Vid followed a few Slytherin students down to the underground.
He wasn't very familiar with those students, but he knew they were in the fourth year.
"I never expected Crabbe and Goyle, those idiots, could do something like this," a girl said. "I thought they couldn't even use the Lighting Charm!"
Another boy said, "Their practical skills aren't too bad; they both passed last term's exams... at least they're better than Flint."
Everyone heard this and chuckled softly.
Marcus Flint is the captain of the Quidditch team, tall and burly. But although his Quidditch skills were decent, he was terrible in all other courses.
In the OWLs exam, Flint only barely achieved a level in the Spell Class that allowed further study.
This year he's a seventh-year student, but Professor Flitwick had clearly advised him that with his mediocre level, it would be hard to pass the ultimate wizard exam and suggested that he spend more time on his studies.
However, the more pressure Marcus felt, the more he indulged in Quidditch, which gave him a sense of achievement. At this rate, repeating a year was almost certain.
In the past, Slytherins would say someone was very dumb by saying, "Your brain should be in Hufflepuff."
But now, they say, "Are you turning into Flint?"
However, this joke did not spread outside of Slytherin.
They chatted laughingly for a while until they stopped before a damp, spacious stone wall.
"Pure-blood."
The leading boy said.
A hidden stone door slowly opened, and everyone walked in one by one. The girl at the back couldn't help but glance back.
As she watched, the stone door slowly closed.
The girl felt that the stone door closed somewhat slower than usual today. But she wasn't very time-sensitive and wasn't really sure.
"Come and sit, Peggy!"
Her companion called out.
The girl walked over and sat down on the sofa.
"What plans do you have for the holidays?" the student next to her asked.
They started talking about assignments, vacations, and love triangles.
Vid, under the Disillusionment Charm, surveyed his surroundings.
The Slytherin common room was located underground and hadn't been expanded with the Undetectable Extension Charm, so it appeared narrow and low. The walls and ceiling were made of rough stone, more like a dungeon than a common room.
The round chandelier emitted a greenish light, making the room appear even darker and more eerie, forcing the students to light candles to do their homework.
However, the fireplace and furniture in the common room were quite exquisite, with complex and delicate carvings that seemed out of place in the room.
Through the narrow windows, the dark green lakewater outside was faintly visible. Perhaps when the sun was shining, one could see the colorful creatures in the Black Lake, but today it was just pitch-black.
He paused to observe a moment, feeling a slight tugging sensation at his fingertips.
Vid followed the direction from where this force came, entering another gloomy and damp stone hallway with tightly shut wooden doors on each side, further resembling a prison.
Even Slytherin students wouldn't linger long in such an oppressive environment. The hallway was deserted, making it even more deathly silent.
Maki, also in a Disillusioned state, led Vid to stop before a wooden door, whispering, "This is the dormitory that Maki is not allowed to enter."
Vid asked, "Is he still inside?"
"Yes," Maki replied.
Vid tapped the lock with his magic wand, hearing a "click," then pushed the door open and entered.
...
Having tidied up the room, Dobby was enduring hunger, crouching under the bed.
Dobby somewhat missed Crabbe and Goyle.
Though his master now utterly despised them, if those two were around, there would be food all over the dormitory. Even if some was missing, they wouldn't notice.
He calculated the time, thinking his master would return soon, so he hid according to the order "don't let me see you."
But in the small dormitory, there were very few places to hide. Dobby couldn't shrink himself and squeeze into a jar; only under the bed was spacious enough so he wouldn't have to fold himself.
He counted time, waiting for the day to pass painfully.
Suddenly, Dobby heard the door open, mistakenly thinking it was his master. Then hearing footsteps, he immediately realized something was wrong.
But he couldn't be discovered, so he stayed hidden under the bed and didn't run out to check what was happening.
However, the intruder didn't seem to think that way.
Black shoes stopped briefly at the door, then walked straight towards the bed he was hiding under, stopping there.
Someone squatted down and lifted the curtain concealing the bed.
"Hello—Dobby?"
Dobby was startled and opened his eyes wide.
He tried to jump up, but his head banged against the underbed with a "thud," the pain making his eyes well up with tears.
"Sorry, sorry, I must have scared you."
The visitor stepped back two steps, making space, and said, "Why are you hiding under the bed? Come out."
Dobby hesitated a bit, climbed out from under the bed, and stood uneasily by the bedside, nestling against the green curtain hanging from the ceiling, as if seeking a little comfort.
Of course, he recognized the student in front of him.
Over the summer, Dobby tried to get Harry expelled from school, causing him a great deal of trouble, and his Muggle relatives locked him up.
It was this student and another adult wizard who took Harry Potter away.
Dobby had sneaked into the school several times, looking for an opportunity to get Harry Potter to leave, often seeing them together.
Even earlier, he had actually heard his name from the mouths of his master and young master.
Vid Gray.
With many inventions to his name at a young age, the favorite student of Alchemist Morry, and Dumbledore held high hopes for him too.
Young master Draco Malfoy disliked him, but still had to buy his invention, the Friendship Book, even secretly buying a dozen sets, collecting all the limited special editions.
He also bought a whole set of Soft Light Badges at once to change styles daily according to his mood.
Both his master and mistress exhibited the same behavior, buying even more.
To wizards who valued appearance and status, going out without wearing a badge that matched their identity was as embarrassing as being naked.
The difference was they wouldn't curse the inventor while secretly using it.
How did Vid Gray sneak into this dormitory?
Dobby thought anxiously, stealing a glance at the other.
"I've heard Harry talk about you, Dobby," Vid said kindly. "So you're the Malfoy family's house-elf? Were your actions directed by your master?"
"Of course not!"
When Dobby heard that, he immediately became agitated:
"Dobby wants to protect Harry Potter. Someone at Hogwarts is plotting a conspiracy. Until it happens, Harry Potter must not stay here! Harry Potter must go home! Vid Gray shouldn't stop Dobby!"