Fail Demon King

Victor, who was asleep, didn't grab the shelf and fell down from it.Tom caught him readily, and settled the sleepy-eyed owl on the upholstered armchair.

"Reasonable progress." Tom commented, crossing the desk and walking to Owen.Deliberately or unintentionally, his slender fingers brushed across the black cover of the thick book, "I think this is enough for today. After all, you have been face-to-face with this book for a long time before I came back." I'm stuck, right?"

Owen stood up, and the fire in Tom's eyes made him shiver for some reason, as if he had the illusion that the robe he was wearing had left him.He spoke in a rough voice to hide his ears that were in danger of burning again: "This is not correct, sir." He deliberately accentuated his words, "According to the task you assigned me, I still have twenty pages left today. -"

I don't know how many times Tom never let him finish his sentence.Owen only had time to see Tom leaning forward, getting closer, the curly, soft, half-dried black hair pressed against his forehead with the smell of fresh bath.

A shallow kiss only stayed on Owen's lips for a moment.Tom made a mistake a little later and looked at Owen's expression opposite him.Immediately afterwards, without even giving Owen a chance to be dazed, a series of free, superficial kisses disrupted his breathing on the spot.

Oh - for Merlin's sake, here we go again.

Owen let out a long sigh to himself—some people seem to really think that this trick will always work.But this time he didn't intend to be confused again, the little note from Lucius was still in his robe pocket, piercing his thigh like a sharp spell—in short, he would never just do nothing this time The ground was dragged casually to the bedroom.

It's time to rebel!Owen narrowed his eyes slightly, he suddenly grabbed Tom by the neckline, and ruthlessly pulled the man towards him, finally, he became the leader of a long and deep kiss with great difficulty and rare.

Tom seemed taken aback at first, but soon he began to enjoy it all with ease and laziness.Owen and Tom were face to face, and the distance was so close that he could even feel Tom's eyelashes trembling unconsciously, gliding across his eyelids.Without hesitation he tore Tom's pajamas with a snap, and a string of buttons fell horribly to the carpet—his own robes, of course, were no better.

It didn't take long, and Owen was almost pressed by Tom on the large desk.The ruthless and self-sustaining Dark Lord has long since disappeared, Tom's breathing began to become rapid, his cheeks and breath began to heat up, and the charming red tide swept across his pale cheekbones——

it's time!If Owen dragged on, he couldn't guarantee that he wouldn't be able to help himself. He suddenly pushed Tom when Tom was most distracted!

Owen strode to the door of the office, quickly opened the door and walked out.At the last moment of closing the door, he turned around.The tall man stood in front of the desk, a rare look of bewilderment and surprise flashed across his handsome face, and then a chilling and gloomy expression replaced everything.Tom clenched his teeth tightly, which made his cheeks puff up slightly: "Owensko, are you--are--joking--with me?"

Owen, however, will not be intimidated: "No, sir. I'm just sorry, I think it's really late today, and the only thing you need is a good rest-me too."

Seeing that Tom with a gloomy expression was about to walk towards the door, Owen quickly pointed to his open neckline, then bowed smoothly, and said emphatically, "Good night, Professor."

Owen didn't delay any longer, facing a Dark Lord who had endured to the limit - really, he wasn't that stupid.He slammed the door shut and rushed to the stairs to the third floor.While hastily straightening his robe, he tried to calm down his still hot breathing.

—There is one more thing to do.

In less than 15 minutes, another person appeared in the corridor on the third floor.As the portraits watched the dazzling platinum-blonde hair flash past their eyes, Lucius walked softly, barely making a sound.

—It was almost bedtime, and he really didn't know what the professor asked him to do.But since it's his mysterious good roommate Owen, it's wise to believe it.

He knocked on the door and it opened automatically.

Lucius looked inside suspiciously. The flames in the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's office seemed to be burning extremely hot that night. They were crackling and dancing in the fireplace, and "whoosh" jumped up from time to time.

A black-haired man with a livid face stood in front of him.Lucius's heart trembled, it must be a psychological effect, he felt that the expression of that person seemed to become uglier after seeing him.

"Sorry, sir." Lucius quickly lowered his head, and it took him less than a second to understand that this was Owen's trick. He caught a glimpse of the scattered "Slytherin Rules" on the desk Afterwards, he also quickly understood why he suffered such revenge, "This is really—"

"I understand. It's not your fault." A hissing voice resembling the language of a snake spit out from those cold lips, "Now, go back."

