Ch: 95-102
Chapter 95 I Am Giving You a Chance [Bonus Chapter]
Facing Peeves' question, Ron gave Draco a very smug look.
Then he deliberately puffed out his chest and said loudly:
"The truth I want to tell you is that Malfoy is now a Gryffindor! The Sorting Hat assigned him to Gryffindor in front of everyone! He already admitted in the Great Hall that he was abandoned by his family! Have you all forgotten?"
As he spoke, Ron's gaze swept around arrogantly.
"So he was just bluffing just now! His father won't care about a Gryffindor son who was kicked out of the family!"
These words were like a spark thrown into boiling oil, instantly igniting the crowd's dormant memories and suppressed discussions.
"That's right! How could I forget that!" A Ravenclaw senior slapped his forehead hard.
The crisp sound was exceptionally clear in the suddenly silent corridor.
"Yes, that's right! The Sorting Hat assigned him to Gryffindor! Everyone was stunned at the time!" another Hufflepuff student quickly agreed.
The look he gave Draco instantly changed from previous wariness and disdain to sudden realization.
It was as if he had seen through a carefully woven deception.
"Lucius Malfoy's son is a Gryffindor... merlins beard, he must be furious, how could he still care about him?"
"No wonder Peeves seemed a bit hesitant just now, he was actually fooled by him!"
"Bluffing... he acted so much like it, I was almost tricked by him!"
Whispers rose like a tide, quickly drowning out the previous panic in the corridor.
Those fragmented discussions carried a bit of schadenfreude and a bit of kicking him while he was down.
Everyone's gaze focused on Draco once again, but this time, the meaning in their eyes had completely changed.
Before, it was the fear of the House of Malfoy, a fear that made them avoid him; now, it was as if they were looking at a buffoon.
"Gry-ffin-dor?! Aban-doned by his fam-ily?!"
Peeves' two button-like eyes stared fixedly at Draco.
His voice sounded as if it were squeezed through his teeth, every word carrying the violent rage of being severely fooled.
Who was he?
He was Peeves!
He was the Prank King of Hogwarts who ran rampant without restraint!
He was the existence that gave the Professors headaches and made the students tremble with fear!
Yet he had actually been scared by a Gryffindor brat abandoned by his family, using the name of a father who no longer recognized him, nearly turning around and retreating?
This was simply a great humiliation!
It was a shameful event that Peeves, who had dominated Hogwarts for decades, had never experienced!
"You lied to me! You dared to lie to me! You big liar!"
Peeves shrieked and roared, his body trembling violently with rage, and the air around him seemed to ripple with restless agitation due to his emotions.
"I'll make you regret being born! I'll make every day you spend at Hogwarts a complete nightmare!"
"I'll turn your hair into caterpillars, your textbooks into toads, and your bed into a thicket of thorns!"
Peeves clamored, his voice startling the figures in the portraits on both sides of the corridor, who all poked their heads out.
And Hermione, standing nearby, was also stunned as if struck by lightning.
She stared blankly at Draco, her mind buzzing, the sound completely overturning all her previous interpretations of Draco's behavior.
Yes, how could she have forgotten?
Draco was no longer the Malfoy of Slytherin; he was a member of Gryffindor, someone publicly abandoned by his family.
Those actions that had previously made her feel strange now had a reasonable explanation.
And she had actually been blinded by her stereotypes of the House of Malfoy, completely failing to realize this.
Hermione suddenly snapped back to her senses, her logic returning instantly.
She quickly glanced at the furious Peeves, then at Draco, who was being pointed at by everyone, and her heart suddenly sank.
Draco's current situation was extremely dangerous!
Peeves' fury had reached its peak, and Draco had lost the House of Malfoy, his greatest deterrent.
Now, in Peeves' eyes, he was just an ordinary student with no support, to be dealt with as he pleased.
She couldn't watch Draco be wantonly toyed with by Peeves.
Regardless of who he once was, at this moment, he was her fellow Gryffindor classmate, the person who had just pulled her along and protected her.
Hermione's brain worked rapidly, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the wand in her robe pocket, desperately thinking of a way to help him out.
Just at this moment of widespread agitation, when the crisis was about to break out.
There wasn't a hint of panic on Draco's face, not even a trace of fluster.
He just stood there quietly, a faint smile hanging on his lips.
"Wait."
He spoke, his voice incredibly calm.
But it was these two words that made Peeves' imminent attack posture freeze mid-air.
Its raised arm stopped there, its distorted expression frozen on its face.
The two button eyes widened even further, filled with disbelief.
He still dared to say "wait"?!
At this moment when the lie had been completely exposed and he was at a dead end.
This bastard actually still dared to say "wait" to him with that damn, nonchalant, smiling expression?!
This had already exceeded the range of Peeves' chaotic logical understanding.
He felt like he wasn't dealing with a green student, but with an... unreasonable lunatic!
A lunatic who could still smile even though he had clearly fallen into a desperate situation!
Not just Peeves, all the students present were stunned.
They looked at each other, their eyes full of vacancy and confusion.
The noisy discussions from a moment ago vanished without a trace, and the corridor was so quiet that everyone's heartbeat could be heard.
Hermione had been racking her brains for a solution.
Hearing Draco's casual "wait," she suddenly turned her head, looking at Draco as if she were looking at a creature from another planet.
She couldn't understand it, she completely couldn't understand it.
How could he still smile when he might suffer Peeves' most vicious revenge in the next second?
How did he still dare to say the word "wait" so calmly?
Had he been scared completely witless and just given up?
Or... did he have some other, more terrifying support or plan that they knew nothing about?
As soon as this thought appeared, even Hermione herself found it unbelievable.
What kind of backup could a student abandoned by his family still have?
The surrounding students were even more silent.
Everyone held their breath, their gazes moving back and forth between Draco and Peeves, completely unable to understand what was happening.
Was this Malfoy... really scared witless, his mind no longer clear?
Or was he really hiding some trump card that could turn the tables in this desperate situation?
Ron was also completely stunned.
He had thought that once he said those words, Draco would surely be severely punished by Peeves and then lose all face.
He would also be able to vent the resentment in his heart.
But he never expected that Draco not only didn't panic, but could also be so calm—so calm it made one's skin crawl.
For a moment, even Ron was a bit uncertain.
The atmosphere in the corridor was eerie to the extreme.
Even though it was midsummer, it made people feel a chill creeping up their spines.
Peeves stood frozen in mid-air, the rage in his button eyes gradually replaced by a hint of suspicion.
He stared fixedly at the unchanging smile on Draco's face, as if trying to see through him.
After a long while, he finally squeezed out a sentence through his teeth: "You... do you have any last words?"
In the end, he didn't make a move.
It wasn't that he didn't want to, but the scene before him was too eerie.
Eerie enough that even he, a ghost who delighted in chaos, felt a trace of inexplicable wariness.
Seeing this, Ron immediately grew anxious.
Fearing that Peeves was being bluffed by Draco, he quickly shouted loudly:
"What are you waiting for, Peeves? Are you afraid of him? He's just a waste abandoned by his family! There's nothing to be afraid of!"
These words were like a needle, sharply piercing Peeves' pride.
That's right! What was he waiting for?!
He was Peeves! The Prank King of Hogwarts!
How could he hesitate because of the other party's mysterious "wait" and an infuriating smile?!
What was he waiting for?!
Waiting for this little liar to weave another ridiculous lie?
