Chapter 71 - Lie Exposed (1/2)

”Is she alright?” Daphne asked as soon as she entered the room and noticed how pale Penelope looked.

Then she looked at the room which at this point, didn't really resemble a classroom anymore, though she did notice the clever use of an extension charm being used to make the room longer than it should have been.

”I don't think so.” Hermione replied and ran up to the older girl, leaving Daphne behind to study the room.

And frankly, she had no idea what she was even looking at.

Transparent pipes? Rats? Cages?

What was going on here?

Wasn't this supposed to be some kind of secret place where Hermione and Harry came in order to study some kind of obscure magic?

The only thing she could relate to after studying the room was the muggle horse races that she heard about from Tracy who seemed to have gone to one of those things.

Was this some form of entertainment for them?

Some kind of way to blow off steam after studying for a long time.

But still, rat racing.

She couldn't understand it.

And suddenly there was a person in front of her and she almost squeaked in fear at his sudden appearance.

”Harry. Don't scare her like that.” Hermione's chiding voice came from the other end of the room where she was talking with the older girl whose complexion seemed to have returned by now.

”Sorry.” Harry replied in a voice that clearly indicated how he didn't really felt very sorry at all.

Then he looked at her and she suddenly froze at the curious expression in his face.

The same expression that a child held when looking at a particularly interesting toy.

”And who are you?” He said with an easy smile though she could still feel the caution he held toward her with the slight tension in his posture.

”I'm Daphne. Daphne Greengrass.” She said, trying the hide the nervousness she felt under his scrutiny with a smile and raised her hand for a handshake, or a hand kiss or whatever he wanted to do that would stop him from look at her like that.

He looked away from her for a moment with a faraway look on his face, as if trying to remember something and she was about to thank the gods for getting her away from his scrutiny when he started staring at her once again, this time his eyes on the scarf on her neck, her hand forgotten.

”You're a SSsssslytherin are you?” he asked in an amused manner and the fear in her heart rose another level at the hissing sound that he made and the snake that was now wrapped around his shoulders.

Was the snake always there?

If so, then how come she didn't notice it until now.

”Yes.” She mumbled and the fear in her voice must be quite apparent to him as his smirk turned even more predatory.

”Tell me Daphne.” He said and then came close to her in order to whisper in her ears ”Wasss your father a Death eater?”

She gulped in fear at his question and thanked the gods that her father had remained neutral in the last war.

She didn't knew why she feeling so afraid of him. She was not even that afraid of her own father but for some reason, she couldn't help but shiver in fear in his presence.

”N… no.” She replied and then suddenly, the fear vanished into thin air, as if it was never there in the first place and he gave her a soft and fake smile before leaning away from her.

Now he was looking at her once again but the fear was not present anymore.

Why?

Why was she so afraid of him just a moment ago?

What did he do to her?

But her Occlumency shield… they were in place, thankfully.

But then how?

He smirked at her confused expression and she had a feeling that he was able to read her despite her Occlumency shields.

She quickly removed her confused expression from off her face and tried to regain the cold mask that she was known for, though it was bit hard for her to try to salvage her dignity at this point.

”Good.” He replied after a long silence ”They are a bunch of idiots anyway.” He said with a scoff ”Trying to preach pureblood values while following a halfblood maniac.”