My School Life At Hogwarts Chapter 893: Karkaroff, in Danger - Novel Cool

Chapter 893: Karkaroff, in Danger

Chapter 893: Karkaroff, in Danger

After the first task of the Triwizard Tournament, a representative from the Fancy Wizarding Robes store came to collect the Fire Dragon outfit. Mike Dapho offered to design a set of Christmas ball gowns for Albert and his partner, but Albert declined, stating that he already had enough gowns. He had chosen to wear the Fire Dragon outfit for the first task primarily for the sense of security it provided.

Paying no heed to the bewilderment on Mike Dapho's face, Albert bade him farewell and turned to leave.

Mike Dapho was taken aback by Albert's outright refusal, and his rationale only added to his dismay: "I already have a gown, so there's no need to trouble the Fancy Wizarding Robes store further."

Could it be that the gowns designed by the renowned store couldn't compare to the ordinary gown he had purchased for ten galleons?

Albert, however, was unconcerned with the other wizard's thoughts. He didn't particularly like Mike Dapho, believing that the man was merely trying to profit from his fame.

In the days that followed, news reports about the first task were everywhere, and the Prophet was no exception. Rita Skeeter's article once again graced the front page, as she gleefully kicked Karkaroff while he was down, embellishing the story with her own brand of spice.

The headline screamed: "A Terrible Judge, a Headmaster Who Stopped at Nothing for Victory, and the Students Who Overthrew Them."

Further into the paper, there were additional interviews with the other students.

Rita Skeeter had effectively tarnished Karkaroff's reputation beyond repair.

However, the Beetle missed one detail—she refrained from mentioning Karkaroff's past as a Death Eater in her article. Otherwise, the "One-Point Wonder" would have been public enemy number one.

Following the first task, the winds of change blew through Hogwarts with unprecedented force. Surprisingly, the students who had previously scorned the idea of the 'Chosen One' began to rally behind Harry, hailing him as Hogwarts' brave warrior.

As a result of this shift, Harry's reputation improved significantly. It was unclear if the students of Hogwarts were fickle or if they genuinely believed that Harry Potter deserved the title of the school's champion. Nonetheless, the number of students sporting "Potter Stinks" badges dwindled rapidly, as many chose to remove them and instead proclaim their support for Harry Potter.

Even more intriguing was the fact that students across Hogwarts were abuzz with discussions about Albert's remarkable performance in the first task.

As for Harry, his accomplishments were largely overlooked, and he was content with the level of support he received, even if it wasn't on the same scale as Albert's.

Albert, on the other hand, was less than pleased. The number of girls seeking his autograph had increased exponentially, and their relentless pursuit left him with little personal space. He found himself spending more time evading their persistent tails, desperate for some peace and quiet.

"The number of applications to join the Wizarding Club is skyrocketing!"

In the Room of Requirement, Lee Jordan excitedly shared the good news with the others.

"They're just caught up in the moment," Albert bluntly replied, dashing cold water on Lee's enthusiasm. As a level-headed Gryffindor, he couldn't comprehend the girls' frenzied behavior, but he was under no illusion that their current fervor would last.

Lee Jordan sneaked a glance at the photos Albert had laid out on the table and asked, "By the way, when did you take these pictures?"

"I had someone help me with them," Albert replied as he sifted through the pile and selected a photo of Harry. He intended to send it to Sirius Black to use as the cover for the Triwizard Tournament column. He wanted to establish the Defense Guide magazine's authority in the wizarding world and thought that Sirius could provide some insight into the Karkaroff incident.

"You don't mind if I take a few, do you?" Lee Jordan reached for the photos, but Albert was quicker.

"Yes, I do mind," Albert said, clearly annoyed. "I still need these. They're not just for fun." He carefully placed the photos into an envelope, along with the letter he had been writing.

"Your signed photos in the Fire Dragon outfit are selling for a fortune among those girls," Lee muttered. "It's a great opportunity to make some money."

"When I have more money," Albert said, ignoring Lee's comment, "I'll buy myself a Fire Dragon leather jacket."