Waiting for him to show that calm expression that made one want to tear it apart?
Peeves' rage was reignited, even more intense than before.
"I've waited long enough!!! I won't give you another chance! You liar, I'll show you what I'm capable of today!"
He suddenly roared again, his voice making the windows in the corridor rattle.
Before his voice had even faded, he lunged at Draco, brandishing his claws.
Hermione's face changed drastically, and she shouted loudly without thinking: "Peeves, stop!"
As she shouted, she was about to pull out her wand, even though she knew ordinary spells were useless against Peeves.
But at that moment, Draco moved.
He didn't dodge, he didn't run, he didn't even move his feet.
He just looked up, watching the lunging Peeves and shook his head.
"I gave you a chance."
Chapter 96: Expulsion!
At the very moment Peeves' wild laughter pierced the silence of the corridor and reached its peak, Draco moved.
Once in motion, Draco seemed like a completely different person from the one who had been standing still with a faint smile; his movements were as swift as a flash of lightning.
That faint smile remained on his lips, but a daunting, sharp light suddenly burst from the depths of his eyes.
"Banishment of Evil Spirits!"
Draco's lips moved, spitting out four syllables at a speed so fast it was almost a blur.
Just as the final syllable fell, he shouted in a low voice: "Peeves! Get out of Hogwarts!"
Simultaneously, his wrist flicked slightly, and his wand traced a perfect Ω-shaped trajectory in mid-air.
Then, the arm holding the wand suddenly pulled back, accumulating all of the invisible power at the tip of the wand.
With a thrust of his arm, he stabbed fiercely toward the incessantly laughing Peeves!
This strike contained only unstoppable power and resolve.
"Ding—!"
A clear, crisp sound suddenly rang out.
A burst of high-frequency flickering silver-white light erupted from the tip of the wand.
Accompanying the silver light was a sound like hundreds of delicate silver bells being brushed by a gentle breeze.
The silver light and the clear sound enveloped Peeves with peerless precision.
"Eee-yah—!!!"
Peeves' smug, wild laughter instantly turned into a scream of extreme agony.
The sound was so sharp it was distorted, making the hearts of all the surrounding students tremble.
Even more terrifying changes followed.
Peeves' solid body rapidly became translucent and began to flicker erratically.
It was like an old television with a terrible signal, the screen filled with chaotic static and noise.
He could no longer maintain a stable form, let alone control his own actions.
Now he could only struggle futilely within the silver light, like a flying insect trapped in a spiderweb.
"No—! Stop! Stop it! Have mercy!"
His voice was intermittent; he had long since lost his previous arrogance, leaving only the most primitive terror and pleas for mercy.
The fear in that voice was so real that anyone could tell it was by no means a pretense.
"That light! That sound! I won't do it again! I'll never tease you again! Please let me go—!"
After Peeves finished speaking.
Dead silence swept through the entire corridor once more like a tide.
One could hear a pin drop.
Everyone stood frozen in place, their eyes fixed on the figure struggling within the silver light.
Listening to Peeves' heart-wrenching pleas for mercy, the shock in their hearts surged like crashing waves.
They had witnessed with their own eyes this thousand-year-old ailment of Hogwarts, the King of Pranks whom even successive Principals were powerless against, being forced into such a pathetic state.
What shook their minds even more was that no one recognized this spell.
"Banishment of Evil Spirits?"
An upper-year Ravenclaw student murmured those four words.
His brow was furrowed deeply.
He then turned to look at his equally well-read companion, who only shook his head blankly, eyes full of confusion.
"That Ω symbol... what is that?" a Hufflepuff student whispered.
"I think I've seen a similar pattern in Ancient Runes Class, but... but I've never heard of it being linked to such a powerful banishing magic."
"I've flipped through 'standard book of spells' from beginner to advanced, and I've never seen this spell!"
A younger Gryffindor wearing round-framed glasses said.
"I've also secretly flipped through a few of those extracurricular magic tomes, and similarly... I've never heard of it!"
"That light is a bit like the Patronus Charm, but it's also completely different."
An older Gryffindor student rubbed his chin, speaking thoughtfully.
Then he shook his head as if rejecting his own idea.
"The Patronus Charm is warm, carrying the protective power of light, but this... it's more direct, more overbearing, like a purifying power specifically targeting this kind of spiritual entity!"
"Look! Peeves... he seems truly afraid!"
Another student pointed at the increasingly dimming figure.
"He's not afraid of Malfoy's family influence; he's afraid of the spell itself! merlins beard, what kind of magic is this?"
Whispers rose again like a tide, but they no longer contained the previous mockery or schadenfreude.
Only amazement, awe, and intense curiosity remained in the room.
All eyes were focused on Draco; this time, it was no longer to see a joke, no longer with pity, but with a gaze bordering on reverence.
This Gryffindor abandoned by his family, this seemingly cynical Malfoy, had become a mysterious existence possessing unknown and powerful strength.
At the back of the crowd, Harry and Ron also slowly recovered from their extreme shock.
Ron's open mouth finally closed slowly, and he turned to look at Harry beside him:
"Did you see that? Is... is that real? Malfoy... what on earth did he just use?"
Harry shook his head, his eyes full of confusion.
Harry also stared fixedly at the upright figure ahead, the shock in his heart unable to subside for a long time.
He had seen countless powerful magics, but he had never seen such a peculiar and overbearing banishing technique.
And Hermione remained frozen in place, even her breathing seemed to stop for a moment.
But in her eyes, a light so hot it almost seemed to burn burst forth.
It was a thirst for knowledge ignited by unknown information.
Her lips moved silently, repeating the pronunciation and shape of "Banishment of Evil Spirits" and "Ω" over and over again.
Her fingers even flexed unconsciously, clumsily simulating the hand gestures Draco had just used to cast the magic.
Her brain had long been completely submerged by surging shock and curiosity.
This was a magic she had never seen in any magical tome.
Those concise and powerful incantations, those gestures containing ancient secret meanings, that purifying silver light and clear sound, that perfect counter-effect against Peeves... all of it pointed to a startling possibility.
This was an extremely ancient, extremely obscure, and perhaps even lost magic.
It might have originated from some unknown lineage, but it belonged to Draco alone.
And she had just witnessed with her own eyes Draco performing this magic that overturned her understanding so skillfully.
Draco slowly lowered his wand, and that faint smile returned to his face.
It was as if that earth-shattering move just now was merely a trivial matter.
Just when everyone thought this disturbance would end with his complete victory and Peeves' pathetic flight.
Draco made another move that was completely beyond everyone's expectations.
Chapter 97: Little Peeves
Just as everyone in the hall was certain Peeves would be expelled from Hogwarts, Draco once again did something that left them all dumbfounded.
With a slight movement from him, the silvery light and clear, melodious bell tones surrounding Peevesreceded like a tide, vanishing without a trace in an instant.
Then, he slowly raised a hand and beckoned to the still-trembling Peeves: 'Come here, Little Peeves.'
His tone was so casual it sounded like he was calling a docile pet.
But those three simple words, falling on Peeves's ears, were no less than a supreme command.
The uncontrollable fear from moments ago had already crushed all its bravado into dust.
Now, all that remained was fear of the boy before it; how could it dare to disobey even slightly?
The shimmering form trembled as it moved, drifting to a stop about a foot in front of Draco.
Strangely, as the silvery light completely dissipated, its form—which had been flickering wildly between solid and ethereal—stabilized at a visible rate.
