102: Chapter 102 Rumors of Compound Decoctions

The afternoon Library muffled the noise from the corridor. Nott placed a thin booklet in front of Allen, his fingertips pressing on a bookmarked page.

Allen flipped through "A History of Medieval Magical Architecture and Plumbing" without raising his head.

"Speak."

Nott glanced towards the Gryffindor table.

"Granger checked out 'Moste Potente Potions' and also looked up the index for transfiguration Potions. Her excuse for borrowing them was extracurricular research."

Allen stopped turning the pages.

"She was able to borrow them?"

"Madam Pince refused, so she got a signed note from Gilderoy Lockhart."

Zabini sat down with a book, raising an eyebrow.

"Gilderoy Lockhart is finally useful for something."

Nott pushed the bookmarked page closer.

"When she walked away with the books, Weasley knocked over an ink bottle, and Harry kept watching the corridor, afraid of being followed."

Allen tucked the bookmark into the book.

"Where have they been lately?"

"The abandoned classroom on the second floor three times, the old bathroom on the Third Floor once, and near the Dungeon twice. They haven't entered the Slytherin entrance."

Zabini put down his book.

"An abandoned classroom, an old bathroom, advanced Potion—this doesn't look like they're investigating the Chamber of Secrets."

Draco came from behind a bookshelf, clutching "Introduction to Quidditch Tactics" in his hand.

"What are you talking about behind my back again?"

Allen looked up.

"That you're about to be in trouble."

Draco slammed the book onto the table. Madam Pince's gaze immediately swept over, and he pulled back his hand, his expression darkening.

"I haven't even insulted Harry much lately, what trouble could I possibly be in?"

Nott lowered his voice behind the pages of his book.

"Granger is researching Polyjuice Potion."

Draco frowned.

"What's that?"

Zabini leaned back in his chair.

"You drink it and turn into someone else for a period of time. You need something belonging to the target."

Draco turned to look at the Gryffindor table.

"Who does she want to turn into?"

Allen closed his book.

"A Slytherin student."

Draco's expression darkened.

"Is she crazy? A first-year messing with that kind of stuff?"

"Granger isn't an ordinary first-year."

"Even if she knows how to brew it, she can't get into the Common Room."

Allen looked at him.

"She doesn't need to come in. She just needs to have Harry and Weasley turn into people you know and stand right in front of you."

Draco realized what he meant and turned his head to look at the two people snatching pies in the corner.

"Crabbe and Goyle?"

Zabini picked up his teacup.

"They're the easiest to fool, and the easiest to get rid of."

Draco gritted out the words.

"They dare to mess with my people?"

Allen flattened the page.

"They dare to mess with anyone who can give them answers."

Nott nodded.

"They will ask you if you are the Heir of Slytherin, if your father has ever talked about what happened fifty years ago, and what the Malfoy Family has been doing on the Board of Governors."

Just as Draco was about to speak, Allen pushed a piece of parchment toward him.

"Don't make your 'I don't know' sound too clean."

"I really don't know."

"If it's too clean, they'll keep asking."

Allen wrote a few lines on the paper.

"Make them think you know a little, but not enough."

Zabini took a look.

"Stringing them along?"

"Letting them waste their time."

Draco took the quill but didn't write.

"Why should I cooperate with them?"

Allen looked at him.

"Because if you don't cooperate, they'll bring up your father in their persistent questioning."

Draco retorted.

"I won't."

Nott closed his notebook.

"Last time, you almost let slip that my father knew."

Zabini struck another blow.

"And the time before that, you said the Malfoy Family wouldn't miss out on important news."

Draco glared at him.

"Why are you keeping track of these things?"

"To stay alive."

Zabini put his cup down.

"The whole school is looking for the Heir of Slytherin right now. Whoever claims their family knows something will be targeted by the Professors."

Allen tapped the paper.

"Memorize it."

Draco lowered his head.

There were only four sentences on the paper.

"Of course my father knows what has happened at the school; the Board of Governors won't sit idly by."

"The Chamber of Secrets? I've only heard legends. The real Heir of Slytherin wouldn't tell anyone their name."

"If Harry can speak Parseltongue, he should be suspected more than me."

"Don't ask me about what happened fifty years ago; my father doesn't like telling old stories to children."

Draco finished reading and looked up.

"This sounds just like me."

Allen took back the pen.

"That's why I wrote it for you."

Nott added.

"Don't add any improvisation to the last sentence."

Draco frowned.

"What do you mean by improvisation?"

Zabini mimicked his tone.

"Of course my father knows, there was just no need to tell me."

Draco shut his mouth.

Allen pointed to the first half of the sentence.

"That half will get you killed."

Draco folded the paper.

"Fine, I won't add it."

"If they ask about the Heir of Slytherin, you say you don't know."

"What about if they ask about my father?"

"The Board of Governors will handle it."

"If they ask if the Chamber of Secrets is real?"

