Chapter 44: Gryffindor's Mouse
"What?!" Hermione Granger stood up suddenly, put her hands on her hips and glared at the dejected Harry: "You lost it?"
"And my rat, Scabbers!" Ron cried beside him.
"Keep your voice down, Hermione. Percy is watching you." They were in the Gryffindor common room, and Harry looked around at the students nervously, afraid that the officious Gryffindor prefect would hear something unusual and come over to make comments.
Hermione quickly lowered her voice and asked anxiously, "How did you lose it?"
"I want to know, too, why someone would want to steal Scabbers..." Ron said desperately.
Harry said grimly, "Our dormitory has been ransacked."
"But - only Gryffindors could steal it - no one else knows our password..." Hermione said belatedly.
"Exactly," said Harry. This was one of the reasons why he was troubled by the suspicion that there was a mole in Gryffindor.
"I still can't believe someone in Gryffindor would want to do that to my rat," muttered Ron.
"Oh! Shut up, Ron, it might just have slipped out to look for food. You know, it's a mouse, and looking for food is its instinct!" Hermione raised her voice unbearably, "The diary is more important!"
Her voice was a little loud, and Ginny Weasley, who was sitting with her back to them not far away, seemed to hear her yelling. She secretly turned around to glance at them, frowned with an uneasy face, and went back to doing her homework.
Ron shrugged and nodded, muttering unconvincedly, "You don't care about my rats at all."
"You must tell Dumbledore right away, Harry, this is no joke," said Hermione.
"Hermione, will Dumbledore believe me if I have no evidence? Many students in the school think I'm the heir of Slytherin. I've heard those rumors! No matter what I say, it's just a sophistry to them." Harry said upset, "I'm more worried about Hagrid. Speaking of the diary, it's inevitable that his past will be mentioned. I don't want him to be implicated."
"This is no longer just Hagrid's problem. If what Hagrid said is true, Tom Riddle is Voldemort, then the diary is a trap, and the opening of the Chamber of Secrets is most likely Voldemort's doing!" Hermione said sharply.
"Okay. You don't have to be as serious as Draco." Harry surrendered. "I'll go find Dumbledore as soon as possible."
Only after getting Harry's assurance did Hermione feel satisfied. In the Potions class on Thursday afternoon, she ran to partner with Draco, and while grinding the herbs, she whispered the bad news that "the diary had been stolen" to him.
"Stolen?" Draco asked suspiciously as he cut the dill. "What a coincidence! You were just about to hand it over to Dumbledore, and someone stole it?"
"That's right," said Hermione. "We suspect someone from within Gryffindor did it."
"How's your research on those lists going?" Draco asked suddenly.
"I've identified several suspects. Anthony Goldstein from Ravenclaw, Zacharias Smith from Hufflepuff, Graham Montague and Theodore Nott from your own house... They were all punished by Filch shortly before Mrs. Norris was murdered. They all expressed a leaning towards pure-blood theory, and to varying degrees, they all mocked or despised Colin's star-chasing behavior," Hermione said cautiously. "But if you cross-check them with the events in the diary, they're all ruled out as suspects—they're not Gryffindors."
"What about Gryffindor?" Draco asked. "How many suspects are there?"
"Cormac McLaggen, a senior Gryffindor boy," Hermione said with a pout. "Both Harry and Ron dislike him. He's always so smug, bossing around in the Gryffindor common room and constantly bragging about his family background. He's been punished by Mr. Filch, he's mocked Colin in the common room, and he categorizes people."
"Oh, I know that last name." Draco said in a commonplace tone, "His uncle has some influence in the Ministry of Magic. People like him tend to be quite arrogant."
"The problem is, at the same time that Mrs. Norris was in trouble, he was feasting at the Gryffindor table. My roommate Lavender told me this. That night, he sat across from her and ate a whole roast chicken, even licking the bones clean. She said that for some reason, the action seemed a bit disgusting, so it left a particularly deep impression on her..." Hermione carefully poured the ground herbs into the crucible. "I think we should reconsider our research methods."
