Draco Malfoy was in a good mood.
It was, without a doubt, because of the sight he had witnessed last night after following the Potter group.
That filthy gamekeeper was raising a dragon!
Malfoy, who had been educated in the prestigious pure-blood Malfoy family since he was a child, instinctively knew that this was a way to land a blow on that disagreeable group of mudbloods and half-breeds.
Not only had he traded for a forbidden dragon egg, but he was even planning to raise the dragon himself!
This was a crime so great that he could be dragged off to Azkaban just by reporting the facts as they were, without Malfoy having to lift a finger.
Moreover, this was not only a blow to that annoying Potter group and the vulgar gamekeeper, but also a chance to greatly improve his own image within Slytherin.
Even if Malfoy was a spoiled young master who had been raised with nothing but the finest treatment in a noble house, he was also a young Slytherin.
Even if he couldn't grasp the specific details, he was aware that his family's influence was not what it used to be.
He could tell just by looking at Crabbe and Goyle, who were supposed to be his underlings.
Though it had been promised between their families even before they entered Hogwarts that Crabbe and Goyle would serve as his subordinates, the reality now was completely different.
Malfoy still clearly remembered what Crabbe had said, sneering at him, from the moment they had first met on the Hogwarts Express.
'What era's Malfoy are you, trying to act so high and mighty? Don't tell me you still think we'll follow your orders?'
It was an insult he would never have dared to utter in the old days, when the Malfoy family's influence was at its peak.
Since then, Malfoy's influence within Slytherin had gradually diminished. He was able to maintain a minimum of power only because there were no other notable pure-blood families in his year, but that, too, was a stopgap measure.
For Draco Malfoy, who had lost the halo of the Malfoy name, only a predetermined fall was waiting.
In the midst of that, a big score like this was undoubtedly a move that could turn the tide.
To oust that Hagrid, who was despised by all pure-blood families but protected by Dumbledore, would surely be a great deed to be praised in Slytherin.
It was a chance to transform from a little kid who just throws his weight around, relying on the halo of his family—a fading one at that—to a capable young talent of Slytherin!
With such triumphant thoughts, Draco Malfoy walked confidently into the Slytherin dormitory, and was immediately taken aback.
The moment he spoke the password and entered, the eyes of all the students gathered in the common room were fixed on Malfoy.
Malfoy, though flustered, realized that this was the best timing to boast of his great deed.
"Hey, everyone, did you hear—"
"Malfoy, is it true that Hagrid is raising a dragon?"
But, before he could even speak, a senior Slytherin student spoke first.
And he was even saying the very thing he was about to say.
What? What's going on?
He was sure that he hadn't even mentioned the 'd' in dragon, so how did the seniors already know the news?
As Malfoy's mind was filled with questions, another third-year student spoke up.
"Draco, not bad. To have noticed Hagrid's plan to raise a dragon to attack Hogwarts in advance and expose it."
"Yeah, I'm seeing you in a new light. I never thought you'd be able to dig up such information on your own."
It was extremely bewildering, but with the atmosphere of all the other students agreeing, Malfoy himself was becoming confused as to whether he had already exposed Hagrid's plan.
Don't tell me I exposed the fact that Hagrid was raising a dragon and then forgot about it?
No, more importantly, what did they mean, Hagrid was planning to raise a dragon to attack Hogwarts?
But in any case, this atmosphere was undoubtedly very favorable to Malfoy himself.
He didn't know where the misunderstanding had come from, but Malfoy couldn't bring himself to say that it wasn't true.
The only question the bewildered Malfoy could manage to get out was this.
"Hah. Where did you hear that news?"
At that, a sixth-year student whose name he couldn't even remember spoke up.
"The fact that you, Malfoy, exposed Hagrid's plan is spreading throughout the school. Do you really think we wouldn't know about it yet?"
The fact that he had exposed Hagrid's plan was known throughout Hogwarts?
Before Malfoy's mind could go from confusion to panic, another Slytherin student spoke up.
"By the way, to think he would try to raise a dragon to attack Hogwarts, he's got some nerve. What on earth was he thinking?"
"Hah, there's no way that lowly gamekeeper could have come up with such a plan on his own, is there? Dumbledore is obviously involved."
"The Headmaster is involved?"
"It's obvious. That Muggle-loving Headmaster has finally shown his true colors. He's trying to take control of the school with the dragon Hagrid brought and dominate us pure-bloods."
