Dinnertime.
When Tiger walked into the Great Hall, he startled quite a few people—like a Siberian brown bear sitting among a group of little rabbits, he appeared particularly conspicuous and out of place.
Female prefect Gemma Farley gave him a thoughtful glance before immediately looking away.
Right now, Tiger wasn't her concern.
Though Atlantis Burstrode seemed thick as two short planks in her eyes, that wasn't reason enough to drop her guard.
When she'd entered the prefects' dormitory, she'd found no protective charms whatsoever—not even an Anti-Alohomora charm.
Male prefect Atlantis Burstrode didn't strike her as someone who'd be so careless...
After dinner ended, Hermione called Tiger over.
During that afternoon's Transfiguration class, Professor McGonagall had entrusted Gunpowder to Hermione. Though Hermione was reluctant to part with him, Gunpowder was Tiger's pet—she couldn't keep him for herself.
"Go to the Gryffindor common room?"
Tiger raised an eyebrow slightly. Ever since chatting with the Weasley Twins that afternoon, he'd developed keen interest in the various house common rooms.
"That's right. Gunpowder's returned to normal, but he keeps playing pranks and running everywhere."
Hermione looked somewhat dejected toward the Great Hall entrance, where her roommates were waiting—and seemed rather cross.
"Parvati was terrified. She's afraid of Gunpowder—he always hides behind doors to frighten her."
"Tiger, I need you to take Gunpowder away."
Feeling rather heartbroken, Hermione's little face crumpled. She was far too fond of Gunpowder.
"Right then, let's go."
Tiger smiled and ruffled Hermione's hair, but the little girl huffily swatted his hand away.
For some reason, seeing Tiger suddenly grown whilst she remained so small made Hermione inexplicably furious.
In a certain sense, Hermione was someone who went her own way—otherwise she wouldn't have such poor relationships with her roommates.
When people noticed Hermione bringing a Slytherin boldly walking into the Gryffindor common room, the originally lively atmosphere suddenly quieted. Everyone looked at Tiger with wary eyes.
The Gryffindor prefect's lips moved several times, as if wanting to drive Tiger away. But remembering there was no such rule in the school regulations, he closed his mouth.
"Oi, you can't come here!"
"This is Gryffindor territory!"
As a black student, Lee Jordan seemed rather boisterous. He waved his hands and stepped forward, trying to force Tiger to retreat in a rap-like manner.
"Go back to your snake pit."
"Nobody wants you here!"
Looking at the little black git jumping about before him, Tiger's eyes narrowed slightly, his smile carrying a hint of danger.
"Why's that then?"
"Because I'm not a bloody nigger?"
The moment those words fell, the Gryffindor common room erupted in commotion. Even the Weasley Twins looked at Tiger in disbelief.
"Bloody hell!"
"Damn Slytherin!"
"You can't say that!"
"That's racism!"
"Apologize to Jordan right now!"
The common room immediately descended into chaos. The Gryffindor students' faces flushed red as they crowded around.
"Oh my God!"
Hermione helplessly covered her forehead.
From what she understood, not only Tiger but the entire Shelby family were racists. In their eyes, black people weren't even human—which explained why there wasn't a single black person in all of Surrey County.
And Surrey's residents, young and old alike, were comparable to American Texas rednecks...
"Whoa, whoa, whoa—don't be hasty, children."
Tiger spread his hands, his smile turning malicious as black, viscous liquid rapidly spread from his torso to his limbs, covering his head.
"Trust me, apologizing isn't the way to solve problems. To eliminate racism, there's only one method."
Under the horrified gazes of every Gryffindor, Venom enveloped Tiger's entire body.
The massive, grotesque monster stood abruptly in the common room. Death and terror's shadow shrouded every face that had suddenly paled.
"And that's eliminating all the bloody niggers!"
Accompanied by the hoarse, eerie dual-toned roar, color instantly drained from everyone's faces. Suffocating oppression crashed over them, making breathing difficult.
As Venom's eyes swept across them—like a cold serpent's tongue licking the backs of their necks—bone-chilling terror exploded from everyone's hearts.
"So then, who fancies going first to—"
Before Venom could finish, terrified screams echoed throughout the common room.
Facing Venom's aura for the first time, primitive instinctual fear stripped everyone of their will to resist.
Though Gryffindor was renowned for courage, this was pure instinct—like nervous reflexes that couldn't be controlled by willpower alone...
Lee Jordan, nearly fainting, was immediately dragged away by Oliver Wood. Even the Gryffindor prefect's legs gave out as he collapsed, face turning green.
Within mere breaths, only a handful remained in the common room. Harry pulled Ron behind the sofa whilst Neville dragged the weak-kneed prefect to safety.
The Weasley Twins stood frozen in place, their usually somewhat flat red hair now standing on end as if ravaged by fierce winds.
"Hahahaha..."
Venom retracted, and laughter from successful mischief echoed through the common room. Tiger slapped his leg in uncontrollable mirth.
He was indeed racist.
But he wouldn't actually harm some little black git, even if this one seemed rather irritating.
"Tiger!"
"Are you still a bloody child?!"
Hermione trembled with rage. She glared at Tiger through gritted teeth before running toward the dormitory.
"Am I not?"
Tiger's smile remained wicked.
Harry and Ron helped each other stand, looking at his robust frame with indescribable expressions.
Just how old was this bloke, for Christ's sake?
"That was absolutely... mental..." The Weasley Twins blinked slowly, coming back to their senses.
They'd never experienced such a life-threatening sensation—like plummeting off a cliff.
"Right then, mate."
George exhaled lightly and approached Tiger. "Are you actually racist?"
He was good friends with Lee Jordan. Considering Tiger also his friend, he didn't want misunderstandings between mates.
"Yeah, I'm racist."
Tiger admired the Gryffindor common room whilst openly admitting it without concealment.
Gold and red decorations with irregular volcanic stone walls radiated warmth, refreshing to behold. The cozy, comfortable room brimmed with fluffy armchairs and soft cushions.
Seemingly messy tabletops held various pastimes—wizard chess, Exploding Snap cards...
Thinking back to the Slytherin common room—bloody hell, this was true discrimination!
"You sure about that?"
Fred gestured helplessly, miming pointed ears. "But you're clearly kind to house-elves!"
"House-elves are white." Tiger waved dismissively, his tone certain. "I only discriminate against niggers."
"Oh, bloody hell..." The Weasley Twins covered their heads in despair.
After all, in their eyes, house-elves were the most wretched existence. They hadn't expected that in Tiger's view, black people ranked even lower than house-elves.
Just then, Hermione came hurrying downstairs carrying four disobedient Gunpowder kittens, dumping them into Tiger's arms. Gunpowder mewed and climbed onto Tiger's shoulder.
"Oh my God, the dormitory's in complete chaos. Tiger, you need to leave immediately..."
Before Tiger could respond, the breathless Hermione pushed him out of the Gryffindor common room.
Outside the door, the Fat Lady looked at Tiger cheerfully.
"Oh, I said from the start you'd be thrown out."
"Though you lasted longer than I expected."
"I'll try to stay even longer next time."
Tiger shrugged without elaborating. He climbed over the railing and jumped straight down.
The Fat Lady's screams echoed through the castle.
"Are you mad?! This is the eighth floor!"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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