Chapter 214

When Harry arrived at Torchwood's headquarters, he saw Malfoy sitting on the sofa, chatting casually with Crabbe and Goyle.

"Ah, Harry." Malfoy rose enthusiastically, "Quick, Crabbe, fetch some tea; Goyle, bring the snack tray."

"Haha, no need to be so formal—I haven't been back in a long time myself." Harry decided to play along for now; even if he intended to confront Malfoy, he couldn't stop him from scheming, so better to extract more information first and then figure out how to break the deadlock.

"Of course, of course—I truly owe you a great debt," Malfoy whispered. "Not only did you devise the brilliant idea of the Purebloods' Cause, but you cleverly used SPEW to distract Pansy. It's clear you genuinely care for Eve."

"Oh, right—but to be honest, I haven't made a decision yet, and it ultimately depends on Eve's own wishes." Harry spoke ambiguously, sensing that Malfoy's understanding of the situation differed from his own.

"I never realized your strategy was so intricate—everything connects perfectly," Malfoy said, growing boastful. "Neville's Lionheart Society drew Pansy's attention perfectly, and with my instructions for her to support Luna in Ravenclaw, she's now too busy to notice what I'm doing."

"Neville's Lionheart Society wasn't meant for just that purpose," Harry subtly expressed his discontent.

"I know, I know—this way, besides the Purebloods' Cause, I can still keep close to Eve, and if Pansy asks, I can claim I'm plotting to overthrow Neville. Brilliant! And Ernie's move? Now I'm the undisputed authority in the Silverblood family—all thanks to you!" Malfoy beamed, shaking Harry's hand vigorously.

Had someone more narrow-minded been here, they might have thought Malfoy was mocking him sarcastically—but Harry, observing Malfoy's expression and tone, felt he genuinely believed this. It was almost funny.

"You deliberately ensured Cedric couldn't return, so no matter who wins between Ernie and Hannah, Hufflepuff will fall under our control—what an exquisite strategy, I'm utterly impressed, utterly impressed." Malfoy stood as he spoke. "And I, Draco Malfoy, fully understood it all. I am your truest confidant. This alliance between two great minds feels incredible."

Harry took a deep breath and cleared his throat softly. He had changed his mind—he didn't need to appear confrontational. Malfoy seemed to be thinking from Torchwood's overall perspective; indeed, his actions would only strengthen Torchwood's power and keep it firmly in loyal hands.

"That's truly touching—I never expected you'd do so well," Harry lied. He needed time to untangle everything and devise new moves. "By the way, what's Cui Ge been up to lately?"

"Oh, him?" Malfoy said. "He vanished as soon as vacation started—apparently there's word about his long-missing grandmother. Honestly, he's vital to the Purebloods' Cause."

"Because his father, Dak, is a wizard born to Muggles, and his mother, Daisy, is also a wizard born to Muggles. By standard bloodline theory, he should be a half-blood. But stricter blood purists argue he still counts as a Muggle-born—only his next generation qualifies as half-blood. That's why we included him in the Purebloods' Cause." Malfoy explained. "Besides, the Fontroy family genealogy is easy to trace—they've always been wealthy Muggle magnates. It's obvious his grandparents were Muggles."

"Of course, perfectly understandable," Harry murmured, his mind still racing as he analyzed Malfoy's stance and plotted how to trap him.

"But then, who are Cui Ge's maternal grandparents? If they're wizards—even if Muggle-born—then even the strictest blood purists must classify him as half-blood." Malfoy continued. "According to his mother, his grandmother vanished long ago. To Muggles, 'vanished' likely means she entered the wizarding world. So everything remains uncertain—we need to confirm it. Of course, publicly, we still label him Muggle-born."

"Yes, the speaker's own background matters greatly—wrong origins can severely weaken a message," Harry agreed, visibly stirred.

"The Purebloods' Cause began with Cui Ge. I chose the perfect moment to publicly declare him Muggle-born and then set a trap, reporting two students who bullied him. Professor Moody turned them into weasels." Malfoy smiled. "That they happened to be men in the Silverblood family who opposed me? Well, that's just convenient."

