Hogwarts: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me From Studying

Modis Graves’s steps froze in the middle of the aisle, as the silent, yet seemingly tangible stares felt like cold needles pressing against his spine, instantly extinguishing his thoughts of forcefully leaving.

”Thump, thump, thump!”

His wildly beating heart left him feeling a slight palpitation and dizziness.

Modis had no doubt that if he took another step forward, what awaited him would not be a friendly farewell.

He turned around extremely awkwardly, his facial muscles twitching slightly, his legs seemingly refusing to obey him.

Not until he stiffly walked back to his seat and quietly sat down did he feel the cold sweat pour from his entire body.

Those few short steps felt like walking through life and death.

Yet beside him, Victor seemed as if he hadn’t noticed anything, rubbing his eyes and then asking strangely:

”What, not going to the bathroom anymore?”

Modis hugged his carry-on case, turned his head and stared fixedly at him, his fingers slightly trembling.

”That look in your eyes, it’s like I’ve wronged you,” Victor muttered, scratching his face, ”I still prefer your previously defiant demeanor.”

Through gritted teeth, Modis asked in a low voice, ”Who exactly are you? What do you want?”

”Me? I didn’t do anything!” Victor said in confusion, ”Weren’t you the one who decided to go to the bathroom and then gave up?”

Modis: ”...”

He knew he couldn’t force an answer from the other, so he ground his teeth in anger, closed his mouth, turned away, and looked at the other passengers.

At this sight, Modis felt another jolt of terror in his heart—

Even those passengers he had thought were ordinary, the way they looked at him now made Modis shiver with fear.

”Fear.”

This was always the emotion he invoked in others. Blood and death could always provoke shrill screams, birthing the most despairing pain.

But now, even without a hair being harmed, Modis felt a deeper despair and dread.

—Why was the plan exposed? When exactly was my identity discovered?

Though the signal was sent out, he was already a sitting duck.

The only thing he could seem to do now was wait... wait for the actions of other companions, or... await the judgment of these unfathomable ”passengers” around him.

...

Meanwhile, sitting slightly further back, Lev Zakharov frowned, having taken in the brief scene just now.

Though his stern face betrayed no expression, a light of rapid thought flashed in his gray-blue eyes.

”What is the matter with these people?”

A great question arose in his heart as he turned to look at Moody, who was across the aisle. Although Moody seemed to be with that group up front (at least on the surface), his eyes revealed a deeply hidden confusion.

Zakharov’s gaze swept over Moody, then looked at the stiffly upright Lupin, skipping him as well, and finally settled on Vid.

From his angle, he couldn’t quite see Vid’s expression.

But he could see the young man propping his chin with one hand, the corner of his mouth seemingly curled into a slight arc, as if smiling, or perhaps mocking.

—It’s him!

In Zakharov’s heart, it was as if a loud accusatory voice rang out at once.

Vid Gray... he definitely knows what’s going on!

Zakharov crossed his arms, his heart sinking.

Originally, he was only concerned about his cousin Natalia, and curious about Vid’s poppet technology, which led him to decide to go to the United Kingdom for more understanding.

Who knew... he might have gotten himself involved in a whirlpool far more complex and dangerous than those Russian family feuds.

...

The coin in his hand transmitted a burning sensation, lasting only two or three seconds, but unmistakable.

The short-haired man paused in his actions, looked up, and exchanged glances with the other three companions, instantly confirming the information.

The signal had been received, and the action should begin.

The short-haired man put down the book in his hand, unbuckled his seatbelt, and stood up, drawing the attention of Mrs. Weasley, who glanced up from her nap.

The man clasped his hands together, making an apologetic gesture, indicating he needed to go to the bathroom.

Mrs. Weasley smiled kindly, shook her head indicating it was okay, and simultaneously reached out to adjust the blanket over Ginny beside her.

Looking at the little red-haired girl almost swallowed by the gray blanket, a flash of guilt passed quickly through the short-haired man’s eyes, but then it became firm again.

In his heart, he silently recited:

[Wizards should not exist, the world needs purification... Sacrifice is necessary for the cleansing!]

He casually grabbed his bag and headed towards the mid-cabin restroom. The other three also stood up one after another, walking steadily and quickly in the same direction as the short-haired man.

[Evil will be inherited and flow with wizard genetics... Do not sympathize with the children of wizards; they are as evil as their parents, just not yet given the chance to show it...]

The short-haired man silently repeated the words their leader had once told them, only feeling his thoughts becoming clearer, his will more resolute, those slight hesitations shattering like soap bubbles.

It is said that the red-headed family are all wizards, and that red-haired girl is no exception, right?

She may be an innocent and adorable child now, but one day, she will grow up, wield a magic wand, and experiment with terrible magic on ordinary people!

No difference... they are all no different...

From those... wizards who killed his grandparents and uncle’s family, and those who messed up his father’s brain, turning a perfectly good adult man into a fool overnight... all no different...

Voices chanting in unison seemed to echo in his ears:

[Allowing wizard little brats to live means that someday, perhaps those tragic experiences will fall upon our children, upon other people’s children, other people’s parents and loved ones. No one can be spared...]

[The world will face another war, common folks will once again become lambs to the slaughter, arbitrarily massacred by wizards!]

[Magic is the power of devils, it corrodes the mind, inherently evil, irremovable, unchangeable! Magic should not exist!]

[A world without magic is peaceful, beautiful... even wizards, cleansed and freed from evil, would reincarnate in the new world as ordinary people... We will ultimately achieve equality and happiness...]

[To usher a bright future, I am willing to sacrifice my future! To save the world from being destroyed by magic, I am willing to sacrifice my life!]

Seeing the target drawing nearer, the short-haired man couldn’t help but to chant softly:

”To usher a bright future, I am willing to sacrifice my future! To save the world from being destroyed by magic, I am willing to sacrifice my life!”

Right afterward, he heard a loud shout:

”Are you blind?”