"Are you sure you haven't missed anything?" Draco thought, "Don't limit yourself to the few days before Mrs. Norris's accident. For example, the Weasley twins knew Filch was a Squib a long time ago. Maybe there are more senior students who know about this."
"Where did you get that from?" Hermione asked in surprise.
Draco told her about the twins' fabricated correspondence course to trick Filch.
"Oh, my God! In that case, we have to reconsider everything!" Hermione said hastily, like a cat with its fur standing on end. "Then it could be someone who knows Mr. Filch's background and has a long-standing grudge against him! Looking around Hogwarts, how many people don't have a grudge against Mr. Filch? Almost everyone in Gryffindor house has been punished by him! How can we investigate this?"
"At least it eliminates you, Harry, and Ron." Draco looked at her and put some locusts into the bottom of the cauldron. He chuckled, "Look, in just one second, three people have been eliminated."
"That's not funny!" Hermione glared at him and picked up some dried nettles to process. "I have to talk to them one by one, even asking them indirectly to find out what's going on! Talking to people is much more difficult than reading a whole thick book!"
"I guess not everyone thinks so. A lot of people think talking is easier than reading. You have to learn to use the power of the people around you and coordinate the overall situation instead of doing everything yourself." Draco suggested her, "Assign some tasks to Harry and Ron, let Ron think about things other than the mouse, and don't let Harry worry about the diary every day..."
"That makes sense. I'll get them to do something. But Harry said he was going to see Professor Dumbledore, but he hasn't seen him yet." Hermione said thoughtfully, "Professor Dumbledore hasn't appeared at the faculty table for the past two days. Even Professor McGonagall complained that she had no chance of catching him."
"Not surprising. I heard that people from the Ministry of Magic and the school board are visiting Dumbledore frequently. Probably because of the Chamber of Secrets," said Draco.
Even if Harry and the others didn't say anything, the old-timers in the Ministry of Magic and the school board still remembered it: someone dug up an old case from 50 years ago and pointed the finger at Hagrid.
Draco had received a letter from his father, Lucius, saying that under pressure, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge was discussing with his staff whether to detain Hagrid, a criminal, in Azkaban.
Although Lucius remained quiet and did not add fuel to the fire under Narcissa's dissuasion - Draco wrote several letters to his mother, explaining the current explosive situation in the school and the serious consequences of the Malfoy family being too deeply involved in the Chamber of Secrets - the other directors within the school board were already talking about the vicious petrification incident at Hogwarts.
Someone must be found to be responsible for the series of incidents at Hogwarts.
Hagrid, the powerless gamekeeper, seemed to be the best scapegoat to appease the public anger.
The real mastermind behind the Chamber of Secrets - Lucius Malfoy - thought that everything would be fine as long as no one could find out about him, and was busy being surprised that Draco knew that "the diary came from the Malfoy family."
Lucius never wanted to involve his son in this matter. He never said much to his son about this matter, so as not to arouse suspicion by knowing too much.
How Draco knew so much inside information, he had no idea.
What he didn't expect was that Draco knew that the diary was related to the Dark Lord. He hadn't told anyone such a secret - not even Narcissa.
"This is indeed a souvenir from the Dark Lord's time. As for its specific function, I am not quite sure. I only know that it is a dangerous dark magic item and is somewhat related to the Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts. In view of the frequent raids by the Ministry of Magic, I have to use some means to put it in a more suitable place. Don't mention this matter again, I have said all I want to say." Lucius said in the letter to his son.
At the critical moment of impending disaster, the stubborn head of the Malfoy family still clung to his mystery, holding on to his underwear tightly and refusing to let go. Draco sighed, feeling quite helpless.
