Chapter 682: The Infiltration Plan About to Begin Although Draco had given everyone in the Great Hall a magical demonstration that was not only standard, but perfect as w |
Hermione pushed her way through the crowd.
Along the way, she ran into Professor Flitwick, who was shrieking as he tried to find places for the Ravenclaw students all fighting to stand at the front. She also saw Professor Sprout herding the Hufflepuffs along like sheep.
What was interesting was that, when she passed in front of Professor Snape, Hermione noticed that the look in his eyes was a little strange.
It was the look of someone who had remembered something.
Snape knew who it was that had come to mind.
Perhaps the reason he pretended not to see anything was because, in Draco and Hermione, he had seen shadows of his former self.
The same Slytherin.
The same Gryffindor.
It was as if time had returned to that black-and-white memory preserved in his mind.
Hermione’s uninvited arrival only made Pansy, who had already expected it, curl her lips a little. “What’s with that weird look on your face?”
“No... it’s just that Professor Snape was looking at me strangely.”
“Isn’t that normal? You’re a Gryffindor. If it weren’t for Draco, there’s no way you’d be standing here.”
“Is that really it... I just feel like something’s off.”
Draco, who had already picked out a place, revealed a slightly strange expression of his own.
Because he felt like he had already seen through the truth of it.
As Snape’s godson, and someone familiar with him, Draco naturally knew certain secrets other people did not. He could more or less guess that Hermione’s bold move had reminded his godfather of that beautiful yet bittersweet time in the past.
But Draco had no interest in gossiping about any of that, so he did not say it aloud. He merely gave the girls a quiet reminder.
“If you two keep talking, I can guarantee that our dear Head of House Snape will spend this entire lesson keeping a very close eye on you in his own special way.”
“......”
“......”
Hearing that, both Pansy and Hermione shrank their heads down in perfect unison.
Honestly, the nervous way they did it was rather cute.
Pansy and Hermione did not doubt Draco’s warning in the slightest.
You should never underestimate a powerful wizard’s sensitivity when people are talking about him.
In fact, Hermione had already noticed that Professor Snape’s gaze kept drifting in their direction, whether deliberately or not...
...
With the assistance and arrangement of the four Heads of House, all the young wizards were soon standing in their assigned spots, each with a reasonable amount of space cleared in front of them.
Taking charge again, Wilkie Twycross pulled out his wand and stepped forward.
“Thank you very much to the four Heads of House for your help. Now then...”
With a flick of his wand, and to the startled cries of the young wizards, several wooden hoops appeared on the floor in front of everyone.
Without immediately explaining what the hoops were for, Twycross began talking about the knack and techniques of Apparition and Disapparition.
“When performing this magic, the most important thing is to remember the three Ds.”
“That is... Destination, Determination, and Deliberation.”
In fact, this three-D principle could be applied to almost any spell.
It was just that Apparition demanded even stricter attention to it, and closer adherence to this magical principle.
Without giving the students below any chance to ask questions, Twycross went on speaking to himself as if he were teaching History of Magic.
“Step one. Focus your mind on your destination, and that destination is the inside of the wooden hoop in front of you.”
Professor McGonagall seemed to notice that a small number of students looked confused, so she kindly added a reminder from the side.
“Now please concentrate on your target, which is the position inside that wooden hoop.”
Clearly, they were supposed to Apparate into the hoop, and this was also the form of the Apparition test.
Just as Draco was studying the size of the hoop and the area it covered, Twycross’s next words reached his ears.
“Step two. Resolve to occupy the space you have in mind. Let the desire to get in flood every part of your body.”
Draco spared a glance at the people around him. Most of the nearby wizards were staring fixedly at the wooden hoops in front of them, but with their faces flushed red, they looked like hens straining to lay eggs.
“Step three. When I give the command, turn on the spot and let yourself enter a state of nothingness. Remember, the movement must be deliberate. Now listen to my count... one.”
This time, it was not just Draco who was surprised. Even Hermione, who had been listening with unusual seriousness, lifted her head in astonishment.
