colors of the entire world shifted in his vision.
The flowing radiance of magic and the threads of fate entwined around people became clearly visible.
He looked toward Hermione.
He saw that on Hermione, besides her own vigorous magic, there was a very special and chaotic energy fluctuation lingering around her.
It was a pale gold time magic, circulating constantly like flowing sand.
The source of this magic was the golden necklace around her neck, which she was trying desperately to hide under her collar.
An exquisite little hourglass encased in glass radiated a heart-pounding magical glow under the vision of [Spiritual Sight].
A Time-Turner!
Just as he thought!
Draco understood clearly now.
Only a magical item that required such immense mental exertion could make the usually energetic Hermione look so exhausted on the first day of school.
A greedy and bold plan instantly took shape in his mind.
The Time-Turner was a strategic-level magical item strictly controlled by the Ministry of Magic; even Luciuscouldn't get his hands on one.
Its value was far more than just allowing Hermione to take several classes at once.
To control time was to control everything!
He could use it to gain several times more cultivation time than others. Whether it was researching Ancient Runesor practicing advanced magic, his progress would be exponential!
Even better... Draco's gaze became playful.
He could use this time difference to create countless unknown 'overlapping space-times'.
During those times, all of Hogwarts would be in a state of stasis; only he and Hermione, who used the Time-Turner, would be 'alive'.
He could conduct an undisturbed 'academic discussion' in the Restricted Section of the Library.
Or perform one deep 'after-school tutoring' session after another on that comfortable large bed in the Room of Requirement.
He could even, right under Dumbledore's nose, subject this Gryffindor lioness—whom he had already conquered—to all sorts of training beyond imagination.
He would make her sink completely into the cracks of time, becoming a possession that belonged only to him.
At the thought of those erotic and stimulating images, Draco felt the blood in his body begin to heat up.
"Silence!"
The Sorting Ceremony ended, and Dumbledore stood up, his sonorous voice drowning out all the noise.
The old Principal's blue eyes twinkled behind his half-moon spectacles as they swept across the hall.
"Welcome back to Hogwarts! Before the feast begins, I have a few things to announce."
"First of all, as you may have noticed, Hogwarts is hosting some... unwelcome guests."
His expression turned serious.
"At our request, the Ministry of Magic has agreed to station the Dementors of Azkaban at every entrance to the school."
A collective gasp echoed through the hall, and fear appeared on many students' faces.
"I must warn you!" Dumbledore's voice left no room for doubt.
"Dementors are vicious creatures; they do not distinguish between the person they are hunting and the person who gets in their way."
"Therefore, I strictly forbid any student from leaving the school for any reason. Do not give the Dementors a reason to harm you!"
Listening to Dumbledore's warning, the students at the Slytherin table looked somewhat uneasy.
Only Draco had a cold smirk on his face that went unnoticed by anyone.
Dementors?
A threat?
No, no, no.
In the eyes of others, they were monsters that spread fear.
In his eyes, they were walking, living 'emotion ATMs,' the best supplements for his mental power growth!
That old man Dumbledore had really given him a great start-of-term gift.
"The second matter," Dumbledore continued, forcing a small smile onto his face.
"I am pleased to announce that our Care of Magical Creatures class will be welcoming a new Professor!"
"He is none other than Rubeus Hagrid!"
Scattered applause broke out, coming mainly from the Gryffindor table.
Harry and Ron pounded the table excitedly, cheering for their friend.
The Slytherin table, however, erupted in blatant boos and sneers.
"A big oaf who isn't even a Wizard?"
"What's he going to teach us? How to comb a Flobberworm's hair?"
Pansy rolled her eyes exaggeratedly.
Draco led the cold laughter.
Hagrid as a Professor?
Truly, heaven is helping me.
He couldn't wait to prepare a 'teaching accident' gift for this new Professor and his precious Hippogriff named 'Buckbeak'.
Just then, a cold mechanical voice rang out in his mind.
[Ding! Detected that the Host has come into contact with the edge of the 'Law of Time.' Special mission triggered!]
[Mission Name: Master of Time]
[Mission Description: Time is the most mysterious magicin the world. Please, Host, use Hermione Granger to contact and analyze the Law of Time contained within the Time-Turner.]
Draco's eyes lit up.
Time magic!
This was a field that even Lord Voldemort and Dumbledore had never fully mastered!
His gaze toward Hermione became even more burning.
Chapter 126: A Fraud Professor Dares to Prophesy About Me? Watch Me Break Your Supernatural Power in One Move!
The silver spiral staircase leading to the top of the North Tower was narrow and steep.