In a mere moment, it had regained its usual, lively, bouncing appearance.
Peeves was still in that annoying, comical pose, but before Draco, it had lost all its malice.
Its button eyes were fixed on Draco's face, or more accurately, glued to the wand that hung seemingly casually from Draco's hand.
Peeves had fully recovered.
Without a single scratch, without a trace of weakness.
The effect of the Banishing Charm moments ago seemed only to have been the 'banishing' part, leaving behind no lasting magical imprint whatsoever.
But it dared not move.
Even though it was now fully restored, it didn't dare, as it usually would after escaping trouble, to curse wildly or make comical gestures to vent its anger.
Peeves simply hung rigidly in mid-air, even the drift of its movement carefully controlled, afraid of angering the boy before it.
It understood all too well that the person before it held the means to drive it from the Castle.
Once removed from Hogwarts, the soil it depended on for survival, the outcome awaiting it would be a fate worse than death.
Obedience was its only choice.
And it wasn't just Peeves who was afraid.
The students in the corridor were already stunned, their spirits shaken.
'Peeves... is actually scared?' A Ravenclaw girl covered her mouth, her eyes filled with disbelief.
In her understanding, Peeves was the fearless, unruly demon king of the school; when had it ever been so docile?
'That spell is too terrifying... Look at it, it's like it's seen a ghost!'
Another boy chimed in softly, his tone carrying a hint of lingering fear.
He subconsciously shrank his neck back.
'He won't... use that on us later, will he?' A Hufflepuff girl's voice carried a sob.
Her gaze towards Draco was full of timidity.
'It's cool, really cool... but it feels a bit...'
A Gryffindor boy rubbed his nose; the second half of'scary' ultimately didn't dare leave his mouth.
He just swallowed his saliva, sullenly closing his mouth, afraid of bringing trouble upon himself.
Within the Slytherin ranks, it was even more deathly quiet.
Those usually proud little snakes were now as silent as cicadas in winter.
The looks they gave Draco held only deep apprehension.
They had once secretly rejoiced that Draco was sorted into Gryffindor and abandoned by his family, and some even thought to teach him a lesson.
But now, they only felt a chill shooting from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads; this Malfoywas far more terrifying than they had imagined.
Ron also stood there dumbfounded, his mouth slightly agape, unable to close it for a long time.
In the crowd, Neville's face was still as pale as paper.
Looking at Draco's tall, straight figure, his eyes were also full of fear.
But deep within that fear, there seemed to be a trace of an indescribable emotion.
Was it envy for this 'power not to be bullied'?
Or something else... He couldn't say himself, only feeling his heart beating wildly, his breathing becoming somewhat rapid.
In stark contrast to the fear of the others, Lavender, at the edge of the crowd, had a faint blush on her cheeks.
Her eyes sparkled with unconcealed excitement.
Lavender lowered her voice and said to Parvati: 'Parvati... did you see that? That move he just did... Merlin... he's so... so handsome!'
Parvati nodded heavily: 'I saw it! He's definitely not ordinary.'
'Lavender! I bet he's hiding a huge secret! We all misjudged him before!'
Taking in everyone's expressions, Draco looked at the faces filled with shock or fear and shook his head helplessly.
He slowly raised a hand, gesturing for everyone to be quiet: 'Don't worry, this spell only works on Peeves; it can't be used on people. It's just a targeted Banishing Charm.'
His calm voice rang out, clearly reaching every corner of the corridor.
These words were like a lifeline, instantly soothing everyone's taut nerves.
Many let out silent sighs of relief, their stiff bodies relaxing.
Can't be used on people!
That meant they and their friends would never be the target of this terrifying spell!
With the dark cloud of fear dispelled, the seeds of curiosity quickly took root and sprouted.
'Only works on Peeves? Merlin's beard, that's still incredible! It's practically Peeves's personal nemesis!'
'A spell specifically for banishing Peeves? I've scoured all the magical texts at home; how have I never heard of it?'
'No wonder Peeves was so scared; it was targeted by a spell specifically designed to counter it! That's so awesome!'
Discussions rose again, this time full of amazement and curiosity, with no trace of fear left.
But these words had no effect on Hermione.
In her bright brown eyes, there wasn't a hint of relaxation; instead, a flicker of doubt passed through.
Empty words without proof; who could prove the spell truly only worked on Peeves?
Moreover, what she was truly worried about wasn't whether the spell could be used on people.
What worried her was the power to command Peeves.
Everyone knew how unrestrained Peeves was within Hogwarts.
If one could control Peeves, it would be like holding a trump card to walk sideways through Hogwarts.
The next seven years of school life would be smooth sailing.
This realization made Hermione's frown deepen.
Her gaze towards Draco held a new layer of wariness.
Beside her, Harry merely let out a soft sigh of relief, saying nothing more.
Ron, however, muttered bluntly: 'Oh, it only works on Peeves... that's alright then. Scared me to death.'
Lavender, however, seemed to completely ignore the others' discussions.
She said excitedly to Parvati: 'Listen! He's so kind! So principled! Even with such powerful magic, he'd never misuse it! He's just perfect!'
Her gaze towards Draco almost seemed to emit pink bubbles.
Just then, a distinctly mocking voice suddenly came from the back of the crowd, breaking the clamor in the corridor.
'Well, looks like we missed quite a show.'
Chapter 98: The Professor Arrives
As those playful words fell, the noisy crowd parted like water pushed by an invisible hand, automatically retreating to both sides to make a path.
Fred and George walked out side by side, both wearing loose Gryffindor school uniforms.
Identical sly smiles were plastered on their faces.
It was clear they had happened upon the tail end of this disturbance.
Fred was the first to let out a loud whistle, his bright eyes scanning back and forth between Draco's face and the wand in his hand.
Having grasped the gist of it, he then grinned and said, "Quite a spectacle, Malfoy. I didn't expect you to have such skill—to even have the demon king Peeves so thoroughly tamed."
George took a step forward, hands tucked casually into his pockets, his gaze falling on the trembling Peeves.
"Even so, Peeves' reaction to you is definitely not ordinary wariness; it's terror."
Fred took over the thread, cutting straight to the point: "To summarize—you can command Peeves."
His voice wasn't loud, yet it was like a stone cast into a calm lake, stirring up a thousand ripples.
The power of this sentence far exceeded Draco's previous reassuring claim that 'the spell only works on Peeves.'
The atmosphere in the corridor, which had slightly relaxed because the spell 'couldn't be used on people,' instantly froze again.
Everyone's eyes once again snapped in unison toward Draco.
Hermione's breath suddenly hitched; she snapped her eyes toward George, a flash of agreement in them.
She was thinking the same thing.
The nature of the spell might indeed be limited and unable to affect humans, but where were the boundaries of a command relationship established upon such extreme fear?
How would Draco use this near-absolute power of control?
Would he make Peeves behave, or would he use it to deal with those he found eyesores?
This made her more wary than the mysterious spell itself.
Hermione watched Draco's profile, her brow furrowing tighter, her bright eyes filled with deep thought.
Standing where he was, Ron looked at his two brothers with some embarrassment, then at Draco, opening his mouth but ultimately saying nothing.
He felt every word George said made sense and hit the nail on the head.
Yet he also vaguely felt that bringing it out into the open like this would only make the already tense atmosphere even worse.
The other students began to whisper among themselves again.
"Commanding Peeves... Merlin's beard, that's much more impressive than just driving him away!"
