Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

Chapter 248 Armor and Weakness

Whether Dumbledore believed Thea wouldn't do anything at Hogwarts or not, he still approved Thea's request to return to school.

The coming school year is definitely not going to be peaceful. Instead of sitting and waiting for things to go wrong, we might as well stir things up a bit more. Maybe we'll get some unexpected gains.

With this in mind, Dumbledore forcefully suppressed the discussions within the Order of the Phoenix about banning Thea from the school, even going so far as to convene several internal meetings regarding Thea's return to school.

Magic is power.

This seems to be an unspoken rule that prevails in the world.

In this protracted struggle, Dumbledore emerged victorious.

Meanwhile, far away at the Riddle mansion, Thea was painstakingly preparing Draco psychologically.

If Thea had to describe her current state of mind in one word, she would only have one word: awful!

I don't know if Draco is going through a rebellious phase of adolescence or what, but ever since Lucius went to prison, this carefree young master seems to have vowed to revive the Malfoy family.

Unfortunately, this sapling, which was just beginning to sprout, was almost broken by Voldemort's order—he was sent to kill Dumbledore, the number one wizard in the wizarding world.

Upon hearing this news, Thea knew perfectly well that Voldemort was punishing the Malfoy family. He was always good at this kind of thing—giving people a task that was almost impossible to complete. If they succeeded, all previous debts would be wiped clean. If they failed, they would only have death to face.

Reason told Thea that she shouldn't get involved, but remembering the years she spent at Malfoy Manor, she mustered the courage to go to Voldemort to find out if there was any chance of a turnaround.

Unfortunately, the plan fell through halfway through—Voldemort didn't even show his face, only sending Bella to deliver a message that she couldn't leave the old house unless school started.

So Thea could only stay in the Riddle House, passively waiting for Narcissa and the others to ask for help.

But she never got to see it.

Just a few days before school started, Thea finally managed to coax Bella into bringing Draco in, but Draco immediately said curtly, "My business is none of your concern!"

Thea was furious. I sat anxiously in the Riddle mansion, trying countless ways to help you, and I clung to Bella relentlessly until I finally got a chance to smuggle myself across the border.

Ok!

However, after just one holiday apart, she not only stopped calling me "sister" but also seemed to want to distance herself from me!

Have you lost your conscience?!

Thea wanted nothing more than to slap this rebellious child awake, but the thought vanished when she saw Draco's pale and thin face, and the bluish shadow that no amount of Radiance Charm could conceal.

He's still just a child...

Thea struggled for a long time, then decided to give up and consider it a way of repaying the Malfoy family for their years of dedicated training!

She set aside all the weighing of pros and cons, and all her repeated instructions were condensed into one sentence at this moment: "Don't worry, I'm here, I'll always help you."

Thea's voice was gentle and slow, carrying a reassuring power. With just one simple sentence, Draco, who could no longer bear it, finally broke, like an arrow stretched to its limit.

He clearly made countless preparations before coming here…

I kept reminding myself not to show any weakness...

Clearly…………

But with just one sentence from the other party, all the armor he had previously worn seemed to shatter completely, revealing only his deepest vulnerability.

“Thea…” Draco’s voice was hoarse, filled with utter despair and grievance, “I guess I’m still really stupid…”

"I couldn't think of any other way..."

Draco clung to Thea like a drowning man grasping at a straw, but the images he had seen in Spider's End flashed through his mind.

Only now did he belatedly realize that he shouldn't have come...

He shouldn't have dragged Thea into this, at least not after his mother had schemed against her like that...

Reason warned Draco not to succumb to his weakness, but his emotions held him firmly in check until the last bit of resistance vanished.

Being clung to like a lifeline is never a pleasant experience, especially when that person is a head taller than you...

Thea didn't know if Draco was uncomfortable in such a cramped position, but her legs were already starting to go numb.

The 16-year-old boy had long since lost the baby fat on his face, and even his height was changing every day. No one knew when he started wearing suits. The boy's slender figure paired with a well-tailored suit added a touch of nobility to him.

Thea was lost in thought until Draco released her first.

As soon as he let go of her, Draco immediately lowered his head and looked down, not daring to meet Thea's gaze. After several seconds, he muttered, "Never mind, I'll do it myself..."

Thea almost couldn't resist the urge to punch him, but seeing Draco's pitiful look, she could only ask gently, "Why did you suddenly change your mind? You were fine just now."

Draco refused to speak, because he genuinely didn't know what to say, and even felt a growing sense of despair. He figured Professor Snape would help him anyway, and there was no need to drag Thea into this…

She already has enough worries, there's no need for this to add to her troubles...

“It’s nothing,” Draco said casually, even joking, “Maybe I’ll be the first one!”

"I'm telling you, if I really succeed, my dad will be fine!"

"Everything can go back to the way it was before!"

Seeing Draco's forced composure, Thea finally felt a sense that Draco had grown up.

She listened quietly as Draco spoke of his grand visions, without uttering a word.

Draco only stopped his incessant chatter when Bella came over to remind him of the time.

Seeing Thea's unwavering stance, Draco knew that she hadn't changed her mind.

As he was about to leave, he only had time to hurriedly say, "Don't worry about me, just do your own thing!"

He was then dragged away from the Riddle House by Bella.

If she wants to help Draco, how should she do it?

Thea, who hadn't taken Draco's rejection to heart at all, fell into deep thought again.