When Draco entered the Divination Class classroom with Pansy and Daphne, pushing open the trapdoor, a heatwave mixed with the smell of cheap incense and heavy, cloying perfume hit them.
The entire classroom looked like an old-fashioned attic tea house, packed with small round tables and chintz low stools.
The curtains were tightly closed, and dozens of lamps covered with various colored scarves emitted a dim light, making the room smoky and so stiflingly hot it was hard to breathe.
Most of the Gryffindor and Slytherin students had already arrived, all of them sweating profusely and fanning themselves irritably.
Harry and Ron's faces were flushed red from the heat, and their robes were half-soaked.
"Merlin, it's like a steamer in here!" Pansy wrinkled her nose in disgust.
Daphne also frowned slightly, clearly uncomfortable in such an environment.
Draco's expression remained unchanged as he elegantly raised his hand. Without even drawing his wand, a faint, almost imperceptible ripple of magic emanated from his fingertips.
A silent, wandless "Cooling Charm."
Instantly, a refreshing and pleasant coolness spread out from him, forming a comfortable zone about two meters in diameter.
Pansy and Daphne immediately felt the annoying heat dissipate. A wave of comfort washed over them, and their gazes toward Draco became even more admiring.
"Draco, you're amazing!" Pansy was practically clinging to him.
This subtle display of skill stood in stark contrast to the sweaty, disheveled students around them.
Not far away, Hermione noticed the coolness in their area.
She looked at the elegant Draco, then at Ron and Harrybeside her, who were as hot as monkeys, and a flicker of complex emotion flashed in her eyes.
"Welcome, my children."
An ethereal, illusory voice came from the shadows.
Professor Sybill Trelawney emerged from the shadows like a giant, glittering insect.
She wore a shimmering shawl and a pair of enormous glasses that made her eyes look several times larger than normal.
She drifted through the smoke to the fireplace and began to talk cryptically about the mysteries of divination, claiming to be a seer who truly possessed the "Inner Eye."
"Today, we shall begin with the most basic of divination arts—Reading tea leaves!"
The students paired up and began to perform divination using the tea dregs from their teapots.
The classroom was soon filled with muffled gasps and whispers.
"My goodness, Ron, look at Harry's cup!"
A scream from Lavender Brown drew everyone's attention.
Professor Trelawney drifted over, took Harry's cup, and stared intently at the tea dregs inside with her magnified eyes.
"Oh..." she let out a dramatic moan, clutching her chest. "Oh, my dear boy..."
"You... in your cup... it's the 'Grim'!"
"What?" Ron's face went pale with fright.
"It is a giant black dog, my dear," Trelawney's voice was low, filled with a sense of mystical dread.
"It is the Spectral hound of the churchyards! It is an omen of death!"
The entire class instantly fell into a panic.
Students whispered to one another, their looks toward Harry filled with sympathy and fear.
Harry's own face turned pale. He remembered the large black dog he had seen lurking in the bushes on Privet Drive.
A chill ran down his spine.
Ron shouted in terror, "Grim! Harry, it's Grim! My uncle saw it once and died within twenty-four hours!"
The atmosphere of the entire classroom became incredibly oppressive because of this so-called "omen of death."
Just then.
"Pfft."
An undisguised sneer broke the heavy atmosphere.
Everyone turned toward the sound.
Draco Malfoy was holding his tea cup, watching the farce with a mocking expression.
"That was quite a performance, Professor."
He set down his cup, stood up slowly, and walked straight toward Harry's table.
Professor Trelawney looked at him displeasedly. "Mr. Malfoy, I do not find death to be a laughing matter."
"Of course I don't think death is funny," Draco said, standing over Harry and looking down at him.
"I just find it ridiculous that someone is trying to use such clumsy melodrama to gain attention."
He reached out and picked up the tea cup that had set the whole room off from right in front of Harry.
Harry looked up angrily. "Malfoy, give it back!"
Draco ignored him, held the cup up to his eyes, and feigned an examination.
"Hmm... a giant black dog?"
He tilted his head as if trying to identify it seriously.
"Why does it look more like a rather scruffy-looking sheep to me?"
"No, wait," he shifted the angle again, "now it looks like a rooster about to crow."
"Pfft!"
Some students couldn't help but laugh out loud.
Trelawney's face turned the color of a pig's liver. "Mr. Malfoy! Please respect the sacred discipline of Divination!"
"Respect?" Draco's tone was full of arrogance. "Professor, I only respect logic and facts."
"What is the difference between interpreting randomly arranged tea dregs using one's imagination and Mugglestreet fortune-telling?"
