Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

Chapter 231 The Gambler

"Alright," Thea rubbed her temples. "Go ahead and do your own thing. You can watch the duel tonight and give me a list of the top twenty after it's over."

"Ignore the new education decree; Umbridge's target is not us."

"Also, if necessary, provide cover for Potter and his team."

"--Why?"

Draco was carefully noting down Thea's instructions, but he never expected that her last instruction would be to provide cover for Potter and the others!

Zabini was also taken aback, but this surprise stemmed from Draco's question to Thea. He reached out to remind Draco that being surprised was fine, but at least he shouldn't show it so obviously…

Thea is not the same Thea she used to be.

But before he could do anything, Thea spoke up.

“Draco, my reason for doing this is very simple.”

"It's unnecessary and not worth it to completely offend the Savior and Dumbledore for a baseless promise."

"This game is between Fudge and Dumbledore. We are just pawns and don't need to act as vanguards."

Draco carefully considered every word of Thea's explanation in his mind. He really wanted to know which side Thea belonged to.

Was she a Death Eater? Then why didn't Thea target Potter, the savior?

Is it the Ministry of Magic? Why is Natha outwardly complying with Umbridge's orders but inwardly defying them?

Or is it Dumbledore? Why is Nathea still so respectful to Umbridge?

Draco gritted his teeth, wanting to ask the question no matter what.

But he ultimately didn't ask, and the reason was quite simple.

He couldn't disobey Thea's orders, neither in the past nor now.

Thea said a few more words, but Draco had no interest in listening and stood silently to the side.

Even after everyone had left, Draco remained standing there, ramrod straight.

"Draco, don't be so stubborn."

Thea's tone was a mix of helplessness and amusement, but Draco was enraged by her coaxing-like manner. He abruptly dropped his facade of silence and angrily said,

"I'm not being pedantic, I just don't understand why you did this!"

"On one hand, you broke ties with Potter and his group, acting like they were irreconcilable enemies; on the other hand, you secretly helped them in private. Nobody knows what you're really thinking..."

"You spend all your nights out, and you might not even go back to your dorm once a week... You practically want to sleep in a secret room because of those ancient books..."

"Thea, I'm not stupid."

"I can see your hardship and helplessness, and I want to help you—"

"But you don't tell me anything!"

Draco was so emotional that his eyes were red, and he looked like he was about to cry at any moment.

Thea was inexplicably stunned. The 15-year-old boy was tall and slender, with the kind of good looks that could make countless girls secretly scream when he walked out, but now he looked as pitiful as a puppy soaked by the rain...

"Thea, can you please leave... there?"

Draco, suppressing his fear, spoke each word with utmost seriousness.

"I've seen him launch Cruciatus Curses at people without batting an eye, simply because they failed to complete his task... In that house, no one dared to speak loudly; they were always in a hurry... as if a ghost was chasing them..."

Draco seriously considered the possibility of Thea leaving; Thea could leave!

Her magical abilities are strong enough to protect her anywhere; she could easily leave Britain and Europe!

She doesn't need to waste her whole life in this quagmire.

Thea listened to Draco's naive remarks, wanting to laugh but unable to.

After a long silence, Thea slowly said, "...I'm leaving. What about you? Will you come with me?"

“No,” Draco replied quickly. “The Malfoys are too deeply entangled there… I have to stay.”

“But you are different,” Draco said solemnly. “You can leave, go to another country to avoid trouble, change your name and identity, and you will still be innocent.”

It was only then that Thea realized how persuasive Draco was. She actually started to imagine the future following Draco's description, and the name of that Eastern country began to lick her heart like a tongue of fire.

Silence spread between the two.

"...I will not leave."

Thea calculated her assets and concluded after a moment that even if she packed her bags and left the wizarding world now, her wealth would be enough to ensure she would never have to worry about food or clothing for the rest of her life.

But she... was unwilling, unwilling to accept that she had done nothing wrong, so why was she now fleeing the wizarding world like a stray dog?

In her past life, she achieved success because of this unwillingness to accept her fate. If she had resigned herself to her fate earlier, she would probably have been sold to some remote mountain village long ago!

She was able to turn things around in her past life, so there's no reason why she should be in a desperate situation now!

“Sorry, Draco,” Thea laughed, “I’m a gambler. I won’t leave the table until I’ve bet every last chip!”

Draco also got the answer from Thea's silence, and he wasn't too shocked at the moment, so he could only remain silent.

"It was my fault for not explaining it to you before."

"My idea is simple: I want to live to the end."

"But this absolutely does not include the kind of life that is merely a miserable existence."

Not all girls are made of sweet things like vanilla, candy, and cheese. Some girls are forged of steel, courage etched into their spines, freedom flowing in their blood, and they are forever untamed. (Quote)

"Ha!" Draco chuckled softly, teasingly saying, "The way you're talking is more like a brave Gryffindor than a Slytherin."

Thea was momentarily stunned by Draco's comment; it was the first time someone had ever told her she didn't seem like a Slytherin.

"Maybe the Sorting Hat didn't realize how brave I was back then!"

Thea also jokingly remarked.

The two exchanged a smile, both understanding each other's thoughts, and tacitly chose not to interfere.

Draco made his own choices, and so did Thea.

Fortunately, they are still working together today.