Chapter 550 Marietta

Chapter 550 Marietta
The changes in Dumbledore's Army were beyond Schelling's expectations.

He had originally expected this to happen in April, but it was brought forward to February, earlier than the time when Umbridge fired a professor.

This resulted in him not having time to implement many of his plans, and not having time to give Zhang Qiu the latest instructions.

Fortunately, he did not trust the wrong person.

Zhang Qiu completed the task alone without any support or instructions, and brought Sherin's target, Katie Bell, into the Sleeping Dragon Society. This meant that from then on, the Sleeping Dragon Society successfully opened a crack in Gryffindor, especially during the period when Harry and his group were strongly suppressed by Umbridge, which created a power vacuum, giving the Sleeping Dragon Society the best opportunity to take advantage of and the most suitable soil for development.

Besides, Dumbledore is gone.

This means that there is no one in the entire Hogwarts who can check and balance Xie Ling.

At this point, Sherin had to thank the fool Umbridge, who was only focused on dealing with Dumbledore but never thought that she had released another more terrifying hostile force.

Of course, Schelling had no intention of challenging Umbridge's authority, nor would he take the opportunity to replace her and bring Hogwarts under his own control.

This was not because they were afraid of Umbridge, but because the current situation was extremely favorable to the Sleeping Dragon Society. Umbridge's authoritarian and high-pressure rule had caused dissatisfaction and resentment among most students. At this time, the wisest choice for the Sleeping Dragon Society was not to confront head-on, but to lurk in the dark, take advantage of the dissatisfaction and resentment in the hearts of the students, and take the opportunity to expand their influence.

Therefore, although Schelling was not afraid of Umbridge and her Justice Pickets, he still chose not to provoke them, and even ordered the Dragon Society to keep a low profile and avoid unnecessary conflicts. He would rather watch Umbridge and the Justice Pickets act recklessly and let them mess up Hogwarts, rather than expose his power at this critical moment.

This strategy of retreat and forbearance made some members of the Sleeping Dragon Society feel quite aggrieved, and even felt that it was a bit cowardly. However, Xie Ling's order was the supreme will of the Sleeping Dragon Society, and no one would disobey it.

In order to avoid being suppressed by Umbridge and entangled by the Justice Patrol, the Sleeping Dragon Society fell into a dormant state, and all meetings and activities were suspended.

The number of people in charge of the intelligence network and magic research was reduced by a large number, and only the core cadres of the organization were left to maintain operations, so Daphne, Murray and other team leaders became even busier.

Meanwhile, Schelling was not idle either.

The first thing to do is to help the poor little girl Marietta Edgemore. Because Hermione had planted a curse on the paper she signed without her knowledge, Marietta's face was covered with terrible pockmarks, basically disfigured. For a young girl who was still in adolescence, this punishment was more terrible than killing her directly.

Seriously speaking, although Marietta's tragic experience seemed to be her own fault, in fact, it was closely related to Schelling. Everything that happened to her was originally in Schelling's plan. It was Schelling who ordered Zhang Qiu to take Marietta to join Dumbledore's Army in order to trigger this original plot. Poor Marietta, she didn't know from beginning to end that she was just a victim of Schelling's plan.

Of course, Xie Ling had no intention of ignoring her.

First of all, it was Zhang Qiu's plea. Marietta herself was not willing to join Dumbledore's Army. She was dragged there by Zhang Qiu. So Zhang Qiu felt full of guilt for Marietta's experience. She also knew very well that Marietta's mother had worked under Umbridge, and she was under a lot of pressure for this.

In the fan fiction of the previous life, many readers disliked the character of Marietta, but Schelling didn’t think so.

Although Marietta is not an upright and loyal person, she is still very loyal to her friends. After Cedric's death in the original book, Zhang Qiu became a crybaby who would explode at the slightest provocation. All her friends around her alienated her, and only Marietta stayed with her. This is why, after Marietta betrayed everyone, Zhang Qiu was the first to forgive her, and even broke up with Harry Potter because of her protection.

He also believed that after this incident, Marietta should have learned the price of betrayal and might even be qualified to be recruited by him.

Of course, having said so much, Zhang Qiu’s pitiful coquetry and pleading were what really touched Xie Lin.

"Please~" Zhang Qiu was like an abandoned kitten, snuggling in Xie Lin's arms, constantly rubbing his cheek against Xie Lin's neck. His snow-white neck looked even more slender under the candlelight. "Marietta is my best friend in the class. She is really pitiful. She doesn't dare to see anyone now. She even hides in the dormitory to eat..."

"Xie Lin..." She called his name softly, her voice was soft and a bit coquettish, she looked at Xie Lin with eyes full of light, her obsidian eyes were full of watery luster, there was a hint of uneasiness in her eyes, and a hint of expectation, "I know you will definitely have a way..."

Xie Lin sighed and said, "I really can't do anything about you. You have learned to act like a spoiled child."

Zhang Qiu blinked, as if knowing that he had succeeded halfway, and said in a delicate voice: "Then you agree?"

