章 94: Who Is "He"?
"Let's talk about compensation," Harry said bluntly.
Lucius gritted his teeth so hard he thought they might break. He wanted to spit in the boy's face. "What compensation do you think you deserve?"
"Voldemort's target was me." Harry pressed his wand against Lucius's chest with just enough force to emphasize his words. "Much to your disappointment, I didn't die, nor was I gravely injured."
"But I was the primary victim."
Hearing that name, Lucius shivered. He feared his master more than most. "What do you want?"
"That depends on what you have," Harry replied without a trace of politeness. "Why don't you let me inside to take a look?"
Lucius took a step back. "Potter, you don't trust me. Black isn't in my house."
"Why would I trust you?" Harry sneered. "Because you're planning to give me a dignified death? Or because you've prepared the most luxurious grave for me?"
"There's no trust between us. There never was."
Lucius raised a finger. "One hundred Galleons."
"Think about how much patent money you owe the Potter family over these twelve years," Harry said, shaking his head and flicking Lucius's finger aside with his wand.
The sum was astronomical.
"Magical notes? Artifacts?" Lucius quickly switched tactics, offering other valuables. "Whatever you want, I can give it to you."
Harry toyed with Lucius's brooch. "You'll have to let me inside to pick something myself, Mr. Malfoy."
Lucius's expression darkened, and he turned his gaze toward Flitwick. "Professor, perhaps—"
Before he could finish, Flitwick interrupted him. "Today, Potter is in charge. I drank too much yesterday and am not clear-headed enough."
Lucius's stormy gaze flicked between Harry and Flitwick.
He might be able to deal with one Potter, but adding Flitwick into the equation left him powerless.
"Haven't decided yet?" Harry jabbed the brooch harder against Lucius's chest. "Perhaps I should notify the Ministry? They might be very willing to assist us."
Lucius reluctantly stepped aside, clearing the way. "If Mr. Potter wishes to tour the Malfoy Manor, then be my guest."
Though called a manor, it was really just a villa with a garden. Pureblood families loved to exaggerate their status.
Once inside, Harry wasted no time, raising his wand and casting the Patronus Charm.
Flitwick followed with a spell, sending invisible ripples through the manor.
Two hours later, Lucius finally saw off the two unwelcome visitors.
"Father! Potter! How dare they?" Draco stormed over, his teeth clenched in humiliation.
Lucius shook his head. "Why wouldn't they dare?"
"The weak cannot offer suggestions to the strong."
He patted his son's head, passing on words once taught to him by Voldemort. Now, it was his turn to teach Draco.
There was no better lesson than this.
Draco clenched his fists, his eyes burning with rage.
Outside Malfoy Manor
"Professor?" Harry asked. "Did you find anything?"
Flitwick shook his head.
Harry frowned.
He hadn't noticed anything unusual either. The Malfoy house had numerous secret chambers, but the traces on the switches were fresh. At least ten different magical signatures didn't belong to the Malfoys or their house-elves.
These were likely from Ministry officials, and the magical residue had settled for days, almost faded.
Not a single trace suggested someone was hiding in the house without being discovered.
"The Black family home is likely his next stop," Flitwick said, grabbing Harry's hand. Without waiting for a response, he waved his wand, and magic surged.
Pop!
Apparition.
"Professor, please warn me next time," Harry said, bending over, his face pale as he steadied himself on Flitwick's shoulder. "That was too sudden."
Flitwick feigned innocence. "I'll be more mindful next time."
"Where is the Black family home?" Harry asked after catching his breath.
Flitwick shook his head. "I don't know. No one does."
"Your grandparents might, but they wouldn't be able to tell you."
Harry froze. "Protected by the Fidelius Charm?"
Flitwick nodded. "If Black is cautious enough, that's where he would have gone first."
Harry clenched his fists, clicking his tongue in frustration.
The Fidelius Charm was troublesome. Unless the Secret Keeper voluntarily revealed the location, no one could find the protected place.
"Don't be impatient, Harry," Flitwick said, standing on tiptoe to pat Harry's back. But as Harry straightened, the pat landed awkwardly on his lower back. Flitwick quickly withdrew his hand and coughed heavily to cover his embarrassment. "Have you read the detailed report?"
"It mentioned that in Azkaban, Black kept muttering, 'He's at Hogwarts, he's at Hogwarts…'"
Harry pondered aloud. "He's coming to find me?"
Flitwick nodded.
"Looks like another eventful school year," Harry sighed as he sat down on a sofa. "I hope my fourth year can be completely uneventful for once."
Flitwick paused, then silently sat beside him.
Wasn't Hogwarts supposed to be the safest place?
And yet…
Since Harry's enrollment, each term had been full of chaos. Now, the third year seemed poised to follow the same pattern.
"Maybe he'll be caught before the term starts," Flitwick said, trying to comfort Harry. But staring at his own hands, he realized it was more for himself. "Not all Aurors are incompetent."
"Scrimgeour has some skills, and Moody is an expert tracker."
Harry didn't reply. His expression changed as if something had occurred to him. With a wave of his wand, the newspaper on the table flew into his hand.
"What's wrong?" Flitwick asked. "Did you find something?"
Harry's brows furrowed tightly. "No, I just find it odd."
"Odd?" Flitwick tilted his head in confusion.
"It's common knowledge that I'm at Hogwarts," Harry said quietly. "Even two years ago, the Daily Prophet reported my enrollment."
"If he was looking for me, he should have escaped two years ago."
"The 'he' Black was referring to—it probably isn't me."
Flitwick's eyes widened before realization dawned. He came to the same conclusion as Harry. "You think the 'he' means the Dark Lord?"
"Most likely," Harry nodded.
Flitwick's brows knitted together as well. "But the Dark Lord was destroyed by Dumbledore. The newspapers made it clear, even if it's just a stand-in for a generic Dark Wizard."
"Maybe there's some signal between them," Harry suggested, setting the newspaper down. "Something that tells Black there's an ally of the Dark Lord at Hogwarts."
"Perhaps it's even another Horcrux."
"That's why he kept saying, 'He's at Hogwarts.'"
Flitwick stood abruptly, his face grim. "I need to write to Dumbledore immediately. This is a serious possibility."
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Powerstones?
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