CHAPTER 62 Confronting Malfoy's Allies

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CHAPTER 62 Confronting Malfoy's Allies

When they reached the Slytherin common room, Elmi was not there. Flint and other upperclassmen were trying to return Malfoy's hair to its normal color, but it still had shades of bright green among his pale blond hair. Daphene, Zabini, and Tracey were sitting in a corner, waiting for Elmi to come. After some time, people started to get tired of waiting for him and disperse out of boredom. Malfoy smirked and talked in a voice, allowing others to hear him. 

"Hmph, I knew that blood traitor didn't have the guts to stand before us."

Daphne tried to be patient, but she couldn't hold herself.

"Do I hear it right, or does the coward that couldn't stand up to Elmi by himself keep twaddling while having six people behind him against just a single 1st year."

Malfoy looked at her with eyes full of venom,

"Did I ask your opinion, Greengrass? Just do what a Greengrass always does: be neutral."

Daphne didn't know what to say; Malfoy had struck the right note. Her family has always been neutral in or outside of Hogwarts. Even now, her father constantly sent her letters and advised her to remain neutral.

...

In the Room of Requirement, Elmi was focused on his alchemical work. The low hum of magical activity, the occasional clink of glass vials, and the bubbling of the cauldron were the only things you could hear in the room. Surrounded by potion ingredients, he followed the steps of a complex potion recipe with concentration etched on his face.

Hours passed as he worked, lost in the process. Elmi remained oblivious to what was happening in the common room. His attention was solely on the alchemical task at hand.

It wasn't until he successfully completed the potion, a subtle glow emanating from the cauldron, that Elmi became aware of the passing of time. He stored the potion into vials with a satisfied nod, marking another achievement in his alchemical endeavors. 

As the night pressed on and curfew approached, Elmi meticulously cleaned up the alchemical supplies scattered around the Room of Requirement. Vials, herbs, and other arcane tools were carefully arranged and stowed away.

Heading back to the Slytherin common room, Elmi moved through the dimly lit corridors. The castle's ambient sounds, a mix of creaking stairs, and distant echoes were the only things that accompanied him.

...

When Elimi entered the room, most students had left the main room. Daphne and Zabini were still waiting for him. Elmi waved and approached them. Zabini asked with a voice laced with frustration.

"Where were you?"

Elmi couldn't understand why he acted like this.

"I was working on some potions." 

He sighed, "Next time you challenge and threaten someone, try not to forget about that. For hours, Malfoy ran his mouth, claiming, you got scared, and that's why you were not here after the dinner."

Elmi smiled upon hearing of this.

"Hmph, It looks like our little daddy's boy got himself some helpers."

Zabini, a bit surprised, "How did you know?" 

"Isn't it obvious? Malfoy is a classic bully. He acts weakly in front of the strong, becomes domineering in front of the weak, and is a coward. His talent was fully displayed at the practical exams, and I didn't suddenly get weak, but he still thought I was weak or wouldn't run his mouth. So he must gotten himself some protection against me."

Elmi took a bean candy from Zabini's Every Flavor Beans and showed an unpleasant smile, "Hmm, beeswax! I could even guess who is helping him."

Daphne and Zabini were waiting for Elmi's guess with a curious look on their faces, "He is most likely getting help from other death-eater children like Flint and his goons."

Their faces changed in horror, and Daphne slapped Elmi's arm, "Are you crazy? Why are you talking so openly?" 

Elmi sarcastically continued, "Ohh, I am sorry. They aren't actually death eaters." He slapped his own head and said, "I forgot, they were all mind-controlled by Imperius curse. They didn't actually want to join the dark lord. They were not criminals. They were as much a 'victims' as everyone they hurt or killed. It always slips out of my mind; they were collectively mind controlled." 

As Elmi was talking sarcastically, Malfoy, Flint, and the rest were coming down from the boy's dorm and heard what he was saying. Malfoy shouted, "I will make you regret slandering my father!"

Elmi acted surprised and said, "I never said I was talking about your father." Elmi pointed at Flint and said, "I was talking about his father and uncle. They were both brainwashed by Voldemort, right?"

When Elmi uttered Voldemort's name out loud, a collective gasp was heard around him. Upon hearing this, he angrily said, "Why are you still afraid to utter a dead criminal's name?"

To most people, Voldemort was death, but still, almost every children's nightmare was him. If they released a boggart into the halls of Hogwarts, his face would be the most seen thing. He was the bogeyman of this generation.

Elmi pointed towards Malfoy's greenish hair and said, "Oh, by the way, Malfoy, I loved what you did with the hair." Little peals of laughter came out of some of the students. Without giving Draco any chance to say something, he turned to Flint, "We have some unfinished business with you. Do you have the courage to fight me one-on-one, or do you need help from your boyfriends over there?"

Elmi had trust in his abilities, but he knew he was not that good to take on five upperclassmen by himself, and he didn't want to be kicked out of the school, so he was making sure Flint wouldn't even dream of attacking him with magic.

"I am going to make you pay what you said, but first, I am going to teach you to respect your upperclassmen."

Higgs approached him and whispered, "Are you crazy? Do you want to get kicked out?"

Flint looked at him like he was an idiot, "We are not going to use magic, you idiot, and we are not going to beat his ass in front of all those witnesses."

After Flint and Higgs whispered something, they turned around and left. Malfoy shouted, "Where are you going? Weren't you going to teach him some manners?"

He turned and gave Draco a dirty look, "Boy, I keep telling you. I do not work for you. I will keep you safe, but I am not your goon."

Draco didn't expect Flint to defy him this openly. Flint approached him and whispered in his ear. "What? Is your father going to hear about this? Yes, I am afraid of your father, but I am not afraid of him enough to be your servant."