Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

Chapter 218 After Returning to School

"Thea?!"

The two, who had just fled Snape's office as if their lives depended on it, bumped right into a Slytherin.

Hearing the other person's slightly strange tone, Thea vaguely thought that she and Draco had been gone for a long time.

Good morning, Mr. Locke!

Thea figured out the other person's name in just three seconds.

Sure enough, the young wizard in front of her immediately blushed; clearly, it was a pleasant surprise that Thea could call out his surname.

"We're heading back to the lounge, want to come along?"

Thea's attitude was so natural, as if she were facing an old friend she had known for a long time, that Draco couldn't help but glance at her.

“I…I…I’m sorry…I need to go find…Professor Snape…”

Locke's refusal was delivered cautiously, which did not surprise Thea, who smiled and gestured for him to proceed.

After a series of actions, Locke had successfully become Thea's little fanboy, perhaps he had this tendency before.

"His expression just now looked like the Minister of Magic was greeting him..."

Draco's words startled Thea for a moment. After a while, she asked, "Maybe he just saw that I have the talent to become Minister of Magic?"

Thea's boastful words made Draco chuckle, but when he thought of Thea's "great achievements" over the past few days, Draco's mood sank again.

At this moment, Thea had no time to comfort Draco's melancholy. She could imagine with her eyes closed what Draco wanted to ask her, but she didn't want to answer because she had no choice.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Has anything happened in the last couple of days?

The first thing Thea did upon returning to the meeting room was to organize the information.

“Nothing serious, everything is pretty much the same as usual,” Zabini answered first, “but Potter had a headache the night before last… Weasley, Potter, and Granger all took the day off…”

As Zabini spoke, he looked up and carefully observed Thea's expression, but Thea kept her eyes closed the whole time, as if she had been very tired these past few days.

"Okay, I understand," Thea said lazily. "Is there anything else?"

“Umbridge left the school… the day after the Ministry of Magic was bombed…” Zabini’s voice trailed off, and even Daphne and the others beside her couldn’t help but hold their breath.

They weren't fools. Thea and Draco's departure was too coincidental; the day after they left was the day the Ministry of Magic was attacked, and also after Umbridge summoned her to his office…

“Tell me more,” Thea suddenly became interested.

Zabini could only bite the bullet and say, "I heard that Umbridge received Fudge's roaring letter, just an hour after the Ministry of Magic was attacked..."

"...a young wizard went out at night, and then unfortunately got startled by the howling letter...in the end they were caught by Filch..."

“McGran was furious… but in the end she didn’t put them in solitary confinement…”

"Them?" Thea asked.

"It's the Weasley brothers."

Thea suddenly realized.

"Oh, and they've taken leave too," Zabini added at the end.

Thea nodded, then turned her gaze to Daphne without changing her expression.

Daphne also began to report on the news from the past two days, mostly about the members of the study group, and some of the information they had found about DA.

“…There’s no need to pay attention to DA anymore.” After much deliberation, Thea decided to withdraw the relevant personnel.

"why?"

The person who asked the question was Gella, which drew the attention of most people in the meeting room.

Without exception, Gella saw admiration for the Warriors in their eyes.

Didn't you read the Daily Prophet these past two days?

Did they really think that Thea and Draco came home because of Mrs. Malfoy's illness?

Countless questions lingered in Zabini's mind, but they didn't utter a single word.

“Because it’s a hot potato,” Thea’s explanation surprised everyone even more, but she continued talking to herself.

"The Ministry of Magic is in serious trouble; even its credibility has plummeted..."

Zabini: "……………"

Daphne: "………………"

Draco: "..."

The way you're saying that makes it sound like you weren't involved in this whole thing.

“Fudge won’t let this situation continue to escalate… He needs something to restore the Ministry of Magic’s credibility in the public eye…”

"And the words 'Hogwarts' and 'Saviour' are the best potion to save the Ministry of Magic..."

"The real beginning will begin when Umbridge returns."

Thea's decisive statement left the group looking at each other in dismay, but none of them dared to utter a word of objection, because Fudge was truly capable of doing such a thing!

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

As Thea spoke, Lucius was trembling inside Riddle Manor, a stark contrast to Voldemort's leisurely demeanor.

“Lucius…”

Voldemort's voice almost made Lucius's legs go weak and he kneel down.

“Master…I…I’m here.”

Lucius bit his tongue hard to stay awake and prevent himself from kneeling down on the spot.

Can you let me see your memories?

Voldemort was clearly not surprised by Lucius's fear, or perhaps he was already used to this way of interacting.

"Of course."

Lucius knew he had no choice but to raise his head shakily.

The next second, countless chaotic memories flooded his mind like a tide, accompanied by a throbbing pain. Voldemort finally found the memories he wanted in Lucius's brain.

In the pitch-black corridor, a giant snake slowly passed by his feet, its hissing sound causing him to instinctively tense up.

Directly in front of him was a slender figure, also dressed in black robes. She bowed slightly and tiptoed behind the giant snake…

The girl's warning made him panic and run blindly; fear spread through his heart...

...An unbelievable request...

...The flames roared, and then the explosions followed...

Finally, a green firework burst across the sky above the Ministry of Magic.

"I heard that Greengrass has a daughter?"

“…Yes, my master.” After the pain subsided, Lucius bowed and replied, “She is also Thea’s roommate.”

After a long silence, Voldemort's voice rang out again.

"...Abu and I were roommates back then...it's just a pity..."

"Oh, right, write a letter to Severus... After all, he's the dean..."

Inside the empty conference room, Lucius was sweating profusely.

He seemed to know what Thea was about to face.