"Are you poor or something?" Malfoy was shocked. It was the first time he'd seen a Slytherin talk about money so openly!

  Slytherins were supposed to be elegant and noble; how could something as vulgar as money be a topic of versation?

  Did the S Hat make a mistake with this one?

  "I'm helping you with your problem, isn't it normal for you to pay me?" Hoare put down his fork and looked directly at Draalfoy for the first time.

  Ptinum blonde hair parted ly, pale skin, gray eyes, and a delicate face full ance.

  A very typical Malfoy appearance.

  No wonder he would go bald early.

  Malfoy gnced up and down at Hoare's attire, let out a disdainful snort, then lifted his auro his seat at the front of the long table with a look of disdain.

  "Who are you?"

  A voice suddenly sounded in Hoare's ear. He turo see a semi-transparent figure wearing a silver and green Slytherin robe, stained with blood, sitting vaguely beside him.

  It was the Slytherin ghost, The Bloody Baron.

  He was once a Slytherin student in the early days of Hogwarts.

  Later, in a fit e, he killed the one he loved.

  When he realized what he had dohe Barohe same ko kill himself.

  Sihen, he had bee a ghost wandering Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a ghost of Slytherin House.

  To this day, he still bore the blood of Helena Ravencw.

  "I'm Henry William." Hoare felt a tightness in his chest. Even Professonagall, who was skilled in Transfiguration, hadn't shown any different expression towards him, and Dumbledore was as posed as ever, indig that Metamorphmagus abilities couldn't be detected.

  Could it be that Metamorphmagus abilities couldn't deceive ghosts?

  "You have the st of an old bloodline, after so many years, I've finally se again." The Bloody Baron gave Hoare a deep look. "If you need help, you e to me."

  With that, The Bloody Baron drifted away.

  The older students around Hoare erupted iement, having also heard what The Bloody Baron had just said.

  "Merlin! The Bloody Baron actually spoke to him voluntarily!"

  "Four years! This is the first time I've seen The Bloody Baron talk to aher than the headmaster."

  "Merlin above!"

  "Did you hear what The Bloody Baron said!? Desdant of an old acquaintance..."

  "The Bloody Baron's old acquaintance, isn't that..."

  The older students exged ghinking of a terrifying possibility.

  "The surname William does sound familiar, could it be a fallen pureblood?"

  "I don't have any impression."

  "The Bloody Baron's old acquaintance, isn't that..."

  "I'm going to write to my dad and ask."

  "I'm going to write too."

  The udents who had just enrolled were pletely bewildered, staring bnkly at the excited older students.

  "Who was that?"

  "What are you talking about?"

  Seeing Hoare, also a first-year student, receiving so much attention, Malfoy felt very unbanced. He ordered Hoare in a anding tone, "You, expin it to me."

  Have him a cold gnd said nothing.

  Malfoy's face turned red as he fished five Gold-Galleons from his pocket and hahem to Hoare.

  Hoare raised an eyebrow; this Malfoy might still have some hope.

  He took the Galleons, pyed with them in his hand, and said, "The Bloody Baron is the ghost of Slytherin."

  "I know that, 't you tell me something I don't know?" Malfoy replied irritably.

  "The rest I don't kher; he came to me. You should ask him yourself." Hoare quickly pocketed the Galleons, spreading his hands wide, as he himself was utterly baffled.

  "If I find out anything ter, I'll tell you first. Don't worry, it'll be worth the money." Hoare patted his pocket.

  Malfoy walked away with a dark expression.

  He didn't actually doubt that The Bloody Barohe Weasleys' aors.

  There were only so many families in the wizarding world, and the Weasleys had been around for a long time. It was quite normal for them to have some of the Baron's old bloodline mixed in.

  But the Weasleys had always been Gryffindor students, so The Bloody Baron probably wouldn't greet them warmly.

  He suddenly thought, maybe he could ask The Bloody Baron about the true Chamber of Secrets in Slytherin, not the Basilisk's ir.

  He didn't believe Slytherin would leave just ay room. After all, Gryffindor left a hat and a sword.

  ---

  After dinner, Headmaster Dumbledore stood up again, and the hall fell silent as everyone waited for him to speak.

  Dumbledore raised his wand to his throat and cast the Sonorus charm, saying:

  "Oh, now that everyone is full, I have a few more words to say. However, I must remind everyone of a few points.

  First-year students, please hat the forest on the school grounds is off-limits to all students, and our older students should remember this as well."

  Hoare noticed Dumbledore's eyes sweep over the twins sitting at the Gryffindor table, who were still ughing and pying, paying no attention at all.

  "Also, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you not to perform magi the corridors between csses.

  The Quidditch trials will be held in the sed week of this term. Aerested in joining the team tact Madam Hooch.

  Lastly, I must tell you, anyone who does not wish to enter a painful and untimely death should stay away from the right-hand corridor on the fourth floor."

  Hoare raised an eyebrow; this bait was too obvious, pin and straightforward, like it was clearly telling people, e ahere's treasure here.

  Didn't you see the Gryffindor students already itg to try?

  "Now that we're all full, let's sing the school song together! To the tune of your choice! Sing!"

  Hogwarts, Hogwarts, Hoggy Warty Hogwarts,

  Teach us something please.

  ***

  Hoare began singing to the tune of "Wele to Hogwarts."

  The odd singing echoed in the Great Hall, with the twins' rendition of the "Funeral March" particurly loud.

  When the school song ended, Dumbledore wiped his moist eyes, moved.

  "That's the magiusic. Well, now it's bedtime, everyone back to your dormitories."

  Even after returning to the dormitory, Malfoy still hadn't gotten the answer he wanted, so he decided to write to his father.

  "Harry."

  As they left the Great Hall, Dumbledore called out to Harry loudly.

  Hoare watched from a distance, seeing Dumbledore say something to Harry, then Harry looked up at him, took a charm from his pocket, and ha to Dumbledore.

  Taking the charm, Dumbledore followed Harry's gaze and looked at Hoare.

  Behind the half-moon gsses, those blue eyes fshed with a hint of mystery.

  Had he been discovered?

  So what if he had?

  Dumbledore should thank me for sending his Choseo Gryffindor and not any of the other three houses.

  I didn't even charge him.

  Hoare returhe gaze with a smile.