Dumbledore's official rhetoric was not always very convincing. For instance, most students in Slytherin scoffed at his explanation, preferring to believe that Draco was indeed the heir of Slytherin, just perhaps unlucky enough to get caught. The fear previously spread by Ron being petrified had also subsided, as they all knew about the long-standing grudge between the Draco family and the Weasley family; if anything, it would have been abnormal for him not to take this opportunity to seek revenge.
As for why such an expellable offence was covered up, it was easy to explain—after all, Draco had a good father. Perhaps it was even a compromise reached between Lucius and Dumbledore.
Compared to last semester, when Harry and his friends were looked down upon by their housemates after losing so many points for their mistakes, Draco's treatment was much better. He was even seen as a tragic "hero"—he had a chance to return the school to the exclusive domain of "pure-bloods," but it had been ruined by that disgusting mudblood and the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor. This made the students of his house feel very regretful.
Thus, the current situation was quite peculiar; Draco, who should have been the sinner of the house, was instead highly sought after.
"I believe the heir of Slytherin will not disappoint us next time." This was what a sixth-year senior said when he came to visit him.
"Compared to the house cup, I think it is more important to carry out the will of our house founder. You don't need to worry about it." A senior who was about to graduate patted him on the shoulder, offering him comfort.
Lucius had also taken some time to visit him not long ago. It was hard to read his expression, but Draco noticed that a few hairs on his head had turned white.
As for the students in the same year or a year or two above, there was a mixture of awe and admiration. He received fruit baskets and sweets every day, and in addition, he received several pink love letters, all filled with confessions.
"Teenagers with 'chuunibyou' all love conspiracy theories." Draco could only sigh. Although there were indeed many things hidden in this matter, the direction of the students' imagination had to make him open his eyes. Well, perhaps this also had to do with Dumbledore being unpopular in Slytherin House; they would rather think of him as a villain.
As for other houses, such talk also had quite a market. However, whether it was private rumours or Dumbledore's official rhetoric, to students other than those in Slytherin, Draco's actions were a very serious mistake.
"I think I should consider forming an organisation too." Draco joked to himself. His influence in Slytherin was already quite powerful now, making him feel that as long as he raised his arm and called out, he could instantly get a response from many of his die-hard fans, and suddenly develop many members similar to small Death Eaters.
A few days later, the Mandrake finally matured.
When Ron learned that the final culprit was really Draco, he immediately sprang up from the bed. Before he could even stand steady, he struggled to pounce on Draco. It was only because Madam Pomfrey, who was responsible for feeding him medicine, along with Harry and his two brothers, who had come to visit him, worked together to hold him down that he was finally persuaded to give up on revenge.
"He almost got me killed!" he roared, pointing at Draco, who was quietly flipping through a book nearby.
"Ron, calm down." Harry tried his best to quiet him. "He has already received the punishment he deserved; they have no chance for the house cup this year."
"Calm down, Ron." His two brothers also kept comforting him.
"I'm very sorry, but actually, I'm a victim too." Draco closed the book and apologised to him with no sincerity, which only made Ron even angrier, yet he had nowhere to vent.
"The Headmaster will definitely expel you next time." Ron could only leave this harsh sentence behind in the end.
"Then I should still have a chance to transfer schools," Draco said lightly. "At least Durmstrang might welcome me, who knows?" He glanced at Ron and continued, "Some people's families probably don't have the money to let them transfer, right? Did you get the car back last time?"
Upon hearing this, Ron's eyes turned red again, and he attempted to sit up from the bed to fight him again, but was pushed back down once more.
In the end, this dispute fizzled out.
"Think of something happy, Ron." Harry tried to distract him. "You would be happy if you saw the hourglass representing Slytherin's points." He said, "And Hermione won the Special Services Award, our house got two hundred points directly! The house cup this year will definitely be ours."
"By the way, Hermione! How is she?" Ron finally remembered Hermione and asked Harry.
"She basically didn't suffer any injuries, much better than your condition. She was discharged a few days ago." Harry pointed in the direction of the dining hall. "She should be eating in the dining hall now."
"Oh, I feel hungry now, too." Ron only then remembered that he hadn't eaten for a long time. The hunger caused by an empty stomach made him crave food even more now.
"Then let's go." Seeing a recovered Ron, Harry's tone couldn't help but become lighter. His two friends were safe and sound now, which was more important than anything.
"Okay." This time,e Ron wasn't held down, but when he actually got out of bed, he found his legs a bit disobedient and very stiff. Harry noticed this and immediately supported him, and then the two walked towards the dining hall, limping.
"What do you want?" Pansy opened her arms, blocking the Weasley Twins who were walking towards the bedside.
"What, are you here to avenge your brother?" Draco had already lowered his head to continue reading the book he had been looking at before, but hearing the footsteps of the two, he looked up at the Weasley Twins again.
"We just feel something is wrong," George spoke first.
"Whether what the Headmaster said is true or false, we don't care; he must have his own arrangements." Fred glanced at George, telling him not to talk too much. Then he said, "We won't take advantage of others, especially not the Draco family." After saying this, the Weasley Twins left a package and walked out of the hospital wing.
"Don't open it." Pansy examined the package, and she reached out, asking Draco to hand it to her. "This must be a prank they came up with to avenge that Ron. Let me throw it away," she said.
"Don't worry." Draco actually felt that the Weasley Twins had no ill intentions and said to Pansy. He slowly opened the package and found many Galleons and Silver Sickles lying quietly inside.
"What a pair of interesting fellows." Draco clapped his hands, obviously quite surprised by this. This should be the money the Weasley Twins earned from the howler letters, and it was clearly a significant amount. Draco estimated that they might have guessed something, which was why they didn't treat him like everyone else did.
"What do they mean by this? Could it be that there's a conflict between brothers, and they hired you to take out Ron? I couldn't tell they were so poor, but they're actually quite rich," Pansy stared suspiciously at these shiny coins, voicing her question.
Draco was once again defeated by Pansy's imagination, and he was happy to let her run wild with it, though it looked like she was going to be disappointed.
"By the way, that time you told them you wanted them to do business, it was howler letters, right?" She said, while wearing an expression of sudden realisation. "You were clearly controlled by the diary. How could you have done something detrimental to the Basilisk?" She paused and continued: "If, according to rumours, it was an action you took yourself, then it's even harder to understand." She stared at Draco, scrutinising him. Apparently, she had only just realised that the ins and outs of this matter were simply quite unreasonable.
"The Obliviate Charm is indeed very useful. I somewhat understand Lockhart now." Draco stroked his chin, clearly considering how to handle someone's questioning.
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