Whispers and Rumors

"What is the Cruciatus Curse? You're only in your first year, so you haven't learned about these yet. When you get to your fourth year, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor will tell you that it's one of the three most dangerous Unforgivable Curses in the wizarding world, and it's the pinnacle of dark magic.

Who would use dark magic at Hogwarts? The students certainly don't have the power for that, and most of the professors have worked and lived here for years; everyone knows their backgrounds. But there's one professor, he's new, incredibly powerful, and most importantly – he has a criminal record!"

Betty kept whispering her deductions into Linley's ear, practically telling him who the killer was.

Linley's expression returned to calm as he looked at Betty.

"Does everyone think Professor Foxx is the culprit?"

Betty's eyes widened, and she spread her hands. "Is there anyone else who could be suspected?"

"But what about the motive? Why would Professor Foxx attack Hubert?" Linley asked.

"Everyone in the wizarding world knows what he's researching. Perhaps his dark magic experiment this morning needed a test subject, and the unlucky Hubert just happened to cross his path."

Linley had lost his appetite for lunch. He stood up and said to Betty before leaving.

"Everything requires evidence. Until someone personally witnesses Professor Foxx committing a crime or absolute proof is found, everything you're saying is just baseless rumor."

Betty looked a little wronged and watched Linley's retreating back with confusion.

"Why are you defending him? He's just a murderer, a prisoner who served time in Azkaban!"

Linley walked straight out of the Great Hall, ignoring Betty.

He knew that even though Betty had helped him deal with Hubert before, their stances were still the same.

They were both from pure-blood families. Betty might have been much more well-bred than Hubert, but their fundamental interests and perspectives were aligned.

Voldemort's followers were basically composed of pure-blood wizards because Voldemort's ultimate goal would bring them immense benefits.

Pure-blood families, excluding the Weasley and Longbottom families, could almost be equated with Death Eaters.

And Professor Foxx, having killed five Death Eaters, had indirectly made enemies of all pure-blood wizards.

Even though Voldemort had been gone for many years, the interest groups had not disbanded.

Perhaps the pure-blood families whose direct relatives hadn't been killed by Professor Foxx didn't harbor much animosity, but they didn't mind creating a situation where everyone ganged up on someone who was already down.

Linley was now certain that within three days, parents of students would start pressuring Hogwarts, and they would also involve the Daily Prophet to track and report on the incident, and then have the Ministry of Magic thoroughly investigate the matter. The ultimate goal would be to drive Professor Foxx out of Hogwarts.

Of course, it would be best if he was sent back to Azkaban.

Actually, there were only two questions now.

The first question: who exactly attacked Hubert?

Linley never believed Professor Foxx did it. Setting aside his belief in the professor's character, any sane person in Professor Foxx's situation wouldn't do such a thing.

Hogwarts didn't have cameras installed, so the culprit wouldn't be caught easily.

Linley wasn't even sure who the attacker of Hubert was targeting.

Was it to teach Hubert a lesson? Or to frame Professor Foxx? Or for some other reason?

The second question: why did Professor Snape deliberately spread the news that Hubert was attacked by dark magic?

The excuse that the professor accidentally let it slip was enough to fool children, but Linley certainly wouldn't believe it.

Snape definitely said it on purpose.

But for what reason?

Did he also have a grudge against Professor Foxx?

Linley paused suddenly at this thought.

He remembered that Snape was a staunch Death Eater before his defection, so perhaps they really did have a feud!

The afternoon brought another Herbology class.

He saw Mark and Michel in class.

They still had some traces of bumps on them, indicating they had already been treated by Madam Pomfrey.

The two also saw Linley, but after just meeting his gaze, they quickly looked away in fear.

Linley wasn't in the mood to pay attention to them. He was carefully tending to the Dittany he had planted in the last class, wearing his dragon-hide gloves.

"Be careful not to damage their outer skins. If Dittany is harmed during its juvenile stage, the effectiveness it provides when it matures will be greatly reduced..."

Linley was listening intently to Professor Sprout's lecture.

He wasn't worried about Professor Foxx's situation because worrying wouldn't help anyway.

Professor Foxx was an adult wizard; he definitely had his own thoughts and methods. If he still needed Linley to worry about him in a situation like this, then Linley wouldn't be learning dark magic research from him.

Ever since Linley had received praise and extra points from professors in every class, he had become more low-key in class, basically not raising his hand to answer questions anymore.

His outstanding performance was purely to earn points for himself, not for Slytherin.

However, he remained active in Potions class. Linley intended to go head-to-head with the heartless, wifeless professor until the end; he didn't believe Snape wouldn't praise someone.

Snape also seemed to be playing along with Linley. Although he refused to praise Linley, he used these opportunities to award points to Slytherin, openly showing favoritism to his own house.

The afternoon classes ended, and Linley returned to his private dormitory. After practicing curses in his room for over an hour, he put away his wand and went to the Great Hall for dinner.

The Great Hall was lively today.

This was because the rumors had spread just in time, making all the young wizards at Hogwarts aware of the morning's attack, and…

The prime suspect.

"I knew it! Thankfully, my dad warned me to stay away from him before I returned to school. Otherwise, I might have been the one lying in the corridor this morning!"

"I wonder if Professor Dumbledore knows about this. He'll definitely see through that old guy's true colors and expel him from the school!"

"Hmph, how could it be as simple as expulsion? Using the Unforgivable Curses on humans is against wizarding law! He'll be locked back up in Azkaban, spending his life with those disgusting Dementors!"

Linley couldn't stand staying at the Slytherin table for long.

Frowning, he grabbed some bread from the table and left the Great Hall.

The rumors were escalating too quickly. These young wizards basically had no judgment of their own, believing whatever others told them.

Now, not only the pure-blood young wizards in Slytherin but also those from the other three houses believed that Professor Foxx was responsible for the attack!