HP: White Lord of Slytherin

Chapter 178 The Hidden Person

This Potions class was the last class of the day, so Gloria and Draco packed up their things and went straight back to the common room to put their things away before going to the auditorium.

When they arrived at the Great Hall, Harry kept staring at this place. His anxious eyes showed that he had a lot to say to her.

Gloria ate her dinner leisurely and asked Draco to go back first.

As expected, she walked out of the hall, and Harry immediately dropped his knife and fork and followed her, "Leah—"

Since Draco was not there, he didn't have to say hello and just ran to her naturally.

Gloria didn't waste any words, just said: "Follow me."

They walked upstairs until they reached their destination - the entrance to the former secret room.

This place has changed a lot. Since many Slytherin students have appeared here, the other three houses will avoid this place to avoid confronting those people.

A room was reserved in the secret chamber for Draco to hold small gatherings.

At this moment, the students were all in the auditorium, which was empty, and the torches all around illuminated the spacious room.

Harry looked around. This place was completely different from when he came here in the second year. The warmth dispelled the cold and dampness. The human statues on the wall were gone, replaced by intimidating giant snakes. Rows of bookshelves stood beside the stone pillars.

Gloria led them into a room furnished with fine furniture and a crackling fire in the fireplace.

"sit down."

Harry sat down stiffly, remembering the purpose of his visit today, "Leah, your snake...spoke during class."

"Well, don't you have the ability of Parseltongue?"

"Actually, I deliberately squatted down to wipe the bile before get out of class ended, and I saw Karkaroff lift up the sleeve of his left arm to show it to Professor Snape, but I don't know what was on his arm. Your snake said it was a curse."

"You saw the thing on his arm," Gloria said. "It scared a lot of people the night of the Quidditch World Cup."

Harry swallowed, "Dark Mark?"

Gloria blinked, meaning that he was right.

"Death Eaters all have Dark Marks on their arms?" Harry said anxiously, "Then Professor Snape was approached by a Death Eater. Could it be that..."

Gloria thought it would be better to let the headmaster tell her about this kind of news. "You can find a chance to ask Headmaster Dumbledore. He knows more clearly."

It's no wonder Harry didn't think of it; Sirius didn't mention Professor Snape when he reminded them.

"Harry, I brought you here because I have something more important to tell you." Gloria said seriously.

Harry straightened his back unconsciously, "You go ahead."

"I heard a little bit of your argument with Professor Snape." Gloria said bluntly, "Boomslang skin and sphenanthera. You said Dobby gave you the sphenanthera. Maybe he also visited Professor Snape's medicine room like you did in your second year. But the key is the boomslang skin. You know very well what the key ingredient of the potion is."

Harry moved his lips a few times and said, "Polyjuice Potion."

How could they not know? In their second year, they spent several months to successfully brew this potion.

"That's right. I haven't confirmed with Professor Snape how much Boomslang skin he is missing, but one thing is certain: someone is taking this potion and disguising himself as someone else, lurking in the school."

Harry's face turned pale, he knew very well that the target of this hidden person was him.

“Who could that be…there are so many people in the school.”

Gloria said, "This is not something you can find out. I mainly hope that you can stay with Hermione and Ron more, and try to reduce contact with other people, whether professors or the two directors."

Harry pressed, "Do you think the lurking person is one of them?"

Gloria nodded. "They are the only ones who have access to the game layout, so it's convenient for them to tamper with it. The trap for you must be in the third event. You must be careful."

Harry's heart, which had been relaxed because of the completion of the second project, was lifted up again at this moment, even higher than before.

"Should we tell Headmaster Dumbledore about this?"

"I'll go find him later." Gloria knew she had to make some preparations. "Practice spells more when you get back. Among the creatures we have to deal with in the third task, there will be an exploding-tailed skrewt."

Gloria watched Harry leave dejectedly, then turned to go to the principal's office, not knowing whether he was there today.

As she reached the office door, the gargoyle automatically rotated, facing the entrance towards her.

Gloria walked in and reached the office via the spiral stone staircase. The portraits around her saw her coming and adjusted their sitting positions, closing their eyes quietly and waiting to listen to the conversation.

"You're here Gloria." Phineas was the first to greet her.

"Hello."

Dumbledore placed a plate of fudge on the table, "Take a seat, Gloria. The portrait on the way told you you were here."

As a highly respected principal, most of the school's portraits are willing to collect information for him.

Gloria sat down obediently, "Headmaster, I'm here to discuss the hidden Death Eaters."

The office became even quieter, and Phineas, who had originally planned to say a word or two, chose to remain silent.

"Do you know who it is?"

Gloria shook her head. "Not entirely sure. He hid it very well and was very cautious."

Dumbledore's blue eyes grew deeper as he listened to her next words.

"You should have guessed it." Gloria said bluntly, "Harry was chosen by design, but I was not."

Dumbledore stroked his beard and said, "When I saw your name, I wondered if Voldemort might be targeting you, but I soon realized that it might be you who took the initiative to join the game."

"It was indeed me, Harry's nightmare and the holding of the Triwizard Tournament. I knew it would not be peaceful this year, especially the Champions Trial, so I asked Jörmungandr to guard the entrance hall, and sure enough, I saw someone put Harry's name in at night."

Dumbledore's blue eyes looked deep into hers. "Who?"

"Karkaroff, or someone who looks like Karkaroff." Gloria said, "Didn't you pay attention to him? Or do you still think that Voldemort will not use this traitor again?"

"It seems that Sirius has mentioned Karkaroff to you. He is very afraid of Voldemort. He betrayed too many people in order to escape punishment. Even if Voldemort wanted to use him, he would not give him such an important task."

Gloria agreed with these words. "So he sent someone who is cunning and good at disguise to Hogwarts. He has been taking Polyjuice Potion to disguise himself as someone else. My suspects are all those who have just appeared in school this year. Excluding the students, there are not many suspects left."

On the way, she kept recalling every suspicious target she had met. She had contact with all of these people, and their words and actions were consistent with the information obtained from the investigation.

But there is still one person who is most suspicious.

"Professor Snape lost the African brush snake skin. It seems that the hidden person is not well prepared. I wonder how long he can use the stolen skin this time."

Headmaster Dumbledore stood up and said, "What you said is very important. I will investigate it carefully."