Chapter 38: Chu Yang VS Snape

Hermione suddenly grabbed Chu Yang's sleeve and asked in a low voice, "Can you tell me what actually happened? I don't believe for a second that so many people would stay in the common room all night for no reason."

"I heard the Slytherin common room is under the Black Lake. It's dark and cold; what's so fun about that?"

Hermione's way of thinking leaned more toward that of an adult. In fact, even Professor McGonagall didn't quite believe the story, so as soon as class ended, she went to the hospital wing to visit Malfoy.

Chu Yang couldn't be bothered to make up an excuse; after all, the fact that he had hit people would come to light sooner or later.

Those people had merely been knocked unconscious; they hadn't lost their memories.

Chu Yang simply told the truth: "They blocked the entrance to my dormitory last night, saying I wasn't a pure-blood and had no right to be in Slytherin. They intended to make things difficult for me. I was exhausted and sleepy at the time and just wanted to sleep, so I didn't have time to mess around with them. I could only 'invite' them all out."

Hearing this, Hermione paused, her mouth agape. She looked at Chu Yang in shock and asked, "When you say 'invite'... do you mean the 'invite' we usually use?"

Chu Yang thought for a moment and shook his head. "There's a slight difference."

"I suspect it's more than just a slight difference, isn't it?" Hermione took a deep breath, feeling as if the temperature around them had suddenly dropped. She asked, "Assaulting classmates is something the school will hold you accountable for. Aren't you afraid?"

"How can one person assault so many people? It was more like they were assaulting me; I was just acting in self-defense." Chu Yang rolled his eyes and spread his hands helplessly. "Am I supposed to just stand there and let them bully me?"

"That's true. They were clearly the ones acting maliciously first!" As soon as Hermione thought about how the other Slytherin first-years were ostracizing Chu Yang because he wasn't a pure-blood, she felt a sense of shared indignation and became quite outraged herself.

The two of them chatted about the events of the previous night as they walked into the classroom.

"Isn't Hermione a Gryffindor? Why is she always hanging around Chu Yang?" Ron felt a sudden pang of discomfort as he watched Hermione and Chu Yang chatting happily.

"We're all classmates; there's no need to draw such sharp lines, is there? Besides, they probably have more in common. After all, they're both very smart and knowledgeable," Harry replied to Ron as if it were the most natural thing in the world, seeing no issue with it at all.

Having learned from their experience in Transfiguration class, the first-years quickly took their seats upon entering the classroom, fearing Professor Snape's reprimand.

Compared to Professor McGonagall's seriousness and meticulousness, Professor Snape gave off a terrifying, dark, and ominous vibe. It always felt as though anyone who provoked him would face a truly miserable punishment.

Only after the students were seated did Professor Snape walk into the classroom.

He walked with such force that his robes fluttered in the wind.

He might have thought he looked handsome, but to Chu Yang, the moment he entered, he looked like a giant, flapping moth...

"This class does not require you to wave your wands about foolishly, nor does it require you to chant spells blindly. I suspect very few among you know how to appreciate the profound science and precise artistry of potion-making."

Professor Snape leaned against the desk, making no attempt to hide the coldness on his face. Just as he was about to continue, his eyes swept the room and he realized many students were missing.

"This doesn't seem to be the first class of the morning, does it? How can so many people be late?" Snape's voice was filled with fury as he looked at the empty seats. "And they are Slytherin students, no less?!"

Snape slammed his hand heavily onto the desk with a loud *thud*, making everyone's heart jump.

At that moment, a knock suddenly sounded from outside.

Professor Snape, who was about to continue his scolding, frowned. Anyone would feel uncomfortable having their momentum interrupted.

Snape straightened his clothes, walked to the door like a gust of wind, and opened it. Standing outside was Professor McGonagall, returning from the hospital wing.

Professor McGonagall first glanced into the classroom, and upon seeing Chu Yang, she showed a helpless expression before gesturing for Professor Snape to come outside to speak.

As he listened to Professor McGonagall explain the circumstances behind the absence of the Slytherin first-years, Snape was initially bewildered, then fell into silence.

The students whispered among themselves, wondering why Professor McGonagall had called Professor Snape out in the middle of his lecture.

At this age, they were naturally curious about everything.

About five minutes later, Professor Snape returned to the classroom with a strange expression on his face.

He did not walk toward the podium; instead, he went straight to Chu Yang and stared at him coldly.

"Mr. Chu Yang, could you tell me how you used a pair of fists to ensure that several dormitory mates could not attend class the next day?"

"I am truly curious, but don't tell me that even someone from an orphanage understands Eastern kung fu—that would be quite ridiculous!"

Snape mocked Chu Yang without any restraint, and his words immediately caused a massive uproar in the classroom!

The reason those Slytherin students couldn't attend class was actually because they had been beaten by Chu Yang!

For a moment, the room was filled with a clamor of voices!

Harry and Ron's mouths hung open in surprise, their eyes filled with admiration as they looked at Chu Yang. Good heavens, he had taken down that many people all by himself?

Just yesterday, Ron had been telling Harry that a non-pure-blood wizard like Chu Yang would surely have a bad time if he went to Slytherin.

Harry had also been very worried about Chu Yang's situation.

When he saw that Chu Yang was safe and sound this morning, he had secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

As one of only two orphans in the first year, if something had happened to Chu Yang, Harry couldn't help but feel a sense of shared tragedy.

Among the "deduction trio," the calmest was Hermione, who had already learned the truth from Chu Yang. However, she was still worried about him, as Professor Snape looked extremely angry.

Chu Yang stood up and replied with a calm expression, "Professor Snape, I truly do not understand kung fu. But as you said, I came from an orphanage. The environment there was not good; fighting was a mandatory lesson for every child."

"And, if I may be blunt, a wizard without a wand or spellcasting skills isn't much more formidable than a Muggle..."

Chu Yang's comparison of Muggles and wizards directly enraged Snape.

He stepped forward quickly, bringing himself almost face-to-face with Chu Yang.

"You have made a grave mistake, Mr. Chu Yang!"

Snape glared fiercely at Chu Yang and shouted, "Do not think that everything can be solved with your fists. It might work now, but what about two or three months from now? When those first-years you bullied pick up their wands and learn spells, how will you deal with them? With your fists again?"

The confrontation between Snape and Chu Yang made the already cold dungeons even more unbearable. The first-years watched the two of them with trembling hearts, not even daring to breathe loudly.