Who Put This Thing in My Bookcase?!

In fact, it's no secret that Theodore of Slytherin had a bad relationship with his father.

Just like Blaise Zabini's mother, who was as cunning and manipulative as the Black Witch Farina, enjoying the spoils of others' misfortunes.

"So you think Nott won't support his father's decision?" Cassandra frowned subconsciously.

"Of course, he's a smart man," Harry said with a smile. "Besides, he was also an outsider at the Dueling Club, and his differences with his father were fundamental. Old Nott was Voldemort's old henchman, his ideology was too deeply ingrained, and there was almost no possibility of change. Theodore, on the other hand, was more like someone trapped in a family cage, seeing new hope but unable to find the key, and unwilling to easily break the cage."

Cassandra pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "Perhaps we can help him open the cage."

"For example?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course, it's about getting rid of Old Nott," Cassandra said casually. "Have you forgotten? In our time, if we couldn't reach an agreement with a family or a power, then we had to find another way—to change the leader of that family."

Harry was taken aback, then remembered that Mr. Septimus had used this tactic with unparalleled skill. Several people who were unwilling to follow the Malfoy family's power had their heads assassinated by wizards he sent, and then his sons were supported to continue the cooperation.

Unlike Ceres, the West doesn't have a theoretical basis for the idea that killing one's father is an irreconcilable feud. Even Italy might not necessarily fight to the death for the murder of their father; people like Santino Lyon who loved their fathers as much as he did are a very small minority.

Even a large family is just a few branches and divisions; after all, meals still need to be shared.

Ron suddenly turned bloodthirsty. "So you mean—to send someone to kill Old Nott?"

"Oh, that's unnecessary." Cassandra put down her teacup. "We're not in the same situation as a hundred years ago. Now we control the British wizarding world and the International Confederation of Wizards, so there's no need to resort to such barbaric methods. Perhaps we can use some more Civilization approaches?"

"Like, putting him in Azkaban, right?" Harry thought for a moment and said, "That's a good idea."

"So, on what charge?" Ron asked. "Is it that he betrayed us and joined Voldemort?"

"That's all unnecessary," Harry waved his hand and said. "Why use such a charge? The discovery of Dark Magic Curse items in his house is the best evidence."

"But—" Hermione frowned, "If he really had an ambiguous relationship with Voldemort, he would be extremely careful not to give anything away. I don't think he would leave any evidence against us at home."

"You're wrong, Hermione," Harry said with a grin. "I said he has Dark Magic Curse items, and he does."

Hermione's brow furrowed even more. She opened her mouth as if to object to this practice that clearly violated procedural justice, but then swallowed her words.

She realized that this was no longer a game of rules, but a real life-or-death struggle on the brink of war.

Ron's eyes lit up. "I've seen similar cases before. Fred and George were often wronged by Percy in this way—although most of the time they weren't wronged, what Percy said was solid evidence to Mom."

"That's pretty much the gist of it," Harry chuckled. "But we need solid evidence, not just some random piece of Dark Arts junk. The item has to be substantial, and it has to be logically present at the Nott Manor —for example, a Dark Arts artifact bearing a strong curse and obvious signs of use, preferably with some connection to the art consultants he's been in contact with recently. The Department of Magical Law Enforcement should discover it during a surprise inspection, carelessly hidden in some conspicuous corner, or perhaps even in a secret compartment in Old Nott's study."

"It makes perfect sense. A speculator who attempts to make deals with dangerous forces but is not cautious enough—or rather, too greedy to dispose of the dangerous samples—confirms his involvement in the black market and violates the International Dark Magic Artifact Control Act, making it impossible for him to clear his name."

Hermione finally couldn't hold back any longer and said, "Harry, Cassandra —this is fabricated evidence, this is framing! Even if the target is Old Nott, this—this is still wrong! We should bring him to justice with legitimate evidence!"

"Oh, Hermione." Cassandra stood up, walked over to Hermione, and rubbed her face with both hands. "You're so adorable!"

