"No, not the master!" Dobby shook his head so fast his ears flapped. "The master's got his own plans, but he never wanted to send that thing into Hogwarts. Someone else—someone forced him to do it!"
Sullivan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Who?"
Dobby kept shaking his head. "Dobby doesn't know. The man wore a black robe and a mask. Dobby never saw his face."
Sullivan ran through the usual suspects—Goyle, Crabbe, maybe Macnair. Any Death Eater who'd slipped the net. "What exactly did this guy say to Lucius Malfoy?"
Dobby shrank back, trembling. "Dobby—Dobby can't say!"
Sullivan crouched so they were eye-level and rested a hand on the elf's bony shoulder. "Dobby, you've already figured it out, haven't you? Harry Potter's back at Hogwarts. I'm a professor here. I'm going to keep him safe. But I can't do that if I'm flying blind. Tell me everything you know."
Dobby sucked in two shaky breaths like he was about to jump off a cliff. "The man in black told the master… the one whose name can't be spoken… wants the young master to deliver the item he left at Malfoy Manor straight into Hogwarts Castle."
"That thing will pick the young master as Slytherin's heir, open the Chamber of Secrets, grant him power, and unleash the monster inside."
Sullivan blinked. "So Voldemort actually chose Draco Malfoy?"
"Don't—please don't say the name!" Dobby clapped both hands over his ears, then slowly lowered them. "He did choose the young master. But the old master thought it was too dangerous. He's planning to find another heir instead."
Everything clicked. Voldemort's real plan. Of course he wouldn't hand a Horcrux to just any student—Draco was the obvious pick. But Lucius's love for his son had overridden his fear. He'd gone through the motions, yet changed the target at the last second.
Sullivan leaned in. "Then who did Lucius actually give it to?"
"I don't know," Dobby whispered. "The old master doesn't like me. That's all I heard."
Sullivan gave the elf's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Dobby, you've already given me more than enough. Harry's safety is my problem now."
He flicked his wand and the Magic Stagnation Collar clicked open. Dobby rubbed his neck, eyes wide with relief. "You'll keep him safe? Can I… can I go to Hogwarts and see Harry Potter myself?"
"Of course. Just don't do anything reckless on your own. If you learn anything new, message me on FlyMessage."
Dobby bowed so low his nose nearly touched the floor. "Thank you, Professor Su. I have to get back before the master notices I'm gone."
With a sharp snap of his fingers the little elf vanished.
Sullivan and Teemo Apparated back to Hogsmeade. Lupin had already handed Harry and Ron off to McGonagall. Sullivan sent quick texts to Arthur and Molly—everything was under control.
Lupin was pacing when they walked in. "Well? What did he say? Is Voldemort behind this?"
Sullivan nodded and laid it all out. Lupin's face went white, then red. He slammed a fist on the table hard enough to rattle the teacups. "Why? Harry and Lily gave everything and that bastard's still out there. Are we ever going to beat him?"
"Hey." Sullivan's voice was quiet but steady. "No one's untouchable. Not even Dumbledore. The more we know, the better our moves get."
The phone shop was quiet, so Sullivan headed back to the castle. He wanted to catch Snape—maybe the potions master had heard something.
He never made it past the entrance hall.
A tall, golden-robed figure with a forget-me-not-blue cloak and flowing blond hair swept toward him like a peacock in full display. Gilderoy Lockhart flashed his million-galleon smile.
"Well, well, well! If it isn't Ravenclaw's own golden boy—the one and only genius alchemist Su Yu! I've been hunting all over the castle for you!"
Sullivan forced a polite smile. "Gilderoy. Good to see you. I'm actually in a bit of a rush—"
Lockhart hooked an arm around his shoulders before he could escape. "Nonsense! How long has it been? I always knew you'd become the greatest alchemist Britain had ever seen. And look at you now—Flying Feather phones are changing the entire wizarding world! A true genius!"
He lowered his voice conspiratorially. "I bought one the day they launched. My fan group on FlyMessage is already pushing a thousand members. Can you believe it?"
Sullivan's eyebrows shot up. The man's hype game was terrifyingly good.
"Listen, Gilderoy, I really do have—"
Lockhart wasn't listening. He whipped out his phone, opened the add-friend screen, and practically shoved it into Sullivan's face. "Add me right now. We can't stay out of touch."
Resigned, Sullivan tapped accept.
Lockhart beamed. "Perfect! And I've had the most brilliant idea. Since I'm teaching here this year, the two of us should team up. We'll call ourselves… the Eagle's Nest Charming Shadows! Only Ravenclaw's finest, of course. I'm already designing the badges—exclusive to the two of us. It's going to be legendary!"
He was still talking as he strode away, golden hair bouncing.
Sullivan stared after him and muttered under his breath, "I refuse."