great-warnovel Chapter 116 Draco's Secret Talk
Chapter 116 Draco's Secret Talk
Chapter 116 Draco's Secret Talk
"No! You're fake! It's another Boggart trick!"
Draco held his breath, warning himself that he couldn't let this guy fool him again! He tried to recall funny and cheerful things, hoping to defeat the guy with laughter!
But he sadly discovered that he couldn't find a single happy memory in his mind. Even the first time he played with a toy broom as a child, or the tricks he played on Muggle servants, or the adventures he had with his former playmates in the outer city—these memories now seemed more heartbreaking than the last. His home was gone, all his property had been confiscated, and his former playmates had become his enemies. It seemed that there was nothing in this world that could make him laugh out loud anymore.
He gave a dry laugh, feeling so embarrassed he wanted to dig his toes into the ground. He knew he was doomed; such laughter wouldn't work on Boggart. It seemed he had no choice but to use the euphoric drug the professor had given him.
"Master, Dobby isn't a Boggart, Dobby is a house-elf." Dobby looked up at Draco with his large, protruding eyes.
His condition was much better than when I last saw Narcissa; the ointment from the medical wing was indeed very effective.
"How are you going to prove it!" Draco held the euphoric potion in one hand and his wand in the other, watching the little elf in front of him warily.
But he himself found it somewhat absurd; if it were a Boggart, then turning into a sprite would probably be hard for him to be frightened.
Although Dobby had watched him grow up, wizards never treated them with any special affection, and Draco never felt any particular attachment to them; at most, they were just useful servants.
"Dobby—Dobby—." The little elf scratched his head in confusion, looked around, and snapped his fingers.
The next moment, several pieces of rubble transformed into an exquisite briefcase, inside which was an unknown object, and presented to Draco.
"This is the real Boggart, young master, if you are looking for it."
Draco approached the briefcase cautiously, still somewhat skeptical. The briefcase was shaking incessantly, as if the contents inside were trying to break free.
He used the method Lockhart had just described: the closer one gets to the Boggart, the more one feels a chill down one's spine and the hairs stand on end; it is indeed the real Boggart locked up here!
He suddenly rushed up to Dobby, grabbed his dirty rag, and his expression turned fierce: "Why are you here! How is Dad?!"
Dobby was startled by his sudden change, and then stammered, "Master—Master asked me to protect you and the mistress. Master is in the water dungeon—"
"And what else!" Draco demanded, then immediately realizing something, lowered his voice: "He also made you kill Granger, didn't he?!"
"Yes—yes, but Dobby failed. Dobby didn't want to kill anyone. Dobby isn't a good person—" the little elf said tearfully, but was interrupted by Draco.
"What about him?! He didn't say how he was going to get him out!?"
Dobby shook his head blankly.
Draco released it, leaned weakly against the wall, and lowered his head, seemingly lost in thought.
"Forget it, he's not a good person, don't save him."
Dobby watched Draco cautiously, not daring to utter a single word.
"Also, don't kill Hermione. You can't beat her, not even the professor."
Dobby nodded: "The mistress said so too, so Dobby won't kill her."
Draco looked up, puzzled. "You've seen Mom? When?"
"Just a week ago, Dobby sneaked in to see the mistress of Hogwarts while the Hogwarts barrier was broken."
Draco understood; it was during Lockhart's duel with Hermione that Hogwarts' anti-Apparition spell was briefly lifted.
But then he became angry again: "Mom never tells me anything! She always keeps everything to herself! She treats me like a child!"
Dobby looked at his irritable young master and said carefully, "The mistress won't let Dobby stay at Hogwarts, so Dobby moves with the castle. Today, Dobby sensed the young master's presence, so he came to protect him."
"I don't need your protection!" Draco roared. "Who can you protect! You!? A little elf?"
Dobby was taken aback by his questioning. Looking at Dobby's scars, he suddenly felt a pang of sympathy. This little elf had suffered a lot in order to find them.
His tone softened again: "I'm sorry, Dobby, I—"
If his father were here, he would scold an elf for being petty if he got angry at him. As a nobleman, he was always taught to control his emotions, and even anger should be used to achieve his goals.
"Young master, there's no need to apologize. Dobby is a Malfoy family elf, and it's Dobby's duty to serve his masters," Dobby said earnestly.
Draco looked at him, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "You must be very capable to survive in the wasteland. Can you teach me magic?"
But before Dobby could reply, he lowered his head dejectedly again: "What nonsense am I talking about? Elf magic is different from wizard magic, we learned that a long time ago."
Dobby helplessly rubbed his dirty pillowcase: "Dobby, Dobby can't help my little master, Dobby is a bad elf!"
Seeing that he was about to start self-harming, Draco stopped him in time: "Okay, stop."
He thought for a moment and said, "Since your mother hasn't assigned you any tasks, you can continue following the castle. I will come out every now and then and find an opportunity to be alone with you. You can come see me then."
"As you command, young master," Dobby bowed.
Draco's eyes gleamed with an indescribable light, a mixture of hatred and humiliation. He continued, "To revive the Malfoy family, I must become stronger. Dobby, go and find ways to become stronger, whether it's dark magic or lost alchemical artifacts. In short, this is the most important task I'm giving you, and you must take it seriously!"
"I will, little master, Dobby will help you find a way to become stronger!"
Draco glanced at the briefcase beside him: "You can go now. I'm taking this Boggart with me. Remember, don't let anyone else find out, especially Granger and the Professor!"
When Draco returned with the suitcase, everyone was shocked.
Just hours ago, he was terrified and cried in public, but now he has captured the fake Boggart, whom even Hermione couldn't catch, all by himself!
The other students at Slytherin looked extremely unhappy. Not only did they have to endure Professor Lockhart's criticism, but they also had to watch Draco, whom they looked down upon, swagger around.
Lockhart was also quite surprised, but he still praised Draco loudly and added ten points to Slytherin's score. This was the first time he, as Headmaster of Slytherin, had added points to his own house.
"What's so smug about! If the Boggarts hadn't been avoiding Hermione, catching one of these things would have been a piece of cake." Ron said indignantly, speaking up for Hermione.
Hermione wasn't jealous; she was happy for Draco's quick overcoming of his inner demons.