Chapter 540: Lucius Malfoy's Disappearance
“Terrible weather, isn’t it?” Michael burst into the compartment, drenched from head to toe, grumbling. “Reminds me of the time we ran into a Dementor.”
He stood in the middle aisle, water dripping steadily from his hair, rapidly soaking the floor beneath him—and even splattering onto the suitcase beside him. Mud and rainwater pooled around his feet.
“Don’t even mention it,” Theo muttered, following behind. “I’d rather not remember those… things.”
Wade raised his wand. “Warm Breeze.”
A soft, gentle wind spiraled from the tip of his wand, swirling around Michael. His robes billowed slightly, and fine mist rose from his body. In moments, he was completely dry—his clothes crisp and smooth.
“Whoa…” Michael spread his arms, admiring himself, then shook out his sleeve. “Whoa~”
“What’s so whoa about it?” Liam said, already stepping in behind them. He shoved the two forward into the compartment, blocking the way before any curious students could peer in. With a quick motion, he shut the door and drew the curtain closed.
“Look! My clothes are dry!” Michael announced proudly, demonstrating the spell’s effect. “My dad couldn’t even do that!”
“What kind of spell is that?” Theo asked, eyes wide with curiosity. “Did you invent it, Wade?”
“Yeah,” Wade replied. “A refinement of the Fire Spell—modeled after Muggle dryers.”
He pointed his wand at Michael’s suitcase, drawing a small spiral in the air. “Ventus Calidus!”
A warm breeze swept through, drying the floor and the suitcase in seconds.
Michael stretched out his hand, letting the wind brush over his fingers. “Feels a bit warmer than before.”
“You can control both temperature and wind strength,” Wade explained. “Prevents burns—or accidentally blowing your clothes off.”
Michael’s eyes lit up. “So… you could make the wind stronger…”
He didn’t get to finish.
Theo clamped a hand over his mouth, cutting off the rest of the sentence with a muffled gurgle.
Liam shook his head, sighing. “Just a few days apart, and you’ve turned into such a pervert.”
Michael rolled his eyes, yanking Theo’s hand down. “I was just thinking—if the wind were strong enough, you could lift someone off the ground like a balloon. How is that perverted?”
Liam blinked. “…What?”
Theo, genuinely confused, looked down. “Oh… you meant that? I thought you were about to say something… inappropriate.”
“Huh?” Michael feigned sudden realization, raising an eyebrow. “You thought I was going to say it could blow up girls’ skirts? Tsk tsk. That’s really crude. Only someone with a filthy mind would think that.”
Theo and Liam stared in silence.
Michael lounged back with his legs crossed, leaning casually against the window, shaking his head with mock solemnity. “Honestly… the level of imagination you two have is shocking.”
Wade nearly burst out laughing.
After a round of teasing, the group stowed their suitcases. Theo glanced up at the luggage rack—then paused, frowning.
“Wade,” he said, puzzled. “Where’s your trunk?”
“Easy,” Michael said. “He must’ve tucked it into his closet.”
Before he could finish, Wade smacked his own head with a book.
“What’s wrong?” Liam asked, turning.
“I… forgot,” Wade muttered, voice thick with frustration. “I meant to pack my things into the closet space this morning… but I was so anxious, I—”
He’d been up late crafting his magic puppet, exhausted. When morning came, flustered and late, he’d impulsively transformed the closet space into a pencil case and slipped it into his pocket—completely forgetting he hadn’t yet loaded the owl cage or suitcase.
Then, with the rain and Ferdinand’s frantic warnings about traffic, Dobby had been sent to deliver everything to school. Wade had thought it more convenient.
Now, with Michael reminding him, he realized: he’d wasted a perfectly good shortcut.
Seeing Wade—of all people—make such a simple mistake, the others burst into laughter. The compartment filled with warmth and mirth.
Knock knock knock.
The compartment door rattled.
“Cart witch,” Theo said, pulling the curtain aside. “Anything you want?”
“Thanks, but I’m not hungry yet,” Harry called from outside.
Theo paused. “Huh?”
He looked out into the corridor—Harry, Hermione, and several members of the Weasley family were crammed together in the narrow passage.
“I’ve been looking for you all over,” Hermione said, stepping inside. She gestured for Liam to scoot back, then sat down, facing Wade across the aisle. “Hey, Wade. You know what’s going on at school this year?”
Before she could finish, Fred snapped, “We all know it—except you lot! Come on. This is our story. What happens at school matters to us!”
“Malfoy’s father rushed into our compartment just yesterday, mocking us for not knowing anything,” Harry added, frustrated. “And Sirius Black won’t even tell me.”
Ron mimicked Draco Malfoy with exaggerated sneer. “Your father and older brother are both in the Ministry of Magic… and you don’t even know? Their rank’s so low… My father deals with Ministry leaders. He told me ages ago…”
He huffed, muttering a curse under his breath.
The others looked grim.
Theo exhaled slowly. “You might not have heard… but Malfoy’s father has vanished.”
Everyone turned—except Liam, who already knew.
“Vanished?” Harry asked. “What happened?”
Hermione frowned. “I didn’t see anything about it in The Daily Prophet.”
“Malfoy family isn’t making it public,” Theo said. “My uncle says they’re searching quietly.”
“When did he disappear?” Wade asked.
“Right after the World Cup,” Theo replied. “After the riot at the camp… no one’s seen him since.”
“Probably an accident,” Ron said, dreamy-eyed. “Maybe a frenzied Boggart dragged him up the mountain and dropped him off the edge. Too bad—little Draco always looked up to his dad.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Ron!” Hermione snapped, slapping his arm. “This is serious. Something weird is going on. It’s not just a coincidence.”
“Worse than a Boggart attack at the camp?” Ron scoffed.
“Maybe he’s planning something,” Harry said seriously. “Like… trying to revive the Death Eaters.”
“Or he was taken,” George added, voice low and loaded. “You know… that night, another group showed up.”
“The Wizard Purity Party?” Liam asked.
“Yeah,” Fred said. “Maybe they were nearby during the riot. Then they ran into Malfoy… Lucius Malfoy.”
“Why would Malfoy run?” Liam asked.
“Because if they catch him,” Fred grinned, “he’ll go straight to Azkaban.”
(End of Chapter)
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