"It's already written on the wall; you don't need to read it for them."

Zabini laughed.

"That line can be used."

Draco put away the paper and asked again.

"If they really turn into Crabbe and Goyle, how do I tell the difference?"

Allen looked toward the corner.

Crabbe was stuffing a pie into his pocket, and Goyle was staring at his hands, waiting for his share.

"Crabbe won't ask about the Chamber of Secrets on his own."

Nott continued.

"And Goyle won't ask about fifty years ago."

Zabini put down his teacup.

"The most they'll ask is if there's pudding for dinner."

Draco rubbed his temples.

"That's easy enough to tell."

"Don't let it show."

"Pretend I don't know?"

"Pretend you're too lazy to think about it."

Zabini looked at him.

"It suits you perfectly."

Draco tucked the paper into his inner pocket.

"If they try to pry, should I ask them back?"

Allen shook his head.

"Don't ask unnecessary questions. The more you ask, the more you reveal."

Nott looked at Hermione.

"Granger won't come herself; her hair is hard to get. Harry and Weasley are more likely to make the move."

Draco glanced at Hermione.

"A Muggle-born Witch can force us to rehearse in advance?"

Allen looked up.

"You lost to her quite a few times last year."

Draco's face went dark.

"That time in Charms Class doesn't count."

Nott opened his notebook.

"There was Transfiguration Class, too."

Zabini added.

"On the Potion essay, she didn't get points deducted by Snape."

Draco slammed his book shut.

"Enough."

Allen added another line.

"If someone asks if you like Muggle-born students, you can say you hate them coming to Hogwarts."

Draco looked up.

"That will cause trouble."

"It fits your persona, and it fits their expectations of you."

Allen put down the pen.

"But don't say you hope they get cleared out by the monster."

Nott nodded.

"The former is prejudice; the latter will become testimony."

Draco was silent for a moment.

"I understand. Just say nasty nonsense, nothing that can be written down."

Allen nodded.

"Pretty much."

Draco immediately waved them over.

"Crabbe, Goyle, come here."

Crabbe chewed on his pie.

"What's up?"

Goyle was holding a plate.

"Want some?"

Draco stared at the two of them.

"From today on, don't go to the abandoned classroom alone, don't walk with Gryffindor, and don't let anyone touch your hair."

Crabbe scratched his head.

"Why?"

Zabini said, "Someone might want to turn you into a witness."

Goyle looked blank.

"I didn't see anything."

Allen looked at him.

"That's why they chose you."

Crabbe swallowed the pie.

"So we follow Draco?"

Draco had a cold expression.

"Follow me, but don't stick too close. If someone asks you to go out, ask me first."

Crabbe asked again.

"What if Pansy calls?"

"Ask me too."

Zabini looked at Allen.

"This is like keeping dogs."

Draco glared at him.

"Shut up."

Nott tore off a corner of his notes and handed it to Allen.

"Also, Granger has been going to the girls' bathroom often, avoiding the one with Myrtle, and carrying a list of Potion ingredients."

Allen tucked the piece of paper into the spine of his book.

"She needs to brew for a month."

Draco frowned.

"A month? Then what's the rush now?"

Allen picked up his books and stood up.

"The layout starts from the day you hear the rumors, not waiting until they show up at your door with the Potion."

Zabini stood up as well.

"What about the location?"

Nott said, "The abandoned bathroom is the most suitable. Myrtle is annoying, and no one wants to stay there for long."

Draco's expression changed.

"The one on the second floor?"

Allen shook his head.

"Not the one with the entrance. She isn't stupid; she wouldn't put the Chamber of Secrets and the Potion in the same place."

Nott whispered, "But she will be near the second floor."

"Let her get close."

Draco was dissatisfied.

"Letting her get close again?"

Allen looked at him.

"The deeper she investigates, the more she can draw the Professors' attention away from us."

Zabini added.

"As long as she doesn't die."

Allen wrote down "Moste Potente Potions" and then crossed it out.

"She won't let herself die, at least not now."

Draco pressed his hand against the paper in his inner pocket.

"I'll do as you say, but if Weasley turns into Goyle and sits next to me, I might not be able to stop myself from punching him."

Allen walked toward the door.

"Punching is fine, but finish the conversation first."

Nott asked, "Which line?"

"My father doesn't like telling old stories to children."

Zabini picked up his books.

"And then?"

Allen pushed open the Library door, and the chatter from the corridor rushed in.

"Let them go back to brew their Potion with that useless line."

Draco followed a few steps.

"What if they ask about Harry being able to speak Parseltongue?"

Allen didn't turn back.

"You say that the whole school will be asking."

Draco paused for half a step.

"That will draw fire onto him."

Allen watched Hermione hurrying away in the distance.

"The fire is already at his feet."

Nott put away his notebook.

"And what about us?"

Allen walked past the crowd.

"Stand back, and watch them brew their wrong answer until it's ready."