Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

Chapter 256 Broken Promise

"Draco!"

The bell rang just a second ago, and Draco picked up his bag and walked out the next second. If Daphne hadn't been watching him the whole class, she might have missed Draco again.

Draco, who was about to step out of the classroom, paused slightly. Even a troll like him knew how many people were watching him.

Damn!

Why doesn't she find a more suitable time?

Can't you tell I'm very busy?

The frustration of having his plans disrupted was finally suppressed by Draco before he turned around, and the boy smiled slightly, "What's wrong?"

Daphne only realized she might have done something wrong after she called out "Draco," but when her gaze fell on Draco, who looked completely bewildered and innocent, alarm bells rang in her mind.

When did this little rascal learn to feign innocence?!

and also!

Did he also use this trick to deceive Thea?

Thinking of the clues she had discovered these past few days, and the few words Zabini had quietly told her…

Daphne gradually became serious, but she couldn't say it directly in front of so many people, so she could only say it tactfully, "The Quidditch tournament is about to begin, and Seymour (whose self-proclaimed title of the current Quidditch captain of Slytherin) asked me to remind you not to forget that you also have the title of prefect."

Draco nodded slightly. The tacit understanding they had developed since childhood made it easy for him to see through Daphne's unspoken meaning: the Quidditch tournament was just a pretext; the real important thing was tonight's get-together.

It seems I shouldn't break my promise.

Draco arrived at his secret base with practiced ease, a hint of helplessness in his heart, but the joy in his eyes was undeniable.

He was glad that he wasn't alone.

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.

But Draco ultimately failed to keep his promise.

As Draco felt the heat emanating from the small metal ball in his hand, his eyes darkened.

There are people outside.

Thanks to Thea's subtle influence, Draco also got used to the style of always leaving himself an escape route.

So every time he came in, he would hide a heat-monitoring ball in a concealed spot by the door. Only when someone was detected within 30 meters would the other ball start to heat up.

And 30 meters is exactly the total length of this passage.

When the clock hands pointed to "10", Draco's heart was completely submerged in ice water, and he shivered from the cold.

He could guess what his friends would say to persuade him at tonight's gathering, and he could also guess who had organized it.

Thea.

There was no one else but her.

She still wanted to help herself, but Lady Luck never seemed to favor them.

Draco was half-hidden in the darkness, and the name he murmured seemed to be his only lifeline.

He considered using the bracelet to call for help, but doing so would be tantamount to dragging them all into the mud.

They didn't know that, so even if the incident came to light, he would be the only one punished.

He wasn't kind, but he wasn't so despicable as to drag others down with him even after he died.

So—he couldn't keep the appointment.

There was no way to seize that last chance to live.

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.

Compared to Draco's anxiety and despair, the atmosphere in a small conference room was unusually stagnant, as if the air itself had almost turned into a viscous substance.

“Alright,” Thea said slowly as she stood up after a moment of silence. “You can all go back now. You have classes tomorrow.”

Thea's tone remained calm as always, but the others present could easily see the disappointment in her voice.

"Thea!" Daphne jumped up, her eyes filled with anxiety. "Maybe Draco got the time wrong, or maybe..."

Looking into Thea's calm eyes, Daphne's voice grew softer and softer until she could no longer utter the last few words.

"There's no need to make excuses for him."

"He didn't come, that's a fact."

After speaking, Thea lowered her eyes slightly and sat down again.

Zabini sensed that Thea wanted to see them out, so he pulled the dazed Daphne and the reluctant Theodore out the door.

As for Gella—

Zabini carefully observed Gella's expression, then decisively turned and left; this was not someone he could persuade.

“Thea…”

When only the two of them remained in the conference room, Gella carefully considered her words before speaking. However, before she could finish, Thea interrupted her.

“Gella, he doesn’t believe me.”

Upon hearing this, even Gellar was speechless.

Everyone knew that this small gathering was practically Thea's way of making a move on Draco, but no one expected that Draco would stand them up—

"I don't understand. If he just asked, we would all do it for him. Why doesn't he?"

Isn't that how friends are?

Sitting in her seat, Thea scratched her head in frustration, feeling as if all her sincerity had been wasted.

Gella was initially confused, but her eyes lit up when she heard a certain word.

In a flash, Draco's awkwardness seemed to be explained.

She was about to voice her guess when Thea beat her to it.

"never mind."

Gella's heart skipped a beat, and she looked up at Thea in near panic. Thea's tone...

“I’ve given him chances, many times.”

"My pride will not allow me to bow my head again."

"I'm not that cheap yet."

The empty meeting room was completely silent, yet Thea's tone was icy, making Gella momentarily think that Hogwarts had entered winter prematurely.

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.

"How was it? How was it?"

As soon as Gella stepped out of the conference room, sure enough, she immediately found herself wearing a pendant. This pendant was constantly chattering, and considering Thea's tone just now, Gella felt even more heavy-hearted.

"Not very optimistic."

Gellar's somber tone, coupled with his head-shaking gesture, made him look exactly like a grim reaper who had just stepped out of the operating room to pronounce a patient's life or death.

In fact, this statement is no less damaging than "We did our best".

"Then what?!"

Daphne blurted out the words, and the next second, Zabini's hand accurately covered her lips.

Once the group had moved to a relatively safe place, Daphne could no longer contain her anxiety. After glaring at the "insubordinate" Zabini, she grabbed Gella's arm again.

"Gella, you have to think of something!"

"Has Thea completely abandoned Draco?"

"What about Draco?"

"Without Thea's help... he'll die!"

By the end, Daphne's voice was breaking with tears.

After all, they are friends who have been together for many years. How could they really disregard his life or death?

Seeing the tears welling up in the girl's eyes, Gella felt a pang of pity, but...

Thea's attitude was very clear: she would absolutely not make a move unless Draco spoke up first.

This has nothing to do with saving face, but rather with maintaining a bottom line.

Thea would risk her life for Draco, but she would never do anything for someone who doesn't believe in her.