Chapter 177: Not a Threat, But Cooperation

"I'm sorry, I was impulsive this time, but I really didn't expect things to get to this point." Harry explained very seriously: "I didn't want to doubt you, but there were too many coincidences, especially after the Quidditch game.

I saw you and Professor McGonagall bring Colin to me the night I was hospitalized, and you asked Dumbledore not to spread the news.

Hermione has always been unwilling to believe that you are the heir of Slytherin. She helped us prepare the Polyjuice Potion in the hope of avoiding unnecessary misunderstandings.

More than a month is a buffer period. If we can find any evidence that you are not the heir during this period, we will stop immediately.

But I didn't expect..."

"But I didn't expect that I was at the crime scene when Justin got into trouble, right?"

Harry nodded awkwardly. This is called the unpredictable world. He would never have thought that all the coincidences came from the harmless dragon cub in cat skin squatting next to Aaron.

"Alas!" Aaron sighed deeply, and said with emotion: "In fact, it's not that I can't understand you, and I can accept your behavior, but I feel particularly uncomfortable.

I have always regarded you as friends, but now it seems that I may be wishful thinking."

Aaron looked at the three people with disappointment, and was extremely glad that the Sorting Hat sorted him into Slytherin. If he was in Gryffindor, I don't know how much trouble he would have to worry about.

"In fact, this is just a misunderstanding." Ron laughed and made a round, "Our attitude of apology is also sincere, or you can forgive us again?"

"Haha!" Aaron curled his lips in disdain, "You are really thick-skinned, and both of them are embarrassed to say so."

Ron turned his head to look at Harry and Hermione, one bowed his head and said nothing, and the other was about to cry, and also swallowed his saliva awkwardly.

"It's a little harder to forgive." Hermione mustered up her courage and looked Aaron in the eyes, "But it has already happened, you have to give us a chance to make amends!

Everyone's goal is to find the real culprit behind the scenes, and it will be easier for you with the help of the three of us."

"No need." Aaron refused bluntly, "It's good enough that you don't hold me back."

"But we already know all your plans..."

"Hey! Correction, not all.

There are some things you don't know yet, such as who the heir was fifty years ago, which may be the final location of the Chamber of Secrets."

"What about the Gryffindor common room!" Hermione said, "You can't check this place!"

"And my sister." Ron immediately added, "I won't let others investigate her, let alone let Malfoy carry out your plan."

Hearing this, Aaron's face sank instantly, "What do you mean? Blackmail me?"

"No, don't get me wrong." Harry said hurriedly, and at the same time did not forget to wink at the two: We are here to ask for forgiveness, not to bargain.

Ron smiled awkwardly, "Sorry."

Hermione gritted her teeth and ignored Harry's look.

She knew what Harry meant, but she knew what kind of person Aaron was.

Even if they explained their actions in a high-sounding way, it could not change the nature of deception. It was impossible to make the other party forgive them with just a few words.

"It's not a threat, it's cooperation.

You need help, and we can help you, and we hope to help you."

Aaron took a deep breath and tapped the table with a few fingers, making a tapping sound.

The three of them were silent and waited for Aaron's response.

After half a minute, he stopped tapping and said meaningfully: "Believe it or not, even without your help, I can find the real culprit behind the scenes."

Hearing this, Harry and Ron's hearts sank slightly, but Hermione was relieved. Not directly refusing meant that there was room for negotiation.

"But with our help, you can find Slytherin's heir faster."

"That's right."

Aaron couldn't deny that he had absolute confidence in his character, but the image of Slytherin in the minds of students from the three colleges was already shattered.

Even if he could enter the common rooms of the other three colleges, he would definitely be restricted in his investigation.

"Cooperation is fine, but I have a few conditions."

"You say."

"First, you can't tell anyone about my plan, not even a little bit."

"No problem, we agree." Harry said immediately. They still knew the importance of it. Before finding Slytherin's heir, they couldn't trust anyone, not even Dumbledore.

"Second, don't let personal feelings get in the way when investigating." Aaron said and gave Ron a meaningful look.

"Ginny..." Ron wanted to say something but was glared at by two sharp eyes. He immediately changed his words and said, "I know. I will handle this impartially."

Aaron nodded with satisfaction. "Also, you must tell me what you have found, but I will not tell you any clues."

Harry hesitated, this didn't seem fair to them.

