Harry Potter and the Ambitious Girl

The atmosphere in the headmaster's office was tense and heavy.

Sitting at his desk with his elbows resting on it, Dumbledore wore a serious expression.

Standing before him were McGonagall, Harry, Hermione, Edith, and Malfoy.

Everyone seemed tense, but none more so than Malfoy, whose face was deathly pale as he trembled like a leaf, looking as though he might collapse at any moment.

"The spell placed on Madam Rosmerta has been lifted. Based on her testimony, it appears that Draco Malfoy did indeed use the 'Imperius Curse' on her.

We have also confirmed the existence of the burned Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement, just as Harry described."

Speaking in an unusually grave tone, McGonagall explained the situation.

Dumbledore remained silent, listening intently.

Even though his own life had been targeted, his face bore a strangely impressed, almost curious expression.

"Ah… I see now. It's the one that used to be on the third floor, isn't it? Clever… It was a pair, wasn't it?"

"Yes. We're still investigating, but according to Potter, it seems to be linked to Borgin and Burkes."

"There's no need for further investigation, Minerva. I know that cabinet well.

Without a doubt, it is connected to Borgin and Burkes."

Dumbledore nodded several times, as if verifying the answer given by a student.

To Harry, this reaction felt both strange and infuriating.

Why wasn't Dumbledore angry?

On the contrary, he seemed to be praising Malfoy's actions.

"We also examined the Vanishing Cabinet with detection spells and found Malfoy's fingerprints on it.

It seems clear that he's been attempting to repair it for the past year."

"An impressive plan. The Death Eaters were meant to come to Malfoy's aid via Borgin and Burkes, weren't they?

Such a clever plan… Truly brilliant… And to do it all right under my nose, how audacious."

Dumbledore spoke with a calm smile as he praised Malfoy's scheme.

"Still, I imagine there were times when you doubted whether you could repair the Vanishing Cabinet.

That's probably when you resorted to more reckless and hasty methods.

You sent me a cursed necklace, knowing full well it might end up in someone else's hands.

You poisoned a bottle of mead, even though the chances of me drinking it were slim."

"Albus… I don't need to remind you how serious this is.

A Hogwarts student conspired with Death Eaters and nearly killed two people.

This is unprecedented.

As much as it pains me to say it, I believe we have no choice but to hand him over to the Ministry of Magic."

At McGonagall's grim pronouncement, Malfoy flinched violently.

Using one of the Unforgivable Curses on another person was punishable by a life sentence in Azkaban.

Fully aware of this, Malfoy was overcome with terror.

However, Dumbledore raised his hand, signaling for McGonagall to hold off.

"Wait, Minerva.

Yes, the boy has committed a crime… but if you accuse him, then you must accuse me as well."

"What are you saying, Albus?"

"I knew, Minerva.

I knew that he was behind the two attempts on my life.

I knew that he was up to something."

Dumbledore's shocking revelation left everyone in the room stunned.

Their expressions varied, but every pair of eyes was now focused on Dumbledore with suspicion.

McGonagall, in particular, was visibly furious.

Her voice trembled with anger as she raised her voice at Dumbledore.

**"Then why didn't you stop him?!

Harry came to me before, telling me that Malfoy was acting suspiciously.

But I, like a fool, dismissed him outright.

I won't make excuses.

It was my ignorance and lack of foresight that led me to make that mistake.

But you—!

You just said you 'knew'!

If you knew, then why did you sit back and allow him to commit these crimes?!"**

"Calm yourself, Minerva.

I understand your anger, and you have every right to be upset.

But please, hear me out."

Faced with McGonagall's fierce outburst, even Dumbledore seemed taken aback, his expression troubled.

After a few seconds, McGonagall snorted through her nose, arms crossed, and signaled that she would listen.

"Thank you, Minerva…

Now, as for why I didn't stop him…

The answer is not 'I didn't stop him,' but rather 'I couldn't stop him.'

"What do you mean, Albus?"

"He was acting under Voldemort's orders.

Now, Minerva, if the Death Eaters had learned that I was aware of Malfoy's mission, what do you think would have happened?"

At this, McGonagall's eyes widened in sudden realization.

Yes, if Malfoy was acting under his orders, then failure would mean death.

In other words, Dumbledore hadn't stopped Malfoy because he had been trying to protect him.

The atmosphere in the headmaster's office was heavy and oppressive.

Before Dumbledore, who sat with his elbows on the desk and a serious expression on his face, stood McGonagall, Harry, Hermione, Edith, and Malfoy.

Everyone was tense, but Malfoy looked especially pitiful. His face had gone deathly pale, and he was trembling so violently that it seemed he might collapse at any moment.

"The spell on Madam Rosmerta has been lifted. Based on her testimony, it appears that Draco Malfoy did indeed use the 'Imperius Curse.'

