[HP] Similar but different

Although Harry intends to use NEWTs as an excuse to stay in school during the winter vacation, it is undeniable that exams are really stressful.As if to synchronize with the increasingly cold weather, their homework is increasing like the snow on the roof.After deducting the time required for homework, Quidditch practice, and Occlumency remedial sessions, there was not much leisure left for him.

Both Harry and Ron were short of skills and complained endlessly. On the contrary, Hermione, who had the most full schedule, still had the energy to read "Thirty Tips for Becoming an Auror" that she borrowed from the library.Combined with the fact that the preparations for catching Wormtail had to be done in secret, Harry at one point regretted bringing up the idea of ​​spending the weekend with Voldemort.

The Dark Lord, however, seemed unaware.

They all met for the remaining three weekends in November.The first time was in the office, and the last two times were in the stone house in the swamp.Most of the time, Harry does his homework.As for Voldemort, he was either reading old books that Harry couldn't understand, or fiddling with bottles and jars that Harry didn't know; even, when he was in a good mood, he would point out the mistakes in Harry's papers.They talked occasionally and always ended with a kiss goodbye.

No battles, no tit-for-tat, not even a real quarrel...they never had a chance to bring up the Death Eaters, let alone Wormtail.

Because of this, Harry's Occlumency was rarely challenged.

It wasn't that Harry expected them to quarrel; but there was no bad news from either the Daily Prophet or the Order of the Phoenix, and everything was going so well that he almost suspected he was dreaming.

The snow is getting more and more, and the footsteps of Christmas are approaching.As in previous years, Professor McGonagall sent out a form for the students to fill in the whereabouts of the winter vacation.Harry had already written to Sirius and had taken the detention without hesitation; Ron and Hermione had done the same.

"Seventh graders are the most staying students, but there are only three of us in Gryffindor." At the dinner table on Friday, Hermione told Harry, "I asked Professor McGonagall about it."

"Good enough for us." Harry nodded.There may be professors watching the night, but it's much easier to hide from them than from fellow students.

Knowing that the matter was a foregone conclusion, Ron sighed heavily. "Maybe," he said. "May I ask how ready we are?"

Only Hermione could answer such a question. "I ordered some protective items from Fred and George. They thought I would use it for private practice." She shrugged slightly. Nei couldn't have learned better than Harry, so I just practiced the counterspells of a few common Dark Arts spells. Oh, and the Animagus counterspells, which were really hard."

Harry immediately gave her an approving look. "Sounds like it'll come in handy, well done, Hermione," he continued. "So, how do we get to Malfoy Manor? Since we've never been there?"

"I also suspect that there are protections that we don't know about, just like the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix and the Burrow." Hermione said, turning to Ron.

Facing the gazes of the two, Ron could only say, "My dad has been there several times...I'll try to write to him, hoping he won't find out what we're up to."

"I'll look at the owl for you before you send it off," said Hermione immediately. "I think we'll at least be able to get a detailed road map; and with luck, some protection spells as well, although I think the protection there is probably black magic..."

"By the way, Dobby!" Harry suddenly remembered the house-elf, "Dobby might know better!"

Hermione's eyes lit up. "You're right," she agreed, "I had forgotten that Dobby was once a Malfoy house-elf!"

"Maybe Dobby can take us to apparate directly to that place?" Ron also lifted his spirits and asked eagerly, "Then I don't have to write to my family... It will be over if my mother finds out!"

Harry considered Dobby's possible reaction to knowing his intentions. "Direct apparation probably won't work," he had to point out. "Dobby once prevented me from going back to school because of the diary; the situation is probably more dangerous now, and I don't have the confidence to let Dobby keep it a secret for us."

Ron was a little reconciled. "Maybe Dobby can do it?"

"It's okay to ask Dobby for some information on the sidelines." Hermione said thoughtfully, frowning slightly, "but I think it's better not to tell Dobby our real purpose. Although Dobby has already been freed, we must Confronting his former master directly, Dobby can't help but punish himself again."

It was obviously utterly useless to object to this opinion, since Hermione had devoted herself to advancing the protection of house-elves' rights two years ago.Ron had a bitter face for a moment, and finally said reluctantly: "Okay...then you must check it carefully for me, Hermione."

