Secret Scheming, the Bait Plan / The School Year Begins, the Storm Finally Breaks

Suddenly struck by a new idea, the two brothers skipped lunch and ran down the corridor... I really hope they remember tomorrow's exam!

"Edible Dark Marks, that's a pretty good idea." Recalling the two brothers' idea, Harry couldn't help but nod in satisfaction.

In a way, the Weasley Brothers' teasing was actually a form of defiance against the Dark Lord...

Just like what Harry himself did!

"Damn it! That Dark Mark is clearly a challenge to you, the Dark Lord!!"

At that moment, within the dark dungeons of Malfoy Manor in Wiltshire, England, a furious roar suddenly echoed.

This dungeon is located in the most secluded part of the manor, and even Draco Malfoy, as the young master, rarely has the opportunity to come here. Recently, his mother has even explicitly forbidden him from going near it!

Meanwhile, inside the dungeon, a middle-aged man dressed as an ordinary person was pacing back and forth in agitation.

"That Dark Mark could only have been cast by Harry Potter! There's absolutely no one else who could have done it!"

The middle-aged man's eyes gleamed with a mixture of hatred and wisdom, a light that Harry had seen before... not long ago in the Albanian Forest.

"All those scumbags at the scene were knocked unconscious! Besides, even if they were still conscious, how could a cowardly traitor like Crabbe dare to summon his master on his own? I'm sure... it was Harry Potter who did it, he did it on purpose for his master!"

The middle-aged man was quite certain of his guess; ever since their encounter in Albania, he had never underestimated the young Harry Potter.

The opponent is very strong; he absolutely cannot be treated as an ordinary underage wizard!

Furthermore, when the Malfoy family widow was giving him and her master a detailed account of Harry Potter's experiences, she mentioned that when the boy's magazine reopened, a huge advertisement that almost blocked out the sky appeared over Diagon Alley.

If it were a typical mindless Death Eater, they might just think something like, "Harry Potter is so damn arrogant," and then skip over it.

However, the middle-aged man was a super genius who had once obtained 12 'O's in OWLs. He almost immediately determined the principle behind that kind of huge advertisement just by imagining the scene in his mind. It was most likely the Dark Mark!

Therefore... Harry Potter might very well unleash the Dark Mark!

That's right, that bastard Snape has completely betrayed his master, and he might even be the one who taught Harry Potter!

The scene in the Quidditch World Cup final was entirely a show directed and acted by Harry Potter to provoke his master!

"Enough..." Just as the middle-aged man was angrily talking to himself, another cold voice from inside the dungeon suddenly stopped him.

"Master?!" Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man hurriedly turned around and rushed towards the black swaddled baby in front of him.

That's right, it's swaddling clothes.

The second, chilling voice came from a small, thin body, only slightly larger than an infant.

His body was shriveled, his limbs were thin, and his facial features were distorted like a monster's.

Yet, despite his frail appearance, the middle-aged man maintained extreme respect for him... as if he were respecting his own father.

"Enough... my servant, you've been talking too much nonsense today." However, the other party was clearly not satisfied with the middle-aged man's chatter.

"Yes, I misspoke... I'm so sorry, Master..." Upon hearing the rebuke, the middle-aged man immediately prostrated himself on the ground, his attitude one of extreme fear and trepidation.

"Narcissa Malfoy, hasn't she returned yet? I'm a little hungry..."

"I have returned, the great Dark Lord." As that chilling voice grew noticeably weaker, Narcissa Malfoy appeared at the dungeon entrance.

She strode into the dungeon, knelt on one knee, and presented the other with three heavy bottles. "Human blood, Unicorn Blood, and viper venom, Dark Lord, please enjoy."

"Give them to me!" The middle-aged man snatched the bottles from the other man's hand and began mixing the medicinal liquid in a special way in a nearby Cauldron.

For him, taking care of the Dark Lord was undoubtedly a great honor, and he would never give the opportunity to someone else.