Additionally, as Potter claimed, we have confirmed the existence of the burned Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement."

McGonagall explained in an unusually heavy tone, while Dumbledore listened in silence.

Even though his life had been targeted, his face bore a peculiar expression, somewhere between amazement and intrigue.

"Ah, I see... So it's the one that was on the third floor until last year. Clever move... It was a matched pair, wasn't it?"

"Yes. We're currently investigating, but according to Potter, it's connected to Borgin and Burkes."

"Ah, there's no need for further investigation, Minerva. I know that cabinet well.

Without a doubt, it is indeed paired with the one at Borgin and Burkes."

Dumbledore nodded repeatedly, as if verifying a student's answer.

To Harry, this was both strange and infuriating.

Why was Dumbledore not angry? In fact, why did he seem to be praising Malfoy?

"Our spell investigation of the Vanishing Cabinet revealed Malfoy's fingerprints.

It seems to be true that he spent the entire year attempting to repair it."

"A splendid plan. And the Death Eaters were planning to come to Malfoy's aid from Borgin and Burkes.

A clever scheme… Truly clever... And to think it was right under my nose. What audacity."

Dumbledore praised Malfoy's plan calmly, with a smile.

"But I suppose there were times you thought you couldn't repair it, weren't there?

That's why you resorted to rough, impulsive methods.

Like sending me a cursed necklace that would obviously end up in someone else's hands.

Or poisoning a bottle of mead that I was unlikely to drink."

"Albus... There's no need to say it, but this is a grave matter.

A Hogwarts student aiding the Death Eaters and attempting to kill two people — this is unprecedented.

As unfortunate as it is, I believe we have no choice but to hand him over to the Ministry of Magic."

At McGonagall's severe pronouncement, Malfoy recoiled in terror.

Using an Unforgivable Curse on another person is punishable by a life sentence in Azkaban.

That fear was plain on Malfoy's face.

However, Dumbledore raised a hand as if to calm McGonagall.

"Wait, Minerva. Indeed, the boy has committed a crime… But if we're going to go that far, I am equally guilty."

"What do you mean by that, Albus?"

"I knew. I knew that he was behind the two murder attempts, and I knew he was plotting something."

Dumbledore's bombshell statement left everyone stunned.

Their expressions varied, but each person looked at him with suspicion.

McGonagall, in particular, spoke with a voice tinged with anger as she demanded an explanation.

"Then why didn't you stop him!? Potter came to me before, telling me he was suspicious of Malfoy.

But I foolishly dismissed his words outright.

I won't make excuses. It was entirely my own ignorance and failure to think things through.

But you — you knew! You just admitted it! So why did you stand by and watch him commit crimes!?"

"Calm yourself, Minerva. Your anger is justified, but please hear me out."

Dumbledore, slightly intimidated by McGonagall's outburst, spoke in a troubled voice.

McGonagall snorted, her nostrils flaring, and folded her arms as if to say, "Go on, then."

"Thank you, Minerva… Now, you asked me why I didn't stop him.

The answer is not that I didn't stop him, but that I couldn't stop him."

"What do you mean by that?"

"He was acting on Voldemort's orders.

Now tell me, Minerva, what do you think the Death Eaters would do if they learned that I knew of their plan?"

"That would mean..."

At that moment, realization struck McGonagall like lightning.

If Malfoy had been acting under orders from him, failure would mean death.

In other words, Dumbledore had refrained from interfering in order to protect Malfoy.

"The same thing would happen if we handed him over to the Ministry of Magic. The Ministry will fall into Voldemort's hands sooner or later.

If Malfoy is sent to Azkaban, he'll almost certainly be killed."

"A-Albus, are you saying that the Ministry of Magic will fall!?"

"Yes, Minerva. Regrettably, the measures taken so far have been far too late.

If we had spent even one more year preparing... No, if we had made Scrimgeour Minister one year earlier..."

Rufus Scrimgeour was a competent man.

Unlike Fudge, who averted his eyes from the looming threat and indulged in false peace, Scrimgeour faced reality head-on.

But Fudge's incompetence had left behind a massive debt of negligence, and Scrimgeour had inherited that mess.

He was doing well under the circumstances, but even he had limits.

Dumbledore knew the Ministry's fall was only a matter of time.

"Now, Draco, let us discuss your options."

"Options…? I have none!

I had to do it! If I didn't, he would have killed me and my family!"

Malfoy's cry was more a scream than a statement.

It was the wail of a boy bound by fear, his family's and his own lives dangling by a thread.

Dumbledore nodded as he listened.

"I understand your predicament. That is precisely why I never took action against you.

Had Voldemort suspected that I was onto you, you would have been killed."