That was it?
Wasn’t he going to demonstrate?
They did not even know how to move the wand, and he already wanted them to Apparate?
Faced with Hermione’s questioning look, Draco merely shrugged and quietly voiced his thoughts.
“Be understanding. He’s not exactly a real professor.”
“...What kind of reason is that?”
Not daring to try recklessly, Hermione lowered her wand and shot Draco a sweetly annoyed white-eyed glare.
As for Pansy, whatever Draco did, she simply followed suit.
Unlike Hermione, who knew that using magic carelessly was never a good idea, the other young wizards around them showed no intention of giving up. If anything, as Twycross continued counting down from the stage, they only became more excited.
As though they really could master such an advanced spell in such a short time...
...
Most of the wizards failed to notice the strange looks on their Heads of House’s faces.
At that moment, all of them were staring fixedly at the wooden hoops in front of them, with the rest of their attention focused on Twycross’s countdown.
“...Three!”
Everyone spun on the spot. Naturally, they all failed, lost their balance, and nearly fell flat on the ground.
Right before Hermione and the others’ shocked eyes...
The entire Great Hall descended into chaos. People were staggering all over the place, and some students, having spun too many times, dropped straight to their knees and started retching.
Amid Snape’s cold laughter, Gryffindor’s Neville Longbottom was already lying flat on his back on the floor. The humiliating sight of him made Professor McGonagall rub her temple helplessly.
On top of that, one student even leaped into the wooden hoop with a ballet-like motion. The look of excitement on that student’s face was so convincing that, if not for the wand lying conspicuously on the floor, people might actually have believed the attempt had succeeded...
Seeing this, Pansy and Hermione stared dumbfoundedly at Draco, whose expression had not changed much at all.
There was a trace of confusion in their eyes.
Was this some kind of farce?
...
It was hard to tell whether Twycross had failed to realize there was a problem with his teaching.
Standing on the platform and facing such complete chaos, he still didn’t come up with any effective solution. He just kept dryly repeating the same few lines over and over...
“It’s fine, it’s fine.”
“Set the wooden hoops properly and return to your places...”
“Try again.”
There was obviously no progress at all, yet he still had no intention of demonstrating it himself, much less explaining the details of how to cast the spell.
This style of teaching felt almost deliberate.
If you managed to learn it, then you were lucky.
If you couldn’t, then it meant you lacked talent.
A few of the sharper students could vaguely sense that something was wrong.
So Hermione, who had already given up hope in that so-called Professor Twycross, could only turn to Draco with a pleading look. “Can’t we get another professor to teach us?”
She didn’t want the entire morning to end with her learning nothing.
After all, although Apparition came with many restrictions and a certain degree of danger, it was still such a convenient spell that Hermione couldn’t help being tempted by it.
Unfortunately, Draco shook his head. “It’s obvious Snape and the others have no intention of stepping in. Maybe they have a purpose.”
“A purpose?”
“For example, maybe they don’t want us mastering this magic too easily, or maybe they want us to understand something...”
Before Draco could finish, a sharp scream suddenly rang out beside them.
It seemed to have come from the direction of Hufflepuff...
Everyone turned at once, only to see Susan from Hufflepuff swaying unsteadily inside a wooden hoop.
It looked like she had succeeded, but in reality, her left leg was still several meters away where she had originally been standing.
That horrifying spray of red blood made Longbottom roll his eyes and faint on the spot.
In a way, although Susan’s Apparition had failed, it had still managed to produce a devastating psychological effect.
That terrifying sight and result instantly made all the young wizards, who had been harboring a strange sense of anticipation about Apparition, stop trying at once. Even the reckless, bold little lions of Gryffindor stiffly lowered their wands.
After all, no one wanted to lose a part of their body.
Especially the boys who abruptly clenched their legs together...
...
The first to react to the sudden accident was not Twycross on the platform, but the four Heads of House, who had clearly been mentally prepared for this all along.