"Mmm--" Hermione mumbled, "I'm not cute----"

After kneading for a while, Cassandra finally released her hands from Hermione's cheeks. Hermione angrily tidied her messed-up hair, her face still flushed from the humiliation, but the seriousness in her eyes was no longer as firm as before.

"We won't wrong a truly innocent person. You and I both know what kind of person Old Nott is," Harry shrugged. "You know, even his son thinks he's completely hopeless. We just made a mistake in the process, but as long as the outcome is right, that's all that matters."

Ron nodded vigorously, "Exactly! Hermione, think about it! If we get Old Nott in there, Theodore might be grateful to us! He'll be in charge and won't have to see his father's gloomy face all the time. If I were him, I'd be happy to!"

Wow, this is a perfect example of a loving father and filial son.

I wonder if Mr. Weasley, who's far away at the Ministry of Magic, will sneeze.

Hermione glared at Ron, sighed, and looked at Harry: "So, how exactly do we do it?"

"Can you promise you'll keep quiet?" Cassandra asked an unrelated question.

"Of course I can!" Hermione replied immediately.

Cassandra smiled slightly, "Oh, me too."

Hermione took a deep breath----

In the afternoon, Draco and Theodore met at Florin Ice Cream Shop in Diagon Alley.

What the two discussed remains unknown, but the Ministry of Magic received an anonymous tip that very evening.

The search took place that evening. Old Nott was clearly not expecting it to be so sudden. He received the Auror in the Entrance hall with a grim face, his words filled with arrogance and impatience, insisting that it was an insult to his family's honor.

However, as the Auror followed standard procedure and carefully examined the study with detection magic, an unexpected incident occurred: an experienced Auror's Detection Curse, while sweeping behind the third bookshelf on the east side, triggered a sharp alarm.

--

Under Old Nott's shocked and furious gaze, the Auror moved the bookshelf and discovered a crudely hidden compartment in a fold of the wall behind it.

In the hidden compartment, lay a Ritual Dagger whose surface shimmered with an evil aura.

It looks like something from the darkest, most Dark Arts, not something White Wizard could use.

"This—who put this dagger behind my bookshelf!" Old Nott screamed, his face ashen.

"You admit this is your bookshelf!" Kingsley roared.

Behind him, Lupin expressionlessly used magical tweezers to place the dagger into a specially designed isolation box, then slowly and deliberately spoke, "Mr. Nott, you are now suspected of illegally possessing and possibly intending to use a Level 1 dangerous Dark Arts item, violating Article 17 of the International Dark Magic Artifact Control Act. Please come with us to the Ministry of Magic to assist in the investigation."

Old Nott tried to resist, but was stunned by several wands pointing at him simultaneously.

He was taken away, leaving Nott Manor in chaos.

That evening, news of Old Nott's arrest spread throughout Britain.

In the Ministry of Magic's interrogation room, Old Nott vehemently denied everything, insisting that he had been framed.

But the curse and remnants of Dark Arts on the dagger were real, the details of the anonymous tip partially matched the search results, and he had indeed recently had contact with some people with suspicious backgrounds, making his explanations seem weak and unconvincing.

Officials in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement were more inclined to believe the evidence, especially after insiders in the Nott Family hinted at Old Nott's recent unusual behavior and possible involvement in dangerous transactions, which practically sealed Old Nott's fate.

There is no direct evidence pointing to him joining Voldemort, but the charges of illegally possessing high-risk Dark Arts items and being suspected of dealing with the international black market are enough to send Old Nott to Azkaban for a long time.

The trial proceeded quickly, and even the fact that Old Nott's identity could not save him in the face of deliberately manipulated public opinion and irrefutable evidence.

With Old Nott imprisoned, the Nott Family was leaderless and in turmoil.

After the initial shock and grief, Theodore was forced to shoulder the burden of the family.

