Hogwarts Wasteland: The Witch from the Borderlands

In the following days, the whole school knew that Professor Malfoy was going to expel his son.

It wasn't that he was promoting it himself, but Draco clearly didn't want to leave Hogwarts. Although the school had the fierce lioness Hermione Granger, the castle was much more charming than the empty, gloomy manor filled with ancestral paintings and dirty house-elves.

Here, he can learn different things, play and explore with his friends, and see Hogwarts go to different places and see different scenery. Although most of it is just white wasteland, it is still better than being locked up in the manor all day long.

Students witnessed Draco and Lucius arguing more than once, sometimes in the office, sometimes after class, with Draco deliberately speaking loudly so that everyone passing by could hear.

He wouldn't have dared to defy Lucius before, but after repeatedly begging his father not to send him home to no avail, he had to resort to more radical methods.

But old Malfoy wouldn't have it. He'd rather lose face in front of the whole school than back down his decision.

It is said that Draco even secretly went to Professor McGonagall, but the vice-principal regretfully told him that Hogwarts could not interfere with the decisions of students' parents. Moreover, Lucius was the head of Slytherin and one of the school's board members.

The withdrawal procedure requires Dumbledore's signature to complete the cancellation of the student's contract with Hogwarts. These contracts would normally be automatically cancelled upon his graduation from seventh grade or expulsion, but withdrawing midway through the year is more complicated, which is why Draco had the opportunity to struggle.

The professors have also been on high alert these past few days, because once Draco officially withdraws from school, it means Lucius will have no more ties, and the behind-the-scenes power struggle will truly begin.

Just when Hermione thought that none of this had anything to do with her, Daphne came to her.

Hermione was in the library looking for reference books for her assignment when the girl who had joined Slytherin halfway through her studies sneaked up to her like a thieving mouse and nervously tugged at her sleeve.

The relationship between Slytherin and Gryphon is lukewarm, with students from both houses having virtually no interaction. Daphne already struggles to fit in with the first-year students, and if her association with Hermione is discovered, she will face even greater ostracism.

Hermione looked at the girl in front of her in surprise. Compared with when she first entered school, she was much healthier now and had regained the temperament of a pure-blood noble lady. But whether she was frightened or it was her true nature, she always looked cautious and nervous.

"Is there something you need?"

"It's Draco. He... he asked me to come find you." Daphne swallowed hard. Hermione's name was well-known in Slytherin, after all, she was the ruthless person who almost cut their headmaster in half.

"Draco?" Hermione asked, puzzled. "Wasn't he going to drop out? What does he need me for, and why didn't he come in person?"

Daphne glanced around to make sure no one else was watching, then hid behind the bookshelf and said mysteriously to Hermione, "He doesn't want to be expelled, but the headmaster locked him in the Slytherin common room and had upperclassmen watch over him. They're coming to pick him up tonight."

Hermione frowned. "Then you should go find Professor McGonagall, or Dumbledore. What good will it do you to come to me?"

Daphne opened her eyes wide and said, "Professor McGonagall said she couldn't interfere in the Malfoy family's affairs, but Draco knows that the Potter family possesses a precious invisibility cloak..."

Hermione was taken aback: "Even Draco knows about the Potters' invisibility cloak?"

Then he realized it was quite normal; after so many years of inheritance among different families, each family knew about the other's public assets.

"So Draco wants to use Harry's cloak to escape?"

"But he can't stay hidden under Harry's cloak forever."

Daphne shook her head: "He wants to hide in the castle first. As long as he's not sent home, he has a way to win back the headmaster's favor."

Hermione was not optimistic about this. They did not know Lucius's true purpose in dropping out of school for Draco, and therefore underestimated Lucius's determination.

However, given that Draco had given her a Christmas present, Hermione decided to give him another chance.

But the Invisibility Cloak belonged to Harry, and she had no right to decide on her own. So she took Daphne to the Gryphon trio of boys who were "borrowing" each other's work.

The five of them huddled in a corner, and Daphne repeated Draco's request. The five of them then stared at each other, wide-eyed.

"He actually went to Gryffindor for help?"

"This shows that he really has no other choice."

"But if I think about it from another angle, if my parents were to expel me from school, I would definitely try my best to escape." Ron scratched his head, empathizing with the person he hated most in this respect.

"The invisibility cloak is yours, so it's up to you whether you help or not," Hermione said, looking at Harry.

Harry looked at Daphne, who was staring at him expectantly, and then at Hermione.

"Since you brought her to us, it means you actually want to help him, right?" Harry asked.

Hermione nodded without flinching: "Compared to old Malfoy, I don't think this little dragon is beyond redemption."

"What's more, he gave me a box of fancy pastries for Christmas, which were really delicious."

Harry chuckled, then said to Daphne, "I agree, but we can't let you take the Invisibility Cloak. At the very least, I have to come with you to rescue him."

Clearly, Harry's adventurous spirit had been reignited; infiltrating Slytherin while wearing an invisibility cloak was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

"Hey Harry, you can't leave us out!" Ron shouted first, followed by Neville, who hesitated for a moment before choosing "I want to go too" over "This isn't a good idea."

Harry shook his head seriously: "The Invisibility Cloak can't fit this many people. There are already three of us: me, Hermione, and Draco. If there are any more, we risk being exposed."

The two exchanged a disappointed glance.

Harry is the owner of the Invisibility Cloak, while Hermione is the guarantee of the mission's success. She has already studied magic to the third grade level and can handle more unexpected problems. As for the two of them, they are just two burdens.

"At least we can get some fresh air outside the Slytherin common room!"

"Yes! You need someone to meet you!"

They immediately arranged their work.

Seeing that everyone was in agreement, Daphne revealed Draco's next plan: "The people who are coming to pick him up will arrive at dinner time. Before that, we need to get him out of the lounge in front of the older students guarding him, then find an empty classroom to hide in, and wait until the people who are coming to pick him up can't find him, and then leave."

"What about old Malfoy? He'll be furious if he finds out his son is missing, won't he?" Harry asked.

"The Dean has to entertain some guests tonight and won't have time to keep an eye on him. Draco knew this, which is why he made this plan."

"How do we get into the Slytherin common room?"

Daphne was prepared: "Wear invisibility cloaks and follow behind me, but stay close and don't let the other students bump into you."

"What about the older students who were guarding Draco?"

Her gaze fell on Hermione, who had remained silent.

Hermione nodded knowingly: "Leave it to me."