"Peeves is an old hand at Hogwarts; no one can control him!"
"He won't have Peeves play tricks on others later, will he? If you get targeted, wouldn't there be no peace forever?"
"That's too terrifying... just thinking about it gives me the chills."
Everyone held their breath, staring intently at Draco, waiting for his response.
Draco only gave a faint smile, his expression remaining composed without a hint of panic.
He looked around at the crowd and said calmly:
"I'll say it again: since the start of term, I haven't shown malice toward anyone. On the contrary, others have repeatedly made moves against me."
"And I have never repaid that with resentment. Doesn't that prove anything?"
Hearing this, Lavender and Parvati, at the edge of the crowd, almost cheered aloud.
Lavender clenched her fists excitedly and said, "Clearly so powerful, yet never uses it to bully! Even when he's bullied, he doesn't choose revenge!"
"Oh Merlin, he's just like those noble-hearted knights in stories who endure humiliation for a greater cause!"
Parvati also nodded repeatedly, refuting the doubts around them:
"He's right! Fred and George are just being unreasonable! Malfoy... no, Draco clearly hasn't done anything wrong! He's just protecting himself and his classmates!"
Fred and George exchanged a look, a playful smile flashing in both of their eyes.
Clearly, they hadn't expected Draco to respond this way, nor had they expected him to have such supporters among the students.
They didn't say anything more, but the smiles at the corners of their mouths deepened slightly.
Ron stood in place, his expression becoming increasingly hesitant.
He felt George's questioning was entirely logical, but Draco's answer also sounded quite 'reasonable.'
It was true; thinking carefully, since the start of term, Draco really hadn't actively looked for trouble.
Even when faced with provocations from his former companions in Slytherin, he mostly avoided the fight and never initiated conflict.
The thoughts of most students were identical to Ron's.
"It seems... true? He's been quite quiet since term started; I haven't really seen him cause trouble."
"True, he was abandoned by his family and sorted into Gryffindor; he must be feeling terrible, right? And he still gets bullied by Slytherin students..."
"He didn't use that spell on anyone else just now; he only used it on Peeves, and Peeves deserved it anyway!"
"Are George and the others making a mountain out of a molehill? He said it's just a Banishing Charmand won't hurt people."
Of course, some held different opinions.
For instance, Hermione still felt that controlling Peeves was inherently a huge risk.
But she didn't voice this doubt, simply standing aside silently, watching the situation develop.
"But he can command Peeves, that's a fact..."
Someone muttered quietly, but it was quickly drowned out by the general discussion.
After all, after the disturbance just now, no one wanted to provoke Draco again.
As long as he didn't use that power on them, that was enough.
Just as Draco was about to speak, intending to say something to the hovering Peeves.
George took another step forward, his gaze landing on the wand in Draco's hand as he said:
"Interesting. So, Malfoy, where did you learn this 'little trick' specifically for dealing with Peeves?"
"Do the Malfoy family's secret arts include such obscure Banishing Charms?"
Draco looked up at George, his eyes calm and unruffled, the corner of his mouth curling into a half-smile: "Where else? Where do you think I got it from?"
George grinned, revealing a row of neat white teeth: "Interesting. We'll be keeping an eye out."
Just as George finished, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the end of the corridor.
The footsteps were accompanied by Professor McGonagall's stern and familiar scolding.
"What is all that noise over there?! Are the corridors of Hogwarts a place for loitering and shouting?!"
Clearly, the magical fluctuations from earlier, combined with the students' outcries, had finally attracted the Professor's attention.
Upon hearing Professor McGonagall's voice, the students in the corridor instantly fell silent.
Many instinctively shrank back, their faces showing a bit of panic.
Professor McGonagall was always strict and could least tolerate students playing or shouting in the corridors, let alone making such a huge commotion.
Draco, however, acted as if he hadn't heard her at all, not even turning back to confirm the Professor's location.
His grey eyes remained calm, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.
Finally, his gaze slowly fell upon the still-shivering Peeves in front of him...
Chapter 99: Reforming Peeves with Love
Hearing Professor McGonagall's footsteps approaching from a distance, a faint smile flickered in Draco's eyes.
He then leaned down slightly and whispered into Peeves's trembling ear, "Little Peeves, you go first."
At the sound of "Little Peeves," Peeves, who was already scared out of his wits, shuddered violently once more.
Draco added indifferently, "Otherwise, things will get troublesome."
These words were like a key to a Body-Bind Curse, or rather, like a decree of pardon.
Instantly, the invisible shackles around Peeves were released.
"Whoosh—!"
Almost at the same instant Draco finished speaking, Peeves's stiff body jerked.
He then erupted with the greatest speed of his life, turning into a panic-stricken streak of colored light and "whooshing" right through the nearest ceiling.
In an instant, Peeves vanished without a trace, leaving not even an afterimage behind.
He didn't even dare to make a sound.
There were none of the usual shrieks of flight, nor any of the frustrated curses and shouting.
Moments later, Professor McGonagall's figure pushed past the last few students blocking the stairs—who were still craning their necks to see what was happening—and stepped into the corridor where the commotion had yet to settle.
Her gaze swept across the area, taking in the scene before her.
Dozens of students with various expressions—some excited, some suspicious, some whispering—were gathered in the corridor, forming a loose circle with all eyes focused on the center.
And in the middle of that circle, there was only one person.
Draco Malfoy.
He stood there alone, his wand already tucked away at some unknown moment.
His face wore a very subtle expression, somewhere between calm and a perfectly measured amount of confusion.
From start to finish, he showed not the slightest hint of panic.
There was nothing left.
In the air, only the students' hushed, lingering discussions and a faint trace of magical resonance remained.
Professor McGonagall's sharp eyes, like the most precise searchlights, instantly scanned every corner of the scene.
Nothing.
Peeves was nowhere to be seen.
Just then, Professor Snape appeared silently at Professor McGonagall's side like a silent black ghost.
Clad in floor-sweeping black robes and expressionless, his deep, pool-like black eyes also scanned the area quickly and accurately.
Wherever his gaze fell, students subconsciously held their breath, and even the whispering grew quieter.
Finally, that cold gaze locked firmly onto Draco's face.
The gaze seemed to possess a power that could pierce through anything, seeking to uncover the truth deliberately hidden beneath that calm exterior.
Professor Flitwick also arrived in a hurry.
Being short, his view was blocked by the students in front, so he had to stand on his tiptoes and hop a bit to barely see the situation in the center.
Then Professor Flitwick let out a small exclamation, his voice full of confusion.
"Eh? Where's Peeves? That strange magical resonance just now... it was clearly right around here!"
In an instant, the invisible pressure fell entirely upon the students present and Draco himself.
Professor McGonagall took a deep breath, her nostrils flaring slightly as she tried to catch a trace of the remaining magic in the air.
But Peeves's disappearance caused the resonance to recede as quickly as a tide, dissipating completely and making it difficult to trace its source.
Her brow furrowed deeply, her sharp eyebrows nearly knitting into a frown, and her stern gaze swept over every student present like a blade.
Finally, Professor McGonagall's gaze pierced straight toward Draco like an icicle: "Mr. Malfoy!"
This sharp reprimand was loud and clear, causing the corridor to fall instantly silent.
"What happened here?"
Professor McGonagall's voice grew even colder.
"Why are so many people gathered here? What was that unusual magical resonance just now? And,"
Her gaze swept over the empty center of the corridor again, her tone suddenly sharpening.
