"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 conversation?

Did the Sorting 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 Draco Malfoy for the first time.

Platinum blonde hair parted neatly, pale skin, gray eyes, and a delicate face full of arrogance.

A very typical Malfoy appearance.

No wonder he would go bald early.

Malfoy glanced up and down at Hoare's attire, let out a disdainful snort, then lifted his chin and returned to 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 turned to 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 of rage, he killed the one he loved.

When he realized what he had done, the Baron used the same knife to kill himself.

Since then, he had become a ghost wandering Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, a ghost of Slytherin House.

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

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

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

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

With that, The Bloody Baron drifted away.

The older students around Hoare erupted in excitement, 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 anyone other than the headmaster."

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Merlin above!"

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

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

The older students exchanged glances, thinking 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 new students who had just enrolled were completely bewildered, staring blankly 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 unbalanced. He ordered Hoare in a commanding tone, "You, explain it to me."

Hoare gave him a cold glance and said nothing.

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

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

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

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

"The rest I don't know either; 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 later, 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 Baron knew the Weasleys' ancestors.

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 lair.

He didn't believe Slytherin would leave just an empty 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 note that 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 laughing and playing, paying no attention at all.

"Also, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you not to perform magic in the corridors between classes.

The Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of this term. Anyone interested in joining the team can contact Madam Hooch.

Lastly, I must tell you, anyone who does not wish to encounter 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, plain and straightforward, like it was clearly telling people, come and see, there's treasure here.

Didn't you see the Gryffindor students already itching 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 "Welcome to Hogwarts."

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

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

"That's the magic of music. 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 handed it to Dumbledore.

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

Behind the half-moon glasses, those blue eyes flashed with a hint of mystery.

Had he been discovered?

So what if he had?

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

I didn't even charge him.

Hoare returned the gaze with a smile.