Hogwarts: Don't call me Wandmaker

Chapter 126 The Lost Malfoy
"Liar behavior! Dirty conduct! Clumsy performance, the people of Hogwarts are a bunch of complete fraudsters."

In the latest issue of the Daily Prophet, Rita Skeeter angrily denounced Hogwarts for faking their plan to destroy the Chamber of Secrets, when in reality they only set off a few broken fireworks in the castle.

As for why she was so angry and unusually launched into a tirade in the newspaper, no one knows.

Interestingly, Fred and George hid the fireworks in advance last night in the afternoon. In order to make the performance end perfectly, they placed the largest fire dragon firework on the south tower.

That's the best spot in Hogwarts, offering a panoramic view of the entire castle, making it perfect for the final fireworks display.

However, one beetle thought the same thing, and it was perched on the box used to hide the fire dragon fireworks.

So when the thirty-foot-long firework exploded above Hogwarts, the beetle was sent up with it.

The next morning, someone claimed that when she saw Rita Skeeter, the usually glamorous woman appeared somewhat unkempt.

First of all, the clothes are not right. At first glance, there seems to be no problem, but upon closer inspection, you will find that the clothes are actually torn, with many inconspicuous small holes and uneven color.

It feels like a failed attempt by a freshman practicing a repair spell, only to give up halfway through. Of course, it's also possible that the clothes were too torn, and the repair spell couldn't completely fix them.

Rita Skeeter's face was also dark, her once-proud golden curls were haphazardly tied up, wisps of smoke rising from the ends, and a pungent, burnt smell wafted out.

However, the article did not cause much of a stir and was simply placed in an inconspicuous corner of the third page of the newspaper.

Because the front page featured the results of the Ministry of Magic's Aurors' investigation, which revealed that Gilderoy Lockhart was attacked in Hogsmeade Village, shortly after leaving the Hog's Head.

"Maybe some thief is trying to make a quick buck," said a Hogwarts villager. "After all, Professor Lockhart always smells like Galleons; he should be given three brooms."

Since Lockhart was attacked outside Hogwarts, the idea of ​​a secret chamber is naturally less credible.

……

Meanwhile, Hogwarts had already started the new semester, and everyone returned to school after Christmas, except for Draco Malfoy, who went back to the school hospital.

When he was taken to the school hospital, his face was almost completely pale, and he was extremely weak.

"I heard that you wanted to see me for something?"

Looking at Malfoy, who looked nervous on the hospital bed, Celen said, "Hurry up and tell me, or your father will be here soon."

Lucius Malfoy is here again; he's probably throwing a tantrum in the principal's office right now.

"You, you can... please don't tell the headmaster..." Malfoy looked at Celen and whispered.

“Which one are you referring to?” Siren chuckled. “Whether it’s letting the basilisk kill me, or attacking Lockhart.”

"That was your doing too, wasn't it?" Celen picked up a box of chocolate frogs from his bedside table, opened it, and casually put the card inside into his pocket.

“After all, Lockhart took your bones, so it’s perfectly normal for you to want revenge… Besides, Lockhart was attacked at Hogsmeade, when everyone else was in the school; only you could have done it.”

“I didn’t!” Malfoy suddenly became agitated and shouted, “I was in St. Mungo’s then, how could I have gone to Hogsmeade?”

“Then how do you explain the words on his body?” Celen narrowed his eyes. “Only Tom Riddle knows about the secret room, and you have his diary.”

“But I really am in St. Mungo,” Malfoy said. “The healers there can vouch for me. I can’t possibly run off to Hogsmeade without their knowledge.”

"You can't just run off to Hogsmeade."

“That’s right.” Malfoy nodded.

“So,” Siron’s tone changed, “you admit you wanted the basilisk to kill me?” “I, I…” Malfoy’s momentum weakened considerably. He looked at Siron, stammering and unable to speak.

"You want to kill me, and you want me to keep it a secret?"

“No, I didn’t. I just wanted to teach Weasley a lesson,” Malfoy said. “He used the Slug Curse on me, making me the laughingstock of Slytherin. Although no one showed it to me, I know what they were saying behind my back.”

"So I wanted to teach him a lesson and make him pay the price."

"The price you're talking about is letting the basilisk kill him?" Xilun glanced at him.

“Of course not, I didn’t really intend to kill him,” Malfoy quickly explained. “I just wanted to teach him a lesson. Then Tom… that Riddle said he had a way to teach Weasley a lesson, and I believed him.”

"So you released the basilisk?"

“I don’t know,” Malfoy said. “I just felt like I took a nap and when I woke up my clothes were wet, but I really don’t know what happened in between.”

“Sirlen.” Malfoy looked up and took a deep breath. “If you keep this a secret, I can give you a lot of Galleons.”

“A very tempting offer.” Xiren shrugged. “It’s a pity you should have told me sooner. I’m sorry, I just told the principal about it half an hour ago.”

Xiren had no intention of hiding what happened last night. Riddle's screams lasted for so long that a door couldn't possibly keep out; someone must have found out.

Even if no one hears, there are ghosts and portraits in the corridors; perhaps they will tell Dumbledore.

So early in the morning, Siron found Professor McGonagall and asked her to take him to the headmaster's office, where he told Dumbledore about the diary and Riddle's soul.

Of course, he concealed the fact that it was a Horcrux, only saying that the diary turned to ashes after Riddle's soul was completely removed.

Dumbledore did not doubt this statement; his expression was one of surprise, yet he also felt that this was normal.

Sheren still remembered what Dumbledore had said back then.

"It's amazing. Tom Riddle must be the smartest student I've ever seen. Few people can have such a wealth of magical knowledge by the time they're in fifth grade."

Then Lucius arrived and, without saying a word, tried to kick Celen out of the principal's office.

Just then, Sirius was worried that staying too long might give Dumbledore away and he left.

After all, the Horcrux Codex contains the word "Horde," and if Dumbledore finds out, he'll definitely confiscate it. The question is whether he'll give it to him or not.

That's why Harry was asked to keep it a secret.

When Celen told Malfoy all this, his face quickly turned ashen.

"I'll probably get fired..." he muttered to himself as he lay in bed.

Xilun didn't answer, much less offer any comfort, and turned to leave the school hospital in a hurry.

Even if Malfoy was controlled by Riddle and didn't know what he was doing, and didn't cause the Basilisk to attack him, it's unlikely that his recent incitement of students to expel him was also done under Riddle's control.
Honestly, in this situation, Xilun felt that it was already a great favor that he was able to get him to the school hospital without kicking him while he was down.

Let his father comfort him... I just don't know if Professor Dumbledore told him who Tom Riddle was, or what that diary represented.

If Lucius knew, his expression would be priceless.

……

(End of this chapter)