Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

Chapter 244 Confession

"The person whose name can't even be mentioned has returned."

Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge confirmed in a brief statement Friday night that the man whose name cannot be mentioned has returned to the country and is once again active.

"I regret to announce that the wizard who calls himself the Demon King is still alive and active among us again,"

Fudge looked tired and disheveled when he addressed the reporters.

"It is equally regrettable that we have to report on the massive rebellion of the Dementors in Azkaban, who have expressed their opposition to continuing to work for the Ministry of Magic."

We believe these Dementors are currently working for that evil lord.

"We strongly urge the people of the wizarding world to remain vigilant."

The Ministry of Magic is publishing a basic defense guide for families and individuals, which will be distributed free of charge to all wizarding households over the next month.

Thea raised an eyebrow as she looked at the disheveled Fudge and the spirited and determined Crouch in the newspaper.

Just from this picture, Thea can tell that the Ministry of Magic must be quite lively lately. The weak minister or the tough director, which will the wizards, who are deeply threatened by terror, choose?

Especially when there's the "number one wizard in the world" standing behind them...

After routinely finishing reading the newspaper, Thea tossed it aside and plunged back into the world of Transfiguration.

Recently, not only the Ministry of Magic has been quite lively, but the Death Eaters themselves have also been quite active.

Voldemort seemed genuinely dissatisfied with the last battle against the Department of Mysteries, perhaps to set an example, or perhaps to vent his anger—he threw Lucius into Azkaban.

In fact, after Voldemort took control of the Dementors, Azkaban essentially became the Death Eaters' private prison...

Let's get back to the main topic.

From the day Lucius went to prison, Thea had been waiting for Narcissa or Draco to arrive, but as the start of the school year approached, Thea still hadn't received any news of either of them coming to the Riddle mansion…

what are they doing?

Perhaps Snape could provide that answer.

They are trying to save themselves.

Snape looked coldly at Narcissa, who was sad but still resilient, and countless reasons to refuse her flashed through his mind, but... in the end, he did not refuse.

Watching the woman kiss her son with tears in her eyes, and then glancing at the barely visible gold mark on his own wrist, Snape's lips curled into a mocking smile...

Just minutes earlier, when Bella had left early and only Narcissa and Draco remained as guests, Snape had asked a question indifferently.

"Don't you know how smug Blake has been lately at the Riddle mansion?"

"You'd be better off begging her than me."

Snape was telling the truth.

Thea, the successor to the Dark Lord, firmly established herself thanks to her outstanding performance in the battle against the Mysterious Things Division.

Whether it was seizing Lovegood to threaten Potter into giving him the prophecy ball, or decisively protecting the Death Eaters from the direct confrontation between Dumbledore and Voldemort, thus capturing Lukwood amidst the aftermath of the curse…

Calm, decisive, and powerful.

She completely proved herself.

Therefore, she became one of only three people who were not subjected to the Cruciatus Curse by the Dark Lord.

However, I don't know what the Dark Lord was thinking, but I heard that she's going to go deep into enemy territory—Hogwarts—next semester.

They're quite bold.

Snape gave this assessment indifferently.

Upon hearing the surname "Black," Narcissa immediately stiffened, and Draco's expression wasn't much better.

"We...we shouldn't drag her down with us..."

Snape's face clearly said, "So you've come here to drag me down with you?"

Narcissa chuckled at Snape's resentment, but her expression quickly darkened again. "I'm sorry, Severus..."

“Luke is in trouble… I can’t find anyone else to help but you…”

"...The Dark Lord won't let him die...I know his temper..."

Narcissa muttered to herself, but a look of sorrow mixed with guilt suddenly appeared on her face, "Thea's... shouldn't have been wasted in a place like this... the Malfoy family hasn't reached its most difficult time yet..."

Upon hearing this, Draco couldn't take it anymore and ran away. He ran so fast that it seemed he could only hope that his mother would still be the elegant and noble lady she once was, instead of the scheming slave owner in front of him who wanted to squeeze every last drop of oil out of Thea.

Neither of the two people inside stopped Draco's actions, but Narcissa's face showed even more sorrow.

“Severus, I think I’ve spoiled Draco rotten… I always thought that with Thea around, Draco would grow up eventually… but now…”

"He didn't even have the courage to listen to all those schemes... how could he possibly survive in that vortex..."

As she was speaking, Narcissa suddenly raised her hand to cover her face, her body swayed as if she couldn't support herself, and she finally fell to the ground—a very undignified act for a nobleman.

But Snape didn't care. He remained standing there, his gaze unfocused as he looked out the window, the suppressed sobs and intermittent confessions of Narcissa reaching his ears.

“I know…this behavior is despicable…extremely vile…”

“That child, Thea… she won’t stand idly by…”

"She always has a soft heart..."

"...Once everything is over...she probably won't call me...Auntie anymore..."

End?

Snape chuckled inwardly. Was she so sure Black would survive? That they would all survive?

This is war! It's a meat grinder that doesn't distinguish between friend and foe!

No one can guarantee they won't be hit by the Killing Curse in the next second!

Flowers bloom in splendor, and oil is poured into a raging fire!

Will Thea's luck really allow her to survive to the end?