Hermione, let's start a revolution from Hogwarts!

"You mean... Voldemort never intended for Harry and Hermione to die on the field?" Dumbledore hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly.

"if not?"

Voldemort is currently in a deep slump and will never directly clash with Dumbledore.

Suddenly, Snape stormed in, the sound of the oak door slamming against the wall startling the headmasters, who then began cursing at the professor in their portraits, all denouncing him for ruining their dreams.

Do magical portraits also dream of sheep from their memories?

Riddle was the first to hide, and no other professor knew of his existence. So, the moment Snape passed the doorpost, he vanished from Nietzsche's side, leaving only a cold cushion behind.

"Dumbledore!" Snape drawled as he rushed to the headmaster.

Just moments ago he was talking about being monitored by Moody, and now he's here to interrogate him. Dumbledore helplessly cast a pleading look to the side, but Nietzsche had already dozed off with his eyes half-closed.

How could a perfect Slytherin student like him possibly go against the dear Headmaster?

"Don't put on that aggrieved act! That madman would never have done this without your approval!" He raised his thin index finger and pointed at the principal's crooked nose. "How many more times do you want my office to be ransacked?"

"This really isn't my fault..."

"Hmph." This was the Horcrux gloating.

As time went on, Riddle, who had always been in a conscious state, became more and more human, whether for better or worse was hard to say.

But at least Nietzsche saw it as a positive change; at least Riddle wouldn't be pursuing a snake-like face anymore.

“Then you’d better keep that old devil away from my territory!” Snape forced a fierce smile. “And... I have no problem with all of you spoiling Potter, but you’d better not let him fall into my hands.”

"What does this have to do with Harry?" Dumbledore turned his head, his expression suddenly changing.

"He ransacked my office, stealing things, and what about Moody? He thinks I suspect Porter all the time! I'm just letting you know, if that madman keeps playing these games, you'll be playing by yourself!"

Nietzsche, clutching the Horcrux, silently moved the pillow under his bottom to the corner.

The scene of the two fighting last time was still vivid in my mind, except that last time it was because of Blake, and this time it was because of Moody.

"What did he steal?" Dumbledore asked calmly.

“Herbal...some sapwort, snakeskin, horns of two-horned beasts, and the like, totaling over thirty galleons,” Snape said through gritted teeth. “These are expensive ingredients for Polyjuice Potion, so you'll have to figure it out yourself.”

"Severus, what use is Harry to your materials?"

"Who knows? He's a champion of Hogwarts now, and he might be trying to get information about the matches. He's just like his father, always resorting to petty tricks." Snape said, making a mad deduction.

Nietzsche waited until the dean's anger subsided a little before daring to ask him softly, "Was it stolen last night?"

“That’s right.” Snape flung his robes and angrily sat down on the cold cushion that Riddle had previously sat on.

The fish finally took the bait—Moody was an imposter.

It must be said that Voldemort's move was crucial, allowing someone to impersonate a person Dumbledore would hardly doubt, and to do so convincingly.

If Riddle hadn't been hidden inside Harry, Dumbledore would have had no idea what happened last night.

It's a pity... it's a pity that Tom Riddle bridged that information gap.

Chapter 254 Nietzsche: It's over, I've become bait.

The fake Moody calculated perfectly. He knew that Hermione would always tidy herself up when she passed by the girls' restroom, so he banished the poor Ravenclaw ghost there, ensuring they would always meet before the match started.

February 24th was fast approaching, and Hermione was busy. Thanks to a hint, she quickly solved the secret of the golden egg.

While Nietzsche was busy getting Snape and Moody to distract each other, Hermione would always run to the Forbidden Forest and find her friend there—the centaurs.

God knows what she prepared...

As the day drew closer, Moody remained suspicious and paranoid, unaware that Nietzsche was already setting a trap. Both he and the principal knew that the other was faking it.

On the afternoon before the match, each of the Triwizard Tournament warriors had a different look: Krum frowned, Fleur looked very nervous, Harry was nowhere to be seen, spending all his time in the library, while Cedric seemed quite happy.

Hesitation, anxiety, overconfidence... but everyone is more normal than Hermione, right?

“I said, the competition is tomorrow, and you’re still reading ‘A Comprehensive Guide to Language and Custom’?” Nietzsche knelt on the grass, a sense of unease rising in his heart.

Oh no, could it be that she knows she can win the competition no matter what, so she just decided to start playing?

It's not impossible. If the two Warriors who shouldn't have become Warriors actually run into trouble in the second game, what kind of expression would fake Moody have?

Disappointment? Or surprise?

Even Voldemort probably couldn't have predicted this...

"Water," Hermione said without looking up.

“Aguamanent (clear water like a spring).” Nietzsche thought she was thirsty.

"I'm not thirsty!" she said, but she still took a sip of the water that was offered to her lips and mumbled, "I'm preparing a spell... because language affects magic, so I'm learning the language of mermaids."

Like centaurs, mermaids have a thriving culture and a highly organized social system, and they also refuse to be considered 'human'.

However, Nietzsche had some idea of ​​why Hermione suddenly became interested in mermaid language.

“You’re going to deal with the mermen… What a pity. No wonder Dumbledore and the Ministry of Magic agreed to Karkaroff’s decision to ban Smaug from the tournament.” Nietzsche leaned closer and guessed, “So you want to use a gentler approach?”

If the second project involves underwater combat, then Hermione learning the mermaid language and turning them from enemies to friends would be quite in line with her personality.

However, Hermione squinted her eyes, smiled mysteriously, and then gave Crookshanks an apologetic look.

