[HP] Similar but different

Harry was sure that whoever Malfoy invited would not be good for their actions.However, they only had this chance, after all, they couldn't really stay outside that black wrought iron gate all day long.

"Christmas Eve is next Wednesday and we have less than three days left."

Later that day, they sat around in the library to discuss what to do, Hermione said. "Since they start at three in the afternoon, I figured we'd better get there early so we don't run into Death Eaters who are on their appointments."

Harry held up a hand. "I can take you to apparate to the alley next to Malfoy Manor, where there are many bushes, and Tibetans are no problem."

Hermione glanced at him with accusation in her eyes. "Yes, that's a plus. We have to Apparate under the cloak, and the cloak can't cover all three of us at once."

Harry hurriedly added: "We can divide it into two parts, for example, take you first, and then take Ron."

"What do you mean, Ron?" Hermione asked, turning.

Ron, who had been listening to their conversation, shook his head. "But I have another problem—" he pointed out, "there's a Christmas dinner at Hogwarts. If we're not back by then, the professors will surely find out."

This obviously irritated Hermione a little. "It means we only have two hours to act at most." She turned to Harry again. "Are you confident?"

However, Harry couldn't guarantee it. "I don't know," he replied matter-of-factly, "I just know I have to do it. If I get punished for leaving school, I deserve it."

Hermione looked at him, her lower lip clenched.Ron didn't look at Harry, but that usually meant he wasn't sure either.

"Well, no one knows what will happen before it really starts." Finally, Hermione said first, "We just need to make the early preparations."

Harry knew it was time to reveal his plans. "When we get there, we'll hide ourselves with the Disillusionment Charm. When Malfoy opens the door, we'll wait for the chance to get in among the Death Eaters. Wormtail should show up at the party so we don't have to go down the sewers looking for him." .”

"I have no problem with your first or last sentence," said Ron, considering it, "but you have to consider that Malfoy knows you have an invisibility cloak. In other words, he may have other invisibility methods." vigilant."

"But he thought we were at school," Harry explained, he had already thought about it, "and I noticed that those Malfoy servants would sweep the snow from the driveway the first time. As long as we are careful enough, there will be no traces of it." won't stay."

Hermione thought for a moment. "what's next?"

"Then we went to the party. Mr. Malfoy should invite people from his network, and the attitude towards Wormtail is likely to be similar."

"Are you implying that no one really cares about Wormtail?" Ron began to rub his chin. "If Wormtail is alone, the three of us should be enough to deal with him - before he uses any dark magic, of course. However, I still I don't see the possibility that other Death Eaters wouldn't notice that someone around them was being attacked." And if they were discovered, they would be the ones to be unlucky.

Harry said nothing because Ron was right.In addition, they could of course pretend to be a certain Death Eater through compound potion, but even if the question of how to quietly bring down the Death Eater was put aside, those people had too many secrets, and it was very likely that they would reveal their truth in a few words.

"We're going to use the Anti-Animagus Curse on Wormtail as soon as we get the chance, or the result will be the same as in the third year." Hermione was obviously immersed in technical thinking, "and the Anti-Apparition Charm ——Theoretically, the magic barrier of Malfoy Manor should be closed to the outside world."

Startled, Harry realized it was quite possible. "You're very thoughtful, Hermione." He thought for a moment, then concluded, "The best case scenario is that we capture him without alerting anyone else, and deliver him safely to the Aurors."

The three exchanged glances with each other.This is indeed the best possible outcome, however the most critical implementation problem remains.

"After all, we don't know what's going on inside, so we'll play it by ear?" Harry suggested uncertainly.

He'd expected Hermione to think it was thoughtless, but the brunette nodded.Facing Harry's surprised gaze, she said angrily, "This matter itself is a big adventure, is there any more details?"

Three days passed quickly.At noon on Christmas Eve, the three of Harry had a full meal and then returned to the tower.After Hermione finished counting the contents of the bag for the last time, they set off.

Even though it was afternoon, the breath still carried the coldness unique to the cold winter.The sun is sluggish, and the sky is weak, like a new snow is brewing.

But none of the three paid attention.When Ron and Hermione came for the first time, they took advantage of the gap to observe the surrounding terrain together.And Harry, wearing the Invisibility Cloak and holding the Quidditch binoculars turned out specially, kept looking in through the hollow pattern of the iron door.

Things are very different today than when he was last here.Some of the windows were open, and the servants hurried through, most of them holding something; portrait.

Harry gasped secretly.Under the gaze of so many pairs of eyes, small abnormalities will be infinitely magnified.It would be nice if more people came...but not too many...

He thought wildly, knowing that it was useless, so he continued to observe the mansion from a distance.Most of the time, he could only see the servants coming and going; the Malfoys and his sons flashed past his vision once, but were lost again; as for the person he was really looking for, he was still missing.

