Chapter 25: What We Saw on the Diagonal

Schelling was walking around the Boginbock store when he saw a withered human hand on a cushion in a glass box in front of the counter, with a few candles next to it.

He vaguely remembered that this thing was called the Hand of Glory. After placing a candle, the candlelight would only illuminate the holder. It was a good helper for thieves and robbers. I have to say that this thing is very practical, but when he thinks of another hand holding someone else's corpse, he feels a hiccup in his heart.

Xie Lin shook his head and continued reading. On the counter were various human bones, a playing card stained with blood, and a glass eyeball that was always staring at people. Masks with terrifying expressions hung on the walls, and strings of rusty, long, sharp instruments hung from the ceiling.

Draco was studying a long noose, and then read the sign on a luxurious opal necklace with a silly smile: Beware: Do not touch, it has been cursed - it has taken away the lives of nineteen Muggles. life.

Suddenly he caught a glimpse of a large cabinet with a strange shape, pointed at it and said, "Xie Lin, look at this cabinet, it seems very interesting!"

Sherrin's heart skipped a beat. If he guessed correctly, Harry was hiding in this cabinet at the moment.

Xie Lin said calmly: "This is a disappearing cabinet. Many ancient wizard families will keep one in their homes. It can be used to escape when disaster strikes. It is a very practical thing. Unfortunately, it is expensive to build, and more convenient ones appeared later. Apparition magic and the disappearing cabinet are slowly being phased out, and the method of making it has been lost to this day...Okay, Draco, I think my father's work is almost finished, we'd better prepare to leave!"

After leaving Knockturn Alley, Draco impatiently took Lucius to buy a broomstick, while Sherrin, who was not interested in it, separated from the two of them. He planned to go to the bookstore to buy it for himself and Draco first. Check out the book list and read there for a while.

On his way to Flourish and Blotts Bookstore to buy textbooks, a tall man in the middle of the road inevitably attracted Schelling's attention, although Schelling had never fought with the gamekeeper of Hogwarts. Although he didn't know each other, he still recognized it was Hagrid because his height was so prominent.

Standing next to him was Harry Potter, whose skin was bruised, covered in soot, with broken glasses, and a look of embarrassment. It looked like Harry was being scolded by Hagrid. Although Hagrid tried to lower his voice, his loud voice undoubtedly allowed Sherrin to hear his words clearly. "Wandering around in Knockturn Alley, don't you know, that's not a good place, Harry, don't let anyone see you there!"

During the scolding, Hermione and the Weasley family arrived. Harry explained hesitantly, "We saw the Malfoy family, Draco, Sherin and his father went to the Borgin Bock shop. It was a A shop specializing in black magic items."

"Oh, what did you find?" Mr. Weasley asked warily.

"There's nothing. I watched outside the window for a long time until they left, and I didn't see them buying anything!" Harry looked at Hagrid and asked, "Hagrid, we are following Malfoy. When you arrive?" What are you doing in Knockturn Alley?”

"I'm looking for a medicine to repel the carnivorous slugs that are destroying all the cabbages at school!" Hagrid said gruffly.

After hearing this, Xie Lin was not interested in staying there to continue listening to the meaningless conversations of several people, and continued to Flourish and Blotts Bookstore.

Although his father concealed himself and Draco, Schelling, who was familiar with the plot, already knew his father's purpose of going to Borgin's Bock's. It was simply because he had recently been investigated too closely by Arthur Weasley, who had always been at odds with him in the Ministry of Magic, and wanted to He took Tom Riddle's diary to Borgin Burke's to sell it off. Unfortunately, he didn't know that the diary was one of his master's Horcruxes. His actions would directly lead to a series of tragedies for the Malfoy family a few years later.

As for Mr. Bojin, the owner of the Bojinbok store, he is a shrewd man who stands firm in the chaotic and disorderly Knockturn Alley. How could he take over this troublesome mess?

It seems that I have to rush to Flourish and Blotts Bookstore as soon as possible. I'm afraid there will be a good show in front of the bookstore later.

Xie Lin hurried to the bookstore, bought all the textbooks, and then found an inconspicuous corner to quietly wait for the plot to begin.

When Harry and his party arrived at Flourish and Blotts Bookstore, a large group of people had gathered at the door. Most of them were witches of Mrs. Weasley's age. Everyone was crowding at the door, wanting to get in. Through the gaps in the crowd, everyone saw Gilderoy Lockhart, wearing a blue wizard robe, sitting in the middle of the store signing books.

Around him, there were large photos of himself everywhere, and the faces in the photos were all winking at the crowd, flashing dazzling white teeth. Schelling had to admit that Lockhart would be a successful writer if he did not steal other people's experiences.

Needless to say what happened next, Harry was discovered by Lockhart as expected, and then he was pulled in to take pictures together. Lockhart announced that he would teach at Hogwarts. When everyone came back to their senses, they found that Arthur Weasley and Lucius Malfoy were wrestling with each other, and even Ginny's cauldron was knocked out with a clang. Lockhart, who was standing aside, was extremely excited, and then the two of them were separated by the sudden appearance of Hagrid.

Mr. Weasley's lip was cut, and one of Lucius's eyes was hit by a thick book. Ginny's old Transfiguration textbook was still clutched in his hand.