"Even so, isn't that a bit of a stretch?"
"Why, I thought I heard that Malfoy, who saw the scene himself, thinks so too? Right, Malfoy? The rumor is that you saw something related to Dumbledore there."
"Really? Is that true, Malfoy?"
"Huh? Ah... hah, of course, of course it is."
Malfoy, who had reflexively answered in the affirmative, realized the weight of the words that had come out of his mouth, and his complexion grew paler and paler.
Something.
Something was wrong.
"Hah, then it's a sure thing. We might be able to use this opportunity to call a board meeting and impeach Dumbledore."
"Come to think of it, Malfoy. Wasn't your father, Lucius, a key figure on the board of governors? This is perfect!"
All he had wanted to do was to get that gamekeeper kicked out and improve his image. Why was the conversation leading to impeaching Dumbledore?
And I haven't even done anything yet.
As he listened to the conversation that went far beyond anything he could have imagined, Malfoy's mind, at the crack that had appeared from an unknown source, turned as white as a sheet.
Tap.
The next day, in the Great Hall.
Not only had his influence within Slytherin increased, but the prestige of the Malfoy family, which would surely become the center of the movement to impeach Dumbledore, also grew.
So much so that Crabbe and Goyle had knelt before Malfoy again that night.
Malfoy, who knew that he had no part in his rising prestige, couldn't hide his unease, but when he recalled last night, when Crabbe had knelt and pledged his allegiance, he couldn't forget the trembling sense of elation.
Right, when you think about it, it's not really a problem! He didn't know why words he had never said were circulating as rumors, but his goal of improving his own image had already been more than achieved.
In conclusion, it was a gain. So all he had to do was enjoy his current prestige!
At the fact that things couldn't be going any better, Malfoy felt as if he were in a dream, not reality.
He entered the Great Hall with a confident stride, and even as he saw the flock of owls, several times larger than usual, he was still drunk on the unreality of it all and sat down in a daze.
That's why, even when an owl dropped a parcel in front of him, he was able to open it without a second thought.
And only after seeing the name written on the parcel, and the object that had been delivered, did Malfoy feel as if he had been dragged back to reality.
—From Lucius Malfoy. Handle with care, do not break.
The object inside the parcel was a single mirror.
Malfoy, who had grown up in the Malfoy family and had seen all sorts of magical tools, knew what it was at once.
A Two-Way Mirror, a pair of mirrors that were one, which allowed one to see the other's mirror and have a real-time conversation.
But why on earth had his father sent him this?
After thinking for a moment, Malfoy realized that there could only be one reason why his father would send him this object right now.
He must have heard the strangely altered rumor that Dumbledore's plan to have Hagrid raise a dragon had been exposed by him.
Feeling the matter growing larger and larger, a chill ran down Malfoy's spine and his heart began to pound.
Quietly putting the mirror in his cloak, Malfoy left the Great Hall.
That night. Malfoy confirmed that the people around him were asleep, and quietly slipped out of the dormitory.
Only after arriving in a corridor where he was sure no one was around did Malfoy take the Two-Way Mirror out from his robes.
"Father."
The moment Malfoy spoke, the image of Draco Malfoy reflected in the mirror melted away, and the image of Lucius Malfoy appeared.
Lucius appeared and said.
"Draco. It's been a while. Are you finding Hogwarts to your liking?"
"Yes, Father. It's fine, except for the fact that the mudbloods who don't know their place are running wild."
"Ah, mudbloods are always a nuisance. In that sense, Draco, I trust that a clever boy like you will understand why I sent this mirror."
"...Of course, Father."
Malfoy answered after a brief pause.
Seeing him, Lucius's eyes glinted dangerously as he asked.
"So... that story is true, isn't it, Draco?"
"Yes, Father. It's all true."
"Draco. I trust you, of course, but let me ask you one more time. This is a very important matter. You are absolutely certain, are you not?"
Malfoy swallowed hard, avoiding the dangerous flame that was flickering in Lucius's eyes as he asked.
Now that it had come to this, it was gihojise. For the sake of his future, there was no longer any room to back down.
[T/N: Gihojise (기호지세/騎虎之勢): A four-character idiom that literally translates to "the momentum of riding a tiger." It describes a situation where once you've started something, it's impossible to stop or get off, much like trying to dismount a running tiger.]
If he denied it here, his reputation in Slytherin would surely plummet through the floor.
