What does it feel like to experience an extreme foul odor for one full minute?
Previously, the teachers and students of Hogwarts did not know, nor would they have ever wanted to try.
But now they knew.
Because Harry Potter was standing on the high platform, looking as though he was about to vomit his guts out.
A full minute of continuous retching left Harry visibly weak. His face was pale, and he could barely remain standing.
However, with the presence of the question-and-answer space, the disgusting substance vanished quickly.
It also protected Harry's body, preventing him from fainting from excessive vomiting.
When the minute finally ended, Harry leaned heavily against the railing for support.
At that moment, he looked exactly like Draco Malfoy had just moments earlier.
"I feel like Harry is suffering much more than Ron and that Malfoy guy."
"This is different; at least Harry does not have those dark histories."
One student spoke with a grin while shaking a few photographs in his hand.
"What you have there is..."
The other student's eyes lit up immediately when he saw the photos.
"Brother, let us talk privately for a moment."
After witnessing Harry's miserable experience, Draco shivered slightly, as though imagining something unpleasant.
Meanwhile, Gilderoy Lockhart's reaction was far more direct; the smile on his face vanished instantly.
"Next up are the two of you. So, gentlemen, who will go first?"
"Let Malfoy go first," Lockhart said smoothly.
"As a Professor at Hogwarts, how could I take such a wonderful opportunity away from a student? Let the student practice first."
Listening to Lockhart's shameless excuse, Draco stared at him in disbelief. The words he wanted to say lodged in his throat and refused to come out.
When it came to shamelessness, he truly could not compete with an expert like Lockhart.
"In that case, Mr. Malfoy, what is your choice?"
Facing Aiden's gaze, Draco looked down at the text on the card again, clearly flustered.
One option had already been eliminated by Harry, leaving three remaining choices.
That meant he now had a one-in-three chance.
So the question was—
Which one should he choose?
He did not recognize any of the three remaining names.
Above them, the second hand of a floating clock spun rapidly. Numbers beside it indicated the fast-flowing countdown.
Draco clenched his teeth.
I will gamble.
"Sir, I choose B. The person who said that phrase with Dumbledore back then was Tom Riddle."
After speaking his answer aloud, Draco felt slightly relieved.
If he was wrong, then so be it.
It was only a punishment. He was not someone who could not accept defeat.
Ever since the question-and-answer space had appeared, Draco Malfoy had already answered several questions incorrectly and received multiple punishments.
One could say he was battle-hardened by now.
But why—
Why were his eyes always brimming with tears?
He tilted his head upward. That way, even if someone noticed the moisture in his eyes, they would simply assume it was caused by the harsh light above.
When Albus Dumbledore heard the name Tom Riddle, a complicated expression briefly crossed his face.
Several people outside the platform noticed.
"Look at Professor Dumbledore. When he heard the name Tom Riddle, his expression changed."
"Let me see. You are right. The Professor's expression is very strange. Could Malfoy have actually answered correctly this time?"
"That Malfoy guy is really lucky. He is obviously guessing."
"Is that not normal? Who here actually knows about Professor Dumbledore's youth?"
Students from several Houses gathered together, whispering among themselves.
Many were convinced Draco could not be wrong this time. After all, they had clearly seen Dumbledore's reaction.
Draco, however, had not noticed Dumbledore's expression. He stood there silently, staring upward.
"I am sorry, Mr. Malfoy, but your answer is incorrect."
While Draco was still looking at the sky, eyes filled with unshed tears, Aiden's calm voice shattered his fragile hope once again.
"How can this be? We clearly saw Professor Dumbledore's expression change."
"Exactly. His face changed immediately. That proves Tom Riddle must be someone important to him."
"Do you think the question-and-answer space made a mistake?"
The moment those words left his mouth, Blaise Zabini and Daphne Greengrass stared at Gregory Goyle as though he had just declared himself the biggest idiot in Hogwarts.
Goyle scratched his head, completely confused about what he had said wrong.
While the Slytherins looked at him with exasperation, the Gryffindors were equally noisy.
"There are two names left. Who do you think it is?"
"I do not know if you have heard of Gellert Grindelwald?"
Colin Creevey spoke cautiously while clutching his camera.
Ever since he had taken photos of Ron's embarrassment and Draco's dancing punishment, the people around him had begun looking at him with unsettling intensity.
He honestly only liked taking pictures. What bad intentions could a boy who loved photography possibly have?
"It is little Colin."
"Do you have another strange idea?"
Fred Weasley and George Weasley appeared beside him without warning. Each brother draped an arm over his shoulders.
"N-no. Not like that." Colin swallowed before continuing more smoothly.
"I just wanted to say, does the name Gellert Grindelwald not sound familiar?"
"It really does."
"I also feel like I have heard that name somewhere before."
The surrounding students exchanged glances.
Then, as if something clicked simultaneously in all their minds, they spoke in unison.
"Chocolate Frog Card."