Bang!
Cho shoved Wayne hard against the castle's oak doors, surprising him with just how strong she was.
"Are you crazy, Wayne?!"
This wasn't the gentle Cho he was used to—she now resembled an angry cat, bristling with fury and impatience.
"Why did you have to make such a spectacle? Even if you wanted to file a complaint, you could've done it alone!"
"Why did you have to drag everyone else into it?!"
Cho was truly angry. Furious that Wayne had been so reckless.
She had received some Eastern-style education and understood the nuances that many British people didn't.
Once something blows up publicly, those in power don't see it the same way anymore.
Even if what you did was right and justified, inciting others can be viewed as disrupting harmony, undermining stability, and ignoring the bigger picture.
How would Dumbledore see Wayne after this?
Wayne could clearly see a shimmer of tears forming in Cho's eyes.
His heart trembled.
He didn't say a word, just raised his hand and gently turned a fallen leaf into a tissue, softly wiping the corner of her eye.
The boy's intimate gesture made Cho's cheeks flush slightly red—but she quickly pulled herself together.
"Don't try to change the subject. What are we supposed to do now?!"
Wayne smiled. "It's okay, Cho."
"I get why you're worried. If it were any other headmaster, I wouldn't have done it."
He looked up, his gaze cutting through the darkness toward the tower.
"But our headmaster is Dumbledore. He won't be angry."
In this world, Wayne was the second person who understood Dumbledore best.
The first? Locked away in the top tower of Nurmengard.
Seeing the confidence on his face, Cho didn't even know how to respond. She looked around awkwardly and finally asked:
"Where's Hermione? Something this big happened and she didn't explode on you?"
"What do you mean she didn't?" Wayne gave a bitter smile, rubbing his waist.
"I spent an entire class period calming down Miss Granger's wrath."
"She only just let it go. And yes, it still hurts."
Cho giggled at his exaggerated expression and was just about to scold him when a sudden burst of flame appeared in the air.
But this time, it wasn't Ho-Oh flying in.
It was Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix.
Fawkes circled once above them, then gently landed on Wayne's shoulder.
"Chirp-chirp!"
"You're saying the Headmaster wants to see me?" Wayne nodded, then turned to reassure the now-pale-faced Cho:
"Don't worry. I'll be back soon. It'll be fine."
In the Headmaster's office.
Dumbledore's massive desk was piled high with all sorts of envelopes.
He was holding one now, reading with great amusement:
"This one says I accepted bribes from Quirrell in exchange for giving him the Defense Against the Dark Arts position."
"Merlin's beard, I haven't fallen that far, have I?"
Snape, sitting across from him, sneered.
"If a few hundred Galleons could change your mind, I could fill your entire office with gold any time you wish."
Honestly, Snape was feeling a bit smug.
He had been applying for the Defense Against the Dark Arts job for years, and ever since Harry arrived this term, his desire for the position had grown even stronger.
But Dumbledore had handed the job to Quirrell.
Well, now look how that turned out—the students were on the verge of mutiny.
"My apologies, Severus." Dumbledore finished reading one letter and opened another.
"Your defense magic is excellent as well, but Hogwarts needs you more in Potions class."
"Hmm, this letter makes a good point. It says Quirrell must have used some means to deceive me... but why would it be a love potion?"
Dumbledore set the letter down, a look of satisfaction on his face.
"Well, thankfully, no one's sent a Howler yet. My old ears can't handle that kind of volume."
"Stop rambling," Snape cut him off, irritated.
Every time they talked, it took forever to get to the point.
"What are you going to do?"
Dumbledore blinked.
"Do about what? About who?"
"About Wayne Lawrence, of course!" Snape's voice rose.
"Didn't you hear what the Fat Friar said?"
"That level of charisma, the influence, and his terrifying magical talent—aren't you afraid he'll turn into the next…"
Snape took a deep breath. "The next Voldemort, perhaps?!"