Judging by how practiced they looked, this was something they had dealt with countless times before.
In an instant, they appeared beside Susan and gave their wands a quick flick...
Bang!
With a loud crack, purple smoke billowed over the site of the accident. When it finally cleared, everyone saw that Susan’s left leg had already been restored.
Even the glaring bloodstains seemed as if they had never existed.
Still, although the Heads of House had intervened in time and resolved the problem perfectly, Susan, lying on the ground and sobbing, still wore a look of deep terror.
It was obvious that until she overcame that mental barrier, she would never be able to attempt Apparition again...
While Pansy and the others were still staring blankly at how things had unfolded, Draco finally resumed what he had been saying. “A bloody example. Perhaps the Heads of House were waiting for exactly this kind of example to appear.”
Just as Draco had said.
The young wizards who had been casual about it moments ago, who hadn’t taken it seriously and had even treated it like a game, were now all pale-faced as they carefully tried Apparition again.
The more timid ones were no longer even willing to pick up their wands...
Seeing this, Snape spoke in a dark voice. “Splinching, the separation of part of the body, occurs when one’s determination is insufficient. Clearly, this foolish student has given everyone an excellent demonstration of what splinching is.”
“...”
As soon as Snape finished speaking, the atmosphere grew even heavier.
The bloody smell that had just faded seemed to return to everyone’s noses, and Susan’s sobbing grew even louder.
McGonagall, clearly having a headache over Snape’s somewhat excessive behavior, stepped forward and said, “Remember the three Ds. They are essential if you want to succeed. And don’t be afraid of failure. The other professors and I will step in in time.”
“I’m not as optimistic as you, Minerva. Still, perhaps we can try a different approach.”
Although Draco had no idea what Snape was planning this time, the moment he noticed Snape’s gaze suddenly shift toward him, he instantly sensed trouble and raised a brow.
Sure enough.
“I think our outstanding Mr. Malfoy can give everyone a demonstration of what successful Apparition looks like. After all, from the very beginning, Mr. Malfoy has looked completely at ease.”
“...”
So this was revenge for Hermione saying earlier that his expression had looked strange?
Surely Snape hadn’t somehow noticed the emotional analysis Draco had just been making about him in his head too?
Hermione, who had also realized the reason, quickly shot Draco an apologetic look.
She thought she had dragged him into this...
...
Snape’s suggestion had basically shoved Draco straight onto the fire.
If it had been an ordinary wizard put in that position, they would very likely have made a fool of themselves under all those watching eyes and that kind of pressure, let alone agree to Snape’s unreasonable demand.
But.
Draco, who was clearly unlike everyone else, let out a soft laugh under the gaze of the entire room.
“It really isn’t difficult for me.”
“...”
“...”
That confident response earned all kinds of looks.
Admiration and infatuation from the girls.
Envy and jealousy from the boys.
Pride and smug satisfaction from his companions.
Hatred and ridicule from his enemies.
Basking in all those stares, Draco calmly drew the wand hidden in his cane.
He had no intention of convincing anyone with words. He would prove everything with action and results.
“You must keep your focus on the destination at all times. Don’t panic. Stay calm... like this!”
Draco stepped forward, raising one foot as if he were about to cross space itself.
As he silently recited the incantation, he spread his arms as though embracing death.
The next second.
That pale blond figure spun gracefully. As his noble robes flared through the air, Draco vanished from where he stood and appeared directly inside the wooden hoop not far away.
That clean, composed, elegant movement left every young wizard present staring in stunned silence.
Even the Heads of House, Snape included, could find no flaw at all in the Apparition Draco had just performed.
If this had happened during a future Apparition exam, they would have given exactly the same evaluation.
That was...
Perfect!!
...
Even with all its restrictions and dangers, Apparition was absolutely indispensable to wizards.
That was precisely why students were introduced to this magic in their sixth year, and why there was even a separate exam specifically for it...
In everyday life, Apparition was undoubtedly the best way to travel quickly and cover distance.