"Where is Peeves? Students reported that Peeves was running amok here, causing chaos and disturbing everyone!"
Professor Snape remained silent, the curve of his mouth not changing in the slightest.
Yet that scrutinizing gaze never once left Draco's face.
That silent sense of oppression was even more suffocating than Professor McGonagall's sharp questioning.
He was also waiting for Draco's answer, quietly observing the subtle reactions of the surrounding students.
Trying to find a clue in those flickering eyes.
Facing the two intensely oppressive gazes, Draco said calmly, "It's a long story, Professor McGonagall."
His tone was composed, as if he were merely recounting a trivial, everyday matter.
"Peeves was indeed here just now, and... he was trying to cause trouble for me."
Professor McGonagall's brow furrowed deeper, the doubt in her eyes growing stronger.
Peeves was notoriously mischievous and known for playing pranks on students.
But he had always been a bully who feared the strong; although Draco had been abandoned by his family, why would Peeves target him specifically?
Before Professor McGonagall could press further, Draco spoke again slowly, "I was just... trying to communicate with him."
Meeting everyone's stunned gazes, he said with utmost seriousness, "With my silver tongue, and... a little bit of understanding and patience, I tried to reform him with love and reason."
...Dead silence.
It was as if time itself had been sucked away for a few seconds by those earth-shattering words.
One could have heard a pin drop in the entire corridor.
All the students were stunned, staring at Draco with their mouths agape.
There was shock, bewilderment, disbelief, and a strange twitching from those trying to stifle their laughter.
Reforming Peeves with love and reason?
This was probably the most absurd, most ridiculous thing they had ever heard in their lives!
Chapter 100: Time to Spin a Tale
The moment Draco uttered those abstract words, the frost-like severity on Professor McGonagall's face instantly froze.
Her sharp eyes widened abruptly, her lips twitched, and it took a long moment before she squeezed out a distorted exclamation: "What?"
Influencing Peeves with love?
This was simply the most outrageous, absurd, and common-sense-defying explanation she had heard in her decades of teaching!
Even for the habitually steady and composed Professor McGonagall, her mind felt like a complete blank at this moment, her thoughts seemingly coming to a standstill.
Beside her, Professor Snape's face darkened instantly, looking as though it could drip ink.
Within his deep, pool-like black eyes, a thick chill and mockery surged.
The gaze he directed at Draco was as if he were looking at an irredeemable idiot.
It wasn't just the two Professors; the students in the corridor had collectively fallen into a state of utter bewilderment.
After a brief silence, colorful expressions emerged on everyone's faces.
Some were slack-jawed.
Some were completely lost, as if questioning their own lives.
Others were turning red from holding back, their shoulders shaking slightly as they clearly struggled to suppress laughter.
Standing in the crowd, Harry also felt an overwhelming sense of absurdity washing over him.
He thought: Merlin's beard, how can you say such nonsense with a straight face?!
And with such a serious expression, no less?!
He blinked in shock, and then a strong urge to laugh rushed up his throat.
He had to bite his lip hard to keep from bursting out laughing on the spot, but his shoulders had already begun to shake uncontrollably.
Ron didn't have nearly as many scruples.
He was stunned for a moment, then let out a "pfft" of laughter.
After laughing, he quickly covered his mouth, but his eyes couldn't hide his amusement at all.
He then leaned into Harry's ear and said, "Influencing Peeves with love?! Is his next step going to be influencing a Troll, or even a Dementor?!"
Fred and George exchanged a look, a sense of unbelievable absurdity flashing in both their eyes.
The curves of their lips lifted higher and higher.
Clearly, they felt this farce was more brilliant than any prank they had ever pulled.
If Peeves were still nearby and heard this, he would probably have a breakdown on the spot.
"Influence?! Love?! He nearly used that damned magic to banish me from Hogwarts!!"
In stark contrast to everyone else's amusement, Hermione's expression underwent a rapid transformation.
From initial shock to unbelievable absurdity, it finally all turned into a burning rage.
She glared at Draco, her heart ablaze: This liar! He actually dares to toy with the Professors! How absolutely audacious!
But Draco ignored the disastrous reactions around him.
He remained standing there tall, his expression as calm as if he were stating an indisputable fact.
Meeting Professor McGonagall's shocked gaze, he continued to speak eloquently.
"Yes, Professor. I realized that simple banishment or confrontation is ineffective against an entity like Peeves that delights in chaos; it might even be counterproductive, triggering a stronger rebellious streak.
"What he needs is to be understood, to be guided, and through gentle means, to be shown what it means to have a sense of propriety."
At the words'sense of propriety,' Professor McGonagall's cheek twitched uncontrollably.
She took several deep breaths before barely finding her voice: "Mr. Malfoy... you are saying that you, through conversation, using 'love and reason,' made Peeves... leave 'in shame'?"
There was an unmistakable bewilderment in Professor McGonagall's words.
This sentence completely ignited Hermione's fury.
She couldn't hold back anymore, stepping forward abruptly and saying loudly.
"Professor! He's lying! Malfoy is lying! He didn't influence anyone with love; he used a spell none of us recognize called 'Evil Spirit Expulsion'!"
"It was that spell that drove Peeves away! He's just making up this ridiculous story now to cover up the fact that he used an unknown magic in violation of the rules!"
As soon as Hermione finished speaking, Professor McGonagall's face darkened.
Her sharp eyes fixed on Draco with an intense pressure.
"Mr. Malfoy, is what Miss Granger says true? Did you indeed use that magic known as 'Evil Spirit Expulsion'?"
Before Draco could even open his mouth, Professor Flitwick suddenly let out a cry of shock.
"Evil Spirit Expulsion?! Merlin's beard! I've never heard of such a spell! Not in the standard book of spells series, nor even in the supplemental volumes of 'Forgotten Ancient Magic' is there any record of it!"
Professor Flitwick was an authority on Charms; a spell that even he had never heard of was undoubtedly exceptional.
Hearing this, Professor McGonagall's expression changed completely.
A highly specialized spiritual banishment magic unknown even to a senior Charms Master...
This had already gone far beyond the scope of a "student violating rules by using unconventional magic."
This likely pointed directly toward something extremely ancient, perhaps even forbidden, or of a highly suspicious origin.
Professor McGonagall's tone instantly became incredibly stern: "Mr. Malfoy! Explain yourself at once! What exactly is this 'Evil Spirit Expulsion' spell? Where did you learn it? Explain it clearly, right here, right now!"
Facing the scrutinizing gazes of everyone, there wasn't a trace of panic on Draco's face.
"You're right, Hermione."
He first looked at Hermione and spoke with calm honesty.
"There were indeed magical fluctuations just now, and I didn't use 'influence' to make Peeves leave. I misspoke; I shouldn't have used such phrasing to mislead everyone."
Draco's frankness caught everyone present off guard.
Even Hermione frowned slightly, unable to figure out his angle.
Draco continued:
"That so-called 'Evil Spirit Expulsion' was actually just a name I made up on the spot to look cool and sound impressive. Its true name is 'Peeves Repel'."
"It's just a little trick my grandfather learned from an obscure Eastern magical manuscript, specifically used to disperse spirits like Peeves."
"The principle is simple once explained; it just uses magical resonance to create a frequency that he is extremely afraid of, serving as a deterrent. It doesn't cause any actual harm."
He continued to explain in a very flat tone.
