HP Dual Masters and I had a blast in Hogwarts.

Chapter 300 Riddle's New Plan

When Theodore heard me call him, he looked up at me, the desire still lingering in his eyes, his cheeks flushed with an alluring blush, and his hair falling messily across his forehead.

He was somewhat moved just by being called by his name.

He suddenly chuckled softly, his fingers gently hooking around my neck, his warm breath brushing against my ear: "Ayers~"

I leaned down and gently kissed the corner of his reddened eyes, then reached out to straighten his crooked collar.

“If we keep going like this, we’ll miss lunch again.” The lamplight on the table shone on him, gilding the bite mark on his collarbone.

"Where do you want to go? Hogsmeade? Or the library?" I unconsciously traced the bluish-purple mark with my fingertips.

His eyes flickered, and he suddenly flipped me over, pinning me back against the bookshelf. His wand was pressed against my lower back, and his tone carried a dangerous allure: "How about... we finish what we were doing earlier?"

I raised an eyebrow and looked at him with a light laugh.

He chuckled softly, released his wand, and his fingertips brushed against the disheveled front of my shirt. "Just kidding. Let's go to Hogsmeade. I heard Honeydukes just got some Flaming Whiskey Fudge."

I put my arm around his waist and lifted him up. The scattered ancient books were gently put back into place by magic, and the remaining silver light spots in the air gradually dissipated.

Theodore leaned on my shoulder, straightening his slightly wrinkled robe, when suddenly, as if remembering something, he pulled a pocket watch from his collar: "Damn it, I didn't go back last night and didn't tell Draco and the others!"

“I’ve already sent a message to Draco by carrier pigeon, saying that I invited you to research a new potion last night, so I probably won’t be going back to my dorm.” He picked the man up and held him in his arms.

Theodore breathed a sigh of relief, his fingertips hovering over the pocket watch for a long time, a ripple of tension still lingering in his deep blue eyes.

He reached out and straightened my crooked collar, his voice trembling almost imperceptibly: "Next time something like this happens, you'd better tell me in advance."

I smiled, took his hand, and gently kissed the back of it: "Don't worry, I'm here."

We straightened our slightly disheveled clothes and made sure there were no obvious flaws before walking out of the dormitory side by side.

In the distinctive dark green light of the Slytherin common room, Draco reclined languidly on the carved sofa, his platinum hair gleaming coldly in the candlelight.

Gore and Crabbe sat to the side, munching on pumpkin pies, while Pansy flipped through a fashion magazine, her eyes occasionally glancing towards my dorm room door.

"Oh, the busy man has finally deigned to show up?" Draco slowly twirled his wand, his grey-blue eyes narrowing.

"Researching new potions? What, are you trying to steal my thunder in Potions class?" His tone was laced with his usual sarcasm.

"How could that be? I just happened to run into Theodore, and I just grabbed him to be my helper." I answered Draco's question with a proper smile.

Theodore casually walked over to the sofa and sat down, grabbing a butter biscuit. "By the way, have you heard that Honeydukes recently got some Flaming Whiskey Fudge?"

Draco snorted and snatched the cookie from Theodore's hand: "It's just candy, what's so interesting about it?"

As he spoke, he tossed over a bag of honeydew candy, saying, "Doesn't this candy taste almost the same?"

I stood aside and watched them bicker, just smiling as I watched.

Theodore glanced at me furtively, his gaze gentle and reassuring.

Pansy suddenly closed the magazine and gave us a meaningful look: "Alright, alright, if you want to show off your potion-related friendship, go do it elsewhere. Don't get in the way here."

Amid the laughter and chatter of the crowd, Theodore got up and walked towards the door. As he passed by me, his fingertips inadvertently brushed against my palm.

We exchanged a knowing glance and followed the main group toward Hogsmeade.

“Riddle asked me to give this to you,” Severus said as he stepped into Severus’s cellar, still grading papers.

"Huh? Why would he have you deliver the letter to me? Why didn't he just give it to me directly?" I sat down on the sofa and curiously took the letter that Severus handed me using the 'Levitation Charm'.

“I might hand it to you while I’m at it.” Severus waved the letter in his hand.

"No, can't he just come in himself? Why make it so complicated?" I rolled my eyes speechlessly before slowly opening the letter Riddle had written to me.

First, there was a whole page of his love for me, and then he told me what he had been doing during that time.

"Severus, what task did Riddle assign you?" He carefully put Riddle's letter into his portable backpack.

“Take Harry to the Ministry of Magic,” Severus said truthfully.

"Oh~ I'll go too." Is it to get the crystal ball? Wouldn't it be more convenient for Riddle to go by himself? Why go through all this trouble?

“Ayers, actually I don’t really want you to go.” Severus finally stopped grading the young wizards’ homework.

“Actually, I think it would be safer for me to take them,” I said to Severus with a smile.

If Harry is to be taken to the Ministry of Magic, Severus will have no choice but to take him there. If I go with them, I can guarantee the safety of all of them—yes, all of them.

With me around, Riddle won't hurt them. Besides, it's only when I do some outrageous things that no one gets blamed. And with me around, everyone can be saved.

“Ayers, can I ask you not to go?” Severus’s fingers gripped the quill tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, and his dark green eyes swirled with complex emotions, a mixture of worry and helplessness.

He slowly rose, walked around the desk to me, and said in a low, hoarse voice, “The Ministry of Magic is in turmoil right now, and Death Eaters have eyes and ears everywhere. Riddle sending me with Harry was already a dangerous game. I can’t… I can’t put you in danger too.”

I reached out and gently stroked his tense cheek, my fingertips touching the stubble on his face from staying up all night: "Severus, do you think I can't see it? Riddle is testing you, trying to use Harry to lure out the prophecy orb, and also to see if you will betray him. If you go alone with Harry, you won't even have a hand to help if something goes wrong."

I rubbed my thumb against the dark circles under his eyes. "But when I'm here, things are different."

He grabbed my wrist, his warm breath brushing against the back of my hand: "Ayers, you're always like this... always using yourself as a shield. Do you know, what if..." His voice suddenly choked, a flicker of fear flashing in his eyes—an emotion I had never seen in his eyes before.

I pulled Severus into my arms and gently kissed him on the lips. "There's no 'what if.' Have you forgotten? Riddle won't do anything to me. Even if I cause a huge commotion at the Ministry of Magic, as long as it doesn't jeopardize his plans, he won't do anything to me. Besides..." I winked mischievously, "Do you think it's more likely to arouse suspicion if you bring Harry, or if it's more reasonable for me to bring a group of students to the Ministry of Magic?"

Severus remained silent for a long time before finally releasing my wrist and pulling me tightly into his arms.

His chin rested on my shoulder, his voice muffled: "You always have a bunch of reasons. But promise me, if there's any sign of danger, leave immediately, don't worry about me, and don't worry about Harry."

I nodded in his arms, but a determined smile crept onto my face where he couldn't see.

On this trip to the Ministry of Magic, I not only need to protect him, but also to meet Riddle.

After all, I was planning to smash that trash prophecy ball to pieces, but since it was smashed in my hands, no one would be hurt.