That evening, news that Cedric had helped Harry organize a Defense Association gathering quickly spread among the Hogwarts students. Hogwarts, on the verge of winter, became lively as a result. More and more students took an interest in the so-called Defense Association gatherings, and many younger students were asking around about how to join the Defense Association.
Naturally, Slytherin students were excluded from the Defense Association gatherings. The reason was simple: to prevent anyone from sneaking in to pry into confidential information.
A small number of Slytherin students were very dissatisfied and brought up Albert's "Defense Association," claiming that Harry was treating them differently.
The response was equally simple:
Slytherin students had no need to worry about Death Eater attacks, because the vast majority of Death Eaters came from Slytherin Academy.
It was practically the same as pointing at the Slytherin students' noses and declaring that Slytherin Academy was a Death Eater nest.
Yet everyone else unanimously agreed.
There was no helping it. The Dark Lord and the Death Eaters had done far too many hateful things, so naturally everyone was wary of Slytherin Academy students.
Who knew whether they might really become Death Eaters in the future?
Besides, many people wanted to join the "Defense Association" Albert had established after graduation, to learn more advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts skills and protect themselves in the Second Wizarding War. It certainly would not hurt to get on Albert's good side—just look at his friends.
Under those circumstances, how could they possibly allow Slytherin Academy students to come in and ruin things?
Cedric told Albert about these matters and reported that some graduates had proactively expressed a desire to join the "Defense Association."
Albert's reputation for reliability, along with the flourishing success of Fred, George, and Lee Jordan, had made