Xie Lin chuckled, stretched out his hand to pinch her chin, and whispered: "Just this once, it won't happen again."

The moment Xie Lin agreed, he also got the reward he deserved - Zhang Qiu took the initiative to give Xie Lin a kiss on the lips.

A moment later, Marietta was brought in by Zhang Qiu.

Marietta Aykmo stood timidly in front of Schelling, her face still covered with terrible pimples and swollen pustules, and the word "informer" deeply engraved in her skin was still clearly visible. Even though she had tried her best to cover it up with magic, the ugly marks were still firmly attached to her skin like a curse and could not be eliminated.

Her eyes were filled with despair and inferiority, her body trembled slightly, and she dared not look directly into Xie Lin's eyes. Even though Zhang Qiu kept comforting her, she was still afraid that she would get the same answer as Madam Pomfrey - no answer.

Xie Lin did not speak, he just took a step closer, his eyes deep, stretched out his slender fingers, gently pinched her chin, and asked her to lift her face. Marietta's body suddenly stiffened, and her breathing became a little disordered, but she did not dare to struggle, or even move.

"Let me see." Xie Ling's voice was low and calm, without any emotion.

He studied her face carefully, scanning those ugly scars inch by inch. Then, he gently raised his wand and slowly moved it across her face. Invisible magical power flowed, and his brows furrowed slightly, and his expression became focused.

Then, he waved his wand again, drawing complicated runes in the air. A faint blue light flickered, and hidden magical patterns appeared on Marietta's face.

"It's not just the Boils Curse," he said softly, with a hint of admiration in his eyes, "but also the Permanent Sticking Charm, the Spot Transfiguration, and even some ingredients that I can't even see... Hermione Granger is really capable, this spell is very cleverly designed."

No wonder Marietta didn't cure this skin problem until the end of the seventh book in the original novel. Hermione used an extremely advanced compound spell, which was a difficult technique that mixed several spells together. Before knowing all the combinations of spells, neither Shaillon, Madam Pomfrey, nor the therapists in St. Mungo's Hospital could do anything.

Marietta's heart sank, and she felt as if all her strength had been drained away. A feeling of despair quickly spread in her chest. Her eyes instantly turned red, tears began to well up in her eyes, and a slight sob came out of her throat.

"So...so there is still no way?" Her voice trembled and she sounded like crying.

Her body swayed slightly, and the next second, she suddenly bent her knees, as if she wanted to kneel down and cry completely in despair.

But just as her knees were about to touch the ground, a hand suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her up from the ground.

"Don't cry so quickly." Xie Lin's voice was still calm, but his sharp eyes flashed with a hidden light, "The curse cannot be broken, but the contract can be."

Marietta was stunned, and she opened her tearful eyes wide and looked at him in disbelief.

Xie Lin waved his hand gently, and the next second, a piece of parchment silently emerged in the air and slowly unfolded. It was the list of Dumbledore's Army. Everyone's name on the paper glowed with a faint golden light, but Marietta's name seemed to have been burned by flames, charred and twisted, and faintly emitting strange magical fluctuations.

Her face turned pale in an instant and her breathing became faster.

This was the contract she had signed with her own hands...but how did it end up in Xie Ling's hands?

She suddenly turned her head to look at Zhang Qiu, who spread his hands helplessly, with a hint of helplessness and accusation in his tone: "After Dumbledore's Army was reported by you, everyone was in chaos. They were so busy escaping that they left such important evidence in the room. My name is on it. If I hadn't been careful enough, I would have been implicated by you too." "Qiu--!" Marietta widened her eyes and finally realized what she had done.

That was Zhang Qiu, her best friend, who was almost expelled because of her.

Her fingertips trembled slightly, her lips moved, and her voice trembled with guilt, "I... I'm sorry... I'm really... I'm sorry... Please, please forgive me... You are the only friend I have..."

Zhang Qiu sighed, walked slowly towards her, stretched out his hand, hugged her gently, patted her back soothingly, and said softly: "Okay, Mary, don't say anymore..."

Xie Ling ignored the two of them and stared at the parchment floating in the air with a serious expression, his eyes flashing slightly.

"As expected of Hermione..." He murmured in a low voice, with a hint of admiration in his eyes, "You used the contract magic very well."

The parchment was covered with complex magical patterns, and each signature was firmly bound by the power of the contract, so that any betrayer would be severely punished. Hermione was meticulous, and this was not something that could be broken by ordinary spells.

To Schelling, however, this was just an interesting puzzle.

He raised his hand slightly, and the wand drew an elegant arc in the air. A ray of silver light danced at the tip of the wand, which was wrapped around the parchment like a chain, untying the hidden magical knots one by one.

As the power of the contract was stripped away bit by bit, the marks on Marietta's face finally began to fade. The unforgettable word "informer" gradually dissipated, and the pimples and pustules on her skin also quickly receded. After a moment, her originally fair skin finally reappeared.

"...The contract is terminated!" As Sherin lowered his hand holding the wand, a burning smell came from the parchment, and it turned into ashes in an instant.

