The Slytherin students instinctively huddled together with the Gryffindors, forming a tight cluster.
Everyone stared in terror at the scene before them.
Venom's menacing visage and colossal form resembled some nightmarish beast from the depths of hell, sending shivers down their spines.
"Harry, let go of me!"
"Ron, that's Tiger!"
Ron and Harry gritted their teeth, desperately restraining the agitated Hermione, terrified she might break from the crowd.
"I know! Hermione!" Harry couldn't spare a moment to straighten his askew glasses as he urgently pleaded:
"But that thing's far more terrifying than any tiger!"
Ron nodded, his teeth chattering.
"Trust me, Hermione—those fangs definitely aren't just for show."
He felt his calves cramping. He even suspected Tiger had already been devoured by this monstrosity.
Exclamations rippled through the student ranks. "Madam Hooch won't get eaten, will she..."
Lavender Brown asked with a trembling voice. "Should we fetch Headmaster Dumbledore?"
"I don't think that's necessary."
"It saved Neville, and Madam Hooch is right there. Perhaps it means us no harm."
"Honestly, I think it's rather brilliant." Seamus Finnigan analyzed with rare clarity.
Unfortunately, he delivered this assessment while sitting on the ground with wobbly legs.
Completely unconvincing.
The students' terror of Venom stemmed from primal genetic fear—something emotions couldn't control.
"Bloody hell, that's Shelby?"
Blaise Zabini stared fixedly at Venom, his coffee-colored complexion seeming to pale several shades.
"Don't be ridiculous!"
At the Sorting Ceremony, Venom's head had loomed over the Slytherin table for quite some time. The Slytherins retained vivid memories of the experience.
"Slytherin Code of Conduct, Article Twenty-Four!"
"Everyone back!"
Under Blaise Zabini's command, the Slytherin students began slowly retreating, desperate not to attract Venom's attention...
Slytherin's Code of Conduct contained nearly a hundred articles. Article Twenty-Four stated: Do not place yourself in harm's way.
Only Slytherin prefects throughout history and exceptional students earned the right to leave warnings for future generations in the code—guidelines that Slytherin first-years regarded as sacred behavioral principles.
Draco Malfoy understood this perfectly.
At this moment, he couldn't be bothered pursuing Blaise Zabini's seizure of command over the first-years.
"Damn it!"
"Crabbe! Goyle!"
"If you don't lose weight, I'll have my father take a knife and carve your flesh piece by bloody piece!"
Draco Malfoy dragged the collapsed Crabbe and Goyle, his face flushed crimson from exertion.
Theodore Nott, unable to watch any longer, stepped forward with cold efficiency to assist. The tender green lawn bore two shallow furrows from their dragging.
"Goyle, I want to go home..."
"Crabbe, I think I'm going to wet myself..."
"Merlin..." Pansy swayed unsteadily as she supported her girlfriends, her gaze somewhat vacant.
"Daphne, quickly—Daphne, I can't manage, help me up, I'm going to faint..."
Fortunately, at that moment, Venom retracted into Tiger's body. Without the instinctive suppression, the students' fear gradually diminished, and the chaos within their ranks quickly subsided.
"Sorry, Harry, Ron!"
"What—?"
The instant Tiger's form materialized, Hermione stomped viciously on Harry and Ron's toes.
"Ow!"
Amid surprised yelps of pain, Hermione bounded excitedly toward Tiger.
"Oi! How could she do that!"
"We're her friends too!" Ron grumbled with obvious displeasure.
He felt their budding friendship had been callously dismissed by Hermione—particularly galling since Tiger was a Slytherin.
"Tiger!"
A fluffy figure suddenly launched herself forward, attempting to embrace Tiger. However, he caught her by the scruff and hoisted her up like a small animal.
"Hermione?"
Tiger regarded her with bewilderment, unable to fathom why the little thing was covered in tears and snot.
Hermione appeared equally stunned, even with crystalline mucus catching the light.
She hadn't noticed from a distance, but up close, she realized Tiger was absurdly massive—both in build and height.
Instinctively, she reached toward Tiger's chest muscles. His unbuttoned shirt revealed solid muscle definition beyond question.
"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!"
"How did you manage this!"
"Where have you been?"
"Everyone said you were expelled!"
"Oh my goodness!"
"Your chest is bigger than my mum's!"
Hermione explored in disbelief, her eyes round as saucers, exclaiming incessantly.
"Shut it, Hermione. I wasn't expelled."
Tiger's expression darkened instantly.
He casually tugged up his wizard robe and pinched Hermione's nose, wiping away the snot while warning menacingly:
"And this is masculine appeal—nothing to do with your mum's chest. Mind yourself, or I'll stuff your nose down your throat."
With that, he deposited Hermione on the ground, unmoved by her pained whimpers as she clutched her nose.
This scene of apparent bullying made Madam Hooch shake her head with an amused smile before helping the recovered Neville to his feet.
"Mr. Shelby, I need to escort Mr. Longbottom to the hospital wing."
"If you wouldn't mind, please watch these little devils for me. Don't let them take off—just ground-based takeoff practice. I'll return shortly."
Tiger's imposing, powerful physique, combined with the swift and savage Venom, made it impossible to continue viewing him as a mere first-year student.
"It would be my honor, Madam." Shelby rarely displayed his elegant, courteous side.
Very Slytherin.
Madam Hooch looked appreciative, then handed him her whistle with a playful wink.
"From this moment, you're the instructor." As she spoke, she headed toward the castle with Neville.
"Oh, one more thing."
As she turned to enter, Madam Hooch seemed to remember something and suddenly pivoted back with a smile:
"Ten points to Slytherin."
"For Mr. Shelby's helpfulness. You're a good person, Tiger. Please keep it up."
"Naturally."
Tiger executed an elegant, graceful hat-tipping gesture. Though his tone remained light, it carried genuine solemnity.
No praise could delight Tiger more than being called a "good person."
Hermione glared at him indignantly, her reddened nose resembling clown paint.
"You're not a good person!"
"Nobody's worse than you, Tiger!"
After delivering an angry kick to Tiger's shin, Hermione fled back to the student group, vowing not to speak to Tiger for the remainder of the day.
That hateful beast!
Stupid git!
Sniff sniff...
Her nose really did hurt!
"Well, that's just bloody marvelous." Tiger raised an eyebrow and sauntered after her.
Seeing Tiger approach, the students instinctively retreated two paces, their broomsticks scattered haphazardly across the grass.
In their eyes, the muscle-bound Tiger seemed poised to launch a brutal assault at any moment, ready to tear them in half.
"Good Lord, what's happened to him?"
"Biological mutation?" Some Muggle-born students couldn't help muttering.
"I reckon he's awakened giant blood, just like that gamekeeper."
Students from wizarding families whispered among themselves.
Compared to these little sprouts, Tiger's build was genuinely intimidating.
"Right then, shut your gobs."
Tiger possessed limited patience for these brats. He picked at his ear casually:
"Now pick up those bloody broomsticks."
"Practice takeoff movements exactly as Madam Hooch demonstrated, but no actual flying."
"Otherwise, I'll twist your heads clean off."
"Crystal clear?"
Was he serious?
Absolutely...
Tiger's words terrorized the young wizards. Under his fierce glare, everyone frantically retrieved their broomsticks and began obedient practice.
Seeing Malfoy retrieve the Remembrall, clearly intending to provoke Harry, Blaise Zabini seized his arm.
"Draco..."
"Easy, Blaise—don't be so jumpy. I know when to do what."
Draco Malfoy smiled dismissively and temporarily pocketed the Remembrall within his robes.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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