"Is this for real?" Qin Yu pressed in his mind.
"My affairs are beyond their ability to perceive," the system replied, its tone crisp and assured.
Their ability? Did that include everyone present?
Though the statement sounded simple, it radiated an unmistakable confidence—almost arrogance.
The system really is a legend! Qin Yu gave it a silent thumbs-up.
With the system's guarantee, his anxiety vanished in an instant.
Of course! This was the system, after all. If anyone could just casually uncover its existence, it wouldn't be much of a system, would it?
So even if someone tried Legilimency, they wouldn't see anything about the system or his identity as a transmigrator, right? The thought struck Qin Yu.
"Correct. They won't," the system confirmed.
"Got it. Loud and clear."
Qin Yu finished his mental exchange, all while maintaining the outward appearance of a frightened, jittery boy—because, really, what normal child wouldn't be scared to drink a mysterious potion?
"It's perfectly safe, Mr. Qin. This potion won't harm you at all. In fact, you'll find it quite relaxing," Lucius Malfoy coaxed, his tone gentle and persuasive.
Oh, sure. Perfectly safe? Why don't you take a sip, then? Qin Yu grumbled inwardly.
He'd only taken half a year of Potions, but even he knew: any potion that messes with your mind or brain is never truly harmless.
But at this point, there was no way out. In fact, drinking it was probably the simplest way forward.
With "trembling" hands, Qin Yu reached for the cup, the porcelain rattling softly against its saucer. The sound echoed in the quiet room, sharp and clear.
Lucius allowed himself a satisfied smile. Professor McGonagall's face grew even more grave.
But Dumbledore remained utterly calm.
Of course, Lucius wasn't wholly focused on the boy in front of him. Only a fraction of his attention was on Qin Yu; the rest was fixed on Dumbledore—and the ancient wand resting by his side.
He was ready for any sudden move from the headmaster.
But Dumbledore never so much as touched his wand—not even as Qin Yu raised the cup and drank the spiked tea.
That, finally, put Lucius at ease.
"Qin, let me ask you—what exactly happened in the Forbidden Forest that day?" Lucius wasted no time, launching straight in.
"The Forbidden Forest? That day..." Qin Yu's eyes glazed over, his voice trailing into a mumble.
"Yes, in the Acromantula's lair—what did you experience?" Lucius pressed, guiding the questioning.
What he couldn't see was this: beneath the table, two slender, aged fingers crossed ever so slightly. A white arc of magic flickered between them, poised to strike.
"That day... I should thank Professor Dumbledore... it was Professor Dumbledore who saved me..." Qin Yu finally managed, after a long pause.
Lucius blinked, frowning. That was definitely not the answer he wanted.
Those hidden fingers beneath the table quietly relaxed, the white arc vanishing.
"Tell us about your experience—before Professor Dumbledore arrived. What happened to you?" Lucius's irritation was starting to show.
"Me? I was terrified... Surrounded by a bunch of giant spiders with eight eyes... Luckily, Professor Dumbledore showed up just in time... Thank you, Professor Dumbledore!" Qin Yu finished, turning to the headmaster with heartfelt gratitude.
"No need to thank me, Qin. The safety of every student is my highest duty," Dumbledore replied warmly.
"…"
Watching the two exchange pleasantries, Lucius began to breathe heavily through his nose.
His patience snapped. "I'm asking—before Dumbledore arrived, didn't you do anything? Use any special abilities?"
The question was blunt, laying bare Lucius's true suspicion: that this boy was hiding something dangerous.
But Qin Yu only looked baffled. "What could I do? Oh, I suppose I was trying really hard to, um, control my bladder. I was scared out of my wits…"
He even managed to look shy and embarrassed, as if mortified by his own fear.
"Pfft—" Professor McGonagall nearly burst out laughing, but caught herself just in time. Her face quickly returned to its usual sternness, but the worry in her eyes had vanished.
Lucius, teetering on the edge of losing his temper, didn't notice her fleeting reaction.
Dumbledore shook his head ever so slightly. This boy, honestly—what could he say?
"And what about the zoo incident last year?" Lucius forced himself to calm down, changing tack.
"That? I just startled the snake, and then it slithered off. I'm not really sure what happened…" Qin Yu mumbled.
"And the big willow tree—was that you? How could someone your age have that kind of power?" Lucius pressed.
"Well… maybe it was just really windy that day…" Qin Yu offered lamely, knowing full well that uprooting a tree was hardly ordinary.
"Lucius, some children do experience extraordinary magical surges, but with proper schooling, these incidents disappear. Qin is a perfect example. You're welcome to ask any of the professors or students," Dumbledore interjected smoothly.
He understood: Lucius had brought up the tree just to justify forcing Qin Yu to drink Veritaserum—hoping to dig up some deeper secret.
Dumbledore himself had been ready to act at any moment. Wand or no wand, he could cast magic if needed.
Who could have guessed that, even after drinking Veritaserum, this boy could keep up the act—calm, composed, not giving away a thing.
Could Lucius Malfoy's Veritaserum be a fake? The thought flashed through Dumbledore's mind.
But he dismissed it at once. Lucius would never travel all this way with an unverified potion.
No, the problem wasn't the potion. It was the boy who drank it.
Dumbledore fixed Qin Yu with a long, thoughtful look, watching him play the part of a clueless, innocent child.
"This child," the greatest wizard of the age mused silently, "never fails to surprise me."
"Are you hiding anything? About your abilities, your background?" Lucius's questions were getting desperate.
"Yes, yes…"
"Out with it!"
"I actually sold some herbs I got from Professor Sprout… but I got a good price for them. I didn't let them go to waste…"
"Herbs?! That's not what I meant!"
Lucius was on the verge of hysteria. At that, Dumbledore's voice rang out, calm but commanding: "Mr. Malfoy, I believe things are perfectly clear. Qin has no hidden secrets. I think this line of questioning can end here."
"He's definitely hiding something!" Lucius protested, unwilling to let go.
"I'm sorry, but I believe Qin has answered all your questions honestly. If you continue to harass this poor child, I will bring it before the Board of Governors—and I won't hesitate to inform the Ministry of Magic about your excessive behavior," Dumbledore replied, his tone brooking no argument.
"You—" Lucius glared at Dumbledore, but quickly realized he was outmatched.
"Fine. I'm done here."
He stood up in a huff, called for Dobby, and stormed out of Hogwarts in a fury.
…
"Minerva, look after him," Dumbledore said softly, glancing at the now-sleeping Qin Yu.
"I will, Professor Dumbledore," Professor McGonagall replied.
As she pondered how best to get Qin Yu to the hospital wing, Snape swept in, his footsteps brisk.
He'd been teaching advanced Potions when word reached him of Lucius's visit, and had rushed over.
Dumbledore gave Snape a brief account of what had happened.
"I'll take him to rest," Snape said simply.
He bent down, gently lifted the sleeping Qin Yu in his arms, and—with his long, measured stride—carried him out of the headmaster's office, headed for the hospital wing so Madam Pomfrey could check on his condition.
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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