As he spoke, his fingers seemed to "accidentally" slip.
"Oops."
He let out a completely insincere gasp.
Smash!
The tea cup carrying the "omen of death" fell straight onto the stone floor, instantly shattered into pieces, with tea dregs splashing everywhere.
"Oh, so sorry, Potter."
Draco spread his hands, but there wasn't a hint of apology on his face.
"It seems your 'Grim' broke first."
"You!" Harry stood up abruptly, trembling with rage, and was about to draw his wand.
"Harry, don't be impulsive!"
Hermione grabbed him.
But this time, there was no accusation against Draco on her face; instead, there was a hint of agreement.
"What Draco said... actually makes sense," Hermionewhispered to Harry, frowning.
"Divination is inherently a very imprecise magical discipline. Many so-called omens are just coincidences."
Hermione's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Harry's head.
He looked at his friend in disbelief.
Even Hermione... even Hermione was on Malfoy's side?
Draco's contrarian move actually convinced many clear-headed students, especially those from Ravenclaw.
Compared to Trelawney's cryptic and mysterious ways, Draco's rational analysis based on logic was clearly more persuasive.
Their looks toward Draco gained a hint of approval.
While their looks toward Harry carried a subtle hint of suspicion.
Could it be... just as Malfoy said, savior was trying to package himself as a tragic hero to attract attention?
Harry looked at the strange gazes of those around him, then at Draco's matter-of-fact face, and at Hermione, who was holding him with disapproval in her eyes.
An unprecedented sense of isolation and grievance welled up in his heart.
He wanted to retort but found he couldn't say anything.
He could only let the anger burn in his chest, his face flushing deep red like a defeated rooster.
Draco enjoyed the sight of his impotent rage, feeling immensely satisfied.
He turned and walked elegantly back to his seat, completely ignoring the trembling Trelawney on the podium.
"Alright, the farce is over."
He sat down and whispered to Pansy and Daphne beside him.
"Remember, never let the nonsense of others influence your own judgment."
Chapter 127: The Pressure of dragons blood! Even Hippogriffs Must Kneel Before Me!
The classroom for Care of Magical Creatures was in a clearing on the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
Hagrid had clearly prepared carefully for his first class, but he had obviously underestimated the power of the third-year textbook.
"Can anyone tell me how to open these books?"
Hagrid held up a copy of The Monster Book of Monstersand asked loudly.
The book writhed and snapped frantically in his hands, trying to break free.
The textbooks in front of the students were in even more of a mess; several had huddled together to attack each other, with shredded paper and fur flying everywhere, leaving everyone in a frantic scramble and screaming repeatedly.
Ron's book even bit onto his old robes, and no matter how he shook it, he couldn't get it off.
"What a bunch of useless trash."
Draco looked at the chaos and curled his lip in disdain.
The Monster Book in front of him lay quietly on the grass.
He had also taken care of Pansy's and Daphne's books beforehand.
"Draco, how did you do that?" Hermione couldn't help but lean over to ask; her book was currently bound tightly with a belt, but it was still shaking incessantly.
"It's simple."
Draco extended his slender fingers and, as if soothing a startled kitten, gently stroked the spine of the manic book from top to bottom.
Something magical happened.
The book gave a sudden shudder and immediately grew quiet, its tooth-filled mouth closing docilely, and it even rubbed its corners against Draco's fingers.
"Just stroke its spine," Draco explained to Hermione, a hint of boastful tenderness in his voice. "It will know you mean no harm."
Hermione realized the trick and quickly followed suit, successfully soothing her own textbook as well.
The way she looked at Draco, her admiration was almost overflowing.
The surrounding students, especially the girls, saw Draco's effortless move and, comparing it to their own frantic and disheveled states, cast looks of envy and adoration at him.
Harry finally managed to open his book, and seeing this scene, he felt another wave of frustration in his heart.
It seemed that no matter the field, Malfoy could always easily do his best, making Harry look like a complete idiot by comparison.
"Alright! Everyone's doing great!" Hagrid announced loudly, trying to restore order to the class. "Now, follow me, I've prepared something truly special for you!"
He led the students into a paddock at the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
Inside the paddock, a dozen or so Hippogriffs were strolling leisurely.
These creatures had the heads and forequarters of giant eagles and the hindquarters and tails of horses; their feathers and fur came in various colors, and their gaze was sharp and proud.
"Wow!"
The students let out a chorus of gasps.
"They are Hippogriffs!" Hagrid introduced proudly. "Very proud creatures, and very easily offended."
"Remember, never insult them. The first step to approaching them is to bow, then wait to see if they return the gesture."
