Hogwarts: I will not become the Dark Lord

"Check this out!" Neville spread Rita Skeeter's article on the long table in the Great Hall, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

The front page of the newspaper featured a large photo of Harry, taking up almost the entire page, followed by a lengthy article (continued on pages two, six, and seven). Harry was undeniably the main focus, while the names of the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang champions were awkwardly squeezed into a corner at the end, even with spelling errors. As for Jerry and Cedric, they were completely forgotten, not even mentioned.

Harry glanced at the content, and a nameless heat and discomfort surged in his heart. A sense of shame washed over him, making his heart burn.

"How could I possibly be silently weeping in the dead of night?" Harry gritted his teeth, resisting the urge to crumple the newspaper into a ball and throw it into the fireplace. "I never told Rita Skeeter any of this!"

Harry felt upset. He had just been punished by Snape last night, spending the entire night in the underground classroom handling and pickling disgusting rat heads, and now he saw this in the Great Hall.

"How did I get dragged into this too?" Hermione took the newspaper and frowned as she read it. Immediately, her face turned extremely ugly due to the terrible content, as if she had swallowed a fly.

Since the emergence of this report, Harry became the target of public criticism, especially the Slytherin students, who loved to deliberately quote the sharp and sarcastic words in the article to ridicule and mock him as he passed by.

"Need a handkerchief, Potter? So you don't cry in class."

"When did you become an honors student, Potter?"

Hermione was not spared from the unhappiness brought about by this turmoil either.

"Her?" After Rita Skeeter's article was published, Pansy Parkinson mocked Hermione with her sarcastic tone every time she met her. "What is the basis for such an evaluation? Has Rita Skeeter ever seen Miss Delacour?"

"Are you crazy!" A companion quickly interrupted Pansy Parkinson's nonsense.

When one fears something and desires time to flow slowly, it often goes against their wishes, instead speeding up as if someone has pressed the fast-forward button. In the blink of an eye, the approaching date of the first task quietly arrived. The days of preparation seemed to have had their clocks secretly sped up, and most of it had passed in the blink of an eye.

On the weekend before the first task, Harry found Jerry.

"Jerry, Hagrid told me to wear the Invisibility Cloak and go to his hut with you at midnight tonight. He has something important to tell us!"

"I know what Hagrid wants to talk to us about. It's about the first task of the Triwizard Tournament, but I have other things to do tonight, so I won't go," Jerry shook his head. "I already know what the first task is!"

Although Madame Maxime had imposed a gag order on Fleur and kept her by her side every day, fearing that Fleur would reveal secrets to Jerry, Fleur still told Jerry the content of the first task of the Triwizard Tournament yesterday: one dragon per person!

… …

Night fell, in the Slytherin private lounge.

"Long time no see, Katherine!" Jerry's voice sounded in the silence.

"Your Majesty!" Katherine, who had just returned from the Apostle headquarters, hugged Jerry tightly and whispered in his ear.

"Let's talk business first!" Jerry patted Katherine on the back, signaling her to sit down on the sofa first. "Tell me, what was the result of your meeting? She still refuses?"

"That's right," Katherine frowned slightly and nodded, with a hint of helplessness in her tone. "Sophia Mamen (the Third Bishop's wife), that stupid woman, is only willing to provide us with some marginal information about the Third Bishop's usual activities. She is very resistant to other cooperation matters!"

"That's enough," a hint of satisfaction flashed in Jerry's eyes. "After all, they have been husband and wife for so many years, even if the relationship between them has deepened."

"Sophia Mamen thinks that as long as we help her get rid of those shameful mistresses and illegitimate children, she can sit back and relax. She is so stupid. Does she think everything will end so simply?" Katherine sneered.

"Okay," Jerry said, holding Katherine's hand, "You've worked hard these past few days. Sophia Mamen is a bit stupid, but I'm very satisfied with the results! As long as she continues to provide us with information about the Third Bishop!"

"What about the reaction of the Second Bishop, Publius Maro?" Jerry asked, with a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

"Don't worry, unlike the Third Bishop's tyranny and recklessness, the Second Bishop Publius Maro is greedy and cunning. He has always cherished his life like gold, and he is timid and cautious. His greatest 'advantage' may be that he is unwilling to interfere in other people's affairs and is happy to stay out of it. Of course, it would be even better if he could get a share of the pie."

"What kind of demons and monsters are these families of you Apostles?" Jerry said half-jokingly and half-seriously.

"Your Majesty," Katherine hesitated, "I will graduate from Hogwarts this year… Should I apply to be a professor at Hogwarts?"

Katherine imagined Jerry becoming her student and calling herself professor, thinking it was a bit… exciting!

"No need," Jerry shook his head. "Katherine, it is a waste of talent for you to stay at Hogwarts. It is most suitable for you to return to the Apostles!"

"By the way, does your grandfather have anything to say?" Jerry asked, changing the subject.

"Yes," Katherine restrained her smile and her expression became serious. "Grandfather wants to ask you to go to headquarters as soon as possible. He wants to tell you about the final ritual! After all, there are only a few years left, and Voldemort will be resurrected before long!"

Jerry pondered for a moment, appearing somewhat hesitant: "Katherine, this matter… let me think about it carefully."