Dumbledore's gentle tone seemed to soothe Malfoy.

But the situation had already reached a critical stage.

It was no longer a matter of "suspecting." They were beyond that — it was complete collapse.

If they didn't act swiftly, it would be too late.

"At this point, pretending you completed your mission is futile. Voldemort will see through it with Legilimency in an instant."

Voldemort was a master of Legilimency.

Resisting it required either extraordinary magical skill or unshakable mental fortitude.

Malfoy had neither.

The moment Voldemort contacted him again, he would be exposed — and killed.

"I will save you."

"You can't! No one can! He ordered me to do it! If I fail, he'll kill me! There's no other option!"

"Draco, join us. We can hide you better than you could ever imagine.

Tonight, I'll send Order members to protect your mother.

As for your father, he's safe for now in Azkaban, but when the time comes, we will protect him as well."

They had to act before Voldemort realized the mission had failed.

Malfoy's choices had been reduced to two.

He could accept Dumbledore's help, or he could die.

"Oddly enough, this may be the perfect opportunity," Dumbledore said in a grave tone, opening a copy of the Daily Prophet.

The headline reported that Gringotts had been raided.

Witnesses claimed the culprit was Mirabel Beresford, a girl thought to be missing.

"Odd as it may sound, it seems the vault that was raided belonged to the Malfoy family."

"MY FAMILY'S VAULT!?"

"Indeed. And I suspect Voldemort had something of great importance hidden there.

With that gone, his rage will surely turn on your mother."

Malfoy was too overwhelmed to speak.

Tears streamed down his face as he nodded.

Severus Snape was growing anxious.

Just a few hours ago, he had been informed by Dumbledore that Draco Malfoy's plan had completely collapsed.

To save Malfoy's life, Dumbledore had the Order of the Phoenix hide him, but his mother was still at Malfoy Manor.

Thus, Snape was tasked with persuading Narcissa Malfoy to leave, a role that could be considered a logical choice.

He was a double agent among the Death Eaters, perceived by Voldemort as an ally.

In other words, he was the only member of the Order who could approach Narcissa without raising suspicion.

But even in Snape's eyes, the situation was rapidly approaching a point of no return.

"Narcissa Malfoy... I believe I made it clear to you just how important the item I entrusted to you was," Voldemort hissed.

"Please… forgive me… forgive me, my Lord," Narcissa pleaded.

"Unforgivable. Your husband has already betrayed my expectations once, failing in the Department of Mysteries.

And now you, his wife, have also failed to meet my expectations.

Disappointment... I confess that I am thoroughly disappointed."

"Please… I beg of you… my Lord…"

Narcissa bowed low, pressing her forehead against the floor as she continued to beg for forgiveness.

Voldemort paced in front of her, his frustration evident in his rough tone.

Even the Death Eaters, who were uninvolved in this particular matter, cowered in fear.

And for good reason.

Having two fragments of his soul — his Horcruxes — destroyed, how could he possibly remain calm?

"Even I, with all my boundless mercy, cannot allow this to go unpunished.

A punishment is necessary… You, your husband, and your son… all three of you must be made an example."

"No! Please… please!"

"Silence! Crucio!"

Narcissa's tearful pleas were cut short as the Cruciatus Curse pierced through her.

Her anguished screams echoed through the room, and Snape instinctively averted his gaze.

He had been ordered by Dumbledore to save her.

But what was he supposed to do in this situation?!

Even if he spoke up, a furious Voldemort would never listen.

And if he acted carelessly here, his cover as a spy would be blown, and he would likely be killed as well.

It wasn't death he feared… but to die before fulfilling his mission was not something he could accept.

Voldemort's mood had been at its worst lately.

The battles at the graveyard and the Department of Mysteries had cost the Dark faction dearly.

They had suffered significant casualties, losing dozens of valuable pawns.

Though this number was less than a tenth of the total Death Eaters, among the losses was Bellatrix Lestrange — one of Voldemort's most favored followers, to whom he had personally taught the Dark Arts.

On top of that, Death Eaters tasked with attacking Aurors and Muggle-born households — as part of Voldemort's scheme to destabilize the Ministry of Magic — had failed to return.

Whether they were killed by Aurors in retaliation or ambushed by Mirabel's forces was unknown.

But in any case, it was enough to make Voldemort's anger boil over.

Naturally, the Death Eaters did everything they could to soothe their master's temper.

After all, it was impossible to live in peace under his volatile rage.

At any moment, one of them could be struck dead by a stray Avada Kedavra.

That's why Yaxley managed to place Pius Thicknesse, the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, under the Imperius Curse,

and stationed loyal agents within the Department of Magical Transportation.

Walden Macnair succeeded in recruiting the giants.

