Early the next morning, after news of the attack on Penelope Clearwater spread throughout Hogwarts, the young wizards all thought Harry Potter must have gone mad.
"At first, he only attacked people who crossed him, but now he's targeting all the wizards from the Muggle world!" Ernie Macmillan told everyone he knew with an air of authority. He was practically certain Harry was the culprit, and he even invented accounts of Harry ordering the monster to attack people.
He also questioned why the professors had not expelled Harry.
"He talks as if he saw it with his own eyes," Ron said, rolling his eyes in Harry's defense.
"I get the feeling almost all the rumors came from Ernie Macmillan." Cyrus deliberately shook off Malfoy's two little sidekicks before Charms class and arrived a little late.
With no other seats left, he had no choice but to sit behind Harry and Ron, in the same row as Hermione.
He deliberately put on a look of disgust so that everyone would think he was reluctant to sit there. In secret, however, he was whispering with Hermione. Her face flushed as she remembered the "Mr. Riddle" she had seen in the Pensieve not long ago.
"Tell me, when did you first start possessing Ginny?" Hermione lowered her head and asked softly, her face red.
"The first time was shortly after the start of school last year. Last term, from when Colin Creevey was petrified after the Quidditch match until Christmas, I was in control almost the whole time. Why?"
"N-no reason..."
But Hermione's face turned even redder. Sitting beside her, Cyrus could practically feel the heat coming off her.
She changed the subject, poking Harry in the back with her quill before tossing him a note.
"What should we do? Maybe we should