Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

Chapter 324 Turning the Enemy to a Surrender

Since someone was willing to take responsibility, Lucius and the others didn't pay much attention to how Potter and the other two were treated. Instead, they continued to argue about who deserved the most credit for that unseen "merit."

Seeing that there was nothing for her to do, Thea naturally took on the responsibility of escorting the prisoners.

"Let's go, you unlucky bastards!"

Harry and his two companions only truly relaxed when Thea's figure gradually disappeared on the dark and gloomy dungeon steps.

"That's strange. I thought she would at least say something harsh to us and kick us when we're down."

Ron groaned as he rubbed his numb and aching wrist.

Not everyone is as boring as you!

Hermione glared at Ron, then quickly turned her gaze to Harry.

"The relationship between that mother and daughter was strange; they didn't seem like mother and daughter, but rather like enemies."

Harry nodded; he understood Hermione's meaning.

She wanted to find a breakthrough by talking about the mother and daughter.

"Let's replenish our energy first. We... still have tomorrow."

From the conversation just now, Harry could vaguely guess that Voldemort was busy with something important and wouldn't be able to find time to "Avada" him at least tomorrow.

The two nodded, looked around and found a relatively dry spot in the cage to sit down and rest.

Harry joined them, and the three little ones huddled together for warmth, looking rather disheveled.

After returning to her room, Thea intended to rest for a while, but as soon as her body touched the bed, it was as if some kind of fatigue switch had been turned on.

She fell asleep almost as soon as she closed her eyes.

She was not awakened until around nine o'clock in the evening by the booming thunder.

This sleep was hardly a pleasant experience.

The room was dark, and despite being covered with a thick blanket, Thea was still shivering with cold.

After struggling to get out of bed wrapped in a blanket, I realized that I was covered in a layer of cold sweat, sticky and icy.

The knocking happened at that moment.

"Boom, boom."

The knocking was neither too fast nor too slow, neither too loud nor too soft, carrying the gentlemanly demeanor admired by the aristocracy of old.

"Thea, would it be convenient for you to come to the meeting room for a moment?"

Thea was very familiar with the gentle voice of the middle-aged gentleman, after all, she had lived under the same roof with him for six years.

"Wait a mininute."

Only after drinking the last sip of water did Thea get up to open the door.

The person outside the door stood straight, but with their head slightly lowered, not looking directly at Thea's face.

"Let's go."

The two walked towards the conference room one after the other. Although it was only a few steps, Thea was breathing heavily, and her lungs protested from time to time until she couldn't help but cough a few times.

"...Do you need any help?"

“No need,” Thea refused crisply from her chair, getting straight to the point. “Let’s make this clear beforehand, I can’t possibly distort the truth and pin the credit for catching Potter on you.”

Hearing this, Lucius's face paled, but he still forced a smile: "That's right, it's the truth after all..."

Just then, a gust of wind swept past the window, making a rattling sound.

Hearing this noise, Thea couldn't help but wrap her coat tighter around herself and hug the warm glass tightly in her arms.

"Speak your mind."

Not wanting to waste time on Lucius's platitudes, Thea urged.

"Of course, of course..."

Lucius shut his mouth sheepishly, but quickly spoke again, "If it's not the first merit, it shouldn't be difficult to obtain a title to make up for it in time..."

Lucius's words were eventually interrupted by Thea with a smile.

"When did your ambitions become so small?"

"Boom!"

The deafening thunder drowned out Lucius's mutterings, but the ensuing lightning bolts pierced through the window, casting a half-light, half-shadow on the girl's face in the main seat, accompanied by her seductive whispers—

Never before had Lucius been so clearly aware that the investment he considered the most worthwhile investment in his life had, without his knowledge, grown into a serpent in the Garden of Eden.

He was Eve, who was tempted by the serpent to eat the apple.

As the rain subsided, two figures, one tall and one short, arrived at the entrance to the long staircase leading to the dungeon.

“Go back,” Thea declined Lucius’s offer to accompany her. “I prefer to walk alone, and as the host, you shouldn’t make your two distinguished guests feel neglected.”

Lucius understood Thea's implication. His gaze was unfocused, but he still stumbled back to the villa.

Thea's voice still seems to echo in my ears:

"Catching Porter is indeed a great achievement, but what does this credit have to do with you?"

"Oh, so there is a connection..."

"Capturing Potter is far more impressive than my feat of dealing with Dumbledore."

"So many of the Death Eaters were Father's trusted lieutenants, yet in the end, a werewolf beat them to a pulp—"

"If Father is in a good mood, we might really become colleagues with a werewolf..."

"And Draco..."

“Theodore has already started taking over what I was doing, but Draco still hasn’t left Hogwarts. That’s a huge difference…”

Are you really willing to let him fall behind from this point on?

Bang!

A sudden, rapid clap of thunder froze Lucius in place.

My future is uncertain.

My son's future looks bleak.

He asked himself honestly, what other choice did he have besides taking a big gamble with Thea?

Since the Malfoy family's resurrection, their coffers have shrunk by nearly two-thirds!

If Lucius were to close his eyes and sleep forever right now, he wouldn't have the face to meet the heads of the Malfoy family throughout history!

If this alone could secure a bright future for the next generation of the Malfoy family, it would at least be some consolation, but what is the reality?

Voldemort treated them like a bank without a password, saying he wouldn't forget the Malfoy family's contributions, but then he brought up the Nott family instead!

How is this any different from a scumbag?!

And then there's Theodore Nott, who was just Draco's playmate back then, but now their statuses are worlds apart!

If things continue like this, Lucius fears that years from now, when the two meet, Draco will still have to respectfully address him as "Master"!

The thought that his proud son would one day be forced to bow his head made Lucius stride even faster!