"Okay." Hermione said, but seeing Harry's puzzled look, she rolled her eyes speechlessly, "What's there to hesitate about? We still made a profit."

Harry was stunned for a moment, and suddenly realized.

They investigated at the same time as Aaron, but what they found was incomparable.

But they almost synchronized Aaron's progress last night, which can be said to be standing on the shoulders of giants. What else is there to be dissatisfied with.

"Finally, return the Christmas gift I gave you.

That was for friends, and you are not now." Aaron said lightly, "Cooperation does not mean that I will forgive you.

I gave you a chance last year, but you didn't cherish it."

The three nodded with guilt and put the three gift boxes on the table.

"Wow, thank you for not opening them, so that the memory may be more profound." Aaron said meaningfully, and then slowly opened the first box, which contained a lottery ticket.

"Take this to the Magic Broom Shop, and you can upgrade your Nimbus 2000 to the latest model.

Personally, I expect a fair match. Although Flint would definitely scold me to death if he knew, thanks to your performance last night, I won't be scolded."

Tear it up!

Aaron tore the ticket into pieces and threw it into the trash can.

Harry forced a smile, but his heart was bleeding.

The equipment of the seeker can determine the outcome of a game to a certain extent. He seemed to see the trophy for the next semester flying away from his hand with wings.

Ron patted his shoulder and comforted him in a deep voice: "It's okay, even without a new broom, you are still the best seeker."

"Thank you!"

"This is yours." Aaron handed a gift box to Ron, "Why don't you open it and take a look."

Ron forced a smile and nervously opened the box.

A brand new brown wand lay in the box, as if welcoming his new owner.

"My uncle is a professional wand maker. He can clearly remember every wand he has sold." Aaron explained, "He adjusted this wand according to your father's size.

How is it? Are you satisfied?"

"Satisfied." Ron's eyes twitched slightly, and he squeezed out a smile that was uglier than crying.

What's the use of being satisfied? No matter how good the thing is, it's not his anymore.

Crack!

The wand was broken in half, and it was even more broken than the one in Ron's hand.

Hiss!

Harry and Hermione turned their faces away reluctantly. It was a murder! Just now they seemed to hear the sound of heartbreak.

Harry walked up to Ron, looked at the other person who wanted to cry but couldn't, and comforted him: "With your talent, even if you use an old wand..."

Harry couldn't make it up halfway.

Everyone knows what the wand Ron is using now is like. The simplest levitation spell will have an explosive effect.

At this time, a complete wand is more important to him than sending charcoal in the snow.

"It's okay, just pretend nothing happened."

Ron's eyes were red, and he choked a few times in silence. He tried not to look at the wand that was broken into two pieces. He kept wailing in his heart, what did I miss.

"Next, it should be my turn!" Hermione looked at the last gift box and couldn't help trembling slightly. "I guess there is a book in it."

"I admire your cleverness." Aaron smiled and pointed his wand at the gift box. The ribbon on it automatically loosened, and a dark blue cover book that was not heavy but full of vicissitudes flew into his hand.

"A great wizard's work, as well as his annotations and autographs.

To be honest, I personally think Lockhart is a clown, and I just want to give you a more practical book. This is real knowledge.

By the way, you also know the author of this book, Nicolas Flamel."

Hermione staggered and almost fell to the ground. She felt the same as Harry and Ron.

"You're not going to tear it up, are you?"

"Of course not. Although I remember everything on it, Flamel's notes are 10,000 times more valuable than Lockhart's autobiographies, enough to attract countless wizards." Aaron rolled up the book and stuffed it roughly into Abe's pocket, which made Hermione feel distressed.

Harry and Ron looked at Hermione with pity. They only lost material things. Although they felt sad, they could barely accept it. But she missed the spiritual wealth. For a top student, there is nothing more cruel than this.

"I have said what I should say, and I have taken back what I should take back." Aaron said and stretched out his right hand, "Then happy cooperation."

The three of them shook hands with him with a wry smile. Although their hearts were broken, they were not completely without gain. With this basis for cooperation, at least they would not be regarded as enemies by Aaron when they meet again in the future.

"Oh, one last question." Aaron suddenly thought of something and asked jokingly, "Will something like this never happen again?"

"No, absolutely not."

Hermione made a solemn promise, and Harry and Ron shook their heads.

The three gift boxes that were taken back clearly told them that being dishonest with friends would cost them dearly.