"And strictly speaking, this technique isn't a real spell; it's more like a one-off little trick that's useless against actual evil spirits."
"When I was a child, I had a peculiar constitution and was prone to attracting 'unclean things,' so my grandfather taught me this for self-defense."
Draco began his fabrication.
"If Peeves hadn't been acting so excessively today, I wouldn't have used it in a moment of urgency. I didn't expect it to cause such a commotion and disturb everyone; I am truly sorry."
Draco thought to himself: Anyway, my grandfather has long since passed away, and dead men tell no tales. No one can verify this story.
As this explanation settled, the atmosphere on the scene underwent a subtle change.
Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape still had their brows furrowed, staring sharply at Draco.
They were clearly thinking rapidly about the credibility of these words, and her eyes still held a thick wariness.
However, Professor Flitwick's attitude took a complete 180-degree turn.
The gravity on his face had long since vanished, replaced by full curiosity and excitement.
A thirst for knowledge sparkled in those round eyes.
His wariness of "this is dangerous and must be investigated" had turned into the eagerness of "this is too interesting and must be studied."
The tense atmosphere in the corridor also noticeably relaxed, like a punctured balloon.
The tension on most students' faces turned into expressions of ease.
The group of Slytherin students, upon hearing this explanation, began their mockery again.
"'Peeves Repel'? He really knows how to talk himself up. I bet it was just a blind cat stumbling onto a dead mouse—pure luck!"
"Exactly! And what's this about a peculiar constitution? He probably did something shameful as a kid to attract those things!"
Their sour words were simply because they were unwilling to admit Draco's prowess.
After all, if Draco really mastered magic that could drive Peeves away, then those who had been hostile to him in the past would have to keep their heads down.
Lavender, however, didn't care about these slights at all: "Did you hear that? He gave the magic a name just to look cool! How cute and boyish! And he actually 'attracted unclean things' when he was little."
"...Oh, that must have been so troubling for him, right? No wonder he always looks a bit melancholy now; it must be related to childhood trauma!"
Parvati also nodded repeatedly.
"And how honest he is! He took the initiative to admit he misspoke and apologized sincerely!"
"That Eastern manuscript... it must be very precious, right? His grandfather specifically taught him self-defense; it seems his family doesn't completely ignore him after all."
Listening to these two Draco fangirls, many surrounding students also nodded, seemingly believing Draco's story.
"So Malfoy was afraid of unclean things as a kid too; he's not that different from us."
"His grandfather was quite good to him, specifically teaching him self-defense techniques."
"He gave me a scare. I thought it was some powerful forbidden magic, but it's just a little trick to scare people."
Seamus scratched his head, looking eager to try.
"'Peeves Repel'? Next time Peeves tries to dump frog spawn on my bed, I'll try shouting that too. Maybe it really will scare him off?"
Hearing Seamus's words, Ron couldn't help himself again.
He whispered to Harry, "'Peeves Repel'? That sounds like the kind of prank item Fred and Georgewould sell."
"And what's this about a peculiar constitution? I think it's his brain that's peculiar!"
George happened to hear this, and he patted Ron on the shoulder, saying in deep agreement, "Ron, those words really hit the mark."
He then turned to Fred, a cunning light flashing in his eyes.
"Fred, do you think we should develop a similar product? We'll call it the 'Peeves Begone' fragrance bomb; it'll definitely be a big hit!"
Fred added with a wicked grin.
"Good idea! Or maybe a 'Specialized Anti-Peeves Noise Generator' that simulates that magical resonance frequency. Guaranteed to make Peeves flee in terror!"
Listening to the discussions rising and falling around her, Hermione shook her head helplessly.
In her view, Draco's words were full of holes—a complete and utter lie!
But everyone else was willing to believe him. Even though she had a thousand reasons to refute him, she could only keep her belly full of anger with nowhere to vent.
Finally, Professor McGonagall cleared her throat, breaking the clamor of the scene.
Her face remained serious.
"Even so, Mr. Malfoy, using unconventional magic in the school corridors without permission, causing a large-scale student disturbance, and attempting to cover up the facts with lies are all serious errors that cannot be easily pardoned."
The wand in her hand rose slightly, its tip pointing at Draco: "You, Mr. Malfoy, as the party involved and the violator of rules, must take responsibility for all of this."
Then, her wand turned toward Hermione.
"You, Miss Granger, as the reporter and accuser of the incident, need to provide a detailed account of everything you saw."
The wand then pointed to Harry and Ron in turn.
"And you, Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, you are direct witnesses and must also truthfully explain the situation at the time."
Finally, she turned to her two colleagues beside her and said solemnly.
"Severus, Filius, I also need you two, as Professors on the scene, to provide Headmaster Dumbledorewith a detailed account of this matter."
Professor McGonagall's gaze swept over the other spectating students, especially Lavender, Parvati, and others who were still whispering.
"As for everyone else, return to your common rooms at once, or go about your business!"
"If I hear any more rumors about this matter spreading through the Castle, the relevant houses will face severe point deductions!"
As Professor McGonagall said this, her voice rose sharply, her tone carrying a heavy warning.
Her gaze finally fell back on Draco and the others.
"Now, you few, come with me to the Headmaster's office. Headmaster Dumbledore will personally judge whether your explanation is credible and how to handle your violation of the rules."
Chapter 101: Old Dumbledore Helped Me Finish the Outline
As Professor McGonagall's voice fell, she turned abruptly, the hem of her ink-black robes cutting a sharp arc through the air.
She took the lead, walking toward the Headmaster's office.
Draco followed closely behind with Hermione, Harry, Ron, and the others.
Draco kept his eyes downcast, a barely perceptible smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
He thought to himself: Since Old Dumbledore is one of us anyway, as long as I can make my story hold water, I'll definitely be able to turn this crisis into an opportunity today.
Professor Snape walked silently at the side of the group, his black robes trailing on the ground and his footsteps noiseless, like a black specter moving through the shadows.
The cold aura he radiated put immense pressure on the students beside him without him needing to say a single word.
Professor Flitwick, meanwhile, rode his small broomstick, following leisurely at the end of the line.
From time to time, he would twirl his beard and mutter a few words under his breath.
The group walked in silence through the winding corridors of Hogwarts Castle, their footsteps echoing clearly against the cold stone walls.
The sound startled the portraits hanging in the corridors, causing them to peek out one after another, curiously eyeing the grim-faced procession.
Occasionally, they encountered a few students hiding around corners, peeking out curiously.
But under Professor McGonagall's stern glare, they all quickly retracted like startled little animals.
Before long, the group arrived before the stone gargoyle statue at the spiral staircase on the third floor.
Professor McGonagall stopped and took a deep breath, seemingly trying to calm her mind, which had been unsettled by Draco's 'twisted logic' earlier.
She then cleared her throat and recited the password: "Cockroach Clusters."
As the password was spoken, the stone gargoyle, which had been motionless, leapt aside as if it had come to life.
It then revealed the slowly ascending spiral staircase behind it.
Professor McGonagall took the first step up, with Snape and Flitwick following close behind.
Draco followed immediately after.
Hermione was behind Draco.
Harry and Ron looked at each other, and finally, they braced themselves and followed behind.
The spiral staircase rose slowly, and before long, they reached the Headmaster's office.
"Albus, I'm sorry to disturb you," Professor McGonagall said apologetically.
