Chapter 218: Scandal Extortion

"This should be true," Eve said. "But this is not me."

"How to say?" Harry became serious all of a sudden.

"Of course I am also curious about my background, so I went to investigate. Naturally, I found this so-called last princess. Most Soviet wizards know of her existence, and I once suspected that I was her," she said. "However, first, this person may not necessarily flee to England, and second, the Crowley family has had nothing to do with the Tsarist Russian royal family for more than ten generations, so except for the birth year, everything else does not match at all."

"In other words, can it be considered that Renata just caught the wind and grabbed the shadow and put an identity that doesn't belong to you on you?" Harry pondered. "What does she mean? If you can easily prove that you are not that noble descendant, you don't have to worry about being assassinated by the KGB, and this cannot be called a threat."

"Can this be considered showing favor?" Ginny said somewhat unnaturally. "The top noble, how enviable."

"On the battlefield of the Order of the Phoenix and the Death Eaters, whether it is a noble is really not important," Harry stroked his chin. "This move is really a bit incomprehensible to me. It doesn't matter, you don't have to take it to heart. I will talk to Renata first."

Just as he was talking, Luo En pushed the door and came back. He said to Harry: "Renata said, it's okay now."

So, Harry hurriedly said goodbye to the two junior girls and walked out of the school gate with Luo En in big strides.

Along the way, Luo En described Renata's attitude to Harry. She seemed very proud, but she was not overbearing. Instead, her tone was very kind, as if she really wanted to sit down and talk to Harry properly.

In the pub, what they saw was Krum with two thick eyebrows twisted. Luo En stepped forward to greet him happily, and he suddenly came back to his senses.

"Renata asked you to go up and talk to her alone," Krum said. "You have to be careful. Renata has prepared a lot of things. She said that is politics. Ah, it's really complicated. Unfortunately, I don't understand politics."

"Politics?" Harry laughed dumbly. "What politics can we understand at our age?"

"Yes, let's talk about Quidditch, Luo En, you are called Luo En, right?" Krum said.

Harry adjusted his breathing, walked up the wooden stairs of the pub, walked around the corner and entered Renata's room.

"You should have seen the news," Renata said proudly. "What do you think?"

"Great," Harry said. "I don't know why you want to do me this favor."

"What?" Renata seemed a bit surprised, but quickly adjusted. "Ah, I remind you, being stubborn is useless. In any case, I successfully pulled you back to the negotiating table."

"Alright, what do you want to talk about?" Harry shrugged. "I tell you in advance, the Ministry of Magic's plan has nothing to do with you, and I won't say it."

"Heh, if you intend to secretly control Hogwarts, then what the Ministry of Magic wants to do is not worth being curious about. It's nothing more than some power struggles," Renata laughed disdainfully. "What I want to say now is the Triwizard Tournament."

"Why, do you think my understanding of the second task is less than yours?" Harry spread his hands helplessly.

"If you don't know, then I can tell you," Renata said. "The second task requires two champions to set off from underwater and the shore respectively, complete the task, meet, and then reach the designated location together. This is the whole process."

"And my request is, you must set off fifteen minutes late," she said coldly. "You must stand on the shore, stand still after the competition starts, and stand for fifteen minutes before setting off. This is my request."

"Why do you think I will agree?" Harry felt it was incomprehensible.

"Don't you realize it? I only need a little action, and all your layouts at Hogwarts will collapse," Renata said confidently. "Your deputy is already overwhelmed now, right? This is just a demonstration. If I learn the Ministry of Magic's plan, plus I do have such a card in my hand, who do you think will be the next one to be overwhelmed?"

Deputy? Overwhelmed? But isn't Luo En discussing Quidditch happily with Krum downstairs? Luo En had long wanted his autograph.

Unless, Harry suddenly remembered the scene at the train station. Unless Renata mistakenly thought Ma Erfu was the deputy he left at Hogwarts to manage student affairs, then everything made sense.

It must be admitted that Renata did have the ability to see through weaknesses and succeed in one blow. She only needed to say a rumor that was not light or heavy, and Ma Erfu was almost forced into a desperate situation. Once Eve's bloodline was said, not only would Pan Xi notice his little actions, but Ma Erfu himself would no longer have an excuse to approach Eve openly.

And, once Pan Xi and Ma Erfu were separated, the entire girls' group would almost instantly get out of Ma Erfu's control, and even cause a backlash. Also out of his control was Lu Na. After all, Lu Na was a girl first, and she had been walking closer to Pan Xi during this period. Consequently, the Eagle House would also have nothing to do with Ma Erfu.