On a strategic level, it held even more irreplaceable tactical value.
Especially in wizard duels, your level of mastery over Apparition could absolutely determine the outcome of a fight.
Because of that, the professors, who understood this spell’s importance far better than the students below, were even more aware than the young wizards of just how significant it was that Draco had mastered Apparition.
He simply had never had the chance to show it before...
His casting speed.
The clarity in his eyes.
The precision with which he landed inside the hoop.
Every one of those things showed just how highly proficient Draco was with Apparition.
In other words, this was absolutely not the state or result a beginner at Apparition should have been capable of.
The moment they realized that, every professor present turned strange looks toward Snape, who was standing off to the side watching the scene with a blank expression.
Could it be that Severus had already known this would happen?
...
The young wizards, completely unaware of what the professors were thinking, were all staring at Draco with burning eyes as he slowly tucked his wand back into his cane.
The Prince of Slytherin.
For some reason, that title that had once spread through all the Houses suddenly surfaced again in everyone’s mind...
It had to be said.
Draco’s perfect demonstration had not only made the professors widen their eyes in surprise, it had also reignited the students’ interest in and enthusiasm for this spell.
After all, it really had been incredibly cool.
Especially when Apparition was performed by Draco, it even gave people the illusion that they were looking at a work of art.
And that final motion of putting away his wand, combined with the effortless expression on his face and his elegant bearing, made it fair to say that Draco had become the perfect spokesperson for Apparition.
The visual impact was so strong that some wizards even found themselves wondering whether they should have a cane custom-made too...
Clap clap clap!
After that subtle moment of silence, no one knew who started it, but the little witches around them, who had taken in the whole scene, suddenly broke into piercing shrieks and frantic applause without the slightest hesitation.
As they clapped excitedly, they also tried to speak to Draco.
“Can you teach me, Draco?”
“That was amazing!”
“If you’re willing, Draco, maybe we could talk in the garden tonight.”
If all they were doing was expressing their admiration and enthusiasm out loud, that would have been one thing. Pansy and the others could still tolerate that.
But there were always a few bolder witches. Some of them were already on the verge of throwing themselves at Draco...
Seeing this, Pansy and Hermione, who had just been shyly watching Draco themselves, immediately moved to his side like little cats protecting their food, using warning looks to stop those witches who kept trying to edge closer.
“Don’t let your guard down, Granger.”
“I don’t need your reminder, Parkinson.”
“Then I’m relieved.”
“That’s my line!”
Maybe it was because they had experience by now, but the two girls actually worked together rather well.
Still, for some reason, the sight made Draco’s brows twitch, and he couldn’t help feeling a subtle concern for his future self...
In any case.
Since there were naturally people drawn to Draco, there were also, of course, wizards who couldn’t stand how smug he was acting.
Only, given Draco’s magical strength, those people dared to do no more than quietly badmouth him and secretly spread guesses meant to belittle him.
“Who knows, maybe Malfoy already learned Apparition outside school.”
“If I had that kind of background, I could do it too.”
“What’s there to be proud of? It’s just Apparition.”
Leaving aside both the admiring and hostile comments directed at Draco, at the very least, the somewhat oppressive atmosphere that had settled in after the accident was stirred back to life by Draco’s performance in that instant...
Just as Pansy and Hermione were about to drag Draco away from the scene, Professor McGonagall stepped forward with a delighted expression.
“Quiet. And very well done, Mr. Malfoy.”
Professor Flitwick, standing beside her, nodded as well. “I must admit, very few wizards your age can master Apparition. Perhaps you should have come to Ravenclaw.”
“Hmph... I can’t pretend I didn’t hear that.”
Although Draco irritated him often enough, Snape was still proud of him, and he immediately let out a series of cold sneers at the short man beside him... ahem, Professor Flitwick.
In Snape’s eyes, Slytherin was the House Draco belonged in...
...