Harry couldn't help feeling a little irritable.He put down the binoculars and cursed Wormtail for being too well hidden.But he immediately realized that this kind of mentality was very dangerous, so he comforted himself that after all, Wormtail was a Death Eater who had successfully lurked for more than ten years.

Suddenly there were faint footsteps approaching. Harry looked up, but saw nothing. "Ron? Hermione?" he called softly - they had agreed to meet here before parting.

"Well, we're back."

It was Ron's voice.Harry quickly opened the invisibility cloak and let the two get in.The space inside suddenly became very crowded, and they had to squat on the ground, hugging their knees tightly.

Unable to move her arm, Hermione with difficulty removed the Disillusionment Charm from both her and Ron. "It's basically the same as you said," she said quickly, "there is no other way out."

"This damn place is too big." Ron commented.

"I figured it out last time," said Harry, not noticing the sourness hidden in Ron's words. "In Animagus state, there was no way I could catch him."

"It's not just you." Hermione nodded approvingly, she seemed to have completely forgotten her earlier anger at the moment. "The opportunity is rare, we must take this risk today."

Next, the three checked the details of their actions against what Harry had observed, and Hermione cast the Disillusionment Charm on them one by one.Harry took off the Invisibility Cloak, fumbled to stuff it into his bag in his illusionary state - it felt rather eerie - and slipped soundlessly to the other side of the door.

They waited in silence for ten minutes, and finally a figure appeared on the wide driveway.There were three of them, all in black robes with their hoods pulled down.

Harry subconsciously looked into the manor.As expected, Draco Malfoy was almost at the door, followed by several respectful servants.Just when he wondered whether Malfoy Manor needed someone to open the door in person, there was a sizzling sound, and the chain-like iron locks rushed to both sides, and then the door slowly opened.

Just now!

Harry pinched his nose and tiptoed, trying to slip in along the opening arc of the door without touching it.They had all practiced for it, and he thought he was doing well, but as luck would have it, Malfoy walked his way.

The two of them shortened the distance almost face to face.Harry secretly thought something was wrong, and slowly lowered his body to avoid the slight refraction of the air from directly hitting the opponent's eyes, and at the same time quietly accelerated the speed of his feet——

The moment they passed, Draco Malfoy looked down suddenly.Harry had been paying attention to the other party, and couldn't help but froze in a half-squatting position.

It could be half a second, or it could be a long time, but Malfoy finally looked away.Harry saw the other person's eyebrows frown slightly, but the next moment it turned into a polite smile.He moved in very slowly, until he was sure he was out of Malfoy's range of perception, and then accelerated again, meeting Ron and Hermione at the end of the driveway.

Further on is the mansion.The Malfoys were standing on the stone steps in front of the door, and eight servants waited on them.Like their son, the couple are well-dressed and their hair is meticulously combed.

None of the three dared to speak out, and communicated by writing in each other's palms.Harry was the last to arrive, and Hermione couldn't help asking him a few more questions.After they finished communicating, the first batch of guests who entered the door had almost arrived.

"Lucius!" said a chunky wizard enthusiastically, "thank you for the invitation...you are always so generous!"

"Merry Christmas, Lucius, Narcissa," quipped another taller, thinner wizard. "You let Draco stand outside because he's more capable?"

This statement was unanimously endorsed by the other two.The reserved smile on Mr. Malfoy's face grew real, and even Mrs. Malfoy smiled too. "Draco would be delighted to know that he has received such a high opinion," said Mr. Malfoy, with a gesture of invitation. The party is waiting for you."

They exchanged a knowing glance with each other, and the three of them entered the door under the guidance of the servant.Then came the second wave, the third wave...

Harry had to notice that everyone seemed to be coming in groups.He couldn't help wondering if there was a tendency to form gangs among the Death Eaters.But before he could figure out why, he felt the corner of his clothes being ripped off—they should also go in.

While the Malfoys were busy exchanging greetings, the three climbed up the stone steps without any risk.Going through the foyer was easier than expected, because there were decorated Christmas trees at intervals along the wall, and they could hide under the leaves and rest for a while when they couldn't hold their breath.Relying on servants coming and going, they easily found the living room, the actual place of the meeting.

The interior is luxuriously decorated. The edges of long tables, round chairs, fireplaces, and mirrors are all gold-plated, refracting dazzling light under the golden chandeliers.The aroma of food and wine was intertwined, and the guests gathered in small groups to chat, and looked towards the entrance from time to time, obviously waiting for everyone to arrive.

Against this background, the unkempt and shy little figure is particularly eye-catching.

Harry gripped his holly wand tightly for a split second.

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Happy National Day, everyone go out happy~