"Yes." Lucius bowed slightly, and out of politeness, he said his last goodbye to that one, "Good night, professor."

The next moment—and Lucius thought it might be his own dazzle—the rows of bright candles in the office flickered violently.

===================================

The author has something to say: Is it an illusion... Comments seem to have dropped sharply after the daily update T_T

Is the jar written too boring?

76 A Bad Newspaper

On a gloomy Monday morning, it seemed Lucius' bad luck had finally come to an end.He and Irving met at the long breakfast table. It was admirable that the roommate who had framed him just yesterday calmly pulled out the chair for him, and asked him nonchalantly if he wanted some minced potatoes Pie, as if nothing ever happened.

"It's my fault." Lucius' expression was as dark as the sky outside the transparent ceiling, as if water would drip out at any moment, "I didn't expect you to have such a strong revenge after you knew it was me who broke the news." heart, and put it into action with a crispness - it is extremely unwise to belittle it. Well done, Owen."

"You too. But it's okay, Lucius, we're even."

"Really?" said Lucius darkly and meaningfully, "—are you sure we're even?"

Owen shrugged, pretending not to hear the obvious threat, and continued to eat his butter pudding in a calm manner: "Of course. Speaking of which," he paused, "You returned to the dormitory in the early hours of last night, what exactly is your idol? What did you ask me to do?"

Lucius chuckled: "You care about that too? Oh——of course you care." He took a piece of cranberry scone and cut it up for a while before saying slowly, "I didn't You're so lucky. Last night I was put into a literal detention—the professor handed me over to Filch."

Owen bet Lucius was exceptionally strong with a knife and fork this morning, which must not go unnoticed - though his aristocratic demeanor was perfectly maintained.He finally grinned a little guiltily. "Well, man, that was pretty bad."

"The only good thing is that Slytherin didn't get deducted points, right?" Lucius glanced at Owen and said with resigned self-mocking, "After Filch has done all the torture he can think of - I have to say Most of them were nothing new - I was finally put back in the dormitory. But I saw Slughorn in the ground, and the old slug looked in a hurry."

Owen put down the knife and fork in his hand strangely: "Early morning? This is not common. I thought that even if something big happened at that time, it would be impossible to pick the old slug out of the bed."

"Usually that's the case," said Lucius, "but we have reason to suspect that he might be in a hurry to find someone—to the principal's office on the eighth floor."

Owen didn't have time to answer.Flocks of owls flew in through the windows, and the auditorium seemed even more dim because of the large number of birds.A great brown owl threw the newspaper in front of Owen and flew away without looking back.After a large shadow with fluttering wings left, the headline on the front page of the newspaper on the desktop was revealed—"Survey Operation Launched! Spell Inspection Intensified".There is also a line of small words below: "The dawn of a new era seems to be on the horizon."

Thick dark clouds covered the transparent ceiling, as if it was darkly pressing on the top of people's heads.Suddenly, there was a thunderous explosion, and a rumbling sound rolled past.The long table seemed to be slightly shaken, and many students subconsciously looked up to the horizon.

"Like a dragon flying past..." Owen muttered.

"Indeed. Quidditch training is going to fail," Lucius shook the newspaper page sensitively, narrowing his eyes, "It looks like it's going to rain."

Owen was inexplicably worried: "It is likely to be a storm."

On Wednesday, something extraordinarily strange happened: Defense Against the Dark Arts classes were suspended.

The teaching assistant had long since resigned, and there was no substitute teacher - which was not surprising, probably few would dare to substitute for the Dark Lord's class without permission - and the professor hadn't come.The unhurried footsteps were not heard in the corridor on the third floor on time, and along with that, the cold eyes looking at the whole class disappeared.

After receiving the sudden suspension notice, confused students walked out of the classroom in groups while whispering.

"That's pretty irresponsible, isn't it?" said a Gryffindor student, "and he'll have to wait until he's devoted himself to being Minister for Magic if he wants to suspend classes at will, and I don't think Dumbledore—"

"Okay," his classmate interrupted him sharply, "don't say a few words, you don't really want to take this class."

No one was more surprised by this than Owen.Lucius went to the owl house, with Crabbe and Goyle.Owen hurried back to the dormitory alone. He threw away his schoolbag and took out a double-sided mirror.

However, when he was about to call out Tom's name in front of the mirror, he hesitated: Since Tom is not at Hogwarts during this special period of time, there must be some important or difficult things that need to be dealt with urgently. Interruptions may not be welcome.