"A serious breach of discipline occurred in the east corridor on the third floor of the Castle, involving the use of unconventional magic, a large-scale student riot, and... an explanation that requires your personal judgment."
At that moment, Dumbledore was buried in a pile of documents and colorful candies.
Hearing this, he slowly looked up, his fingertips pressed together, wearing his usual gentle smile.
"Oh, Minerva, please go on."
He nodded to Professor McGonagall, then turned to Snape and Flitwick.
"And Severus, Filius, good evening."
Finally, his gaze landed on Draco and the others, his smile growing even warmer.
"And... our young visitors. Please sit, would you like a Lemon Sherbet?"
He waved his wand lightly, and several soft, comfortable armchairs slid automatically behind everyone.
But at that moment, aside from Professor Flitwick, who thanked him with a smile and sat down with a look of curiosity,
everyone else stood frozen in place; no one dared to sit down easily.
The atmosphere in the office remained as taut as a drawn bowstring.
Professor McGonagall began to state the events of the incident concisely and objectively.
She emphasized the 'non-standard' nature of the magic, the scale of the riot it caused, and especially Draco's behavior in 'attempting to cover up the facts with lies.'
Throughout her narration, Professor Snape remained in the shadows, not saying a word.
Only those unfathomable black eyes would occasionally shift slightly between Draco and Dumbledore.
Professor Flitwick sat in the armchair, twirling the beard on his chin and letting out a low exclamation from time to time.
He was full of interest in that mysterious Banishing Charm.
Hermione stood to the side, her eyes fixed intently on Draco's back.
She was clearly doing her best to restrain the urge to immediately speak up with additions or to refute him on the spot.
In her mind, she had already sorted out the loopholes in Draco's story with perfect clarity.
She was just waiting for Dumbledore to ask, and then Hermione would expose them one by one.
Harry and Ron stood side by side.
Both were staring intently at Dumbledore's face, trying to read some clue from his gentle smile.
But Dumbledore's expression remained calm and unruffled, making them feel increasingly uncertain.
The statement finally ended, and Professor McGonagall turned to Dumbledore, saying solemnly,
"That is the basic situation. Mr. Malfoy's explanation... should be taken with a grain of salt, but the source of his magic, its specific nature, as well as his unauthorized use of magic and his attempt to deceive Professors, must be handled justly."
In an instant, all eyes in the office were focused on Dumbledore like spotlights.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the final judgment of the Hogwarts Headmaster.
Dumbledore listened quietly to the entire statement. He blinked slowly, his gaze like a warm spring breeze, slowly sweeping over everyone present.
Finally, his gaze landed on Draco Malfoy, who stood in the center of the crowd with a face as calm as still water.
A brief silence fell over the office.
After a moment, Dumbledore finally spoke softly.
"I see, Minerva. It sounds like this is indeed... a thought-provoking incident."
His voice was still gentle, yet it possessed a strange penetrating power, as if it could reach directly into the depths of one's heart.
Finally, Dumbledore's gaze lingered on Draco's face for a moment.
"Now then, Mr. Malfoy,"
"Regarding this... 'Peeves Repel' magic, and that interesting Eastern manuscript left by your grandfather Abraxas,"
"I believe you would be willing, in the presence of our friend Filius, who is so passionate about the principles of charms, to explain in more detail for us curious old fellows: its specific casting gestures, the precise resonance nodes of the magic frequency, as well as the material of that manuscript, its script characteristics, and the approximate era of its writing, wouldn't you?"
His words were as gentle as ever.
But the questions he threw out were each more specific and professional than the last, and every sentence pointed straight to the core.
This was no longer a simple questioning of 'whether a rule was broken,' but a real test.
A test of Draco's ability to adapt on the spot, and even more, a test of his skill in fabricating details.
Draco really wanted to laugh, but he couldn't.
He knew very well that Dumbledore was giving him a way out while also quietly testing him.
Old Dumbledore wouldn't expose his lie, but he certainly wouldn't let him off the hook easily either.
He had to provide a 'reasonable' explanation that could temporarily satisfy everyone's questioning.
Meanwhile, the others in the office reacted differently to Dumbledore's words.
Hermione's eyes suddenly lit up, as if she had discovered a new continent, and she stared at Draco with burning intensity.
These were exactly the questions she wanted to ask most!
Headmaster Dumbledore indeed had a keen eye, catching the heart of the matter at once!
Professor Snape's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.
A flash of surprise crossed his deep, pool-like black eyes.
Dumbledore's questions... were a bit too specific.
This didn't look like an interrogation of a rule-breaking student; it seemed more like he was guiding him to refine a still-crude'story.'
His unfathomable gaze swept back and forth between Dumbledore and Draco, the suspicion in his heart growing heavier.
He vaguely felt that there seemed to be some unknown understanding between the two.
Compared to Snape's caution, Professor Flitwick was so excited he almost jumped out of his chair.
"Oh! Yes, Headmaster! Well asked! Brilliant!"
"The precise trajectory of the casting gesture, the exact tuning of the magic frequency, and especially the choice of resonance nodes—that is the core of any effective banishing-type spell!"
"And the material of that manuscript—is it Parchment? Or even older Papyrus? Are the characters on it a variant of Runes? Or a magical translation of some Eastern pictographic symbols? The era of its writing is even more related to the construction of the magic decay model! It's so crucial!"
A flurry of questions burst from him, his small face flushed with excitement, and his gaze toward Dracowas now full of expectation.
Professor McGonagall only frowned slightly, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.
But after a moment's thought, she ultimately said nothing.
Dumbledore's questions did indeed hit the mark; only in this way could the truth of Draco's words be most effectively discerned.
Harry and Ron stood where they were, their faces full of bewilderment.
They understood nothing of these professional questions regarding the principles of charms.
The two could only vaguely sense that the atmosphere in the office seemed to have become even more tense—and even more... professional.
Chapter 102: Fooling Them? [Bonus Chapter]
Facing the focused gazes filling the room, Draco slowly straightened his back. Not a hint of panic could be seen in his expression; instead, it held a touch of perfectly measured humility.
He explained, "That was indeed a small trick recorded in a family manuscript."
"The material of the manuscript is quite special, made from Eastern silk fibers mixed with magically tanned animal hide. It is extremely tough and resistant to both fire and water."
"What is inscribed on it are not ordinary magic Runes, but symbols formed by interwoven geometric lines. It is completely different from the Runic system we commonly use; it focuses on the trajectory of magic flow rather than fixed incantation syllables."
As soon as these words were spoken, Professor Flitwick's eyes suddenly lit up, and his already leaning body moved even closer.
"What about the specific principles? Your gestures and the way you operated your magic just now were completely different from standard spells. That Ω-shaped trajectory—what exactly is the trick behind it?"
Professor Flitwick's tone was full of irrepressible urgency.
"Professor has a keen eye." Draco nodded slightly.
"It was never a standard spell to begin with. It requires no incantation to drive it; it relies entirely on hand gestures paired with breathing rhythm to tune the frequency of one's own magic."
"Spirits like Peeves have extremely unstable magic forms."
"What I did was merely use specific gestures to set up a temporary Dislocation Resonance Field around myself, letting his magic interfere with the resonance field."
"To put it bluntly, it makes him feel uncomfortable all over, as if being pricked by countless fine needles, leaving him no choice but to move away on his own."
"Resonance field?"
Professor Flitwick repeated softly, a light of realization flashing in his eyes before he frowned again.
