Midday.

The students had gathered in the auditorium to enjoy a delicious lunch served by the house-elves, from starters and main courses to desserts.

However, because the end of the semester is approaching, most of the students are doing other things while eating lunch.

For example, if you are reviewing with a book - whether this is a temporary cramming or a pre-exam review, this can be regarded as an effort, but there are also some people who don't even want to revise, and they specialize in spreading panic before the exam.

Hufflepuff House's Ernie McMillan is one such person.

"Well, I've got some gossip about exams here."

While the four of them were still eating lunch together, Ernie said with a mysterious expression.

"I heard this from other people too?"

"What?"

At times like these, it was always Justin who was in the audience, and for him from a Muggle family, even some new news in the wizarding world and even in Hogwarts would still attract his attention a year later.

"I've heard that the final exam for Defence Against the Dark Arts class might put us up against a werewolf in person."

"Really?!"

It wasn't Justin himself, nor Hopkins, who was in the same dorm, but Hannah, who was sitting across from him.

At this time, it almost hugged her best friend Susan Bones next to her.

"Werewolf, don't, I don't want to see a werewolf......"

Seeing this scene, the corners of Connor's mouth couldn't help but pull.

Don't you believe this kind of thing without asking too much?

Seeing this rumor intensifying, he couldn't help but speak out to stop it:

"Are you saying this because you have seen something with your own eyes?"

But what Connor didn't expect was that Ernie answered more justifiably than he did:

"I don't know, it's just that I've heard people say that."

That's probably the truth, yes.

Ernie just likes things that are popular with people, and he thinks if he hears someone else's discussion in class or somewhere else, and then spreads it as a fact to his classmates.

After hearing him admit this, Hannah, who was still a little nervous, quickly relaxed.

"It's really, what are you talking about nonsense without evidence......"

"But, you see, now Headmaster Dumbledore and several of the Headmasters are gone, and they don't even eat lunch...... I think they should be discussing the final exam questions. ”

"Alright, don't be so cranky."

Seeing Ernie's sworn appearance, Connor couldn't help but shake his head.

"The teachers weren't there, maybe for something else."

"Huh? What's the matter? ”

Ernie asked.

"Didn't I leave the common room early this morning, when Headmaster Dumbledore asked me for some help, and then I met some strangers...... Maybe it's from the Ministry of Magic. ”

"Ministry of Magic?"

This word made the surrounding classmates stunned.

Even, even the seniors over there have their eyes set on here.

"What's wrong?"

"No, nothing, just did see something in the morning...... It doesn't seem to be anything to do in the afternoon, so I'll help you go to the principal's office and ask later? ”

Connor's words clearly had a plan of his own.

But what he didn't expect was that this directly caused a burst of surprise among his classmates.

"Are you able to enter and exit the Headmaster's office freely now?"

"Well, what's the problem?"

"Nothing."

Ernie scratched his head.

"It's just that the sudden thought of how busy you seem to be lately makes it feel like I haven't known what you're doing for a long time."

“……”

Hearing this, Connor's face couldn't help but show a trace of astonishment.

"It doesn't seem that serious, does it?"

Justin spoke.

"Haven't we been in class together all the time...... The cram classes in the lounge haven't stopped, have they? ”

"Yes, maybe it's my delusion."

Ernie apparently didn't think much of it, just scratched the back of his head over there.

It's just that none of them noticed that the classmate next to them who got along day and night showed a complicated expression.

"How to say it, the heartfelt thing is called the ability to work hard...... Who told Headmaster Dumbledore to arrange a mess for me all the time? ”

And this time it was the same.

Turning his gaze to the empty teachers' seats, Connor couldn't help but close his eyes.

"Maybe not long after...... No, maybe it's the afternoon, and I'll have to get busy. ”

After all, that should be the only thing that can get all the teachers to leave, right?

After all, that's something you can't hide, and you need to talk to other people anyway.

…………

"So, Mr. Malfoy, are you sure this is Peter's corpse?"

Pushing her glasses, Professor McGonagall asked in a low voice.

At this moment, the four deans gathered in the principal's office.

There was only one reason: Lucius Malfoy was here.

His arrival was hasty, but solemn, because the box he had brought with him contained the corpse of a large mouse with hair shedding.

"I don't know, after all, my Transfiguration Charm skills are not enough to support me to study the advanced Transfiguration magic of Animagus."

Lucius just shook his head at Professor McGonagall's complicated gaze.

He would never admit it head-on, and even take himself out of it.

"It's just that when Scrimgeour came to me, he told me it was Peter and asked me to help dispose of the body."

"So you're trying to say that you have nothing to do with these things, do you, Mr. Malfoy?"

The old, steady voice came, and Lucius felt his heart tugging.

Looking up, the old man sat calmly in his chair.

Albus Dumbledore, the greatest and probably the greatest wizard of the 20th century.

When he existed, even if the British wizarding world at that time was bloody, that adult had never stepped into the academy as the Dark Lord.

He is a witness to a hundred years of history, and a living fossil that no one can shake.

“…… No. ”

After a moment of silence, Lucius shook his head.

"I won't deny what I've done, I once brought a dragon egg for him under the threat of Pettigrew, I won't deny it, and if you need me to testify about it, I'm willing to stand up and prove it......"

Speaking of this, Lucius sighed.

"After all, Siris is also my wife's younger brother."

After his gaze rounded, Lucius stood up.

"Then, I still have important matters, so I'll leave first."