Chapter 133
"I hate people who attack from behind. It's the dirtiest and most despicable way of doing things—a coward's trick.
But criminals are an exception. When dealing with them, I don't mind a surprise attack," Moody said gruffly as he dragged his wooden leg and slowly entered the room.
"You can't stick to rules when dealing with Dark wizards."
His magical eye swept across the surroundings, taking in everything at once.
"Look at this—poor Potions professor. Must've been taken down from behind too." His gaze lingered on Snape lying nearby. Then it shifted to Sirius, whose head was exposed where the Invisibility Cloak had slipped.
"And this is the first time I've seen a student this young associating with a Dark wizard. A female student, at that. Unbelievable." Moody shook his head. Both his normal eye and magical eye fixed on Hermione at the same time.
"No, what you're seeing now has a reason. It's because—" Hermione forced down her fear and disgust and met Moody's gaze directly. Eye contact could make a person seem more sincere. It might increase her chances of persuading him.
"I don't need a third-year student explaining things to me," Moody cut her off bluntly. "You'd better start thinking about how to write your report so you don't get expelled."
"I won't confiscate your wand. You can even try to attack me if you want. That's the last bit of consideration I'm giving Dumbledore. I want him to see for himself how his prized student helps a fugitive." Moody grinned, but there was no warmth in it—only cold mockery.
Calm down. I have to stay calm, Hermione told herself.
Then she remembered.
Veritaserum.
She had used it to uncover the truth from Sirius—and to convince Lupin. It was the best way to prove everything now.
Slowly, she reached into her pocket and took out a crystal vial.
"Professor Moody, this is—"
A spell struck her hand.
Pain exploded through her fingers as if hit by a hammer. The bottle slipped from her grasp and shattered on the floor with a sharp crack. The remaining clear liquid spread across the dusty ground. Glass fragments scattered, some cutting lightly into her calf.
Her body was fine.
But her heart sank into despair.
Her last chance to prove the truth was gone.
Hermione tightened her grip on her wand.
She hadn't even seen Moody raise his wand.
Then she saw it—
A faint golden glow.
Pale gray eyes.
A sharp chin.
A familiar face wearing a cold smile.
Draco Malfoy.
He stepped out from behind Moody and walked toward her.
"So," he murmured near her ear, "was my dormitory interesting? I didn't expect Miss Know-It-All's curiosity to be so strong that she'd even crawl under my bed."
Under any other circumstances, Hermione might have been flustered by the closeness.
Now there was only confusion.
Why is he here?
Sirius's earlier words flashed through her mind.
A student… captured me…
Understanding struck her like lightning.
Then Malfoy spoke again.
"Meddlesome Hermione, you should understand something. If you insist on taking responsibility for things beyond your ability, you'll only harm yourself—and others. If I hadn't informed Professor Moody in time, you'd still be deceived by these criminals."
"How many years do you think Lupin and Sirius Black will get?" He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Actually, with the Dementors gone from Azkaban, maybe there's no one to guard them. Perhaps execution would be simpler."
Hermione's face went pale.
"I think the wizarding world could learn something from Muggles," Malfoy continued loudly enough for Moody to hear. "Capital punishment."
"If no one wants to do the job, these old bones of mine wouldn't mind helping," Moody said with a harsh grin. To Hermione, it looked terrifying.
"That's impossible! They're innocent! I can testify for them!" Hermione's eyes filled with tears. She grabbed Malfoy's sleeve. "You know the truth. You must know they're innocent! Tell Professor Moody!"
"Please stop talking nonsense, Hermione Granger," Malfoy said quietly, pulling his sleeve free. "I have no reason to do something that doesn't benefit me."
He lifted her chin with two fingers, examining her face.
"Forget it. If you were a little prettier, I might consider using a honey trap. But first you'd need to fix your teeth—and do something about that hair."
He let go.
Hermione's face flushed deep red—whether from humiliation or anger, even she couldn't tell.
"You can't be serious," Malfoy added with a shrug. "You really can't tell an obvious joke, Miss Granger."
"Shut up!" Hermione snapped.
Her wand moved.
Even if she couldn't attack Moody—
She would at least teach Malfoy a lesson.
Her anger drowned out reason.
"Stupefy!"
The spell shot out without warning.
Someone fell.
"…Finally," Malfoy exhaled, looking down at Hermione's unconscious body.
"When I saw you provoking her like that, I almost turned you into a ferret," Moody muttered, his magical eye spinning. "The girl couldn't handle that kind of pressure."
"I only wanted to teach her a lesson," Malfoy said with a helpless shake of his head. "She nearly ruined things for me last time. Besides, weren't you the one who said you'd report her to Dumbledore?"
"…Still," he added after a pause, looking at Hermione lying on the floor—her eyes still wet, her lips tightly pressed together.
"It seems I went a little too far this time."