"This method is quite interesting! But such an operation requires extremely high precision in magiccontrol from the caster and necessitates capturing the target's magic frequency in an instant. In actual combat, I'm afraid it doesn't have much value?"
"Professor is absolutely right."
Draco nodded candidly, then said in a helpless tone,
"My grandfather also said that this technique is merely clever in theory. It's fine for dealing with weak spirits like Peeves, but if one encountered a true wraith or a powerful Dark Arts creature, it would be utterly useless."
"Today's matter was purely due to the haste of the situation. Peeves was going much too far, and I only risked using this method in a moment of desperation."
After Draco finished speaking, Professor Snape, standing in the shadows, looked even more grim.
Those bottomless eyes were filled with undisguised mockery and suspicion.
Draco's explanation was simply too 'perfect'.
So perfect that not a single logical flaw could be found; so perfect it was like a meticulously polished thesis.
Snape's gaze quietly shifted toward Dumbledore.
He wanted to see how this old Principal, who always held the wisdom of the world in his hands, would judge this nearly seamless rhetoric.
Like Snape, Professor McGonagall's brow had already furrowed into a deep 'river' shape.
Her research into the principles of spells was not as profound as Professor Flitwick's, but her years of teaching experience had given her a keen eye for insight into the world.
Could a little trick with 'little combat value' and that was 'extremely unstable' truly subdue Peeves in an instant?
She remained skeptical about this.
Hermione stood to the side, her brain working like high-speed gears, rapidly sorting through every word Draco said.
His explanation sounded extremely professional, even citing some concepts she had never seen in any ancient texts.
But it was precisely this extraordinary 'professionalism' and'self-consistency' that made the clouds of doubt in her heart grow heavier.
This was fundamentally a meticulously concocted lie!
He had cleverly avoided all the most critical questions.
Where exactly was that so-called Eastern manuscript now?
And how did his grandfather, Abraxas, obtain this manuscript?
What exactly was the'special constitution' he mentioned?
Countless questions surged in her heart, and she almost wanted to ask them on the spot.
But meeting Dumbledore's calm, waveless eyes and Professor McGonagall's stern glance, she ultimately forced the words back down.
Harry and Ron stood in the corner, completely lost.
The 'resonance field' and 'magic frequency' Draco spoke of were no different from a heavenly script to them.
The two exchanged a look, both seeing bewilderment in the other's eyes.
They only felt that Draco's words were truly impressive, enough to make even Professor Flitwick nod repeatedly.
Dumbledore lightly tapped the tabletop, the crisp sound breaking the brief silence in the office.
He turned his gaze to Professor Flitwick and asked in a gentle tone: "Filius, from a purely theoretical level, is what Mr. Malfoy says feasible?"
Professor Flitwick pondered for a moment, nodded, and then shook his head.
"Principal, it makes sense in principle."
"Using dislocation resonance to interfere with a spirit—though this method is obscure, it's not without reason. It could indeed be effective against a loose magical entity like Peeves."
"It's just... this technique is too rare. I have leafed through countless spell books and have never seen a similar record."
"The key is that all of this requires that manuscript for corroboration. Without proof, it's hard to reach a conclusion."
Dumbledore nodded slightly, his gaze turning back to Draco, his smile still gentle.
"Mr. Malfoy, in that case, where is that manuscript now? Could it be brought for a look? Even just a fragment of a page would be good for Filius to study."
These words were like a giant boulder dropped into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a thousand waves.
The eyes of everyone in the office once again focused squarely on Draco.
Hermione subconsciously held her breath, her eyes fixed on Draco, for fear of missing any subtle change in his expression.
While Draco remained silent, Professor Snape finally spoke with a thick layer of sarcasm.
"It wouldn't be a story made up on the spot, would it? When did the young master of the Malfoy familylearn the skill of fabrication out of thin air?"
Draco remained unperturbed.
He met everyone's gaze and said with a touch of appropriate sorrow and regret,
"The manuscript is long gone."
"When my grandfather was on his deathbed, he said this inheritance involved some unknown secrets. Fearing it would fall into the hands of those with ill intentions and cause trouble, he destroyed it along with some other dangerous collections in the house."
"What I can speak of today are merely some principles passed down orally by my grandfather, as well as that set of casting gestures."
As Draco's voice faded, the office fell into a brief silence.
Hermione felt a surge of anger rush to her head, nearly causing her to explode on the spot.
The manuscript was destroyed? What a coincidence!
Destroyed right before he died?
This was simply the most perfect, uncheckable excuse in the world!
She wished she could stand up immediately and question Draco loudly.
But when her gaze met Dumbledore's calm face and Professor McGonagall's stern eyes...
All her questions were ultimately forced back down.
Professor Flitwick's face was also a mix of extreme regret and deep wariness.
His round eyes were full of sorrow.
In the end, Flitwick only let out a long sigh, lamenting: "Destroyed... even destroyed along with other dangerous collections... Alas! What a pity!"
"That was a precious manuscript that might have recorded entirely new magical concepts!"
Then he seemed to think of something, and his tone gained a bit more wariness,
"But... Mr. Abraxas Malfoy... he... indeed had his reasons."
Clearly, this old Professor had thought of the late Malfoy patriarch's less-than-honorable rumors in the Wizarding World, as well as the enormous risks that might be hidden behind 'dangerous collections'.
A scholar's strong curiosity for unknown knowledge was, in the end, outweighed by alertness toward potential danger.
The look he gave Draco also held a bit more pity.
Pity that a unique magical inheritance had vanished into the long river of history.
But Professor Snape, who knew the Malfoy family's background well, naturally would not believe this rhetoric.
In his view, Draco's explanation was too smooth, too much in line with the setting of 'a destroyed family inheritance involving secrets'.
He believed Lucius would destroy things to cover up evidence.
But would Abraxas, that extremely shrewd and relatively low-profile elder Malfoy, destroy a manuscript that might contain powerful strength for the sake of so-called'secrets'?
Snape was deeply skeptical of this.
Moreover, when Draco mentioned 'passed down by grandfather before his death'...
The sorrow and reverence in his tone sounded to Snape like it carried a hint of practiced deliberation.
His black eyes locked onto Draco, trying to find a flaw in that seemingly calm face.
Harry and Ron exchanged a look, and Ron leaned into Harry's ear and said: "Look at Snape's expression; he doesn't believe Malfoy's lies at all!"
Harry nodded silently, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes as well.
As the leader of this incident, Professor McGonagall's brow furrowed even tighter after hearing this.
The manuscript was destroyed, and the witness was dead.
This made Draco's explanation impossible to either confirm or disprove.
But Draco's words, combined with the identity of Abraxas Malfoy—an ancient pure-blood patriarch whose reputation wasn't particularly clean...
All of this cast a lingering, ominous shadow over the matter.
But Professor McGonagall was more concerned about the actual impact caused by this incident.
She took a step forward and said indisputably:
"Even so, Mr. Malfoy! You used a magic with unknown effects, questionable principles, and whose source has been destroyed without authorization. This is an extremely reckless and irresponsible act!"
"Whether its name is 'Peeves Repel' or something else, it caused a large-scale riot in the Castle corridors. That is an ironclad fact!"
As Professor McGonagall's voice fell, the office once again sank into silence.
Everyone's gaze ultimately converged on Dumbledore, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea.
Everyone was waiting—waiting for his final verdict.
More chapters available on wtr-lab up to chapters 301: Harry Potter: winning over hermione At the Start