Fred and George, taking a break from their work, picked up one of the photos from the table. "Still, no matter how you look at it now, this outfit of yours is pretty awesome. If we'd known they were going to take it back so soon, we would have borrowed it from you to take some pictures."

"When you have the money, you can have the Fancy Wizarding Robes store design one for you to keep as a family heirloom," Albert teased.

"I wouldn't waste that many galleons on something like that," Fred shook his head. "That Fire Dragon outfit of yours isn't really suitable for everyday wear. If you're going to buy something, a Fire Dragon leather jacket would be a better choice."

"If it were Lockhart," Albert said with a smile, "I think he'd jump at the chance."

"You're absolutely right," Fred and George agreed, laughing.

Poor Lockhart, they thought. He wouldn't be going anywhere anytime soon, confined as he was to St. Mungo's.

"But why did you refuse the offer from the Fancy Wizarding Robes store to design your Christmas ball gown?" Lee Jordan asked, genuinely curious. "I bet it would have been amazing."

"You should know that there's no such thing as a free lunch," Albert replied. "Whatever benefits you receive now, you'll have to repay later. If I hadn't worn that Fire Dragon outfit, do you think those girls would be so crazy about me? They're driving me nuts." Having sealed the letter, Albert slipped it into the envelope along with the photos.

"I think you deserve a punch in the face right now," Lee Jordan muttered.

Fred and George exchanged a glance, and Albert's words struck a chord with them. What would they have to give in return for all the favors Albert had done for them?

As if reading their minds, Albert calmly said, "When the time comes, you'll have to put in more effort with the shop. Don't blame me for leaving you to do all the work while I reap the profits."

"Of course not!" Fred and George exhaled in relief. "Your role is to provide us with technical support."

"By the way, have you figured out the secret of the golden egg yet?" Lee Jordan changed the subject, his tone light and playful. "And who's your partner for the ball? You know, those girls are interested in everything about you. I think you should give them some hints, or they might sneak into your room one day and steal your clothes while you're showering."

Fred and George simultaneously whistled and gave Lee a sympathetic look. Albert glared at Lee, his eyes narrowing.

Uncomfortable under their collective gaze, Lee Jordan quickly defended himself. "Don't look at me like that! I overheard two girls talking about it last time."

"You're just making excuses. If Albert's underwear ever shows up on the black market, he'll definitely hang you out to dry to teach you a lesson," Fred teased with a laugh.

They couldn't quite fathom the extent of the girls' fanaticism. Just how incredible must Albert be for them to contemplate stealing his clothes?

"Ahem, it's really not good for all the girls to be fixated on me like this," Albert said to Lee Jordan. "You help me come up with a plan, or think of some big scandal to divert their attention elsewhere."

"That's incredibly difficult," Lee Jordan remarked, feeling the weight of the task. "You're the center of attention right now. Unless Krum runs naked through the castle, there's basically no way to divert the girls' attention."

"How about you steal Krum's underwear and then spread the word that a girl took it?" Fred suggested with an evil grin. "I bet once this gets out, no girl will dare to steal Albert's underwear again."

"That's disgusting," Albert retorted, shooting Fred a disdainful glance. After a moment's thought, he continued, "Just say that the reason Karkaroff gave me one point is because he looks down on Muggle-born wizards. As for evidence, that guy used to be a Death Eater, and it's normal for Death Eaters to hate and despise Muggle-born wizards."

"Karkaroff was a Death Eater?"

This shocking revelation startled Fred, George, and Lee Jordan.

"How did that guy avoid getting caught, and how did he become the headmaster of Durmstrang?" The trio found this situation baffling.

"Maybe Karkaroff used some despicable means," George said with disgust. "Death Eaters are capable of anything, and nothing they do would surprise me." He recalled, "Malfoy mentioned on the train that his father and Karkaroff were friends. Well, now I know how they became acquainted."

"Perhaps they even marched together wearing masks during the Quidditch World Cup," Fred added, sharing George's disdain for the Malfoy family.

