Chapter 107 Speculations of the Two Parties

Chapter 107 Speculations of the Two Parties

"Who would want to expel Squibs and Muggle-borns from Hogwarts?" That night, in the corner of the Gryffindor common room, Hermione closed her book forcefully and spoke quietly to Harry and Ron.

"Yeah, who could it be?" Ron responded in a confused tone, and then he continued, "Could it be the person who mentioned the heir of Slytherin in the library?"

"If you mean Malfoy—" Hermione exchanged a dubious look with Ron.

"Of course he did!" said Ron. "You heard him say, 'Muggle-borns are going to be kicked out of this school.' He's the only one in the whole school who's been so outrageous."

"Him? The heir?" Hermione looked skeptical. "Malfoy doesn't seem very bright."

"But Malfoy has that intention. Look at him," Harry also followed the book, "even with Della around, he hasn't changed at all."

"What an ugly rat," Ron said angrily. "Maybe they've been holding the key to the Chamber of Secrets for centuries, passing it down from generation to generation, until now, when he's finally decided to start that so-called business!"

"Yeah," Hermione said cautiously, "if he just has the key to the Chamber of Secrets, I think it's possible."

"But how can we prove it? I dare say that even if we tell Della this, she won't believe it. Malfoy pretends to be too good in front of her." Harry said pessimistically.

"Did Malfoy get some other magical powers from his ancestors?" Ron rolled his eyes suspiciously. "Della is obviously very smart, but she becomes dull when facing Malfoy."

"That's nonsense," Hermione argued reluctantly. She probably understood Della a little, but she didn't agree with this relationship. She continued, "If you want to prove it, maybe I have a way, but it's not easy to do, and it's very dangerous-"

"What? You can only tell us after a month?" Ron said immediately, frowning.

"Okay, okay, we can talk about it now," Hermione calmly analyzed with them, "What we need to do now is to enter the Slytherin common room and ask Malfoy a few questions without letting him recognize us."

"That's impossible," said Harry, and Ron laughed.

"If you were able to attend Potions class, you would remember that Snape mentioned Polyjuice Potion in class a few weeks ago," said Hermione.

"Attending Snape's class? Oh, that's great." Ron sneered even louder.

"This potion can turn you into another person. Think about it, if we can turn into three other Slytherin students, maybe we can learn everything from Malfoy. Now he may just be bragging!" Hermione ignored Ron and continued.

"Let's not talk about whether this potion has side effects, Hermione," Harry frowned slowly, "even if we can become Slytherin students and enter their common room, Della will be able to see through us at a glance."

"Yeah, ever since she was adopted by the old bat, all those pathetic pure-bloods have been flocking to her. Della recognizes all Slytherins now." Ron also shook his head.

"So we have to get rid of her, or even pretend to be her," Hermione pursed her lips and looked at the two of them, "but we have to get the formula first. However, this is a very complicated and dangerous potion, and it must be in the restricted area..."

While the Gryffindor trio was exploring the heir and the Chamber of Secrets, a similar conversation was taking place in Snape's cellar.

"What do you think about what happened on Halloween night?" Snape sat calmly in a chair, holding a cup of steaming hot tea in his hand, squinting at Della who was grinding powder with great effort.

"Am I a suspect now?" Della adjusted the position of the hard corner under the small pestle to save herself some effort, and did not even raise her head when she answered.

"Mr. Potter is much more suspicious than you, the new social queen of Slytherin. You don't have time." Snape took a sip of tea, "But Voldemort did say that he has Slytherin blood. I thought you might have some impression of your brothers and sisters."

"If the last name is Snape, then I might have some impression of him." Facing Snape's sarcasm, Della replied calmly. Before Snape put down his teacup, she continued, "But I do have some suspicions."

"Go on." Snape picked up the teacup again and spoke in a low voice.

"If it's not so limited to the heir of Slytherin, then the people who should be considered the most for new admission to Hogwarts are more suspicious than those first-year students. Aidan Royea is very suspicious." Della said while grinding the hard horn of the bicorn.

"That idle Hufflepuff male headmaster? I don't think he's the kind of person who would do such a thing, but there's a chance he has had a similar experience to Quirrell," Snape nodded, and he took another sip of tea. "It's a reasonable guess. Go on."

When Della heard Quirrell's name, her movements paused for a second, but she quickly resumed them. "The second suspect, I would say Malfoy."

"Big or small?" asked Snape.

"Big, Draco is very worried about me. I don't think he knows who the heir is or where the Chamber of Secrets is, but he knows too much from his father. There is no reason for the eldest Malfoy to mention things before he was born so many times." Della added another small piece of hard horn to the medicine bowl.

"Knowing too much? For example?" Snape put down the tea in his hand.

"There's no need to talk about that legend. The key point is that he mentioned more than once that a Muggle-born died fifty years ago. As far as I know, no one seems to have connected this incident with the heir of Slytherin."

"Of course they won't," Snape said with a strange smile, "The murderer from fifty years ago is in Hogwarts."

This ambiguous remark stopped Della's movements. She looked at Snape and said, "Professor, the murderer you just mentioned is not the heir, right?"

"Who knows?" Snape sneered even more. "If Dumbledore can't find the real murderer, the Ministry of Magic will take our dear ranger away again."

"Hagrid!?" Della shouted in surprise. She opened her eyes slightly and covered her mouth. "Since you said that, you know that Hagrid was wrongly accused?"

"I didn't say that, and other people may not think so either. I was just repeating what Dumbledore said. I think you know that the big guy is actually very dangerous in a sense." Snape shook his head indifferently.

"Okay, okay, now that you said so, I will try to investigate..." Della lowered her eyes and thought, "I have one last suspect."

"All ears."

"Nott, Theodore Nott," Della returned to her job of grinding flour for Snape, "I heard his father is very old, maybe he knows something."

"Just because of age? That's very rude of you." Snape said, picking up the teacup again.

"You said that as if you would help me investigate," Della laughed. "I think you are going to urge me today."

"We are investigating, but it would be nice to have a different perspective," Snape took a sip of tea, his dark eyes slowly scanning Della, "Besides, I was already squeezed between you and Dumbledore, and now because of your irrelevant ideas, you asked me to negotiate with Lockhart. Of course, I can get more interest from you."

"Quidditch is very important, Professor. Including last year, Slytherin has won the House Cup for eight consecutive years. Now everyone regards the House Cup as if it were the apple of their eye." Della argued.

"Lockhart has agreed," Snape responded slowly, "I think what happened last time must have left a big shadow on him."

"Great, this way I won't be in such a bad mood when I do his homework this Friday." Della shrugged.

"Remember to lock the door before you leave," Snape put down his teacup and stood up. He was ready to go back to rest. "I look forward to your investigation, Miss Riddle."

"I'll do my best, Professor." Della watched Snape walk out in his large black robe. When she heard the cellar door closing, she sighed slightly.

Of course, Maggie was her fourth suspect. It wasn't that she thought Maggie would do such a thing. It was that even if Maggie released the basilisk, he would not be able to write those words.

It must have been written by a person, and not an ordinary student. The handwriting that Filch could not erase was mixed with traces of dark magic. It was not something that could be controlled by Maggie's eyes alone.

However, Maggie must know, or have some clues about the heir.

But she couldn't force the little snake. She neither could nor wanted to.

Now I can only try to distract Maggie so that I can figure it out slowly.

It's a tricky situation.

Della sighed again and continued to grind the hard corners of the bowl.