Owen stared blankly at the small mirror, which reflected his confused blue eyes.Suddenly, the mirror flashed and another face appeared.Owen was taken aback. If he hadn't been so familiar with that person, he would have thrown the mirror into the fireplace as soon as he raised his hand.

"I was waiting for you to call me," said Tom, frowning in the mirror. "I'm so disappointed by your indecision."

Owen swallowed helplessly: "...what happened?"

"It's nothing." Tom said categorically, his speech was fast, as if there was some urgent matter waiting for him, "Listen, I want you to stay in Hogwarts in peace recently, don't let me Knowing you were still wandering the corridors after lights out—remember to me, Owen Scott, never mind what Lucius does, and keep your curiosity in check."

"So," Owen turned a deaf ear and continued to ask the mirror—to be precise, he asked the person in the mirror directly, "What do you really plan to ask Lucius to do?"

"Very good, since you promised me," Tom narrowed his eyes, "then I believe your promise will be valid."

"... Seriously, do we have to pretend that we didn't hear each other like this?"

"No. I know you heard what I said, don't make me repeat it." Tom waved his hand indifferently, "As for what you said just now, I believe it is the result of not thinking carefully, so I don't take it seriously superior."

"..."

"No accident, I'll be back next Wednesday." The black-haired man said coldly in the mirror.Contrary to his demeanor, he seemed to hesitate for a moment, and suddenly stretched out his finger and tapped his bloodless lips, and then lightly pressed on the mirror, "You are welcome every night, next time don't let me I took the initiative to find you. See you in confinement next week."

The figure in the mirror disappeared.Owen was still sitting on the dark green four-poster bed, staring blankly at a mirror that only reflected his face. In the mirror, he found that the edges of his own ears were blushing.

In the next few days, it rained continuously.

Life at Hogwarts has never been so restless.There was a chaotic, restless mood everywhere, the murmurs of the hurrying faculty and staff, the gossip of various processed newspapers and magazines among the students.The often-empty headmaster's chair and the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's chair at the teacher's table during meals have added to the panic in the school these days.The crackdown has intensified, and a considerable number of wizards have already stood in the dock of the Wizengamot.

The news of the media in the magic world is updated every day, and everyone's attention is focused on Eroy Penster. Many people are secretly surprised that he has made such a big move, but quite a few people know that this matter The source and destination of the matter can never be just the Director of Magical Law Enforcement.

The school was completely covered in black clouds, which was made even more disturbing by the constant rain.On Sunday, the sky is as black as ink, Hogwarts is like a gloomy ghost castle, and there are huge black shadows everywhere under the sky.On the Quidditch field, with the tall ballposts swaying in the wind, Owen and Coster—another sixth-year Slytherin—had just finished Quidditch practice, and the two walked briskly back to the castle together.

The rain slapped the ground and splashed the muddy water in the puddle, and they ran into the castle in some embarrassment, waving their wands in the entrance hall to dry themselves.

"It's rare to have time for training today. As far as I know, poor Lagogas has at least three papers to write, and they are due on Friday...Lucius is not here," Coster said, "but Levins flies really well."

"Next week is the first game of the season," Irving muttered. "Damn Merlin, I hope this endless rain stops soon."

They made their way down the underground tunnels, and in the Great Hall were met by a few junior Gryffindors who watched their passage with wary eyes.Wednesday was the day after tomorrow, and Owen was not sure when and how some people would rush back to Hogwarts.He didn't know what to ask, but he was sure that Tom would walk some distance alone, at least back from Hogsmeade, and trudging through the rainy mud was no better than walking on a cold snowy night.

Starting from this point, Owen sincerely hoped that the weather would clear up soon.

But things backfired—

A storm is really coming!

On Monday morning, heavy rain poured on the transparent ceiling, the day was as dark as night, and the lightning and thunder made the dishes on the table tremble ominously.

The newspapers and magazines dropped by the owls this morning were like bursting spells of great power - the spell inspection team had injured fifteen innocent Muggles in a spell-fighting investigation on Sunday, killing four of them.The director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement is facing suspension for investigation, while the Department of Magical Accidents and Disasters has launched an emergency plan and intervened in the investigation. The result is an uproar: According to the investigation results, Pence was under the Imperius Curse.

——Public opinion overwhelmingly affirmed that someone was manipulating the unlucky Punster behind the scenes. Judging from the latter's consistent fanatical chanting and devotion to the revolution of pure-blood wizard interests, he has probably been pinched in the palm of his hand long ago. In fact, he is just a Just for the devil.The truly terrifying and unknown purpose of this operation is to deliberately provoke a dispute between the wizarding world and Muggles, and take advantage of the trend to attack and persecute wizards of the alien party, so as to consolidate their power.