"Is Malfoy a Death Eater?" Lee Jordan asked, raising an eyebrow. "My dad said Fudge invited the Malfoys to the World Cup, and they seemed quite familiar."

"Yes, we were there," Fred and George confirmed.

"Ahem, according to my intelligence," Albert cleared his throat, steering the conversation back on track, "after the disappearance of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Karkaroff betrayed many of his companions to avoid imprisonment."

"Do you think Karkaroff was the one who put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire?" George interjected.

"Didn't you forget?" Lee Jordan gave Fred and George a look that said their memory was terrible. "Albert said last time that it was He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named who put Harry's name in."

"Hmm, we can pin that blame on him too, I don't mind," Albert said nonchalantly. "Anyway, with that deadpan expression of his, he probably won't live much longer."

The trio drew in a sharp breath, mourning Karkaroff for three seconds. With Albert's jinxed mouth, Karkaroff's fate seemed sealed.

"Can you really tell that someone's going to die just from their facial features?" George was amazed by Albert's fortune-telling abilities.

"Of course not," Albert replied.

George was left speechless.

Albert explained, "It's actually quite easy to guess. Given He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's personality, he would never tolerate betrayal. Once he returns, even if Karkaroff hides, he will be found and killed as a warning to other Death Eaters."

"According to what you're saying, Karkaroff is indeed doomed," Fred and George agreed, taking Albert's words to heart.

"Actually, Karkaroff does have a chance to survive," Albert said softly. "As long as he finds a reputable house-elf and has them cast the Fidelius Charm on him, he can hide until He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is defeated again, and no one will bother him."

"Who will defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?" George asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

"Of course, it's Harry," Albert stated as if it were obvious.

"You really think Harry can defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named?" Fred found this hard to believe, thinking it more plausible that Albert could defeat him than Harry.

"Because... Harry Potter is the savior, and he has no choice," Albert said, holding up a finger. "Don't talk about this to others."

"No choice?"

Whether it was Fred, George, or Lee Jordan, they could all hear the helplessness in Albert's tone.

"Then... why a house-elf?" Lee Jordan asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

"Because house-elves are more loyal than wizards," Albert explained matter-of-factly. "Even if they are killed, they won't leak any information. As long as they hide, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named won't be able to find them, and he won't even think of this possibility. I dare say that most wizards would overlook this fact." He continued, "I remember you mentioned that house-elf named Dobby works in the Hogwarts kitchen, right? Help me get in touch with him when the time comes."

"Are you planning to hire that house-elf?" Fred, George, and Lee Jordan stared at Albert, their eyes wide with disbelief.

"House-elves are more reliable than wizards at times," Albert said softly. "I know another house-elf who works in the kitchen, and if Dumbledore agrees, I'll take him away... I mean, I'll bring him along. He'll be a big help then. As for Dobby, we can talk to him first and set things in motion. He'll definitely receive good treatment from us, and doesn't Dobby want a job? I can offer him one later."

"Are you really going to join Hermione's 'S.P.E.W.' club?" Fred eyed Albert skeptically.

"Of course not, why would I make things difficult for myself?" Albert shook his head. "By the way, how do you guys even know about this?"

"Hermione tried to recruit people a while ago, but no one paid her any mind," Lee Jordan shared, surprised. "I'm surprised she didn't try to recruit you. If you had joined, a whole bunch of girls would have signed up for the 'S.P.E.W.' club for sure."

"She asked me a long time ago, but I refused and told her that her approach wouldn't work," Albert recalled, shaking his head.

"She's too naive," George remarked, not wanting to dwell on the topic. He steered the conversation back to the present, "We'll handle this. When the time comes, I'll have Dobby come to our dormitory to discuss it."

"No problem," Albert agreed.

"Why don't you go yourself?" Fred was puzzled. With Albert's charm and good reputation, it was likely that the house-elf named Dobby wouldn't refuse his invitation.

"Well, there are some reasons, and you'll know about them later," Albert replied vaguely.

(End of Chapter)

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