He had hoped that his father could tell him how the diary ended up at Hogwarts, and thus get some clues about the heir of the Chamber of Secrets. However, Lucius was very secretive about the methods he had used and refused to reveal how he had hidden the diary at Hogwarts.
My father was always like this. As long as the fire didn't reach him, he would always pretend to be indifferent. He lacked compassion and sympathy for others. He didn't think that being a scapegoat for him was something worth reflecting on. Instead, he was complacent about his own clever tricks and his ability to escape the law.
He even thought that the diary was no big deal, and instead felt proud of getting rid of a trouble.
Draco sighed inwardly.
Father! You're being too clever, aren't you?
Hogwarts is not a good place to keep Dark Lord mementos!
The Dark Lord probably thought the same thing, which is why he was so furious with Lucius later.
It seemed that the diary was very important to the Dark Lord, after all, it contained his thoughts. Draco felt a little regretful. He should have asked for the diary earlier instead of being so evasive.
It seemed like every Malfoy man had to do something stupid when facing this diary. Draco sighed.
Now, the diary containing the Dark Lord's thoughts has been stolen. It may have been reclaimed by the student who once possessed it, or it may be lurking in the shadows, trying to seduce the next innocent student.
"Hermione, be careful when you're trying to get information," he said to the girl who was stirring the potion. "Don't alert them and let them know your true intentions."
"Are you worried I'll be petrified again?" She wrinkled her nose. "If my Muggle-born status is your excuse..."
"I don't think so," Draco said. "But I can't guarantee that the murderer doesn't think so."
"Well, that's true," she said nonchalantly, "but have you ever thought about this? If it's the Dark Lord's diary that's behind this, I think Harry would be the one most in danger. They're the most diametrically opposed enemies, aren't they?"
"No. We can't let our guard down at a time like this." Draco thought about his past life and still felt uneasy. "Although nothing has happened in two months, I believe this is just the calm before the storm. The criminal will definitely strike again. You and Harry, you are both in extreme danger."
At this moment, the situation became confusing.
You know the danger exists, but you don't know where it comes from.
You know that the future is waiting for you, but you don't know whether the world will change under your butterfly effect, how much it will change, and whether the future will arrive as expected.
You know that Hermione Granger was once petrified in the corridor outside the library, but you don't know whether she can escape this time or be safe and sound; as for other possibilities worse than petrification, you dare not even think about it.
The most important thing is that Draco doesn't know how Harry treated the diary in his previous life, or whether it was stolen in his previous life. Everything is a mystery, and he has to cross the river by feeling the stones.
Draco knew the ending, but not the process. However, he couldn't just jump to the second-year celebration party and watch Harry and Ron solve the Chamber of Secrets and be awarded 200 points by Dumbledore.
The only good news was that a few days later, the Weasley twins appeared in front of Draco happily carrying the drowsy mouse.
Draco opened the Marauder's Map and handed it to them: Peter Pettigrew's name indeed appeared next to theirs, almost covering them.
They looked at each other in horror and quickly locked the unfortunate mouse in a transparent glass cover that had been prepared in advance and had been enchanted with a protection spell.
The mouse seemed to not understand what was happening and continued to sleep soundly. Draco covered the glass with a black cloth.
"We gave it some potion—" said Fred frantically.
"Snape's class—" George added.
"It is said that one drop can make a person sleep for three days and three nights—" Fred's eyes flashed with ill intent.
"We thought it might save us some trouble if the Strengthening Charm didn't work," said George, with a malicious smile.
"Very good." Draco said solemnly, "Let's go and find Professor Dumbledore."
When Draco and the Weasley twins arrived outside Professor Dumbledore's office, Harry was standing at the door, staring at the huge, hideous gargoyle.
"I don't know the password," said Harry. "Professor McGonagall won't tell me."
"Lemon Sherbet," Draco said. In a previous life, he had overheard Harry saying this password to Hermione in the library.