The newspaper quoted a large section of Ponster's self-report. In the photo, the haggard former Director of Magical Law Enforcement held his forehead with one hand, his hair no longer meticulous and shiny, and his pointed hat tilted to one side of his head.

"...the Ministry of Magic's troubles appear to be much more than that. Penster claims to have a fuzzy memory of the day's melee, writes Caroline Cheft, our newspaper reporter. 'I really don't like Muggles,' which A former Secretary said wearily, 'As you all know, I advocate a policy of completely separating the wizarding world from Muggles. I have always been deeply concerned about the current situation of pure-blood wizards, but I can't afford to do such a stupid thing.  … I was forced to, but I can't remember...'

"What happened still needs further investigation. However, according to an official of the Ministry of Magic who did not want to be named, there has indeed been a big figure who has frequently put pressure on the political circle recently. The whole world is talking about it, and the Ministry of Magic launched an urgent investigation—— Who is this person?"

——Who else could it be? !

Owen simply didn't know how he read the entire page of the newspaper. He had to use all his strength to restrain the rattling sound of the newspaper shaking because of his slight trembling.The seat next to him was empty, and Lucius hadn't come for breakfast.In fact, even in the dormitory this week, they rarely saw each other.The newspaper undoubtedly caused an uproar in the entire auditorium. Many Slytherins on the long table looked solemn, but it was not ruled out that some people were still complacent and thought that there was nothing to worry about the whole thing—it seemed that they only needed to concentrate on counterattacking from the grid. Ryffindor's stern look, and the whispers of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff turned a deaf ear, and everything would pass smoothly.

—Merlin!Owen dropped the newspaper, thinking dizzily that he was never going to believe in Tom Riddle's big damn plans again!

77 A student who kidnapped a professor

By Wednesday morning, things seemed to be heating up.

As Owen expected, all public opinion is gradually pointing at one person——Tom. The Mystic Post commented: "We are all vaguely aware that there is a huge black hand hiding behind the wizarding world. There is no doubt that it comes from a big man. The power in every field is simply frightening—big men."

No one has exactly named that yet, but everything is self-evident.

The heavy rain was still falling, and dark clouds shrouded Hogwarts.

Owen became more and more intolerable, and this emotion gradually reached its peak when he faced Tom in the double-sided mirror in the past two days.Except for growing paler, Tom was as composed as ever.

This is not surprising, Owen knew that Tom had expected Punster to be suspicious.But the domineering, unreasonable looks some people put on irritated Owen, and they nearly had a fight on Tuesday night.

"Please—condescise—explain," Owen almost snarled into the mirror, "What do you mean by 'don't worry about anything, just stay in school'?!"

"Literally. Hold on, Owen, you're losing your mind - or are you trying to wake up all the Slytherins?"

Owen was about to be irritated by the man's carelessness, he clutched the handle of the mirror tightly, imagining that it was actually Tom's neck, and whispered through gritted teeth: "Come on, Lucius didn't go back to the dormitory at all! You really think I don't know that he's been back to Malfoy Manor at least twice this week? Lucretia likes to use a special kind of aromatherapy! You could just—"

The dormitory door opened.

Owen shut his mouth abruptly and turned his head to look.Lucius held the doorknob and stood at the door unexpectedly.Owen dared to bet that Lucius had clearly seen the double-sided mirror, as well as the stern gaze of the Dark Lord in the mirror, but he seemed to have noticed nothing, just nodded to Owen nonchalantly: "Suddenly remembered that there is a book Forgot in the library, I have to go back. Go to bed early, Owen."

Without hesitation, he gently closed the door and left.

Owen sat there tongue-tied, and a chuckle came from the mirror in his hand: "I assure you, Lucius doesn't know everything. But it's obvious, Owen, he knows more than you."

Owen coughed violently, turned his head and stared at Tom in the mirror.However, just as he was about to speak, Tom in the mirror interrupted him in advance: "Okay, I have to go."

"Damn! Wait a minute—"

In a flash of the mirror, the black-haired man disappeared, only his deep voice seemed to echo around Owen: "Good night."

——Damn good night!Owen was trembling with anger, he raised his hand violently, and the mirror flew out and landed heavily on his soft pillow.

Under such circumstances, Owen has no hope of seeing Tom back today.However, he guessed wrong again - on this day, they met the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in class on time.