As Hagrid spoke, he walked up to a grey-feathered Hippogriff named Buckbeak and gave a deep bow.
Buckbeak watched him proudly for a moment before finally bending its scaly front legs in return.
"Well done, Buckbeak!" Hagrid shouted excitedly, then turned to the students. "Who wants to give it a try?"
Everyone instinctively took a step back.
Only Harry, encouraged by Hagrid, steeled himself and stepped forward.
Following Hagrid's example, he bowed tremulously to Buckbeak.
Buckbeak's sharp yellow eyes stared at him, unmoving; the atmosphere grew tense.
Just as Harry was about to buckle, Buckbeak finally returned the bow.
"Brilliant! Harry!" Hagrid excitedly picked Harry up and placed him on Buckbeak's back.
Buckbeak spread its massive wings and surged into the sky.
In mid-air, Harry let out a series of terrified screams, his hands clutching Buckbeak's feathers tightly as his body teetered precariously.
After flying a circuit, Buckbeak dove down and landed steadily.
When Harry slid off its back, his legs were weak and his face was pale, looking thoroughly shaken.
Despite this, the Gryffindor students erupted into a burst of warm applause and cheers.
"Not bad, Potter," Draco's voice rang out lazily. "How did it feel, being taken for a walk by your pet?"
"What did you say!" Ron roared angrily at once.
"Alright, now it's our turn—Slytherin's."
Ignoring Ron, Draco adjusted his collar and walked slowly toward Buckbeak.
Goyle and Crabbe, following behind him, were rubbing their hands together, seemingly wanting to go up and provoke it.
"Stand back," Draco commanded without looking back.
He didn't need to use such low-level tactics.
He walked slowly to Buckbeak, but he didn't bow like Hagrid and Harry did.
He just stood there quietly, looking up and calmly meeting Buckbeak's sharp yellow eyes with his own grey-blue ones.
With a thought...
[Dragon Blood War Body, High-Tier Creature Aura, Activate!]
A pressure originating from the depths of his bloodline radiated from Draco's seemingly frail body!
At the same time, a gentle and benevolent affinity enveloped Buckbeak.
Buckbeak, who had been standing proudly, suddenly stiffened.
It felt it!
It was a shudder from the depths of its soul, as if facing its own king!
It was an absolute suppression from the top of the food chain, more terrifying than any beast!
Under the shocked gazes of all the students and Hagrid...
Buckbeak trembled, and then it tucked in its massive wings and docilely, humbly, lowered its proud head.
It didn't just bend its front legs; its entire body prostrated itself, and it used its forehead to gently and pleasingly rub against the hem of Draco's trousers.
The entire field fell silent.
Everyone watched the scene in stunned silence.
Just by standing there, Draco Malfoy had made this proud magical creature perform the highest level of submission!
"This... how is this possible?" Hagrid stammered, completely unable to comprehend what was happening before his eyes.
An elegant curve formed at the corner of Draco's mouth.
He reached out, patted Buckbeak's head, then flipped lightly onto its back.
"Fly."
He said only a single word.
Buckbeak let out a loud cry and surged into the sky, more than twice as fast as when it was carrying Harry!
Draco sat steadily on its back, not even using his hands to hold on.
In the air, he commanded Buckbeak to perform one thrilling and difficult maneuver after another.
At times, it dove like lightning, skimming almost against the ground.
At other times, it pulled up vertically, soaring into the clouds.
In the wind, his robes fluttered as he remained composed, looking like a true knight of the sky.
Finally, Buckbeak made a beautiful circle and landed lightly back on the ground.
Draco jumped off its back, landing silently.
The Slytherin students, after a brief shock, erupted into thunderous applause and screams!
"Draco! You're so cool!"
"Malfoy! Malfoy!"
The way the girls looked at him was filled with fanatical adoration.
Draco cast a contemptuous glance at Harry, who stood nearby with a pale face.
"This is what you call mastery, Potter."
"Yours was at most being taken for a walk by a pet."
Chapter 128: Malfoy Injured? A Carefully Planned Staged Incident!
Taming Buckbeak had perfectly demonstrated his strength and thoroughly humiliated Harry Potter.
All of this was within Draco's plan.
But it wasn't enough.
His ultimate goal was to drive Hagrid, Dumbledore's loyal supporter, out of his position as a Professor.
The lesson was nearing its end, and the students were still marveling at the gentle Buckbeak.
Draco's gaze, however, turned to another Hippogriff in the corner of the paddock.
It was a brown one, looking younger and more restless.
It was impatiently pawing the ground with its front hooves, clearly dissatisfied that Buckbeak had stolen all the limelight.