"Okay," Zhang Qiu gave Marietta a gentle smile, his eyes flashing with pride for his boyfriend, "Mary, your face is back to normal."

Marietta stood there in a daze, her mind going blank for a moment.

She reached out her hand and touched her face blankly, her fingertips feeling smooth skin without those ugly bumps and scratches.

She suddenly pulled out a small mirror from her bosom, held her breath, and trembled as she held it in front of her face.

In the mirror, the long-lost, familiar face finally came into view.

No pockmarks, no letters, no marks of humiliation...it was as if nothing had ever happened.

Her throat tightened, her heart beat wildly, and her nose ached. The next second, tears fell without warning, and she almost covered her mouth, sobbing uncontrollably.

She fell to her knees, covering her face with her hands, her shoulders shaking violently, and tears fell drop by drop, leaving wet marks on the cold floor.

She couldn't even believe it. She really recovered. She finally... recovered!

"Thank you..." She choked, her sobs almost inaudible.

Zhang Qiu smiled slightly, squatted down, and patted her shoulder gently: "Don't cry, everything is over."

Marietta raised her tearful face and looked at Zhang Qiu, then at Xie Lin. Her eyes were complex, full of gratitude, shock, and even a hint of indescribable awe.

Zhang Qiu gently held her hand and said softly: "Mary, Xie Lin saved you."

Marietta turned her head sharply and looked at Xie Lin, with deep emotion in her eyes. Her lips trembled, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just bowed her head deeply, knelt on the ground, and choked: "Thank you... Thank you... I owe you my life..."

Xie Lin just smiled faintly, his tone lazy and indifferent: "Now, your friend can rest assured, right?"

Zhang Qiu smiled, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction. She helped Marietta up and said softly, "Come on, Mary, let's go back to the dormitory."

"Wait a minute!" Marietta raised her head and looked at Zhang Qiu's gentle expression. In an instant, she seemed to understand something. She turned and looked at Xie Lin, with a strange look in her eyes. "Malfoy, I knew it a long time ago - something must have happened between Qiu and you. Since she met you, Qiu has appeared less and less in the Ravenclaw Tower. When we met on weekdays, she always looked hurried and mysterious. I thought she had a boyfriend..."

"But," Marietta took a deep breath, raised her head, and looked at Xie Lin with a firm look in her eyes, "Qiu's magic performance has suddenly improved by leaps and bounds. Not only in Ravenclaw, but even in the entire grade, she can rank in the top three!"

"Mary," Zhang Qiu frowned and interrupted her hurriedly, "What do you want to say?"

Because of Marietta's personality and family reasons, Zhang Qiu never thought that she was suitable to join the Mianlong Society, so not only did he not recruit her, but he kept her in the dark. When she participated in the activities of the Mianlong Society on weekdays, she always made up strange excuses, causing other roommates in the dormitory to always think that she had a boyfriend.

Although Xie Ling was gentle to her, Zhang Qiu actually knew all along that her boyfriend was a tough guy who was not easy to mess with. He was not only far-sighted, but also ruthless. Even Dumbledore and Umbridge were helpless against him.

She couldn't imagine what would happen if Marietta angered Schelling.

Marietta's eyes moved between Xie Lin and Zhang Qiu for a moment, as if she had finally made up her mind.

She took a deep breath and said slowly: "Qiu, you and Malfoy...have you joined a mysterious underground organization?"

Zhang Qiu’s smile froze instantly.

Xie Ling narrowed his eyes, and his fingers in his sleeves silently clenched the wand. A dangerous atmosphere quietly permeated the air.

Marietta did not retreat, but gritted her teeth and knelt down suddenly: "Malfoy, I beg you, let me join you!"

Her voice was filled with tears, desperate and anxious. "I betrayed Dumbledore's Army and have offended many people. As for the Justice Patrol... they disliked the pockmarks on my face. Not only did they not help me, they also often gathered together to make fun of me and bully me. And this time no one is willing to help me, just because I am a traitor in their eyes." She became more and more sad as she spoke, her hoarse voice filled with suppressed anger and helplessness. "I just... I just want to protect my mother... my family..."

"Please, I have nowhere else to go..." Marietta said humbly, "Please take me in, let me follow you, I'm willing to do anything."

Xie Lin and Zhang Qiu looked at each other. Zhang Qiu was silent for a moment, and finally nodded imperceptibly.

Xie Lin sighed softly, stretched out his hand, pulled her up from the ground, and said calmly: "Our organization is called the Sleeping Dragon Society, and I am its leader."

He paused slightly, a dangerous smile on his lips, his eyes as deep as the night: "Let me remind you - we let you join only for Zhang Qiu's sake. If you betray us..."

He leaned closer, his voice low and cold: "Hermione's disfiguring curse is just child's play compared to the punishment I can give."

Marietta trembled all over, nodded vigorously, and choked up, "I swear... I will never betray again..."

Xie Lin let go of his hand, turned around and left, his tone calm as if nothing had just happened: "Then, welcome to join the Sleeping Dragon Society."