Except for Slytherin, the guarded and fearful eyes of other houses made the atmosphere of the classroom extremely weird.However, the tall man standing on the podium with his hands behind his back didn't seem to care at all. In other words, he seemed to be enjoying it.

The Dark Lord appeared more stern and ruthless than ever in this class, and Owen suspected that it wasn't that he didn't see those hostile looks, but that he was too arrogant to even show contempt.After explaining how to distinguish zombies from infernal corpses in a few words, he waved his hand casually, and the heavy curtains in the classroom swung open.

For the first time in this class, the students were lucky enough to see the sky outside the window, but the dark sky and rolling thunder made the classroom darker and more terrifying than usual when the curtains were drawn tightly.Some of the wall candles were dying, and the flickering light fell on Tom's sunken, pale cheeks, and in the dead silence he spoke.

"I think we can end class early today." The professor said softly, his deep, thoughtful voice enveloped the dull classroom, seeming to imprison every student sitting in his seat, " A piece of good news: this is the last lesson I will give you.” Tom slowly scanned the faces below with different expressions, he twisted his lips, showing a somewhat sinister smile, “Go thank Merlin, we tortured each other it is finally over."

Owen stared at Tom incredulously—for a split second, his surprised gaze met Tom's silent, dark eyes, and then the latter quickly looked away seemingly indifferently, which made Owen even more Puzzled.

No one had any doubts, and no one was really that brave enough to blurt out "Thanks Merlin," but it was good news for some.The few Gryffindors were just as confused as Owen, yet they seemed much more refreshed.

"The only regret," said the black-robed man standing on the podium slowly, "I can no longer deduct points from the great Gryffindor House." His terrifying eyes suddenly fixed on A Gryffindor boy, "—that's really unfortunate, isn't it, Brian?"

Brian shrank suddenly when he heard the cold voice. He seemed to want to sit up straight and look up at the man in front of him, but he couldn't do it.He barely raised his neck, wandered his eyes from side to side in frustration, and cursed silently.

"All in all, I hope that all the flaws in your character can be rectified as soon as possible," the professor looked around the classroom condescendingly, "after all, I'm not sure that the next teacher will have my good temper. So be it - end get out of class .”

These were the last words the stern professor left in class.Immediately afterwards, the bell rang in perfect time, and the Dark Lord walked out of the classroom without looking back. The black robe stretched behind him, and disappeared at the door following his footsteps.

There was silence in the classroom for a while, and no one even stood up.Immediately afterwards, the sudden explosion of discussion was like a bomb dropped in the middle of the room!

Owen hurriedly stuffed things into his schoolbag amidst all kinds of inquiries and speculations, Lucius said softly beside him: "The next class is Transfiguration - I need to tell McGonagall Is it?"

"Thank you, Lucius. But... I don't think it's necessary." Owen said quickly, he waved to Lucius, and then strode out of the classroom.

In the corridor on the third floor, Owen walked quickly, but his steps were very light.Thanks to Merlin, the familiar office door opened by itself before he flung it open in a huff.

"Where are you going?" Owen asked immediately, throwing his heavy schoolbag on the carpet.

Tom sat behind the desk, clasped his fingers on the desk, and looked at Owen calmly: "Leave school for a while."

Owen crossed his arms and imitated Tom's usual look: "Go on."

Tom raised his eyebrows, and said slowly, a little inconceivably, "You are really getting braver." He stood up from behind the desk, turned his back to Owen and was silent for a while, "I really regret , didn’t wait until the end of Hogwarts.” He gave a short laugh, then turned around and looked at Owen with a smile suddenly, “I was going to give you an excellent Defense Against the Dark Arts this year, Owen—this is The first one in this course in your past life is excellent, I think."

"Come on," Owen said dryly, "you're playing for personal gain. Also, it won't work for me—how long are you going to be away? What are you going to do?"

"It won't be too long, I promise." Tom waved his hand indifferently, and he strolled up to Owen, "It's just that there are some things to be resolved."

Owen looked up into those dark eyes and said flatly, "Honestly, you look like you're trying to hypnotize me."

"If I had done that, you'd be walking out of this office with glazed eyes by now," Tom whispered disapprovingly, condescendingly surveying Owen's expression, with a sudden stern frown, "—and you see Looks like he's about to say something stupid that won't please us. Better not—"

Owen interrupted him decisively. The almighty Merlin has never been so straightforward before: "I'll go with you."