The command made the monster suddenly come alive, and the wall behind it split in two. Behind the wall was a spiral staircase that was moving slowly upwards like an escalator.
"Together?" Draco said to Harry. "It seems you have something to say to Professor Dumbledore."
Draco guessed it was about the diary. Harry was really procrastinating. How many days had already passed?
Harry nodded silently and stepped in with Draco and the Weasley twins. They spun higher and higher until finally, a gleaming oak door appeared before them.
Draco walked forward and knocked on the door's brass griffin-shaped knocker.
"Come in." An old voice responded.
They opened the door and went in to see Professor Dumbledore sitting behind a large desk in the Headmaster's office. Before him was Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, and two hooded wizards who looked like Aurors from the Ministry of Magic.
The Headmaster's office is located in one of the four towers of Hogwarts Castle. The furnishings within the room reveal that the current Headmaster is fascinated by the universe and the stars – antique microscopes, telescopes, star charts, and various astronomical instruments line the office's shelves, giving it a unique feel.
Draco was in no mood to admire these wonderful magical objects. He first greeted Fudge politely, and Fudge saw the color of his hair and smiled at him.
"Oh, it seems we have to interrupt this conversation." Professor Dumbledore said with a smile, stroking his waist-length white beard, "Because now there are a few uninvited little guests here. I think I have to change the password of the headmaster's office more often."
His intelligent blue eyes surveyed Harry, Draco, and the Weasley twins through his spectacles. "What an unexpected group of friends! Want some cockroach pile?" He nodded towards the table.
Draco and Harry stood still. The Weasley twins, however, walked over with considerable interest, grabbed a handful, and examined them. "Thank you," they said nonchalantly to Dumbledore.
"Since you have something to do here, let's go first--" Fudge said, and was about to stand up and leave.
"Wait a minute," Draco said suddenly, "In fact, I hope you, Minister, can be here to witness this exciting moment."
Fudge looked at him in confusion, frowned, and sat down again.
"This request may seem strange, but I hope everyone present will hold their wands." Draco stepped forward, placed the glass case containing the mouse on the ground, pulled back the black cloth, and said, "Minister, I would like you to have someone cast an anti-Animagus spell on the mouse."
The mouse was still soundly asleep in its cage, completely unaware of its impending exposure. Harry whispered behind him, "This is Ron's..." The Weasley twins, who were eating candy, covered his mouth and threw a few cockroaches into the pile.
"I don't remember the Ministry of Magic ever registering an Animagus in rat form," Fudge said in an offended tone as Harry choked and coughed. "That's ridiculous."
"Yes, I suspect it's an illegal Animagus, and extremely dangerous," Draco said.
"My child, even if I have a good personal relationship with Lucius, this is too rude! You just barge into the headmaster's office and suspect that a stupid mouse might be an Animagus!" Fudge said with a red face, "First the Chamber of Secrets, then this nonsense... Dumbledore, now I have to doubt your ability to manage this school..."
Dumbledore ignored Fudge's complaints and grumblings, only studying Draco to make sure he was serious.
Draco stood there expressionlessly, his eyes lowered, accepting Dumbledore's scrutiny.
"Fudge, I don't mind respecting the students' request. Mr. Malfoy, take it out." Dumbledore raised his eyebrows and said calmly.
Draco carefully took the unconscious mouse out of the glass case and placed it on the ground. Then he stepped back, holding his wand tightly in his hand, ready at any time.
Dumbledore came out from behind the desk, picked up his bony wand, and cast a clean spell on the rat.
There was a flash of blue light, and several exclamations echoed through the office, Fudge's being the loudest.
Like a fast-forward shot of a tree growing, a human head quickly emerged from the mouse, and soon, limbs also grew out.
The two Aurors immediately rushed forward and held down the still sleeping man.
He was a short man with unkempt hair and a large bald spot on his head. He looked wrinkled, dirty, and had a somewhat rat-like appearance.
It was Peter Pettigrew.