"Draco, we should head back," Daphne reminded him.
"No rush."
A cold smile curled at the corner of Draco's mouth. He straightened his robes and walked toward the brown Hippogriff.
"Hey! Malfoy! What are you doing?"
Hagrid noticed his movement and immediately shouted nervously.
"Don't go near it! It's got a bad temper!"
Draco acted as if he hadn't heard and continued forward.
"You great, ugly brute," he said, stopping in front of the beast with a provocative smile.
"Do you think you're something special? You're nothing but a half-breed animal."
He spoke in English.
The surrounding students could all hear him.
"Malfoy! Have you gone mad? Come back!" Hermione also shouted anxiously.
Harry and Ron looked on with schadenfreude, wishing for Malfoy to be torn apart by the beast.
The Hippogriff let out an angry screech.
But perhaps due to the pressure Draco had left when he tamed Buckbeak earlier, it just stepped around restlessly without attacking immediately.
The smile on Draco's face grew wider.
He leaned down slightly and whispered in a hissing, ancient language that only the beast could understand:
[You mixture of feathers and horsehair, you smell like a pile of rotting Troll dung. Did your mother run off with a lame Augurey?]
Parseltongue!
Although not used on a snake, the provocative intent inherent in it, belonging to a higher magical creature, instantly ignited the young beast's fury!
This was an insult to its bloodline!
"Screee—!!!"
The brown Hippogriff let out a piercing shriek, completely enraged!
It reared up suddenly, its huge claws gleaming coldly as they swept toward Draco's face with the sound of rushing wind!
"Ah!"
The girls let out terrified screams.
Everything happened in the blink of an eye!
A look of "panic" appeared on Draco's face.
He seemed paralyzed with fear, clumsily dodging backward.
In reality, at the moment the sharp claws reached him, he calculated precisely in his mind.
[Protective magic, deactivate!]
Splat!
The sharp claws tore through the expensive robes and embedded themselves deep into Draco's arm!
Blood instantly gushed out, staining half of his body red.
"Ah—!!!"
Draco let out a shrill, agonizing scream and fell backward, crashing heavily onto the grass.
"It's going to kill me!"
He clutched his bleeding arm, his face turning pale instantly (entirely controlled by his own magic), his body twitching in pain.
"I'm dying! My arm! Ah!"
His acting was enough to win any Oscar.
The whole scene spiraled out of control!
"Draco!"
Pansy was the first to let out a heart-wrenching scream, rushing forward recklessly.
The Slytherin students were in a chaotic mess; some went to help Draco, while others backed away in terror.
"Oh! Merlin! No! No!"
Hagrid was completely panicked; he never dreamed that such a thing would happen in his first class.
He rushed over, pushed aside the still-screeching Hippogriff, and clumsily picked up the "critically injured and dying" Draco.
"I'll take you to the Hospital Wing! Hang in there! Boy! Hang in there!"
Hagrid's voice was trembling, his massive body shaking with fear.
Draco was held in his arms, his head lolling to one side, his eyes half-closed as if he could stop breathing at any moment.
But from an angle no one could see, a cold and cruel smile of a successful plan curled at the corner of his mouth.
A teaching accident?
No, this was a major teaching disaster!
Hagrid, you're finished... In the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey was overwhelmed.
Draco lay on the white hospital bed, his arm wrapped in thick, exaggerated bandages and held in a sling across his chest.
In truth, that small injury would have been healed long ago with a bottle of Skele-Gro.
But he refused treatment, claiming he had "received a massive shock and needed quiet rest and observation."
Madam Pomfrey couldn't argue with him and could only let him be.
News quickly spread throughout Hogwarts and even faster to Malfoy Manor.
Lucius Malfoy immediately stated that he would file the most severe lawsuit with the Board of Governors and the Ministry of Magic's Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures.
Demands: First, immediately execute that "vicious beast" that dared to harm the Malfoy heir!
Second, immediately fire the grossly negligent Rubeus Hagrid!
At dusk, Hermione came to the Hospital Wing, looking worried.
"Draco... how are you?"
Seeing Draco's pale face and the bandages on his arm, her eyes instantly turned red.
"I'm okay, Hermione, I won't die."
Draco's voice was weak as he reached out his uninjured left hand to Hermione.
Hermione quickly grasped it; his hand was very cold.
"It's all my fault," Hermione's tears fell, "I shouldn't have let you go, I should have stopped you..."
"No, it's not your fault."
Draco gently rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb.
"It's all Hagrid's fault. He simply doesn't have the ability to be a Professor, bringing such dangerous creatures into the classroom without any effective safety measures."