“Listen to me, how about you go to the Forbidden Forest by yourself tomorrow and ask Smaug for breakfast?” She took the Persian cat from Nietzsche’s arms, her tone very gentle, like a mother telling her son to behave at home before leaving the house.

Nietzsche was unhappy, saying it was as if he were the kind of irresponsible parent.

He meant that this kind of person is usually not Sherlock Holmes... Oh, he is Sherlock Holmes too, never mind.

“I don’t have to compete,” he said dryly. “Don’t make it sound like you’re giving your last instructions at Crookshank.”

“That’s my point, darling~” Hermione interrupted as soon as she finished speaking, “I’m not very confident yet, and I can’t drain the entire Black Lake like you, so it’s better to say some things in advance.”

"What have you been doing behind my back...?"

“Nothing happened!” Cho Chang suddenly appeared from behind the two of them and said cheerfully, “Let’s go, Hermione’s sweetheart.”

Nietzsche turned around and didn't see Cedric. It was strange and unusual that the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff duo were usually inseparable.

“Come on, Professor Snape wants to see you in his office… Hurry up, I don’t want to go back alone.” Cho Chang shuddered at the thought of that gloomy face. “Seriously, you better watch yourself.”

She looked at Nietzsche with a sympathetic yet helpless gaze.

"Good luck~~" Hermione hugged Crookshank and waved its paws around. "There's a surprise ahead!"

Nietzsche didn't think much of it. He assumed Snape was just asking him about Moody, but something felt off, as if Hermione had dragged him into a vortex.

At 4:30 pm, in the early evening, there was no natural light at all in the basement.

Cho Chang only escorted him to the office door and left. The door wasn't locked, so he pushed it open and found that not only Snape was in the office, but Professor Ludo Bagman was also standing awkwardly by the table.

Even as the Director of the Ministry of Magic, he appeared restless and unsteady on his feet inside the 'Bat Nest'.

"You're here! Just waiting for you... kid, I've just finished dealing with the Weasley and Durmstrang students." He strode over. "Professor Snape has already prepared all the potions; you can wait until the match starts tomorrow..."

"Wait, wait... wait a minute, a competition?" Nietzsche thought he had misheard.

He turned to look at Snape, hoping the other would correct him, but the headmaster simply shoved a vial of potion into his hand.

Isn't Warrior Hermione? Don't say he's the 'golden egg' of the second game.

"Didn't the others tell you? Miss Granger wrote in the Triwizard Tournament questionnaire that you are the person she cares about most in this school. Everyone has their own options, so you will be sunk to the bottom of the Black Lake tomorrow."

Ludo Bagman wiped his sweat, looking as if he didn't want to stay there for even a quarter of an hour longer.

He paused for a moment, then continued, "But don't worry, Headmaster Dumbledore has made all the arrangements, you'll be fine... Alright, you can spend the night with your Dean tonight."

Indeed, Nietzsche knew Hermione wasn't up to any good.

Although he was somewhat moved when he heard that he was 'Hermione's most important person,' he quickly regained his composure and, watching Ludo Bagman's retreating figure, felt a surge of irritation...

"Heh heh heh, the time to test love has come." Snape threw the blanket onto the fireplace and said gloatingly, "This potion will let you breathe underwater and also put you to sleep. Holmes, you should wish someone else well."

Nietzsche fell silent. Once he swallowed this medicine, he would be the golden egg hidden at the bottom of the Black Lake.

No wonder Hermione said those meaningful things to Crookshanks. Now that he thinks about it, cold sweat starts to break out on his back... There's nothing he can do but lie at the bottom of the water and wait for someone to rescue him.

Oh, right, there might also be a group of mermaid guards standing nearby.

What's worse, for the sake of keeping the information confidential, he has to sleep in the same room as Dean Snape tonight.

“Given Hermione’s abilities, I have no worries about myself,” Nietzsche pointed out his logical fallacy. “Besides, Hermione chose me, so there’s no need for further testing.”

"All you do is talk." Snape lay on the floor, waved his wand, and turned off all the lights. "I suggest you go to sleep early, because you'll have to get up early tomorrow to be submerged in the water."

Nietzsche moved closer and looked at the Dean, who had turned his back and was clutching his right arm tightly. He suddenly remembered Lily Potter, whom Black and Dumbledore had mentioned repeatedly.

He lay down as well, a question swirling in his mind about Snape's past.

"professor?"

"Ah."

"Have you been tested?" He pondered for a long time before choosing to start with the other person's own words.

At least I won't get beaten up... right?

Snape remained silent for a long time. Just when Nietzsche thought the other man didn't want to talk to him and had fallen asleep, he suddenly heard him say, "Not really."

Listen to how blurry it is!

It doesn't count as ever... so it 'had' first, and then 'didn't count'.

"Then why doesn't it count?" Nietzsche asked curiously, staring at the dark ceiling.

What kind of test was it that made Snape prefer to hide in the basement now, looking at everyone with a bitter and resentful expression?

"Are you Mr. Know-It-All? You want to know everything." His tone was completely flat. "If I were you, I would think carefully about how to save myself if the warrior rescue fails... how to break through the hands of hundreds of mermaids."

“Professor, we killed a dragon, not to become another dragon.” Nietzsche’s fingertips, hidden in his robe, were gently stroking his wand.

"Because it was a mistake, there's no question of testing it, it's that simple."

After Snape finished speaking, only his breathing remained; it seemed that those words had exhausted all his strength.

Chapter 255 The Second Match

I'm so tired, so alone