Marietta

The unexpected turn of events involving Dumbledore's Army was Skylar had not anticipated.

What he had originally planned for April was brought forward to February, even earlier than when Umbridge dismissed a professor.

This meant that many of his plans could not be implemented in time, and he also did not have time to give Cho Chang the latest instructions.

Fortunately, he didn't trust the wrong person.

Without any support or instructions, Cho Chang completed her mission alone, bringing Skylar's target— Katie Bell— into the Sleeping Dragon Society. This meant that from then on, the Sleeping Dragon Society had successfully torn a rift in Gryffindor, especially during the power vacuum created when Harry, Meghan, Harry's trio were being heavily suppressed by Umbridge, which provided the Sleeping Dragon Society with the best opportunity and the most suitable environment for development.

Moreover, Dumbledore is gone.

This means that there is no longer anything in Hogwarts that can check Skylar.

At this point, Skylar should thank that fool Umbridge, who was so focused on dealing with Dumbledore that she never imagined she would unleash an even more terrifying hostile force.

Of course, Skylar had no intention of challenging Umbridge's authority, much less taking the opportunity to usurp his position and bring Hogwarts under his control.

This wasn't out of fear of Umbridge, but because the current situation was extremely advantageous to the Sleeping Dragon Society. Umbridge's autocratic and domineering rule had already aroused dissatisfaction and resentment among most students. At this time, the wisest choice for the Sleeping Dragon Society was not to confront them directly, but to lurk in the shadows, taking advantage of the students' dissatisfaction and resentment to expand their influence.

Therefore, although Skylar was not afraid of Umbridge and her Justice Inquisitorial Squad at all, he still chose not to provoke them, and even ordered the Sleeping Dragon Society to keep a low profile and avoid unnecessary conflicts. He would rather watch Umbridge and the Justice Inquisitorial Squad act recklessly and let them wreak havoc on Hogwarts than expose his power at this critical juncture.

This strategy of hiding and enduring left some members of the Sleeping Dragon Society feeling quite frustrated, even perceiving it as cowardly. However, Skylar's orders were the supreme will of the Sleeping Dragon Society, and no one would disobey them.

To avoid repercussions from Umbridge and entanglement with the Justice Inquisitorial Squad, the Sleeping Dragon Society went into hibernation, and all meetings and activities were suspended.

The number of personnel managing the intelligence network and conducting magical research was greatly reduced, leaving only the organization's core cadres to maintain operations. As a result, team leaders such as Daphne and Morrie became even busier.

Meanwhile, Skylar was not idle either.

First, we must help the poor little girl, Marietta Edgecombe Eckmore. Because Hermione planted a curse on the paper she signed without her knowledge, Marietta Edgecombe's face is covered in terrible pockmarks, essentially disfigured. For a young girl still in her adolescence, this punishment is worse than death.

To be honest, while Marietta Edgecombe's tragic fate may seem like her own fault on the surface, it's actually inextricably linked to Skylar. Everything that happened to her was part of Skylar's plan; he ordered Cho Chang Skylar bring Marietta Edgecombe into the Dumbledore's Army, precisely to trigger this plot point from the original story. Poor Marietta Edgecombe, she never knew that she was merely a sacrifice in Skylar's scheme.

Of course, Skylar didn't intend to ignore her either.

First, it was Cho Chang's plea. Marietta Edgecombe herself didn't want to join Dumbledore's Army; she was dragged there by Cho Chang. So, Cho Chang felt guilty about Marietta Edgecombe's situation. Moreover, she knew very well that Marietta Edgecombe's mother had worked for Umbridge, and she had suffered a great deal of pressure because of it.

In the fan fiction of his previous life, many readers disliked the character Marietta Edgecombe, but Skylar didn't think so.

Although Marietta Edgecombe wasn't an honest or loyal person, she was incredibly devoted to her friends. In the original story, after Cedric's death, Cho Chang became a crybaby who was easily angered, and all her friends distanced themselves from her. Only Marietta Edgecombe remained steadfastly by her side. This is why, after Marietta Edgecombe betrayed everyone, Cho Chang was the first to forgive her, and even broke up with Harry Potter to protect her.

Moreover, he believed that through this incident, Marietta Edgecombe should have learned the price of betrayal and might even be qualified to be recruited by him.

Of course, after all that, it was Cho Chang's pitiful, coquettish pleading that truly moved Skylar.

"Please~" Cho Chang nestled in Skylar's arms like an abandoned kitten, rubbing her cheek against Skylar neck repeatedly. Her snow-white neck appeared even more slender in the candlelight. "Marietta Edgecombe is my best friend in class. She's so pitiful. She's afraid to see anyone now, and she even eats in her dorm room..."

"Skylar..." she called his name softly, her voice gentle and slightly coquettish. Her eyes, like Skylar, shimmered with a watery light, filled with a mixture of unease and expectation. "I know you'll find a way..."

Skylar sighed and said, "I just can't do anything with you. You've certainly learned how to act cute."

Cho Chang blinked, as if she knew she was halfway to success, and said in a sweet, coquettish voice, "So you agreed?"

