Chapter 41: 2

(Author's Note: Due to character limits, these two stories have been combined.) 

[A Story About Salazar Slytherin]

It was nothing unusual to see Hermione buried in a book, but lately, her choice of genre had been remarkably consistent: history books.

“A hidden chamber where a monster left by Salazar Slytherin lurks... As I thought, this is about as much information as one can get from a book.”

As Hermione massaged her tired eyes, Ron reacted with exaggerated flair from behind her.

“Blimey, this Salazar Slytherin fellow was barking mad. No wonder the other Founders kicked him out.”

“—I don’t think that’s quite right.”

Startled, the eyes of Harry, Ron, and Hermione—the usual trio—snapped to a single point. It was Maria, a beautiful red-haired girl who had been lounging lazily on the sofa.

Normally, Hermione would have scolded her for being unladylike, but they all noticed something different about the atmosphere surrounding her. Harry, in particular, felt it.

“If he were merely a hated loner who never saw eye-to-eye with anyone, his name wouldn't have been preserved as a House for all this time. The reason Slytherin House is still honored as a school of thought a thousand years later is that there is a fundamental respect for Salazar Slytherin. I find it hard to believe that a man respected by so many was nothing more than the 'scumbag' you claim he was.”

The twelve-year-olds were bewildered; the words she spoke felt far too complex and heavy for their age. Hermione—the cleverest among the three, and indeed among all their peers—tried her best to digest Maria's words, but the two boys had completely given up.

“But Salazar Slytherin was a pure-blood supremacist, and that’s why he tried to drive the others out…”

“Yes. And that’s probably where the ‘Chinese Whispers’ started.”

“Chinese Whispers?” Ron tilted his head in confusion.

“It’s when a message gets slightly distorted every time it’s passed from one person to another, until the original intention is completely changed.”

Ah, that, Harry thought, remembering a certain type of teasing from his primary school days.

“This is merely my own speculation, of course… but seeing as many pure-bloods are of noble descent, I believe Salazar wanted to pass down the principle of noblesse oblige. By nature of their blood, pure-bloods possess inherently strong magical power—regardless of whether they can control it well or not. Simple as that. Therefore, I think he wanted to provide them with a specific education so they could become leaders who guide the weak. Somewhere along the line, that intent was twisted into the pure-blood supremacy we see today.”

The children were utterly spellbound by the speech of the girl who was supposed to be their peer. Honestly, it felt incredibly persuasive. Above all, the fact that these were Maria’s words carried weight—this girl was far more mature than any of their other classmates.

“—Just kidding. It’s all just my imagination. So, well, yeah—I actually don’t mind Slytherin that much. I mean, there are students like Draco, right?”

At the mention of Draco’s name, the three of them couldn't help but groan in reluctant agreement.

Well, true. Draco Malfoy’s personality was certainly Slytherin-like, but… he wasn't actually that bad of a person. Even Ron had to admit that much.

Maria smiled at the three children who were now frowning in deep thought. They were clever, compassionate, and brave. Even if it was difficult for them now, she was sure that one day they would strive to see the true essence of things.

The girl—who possessed the arrogant yet sincere heart of an adult within a child’s body—found the sight of these children growing second by second to be truly dazzling.

[A Story of Draco and Dobby]

“So? What exactly are you thinking, causing all this harm to Harry?”

Draco questioned the family’s house-elf—whom he usually tried to avoid—while suppressing his emotions. Dobby kept flapping his ears back and forth, repeating, “Heaven forbid, heaven forbid!”

“Harry Potter is in danger, sir! He must not stay at Hogwarts! Harry Potter must go home!”

“I’d say he’s in plenty of danger already because of you, wouldn't you?”

“A far more terrible disaster is to fall upon him!” Dobby shrieked, pleading desperately. Dobby was simply acting out of sheer desperation.

“What kind of danger? That’s an order—answer me.”

“Master has given orders! Dobby must not speak out of turn! …But even Master does not know!”

“…My father?”

“Master does not know! He is being used! But Dobby cannot tell! Dobby must not!”

Draco was taken aback as tears began to stream down Dobby’s face. To think a house-elf would cry… Having seen him before, Draco never knew the creature was capable of such rich emotion.

“Master is being used, and Harry Potter is being targeted!”

“…Does this have to do with the Chamber of Secrets?”

Dobby’s eyes squeezed shut in shock—that was his answer.

“…If that’s it, the Chamber is already open. We even know what’s happening inside—”

“No!” Dobby interrupted loudly.

“Young Master does not know!”

“Dobby… if you mean the diary, we already—”

“No, no! Young Master does not know! Harry Potter is in danger! —Because the Young Master is by his side!”

“……What?”

Before Draco could ask for clarification, Dobby disappeared with a crack, looking more terrified than ever. He had likely gone back to the manor to punish himself.

Left behind, Draco could only stand there and think.

He would not learn the true meaning of those words—that Harry Potter was in danger because Draco Malfoy was by his side—until a little later.