No doubt, Tom refused coldly: "Don't be stupid, I don't need it. Just stay in school and—"

Once again, Owen interrupted Tom: "I guess you must have expected this scene from Penster, you can tell from your goddamn disapproval. You have been suspicious for a long time, and ambushed in your plan." With a stealth bomb, you see someone behind Ponster, and you need to find him - the thing is, it's not risk-free, because you're using yourself as bait!"

Tom looked down at Owen with a leering look, and there was an expression of horror on his handsome face.

"—Ha, I noticed you didn't say 'continue' this time, so let's assume I'm right," Owen laughed mockingly, ignoring the furrowed and thinned brows of the dark-haired man in front of him. lips, and went on, "Now everything is going down according to your plan, but soon you found a loophole - oh, maybe two, but there should be no more. Don't think you can't Tolerance, Tom, loopholes are bound to exist in your kind of 'big plan'-of course, don't look at me like that, no one leaks anything to me, an outsider-"

Owen raised his head slightly, leaned close to Tom, and squeezed out a voice through his teeth: "It's your own face that tells me—the tip of your left eyebrow that you occasionally raise due to anxiety, the fine lines that twist at the corner of your mouth when you think... Let's put it together , all this is not very difficult for me, is it? But rest assured, I promise, no one will see it except me."

Tom said nothing, and a strange silence spread between him and Owen.

Owen thought that this arrogant and unreasonable man would throw a tantrum, or put on a cold look in a calm manner, and secondly, the contempt and ridicule that Tom Riddle Dark Lord was accustomed to.

But Tom didn't.

"Finished?" After a long time, the tall man said calmly, "You must be tired from standing."

"I'd probably feel better if I didn't have to tiptoe to see you."

"Stubbornness is not your strong point, Owen." Tom said softly, with a rare and pleasant expression, which, I have to say, really didn't suit him, so a few stiff lines appeared on his smooth forehead. Wen, "Go back. The only thing I need is that you stay in Hogwarts," he paused, and seemed reluctant to say the next sentence, "I believe Dumbledore will turn this place into a relative Island of safety, here you are, I will—"

"——Do you think, Tom Riddle," Owen's chin arched with rare toughness, his voice was soft but resounding, "after that damned Triwizard Tournament, I would still You leave me in the stands and let you end alone?"

Tom pursed his lips tightly, and his dark eyes were menacingly bright.

However, this time Owen took Tom's hand without fear, and held it tightly in his palm: "I'll go with you." He could clearly see Tom's eyes saying "How dare you say it again", but he greeted him. He met the menacing gaze, "Great, then let me put it another way:" He paused, and said the last sentence firmly, "You come with me."

78 A Long Secret Road

There is no doubt that this is a secret passage - one of the many secret passages at Hogwarts.

There is no way for two people to move forward in parallel here. There is wet and cold mud under their feet, and the surroundings are full of earthy smell, and it is pitch black.

Owen walked in front holding a flashing fluorescent wand, and he was holding the hand of the person behind: "...what the hell is this place," he muttered softly, but in the dark tunnel with only two people, his voice was clear Terrific, "I never knew there was a secret passage behind that big mirror..."

"Oh—" a lazy voice came from behind him, "so when you say 'you come with me', you actually don't know where the road is?"

"Don't laugh, Tom," Owen said calmly, "At least I'm the one leading you now." He shook his wand, and the fluorescent light on the head of the wand drew a bright curve in the darkness, "But having said that , I didn't expect you to agree... I thought it would be almost impossible to persuade a diehard like you—"

"Come on, Billy Stubbs," said Tom slowly, "you're on par with me for stubbornness alone. And I admit you have a point: I really can't take you this time." stay in the stands of the Triwizard Tournament in case you make any more trouble."

"...The 'Triwizard Tournament' you call here is probably a metaphor, isn't it?"

"Exactly," said the man behind Owen in a tone of utterly hateful, faked regret. "I'm sorry, but I can't give Slytherin five points now."

"..."

"Since I don't want to knock you out and let Lucius take you back to the dormitory, unfortunately, agreeing to your suggestion seems to be the only way out." Tom paused meaningfully for a moment, then said suddenly, "And I want you to understand that I do not, in fact, consider your absence as a satisfactory thing; and, as I expected, you objected strongly to it--I think, at this point At this moment, it is not wise to go against the wishes of both of us at the same time - then, it is better for us to be together."

"Don't say it so forcefully." Owen sneered, "But, Tom, it's a good thing you finally realized that I am indeed your partner, not your son. For this reason I