The Friendship Boat Has Capsized

After hearing Draco's words, Aaron blinked blankly. Although he seemed calm, there was a hint of sadness in his eyes.

After a long silence, he sighed and murmured with some disappointment, "I see!"

"Hey! Isn't your reaction a bit too lukewarm?" Draco looked at Aaron in surprise. "If I were you, I would have already started cursing."

"This just means that I can control my emotions better than you. You don't need to get involved in this matter; I will handle it myself."

"I won't interfere in your business, but it's me who's still at odds with those guys." Draco pointed at Goyle and Crabbe, "The same goes for the two of them."

Do you know how we got through last night? It was an utter disgrace!

"We won't let this go unpunished until we get revenge."

"Suit yourself!" Aaron shrugged and then left the Common Room.

"Should we go and see?" Goyle asked, while Crabbe hesitated as well.

They could all guess what Aaron was going to do, but he was alone and easily taken advantage of.

With them added, it becomes four against three, so at least in terms of formation, we won't lose.

"No need, one thing at a time." Draco waved his hand dismissively. "He's Gaius, after all. He doesn't need our help with such a small matter."

Realizing he had been deceived, Aaron lost his appetite and took Abei directly to the Gryffindor Common Room.

After asking the Fat Lady guarding the door and confirming that Harry and his two companions hadn't left, he decided to wait for them outside.

However, since many students chose to spend Christmas at home, no one came out until more than twenty minutes later.

The two who came out were none other than the Weasley family twins, Fred and George.

"Aaron, what are you doing here?" Fred asked in surprise.

"Waiting for someone," Aaron said, his tone slightly cold.

"Harry? Or Ron?"

"Fred, you've left Granger behind."

"In fact, I was waiting for those three."

"It seems like something important happened, otherwise they wouldn't have come so early in the morning," Fred said, stroking his chin. "Wait a moment, we'll go and call them for you?"

"Wait a minute," Aaron stopped the two and said, "I'll have to trouble you to remind them to bring the Christmas presents I gave them when they come out."

"No problem."

George and Fred returned to the Common Room, went straight to Harry and Ron's dormitory, and dragged them out of bed.

Then they sent Bell to fetch Hermione to the Common Room.

Harry and his two friends sat on the sofa, still half asleep, staring blankly at the two grinning brothers opposite them.

They did something really important last night, and they are exhausted both physically and mentally, so they desperately need to rest.

If George and Fred can't provide a reasonable explanation, they won't give them any attitude.

"Don't stay in bed so early in the morning, or breakfast will turn into lunch."

"So, you two just called us to dinner?" Harry said speechlessly. He would have accepted it if they had called him to practice Quidditch.

Eating is... At this moment, the temptation to sleep is countless times greater than that to eat.

"Hmm..." Hermione yawned. "You two are really boring. I'm going to take a nap now. Wake me up when it's time for lunch."

"Don't go!" Fred said anxiously, "Aaron is looking for you."

"He's waiting outside right now!"

Upon hearing this, the three of them couldn't help but shudder, their sleepiness instantly vanishing.

"A generous gift of crabs! So fast?" Ron's lips twitched. "It's not even been twelve hours, and they won't even let me get a good night's sleep."

"Stop complaining, let's think of something to do first!" Harry was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, with a layer of cold sweat on his forehead. "How about we don't go out and just hide in the Common Room?"

Let's take it one day at a time; at least we still have some time before the holiday ends.

"You make it sound so easy, he's waiting outside right now!" Hermione was in a state of panic, her face full of embarrassment. "He definitely knows everything, and his attitude is quite certain."

George and Fred exchanged a glance. They realized that things weren't quite as they had imagined; Aaron didn't seem to be there to play with them.

"Excuse me, but what wrong have you done?" George asked, "And made Gaius very angry?"

"Yes, it's terrible, absolutely terrible." Ron rolled his eyes. "We could have kept it to ourselves, but you two woke us up."

"Let's admit our mistake to him and hope he can forgive us!" Hermione said, though she knew in her heart that Aaron would definitely not be so magnanimous this time.

"Never mind, let's get out of here first."

"Wait a moment." Fred pursed his lips. "I don't want to say this, but someone Gaius us to pass on a message to you..."

After a few seconds of silence, Fred suddenly turned to George and said, "You should say it!"

"You can't do this to me." George paused for a moment, then met three pairs of tense eyes. "Hey! He said you should take the Christmas presents he gave you with you when you go out."

Rumble!

The three of them felt as if thunder had struck their hearts, and a continuous rain of blood fell upon them; their expressions changed drastically.

"It's over." Hermione slumped back weakly. "This time we've really messed up."

