Hogwarts starts with stealing power.

McGonagall's thoughts first drifted to a body of water, and then she saw Harry, dressed in old clothes, living in the attic.

Harry's aunt was very harsh on him, often beating and scolding him, and frequently not giving him food.

Harry could only eat his cousin's leftovers.

Not only that, Harry often went hungry and poorly dressed, and was treated like a servant at home.

Of course, most of the time, he was more like a transparent person.

As McGonagall saw Harry's experiences from his memories, her expression grew increasingly serious.

Finally, she opened her eyes and said in disbelief, "How could this be?"

“Harry is their family, and he’s so young, how could they mistreat him?!”

Snape scoffed, "I only showed you a part of his memories. They not only abused him in terms of food, clothing, and shelter, but also frequently beat and verbally abused him, causing him to lose his self-confidence from a young age!"

He didn't mince words in criticizing Dumbledore's decision to send Harry to live with the Dursleys.

"I think this is the most foolish decision. Even if he were adopted by anyone in the wizarding world, he wouldn't be treated like this!"

Professor McGonagall suddenly realized something and asked, "You left in such a hurry earlier because you had glimpsed Harry's memories and wanted to find the headmaster to get some answers."

Snape raised his head: "Yes, I went to the Ministry of Magic and waited for several days before finally seeing Dumbledore."

I questioned him about why he did that!
We don't know what Harry went through from childhood to adulthood, but Dumbledore was always secretly observing Harry. He definitely knew about Harry's current situation, but he watched it all happen indifferently.

If this is Dumbledore's so-called plan for Harry's upbringing, I can offer him a different path, instead of subjecting him to abuse from his family at such a young age.

McGonagall calmly asked, "What did the principal say?"

Snape was silent for a moment, then said, "This is a protective magic that Lily created for Harry with her bloodline. The magical power can only be continued through bloodline."

That's all I can reveal. I swore to Dumbledore I wouldn't let this information out.

He then changed the subject, saying sarcastically, "But I don't believe his bloodline theory, that Petunia is Harry's aunt, that family wouldn't harm Harry, and that's where Harry can find safe protection. That's all troll rubbish!"

Are cases of sibling rivalry rare in the wizarding world? Even the warmest families can't achieve absolute fairness, let alone someone like Harry, living as a dependent without any real family.

Professor McGonagall tried to remain calm and said, "Snape, please trust Dumbledore. He wants Harry to do better than anyone else, and he values ​​Harry more than any of us."

She paused, then emphasized, "Without exception!"

Snape said sarcastically, "I really don't know what kind of bewitching potion Dumbledore gave to you core members of the Order of the Phoenix!"

You all think he wouldn't harm Harry, but I've been observing from the sidelines at Hogwarts, and I don't think Dumbledore has provided much help to Harry.

What did he do?
Aside from constantly pushing Harry forward in critical moments, forcing him to face crises dozens of times stronger than himself and compelling him to grow stronger, I don't think he received much help.

His life at school was not as helpful as the help he received from Lin Xia and others.

The development of a child's character requires not only guidance in major events but also gradual instillation in them through small, everyday actions.

Those major events, aside from constantly testing Harry's character, were simply forcing him to grow!

"Just because he once stumbled with Tom..."

"Snape, watch your words!"

Professor McGonagall suddenly interrupted him, saying seriously, "You're getting too emotional."

In that mood, everything you said was said in anger, and I won't take your words to heart.

“Snape, if you think the headmaster is not doing a good job, then you take his place and become his godfather.”

Instead of provoking him with words, some people need encouragement, not criticism.

Snape remained expressionless and silent.

McGonagall then said, "I came here today to discuss the issue of Occlumency with you."

I'll take over Harry's training and solidify his foundation. Once I feel he's ready for further practical training, I'll come back to you.

Snape looked at McGonagall: "We don't have much time left."

“I know,” McGonagall said, her words coming out a little too quickly.

"But there is still time for these children to grow up. Haste makes waste, Snape. These children are already far better than we were back then. We cannot move too fast."

After a long pause, Snape coldly uttered, "I know."
-
On the other side, Draco obtained the [Oath of Blood Curse].

He had little experience with oaths and was completely clueless about them.

With his father's help, the oath contract was further improved.

When the picture frame saw Draco again, it found him to be very calm, with a faint smile on his lips.

The elderly gentleman with platinum blonde hair in the picture frame raised an eyebrow and said with interest:

"You seem very confident, and I like that confidence. You'll surprise me with your vows, won't you?"

Draco said, "If you think it's a surprise, then so be it."

The old man in the picture frame happily moved his cane from his left hand to his right. "That sounds wonderful. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of vow you'll make."

"Your appearance before me means you are ready. Come, let me see."

Draco didn't reveal the contents of the oath, but instead handed him a copy of the [Oath Blood Curse].

When the old man saw the ancient runes on the yellowed parchment in the picture frame, his expression changed instantly, and his eyes became somewhat dazed, as if he were recalling the past.

After a long while, the old man said, "I know this contract. It is the [Oath of Blood Curse]. I once saw the patriarch of the Malfoy family give this [Oath of Blood Curse] to an extremely outstanding young man, forming a permanent alliance with that young man and sharing common interests."

Draco was taken aback; he hadn't heard this secret before and couldn't help but ask:

"Who is that young man, and what kind of cooperation has the family reached with him?"

The old man took a deep breath of the pipe in his mouth and exhaled rings of white smoke, his face appearing and disappearing in the smoke, adding to his mystique.

"Are you sure you want to know this? It could very well open Pandora's box, something you might not want to know."

Draco's heart raced slightly, as if he were holding a very important key.

