Chapter 42: The Most Suitable is the Strongest

"If that's the case, then it's naturally not a problem."

Hearing Snape's response, George nodded without hesitation.

This entire scheme had been crafted precisely for this purpose.

Lockhart's Defense Against the Dark Arts class only taught Forgetfulness Charms at best; everything else was a disaster. For black magic expertise, Snape was the real deal.

Having individual lessons with Snape every week was akin to becoming his personal protégé. Over time, they could build a strong bond. George even mused that becoming Snape's godson wasn't entirely out of the question.

When it came to self-improvement, shamelessness could be a virtue.

Snape was slightly stunned by George's quick agreement, vaguely sensing he had been maneuvered. However, it didn't bother him much. With such a genius in his house, he was more than willing to show favoritism.

After notifying Snape, Madam Hooch escorted George back to the lawn outside the castle.

As soon as George returned, he was surrounded by a group of young wizards, all eager to know why Madam Hooch had taken him away.

He didn't reveal everything but mentioned that he'd met with Snape and was admitted to the Slytherin Quidditch team under special circumstances. However, he left out the part about the tutoring sessions.

This explanation caused a stir among the students. Slytherin's students were smug and jubilant, while those from Gryffindor were visibly disheartened.

"I thought I could beat him in Flying Class, but it turns out he's better at this too," Ginny sighed as she watched George surrounded by admirers.

Beside her, Colin wasn't as upset. Instead, he raised his camera to take pictures, saying: "There's no helping it—he's George. And he works so hard. I've heard he's always the last to leave the common room every night. Plus, he's our friend."

"You're right," Ginny said with a faint smile. "At least it's George and not someone else."

George wasn't just slightly better than them; his excellence was overwhelming, and his dedication made it hard to feel envious of him.

After Flying Class, Madam Hooch collected all the brooms with her wand. Watching George's figure as he walked toward the Great Hall with the other students, she muttered to herself:

"I have to tell Bagman about this. Maybe he can help change our losing streak in international Quidditch."

Ludo Bagman, the head of the Department of Magical Games and Sports at the Ministry of Magic, was a former Quidditch player and a colleague Madam Hooch had known before she began teaching at Hogwarts.

In recent years, the English national Quidditch team had been plagued by a losing streak, becoming an international underdog. If a prodigy like George joined the team, it could reverse the situation.

As for George's young age and his status as a student?

Recently, a Durmstrang student named Viktor Krum, a fifth-year, had been granted an exception to join Bulgaria's Quidditch team due to his talent as a Seeker. George could undoubtedly follow the same path.

In Madam Hooch's eyes, George's talent surpassed even Krum's.

"If George joins the Slytherin team, I'll invite Bagman to see this year's Hogwarts Quidditch matches for himself."

By evening, news of George's admission to the Slytherin Quidditch team had spread throughout the school, along with stories of the advanced techniques he displayed during Flying Class.

Quidditch enthusiasts, well-versed in these moves, were abuzz with excitement.

George's reputation soared, not just within Slytherin but across the entire school. Senior Slytherin students began speaking to him with newfound respect.

Of course, not everyone in Slytherin was thrilled, particularly Draco Malfoy, who had just secured a spot on the team at great expense to his father. But aside from sulking, there wasn't much Draco could do.

Saturday arrived quickly. Early in the morning, George was summoned by Snape for their first tutoring session.

"Today, we'll focus on the Banishing Charm. It's a basic spell, but don't underestimate the fundamentals. When used skillfully, even basic spells can surpass the power of advanced ones.

For instance, a well-cast Banishing Charm can even repel a dragon."

Under Snape's stern yet detailed guidance, George gained a deeper understanding of dark magic and magical combat.

Previously, George had thought spells like Avada Kedavra and Fiendfyre were the pinnacle of magic—one guaranteed death, while the other could incinerate an entire city.

But Snape's explanations revealed otherwise. The strongest spell wasn't necessarily the most powerful but the one most suited to the situation.

Against small, agile enemies, Avada Kedavra might miss entirely, whereas a wide-range, low-power Freezing Charm would be more effective.

Against creatures with high magical resistance, such as dragons, spells like Avada Kedavra or Fiendfyre might be ineffective. A targeted spell like the Conjunctivitis Curse, aimed at their eyes, would work much better.

The Banishing Charm was another example. By creating a concentrated burst of magical force, it could overcome even strong magical resistance.

In the hands of a master like Dumbledore, a Banishing Charm might very well send a dragon flying.

In the afternoon, Snape personally accompanied George to the Quidditch pitch.

However, the field wasn't empty—both the Slytherin and Gryffindor teams were present. The atmosphere was tense, with the Slytherin players laughing uproariously while the Gryffindor players looked frustrated.

Slytherin's captain, Flint, was laughing so hard he could barely stand, leaning on a new broomstick for support. Draco Malfoy was on all fours, pounding the ground with his fists.

On the Gryffindor side, their players surrounded Ron, alongside Hermione and Colin Creevey, who was snapping photos. Ron, meanwhile, was vomiting up large, shiny slugs.

"What's going on here?" Snape asked, his expression dark.

The Slytherin players immediately straightened up. Flint stepped forward and explained: "Professor, I brought the permission slip you signed for our practice, but Wood refused to yield the field. Then their second-year, Ron Weasley, tried to hex Malfoy but botched it, and the spell backfired on himself."

"The pitch belongs to the Slytherin team today. Ten points from Gryffindor for using magic to attack a fellow student," Snape declared coldly. Turning to Harry, who was standing near Ron, Snape added with a sneer: "And you, Potter, you were right next to him. Why didn't you stop him? Did you think his mistake would make you look better? Another ten points from Gryffindor!"

Harry froze, stunned by the unfairness.

Watching this, George couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth in sympathy. He genuinely felt sorry for Harry.

But then again, that's what you get for not being in Slytherin.

...

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