He was very cooperative, actively cooperating with the Ministry of Magic's follow-up investigation, handing over some innocuous accounts, and publicly stating that the Nott Family would strictly abide by the law and distance themselves from all illegal activities.

"It seems Theodore is a smart man after all," Ron commented.

"He can't be anything less than smart," Harry said, crossing his legs. "He was always on our side, and now the biggest obstacle in his path has been removed. He should be thanking us."

Sure enough, Theodore and Draco arrived at Grimmauld Place, Number 13 early the next morning.

Harry, Cassandra, Hermione, and Ron were all in the Living Room.

The fire in the stove was burning brightly, and even though it was raining outside, the house was warm and comfortable.

"Thank you," Theodore said, his voice a little hoarse.

He stood in the center of the Living Room, not sitting down immediately, his gaze first falling on Harry, then sweeping over Cassandra.

"Thank you for taking care of my father," he said.

"Have a seat, Nott." Harry gestured to the sofa. "Tea? Or something else?"

"No need." Theodore sat down as instructed. "I'll get to the point. My father is truly beyond saving. Ever since the fall of the Voldemort, he's been living in a dream, constantly yearning for the return of his former glory. In recent months, it's gotten even worse. He's been getting very close to those unidentified fifties, sacrificing some of the family's hidden resources and connections. I've tried to dissuade him, but it's no use. He even warned me that if I continue to get in his way, he'll send me to Durmstrang to clear my head."

He paused, his voice lower. "That dagger—was it useful? I mean, those things on it—"

3

Cassandra continued, "We've simply placed it in a more suitable position, enough to keep him in Azkaban for a long time."

Theodore nodded slightly, a relieved look on his face. "That's good."

"What are you planning to do next?" Hermione asked.

Although she agreed to the plan, she remained cautious about the new head of the Nott family.

"Stabilize the family, clean up the mess left by my father, publicly declare cooperation with the Ministry of Magic and the Confederation, and hand over some minor but sincere questions." Theodore's answer was clearly well-thought-out. "I will cooperate with any subsequent investigations within reasonable limits. I will also restrain family members, at least publicly, to sever ties with any suspicious forces."

"Only on the surface?" Harry raised an eyebrow.

Theodore looked up at Harry directly. "Potter, I am a Slytherin, and a Nott. I know how to assess situations, and I understand the value of bargaining chips. My father has fallen, but the Nott Family still exists. I will stand with you because it is the only rational choice, and because some people have convinced me that this path is not necessarily a dead end. But I need to know what I can gain, and what I will have to give. Pure gratitude and morality cannot sustain a family through a storm."

Very realistic, very Slytherin, Harry wasn't surprised.

"What do you want?" Cassandra asked.

"First and foremost, safety," Theodore said. "Making sure that my mother, my sister, and I aren't next targets, whether it's an accident from Azkaban or retaliation from the south. I need tangible protection, or at least, a commitment that won't be easily broken."

"Okay," Harry nodded. "Kingsley and Lupin will keep an eye on Azkaban. As for the south, your cooperation itself is one of the best safeguards; we'll include you in a limited protection zone, but you'll need to be careful yourself."

"Secondly, space," Theodore continued. "I need time and space to reorganize the family and slowly recover. Ministry of Magic scrutiny and surveillance are unavoidable, but I hope they are limited and have clear timelines, rather than endless suspicion and interference. The Nott Family needs legitimate businesses and channels to operate, and I hope we won't encounter any special obstacles in these areas."

"That makes sense," Hermione said. "We can push for a clear review period, like one or two months. During that time, as long as you fully cooperate and report regularly, it can be transitioned to regular oversight. Legitimate business activities won't be unreasonably hindered, provided they are truly legal."

"Finally," Theodore paused for a moment, as if struggling for a long time before making a decision, "I need a future. The Nott Family cannot forever live on the dark legacy of Death Eater family. If—if we ultimately win, I want the Nott Family to be seen as a family that made the right choice at a crucial moment, and to have a place where it can develop normally under the new order."