His voice was full of grievance and lingering fear.
"If it were you or any other classmate who got hurt today, I can't even imagine the consequences."
Hermione's body trembled.
Yes... what if it had been her who got scratched today?
Hagrid was a good person, but... was he really fit to be a Professor?
Draco's words were like a seed, planting deep suspicion of Hagrid's abilities in her heart.
"I... I heard your father wants to execute Buck... that Hippogriff?" Hermione asked hesitantly.
"It's not Buckbeak, it's the other one," Draco corrected, then sighed, a compassionate expression appearing on his face.
"I don't want this either, Hermione. But it's too dangerous; it hurt me today, and it might hurt someone else tomorrow."
"For the safety of all students, there's no other way."
He portrayed himself as a noble figure who had to sacrifice personal feelings for the collective interest.
Hermione looked at his "pale" and handsome face, listening to his "considerate of the big picture" words, and the scales in her heart completely tilted.
She squeezed Draco's hand, her eyes determined.
"You're right, Draco. Safety is more important than anything."
Chapter 129: Even Snape Is Working With Me! GryffindorWon't Score Any Points Today!
The next day, in the underground Potion Class classroom.
The news that Draco Malfoy was "attending class while injured" became the focus of the entire school.
He wore a well-tailored Slytherin robe, his right arm elegantly suspended across his chest in a black silk sling.
He didn't look like an injured person, but rather a melancholy noble hero who had just returned from the battlefield.
He gracefully sat down in his seat, and Pansyimmediately acted like a loyal maid, setting out his quill, parchment, and ink bottle one by one.
"Draco, would you like some Pumpkin Juice? I'll feed you." Pansy's voice was sickly sweet.
Snape walked into the classroom, and seeing Draco in this state, the corner of his mouth seemed to twitch beneath his greasy black hair, but he said nothing.
"Today, we will be brewing the Shrinking Potion."
He said this in his characteristic, slow drawl, and the recipe appeared on the blackboard.
The students began to prepare their ingredients.
Draco, however, leaned back in his chair, motionless.
Lazily, he raised his left hand and pointed at Harry and Ron opposite him.
"Potter, Weasley."
His voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet classroom.
Harry and Ron looked up, their faces wary.
"Come here," Draco motioned with his chin toward the ingredients on his desk, "Help me chop these daisy roots, and peel this Runespoor egg."
"Why should we!" Ron immediately shouted.
"Because I am an injured person."
Draco shook his arm in the sling, a look of entitlement on his face.
"My arm was scratched by Hagrid's stupid pet while I was trying to protect you reckless Gryffindors."
"Now, shouldn't you help me with a small task?"
Harry's face turned green with anger: "You're lying! You clearly provoked it yourself!"
"Oh?" Draco raised an eyebrow. "Who saw? Do you have proof?"
"The students present only saw me being attacked by an uncontrolled beast. Potter, you can eat carelessly, but you can't speak carelessly. That's called slander."
"Enough!"
Snape's cold voice rang out.
"Potter, Mr. Malfoy's arm is injured and he cannot prepare his ingredients. You and Weasley go and assist him. Gryffindor, five points deducted for contradicting an injured student!"
"But Professor!" Harry exclaimed anxiously.
"Do you want detention, Potter?" Snape's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Or do you want Gryffindor to lose another twenty points?"
Harry could only shut his mouth in humiliation.
Under Snape's watchful eye, he and Ron had no choice but to walk over to Draco's desk, suppressing their fury, and begin preparing Potion ingredients for their arch-enemy.
Draco, meanwhile, leaned back comfortably in his chair, enjoying the chocolate frog Pansy held up to his mouth, and occasionally criticizing Harry and Ron's work.
"Potter, your daisy roots are cut too coarsely. Are you trying to poison me?"
"Weasley, stop! Don't touch my Runespoor egg with those hands that have touched Troll snot! It's filthy!"
"Professor Snape!" Draco suddenly raised his hand. "Potter's ingredients are completely substandard. I seriously suspect he is trying to use this opportunity to murder me!"
Snape walked over, glanced at the ingredients Harry had chopped, and said coldly, "Unevenly cut, completely lacking aesthetic appeal. Gryffindor, another five points deducted!"
By the end of the class, Harry and Ron had done nothing but assist Draco, and had caused Gryffindor to lose thirty points.
Harry was shaking with anger, and several times he nearly cut his own fingers with the knife.
As for Draco, with the "help" of Pansy and Daphne, he easily completed a perfect batch of Shrinking Potion.