Skylar chuckled softly, reached out and pinched her chin, and whispered, "Just this once, and don't let it happen again."

The moment Skylar agreed, he received his deserved reward— Cho Chang Qiu gave Skylar a sweet kiss on the lips.

A moment later, Marietta Edgecombe was brought by Cho Chang.

Marietta Edgecombe Eckmer stood timidly before Skylar, her face still covered with terrible bumps and swollen pustules. The word "Informant" was still clearly visible, deeply etched into her skin. Even though she had tried her best to cover it with magic, the ugly marks clung to her skin like a curse, impossible to remove.

Her eyes were filled with despair and self-loathing, her body trembled slightly, and she dared not look Skylar in the eye. Even though Cho Chang kept comforting her, she was still afraid, afraid that she would get the same answer as Madam Pomfrey —no solution.

Skylar didn't speak. He simply took a step closer, his eyes deep, and gently pinched her chin with his long, slender fingers, making her lift her face. Marietta Edgecombe's body stiffened abruptly, and her breathing became erratic, but she dared not struggle, or even move.

"Let me see." Skylar's voice was low and calm, devoid of any emotion.

He examined her face closely, scrutinizing the ugly scars inch by inch. Then, he gently raised his wand and slowly ran it across her face. Invisible magic flowed through her, his brow furrowed slightly, and his expression became focused.

Then, he waved his wand, drawing intricate runes in the air. Streams of pale blue light flickered, revealing hidden magical patterns on Marietta Edgecombe's face.

"It's not just the Boil Curse," he said softly, a hint of admiration in his eyes, "There's also the Permanent Sticking Charm, the Spotted Transfiguration, and even some ingredients I can't even tell the difference... Hermione Granger is quite skilled; this curse is cleverly designed."

No wonder Marietta Edgecombe hadn't been cured of her skin problem by the end of the seventh book in the original series. Hermione used an extremely advanced compound spell, a highly difficult technique that combined several spells. Before knowing all the spell combinations, neither Skylar, Madam Pomfrey, nor the healers at St Mungo's Hospital could do anything about it.

Marietta Edgecombe's heart sank, as if all her strength had been drained away, and a feeling of despair quickly spread through her chest. Her eyes instantly reddened, tears welled up, and a soft sob escaped her throat.

"So... so there's still no way?" Her voice trembled, choked with sobs.

Her body swayed slightly, and the next second, she abruptly bent her knees, as if trying to kneel down, and broke down in tears—

Just as her knees were about to touch the ground, a hand suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her up from the ground.

"Don't rush to cry." Skylar's voice remained calm, but a subtle glint flashed in his sharp eyes. "The curse cannot be broken, but the contract can."

Marietta Edgecombe froze, her tear-filled eyes widening as she stared at him in disbelief.

Skylar waved his hand gently, and the next second, a piece of parchment silently appeared in the air and slowly unfolded. It was the list of the Dumbledore's Army. The names of the people on the paper glowed with a faint golden light, while Marietta Edgecombe's name was charred and twisted as if it had been burned by flames, and it also faintly emitted a strange magical fluctuation.

Her face turned deathly pale instantly, and her breathing became rapid.

This is the contract she signed herself... but how did it end up in Skylar's hands?

She abruptly turned to look at Cho Chang, who helplessly shrugged, her tone tinged with a mixture of helplessness and reproach. "After you reported Dumbledore's Army, everyone was in complete chaos. They were only concerned with escaping and actually left such important evidence in the room. My name is even on it! If I hadn't been careful enough, I probably would have been implicated too."

"Chu--!" Marietta Edgecombe's eyes widened as she finally realized what she had done.

That was Cho Chang, her best friend, who almost got expelled because of her.

Her fingertips trembled slightly, her lips moved, and her voice trembled with guilt, "I... I'm so sorry... I really... I'm so sorry... Please, you must forgive me... You're all I have left as a friend..."

Cho Chang sighed, slowly walked closer to her, reached out and gently hugged her, patting her back soothingly, and softly comforted her, "It's alright, Mary, don't say anymore..."

Skylar ignored the two of them, instead staring intently at the parchment floating in the air, his eyes flashing slightly.

"As expected of Hermione..." he murmured softly, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes, "Her use of contract magic is quite excellent."

The parchment was covered in intricate magical patterns, each signature bound tightly by the power of a contract, ensuring that any traitor would be severely punished. Hermione's mind was meticulous; this was not something that could be broken by ordinary dispelling spells.

However, for Skylar, this was merely an interesting problem.

He gently raised his hand, and the wand drew an elegant arc in the air, its tip shimmering with a silver light, wrapping around the parchment like a chain, unraveling the hidden magical knots one by one.

As the power of the contract was gradually stripped away, the marks on Marietta Edgecombe's face finally began to fade. The unforgettable words "informant" gradually disappeared, and the bumps and pustules on her skin quickly subsided. After a moment, her originally fair skin finally reappeared.

"... The contract is dissolved!" As Skylar lowered his hand that was holding the wand, a burning smell emanated from the parchment, which turned to Ashes in an instant.

