Hogwarts: The Witch Education Handbook

Chapter 150 Hermione's Transformation Journey

Chapter 150 Hermione's Transformation Journey (Part 2)

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A lot happened at the same time.

Slytherin’s common room is located deep underground. It is long and low, with walls and a dome made of rough, ancient stone.

A round chandelier, its green light shimmering, was securely chained and hung overhead, adding to the room's mystique and eeriness. Before the fireplace, flames leaped merrily, their flickering light illuminating the indifferent faces of the surrounding Slytherin students.

They sat in exquisitely carved chairs, each lost in their own world.

"Wait here," Malfoy said to Harry and Ron, gesturing for them to sit in two empty chairs away from the fire. "I'll go get it—my father just brought it for me—"

Harry and Ron exchanged a questioning glance, while trying to maintain a calm facade. They were both secretly wondering what Malfoy would come up with.

Shortly after, Malfoy returned, holding a newspaper clipping in his hand. He eagerly held it up to Ron's eyes.

"You'll burst out laughing after seeing this," Malfoy said confidently.

Ron's eyes widened the moment he saw the clipping, his expression one of surprise. He glanced at it quickly, then let out a dry laugh and handed the clipping to Harry.

This clipping, from the Daily Prophet, prominently features the headline: "Ministry of Magic Investigator's Office for Prohibition of Muggle Misuse, Arthur Weasley, Fined Fifty Galleons for Casting Magic on a Muggle Car."

The enchanted car crashed at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry earlier this year, and Lucius Malfoy, a board member of the school, recently called to demand that Mr. Weasley resign.

"Weasley has damaged the reputation of the Ministry of Magic," Malfoy told our reporter. "He is clearly unfit to make laws for us, and his ridiculous Muggle Protection Act should be repealed immediately."

Faced with accusations, Mr. Weasley remained silent, while his wife threatened that if the reporters did not leave,

She will release the ghouls from her house to drive them away.

"What do you think?" Malfoy asked eagerly as Harry handed the clipping back to him. "Don't you find it interesting?"

Harry forced a dry laugh and gave a perfunctory reply.

"Arthur Weasley's prejudice against Muggles is simply outrageous," Malfoy remarked dismissively. "He should have been stripped of his wand long ago and made to associate with those Muggles. Looking at the behavior of the Weasley family, you simply cannot imagine that they are pure-blood wizards."

At this moment, Ron's face—or rather, Crabbe's face—was contorted with rage. Malfoy noticed this unusual expression and asked coldly, "What's wrong with you, Crabbe?"

"I—I have a stomachache," Ron replied, feigning pain.

"Then let's go to the hospital, and while we're at it, teach those Mudbloods a lesson for me," Malfoy sneered. "It's astonishing how the Daily Prophet has been reporting such cheerful news these past few days, along with its assessment of Dumbledore."

"My father always said that Dumbledore's appointment as headmaster was a misfortune for the school. His favoritism towards Muggles was simply incomprehensible. A true headmaster would never allow an idiot like Crevy to enter the school."

Malfoy, striking a pose, held up an imaginary camera and, with a sharp and convincing imitation of Colin's voice, said, "Potter, may I have a precious image of you? Potter, may I have your autograph? Oh, may I lick your fine shoes? Please, Potter."

He slowly lowered his hands, looked directly at Harry and Ron, and a slight smirk played on his lips.

"What's wrong with you two? Why are you so unresponsive?"

Harry and Ron tried their best to control their emotions, but they still managed to force out a few dry laughs.

Malfoy seemed quite satisfied, perhaps thinking that Crabbe and Goyle were too slow to react and unable to perceive the subtlety.

"This Saint Potter, associating with Mudbloods," Malfoy continued slowly, "seems to have lost the basic judgment of a pure wizard. Otherwise, how could he spend all his time with Mudbloods? People even mistake him for the heir of Slytherin."

Harry and Ron held their breath, waiting for Malfoy's next move: he would surely reveal his identity and claim to be the true heir. "I really want to know who this mysterious heir is," Malfoy said dismissively. "If I knew, I would certainly lend him a hand."

Ron opened his mouth even wider, making Crabbe's face look even more foolish.

Fortunately, Malfoy was unaware of it.

Harry racked his brains, trying to break the awkward silence: "You must know something, at least some clues about who's manipulating all this."

"You know perfectly well that I know nothing, Goyle!" Malfoy interrupted him angrily. "How many times have I told you? My father never revealed a single detail to me about the last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened. Although that happened fifty years ago, before he was even born, he knew everything about it."

"He said it was top secret, and that if I knew too much, it would seem suspicious. But one thing I'm certain of: when the secret room was opened last time, a Mudblood lost his life. So I'm confident that another Mudblood will die this time; it's only a matter of time."

Ron gripped Crabbe's massive fist tightly, and Harry's heart tightened. He knew that if Ron were to throw a punch at Malfoy right now, the whole secret would be exposed.

He quickly gave Ron a warning look, then calmly asked, "Malfoy, do you know what happened to the person who opened the secret chamber last time?"

Malfoy chuckled dismissively and replied, "Oh, that guy—whoever he is, he's been expelled from school. He's probably still in that wizarding prison called Azkaban."

"Azkaban?" Harry repeated, puzzled.

"Azkaban is the wizarding prison," Malfoy corrected, looking at Harry with a hint of sarcasm. "Seriously, if you continue to be so ignorant, you'll really be looked down upon."

Malfoy shifted restlessly in his chair, seemingly uneasy. He continued, "My father told me to keep a low profile and let the Slytherin heirs continue their work."

"He believes the school should thoroughly cleanse the Mudbloods of evil and that we shouldn't get involved. It's been a real mess lately, you know? Last week, the Ministry of Magic suddenly searched our estate."

Harry tried hard to see any concern on Goyle's face, but it was clearly in vain.

"Yes—" Malfoy continued, "Fortunately, they found nothing. My father had a large collection of precious magical artifacts. Luckily, our secret room was located under the living room floor, which saved us from disaster."

Suddenly, Ron exclaimed, "!" Malfoy immediately turned to him, and Harry followed suit.

Ron's hair was gradually turning red, and his nose was slowly growing longer—it was time for them to transform.

After releasing all the pent-up energy, Sean opened the office window to ventilate the room and get rid of the strange smell.

He leaned back on the sofa and made himself a warm cup of honey lemon black tea.

"Strange," Sean muttered.

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