Early the next morning, the Gryffindor students felt as if the sky had fallen. Their House points had dropped to over negative ninety thousand. It was only after a school-wide notice of criticism that they learned the monster that had destroyed Hogwarts had been created by Horatio.
This left the young wizards who had once greatly admired Horatio with complicated feelings. On one hand, he was the chief culprit behind Hogwarts's destruction; on the other, he was the hero who had saved Hogwarts.
The more famous someone became, the more controversy they attracted. Once a person became well-known, all kinds of criticism came rushing at them.
That day, a fourth-year Slytherin student named Winster Selwyn approached Malfoy. "Young Master Malfoy, don't you think Horatio is being a little too arrogant? I've already gathered several Slytherin students, and we're preparing to teach him a lesson. I'm inviting you to join us."
Malfoy hurriedly refused. "If you want to die, don't drag me into it. I have no intention of dealing with that monster."
Winster quickly said, "Horatio is nothing but a fraud. He staged this entire show himself to raise his influence and status, so he could gain more power."
Malfoy was speechless. How could there be such an idiot? Horatio had indeed staged the whole thing, but that monster really had broken through the Hogwarts professors' defenses and destroyed Hogwarts.
After sending Winster away, Malfoy considered it for a while and decided to write to his father for advice.
The next day, Malfoy received Lucius's reply. The letter warned him never to provoke Horatio and to keep his distance from Winster Selwyn. It also said that the Selwyn Family had declined somewhat recently, so they wanted to stir up trouble behind the scenes.
Where there was slander, there was inevitably