Chapter 168 - 167 — Hermione’s Discovery

Chapter 168: Chapter 167 — Hermione’s Discovery

# Chapter 167 — Hermione’s Discovery

Vesey came downstairs.

She looked a little haggard, probably because she’d been studying her potions ever since returning to the dormitory.

She gave Harry and Ron a disgusted look.

Harry and Ron knew she simply disliked Crabbe and Goyle, so they didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. Instead, they were secretly delighted.

That was how Vesey should treat people like these two!

"Are you here just to discuss what’s in the newspaper?"

Vesey took the newspaper from Ron’s hand and glanced at it. She pursed her lips, looking particularly upset.

"Look at what they did! They flew a speeding car halfway across Scotland. I think that really was a crime, wasn’t it? You can’t accuse me of deliberately slandering them!"

Malfoy said this proudly.

Vesey sighed.

"You don’t have to say that. My brother and Ron have already been punished. They’re young and foolish, and they certainly haven’t escaped the consequences of what they did.

"I’m not accusing you of slandering them. I simply don’t want to hear you mocking the Weasley family, Colin, and the others. Mr Malfoy, I sincerely hope you’ll learn what it means to be polite!"

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

[...]

She calmly set the newspaper aside.

Then she walked over to Hermione and smiled.

"Your present... Cassandra!"

Hermione immediately stood up, looking helpless.

"All right, all right!"

Vesey blinked at her, pretending to be confused.

Hermione was immediately at a loss.

She had no idea what to do next. She rarely saw Vesey and Cassandra speak to each other, after all!

All she could do was try to remain silent.

Vesey sighed and shook her head as though she were utterly helpless.

"You gave me a blank piece of paper. I thought you had something you wanted to tell me in person!"

Hermione opened her mouth, unable to think of anything to say.

But when she saw Vesey preparing to leave, she instinctively grabbed her hand.

"Don’t!"

The moment she did so, Hermione realised she’d made a mistake.

Every student in the common room was staring at her in astonishment, as though she’d just done something unbelievable.

Vesey shook her head helplessly.

Had Hermione never noticed?

Cassandra hardly ever touched other people. She was somewhat of a germaphobe, too.

Vesey could understand why Hermione might want to touch her, but grabbing her hand or hugging her was entirely out of character for Cassandra.

If Vesey hadn’t been standing right there, Hermione might have exposed herself completely.

"You’re that eager to stop me? Do you really have something to tell me? Then go ahead!"

Vesey didn’t leave. Instead, she followed the pull of Hermione’s hand and sat down beside her.

Hermione had only wanted to keep Vesey there. Now that Vesey had actually stayed, however, she had no idea what to say.

She could only clear her throat and ask, "How’s your research going?"

A smile spread across Vesey’s face.

"Very well! I’ve even conducted a few experiments on myself—"

Before she could finish, Hermione sprang to her feet in alarm.

"You experimented on yourself?!"

Vesey touched her hair and smiled sheepishly.

"It’s really nothing. I just brewed some Polyjuice Potion, found a strand of Millicent’s hair, put it in, and drank the potion.

"I temporarily transformed into Millicent, while retaining the vampire condition, and then drank my medicine.

"After that, I discovered that my urge to drink blood had genuinely disappeared. I was so excited that I nearly jumped for joy!"

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

[Ding! Energy Points +10]

[...]

Vesey grabbed Hermione’s hand, speaking with obvious excitement.

Hermione’s eyes reddened slightly.

She swallowed the string of curses she wanted to unleash, then pulled Vesey into a tight hug.

Vesey suppressed her blush.

"Cassandra..."

She spoke in a deliberately embarrassed voice.

But Hermione kissed her on the cheek.

"You’re amazing, Vesey!"

Vesey noticed several Slytherins getting to their feet.

She knew Hermione’s identity could no longer remain a secret.

She hurriedly pushed Hermione away, pretending to be embarrassed.

"Oh, I’m really not that amazing! I’m going upstairs!"

With that, she hurried away, her face flushed.

Hermione watched her retreating figure, looking as though she hadn’t had enough of their interaction. She was just about to smile when she suddenly noticed Malfoy looking at her suspiciously.

Her heart sank.

He might have figured it out!

She quickly stood up and announced, "I still have something to do. I’m leaving!"

She winked at Harry and Ron before immediately leaving the Slytherin common room.

"That’s strange. Shouldn’t she have gone home? Why is she here? And why is she so close to Vesey? She doesn’t act like herself at all!"

Malfoy narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Harry and Ron could only laugh awkwardly.

Malfoy looked at them with disgust.

"Looking at how stupid you two are, I almost thought you’d been replaced as well! Anyway, where were we?"

Harry and Ron hurriedly reminded him, "Colin! We were talking about Colin!"

Malfoy snorted.

"Right, that petrified little lapdog. I’ve never seen anyone suck up to someone so shamelessly. Fortunately, he was petrified. Otherwise, he might have disgusted me so much I’d have thrown up!"

At the mention of the petrification, Harry and Ron immediately perked up.

"Who petrified him?"

They expected Malfoy to claim that he’d done it himself.

But he didn’t.

Instead, he said enviously, "I wish it had been me! Everyone says it was Potter, but I know it wasn’t.

"Just look at Potter. He’s always hanging around with Mudbloods and Weasleys. If he were the Heir of Slytherin, I’d eat this table!"

"Don’t you know who did it?" Harry asked quickly.

Malfoy snorted.

"I’d love to know who it was so I could help them! I just want to get rid of all the filthy things in this school!"

Ron opened his mouth, but Malfoy laughed at him as though he were an idiot.

"All right, I know what you’re getting at. I do know something, actually.

"My father told me that the Chamber of Secrets was opened once before, fifty years ago, before he was even born.

"He definitely knows the whole story, but he said it had nothing to do with me and told me not to concern myself with it.

"He said everything was confidential, and if I knew too much, people would start suspecting me.

"Our family already attracts enough unwanted attention as it is.

"The Ministry of Magic has been searching our house lately. They don’t even realise my father has hidden things beneath the floorboards...

"My father said the Heir of Slytherin has his own plans and wants to eliminate all the Mudbloods.

"Oh, and there’s one more thing I know. When the Chamber of Secrets was opened the first time, four Mudbloods died. I hope the same thing happens this time!

"Take Hermione Granger, for example. I’ve disliked her for ages. She’s always hugging people and acting like they’re all her relatives.

"I’ve never seen such a disgusting Mudblood. That girl has completely changed my understanding of how revolting someone can be. I hope she—"

He suddenly stopped speaking.

As though he’d just thought of something, he looked toward the spot where Hermione had been sitting.

Harry and Ron realised that Malfoy was genuinely suspicious. They wanted to say something to distract him, but then they noticed that the appearance of the person standing beside them seemed to be changing.

Even the clothes had become looser.

The two of them jumped to their feet and bolted out of the Slytherin common room before Hermione could be exposed any further.

"What are you two doing?"

Malfoy asked in confusion.

The pair shouted something indistinct as they ran away.

"To hell with you and your entire family!"

Then they left Malfoy behind, fuming with rage.