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The very last page of Witch Weekly was dedicated to highlighting the lead editors or the muses behind the issue's content.
As the subject of the primary cover story, the first profile belonged to Theo's aunt.
Despite the photo showing a woman with brilliant blonde hair, smiling eyes, and a charming, delicate face, the description beneath it was enough to make anyone's jaw drop.
"Editor-in-Chief of Witch Weekly, Columnist, and Advisor to the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic: Pandora Cavendish."
Adam traced the text on the magazine with his finger, reading the credentials aloud.
"Wait... I don't even know what the Department of Mysteries is, but... isn't she way too young for all that?"
Adam looked at Theo in disbelief.
"What's so strange about it? My aunt graduated from Hogwarts only ten years ago," Theo said nonchalantly. "And don't let that peaceful photo fool you. In real life, she's an absolute terror."
Rock wanted to laugh. No wonder Theo had reacted so dramatically when he heard someone was targeting Witch Weekly. He was probably terrified of his aunt and was desperate for someone else to stir up trouble to distract her.
"This copy was just mailed over. It officially goes on sale tomorrow," Theo said, a smile spreading across his face—a smile so brilliant it was unsettling.
Adam felt goosebumps rise on his arms. That grin was downright creepy.
"Hey! Buddy, quite a few upperclassmen in this school subscribe to Witch Weekly," Theo said, nudging Rock with his shoulder. "Tomorrow is going to be a good show."
"Just you wait and see," Rock replied.
---
Draco walked out of Potions class looking like his whole world had collapsed. Crabbe and Goyle trailed faithfully behind him, but the other pure-blood students who usually flocked to him were now keeping a noticeable distance.
Draco thought back to a few days ago. He had told his father about the events at school. Lucius had written back that very night, telling him not to be afraid and sending him a two-way mirror.
But early the next morning, another owl had arrived.
In this second letter, his father had scolded him, warning him not to provoke the Scamander family again. At the same time, other pure-blood students had received warning letters from their own parents.
The message was uniform: Stay away from the Malfoys. Only Crabbe and Goyle hadn't received such instructions.
Just moments ago, Draco had tried to answer questions in Potions to win back Professor Snape's favor. Unfortunately, Snape had ignored him the entire class and even deducted points from Slytherin.
This had earned Draco looks of disdain from his own housemates.
Sitting at the Slytherin table, Draco pressed his hand to his forehead, his face pale and grim. "Why is this happening... It's just a declining family. Even the Lestranges stopped associating with them years ago."
Sadly, no one at the Slytherin table could give him an answer. Crabbe and Goyle were already busy attacking the food on the table.
"Hey! Harry, look!" Ron nudged Harry, gesturing across the tables. "Look at Malfoy's face. Just seeing him that miserable makes me feel like I could eat a second helping."
Harry looked up and felt a surge of satisfaction, though he kept his expression more controlled than Ron's.
Hermione, sitting opposite them, frowned at Ron. "Are you sure? Don't you usually eat that much anyway?"
"Oh." Ron froze, looking down at his plate. She had a point.
"Christmas is coming up, and we still don't have a lead," Hermione said, scratching her head in frustration. She had been racking her brain lately but still hadn't found the answer they were looking for.
Ron, having recovered from the jab about his appetite, regained his confidence. He signaled Hermione to look toward the Ravenclaw table.
"Why don't we go ask that guy Rock from Ravenclaw? I heard he's getting praised by professors in almost every class."
Hermione looked over and saw Rock explaining something to another Ravenclaw student. She was just working up the courage to approach him when a sudden influx of owls interrupted everything.
"Whoa! What's going on today?"
Ron was startled. He had never seen so many owls swoop in to deliver mail all at once.
Hermione began unwrapping a package delivered by an owl. She had subscribed to Witch Weekly, assuming from the title that it was a serious publication for witches.
"Oh my god!"
As soon as she saw the cover, Hermione let out a shriek.
People around her turned to look, and within seconds, the Hall erupted into raucous laughter. The laughter was infectious, spreading like wildfire until the entire Great Hall was shaking with it.
Over at the Ravenclaw table, Penelope Clearwater walked up to Rock and his friends, wiping tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes.
"You guys went a little too far this time, didn't you?"
"What?" Rock and Theo looked up simultaneously, wearing expressions of perfect innocence.
"Oh, come on, don't play dumb with me." Penelope exasperatedly tapped them both on the forehead. "Let's leave it at this. If it goes any further, Professor Snape won't let this slide."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Prefect. We didn't do anything."
Rock stuck to his guns: Deny it to the grave.
Doing the deed was one thing; admitting to it was entirely another. He wasn't about to hand over a confession.
Beside him, Theo and Adam nodded vigorously. This was the kind of thing you took to your tomb.
"Have it your way. Just... don't take the camera out for a while," Penelope said before walking away.
"Hey! Look, the cover star is leaving!" Theo shouted, pointing at a fleeing figure.
Everyone turned to see Draco scrambling out of the Great Hall in a panic, prompting another wave of laughter. Meanwhile, the expressions on the Slytherin students' faces could only be described as gloomy.
Mission accomplished, Rock and his friends slipped out of the Hall, heading toward Ravenclaw Tower.
"So, buddy, do you have a location yet?" Theo asked, draping his arm around Rock's shoulders.
"Location? You mean for the study group?" Rock paused for a second before realizing what he meant.
"Exactly. The Great Hall works, I guess," Theo said, gesturing back toward the noise, "but it's better if we have our own base of operations."
Rock nodded. They really did need to find an unused classroom.
Unlike the Room of Requirement—which was too far away and needed to be kept secret—they needed something accessible. Since Theo and Adam were roommates, they wouldn't spill the beans, but if a large group of Ravenclaws started constantly trekking up to the eighth floor, it would draw too much attention.
"I'll go find Professor Flitwick in the next few days," Rock said after mulling it over. "He might have the authority to set aside a space for us."
"You arrange it," Theo said, spreading his hands. "Michael and the others have already agreed to join."