The troops were divided into two groups, and the routine task naturally fell on Harry's shoulders.After dinner, the three returned to the tower together.Ron and Hermione occupied a round table by the fire, and he climbed the stairs of the boys' dormitory, satisfied that no one had returned yet. "Dobby?" he called in a low voice.

There was a slight pop of air, and Dobby appeared. "What can Harry Potter do for Dobby?" The house-elf, with eyes the size of tennis balls, bent deeply.

**

The next day is the weekend.Having stayed up late to make preliminary plans, Harry got up late and had only lunch.He had planned to wait until a fixed time in the previous weeks, but he soon found that he didn't want to be in the common room at all, so he just took the portkey and flew to the stone house.

"You're at least half an hour earlier than usual today, Harry," Voldemort said to Harry's early arrival.The man was standing on the edge of the high-back chair, and there seemed to be some surprise between his brows.

I don't know if it's an illusion, but Harry always feels that the other party is waiting for someone, but that person is not him. "Do you have other business?" He asked sensitively, at least he didn't say "Are you hiding something from me again?"

But Voldemort, who had been watching Harry, seemed to read the subtext behind it. "It's probably about time..." He replied softly, feeling that the bull's head was wrong, "Have you finished your homework this week?"

The answer is of course no.Suspecting the Dark Lord and lying, Harry walked behind his desk. "I suspect every professor is going to drown us in homework," he grumbles, pulling his stuff out of his bag, "except you, of course, but your practical classes are never easy."

Hearing this, Voldemort showed a critical look. "With all due respect, Harry, I don't think there will be more than three students in your class who can get an 'O' in Defense Against the Dark Arts NEWTs—" he drew his voice slowly, "let alone reach me request."

Harry knew Voldemort would say something similar. "Come on," he rolled his eyes, "Then I have to tell you that you are a minority." Seeing the Dark Lord raised his eyebrows, he changed his words angrily, "Very few, are you satisfied?"

Voldemort's eyebrows returned to their original positions, and he took the initiative to change the subject: "You seem to be on vacation soon."

Hearing about the winter vacation, Harry's heart skipped a beat, and he tried his best to maintain his previous tone of disgust. "Yes, there is one more week."

Voldemort walked around half the chair to watch him more closely. "I assume you've made arrangements?"

"I'm staying at school, if you want to ask that." Harry replied, his mind already racing—couldn't Voldemort also arrange Occlumency tuition for him during his winter vacation?Then how to stagger the time with what he wants to do?

Voldemort was clearly pleased with the reply. "Very good." He nodded slightly, "I don't want to find out after the holiday that you have to review what you have learned before. It would be a waste of time."

This might be doubting Harry's learning level, but Harry didn't immediately refute it.A part of him still wants to suggest that Voldemort take back the soul tablet; another part of him retorts that even then, he still needs to learn Occlumency.Then again, so far, he hasn't found an entry point to convince Voldemort, he may have to be more patient...

Just as Harry's mind was spinning between Horcruxes, Death Eaters, and covert operations, a large black shadow suddenly flickered in the corner of his eyes.He looked up wonderingly, and found that there was an extra person in front of the originally empty wall——

The black robe, the hood, and the silver mask on the face are so tightly covered that even the eyes cannot be seen clearly...

Which Death Eater is this? !

Harry stood up in shock, subconsciously grasping his wand.Following his movements, the chair rubbed against the ground violently, making a harsh sound.

As for Barty Crouch Jr. beneath the mask, he was probably less surprised than Harry.Every week he would gather news from the rest of the Death Eaters and then brief the Dark Lord on his work.Therefore, he had noticed the extra tables and chairs a long time ago, and wondered who they were for; when he saw it today, his vague guess was confirmed...

Adhering to the principle that if the master doesn't tell, he must pretend he didn't see, Little Crouch didn't look sideways. "Master." He said respectfully and stood with his head bowed.

Voldemort, the only one who knew what was going to happen, took both reactions into account.He was very satisfied with Little Crouch's understanding, but he said: "Sit down, Harry."

Harry turned a deaf ear, still wary. "... who is he? You... knew he was coming?"

"'Who is he?'" repeated Voldemort, slightly surprised with obvious amusement. "I thought I didn't need to introduce you. He taught you all year anyway."

Harry heard something in this deliberate manner. "...Barty Crouch Jr.?"

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Tragic car accident ╮(￣▽￣")╭