The chain reaction that followed was that once Pan Xi used girls to retaliate against Ma Erfu, or Pan Xi and Eve fought, the originally suppressed Neville would quickly rise. The Gryffindor boys who had been holding a stomach of nameless fire would immediately vent this grievance on the Snake House, and Hannah in the Badger House would also instantly overwhelm Ernie. Ma Erfu, who had lost his followers, should how to persuade the Silver Blood family not to betray him in this internal and external trouble?

Harry substituted himself into Ma Erfu's perspective, and he couldn't help but break into a cold sweat. What was even more terrible was that Renata quickly found out everything that happened at Hogwarts in less than two days, inferred the whole picture of the plan, and used a light little action to force Ma Erfu to the edge of the cliff.

This was definitely an experienced politician who was good at scheming, and it could even be described as vicious. Harry swallowed his saliva. Although Renata accidentally hit the wrong target, maybe she hit the wrong target on purpose, which not only showed her ability but also didn't completely turn against Harry.

Now she didn't know the Ministry of Magic's plan, but seriously, what she held was really the key to the whole plan. If Voldemort learned that the Ministry of Magic bought Krum, he would understand that Harry's ability was not outstanding, and he would not step into this trap. If this matter was made public, then Harry would not even be able to show himself and accumulate prestige, which was the smallest benefit.

By comparison, setting off fifteen minutes late in the second competition didn't seem to be a very harsh condition. Harry believed that with his ability, plus the help he might get from the Ministry of Magic or Donald, even if he set off fifteen minutes late, he could still complete the competition. At that time, he could make an excuse that "I thought it would be like the first task to take care of those who are behind." As long as he completed the competition, he could always explain it.

"Looking at your face, you figured it out, right?" Renata said. "Then I don't need to explain too much. Harry, you are a smart person, much smarter than Krum. You know what to do."

Harry looked at Renata's eyes and said calmly: "However, once this matter is made public, the whole competition will lose its meaning, and the honor you pursue will be out of reach."

"That's right, either we both finish, or you agree to a condition that is not very difficult to accept," Renata nodded. "Does it sound familiar?"

"Consistent Cold War routine," Harry sighed. "Forget it, I agree."

"You need to stand on the shore for fifteen minutes. Under the eyes of everyone, one minute less will be discovered," Renata said. "You agree to this, then I can guarantee not to interfere with the Ministry of Magic's plan."

"Okay, let's do it," Harry sighed again. "Then now I have to go back to spend Christmas first."

"Of course, Merry Christmas," Renata smiled and said goodbye to him.

"Harry, what did you talk to her about?" Luo En said. "Krum gave me more than a dozen autographs, which can be taken back to give to everyone. How great this is."

"Yes, great. Now let's go back," Harry's interest was not very good when he thought of the conditions he just agreed to.

On the way back, Harry still regretted it a bit, but he couldn't be sure whether these fifteen minutes would prevent him from completing the competition. However, Renata's amazing ability shown in persecuting Ma Erfu made him very wary, which made him dare not bet that she couldn't find out or didn't intend to destroy the Ministry of Magic's plan. After all, for the Soviets, Death Eaters or the Order of the Phoenix were just party disputes within Britain.

After returning to the dormitory, Harry calmed down and carefully considered his next move. He found that although Renata used exquisite moves to force Ma Erfu into a desperate situation, for Harry, it happened to sort out the situation.

The Muggle Lives Matter movement he cared about most, after all, Trig was still a good leader. And Eve, although proven not to be Muggle-born, Ma Erfu would be even more infatuated with her, and he could still think of ways to set up traps to induce Ma Erfu's actions.

And Pan Xi and Ma Erfu's separation was also a point that could be used. He must quickly move the girls' attention away from Neville. As long as Neville was liberated, the whole situation would be alive. Hannah got the strong support of the Lion House, Ma Erfu was forced to shrink his defense, and the rise of the Lion House would also help the Eagle House make up its mind to pick up the Tyris Arcane Society. As long as he educated Eve well, everything could return to the way he originally envisioned.

After Harry figured all this out, he opened the dormitory door and prepared to go to the common room to find someone to chat with, but just then, he found a boy with pale blonde hair sitting on the sofa he was used to sitting on. His expression was very solemn, but it relaxed slightly after seeing Harry.

"Ma Erfu? How did you get in? And," Harry looked around, "you can sit safely in the Gryffindor common room without causing a commotion?"

"I helped him in," Eve said. "Now only I am still helping him." ===== CHAPTER 219 =====