"I want to know, can you tell me? What price do I need to pay?" A sly glint suddenly flashed in the old man's eyes.

"Once we complete the contract, I will do as I said, and you can ask me three questions every day free of charge."

Remember, there's no cost to asking me those three questions, but once I answer them, the frame will charge you a price.

"All I can tell you is that the young man is important in some ways, but not in others."

I don't know how the law will determine whether his deeds are confidential secrets or past events that can be revealed.

I can't predict what price you'll have to pay. This question could very well leave you with nothing, or it could very well cost you dearly. Even so, do you still want to ask?

Draco clenched his fist slightly, forcing himself to calm down.

He felt he urgently needed ice to cool down and wake up his feverish brain.

A longing welled up in his heart, as if an invisible voice was tempting him.

We must keep asking, we absolutely have to keep asking!

If you miss this opportunity to ask, you won't have another chance to know this secret!
This state is very abnormal.

Draco's body activated the "Purple Gold Profound Gang Secret Record" on its own, and his feverish mind calmed down a little.

But after circulating his cultivation technique, a feeling arose deep within him.

His intuition told him that he could ask this question and that he could bear the consequences.

Compared to the sudden surge of desire he had felt before, he trusted the intuition generated after circulating his cultivation technique more.

Because the practice method is not so tempting, but rather a kind of intuition.

Draco thought for a moment and then made his decision.

Not wanting to reveal his thoughts so quickly, he tried to remain calm and said, "Then let's sign the contract first."

The method for signing the [Oath of Blood Curse] contract is very simple. Draco has already written down his demands, as well as the demands of the picture frame.

Once the request was written, the content was locked, and no one can change it.

It cannot be changed even when it is signed.

Draco tossed the Blood Oath directly into the picture frame. The old man took the contract, admiring it as he looked at it:
"A very well-organized explanation, although most of it stipulates your rights and restricts my actions."

“This contract shouldn’t have been drafted by you,” the old man said with great regret. “I thought I could get something from you, but it seems very difficult now. As expected, every member of the Malfoy family is cunning and shrewd.”

The old man shrugged, seemingly unaffected by the harsh contract, and said in a relaxed tone:
"Since you have something that interests me, I'm willing to take a gamble and hope you can surprise me."

As soon as he finished speaking, he produced a fine quill pen from somewhere, signed the contract, and then threw the parchment out of the frame.

Draco took the parchment and carefully examined the contents of the contract.

Even if the contents of the contract are locked, who knows if the frame has the ability to tamper with the contract?

He not only proofread it himself, but also used multiple verification spells and even used another parchment.

This parchment contains a profound detection spell that can detect all disguises, including the disguises of oaths, revealing their true contents.

The old man in the picture frame whistled: "Truly a member of the meticulous Malfoy family throughout his life."

After completing all the checks, Draco carefully signed his name on the contract.

The next second, he felt a burning, stinging sensation on the back of his right hand, as if he had been stung hard by something.

Looking down, a blood-red pattern slowly appeared on the back of his hand, and in the very center of the pattern was the Malfoy family crest.

The contract between the two parties is now officially established and in effect!
Draco looked up and saw that the same pattern as the back of his hand had appeared in the lower right corner of the picture frame in front of him; this was the effect of the contract.

The moment the contract took effect, the picture frame hanging on the wall suddenly shrank, continued to shrink, and shrank again, until it became the size of a keychain.

The picture frame popped off the wall and hung on the edge of Draco's wizard robe pocket.

I don't know how the frame was positioned; it's like a built-in accessory on the clothes, a perfect fit.

The voice of the picture frame echoed in his mind: "Let's continue our previous topic. Do you want to know who that young man is?"

Draco felt that the picture frame became much more talkative after the agreement was reached.

In the past, people had to ask questions, but now you can ask questions even within the picture frame.

Draco instinctively felt that the young man was of noble status and dared not treat him casually, so he went to his usual training room and quietly circulated his internal energy.

After everything was prepared, he asked himself:
"I want to know who that young man was who made the blood oath with the Malfoy family? What happened afterward? Did he still have contact with the Malfoy family?"

The old man smiled and said, "These are three questions. Are you sure you want to use today's quota on these three questions?"
Although there is no cost to asking me questions, the law will charge you a price for every question I answer.

"Considering you're of Malfoy blood and the sole heir to the current head of the family, I'm giving you a friendly reminder: the price you'll pay might be beyond your wildest imagination—it'll drain you dry in an instant!"

Draco's intuition had already given him the answer, and he said without hesitation, "I'm sure."

The old man said, "The young man who made the Blood Oath with the Malfoy family was Salazar Arcturus Slytherin."

However, Slytherin later somehow managed to completely sever the Blood Oath branded into their bloodline and had long since lost contact with the Malfoy family.

After answering the three questions, Draco felt a squeezing force coming from the void.

Without changing his expression, he quickly used the power of the contract to block the mental imprint left by the picture frame in his mind, and then fully activated the "Purple Gold Profound Gang Secret Record".

His body became very hot, and he quickly heard indistinct murmurs of evil gods around his ears.

He vaguely heard two syllables, and the voice seemed to be telling him the true secret of the wizarding world, the cruel truth that all wizards tried their best to hide.

But before he could hear anything more, his internal energy kicked in, rapidly weakening the sound.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but his ears were completely quiet.

The heat emanating from Draco gradually dissipated into calm.

The black lines that had appeared all over his body seemed to have encountered some kind of natural enemy, and were quickly eliminated, eventually being reduced to a small black dot on his fingertip.

The Purple Gold Profound Gang Secret Record operated at full power, ultimately forcing the small black dot out, which dissipated as a wisp of black smoke. (End of Chapter)