Although Draco had given everyone in the Great Hall a magical demonstration that was not only standard, but perfect as well, and although, when guiding Pansy and Hermione in practicing Apparition, he made no effort to hide his method from the others and instead explained the techniques and tricks of Apparition with complete openness, even so, by the time this special Apparition class ended, not a single person had successfully cast proper Apparition again...
In fact, not only had no one succeeded, but more and more cases of Splinching kept happening one after another, turning the Great Hall into an extremely bloody scene.
If the professors had not stepped in in time to save them, it probably would not have been easy for them to walk out through those doors with all their limbs intact.
And when set against that, Draco’s successful mastery of Apparition became even more impressive.
Even Hermione, known as a know-it-all, needed Draco’s help to avoid an accident, let alone everyone else, who had no such treatment.
In short.
Under those circumstances, this Apparition lesson really was not a pleasant or friendly experience for most of the young wizards.
Perhaps this was also meant to let them recognize the cruelty of the wizarding world ahead of time...
...
As the weather gradually turned colder, most of the young wizards liked to curl up in their own House common rooms and keep warm by the fire.
And even though the Slytherin common room was located beneath the lake, it was still very warm inside.
At this moment, Draco was tucked into the best corner of the common room with the girls...
Although they wanted to find a weakness in Professor Horace, even after two weeks, Draco and the others still had not found a chance to sneak into Professor Horace’s office.
Pansy, however, had not been keeping close track of how things were progressing. To her, as long as she could stay by Draco’s side, everything else seemed far less important.
Hermione, on the other hand, had been unable to let the matter go. During this time, she kept bringing it up to Draco every so often.
Her concern over it had even made her temporarily forget that she still had not successfully cast Apparition in class...
“You look really unwilling to accept it, but you weren’t the only one who failed.”
“...But not no one succeeded, right?”
As she said that, Hermione deliberately flicked her eyes toward Draco.
Miss Granger had never been willing to admit defeat in matters like this. Even if the person in question was someone she liked, she still wanted to keep up with him, or even surpass him.
It might seem like an unnecessary thing to get hung up on, but this was also one of Hermione’s unique charms, one of the things that made her shine.
At the very least, Draco admired that trait in Hermione very much, and it was also the biggest reason she had truly attracted him...
But Hermione’s frustration was not actually all about Apparition.
“You haven’t forgotten the important thing, have you?”
“What important thing?”
“The Pensieve, obviously! Don’t tell me you’ve completely forgotten about it.”
“O-of course not.”
“If you haven’t, then why are you stuttering?”
“Who’s stuttering!”
Not wanting to keep bickering with Pansy, Hermione turned straight toward Draco, because she wanted to know what Draco was thinking about the matter.
Surely they were not just going to give up like this?
She was still very curious about the Horcruxes.
Meeting Hermione’s curious gaze, Draco lightly twirled the Serpent-Head Cane. “Actually, our chance is coming very soon.”
“A chance? What kind of chance?”
“Dobby sent word that our Potions professor seems to be planning to make the Christmas party bigger.”
“So...”
“And since he was the one who proposed the idea, and even became the organizer, he’ll naturally have to spend time and energy on it. In other words, until the Christmas party is completely over, Professor Horace won’t be able to pull himself away from it.”
“I see. You mean we can leave early, or even not attend the Christmas party at all, and take that chance to quietly sneak into his office and find the hidden Pensieve!”
Although Astoria had not been there at the time,
after hearing the whole story from Draco and the others afterward, and combining that with what Draco had just said, she immediately understood the plan Draco had in mind.
And once Draco nodded in confirmation, the adventurous part hidden deep inside Hermione’s heart began to pound faster.
In the professors’ eyes, Hermione was a clever and reliable good student. But what they did not know was that among Pansy and the other girls, Hermione was actually the boldest one.
In fact, when it came to sneaking into professors’ offices and the Restricted Section, Hermione seemed to be both the most experienced and the most excited about it.
By comparison, even Draco, who liked breaking rules and certainly had the ability to do so, had actually never once set foot in the Restricted Section...