He received unreserved praise from Snape and bonus points for Slytherin... The afternoon was Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
Professor Lupin looked much better and seemed to have recovered from yesterday's humiliation.
He took the whole class to the staff room, where he planned to teach them how to deal with a creature called a Boggart.
"Boggarts like to hide in dark, enclosed spaces," Lupinexplained.
"But the most peculiar thing about it is that it has no fixed form. It transforms into whatever you fear the most."
The students stirred.
"The spell for fighting a Boggart is simple: 'Riddikulus,'" said Lupin.
"The key is to concentrate and imagine the funniest image you can think of."
He asked Neville Longbottom to step forward first.
Poor Neville turned pale with fright; the person he feared most was Professor Snape.
Sure enough, as soon as the wardrobe door opened, a tall figure in black robes with a hooked nose stepped out—it was Snape.
Neville retreated several steps in fear.
"Concentrate, Neville!" Lupin encouraged. "Imagine him wearing your grandmother's clothes!"
Neville took a deep breath, raised his wand, and shouted tremblingly:
"Riddikulus!"
A spell hit "Snape."
Instantly, the black robes transformed into a long green dress, and a ridiculous hat decorated with a rotting vulture specimen appeared on his head.
"Hahahahahahaha!"
The whole class erupted in deafening laughter.
Ron laughed the loudest, clutching his stomach and rolling on the floor.
Even some of the Slytherin students couldn't help but laugh.
Lupin was also laughing, and the atmosphere was joyful.
However, Draco did not laugh.
He simply looked at the ridiculous cross-dressing "Snape" expressionlessly, his eyes cold.
He slowly stood up and cleared his throat.
The laughter gradually stopped, and everyone looked at him.
"I fail to see," Draco's voice was quiet, yet it was like a bucket of ice water extinguishing everyone's enthusiasm.
"What is so funny about publicly humiliating a respected Professor."
The entire room fell silent.
The smile froze on Lupin's face.
"Draco, it's just a Boggart..."
"Just a Boggart?" Draco interrupted him, his gaze sharp and fixed on Lupin.
"But it represents Neville's inner fear. That is to say, in Neville's heart, Professor Snape is the person he fears most."
"And you, Professor Lupin," Draco's tone became severe.
"As Professor Snape's colleague, you not only failed to guide the students to overcome their fear, but you took the lead and incited them to mock another Professor."
"I truly cannot understand how a Hogwarts Professor's professional ethics could degrade to such an extent."
"How is your behavior any different from school bullying?"
Every word Draco spoke was like a precise carving knife, peeling away Lupin's hypocritical mask layer by layer.
Lupin's face flushed red then white; he was completely unable to save face.
He had originally intended to use this relaxed teaching method, but Draco had directly slapped him with the labels of "leading the bullying of a colleague" and "degrading professional ethics."
The Gryffindor students could no longer laugh.
After Draco's speech, they suddenly felt that turning Snape into that ridiculous sight was indeed... quite disrespectful.
Chapter 130: Boggart's Fear! I Saw My Father!
The atmosphere in the Staffroom grew somewhat heavy due to Draco's forceful accusation.
Professor Lupin stood there, his face looking troubled, momentarily unsure of how to respond.
He had never imagined that a thirteen-year-old boy could speak such sharp words.
He wanted to retort, but found that Draco's words were logically flawless.
Publicly guiding students to make a colleague's image look ridiculous could not be considered appropriate from any angle.
To break the deadlock, Lupin took a deep breath and turned his gaze to Draco.
"Well said, Mr. Malfoy."
His tone was somewhat stiff.
"It seems you have a very deep understanding of 'fear'."
"Then, why don't you show us how to face your inner fears in the most noble and least insulting way possible."
This was a provocation.
Everyone's eyes were focused on Draco.
The Slytherins looked on with expectation and admiration.
The Gryffindors were full of curiosity and expressions of anticipation for a good show.
They all wanted to see what this high-and-mighty Young Master Malfoy was actually afraid of.
Was it that Hippogriff that had almost killed him?
Or was it something else?
"With pleasure, Professor."
Draco nodded elegantly, as if this were not a challenge but a perfect opportunity for a demonstration.
He walked slowly toward the shaking wardrobe, his expression composed.
Inside, however, his mind was racing.
His true fear?
A noseless face and a pair of all-seeing blue eyes flashed through his mind.
No.
It absolutely couldn't be them.
If the Boggart turned into Lord Voldemort, what would Dumbledore think? Why would a child from a Death Eater family fear the Dark Lord?
He needed a perfect shield.
The stern and harsh face of Lucius Malfoy appeared in Draco's mind.
That's the one.
