Hogwarts: Don't call me the Staff Maker

Chapter 774 Malfoy's Exclusion

This was probably the quietest night in Hogwarts' history.

It was the first day of school, and everyone who hadn't seen each other for nearly two months should have been having the most to talk about, but the common room was so quiet that you could hardly hear a sound.

Seamus and Dean wanted to talk to everyone about Harry Potter, but that was obviously forbidden.

Their new Defense Against the Dark Arts professorship stipulates that anyone who mentions the name Harry Potter, for whatever reason, will be imprisoned in the dungeon and subjected to the most severe punishment.

Yes, they reopened the Hogwarts dungeons, along with the iron chains that Filch had always carefully maintained.

However, the first person to use these things was also Filch. He was hung in the dungeon by Alecto Caro for a whole night, for the reason—there was no reason.

Last night, Alecto Caro, who had a big argument with Professor McGonagall, just wanted to vent her anger on someone. Filch happened to step in and suggest that she could reopen the dungeon and lock up all the people who opposed it.

Filch's intention was probably to curry favor with Alecto Caro, just as he had done with Umbridge.

As long as these people don't want to spend their days in the castle arresting students, then he's useful. Moreover, he loves his job, has a wealth of experience, and is difficult to replace.

Filch's idea was good, but it's not suitable for everyone.

Umbridge might have fallen for that, but today it's Alecto Caro, a mad Death Eater who has a deep-seated hatred for Mudbloods and Squibs.

So he was in trouble; he was the first one Carlo sent to the dungeon. If Lady Lorris hadn't run fast and jumped out of the second-floor window, she probably would have been locked up too.

On the shoulder of a nearby statue, Xiren, who had witnessed the entire event, curled his lip in disdain.

Filch must have forgotten how Alecto Caro treated him before.

Of course, he must still remember that he simply believed that by offering his loyalty and being useful enough, he could win trust.

Unfortunately, he encountered Death Eaters, who considered Mudbloods and Squibs to be on par with house-elves.

Would a Death Eater treat house-elves kindly just because they prepared a lavish dinner for them?

This is obviously impossible.

The same applies to mud seeds and duds.

Xilun didn't know what the situation was now, but more than a decade ago, during the First Wizarding War, the Mudbloods and Squibs didn't even have the right to surrender.

Filch's painful groans continued throughout the dungeon all night until he was released the next day after Professor McGonagall intervened.

Hogwarts needs Filch. The professors don't have that much time to patrol the corridors, maintain order, and clean up. These extremely tedious tasks are more suitable for Filch.

When the students got up and came to the Great Hall for breakfast, the atmosphere was extremely oppressive—except for the Slytherin.

The long table was filled with laughter and chatter, as if they were celebrating Christmas in advance.

Siren also saw Crabbe and Goyle, who had actually returned to Hogwarts after the attack last school year.

More importantly, the two not only escaped punishment but also became heroes of Slytherin, surrounded by many people.

On the contrary, Draco Malfoy, the once-famous figure, has been subtly sidelined from the limelight.

No one spoke to him; even Pansy Parkinson, who had once been madly infatuated with him, kept her distance. Only a seemingly quiet witch was willing to sit next to him.

She remembered that her last name was Greengrass, and she was one of the few Slytherins who were interested in the SDA.

Their gazes fell on Crabbe and Goyle again, and all sorts of compliments flooded their ears like they were free. When had they ever experienced anything like this? They felt dizzy and grabbed the butterbeer on the table, gulping it down.

Xilun could probably guess the reason.

Crabbe and Goyle tried to kill him and almost succeeded, so Voldemort must have praised them.

The Death Eaters' survival logic was simple: whoever could please Voldemort more would have more say. To these students who hadn't yet graduated, Crabbe and Goyle, who had been praised, were undoubtedly the most promising.

Malfoy, who consistently botched missions and was punished by the Cruciatus Curse, was completely excluded from the core of the Death Eaters. Even the Malfoy family's wealth was no longer under their control.

Not to mention Draco, even his father Lucius Malfoy had absolutely no say in Voldemort's eyes.

Especially after Voldemort learned that all his Horcruxes had been destroyed, he vented all his anger on Malfoy.

Voldemort always believed that if Lucius hadn't gotten his diary to Hogwarts, Dumbledore and the others would never have imagined what they had done.

It could be said that the Malfoys are still alive only because Voldemort hasn't figured out how to punish them yet.

But this is for the best.

Siren glanced again at Crabbe and Goyle, who were surrounded in the middle, and Draco Malfoy, who was being subtly sidelined on the outside, before turning and leaving the Great Hall.

He can't eat in the auditorium now, not even as a cat.

Alecto Caro kept his word and forbade all students from keeping cats as pets. Those who had already brought cats were either sent away or thrown into the Forbidden Forest, and even Slytherin students were not exempt.

Recalling Filch's screams throughout the night, no one dared to challenge her authority, and in just one night, all the cats in the castle disappeared.

This undoubtedly added considerable difficulty to Xiren's operation, as he had to hide himself in the shadows at all times and avoid everyone's sight.

Also, you can't go to the kitchen; there are too many house-elves there, and it's hard to guarantee they won't go and tell on you.

Fortunately, Siren doesn't need to go to the kitchen himself.

He had just returned to Professor McGonagall's office when a house-elf suddenly appeared beside him, carrying a heavy tray piled high with sandwiches, fried eggs, and sausages.

"Thank you, Gulu." Xiren returned to his original form, picked up the sandwich, and took a big bite.

It still tastes familiar; at least the food at Hogwarts hasn't changed much.

"It's an honor for Gollum!" the house-elf exclaimed excitedly, his face flushed.

"Also, I hope you can keep my presence at Hogwarts a secret, okay?" Siren quickly finished his sandwich.

"I don't want too many people to know, including other house-elves."

"Gollum has never seen Mr. Siron Ollivander at Hogwarts," the house-elf said, straightening his chest.

"No need to be so serious," Xilun said with a smile, waving his hand. "Just don't tell anyone else."

""

0