He also took over the role left vacant by Fenrir Greyback, forming a new alliance with the werewolf clans.

Dark creatures were being steadily recruited into their ranks, and the preparation for the coup against the Ministry of Magic was nearing completion.

...That being said, a significant number of werewolves had already been lured away by another faction (almost certainly Mirabel's), leaving Voldemort's forces weakened.

But despite their best efforts, Voldemort's foul mood did not improve.

In fact, it only grew worse.

To counter the eerie inactivity of Mirabel's faction, Voldemort desperately needed control over the British Ministry of Magic and its forces.

However, his plan wasn't proceeding as smoothly as he had hoped, which left him on edge.

Then, to make matters worse, came the loss of his Horcrux.

The Death Eaters had a dreadful feeling.

They knew that unless blood was spilled, there would be no appeasing this fury.

"You will be food for Nagini," Voldemort declared mercilessly.

Hearing these words, Narcissa trembled uncontrollably.

Nagini — Voldemort's pet snake.

It was the only being in the world that he trusted and the only one he could open his heart to.

Strangely enough, despite his inability to trust humans, he had no trouble placing his trust in that serpent.

It was only natural, then, that Nagini had become one of Voldemort's Horcruxes.

His one and only partner who could bring him solace.

That's why she was worthy of sharing his fate.

Voldemort cherished Nagini far more than any of his Death Eaters.

The same logic applied to the rest of his Horcruxes.

To Voldemort, a single Horcrux was far more valuable than all the Death Eaters combined.

This belief drove his ruthlessness toward the Malfoy family.

After all, they had now caused him to lose two Horcruxes.

There was no room for mercy in his heart.

And so, when he declared the death sentence upon Narcissa Malfoy, he did so with absolute conviction.

"Please forgive me! Please forgive me! Please… please, just spare my son!"

"Impossible. The crime of betraying Lord Voldemort's expectations is punishable by death a thousand times over.

After you, I'll have your son follow you soon after."

Voldemort snapped his fingers, calling for Nagini.

Watching this, Snape felt the time to make a decision was rapidly approaching.

Should he value his position and let them die?

Or should he abandon his spy activities and save Narcissa?

But this dilemma, as it turned out, was unnecessary.

No matter how much Voldemort called, Nagini didn't come.

"...? Nagini?"

Voldemort was puzzled.

Never before had Nagini failed to respond when he called.

Though she was usually outside for a walk, she would always come immediately when he called, without hesitation.

Had she gone so far that she couldn't hear? No, that couldn't be it.

Since the Horcrux hidden in the bank had just been destroyed, he had specifically instructed Nagini not to go far.

Had she been attacked? No, that wasn't possible either.

Nagini had protective magic placed on her by Voldemort himself.

But in the first place, no one could even know that Nagini was a Horcrux.

Other Horcruxes, yes, they had clues.

He could only admit that he was careless with Hufflepuff's Cup.

The diary was an unfortunate mistake on Lucius' part.

There were other Horcruxes that Death Eaters knew about, and if they were tortured, information could be extracted.

But Nagini was different. Only Voldemort knew she was a Horcrux.

No one else had ever revealed it.

Therefore, there was no possibility of her being attacked… or so he thought.

"…No way."

A cold shiver ran down Voldemort's spine.

The image that flashed through his mind was that of a demon with golden hair.

Unable to stay still, Voldemort ran out of the room.

"Snape! You deal with that woman's execution!"

"Yes, my Lord."

After watching Voldemort leave, Snape realized this was his greatest opportunity.

He pointed his wand at Narcissa and silently cast the Stupefy spell. He couldn't afford to waste time explaining.

Next, he slashed her wrist, spilling blood on the floor, then immediately healed her wound.

He had caused a bit more blood loss than intended, but it was necessary to deceive the Dark Lord.

Once the task was done, Snape carefully picked up the unconscious Narcissa and used the Disillusionment Charm to hide them both.

"Th-This is impossible…"

Voldemort stood in shock, staring down at the ground.

His eyes, shaken with turmoil, were filled with a grief he had never shown, not even when a Death Eater died.

It should have been impossible for anyone to detect what had happened. There were no clues, no signs.

He had never spoken a word about it, nor had he hinted at it.

So this must be some mistake.

But even as he thought that, the scene in front of him did not change.

Before his eyes lay the lifeless body of the snake.

The corpse lay motionless, its eyes wide open in a frozen stare.

It appeared as if it had been petrified, with no sign of a struggle.

Only a deep, gaping wound, as though it had been bitten by massive fangs, marred its body.

"Damn it… damn it!!!"

Blood vessels bulged in his head as the Dark Lord roared in fury.

Whether it was Dumbledore or Belesford's doing, he didn't know, but he swore he would make them pay for this.

He would make them regret it.

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