Besides, it's not as if he had said anything wrong. That damn gamekeeper was, in fact, raising a dragon!
The only part of the rumor that wasn't true was the story about Dumbledore.
And Malfoy thought that the probability of Dumbledore being involved was also quite high.
There was no way he would have committed such a mad act without any backing, was there?
Even if it wasn't a direct order, he must have come to some sort of agreement with Dumbledore.
Of course, all these thoughts were nothing more than self-suggestion to rationalize his own opinion, but to expect the current Malfoy to admit that would be too much.
In the end, Malfoy squeezed his eyes shut and said to his father.
"Of course, Father. I saw it with my own eyes. The sight of that vulgar, giant gamekeeper hatching a dragon's egg in his hut!"
"...I see. I understand, Draco. This father of yours will take care of the rest. If this succeeds, you will have performed a great service, Draco."
And then, Lucius's image disappeared from the mirror.
From the rumor that had spread without him ever having said a word, to the matter that was unintentionally growing larger and larger, a sense of anxiety washed over Malfoy, as if a large stone had been placed on his heart.
The Black Lake that surrounds Hogwarts.
A man, with an impression that seemed completely out of place with the laughing students of Hogwarts, was standing there.
That man, Lucius Malfoy, thought.
How long has it been since I last came to Hogwarts?
The family, which had been weakening day by day since the incident at Gringotts. For the Malfoy family, which had only a future of being buried under a mountain of debt due to the ever-increasing interest, a bright future seemed to not exist.
This was not just a problem that came from the money that had to be paid to Gringotts. No, of course that was the biggest problem, but.
Just as important was the fact that the Malfoy family was gradually losing its footing in the wizarding society.
Starting from his seat in the Wizengamot, Lucius himself knew better than anyone that the connections he had laid in the Ministry, both openly and secretly, were gradually being severed.
And now, a golden opportunity had come to use the position of head of the Hogwarts Board of Governors, which was, without exaggeration, the last remaining position of power among the dwindling interests.
Lucius, who had clenched his jaw, had men in black robes and suits waiting behind him.
"Lucius-nim. Your orders."
The direction they were looking was not Hogwarts.
The hut of that lowly gamekeeper, who should not even be allowed to set foot in Hogwarts.
They were looking at the hut, which was built on the border of Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest, as if to represent his own situation.
Lucius walked towards the hut and said.
"Begin."
And with Lucius's words, they walked with an intimidating presence towards the hut.
As Lucius got closer to the hut, he could feel a certain heat.
A heat that he could clearly feel. It was not a heat that suited this weather.
And Lucius could only think of one thing that would require such heating.
Lucius, with a bitter smile on one side of his lips, muttered.
"This is, a sure thing."
That gamekeeper who didn't know his place was, without a doubt, raising a dragon.
Well, his relationship with Dumbledore... probably doesn't exist.
Lucius was different from his still-immature son.
He had quickly noticed that there was something amiss in Malfoy's words.
Even if it was true that he had confirmed the existence of the dragon, he probably hadn't found a connection to Dumbledore.
It was clear that he had either exaggerated his own achievements to his peers, or the rumor had been distorted in the process of spreading.
But even Lucius could not have noticed that the source of the rumor was not Malfoy himself.
In any case, even if he couldn't confirm a connection to Dumbledore, it didn't matter.
If he could just confirm the fact that Hagrid was raising a dragon, Lucius himself could handle the rest.
Even if Dumbledore knew nothing about it, he could be impeached for negligent supervision of the gamekeeper.
If he did know, things would be even easier. If he knew and let it happen, what would that be but an admission that the charges against him were true?
Lucius clenched his fists and thought.
If I can impeach Dumbledore here, I can naturally raise questions about his position as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot.
I must use this to build a foundation for the revival of the Malfoy family.
With that thought, Lucius looked at the lowly gamekeeper's hut.
That is why, when he heard the bewildered voices of his subordinates soon after, Lucius couldn't help but be taken aback.
"...Lucius-nim. There's nothing here."
"What did you say? Nothing? That can't be. Even if he moved the dragon, there's no way there wouldn't be any trace of it."
"Not only is there no dragon, but we couldn't find any trace related to a dragon at all."
Something was wrong.
The same feeling that had washed over him when the incident at Gringotts had occurred now came over Lucius.
As if he were falling into a deep mire, Lucius's once-firm eyes began to tremble.