A portrait that had been feigning sleep suddenly sprang to life—Phineas Nigellus Black shouted:
"Exactly! I support Severus!"
"He dared to file a complaint against a professor and incited so many others to follow him."
"This is outright rebellion!"
"Expel him! He must be expelled!"
"If it had been during my time as Headmaster, I would have expelled every last Hufflepuff involved!"
The red-nosed Hufflepuff Headmaster in the neighboring portrait couldn't stand it anymore. He lunged into Phineas's frame and socked him in the face.
"Shut your mouth, you fool!"
And thus began the usual portrait brawl featuring Phineas Nigellus getting beaten up.
With a casual wave of his hand, Dumbledore drew a red curtain over all the portraits, cutting off their shouting.
"Severus," Dumbledore leaned forward, fingers laced on the desk.
The deliberate motion, though subtle, carried a kind of pressure that made Snape momentarily hold his breath.
"Don't judge our students with malice. He's still only a first-year."
"You're still calling him an ordinary first-year?" Snape stared at Dumbledore in disbelief.
"Did you not see his talent? Multiple Animagus-like transformations, spellwork on par with graduates, and his potion-making skills are already at N.E.W.T. level!"
"Not to mention that 'Map Shop' he's running—he's taken hundreds of Galleons from my students!"
Snape's tone grew more agitated.
"If he is just an ordinary first-year, then what does that make Potter? A preschooler?"
"I'm very glad Hogwarts has a student with such talent," Dumbledore said, pushing his spectacles up with a finger.
Snape was almost certain that subtle gesture was a jab at him.
"You're right—Mr. Lawrence is extraordinary. More gifted than even Tom."
"But you can't crudely compare the two."
Dumbledore's voice softened, taking on a more contemplative tone as he continued:
"Yes, Mr. Lawrence was born into a Muggle family, but his family holds a very high status in the Muggle world.
His personality is bright and sunny. He has had…"
Recalling the childhood files he had gathered on Wayne, Dumbledore paused—struggling to find the right phrase.
"…a very fulfilling childhood."
"His family environment and intellect make it unlikely he'd ever walk the same path as Tom."
"Even here at school, Mr. Lawrence has friends from every House, directly contradicting Tom's pure-blood ideology."
"To be honest, his popularity is something even I find enviable."
Snape said nothing, but his expression softened a bit.
The room fell into a brief silence.
Finally, it was Snape who broke first.
"So, what are you going to do? Pretend none of this happened?"
"How could I?" Dumbledore looked genuinely surprised, then gestured toward the towering pile of letters on his desk.
"This many complaint letters? This has never happened in Hogwarts history."
"After this, I might go down as the most infamous Headmaster ever, even more than Phineas."
"Of course I'll handle it with care."
"Before that," he added with a hint of amusement, "I'd like to hear the opinion of the one at the center of it all."
"Fawkes, would you bring Mr. Lawrence in?"
Still in the Headmaster's Office.
Snape was gone. Sitting in his place now was Wayne, grinning from ear to ear. He couldn't suppress the smile no matter how hard he tried.
And with good reason—his system notification log was practically exploding with reward messages.
This little act of chaos had paid off in spades.
"Mr. Lawrence, you seem to be in good spirits," Dumbledore remarked with mild curiosity.
"Of course," Wayne replied sheepishly. "Seeing that you're not angry means the punishment won't be too bad, right?"
"And my classmates were only trying to support me. Please don't punish them."
Dumbledore smiled warmly at the boy across from him.
"Mr. Lawrence, you're a true Hufflepuff. I'm glad the Sorting Hat saw the light in you."
From atop the tall stool, the Sorting Hat twitched as if wanting to speak.
Light? What light?!
I didn't see a single Hufflepuff quality in him! He completely bribed me!
And don't even get me started on the care kit he promised—still hasn't delivered!
The Hat fumed in silence.
Absolutely fuming.
~~----------------------
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