Draco answered incorrectly again, which surprised no one.
What people were more curious about was that the answer he'd chosen had clearly seemed the most likely option — yet it still wasn't right.
So what was the correct answer?
Why did Professor Snape specifically target Harry?
Were there some hidden reasons behind it?
After Aiden announced Draco's wrong answer, Draco's expression twisted as if he had swallowed a live fly.
A terrible premonition rose in his chest, and then he heard the figure in the center speak.
"There are rewards and punishments. Answering incorrectly will, of course, result in a small penalty."
"But please rest assured, our punishments will absolutely not cause undue harm to personal safety."
"This time, the punishment Draco must accept is to transform into a talking goat — and dance for one minute in front of all the teachers and students of Hogwarts."
With a slight smile, Aiden's words had barely fallen…
Draco vanished from the high platform.
Outside, the Hogwarts teachers and students, who had just finished watching Draco's earlier punishment, suddenly saw a standing goat appear on the screen.
Before anyone could react, the goat began to speak.
"Save me! I don't want to be a goat, and I don't want to dance!"
"Ah ah ah ah ah ah!"
Unfortunately, personal will could not overcome the body's instinct.
Under the stunned gazes of everyone at Hogwarts, Draco — now a goat — began performing an absurd, frantic dance.
"That's truly interesting, isn't it, Minerva?"
"It's only a slight inconvenience for Draco. I'm sure he'll survive it." Professor McGonagall frowned deeply.
Although she wasn't particularly fond of Slytherin students, she was still a Hogwarts Professor — and she strongly disapproved of students being transformed like this.
At that moment, an old but powerful voice entered her ears.
Her expression shifted instantly into joy as she turned around.
"Albus!"
"It's wonderful that you've returned!"
"Perhaps only temporarily. The answering hasn't ended yet."
Dumbledore looked at her helplessly.
The Q&A session wasn't over, and the only reason they had come back was to watch Draco's dance — after all, it was being shown in front of the entire school.
"Harry, don't panic later. Make sure you think carefully before answering."
"Wouldn't it be hilarious to see Harry turn into a goat and dance?"
"Why does it always have to be a goat? Can't it be something else?"
"George, you're right. Maybe he could turn into a dog and dance."
"I'm more interested in whether he can turn into other things. And Ron too!"
"All right, stop it, George, Fred!"
Seeing Harry and Ron's faces turn increasingly pale, Percy glared at the twins.
Were those two actively trying to make things worse?
"Don't worry too much. The first answer is clearly impossible, since Harry's background is covered in Hogwarts: A History. And the third, most likely answer, has already been proven wrong. Although I also don't believe Professor Dumbledore would ever target Harry."
Wood spoke from the side.
At this point, the question wasn't only Harry's and Ron's problem; it had turned into a battle between Gryffindor and Slytherin.
Clearly, Draco had already lost — and in a way far beyond simple embarrassment.
He had definitely achieved his dream of becoming famous at Hogwarts.
In this situation, Wood placed all his hopes on Harry.
As for Ron… well… he could only hope for the best.
"I believe in Harry and Ron!" Hermione said firmly, looking at both of them with encouragement.
"Now, anyone with eyes can see the correct answer must be either B or D, but none of us know about Professor Snape's past," another Gryffindor commented.
The surrounding Gryffindors gathered around, discussing heatedly.
"I think it's B. Maybe Snape targets Harry because Harry's childhood is somewhat similar to the old bat's."
"Then why not D? Maybe Harry's face just pisses him off."
"I think it's B…"
"I think it's D…"
Listening to the nonstop debate and seeing everyone's animated expressions, Harry felt like his head had been pounded repeatedly.
His thoughts turned into mush, and dizziness washed over him.
Ron, meanwhile, watched Draco dancing in front of the entire school with absolute horror.
He cursed himself for ever agreeing to participate.
If he lost, the punishment would ruin his entire Hogwarts life. Just imagining it was terrifying.
It was even scarier than facing the Cerberus last semester.
Soon, one minute passed.
Draco disappeared in a flash of white light.
Wood and the others looked at Harry and his group — and watched them also turn into white light and vanish.
The scene shifted again, and the seven individuals stood once more on the seven high platforms.
After Draco returned to human form, he looked extremely pale.
He simply couldn't understand why the answer he had chosen — the most logical one — was somehow wrong.
"All right, after that entertaining bit, I'm sure everyone enjoyed themselves. So, let's move on to the next question."
"There are only three answers left. Surely your luck can't be that bad."
Aiden smiled lightly, his gaze shifting toward Harry and Ron.
The external screen also zoomed in on the two of them.
Harry pursed his lips, trying to suppress the anxiety churning in his stomach.
Compared to him, Ron looked far worse.
"So, who will go first?"
"I'll go first!"
Ron gritted his teeth and stepped forward.
Harry stared at him in surprise, not understanding why Ron would volunteer.
They could have delayed a little longer.
"Harry, the remaining answers are basically the second and fourth; the first is definitely wrong," Ron said with a bitter smile.
He had absorbed Wood's analysis earlier, "So the right answer could fall on either of us. Let me go first."
Harry opened his mouth and, with complicated emotions, said only one word.
"Okay."
Ron no longer looked at Harry. Instead, he focused on the milky-white figure in the center.
He was afraid — but only of the punishment, not the question itself.
"I choose the second one!"
"Are you sure? Anything else you'd like to say? Perhaps an analysis?"
"I'm sure. I've got nothing else to say."
"Good. Congratulations — your answer is incorrect."