HP/LOTM: Visionary - 370

Chapter 370: Superb Acting and The Journey Home

Outside the banquet hall of Horace's Christmas banquet, Draco and Filch stood together.

"Ready?" Filch asked Malfoy.

"Are you also his subordinate? How has his reach already touched every corner of the school?" Draco teased.

"Boy!"

Filch grabbed Draco's collar and narrowed his eyes, staring at him.

"You'd better maintain a certain respect toward that gentleman. I guess you wouldn't want to know how many curses are waiting to be used on those disrespectful to him."

After speaking, Filch released Draco's collar and switched to grabbing his back collar instead.

The two pushed open the door and burst in.

Inside the banquet hall, everyone was chatting when the suddenly opened door attracted everyone's attention.

"Let me go!" Draco, grabbed by the back of his collar, struggled.

Harry noticed Draco's sickly fatigue, marked by heavy, dark circles and blackened eye sockets.

"Professor Slughorn," Filch called out with a brief greeting.

The reporter beside wanted to take a photo, but was quickly stopped by Horace.

"This boy was wandering in the corridor outside. After I caught him, he claimed to be coming to the banquet."

"Fine, I didn't accept an invitation. Happy now?" Draco twisted his head back at him.

"Forget it, since you're already here, why not stay and participate in this banquet? After all, such opportunities don't come often."

Horace raised his wine glass, lightly glossing over the matter. After all, during the holidays, taking care of someone else's child to eat and drink wasn't much trouble.

Draco respectfully thanked Horace, and not long after, was pulled away by Snape.

Harry handed his wine glass to Aiden beside him and directly followed.

Aiden smiled and began conversing with a Wizard Daily editor nearby.

"Mr. Prewett, the next issue of the newspaper has already been printed. Regarding the content... are you really sure you want to release it like this?" The editor before him, who should be called Cassius Quillworth, spoke respectfully.

Since the Daily Prophet was completely absorbed by the Wizard Daily, essentially no one in the world knew the location of the newspaper that controlled British public opinion.

Today, if anyone could recognize this editor's identity, perhaps they could catch a glimpse of the truth.

"Just proceed with the previous arrangements. Oh, right, notify Arthursi that she should begin lurking afterward. If we don't show weakness to the enemy, how will she obediently expose her weaknesses?" Aiden picked up his wine glass and drained it.

Meanwhile, after Harry followed, he eavesdropped on the conversation between Draco and Snape from the corridor. He learned of Draco's identity as a spy and knew about the Unbreakable Vow Snape took.

He quickly ran away, disappearing into the darkness.

The day after the banquet ended was also the first day of the Christmas holiday.

On the train, Harry mentioned to Ron what he had heard last night. Ron was about to look toward Aiden when Lavender knocked on the glass from outside the compartment.

She drew a heart on it and, through lip-reading, told Ron that she missed him.

"Ron, you two can't keep going like this," Aiden said. He sat beside Harry, his piercing gaze directed at Ron.

"What, why? We two are perfectly matched," Ron shrugged.

"This is just advice. Whether you listen or not is up to you. When you eventually hurt that girl, don't blame me for not warning you," Aiden's gaze was very serious.

"It's not like I..." Ron muttered.

"Miss Brown genuinely likes you. And you? Don't think you can fool me. As the person who has gone furthest on the mental pathway in all of Britain currently, your thoughts are transparent to me."

Aiden's words pierced directly into Ron's heart, breaking through his last bit of stubbornness.

"I just... was a bit envious of Harry's popularity. When Lavender pressed up to me, I accepted without hesitation. Ron lowered his head.

"Then have you thought about spending the rest of your life with her? Miss Brown's thoughts are that she would give up everything for you." Aiden looked at him.

"Um, Aiden, don't you think prying into a lady's heart like this is not very good?" Harry looked at Ron, wanting to help.

"There's absolutely no need to pry specially. I can see the unconscious thoughts of every wizard in the school every day, just like your gaze cannot refuse to see others' appearances. Besides, you wouldn't want to know what Miss Brown might do after giving too much emotionally and then suddenly losing it. My dear brother Ronnie."

The long-unused term of address made Ron shudder, not daring to look at Aiden's face directly.

"All right, I'll make it clear to her."

Ron's murmur was drowned out by the train's whistle, but Aiden heard it very clearly and nodded in satisfaction.

This year's Christmas holiday was still spent at Grimmauld Place. With the Unbreakable Vow, this place had higher security than the Burrow.

"Sirius!" Harry immediately rushed over and hugged him.

"Sorry for worrying you," Sirius also hugged Harry tightly.

In the evening, everyone gathered at Grimmauld Place. The twins were showing off their pranking devices. Mrs. Molly was still busy in the kitchen.

Sirius, Lupin, Tonks, Arthur, Harry, and others sat in the living room.

"You're saying Voldemort chose Draco Malfoy to complete the task, and then Snape wants to help him?" Lupin's voice carried surprise.

"I know it sounds crazy," Harry interrupted Lupin.

Sirius made a face, agreeing with his godson. "I always knew that slimy Severus couldn't be trusted."

"Sirius!" Lupin looked at him reproachfully. "Is it possible that Snape is just using the pretext of helping him to probe his true plans?"

"Maybe he's right, Remus. The Unbreakable Vow can cost a wizard his life," Tonks looked at Lupin.

"In the end, it's still about whether we trust Dumbledore. Dumbledore trusts Snape, so I trust him too," Lupin spread his hands, gesturing.

"Dumbledore can also make mistakes," Harry glanced at Sirius.

"Yeah, the newspaper says he's become a bit senile," Sirius shook the Prophet.

"You're all letting hatred cloud your judgment," Lupin said severely.

"Listen, Harry, every day we have people dying in the struggle against Voldemort. If we're suspecting each other internally, then everything is truly over."

Lupin sighed, stood up, and walked out. Tonks looked at them with slight apology and followed.

Ginny walked over and sat beside Harry. Arthur looked at Sirius, and the two seemed to reach an understanding, standing up.

Before leaving, Sirius gave Harry a look that all men understand.

On London's streets, black smoke drifted about in all directions. A figure wearing white-gold robes with dragon horns stood on the bridge.

"Snap."

A snapping sound echoed throughout all of London.

In the sea of collective consciousness, a massive maze rose up, covering all of London. If any mind-path wizards were present, they would discover themselves surrounded by mazes constructed of countless nightmares.

Then all the black mist in the sky stopped moving. Dark wizards fell from the sky like dumplings being dropped.

Seeing this scene, Aiden wore a satisfied expression and Apparated back to Number Twelve Grimmauld Place.