"Then I used Cui Ge again—telling everyone Muggle-borns can be exceptional. Oh, right—he gave a speech." Malfoy recalled. "I have a dream. It was brilliant."

Cui Ge did have an American uncle, and he clearly had experience with such things. Harry couldn't help but find it absurd.

"Later, as a representative of pure-blood nobility, I naturally had to appease Muggle-borns—at first Cui Ge, but soon it became Eve." Malfoy marveled. "Thanks to your prior arrangement, she gained majority favor among girls and instantly became their Muggle-born representative. Perfect."

"Yes, I think the Purebloods' Cause is brilliant—it must not stop," Harry said, agreeing with Malfoy while thinking for himself. The plan's greatest gain was luring Malfoy into conflict with the Death Eaters—this could not end.

But how to dismantle the attacks on Neville? How to help Hannah fully seize control of Dumbledore's Army? Harry still had no answers.

"By the way, Eve thinks Neville stole your spotlight in Gryffindor," Malfoy said, making small talk. "But that's hardly true—he's your own man, right?"

"Ah, yes," Harry nodded. "I think their attacks on Neville have been too harsh."

"I agree," Malfoy said. "You really should deal with Eve and Neville. My advice: either convince Eve to trust Neville, or abandon him entirely and back Colin or another boy."

"You need some loyal people—by which I mean someone who can manage the Lionheart Society. If you think Ron should stay close to you," Malfoy sounded sincerely helpful, "Colin's not bad either—easy to control. Or Eve will soon be mature enough to stand on her own. Neville's hostility is too great—toward Slytherin and even his own side. So even if you want to use him, you must correct him first."

"Hmm, if you think so too," Harry decided it was time to leave. "I'll talk to them when I get back. Honestly, you've already clarified everything for me—I already know what to do."

"Well, won't you have a macaron?" Malfoy casually offered.

"No, I've eaten enough in France." Harry shook his head, then smiled falsely and walked out of Torchwood's headquarters.

Before returning to his dorm, he suddenly saw Elena—her hair damp, a faint fragrance clinging to her skin.

"Oh, Harry, this bathroom is amazing," she said. "Want to try it? I'm heading down—Zhang's game console is so fun. Going to Hogsmeade tomorrow?"

"Sure," Harry smiled and nodded. He himself felt he needed a hot bath to clear his thoughts.

As Harry stepped into the Room of Requirement and saw the luxurious bathroom and steaming pool, he instantly relaxed, shed his clothes, wrapped himself in a towel, and sank into the water. The fragrant warmth soothed his skin, dispelling the lingering chill of winter.

Perhaps, Harry thought, Cui Ge's case is worth emulating. If the speaker's own background is flawed, their message can be dismantled. For instance, Lavender, currently attacking Neville—if someone could prove she herself deserved such attacks, Neville's persecution would instantly weaken.

But it's not urgent. Harry suddenly realized—if Lavender's actions were orchestrated by Eve, and Eve was merely misled by Malfoy into slightly favoring Torchwood, then now that Harry was back, Lavender had transformed from a troublesome opponent into a usable asset.

Where could he deploy this asset? Harry pondered. Since Lavender's method of attack is sexism, any boy could be her target. Frankly, if she used those irrational views to manipulate Gryffindor, Harry would be exasperated—but if turned against others to eliminate rivals, they became an excellent weapon.

He could use it against Malfoy—but Harry worried: if Malfoy hardened his stance against Lavender, she'd lose badly, and Eve might even get dragged down. Ravenclaw was currently under Luna's control—she wasn't bad, and she was a girl, so he couldn't use her. Lavender's destination was clear.

Send Lavender to champion Hannah in Dumbledore's Army—falsely claim Hannah is being ignored, and stir up chaos against Ernie and the dark magic supporters. Harry rubbed his chin. Hannah was a girl too; once she shifted her stance, she'd easily align with Lavender.

And Lavender's problem was easy to solve: how could someone who habitually discriminates against others claim to be discriminated against and demand justice? Once he used the Purebloods' Cause to crush her decisively, most problems would vanish—and the situation would return to calm.

In the bath, Harry finally grasped the full plan. He exhaled deeply, relaxed, and prepared to rise.

Suddenly, a shrill female voice rose from beneath the water, nearly stopping his heart.