Draco stood still in front of the wardrobe, straightening his back.
Lupin waved his wand and opened the wardrobe door.
The Boggart landed on the floor with a "crack" and began to transform.
It first turned into a rotting corpse, then into a giant Acromantula, but Draco's expression didn't change.
The Boggart felt the determination in his heart and finally found the "fear" that Draco had deliberately amplified.
Smoke billowed, and a tall figure with platinum-blond hair appeared before everyone.
"Draco."
That "Lucius" spoke, his voice devoid of emotion.
"You've disappointed me greatly."
"You are not ruthless enough, not cunning enough, not strong enough."
"You are disgracing the glory of the House of Malfoy."
"You... are a waste."
The Slytherin students were all stunned.
They hadn't expected that Draco's deepest fear was not receiving his father's approval and being seen as a waste by his own father.
Distress showed on the faces of Pansy and Daphne.
It turned out that beneath his powerful exterior, he also bore such heavy pressure.
Harry and Ron were somewhat gloating; it turned out Malfoy was also afraid of his old man.
Seeing this, a look of understanding flashed in Lupin's eyes.
So it was pressure from a strict father. This was common and completely fit the Malfoy Family's style.
The slight doubt in his heart quietly dissipated.
Just when everyone thought Draco would waver.
Draco let out a cold snort.
"A waste?"
He looked at the Boggart before him representing "paternal authority," his grey-blue eyes filled only with mockery.
He slowly raised his wand.
What he wanted to do was not to make this "father" look ridiculous.
What he wanted to do was to completely and publicly subvert this image.
"Riddikulus!"
He enunciated the incantation clearly.
A flash of light passed.
The majestic "Lucius Malfoy" before him was now wearing a red and yellow clown suit, a red fake nose, and exaggerated face paint.
A unicycle appeared beneath his feet.
That "Clown Lucius" was pedaling the unicycle, clumsily spinning in place, juggling three colorful balls, with a foolish grin on his face.
"Pfft—"
This time, even the Slytherin camp burst into laughter.
The impact of the visual was too strong.
To turn that high-and-mighty representative of pure-blood nobility, the Head of the House of Malfoy, into a clown for people's amusement in a circus!
This was no longer just "ridiculous."
This was a declaration! A rebellion!
Draco's actions not only perfectly neutralized the Boggartbut also established a more powerful image in the hearts of all the Slytherin students.
He was no longer just Lucius Malfoy's son.
He was a leader who dared to challenge paternal authority and pursue his own will!
At this moment, the way the Slytherin students looked at Draco changed.
It was no longer simple following, but awe—the worship of a strong individual who dared to challenge authority!
Lupin looked at the clown on the unicycle, then at the cold-faced boy before him, a chill rising in his heart.
This child's shrewdness... his ambition... was far deeper and more terrifying than he had imagined!
The last weekend before Halloween was a Hogsmeadeday.
The Castle entrance hall was crowded with excited students, chattering about whether to go to Honeydukesor the Three Broomsticks.
Argus Filch, the caretaker, stood at the main gate, checking permission slips one by one.
"No guardian's signature, no going!"
He stopped a figure with his raspy voice.
Harry Potter.
He clutched his blank permission slip, his face full of disappointment.
The Dursleys, of course, would not sign it for him.
He could only watch helplessly as Ron and Hermionewalked past him with sympathetic looks, joining the flow of people heading toward Hogsmeade.
"How pitiful, our savior."
An elegant and magnetic voice rang out behind him.
Harry whipped his head around.
Draco Malfoy was standing in front of him, wearing that smile that made Harry's teeth itch with hatred.
Today, Draco had clearly dressed up with care.
He wore a black dragon-hide coat with silver patterns faintly visible on the collar and sleeves, looking expensive at a glance.
His arm no longer needed a sling; a thin bandage was wrapped around his wrist, looking more like a decoration.
Beside him, clutching his arm, was a dressed-up Daphne Greengrass.
This "flower of slytherin" wore an ice-blue cashmere cloak; her skin was fair, and her blonde hair was perfectly groomed, like a princess.
Standing together like a prince and princess from a fairy tale, they attracted everyone's gaze.
They formed a sarcastic and sharp contrast with Harry Potter, who was wearing old robes and standing alone, blocked at the door.
"Let's go, Daphne."
Draco deliberately stopped and began discussing with Daphne right in front of Harry.
"I heard Honeydukes just got a new batch of Hiccough Sweets; let's go buy some."
"Oh, and the Butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks; having a large mug in this weather is simply a treat."
Daphne smiled cooperatively: "I'll follow your lead, Draco."