Malfoy lied to Snape and even blatantly stopped him from using Legilimency.

This was a huge change in attitude. No student in the school had ever dared to speak to Snape so blatantly.

No matter how much they loathed him deep down, they at least maintained a basic level of politeness and obeyed his orders.

This was a student’s duty. Even Harry didn’t dare to confront Snape like this, because doing so would definitely lead to retaliation.

For Malfoy in particular, this change was even more shocking.

He had always shown great respect toward Snape before.

It seemed that joining the Death Eaters under Voldemort’s command really could change a person’s personality.

“I just want to do it myself!” Malfoy said again, his tone still hostile.

“Do it yourself? So that is why you have been avoiding me this term? You have feared my interference?” Snape pressed. “You realize that, had anybody else failed to come to my office when I had told them repeatedly to be there, Draco —”

“So put me in detention! Report me to Dumbledore!” jeered Malfoy.

There was another pause. Then Snape said, “You know perfectly well that I do not wish to do either of those things.”

“You’d better stop telling me to come to your office then.”

“Listen to me,” Snape’s voice dropped even lower. “I am trying to help you.”

“Help me?” Malfoy sneered, “Let me be frank, I don’t trust you, you want to steal my glory!”

“What nonsense!” The conversation stopped for a while, and Snape said coldly, “You are speaking like a child, Draco. I quite understand that your father’s capture and imprisonment has upset you, but you are no longer a child. I really want to help you. For the sake of your parents, I swore to your mother I would protect you.”

“I don’t believe in unbinding oaths, and I don’t need your protection. It’s my job, he gave it to me, and I’m doing it. I’ve got a plan and it’s going to work, it’s just taking a bit longer than I thought it would!”

“What is your plan?”

“It’s none of your business!”

“I told you — if you tell me what you are trying to do, I can —”

“… help me, yes, but I also said that I don’t need your help. I’ve got all the assistance I need, thanks, I’m not alone!”

“You were certainly alone tonight, which was foolish in the extreme, wandering the corridors without lookouts or backup, these are elementary mistakes —”

“I would’ve had Crabbe and Goyle with me if you hadn’t put them in detention!”

“Keep your voice down!” spat Snape, for Malfoy’s voice had risen excitedly. “Why did I put them in detention? If your friends Crabbe and Goyle intend to pass their Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. this time around, they will need to work a little harder than they are doing at pres —”

“What does it matter if they pass or not? Defense Against the Dark Arts? We all know it’s just a joke, the subject is worthless. You teaching it—it’s just an act, isn’t it? Like any of us need protecting against the Dark Arts —”

“It is an act that is crucial to success, Draco!” said Snape. “Where do you think I would have been all these years, if I had not known how to act? Now listen to me! You’ve disappointed me so much. You are being incautious, wandering around at night, getting yourself caught, and if you are placing your reliance in assistants like Crabbe and Goyle —”

“They are not the only ones, I’ve got other people on my side, better people!” Malfoy raised his voice again, as if he wanted to prove himself. “I told him my plan, and he supported me in doing so. He arranged stronger helpers for me.”

There was another long silence, longer than the previous ones combined.

It could be imagined how shocked Snape’s expression must have been at that moment.

“You told him? He approved your plan?” he asked in disbelief, even forgetting to lower his voice.

“Of course, this was the job he gave me. He trusts me.”

“Well, it seems you are smarter than I thought, Draco,” said Snape, returning to his usual tone.

“At least I’m not a fool, or a child,” said Malfoy. “I will succeed as long as you don’t hold me back.”

The conversation inside ended, and Evan, Harry, and Hermione hurriedly retreated. They were still digesting what they had heard, and their heads felt messy. There were too many hidden messages in what they had just heard. Only Evan was slightly more composed since he had already anticipated some of it.

But he hadn’t expected Malfoy to be so bold, and there were parts of the situation that seemed different from what he had imagined…

In an instant, Malfoy’s footsteps sounded on the other side of the door.

The door burst open, and Malfoy strode away down the corridor, past the open door of Slughorn’s office, around the distant corner, and out of sight.

About a minute later, Snape emerged slowly from the classroom, his expression unfathomable.

He glanced over to where Evan, Harry, and Hermione were hiding, then returned to the party.

After overhearing Snape and Malfoy’s conversation, none of them had any interest in the Christmas party anymore.

Evan’s original plan to take Hermione somewhere private for some time alone fell through because Hermione was just as shaken as he was.

The three of them discussed the conversation in the empty classroom for a long time, mainly Harry.

Once they had sorted out the facts they could agree on, Harry started making guesses — something he was truly talented at.

And from what Evan knew, as long as Harry’s speculations were about Malfoy, most of them were surprisingly accurate.

When they had nothing left to debate, they decided to go back to bed.

At this time, the party was almost over, and Elaine, Colin, Luna, Ginny and others had already gone back.

Evan felt a little regretful. Looking at the attractive Hermione dressed up, he knew he should not have come out with her to eavesdrop on the conversation.

The atmosphere tonight had been rather nice, but with the Christmas holiday starting tomorrow, there would surely be other opportunities.

However, as they bid each other goodnight in the empty common room, Hermione suddenly leaned in and kissed him.

It was light, not under the mistletoe, and the surroundings were not as romantic, but just as memorable.

Evan returned to the dormitory with a smile on his lips, thinking about how Hermione had just looked, he took off his robes and fell heavily back on the bed.

This was actually not bad. It had been a long day, and there was still Malfoy’s scheme to consider…

Wait, Evan thought he felt something on the bed, why was there someone lying in it?!

In the dim moonlight, he saw a pair of lively wine-red eyes approaching him rapidly in the darkness.

Pure red — so mesmerizing that it was impossible to look away.

And just below them, slightly pouting lips of the same deep red, moving swiftly toward him.

The small mouth opened, revealing two sharp fangs, carrying the sweet scent of candy.

Elaine, hiding under the covers, opened her mouth to bite Evan’s neck without hesitation…

Hey there! Translating_Wizard here! Chapter 1623 just dropped on Patreon! If you've enjoyed reading and want to read more, I'd greatly appreciate your support ♡

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