"Alright," Cho Chang gave Marietta Edgecombe a gentle smile, her eyes sparkling with pride for her boyfriend, "Marie, your face has recovered."

Marietta Edgecombe stood there, stunned, her mind blank for a moment.

She reached out and touched her face Dazed, her fingertips feeling the smooth skin, no longer those ugly bumps and marks.

She suddenly pulled a small mirror from her bosom, held her breath, and tremblingly held it up to her face—

In the mirror, that long-lost, familiar face finally came into view.

No pockmarks, no letters, no marks of humiliation... as if nothing had ever happened.

Her throat tightened, her heart pounded, and her nose stung with pain. The next second, tears streamed down her face without warning, and she almost covered her mouth, sobbing uncontrollably.

She knelt on the ground, covered her face with her hands, her shoulders trembling violently, and tears fell drop by drop, leaving wet patches on the cold floor.

She couldn't even believe it; she had really recovered! She had finally... recovered!

"Thank you..." she choked out, her voice barely audible.

Cho Chang smiled slightly, squatted down, and gently patted her shoulder. "Don't cry, it's all over now."

Marietta Edgecombe lifted her tear-streaked face, looking at Cho Chang, then at Skylar. Her eyes were filled with complex emotions: gratitude, shock, and even a hint of indescribable awe.

Cho Chang gently took her hand and said softly, "Mary, Skylar saved you."

Marietta Edgecombe turned sharply to look at Skylar, her eyes filled with deep emotion. Her lips trembled, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she only lowered her head deeply, knelt on the ground, and choked out, "Thank you... thank you... I owe you my life..."

Skylar simply smiled faintly, his tone languid and indifferent. "Now, can your friend rest easy?"

Cho Chang smiled, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction. She helped Marietta Edgecombe up and said softly, "Let's go, Marie, back to the dormitory."

"Wait a minute!" Marietta Edgecombe looked up at Cho Chang's gentle expression, and in an instant, she seemed to understand something. She turned to Skylar, a strange look flashing in her eyes. "Malfoy, I knew it all along—something must have happened between Cho and you. Ever since I met you, Cho has appeared less and less in Ravenclaw Tower. When we meet, she always seems rushed and secretive. I thought she had a boyfriend..."

"But," Marietta Edgecombe took a deep breath, looked up at Skylar, her eyes filled with determination, "Qiu's magical grades have suddenly improved dramatically, not just in Ravenclaw, but even in the entire year, she's ranked in the top three!"

"Mary," Cho Chang frowned, quickly interrupting her, "What exactly are you trying to say?"

Because of Marietta Edgecombe's personality and family background, Cho Chang never thought she was suitable to join the Sleeping Dragon Society. So, instead of recruiting her, he kept her in the dark and made strange excuses to avoid participating in the Sleeping Dragon Society's activities, leading her roommates to believe that she had a boyfriend.

Despite Skylar's gentle demeanor towards her, Cho Chang always knew that her boyfriend was a ruthless and formidable character. He was not only cunning and calculating but also ruthless in his actions, and even Dumbledore and Umbridge were helpless against him.

She couldn't imagine what the consequences would be if Marietta Edgecombe angered Skylar.

Marietta Edgecombe's gaze lingered between Skylar and Cho Chang for a moment, as if she had finally made up her mind.

She took a deep breath and slowly said, "Qiu, you and Malfoy... did you join a mysterious underground organization?"

Cho Chang's smile froze instantly.

Skylar narrowed his eyes, his fingers silently tightening their grip on his wand hidden in his sleeve, a dangerous aura quietly spreading through the air.

Marietta Edgecombe didn't back down. Instead, she gritted her teeth and suddenly knelt down. "Malfoy, I beg you, let me join you!"

Her voice trembled with a sob, desperate and urgent. "I betrayed Dumbledore's Army, and I've already offended many people. The Justice Inquisitorial Squad... they despise the pockmarks on my face. Not only did they not help me, but they often gathered to ridicule and bully me. And this time, no one is willing to help me anymore, just because I'm a traitor in their eyes." She grew increasingly distressed, her hoarse voice filled with suppressed anger and helplessness, "I just... I just wanted to protect my mother... my family..."

"Please, I have nowhere else to go..." Marietta Edgecombe pleaded humbly. "Please take me in, let me follow you, I'll do anything."

Skylar and Cho Chang exchanged a glance. Cho Chang remained silent for a moment, and finally nodded almost imperceptibly.

Skylar sighed softly, reached out and pulled her up from the ground, his tone calm. "Our organization is called the Sleeping Dragon Society, and I am its leader."

He paused slightly, a dangerous smile playing on his lips, his eyes as deep as the night. "Let me remind you—we only let you join because of Cho Chang. If you betray us..."

He leaned closer, his voice low and cold. "Hermione's disfiguring curse is child's play compared to the punishments I can inflict."

Marietta Edgecombe trembled, nodded vigorously, and choked out, "I swear... I will never betray you again..."

Skylar released his grip, turned, and left, his tone as calm as if nothing had happened. "Well then, welcome to the Sleeping Dragon Society."