Ginny next to her had already picked up the cauldron. Lucius saw this and stuffed the book into her cauldron with a vicious light in his eyes. While everyone's attention was focused on Arthur Weasley, Schelling had been observing the tattered "Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration" that had been shoved back into Ginny's hand. If nothing else, there should be something in it at this time. A black diary.

"Here, little girl, take your book! This is the best thing your father can give you." He broke away from Hagrid's arm, waved to Draco and Xie Lin, who were still in the bookstore, and nodded. He rushed out of the store without looking back.

"You shouldn't pay attention to him, Arthur." Hagrid stretched out his hand to smooth Mr. Weasley's robe and almost lifted him up. "This guy is really bad. His whole family is, and everyone knows it. The Malfoy family People's words are not worth listening to. The blood in them is bad, that's all."

Even though Xie Lin had already walked a long way from Flourish and Blotts Bookstore, he could still clearly hear Hagrid's loud voice - "I'm going to get shot while I'm lying down." Xie Lin, who was covered in Malfoy's blood, secretly groaned in his heart. It seems that it will be difficult to win Hagrid's favor or get his help at Hogwarts in the future.

The three of them returned to Malfoy's exclusive parking space.

Although Lucius was beaten by Arthur, it could be seen that he was in a good mood, probably because he successfully passed on Tom Riddle's diary to the poor little girl of the Weasley family.

Then the family of four boarded the carriage and flew towards Malfoy Manor again.

It has to be said that compared to the various methods of movement that Xie Lin knew in the wizarding world, such as floo powder, portkeys, apparation, etc., the fast, stable, and bumpless Thestral carriage is definitely the most comfortable way. one.

The three of them were silent along the way. Lucius showed a thoughtful expression along the way. When he was about to arrive in Wiltshire, he suddenly said to Draco and Sherrin: "Listen, this year's Hogg Some accidents may happen to Woz, but it has nothing to do with you two. You just need to remember your duty as a Malfoy and maintain a prudent and self-protective attitude."

Relying on his father's favor, Draco asked relentlessly for a while before Lucius relaxed a little, "Fifty years ago, when I was not yet born, an accident happened in Hogwarts..."

Lucius thought for a while and then said: "I can't tell you the specific circumstances of that accident. A mudblood girl died in the accident. Hogwarts covered it up, so I know about it." There are not many people. You only need to know that this is a conspiracy against mudbloods. You don't need to know too much about the rest. Knowing too much will only make you look suspicious. Also, Draco, you will give me this year. I study hard. As a noble Malfoy, your grade ranking last year was not as good as that of a lowly Mudblood. To be honest, you really disappointed me. Look at Xie Lin, this is me, Lu Xiu. Si’s son, you should learn more from your brother!”

It was rare for Draco to see his father being so strict with him, so he only complied.

That night, Xie Lin couldn't sleep because of his entangled thoughts.

According to the development of the plot, Tom Riddle's diary will eventually be destroyed by the savior Harry Potter, and Voldemort will also lose a life-saving Horcrux. This was the reason why my father offended Voldemort, and it also led to various cruel punishments that Voldemort later inflicted on his father and brother. Moreover, Malfoy Manor was selected by Voldemort as the headquarters of the Death Eaters, which also made the whole family live in the fear of being unable to escape. . After Voldemort was defeated, his father was sent to Azkaban. Even if he was later cleared and released from prison, he could not save the family's decline.

He struggled with whether to find a way to get the diary back from Ginny and directly eliminate Lucius's fault from the source, or to let the plot develop in the direction he was familiar with and allow himself to continue to maintain the advantage of the plot. The various gains and losses in the process made him undecided. However, the most important thing was that at this moment, Schelling had to face the problem that he had been avoiding since time traveling: what role should he play in this time traveling world.

If he had followed his previous life's personality, he could have escaped from this family and returned to live in the Muggle world. With the knowledge and experience he had accumulated in his previous life, it would not be difficult to rebuild a successful career and life. But every time he faced this choice, he couldn't bring himself to give up the rare family love in his life.

When the first light of dawn arrived, after a night of thinking, Xie Lin's brows got rid of confusion and hesitation, and his eyes burst out with unprecedented firmness and belief. He felt an invisible force slowly coming from his abdomen. It rose up and spread to the chest and limbs, and the whole person seemed to be reborn and full of strength.

At this moment, he finally found the courage to face his fate and finally had a firm direction for his future.

"Since God has allowed me to live a new life in this new world, I should face my fate bravely! In order to protect my relatives, I cannot join the Order of the Phoenix, and in order to protect the glory of my family, I cannot join the Order of the Phoenix. Dead Apostle, I must decide my own destiny!"

Let’s not talk about success or failure, so what if I really succeed in getting the diary back?

Voldemort will eventually be defeated. His father made the mistake of choosing the Death Eater camp, which is destined to lead the family to irreversible decline. Even if Schelling changed the plot to let Voldemort win in the end, his crazy and destructive character is not in the family's interest. The family never wants to eliminate Muggle wizards, but to maintain a high and mighty dominance over Muggle wizards forever.

If the final ending is like that, it is better to let the plot develop as planned in the original book, at least Schelling can still keep the plot advantage.

What Schelling should do at this moment is to use the plot advantage to make himself grow stronger. As long as he is strong, revitalizing the family is not a matter of words?

This year is the year when the Slytherin Chamber of Secrets is opened. It is time to plan how to get the best benefits in this storm.