Chapter 39: The Proper Way to Use a Flying Broomstick

Chapter 39: The Proper Way to Use a Flying Broomstick

"First, let me correct you: it wasn't me bullying them, but rather them bullying me. I was merely defending myself."

Chu Yang didn't back down in the face of Snape's anger. He kept his eyes fixed on him and retorted calmly, "When they drew their wands, of course, I fought back. We're all wizards—why should only they be allowed to use magic?"

Snape sneered, "Can you guarantee that your spells are as effective as your fists?"

Chu Yang shrugged, his face relaxed. "We'll find out soon enough, won't we? Don't worry, the moment the results are in, I'll be sure to report them to you."

Snape understood why Chu Yang was so confident. Professor McGonagall had already explained that Dumbledore had tacitly approved Chu Yang's retaliations within Slytherin.

"If you're serious, I admire your courage," Snape said indifferently, turning and walking toward the podium. "For your disrespect towards a professor, Slytherin loses five points!"

Chu Yang was taken aback.

Wow. Snape must really be upset—it was the first time Chu Yang had seen him deduct points from his own house!

In just one day, Chu Yang had already cost Slytherin 10 points! He had managed to outdo even the infamous trio when it came to losing points.

Could I be the next "point-deduction king"? Everyone knows that there are usually four members in a "Big Three," and there are usually five members in the "Four Heavenly Kings"...

However, when it came to point deductions, Chu Yang didn't want to be on par with the other three.

The first Potions class of the term was tense. Snape, already known for his bad temper, prowled the classroom like a grim reaper, his footsteps echoing ominously on the wooden floor.

Throughout the class, Snape didn't look directly at Chu Yang once.

He thought this might put pressure on Chu Yang, but he underestimated Chu Yang's mental resilience.

Snape's intimidation tactics weren't nearly as effective as Chu Yang's high school homeroom teacher's, not even as effective as his PE teacher's.

Anyone who has experienced the rigors of mandatory education can easily adapt to the academic pressures of Hogwarts.

It was only the local British students who might feel overwhelmed.

When the class finally ended, the first-year students scrambled to leave the classroom. The only one who took his time packing up was Chu Yang, who had clashed with Snape.

"Thank you for today's lesson, Professor Snape. I've learned many things that aren't in the textbooks," Chu Yang said with a slight bow before turning to leave.

Watching Chu Yang's departing figure, Snape's icy expression gradually softened.

His mind drifted, and he muttered to himself, "If I had been as brave as him back then, maybe Lily…"

In the now-empty classroom, Snape's voice echoed, lingering in the air.

Lunchtime arrived. After a mentally exhausting morning, the first-year students finally had a moment to relax and recover from the rollercoaster of emotions that had shaken their young minds.

In the Great Hall, the other students instinctively sat as far away from Chu Yang as possible. After learning that he had single-handedly taken down multiple boys, he now carried a rather notorious reputation.

As for the matter of a half-blood standing up to pure-bloods, it didn't earn him any bravery points here.

Even putting aside the pure-blood versus half-blood issue, no one wanted to associate with Chu Yang, as he had offended too many people.

It was well known that most Slytherin students had powerful family connections—after all, it was the cradle of pure-blood wizards!

Chu Yang understood this and didn't hold a grudge against those who kept their distance. It was only natural for people to avoid danger.

What did surprise him, however, was that someone had suddenly sat down across from him.

It wasn't Hermione, nor was it Harry or Ron.

It was Neville Longbottom!

With a sheepish grin, Neville, carrying a plate of food, said, "I never got the chance to thank you for helping me during the boat ride. Now's a good time."

"There's no need to thank me," Chu Yang propped his face up with one hand, tapping lightly on the table with the other. "Are you sure you want to sit here?"

Neville immediately panicked. "I'm sorry! If you don't want me here, I can move."

"That's not what I meant," Chu Yang waved his hand and explained, "I mean, aren't you afraid they'll isolate you like they've isolated me?"

Neville scratched his head and said, "They won't. They just don't know you well enough. Give it time, and they'll realize they were wrong about you."

Chu Yang laughed. From the way Neville spoke, it sounded as if he knew Chu Yang well.

Suddenly, a few more young wizards appeared near Chu Yang's seat.

Unsurprisingly, it was the famous "deduction trio."

"I can't figure out this part in the book. Can you explain it to me?" Hermione dropped a thick book in front of Chu Yang. Although she was asking for help, her tone didn't quite match the request.

Harry and Ron casually sat across from Chu Yang, chatting and occasionally asking for details about last night's "battle."

"I heard from Goyle that you kicked Blaise so hard he flew into the air!" Ron asked excitedly. "Did you really not use a spell?"

Chu Yang smiled. "My wand was still in my trunk. I didn't even have a chance to grab it, so no, no spell."

"Wow, you're really strong!" Ron exclaimed.

As the trio settled in and started chatting, the area around Chu Yang began to feel "normal" again.

Fred and George sat nearby, winking mischievously at Chu Yang.

Clearly aware of his "heroics," the twins relentlessly questioned him, quickly turning the area into a lively hub of chatter.

Soon, a series of crisp hoots echoed from above the Great Hall as countless owls flew in through the skylights, their beaks and talons clutching various parcels.

"Hey! Mail's here!"

The excited shouts made Chu Yang realize it was time for the students' family deliveries to arrive. He couldn't help but wonder if a delivery service using owls for light packages would be a profitable venture.

A newspaper dropped in front of Ron and Harry. After confirming its contents, Harry eagerly opened it.

Chu Yang vaguely remembered… this paper contained news about a break-in at Gringotts, where a vault containing a magical stone capable of granting immortality had been emptied by Hagrid under Dumbledore's orders.

The deduction trio's attention was entirely focused on the paper, but they had no idea that the stone they were reading about was currently lying quietly within Hogwarts.

The first class that afternoon was Madam Hooch's flying lesson, and the first-years could barely contain their excitement.

Flight is humanity's ultimate dream, and both wizards and Muggles are equally fascinated by it.

Madam Hooch strode through the line of students, her voice loud and clear, "Welcome to your very first flying lesson."

"Everyone, please place your right hand over the broomstick and say 'up.' The first step to controlling your broom is to get it to fly into your hand."

As she spoke, Madam Hooch noticed something strange. A student had jumped onto his broom, both feet on the broomstick, striking a bizarre pose.

To her horror, the boy with the distinctly Asian face shouted at the broom—

"Up!"

Good news:

The broom really did take off!

Bad news:

He was standing on it while flying!!!