They were hoping to atone for their crimes with good deeds! But now Aaron clearly isn't giving them a chance and has sentenced them to death.

"I think..." Harry swallowed hard, "No matter what, he probably won't cut ties with us!"

Ron nodded silently, then pulled out three gift boxes from a corner. "I thought I was the only one who hadn't opened my gifts, but it turns out you guys haven't opened them either!"

Hermione shook her head, rubbing her forehead, and said speechlessly, "The three of us were together yesterday, don't you know how things were arranged?"

"I suggest you hurry up and go!" Fred said. "You've already acted unfairly enough; you can't keep him waiting any longer!"

The three exchanged wry smiles and walked out of the shared lounge with heavy, unsteady steps.

Upon seeing Aaron, the three of them stood there awkwardly, stunned.

"Us..."

"Come with me!" Aaron interrupted Harry. "This isn't the place to talk."

A dozen minutes later, Aaron led them to the Transfiguration Class classroom and then sat down at a table by himself.

"You guys are really great, you've really impressed me!"

I've never admired anyone before, but you guys have made me admire you. I've never been deceived so badly in my entire life.

"We just wanted to help you," Ron said, mustering his courage.

Aaron rolled his eyes at him and said disdainfully, "At least come up with a plausible excuse!"

You don't even know what I'm doing, how can you help me?

However, I truly admire you. Last year, you only drugged and took away my pet. This year, you've started drugging people. You've really grown up!

"Are you really high school students? Are you sure you're not repeat offenders who escaped from Azkaban?"

"I'm sorry," Harry said weakly.

"You really should apologize, not just to me, but also to Draco and the others."

Harry, no, Harry Potter, I trusted you so much, and this is how you repaid my trust.

But that makes sense. You're Gryffindor, so it's not unreasonable for you to suspect that a Slytherin is a descendant of Salazar.

If it can be confirmed that I am the heir to Slytherin, that would be perfect. Then you can inform Dumbledore to arrest me, and then follow the trail to the Secret Chamber to eliminate the Basilisk.

In this way, the rumors about Harry will be dispelled, and you will become heroes who save Hogwarts.

"Sacrificing myself for the happiness of everyone—what a clever scheme!"

Hearing these sarcastic words, Hermione's heart sank slightly, and she immediately explained hastily, "That's not it, we just want to clear you of suspicion."

"How do we rule it out?" Aaron countered. "Polyjuice Potion?"

As far as I know, it takes at least a month to prepare this Moste Potente Potions. In addition, it requires the body tissue of the target of the transformation, as well as various rare materials.

"Tsk tsk tsk! You'd rather overcome countless difficulties and spend a lot of time using such despicable means to deceive me than ask me directly, 'Is there anything more suspicious than this?'"

"Well... Ron and I did have our doubts about you." Harry, pale-faced, struggled to lift his head and said, "But Hermione's trust in you is absolutely genuine."

"That's true," Ron said. "We've told her several times, and every time she just shuts us down."

"Is that so? But it's hardly believable to hear you say that."

Hermione wanted to say something, but seeing Aaron's eyes filled with disappointment and anger, she unconsciously swallowed her words.

"Granger, do you have any opinion to offer?" Aaron sneered.

"I truly never doubted you." Hermione said with a mournful face, holding up three fingers as she spoke. "I swear."

"Then could you please explain why you prepared the Polyjuice Potion for them?"

"I believe you, but they don't."

"So this is the only way to prove your innocence." Hermione smiled sadly. "This method is rather complicated, but the effect is also very obvious."

So, does that mean I should thank you?

No, no, that's not what I meant.

"Whatever your meaning, you chose to help them, didn't you?"

If you truly believe me, you can simply take the phone and ask me. But neither of you has it.

"Back then, you were highly suspected, and we didn't dare take the risk," Ron explained. "What if we finished questioning you and then you killed us?"

And how can we guarantee that you're telling the truth? Bad people never admit they're bad.

Aaron raised an eyebrow slightly, clapped his hands in admiration, and said, "What you said makes a lot of sense. I have nothing to say in response."

He then looked at Harry, "The famous Harry Potter, I have a question for you."

If your answer satisfies me, I will consider forgiving you.

"Go ahead and ask," Harry quickly composed himself. "I promise to tell you the truth."

"Very well, my question is, before yesterday, did you particularly expect me to be the heir to Slytherin?"

"Ah... I..."

"Alright, that's enough. Your hesitation these past few seconds has already given me the answer."

Harry lowered his head in silence, unsure of what to say.

During that period, he was under tremendous pressure. No matter how he explained, no one believed him. The only way for him to avoid being looked at strangely by others was to find the true successor.

Aaron was always at the crime scene. In those circumstances, who else could you suspect if not him?