"My great master, how much longer will you remain so weak..." the middle-aged man asked with concern as he fed the other man a special potion.

"Soon... as long as I can get that boy!!"

Chapter 584 Secret Conspiracy, Bait Plan

In the pitch-black dungeon, the Dark Lord's chilling voice reverberated through the surrounding air.

He recounted his vision for this return to his most loyal servant, and even though he was extremely weak at the moment, he did not hide his ambition in the slightest... but in Narcissa Malfoy's eyes, this ambition was somewhat unrealistic.

The Dark Lord had been gone for far too long—more than a decade. The Britain Wizarding World had changed dramatically. The infant who had miraculously survived under his control had grown into a formidable wizard who could rival Dumbledore.

That guy... he even brutally murdered her husband, her beloved Lucius!!

Admittedly, Narcissa Malfoy still believed in the Dark Lord's power; otherwise, she wouldn't have used her connections in the Ministry of Magic to set up a trap to lure Barty Crouch Sr. away, and after confirming his secret, she would have unexpectedly knocked out the House-elf, altered his memories, and then secretly taken away the Death Eater who had been imprisoned and was most loyal to the Dark Lord.

The reason she went through all this trouble was ultimately to bring back the Dark Lord so that he could kill Harry Potter and avenge her husband!

But all of this comes with a prerequisite: the Dark Lord must first properly restore his power.

In his current half-crippled state, he might be able to crush a wizard of similar skill level, but if he were to actually go and fight Harry Potter, his best outcome would probably be being sent back to Albania.

And he himself, including the Dark Lord, his so-called most loyal servant, will all suffer a terrible death.

"Great Dark Lord ...forgive my bluntness, but Harry Potter's power may be insignificant compared to yours, yet he has already become a wizard most cannot match." Narcissa carefully chose her words, hoping to persuade the Dark Lord to change his mind. "Your body is still very weak; wouldn't it be inappropriate to rashly confront Harry Potter? Moreover, he has been staying at Hogwarts, under Dumbledore's protection..."

"Narcissa Malfoy, I warn you, do not question the Dark Lord's decision! Since our master needs Harry Potter, our only task is to do everything in our power to help him capture that boy!"

However, before the Dark Lord could even speak, the middle-aged man beside him angrily rebuked him, his expression as if Narcissa had just uttered some outrageous words.

Of course, for a middle-aged man, daring to question the Dark Lord's decision is an act of utter rebellion.

"Don't be so rude, my faithful servant." The Dark Lord interrupted the argument in the dungeon, and looked at the Malfoy family mistress with a playful gaze that made Narcissa feel uneasy.

"Narcissa Malfoy has been a great help to us, hasn't she?" the Dark Lord said softly, his voice like the hiss of a viper. "Thanks to her, you were able to escape your home and go to the Albanian Forest to bring me back. She also provided us with this secluded place, and after you abandoned Nagini on your own initiative, she has been constantly collecting the potions to sustain my body!"

"Master... I'm so sorry!" The middle-aged man hurriedly prostrated himself on the ground. "The situation was too critical; I had no other choice..."

"I know... I've always known your loyalty," the Dark Lord said hoarsely, as if trying to comfort him. "Harry Potter is incredibly powerful, and he wields weapons that only foolish Muggle would use... I must say, it must have been excruciatingly painful."

"I will make him pay!!" the middle-aged man roared at the top of his lungs.

"I'll take care of that child myself!" The Dark Lord glanced coldly at the middle-aged man, his tone clearly showing displeasure.

He's recently developed some issues with this servant.

The Death Eater before me, though absolutely loyal and unwavering, and impeccable in both strength and intelligence, has one particularly irritating flaw...

This guy really likes to talk nonsense in front of me.

Admittedly, he could remind me of many things I might overlook, but as the Dark Lord, why would I need his constant reminders?

