At that moment.
Resting in Fleur's palm was a badge that had stopped glowing and giving off heat.
Clearly, it was the same thing as the Dragon Mark Draco had been holding earlier.
Unexpectedly, Fleur actually had an identical badge as well.
After putting the magical item away again, Fleur finally moved those alluring eyes of hers to Draco, who stood before her. "I thought I wouldn't need this magical item, so... has something happened on your end?"
"Mainly because our Dark Lord is even less patient than expected."
"Less patient? Is he going to move against Hogwarts?"
"If nothing unexpected happens."
"I see. So that's why the plan has been moved up so much. But... how did you get here? Did you also get help from a House-elf?"
From their conversation, it was clear.
They had in fact been analyzing the Dark Lord's actions, and had even deduced that one day in the future, he would attack Hogwarts.
So, the moment the Dragon Mark reacted, it meant something related to that matter was happening.
Fleur also believed that one day, Draco would activate the Dragon Mark and gather all the members of the Draco Constellation.
That was why, the instant she received the "signal" from the Dragon Mark, she had been able to meet Draco promptly and quickly.
The only thing Fleur did not quite understand was how Draco had gotten out of Hogwarts.
Surely Draco had not received the Dark Lord's permission, nor had he fought his way out through layers of encirclement all by himself?
In fact, Fleur's original plan had also been to rely on Dobby's help and use that method to enter Hogwarts.
Although she did not see a House-elf by Draco's side, Fleur still thought the same now. "Then are we going to have Dobby take us inside?"
"Dobby can do it! If Young Master needs Dobby's help, Dobby absolutely has no problem with it!"
Draco had not even had time to answer.
Dobby, who was standing nearby, had already raised his little hand eagerly and started bouncing up and down.
Not only that, the anxious look on Dobby's face made it seem as if no one but him could take on this task.
As if, were he not allowed to help, he would suffer a heart attack and die in the very next second.
"....."
Draco shook his head, speechless.
Because the truth was not quite what Fleur and Dobby imagined.
The reason Draco had been able to leave Hogwarts, surrounded on all sides by Death Eaters, was not because he had received help from a House-elf, but because of the secret passage behind him, one that not many wizards knew about.
Simply put, he had used it to pass through the encirclement.
...
Realizing the two of them had misunderstood, Draco reached back and pointed at the secret passage that had not yet fully closed. "We won't be using any magic for now. And of course, that includes your magic too, Dobby."
"Eh?!"
"I don't think we'd be discovered, but to be safe, it's better to use my method."
Following the direction of Draco's finger, Fleur's eyes widened adorably, as if she could not understand why a large hole had appeared in the wall.
Moreover, the black opening was quite smooth and round. At a glance, it was obvious that it had been created by some kind of magic.
"What is this?"
"This is the passage we'll be taking in a moment."
"What do you mean? Are you saying... if we go through here, we can enter Hogwarts? Really?"
"Obviously, that's why I'm here."
"...All right. That does sound rather interesting."
Curious, Fleur came to the opening, bent her graceful waist, and leaned her upper body inside.
What she did not know.
That movement caused the robe on her body to tighten slightly, directly exposing the lifted curve of her figure before Draco's eyes.
Long, pale, straight legs.
A graceful curve facing him.
Together with Fleur's Veela lineage.
That unintentional charm, carrying a trace of innocence, was truly difficult not to be moved by.
To be honest, for an instant, Draco's gaze instinctively settled there.
This clearly was not the time to be thinking about such things.
Only when Fleur turned back suspiciously did Draco finally withdraw that somewhat uncontrollable gaze from just now.
Fleur blinked lightly. "Is something wrong?"
"Ahem! In any case, the situation in the wizarding world is getting worse and worse, and the Dark Lord's power is returning."
"..."
Draco's words left Fleur looking somewhat blank.
Had they not just been talking about this passage?
Why had he suddenly brought up the Dark Lord?
Ignoring Fleur's strange gaze, the guilty Draco coughed lightly again. "So, the Draco Constellation needs everyone's strength."
"....."
Fleur's gaze drifted toward Dobby, the only third presence there.
However, she could not find any clues from Dobby.
Because at that moment, Dobby was once again banging his large head against the wall, seemingly because he had failed to help Draco.
...
In any case.
Draco, giving Fleur no chance to think further, bluffed. No, continued speaking.
And seeing Draco so serious, Fleur Delacour seemed to once again see the Fire King who had stood alone before her back then, facing the Thunderbird.
Powerful.
Domineering.
A sense of security.
And the resolve to step forward and face something powerful.
Faced with Draco's gaze.
Gradually, even without touching her face, Fleur knew how hot her cheeks must be. Still, she stubbornly muttered, "He's clearly younger than me..."
She shook her head.
Fleur gave a proud little snort. "I'm not someone who doesn't know how to repay a favor... If you need help with anything, just say so."
Perhaps because she was shy, or perhaps because she did not want him to see through her thoughts.
Fleur lightly tossed her long silver hair, then took the lead and walked toward the secret passage behind Draco, leaving behind that very standard tsundere remark.
Even so, Fleur still could not understand what had just happened.
Nor did she know what kind of view she had just given Draco.