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Chapter 160
He immediately said arrogantly, "He won't be able to hide it for long. My father won't let him get away with it either. The students are already on holiday—news will spread quickly."
"He'll be expelled from the school soon. My father always says Dumbledore is a disgrace as Headmaster of Hogwarts. He likes Muggles. A real headmaster would never allow idiots like Lockhart into the school."
Harry and Ron's eyes turned unusually fierce. They could clearly hear it now—Lucius Malfoy, a Death Eater, was truly plotting against Dumbledore. They were trying to force him out of the school, and they planned to take advantage of that opportunity.
Malfoy pretended to take photos, mocking Colin's timid manner:
"Potter, I'm your fan—can I take a picture? Potter, can I have your autograph? Potter, can I lick your shoes? Please, Potter!"
His tone grew more and more ridiculous.
Then his gaze shifted to Harry and Ron. They quickly forced awkward smiles onto Crabbe and Goyle's faces. Malfoy seemed satisfied—perhaps thinking this was just how slow they usually were.
"The so-called Boy Who Lived is friends with a Muggle-born," Malfoy said casually. "He has no sense of wizarding honor. Otherwise, he would have cut ties with that Muggle-born long ago. Some even say he is the Heir of Slytherin—how ridiculous is that?"
Harry and Ron held their breath. For a moment, they almost expected him to directly reveal who the Heir was.
But nothing happened.
"I really wish I knew who the Heir is," Malfoy said roughly. "Then I could help him."
Harry and Ron stared at him, their mouths hanging open even more stupidly than usual in their Crabbe and Goyle disguises.
If Malfoy wasn't the Heir… then who was?
"Even if I don't know who he is, I can still help him. I know what he fears," Malfoy continued, spreading more fear.
"He hasn't killed anyone yet. I know he's afraid of Dumbledore—but soon he won't need to be. Dumbledore will be expelled, and then he can act freely."
Harry and Ron's mouths opened wider and wider, as though they were trying to swallow eggs whole.
Malfoy, pleased with their reaction, continued boasting.
"Of course, this must remain secret. Last time the Chamber was opened, a Mudblood died. This time, two Mudbloods have already been attacked. Once Dumbledore is removed, the Heir will be free to kill more. I hope the next one is Granger."
Hidden under the Invisibility Cloak, Hermione was tempted to curse him on the spot, but she forced herself to stay silent in order to gather more information. She endured his disgusting tone and his infuriating expression.
Ron clenched his fists tightly, barely restraining his anger. Harry quickly acted calm and asked, "Who is the one in Slytherin who speaks like a snake? Who opened the Chamber last time and released the basilisk?"
Malfoy looked at them with surprise.
"You even managed to guess that? Is it that obvious?"
But then he went on smugly, "Of course it is. Who else would expose themselves as the Heir of Slytherin and let everyone know? Except that stupid Potter—he doesn't deserve the name Potter. Everyone should call him something else. Only a fool like him would try to gain fame from it."
Ron was even more tempted to punch him. Malfoy was clearly talking nonsense. Harry had only become known for Parseltongue because of that attack—because the snake had been sent to attack him.
Now Malfoy was twisting everything, claiming Harry had deliberately faked being the Heir just for fame. It was pure distortion of the truth.
Harry ignored the insults and continued asking, "You must know more. Who is controlling the Heir?"
Malfoy lifted his chin arrogantly.
"Of course I know more than you. It's only natural you'd think that. But some things—once said—will be done. Every Slytherin knows that. I should understand it well enough."
He glanced at Crabbe and Goyle again, then muttered, "Maybe these two idiots are exceptions."
At the crucial moment, Malfoy's arrogance wavered between secrecy and bragging, driving Harry and Ron nearly insane. They desperately wanted to grab him and force every answer out of him: who was plotting against Dumbledore, and who the Heir really was.
Fortunately, his need to boast eventually won out.
"The Chamber was opened too early. The last time it was opened was fifty years ago—before my father was even born."
"Even though he knows about it, he doesn't plan to tell me. He told me not to get involved, so as not to draw attention to the Heir of Slytherin. He has many things to do—working on Dumbledore's removal and dealing with Ministry investigations."
"Last week, the Ministry even inspected our manor," Malfoy said angrily.
"How dare those lowly wizards offend the ancient Malfoy family? Fortunately, they found nothing. Some of my father's most valuable treasures are hidden in secret places in our home. One day, they'll pay for this."
"Wait!" Ron suddenly said—but before he could finish, both Malfoy and Harry looked at him in surprise.
His hair began to change color, and his nose slowly started to lengthen. The potion was wearing off—Ron was turning back.
Harry realized in panic that Goyle's body was also beginning to revert.
They had to leave immediately.
They jumped up and rushed out the door.
"I need to get medicine for my stomach," Ron muttered incoherently.
They sprinted through the Slytherin common room, burst through the stone wall, and ran down the corridor at full speed.
They didn't dare look back to see if Malfoy was following.
Harry could already feel Goyle's shoes slipping off as his feet shrank. His body was shrinking too, and his clothes were starting to drag on the floor.
They ran up the stairs, rushed through dim corridors, and heard muffled thuds coming from the cupboard where Crabbe and Goyle were hidden. They kicked off their shoes near the door, dragged their loose socks behind them, and raced up the marble staircase toward Moaning Myrtle's bathroom.
(To be continued.)