Harry Potter is powerful now; he released the Dark Mark, he's showing off... Doesn't he know these things? Why do you need to emphasize them again and again?

I had to accept, time and time again, the fact that I had been defeated by Harry Potter once again!

"Narcissa Malfoy, your concerns are very valid. Taking action against Harry Potter now is certainly not a wise move." Forcing himself to regain his composure, the Dark Lord adopted a friendly demeanor as he looked at Narcissa. "However, I have my reasons for using that boy, and I would never use anyone else. I've waited thirteen years; a few more months won't matter. As for the protection that boy receives, I believe my plan will work."

"Dark Lord, I dare not question your plan, but... I feel that taking action during the Triwizard Tournament is far too risky," Narcissa anxiously advised. "That Harry Potter, his cunning is beyond that of a teenager! He rescued Bertha Jorkins from Albania, and the mere fact that she works in the Department of Magical Games and Sports is enough to make him wary of the entire Triwizard Tournament!"

For Narcissa, what was truly terrifying about Harry Potter, besides the power he wielded, was also his intellect.

This is why Narcissa strictly forbade her son from participating in this matter, and even dared not tell him the news of Lucius's death... because if Draco showed even the slightest flaw at school, Harry Potter would definitely investigate thoroughly and eventually implicate them all!

"Of course I know that... Narcissa Malfoy, I have never underestimated that boy for a moment." For some reason, the Dark Lord's tone seemed to gradually become more playful. "The Triwizard Tournament is just a smokescreen. I deliberately made him wary of this competition. What we actually need is... a bait to throw him off balance."

"A decoy..." Narcissa was taken aback upon hearing this.

She knew what the Dark Lord meant, and she also understood how much Harry valued those around him, but she still didn't think the plan would work.

"Dark Lord, that child does indeed have many people he cares about, but they are all under tight protection. He even sent his parents out of Europe and built a nursing home, wanting to bring all the elders he cares about together..."

"No...you can think about it again, Narcissa Malfoy," the Dark Lord's voice became even more playful. "He will make mistakes, and those he cares about will surely leave a trace, and you...you can undoubtedly find that flaw for me!"

"The flaw I found...?!"

At this moment, Narcissa fell into deep thought...

Chapter 585 The start of the school year, the torrential rain finally arrives

Harry has been idle at school for almost a week since his History of Magic exams ended.

Unlike the Weasley Brothers or Cedric Diggory, who have to take three or more O.W.L. Examinations this week, his schedule will be relatively easier.

Meanwhile, the results of the History of Magic exam were soon released.

Just like the four subjects he took before his vacation, Harry also got an 'O' in History of Magic.

The Ministry of Magic, unusually, didn't give him any trouble this time. Perhaps it was because the professors at the Wizarding Examinations Authority were all quite upright, or perhaps it was because... Fudge and his friends really couldn't handle the situation anymore.

Many of the answers Harry gave during the exams were later written into the textbook *The New History of Magic *, so * the Quibbler * magazine naturally published related content to give interested wizards a sneak peek.

In this situation, if the Ministry of Magic dared to use the argument that 'Harry's answer was not standard,' they would definitely be verbally abused by Rita Skeeter to the point of self-isolation.

Furthermore, Fudge and his team haven't yet offered any solutions regarding the thirty-odd thugs suspected of having connections with the You-Know-Who. If they were to speak out again now to draw attention, wizards all over the world would likely be urging them to take action.

Rita Skeeter will likely have to write another article criticizing the Ministry of Magic for "seriously dealing with the matters of the You-Know-Who Death Eater, but instead focusing on manipulating students' exam scores and nitpicking about the thickness of the Cauldron."

So far, Harry has earned OWLs (Outstanding Certificates) in five subjects. Excluding Divination and Arithmancy, which he would never choose, he has now successfully obtained half of the ten basic Hogwarts diplomas... and he is only fourteen years old.

This is an absolutely incredible achievement for many people.

