Chapter 784: Chapter 168: Pride Fallen to Dust

Vid: "..."

Hagrid: "..."

The two looked at each other.

Hagrid saw the change from astonishment to understanding in Vid’s eyes, while Vid saw the belated regret in Hagrid’s eyes.

Before Vid could say anything, Hagrid suddenly slapped his own mouth, glanced around, then bent down and whispered urgently:

"Listen, Vid, you didn’t hear anything just now, okay?"

"...Alright."

"Actually, the third task doesn’t need to be strictly confidential; in two months, you guys will know what the competition is about anyway."

"You’re right."

"But it’s best not to mention it to anyone, not even to Harry... Sigh, I really shouldn’t have said too much to you."

"Don’t worry, I understand everything." Vid reassured him.

"That’s great, I knew you were reliable."

Hagrid was extremely relieved, and he patted Vid on the back with his broad hand, almost knocking him down.

"Let’s go, you should leave the Forbidden Forest. It’s not the best place for thinking."

The large and small headed out of the Forbidden Forest together. Hagrid’s footsteps were like a tank, breaking twigs, flattening bushes, and shaking the trees blocking the path despite his efforts to be careful.

But with Hagrid by his side, the subtle noises that had previously put Vid on edge—the rustling, hissing, distant growling, odd screeches, buzzing of insect swarms, and the faint sounds of breathing—all seemed to vanish.

Vid quickened his pace beside Hagrid, suddenly realizing Hagrid’s attire seemed more unkempt than before, no longer looking like a stag in rut eager to flaunt its charm.

He hesitated for a moment and asked, "How are things going between you and Madam Maxime... lately?"

Instantly, Hagrid’s originally straight back hunched slightly.

"Sigh, we’ve... had a little problem lately..."

He was unwilling to say more, leading Vid straight out of the Forbidden Forest.

The toad in the cage remained quiet all along, so much so that Hagrid didn’t notice Vid still had this little thing when they parted.

Soon after, the toad watched as the scenery ahead moved, the familiar castle gates appeared, and many students passed by Vid, greeting him warmly.

As a toad, it naturally couldn’t know the progress of the Magic School tournament, being surprised by Vid’s popularity at school, though not dwelling on it.

Suddenly, Vid Gray paused slightly, turning his head to look across the corridor, and the toad instinctively followed the gaze.

A group of Slytherin students were gathered joking near the windows when one of them suddenly winked and gestured to the others—Draco Malfoy appeared from across, swiftly walking toward the Great Hall.

The group quieted for a moment, then one tall and stout boy swaggered out to deliberately block Draco’s path.

Suddenly faced with an irrefutable obstacle ahead, Draco had to look up at the person in front, his deep grey eyes narrowing slightly.

"Move aside, Crabbe." He said coldly.

Crabbe didn’t budge, instead stepping forward, clenching his fists, mimicking Draco’s previous arrogant tone, speaking slowly:

"If I don’t move, what will you do? Pull my entrails out again?"

Draco’s expression froze, and his indifferent face showed a hint of embarrassment.

He instinctively glanced around; none of the nearby Slytherins stood by him, all faintly showing expressions of enjoying the spectacle.

No one thought Crabbe bothering him was wrong—

Since Lucius disappeared, the incident of Draco using the Entrail-Expelling Curse on Crabbe spread quickly, and everyone assumed Crabbe’s retaliation was both reasonable and expected.

Even though, in Draco’s eyes, Crabbe may not even be able to say "Lumos" clearly, a wave of his Magic Wand could knock him down. But now, under everyone’s gaze, he could only swallow his anger and walk around Crabbe.

Crabbe’s face showed a contemptuous expression, smelling something nauseating. When they passed by each other, he suddenly shook his body, causing Draco to stumble a few steps, nearly falling.

"Watch where you’re going, Draco!" Crabbe sneered, "There’s no daddy here to hold your hand and walk you around."

Draco’s expression instantly turned pale, as if doused with a bucket of ice water, but in those eyes, icy cold, surged a fiery anger.

His lips formed a tight line, suppressing the emotions about to erupt, turning to leave, with whispers following behind—

"Coward!"

"Just like his dad..."

"Did you hear? The Ministry of Magic is giving the Malfoy Family trouble again..."

"...Found illegal items in the manor, fined heavily..."

"Serves them right! People like Malfoy..."

Draco sharply looked back, failing to catch who spoke, only seeing eyes filled with arrogance, and the faint, mocking smiles at the corners of their mouths.

Some looked at him slightly surprised, as if not understanding why he became so agitated; others’ eyes sparkled with anticipation, waiting for him to show even more disgraceful behavior.

Draco realized clearly that at that moment, whether he shouted, cursed madly, or drew his Magic Wand to attack, would only make him more embarrassed.

He forced himself to straighten his back and continue forward, the faint laughter behind buzzing like a wasp, drilling into his ears; clinging like sticky spider silk, wrapping around him, impossible to shake off.

Vid looked down.

The toad in the cage had already abandoned concealing its emotions, trembling all over with rage, its eyes venomously glaring at those who mocked, as if ready to become a snake, leap out, and tear open some people’s throats.

The boy’s lips curved slightly; he pretended not to notice, carrying the cage towards the Headmaster’s Tower.

The gargoyle at the entrance loyally stood guard, and Vid patted the statue’s wings, saying:

"Fizzing Whizzbees? Chocolate Frogs? Cockroach Clusters... that’s not right... then Pepper Imps? Mint Humbugs?"

The gargoyle suddenly jumped aside.

The spiral staircase automatically rose, arriving at the entrance of the Headmaster’s Office, where Vid was about to knock, when he heard Dumbledore’s voice, unusually severe—

"This incident is not accidental, Cornelius! You should immediately dispatch the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad and Elite Aurors to investigate! Also inform the International Wizarding Union..."

"Oh Dumbledore, you always exaggerate like this." Fudge said slickly, "Do you know how many incidents I have to deal with every day? Most of them are just drunk wizards causing trouble."

"But it’s different this time!"

Dumbledore said seriously, "Muggles suddenly aging and self-igniting, such incidents have occurred three times already! They are a very dangerous sign, indicating that more severe situations will occur in the future, even surpassing Voldemort..."

"Ugh, why always bring up dead people?"

Fudge interrupted him nervously; even now with Voldemort a thing of the past, he still dared not mention that name.

Under Dumbledore’s stern gaze, the Minister of Ministry of Magic said perfunctorily, "Alright, alright, I’ve already sent people to investigate. I care about the safety of the Magic World just like you do, Dumbledore."

The headmaster’s voice was icy, "To investigate? You mean those two young graduates? Then I must pray they find nothing, otherwise encountering those Dark Magic wielding wizards, it’d be a miracle if they survive!"

Fudge sharply retorted, "Dumbledore, the tournament is at a crucial moment, you shouldn’t always talk about these things—provoking panic does you no good!"

A sickly sweet voice chimed in beside, "Perhaps it’s because some people always want to exploit the issue, to showcase their importance?"

The office suddenly fell silent, and after quite a while, Vid heard Dumbledore’s voice of disappointment:

"If you choose to pretend to sleep despite such clear facts, I can’t wake you, but Cornelius... I thought... I once thought, even if you weren’t brave enough, at least you were someone willing to take responsibility, yet I was wrong..."