Harry will clearly continue to live up to expectations. If all goes well, he will finish the remaining five OWLs this semester, while also taking advanced courses in Potions and Care of Magical Creatures, and aiming to get his NEWTs certification by the end of the semester.

Oh, and there's also the Muggle Studies.

Regarding this course, Professor Tofudi had promised Harry that if Harry could complete his proposed 'kite experiment' and successfully use lightning to light a lamp, the Wizarding Examinations Authority would award him a NEWT certificate for the course.

He could also change the course name to 'General Social Cognition' and become a professor of the course, just like Burbage.

PS: This time he's a full-fledged professor, not just a teaching assistant like before... although Harry actually wanted to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts.

In short, his opportunity to conduct kite experiments seems to be coming soon...

"This weather... could it really be such a coincidence?"

With the start of school approaching, Harry looked out the window at the torrential rain and couldn't help but think that the weather was definitely playing a joke on him.

Since the start of the school year, Harry has been waiting for a storm with lightning.

The wolf girl in the Forbidden Forest needs this downpour to completely transform Humanmagus, attempting to change from a beast into a human.

Harry also needs a thunderstorm to complete his boastful kite experiment.

But he waited for several months.

By now, Harry had even decided to cheat by summoning lightning for his experiment, but little did he expect that a torrential downpour would arrive unexpectedly on the eve of the start of school.

The rain started a few days after the History of Magic exams ended. It only cleared up once or twice during that time, and the rest of the time it was pouring down continuously.

Even Professor Tofty and other members of the Wizarding Examinations Authority were stranded at Hogwarts because of the rain, waiting anxiously for lightning to streak across the sky every day.

The old professor even took it upon himself to inform Dumbledore that if there were any signs of thunder during the opening ceremony, Harry should definitely skip the ceremony to conduct his experiments.

Speaking of which, Harry's going to cause trouble at the opening ceremony again. I wonder if Albus Dumbledore regrets his decision to trick him into coming to Hogwarts in the first place when he's dreaming about it.

Thanks to Professor Tofudi's antics, the news that 'Harry is going to catch Lightning Bolt' has now spread far and wide throughout Hogwarts.

All the faculty and staff, as well as the students in grades five through seven who returned to school early for their exams, have been talking about this recently. Some are looking forward to it, while others think Harry is just trying to attract attention. In any case, they have been waiting for that day to come.

And so, to everyone's anticipation, the relentless downpour reached its peak on September 1st...

"Thank goodness you were here, Harry! I thought I wouldn't make it to the party alive!"

In the midst of the raging storm, Hagrid vigorously wiped the rain off his face and shouted loudly to Harry beside him.

At the start of each school year, first-year students must take a boat across the Black Lake before they can reach Hogwarts Castle.

But in this kind of weather, ferrying people across the lake is an extremely dangerous task for anyone. Hagrid, who was responsible for ferrying the newborns, was even worried that he would fall into the lake and die.

Fortunately, for safety reasons, Harry stayed with the Black Lake natives throughout the entire journey, protecting the fleet.

"But what about the experiment if you come with us?" Hagrid continued after the small boat had sailed a short distance. "Judging by the weather, there's a good chance of lightning at any moment."

"I've already launched the kite, you don't need to worry at all," Harry said, waving his hand.

Harry had already prepared the kites and Leyden jars needed for the kite experiment during the holidays, and he had prepared a considerable number of Leyden jars.

Taking advantage of the recent heavy rains, Harry had already connected and set up the Leyden jars in advance; the kite with metal wire wrapped around it was also sent into the sky during the heaviest rain today.

Furthermore, to ensure the safety and success of the experiment, Harry also enchanted the kite and the Leyden jar with alchemical magic, ensuring that they would not be destroyed by lightning and that the experiment would proceed safely.

In addition, there's the cheating method Harry mentioned before... With that one in the sky helping him, Harry isn't worried at all about missing the lightning.

Thump!