Extra 11: Potter's Protective Umbrella Is Actually

After Monday's classes ended, Harry hurried to the Great Hall with his History of Magic textbook in hand.

He was in a hurry and planned to eat something first before going to his appointment.

As dusk fell, torches were lit in the castle corridors, casting flickering light and shadows on the castle's stone walls.

He took a shortcut through a less frequented corridor, but unexpectedly, he ran into trouble there.

Three upperclassmen from Slytherin blocked the way. The boy in the lead was tall with coarse brown hair, a mocking smile, and a mouthful of large, protruding teeth.

Harry recognized him as Drake Flint, a fifth-year student and former Chaser of the Slytherin Quidditch Team —at least before Headmaster Black banned the game.

"Look who this is?" Flint drawled. "That Mudblood little mouse, Miss Malfoy's sidekick—what, didn't your mistress tie you on a leash?"

His two henchmen burst into shrill laughter.

Harry clutched his textbooks tightly and tried to walk around them.

"Excuse me, thank you," Harry said softly.

Flint stretched out his thick arm to block his way. "What's the rush? Is your master waiting to feed you? Or is there some special food prepared for lackeys at the Gryffindor table?"

"Please move aside." Harry looked up, trying to keep his voice steady.

"Oh, listen to him, he's quite polite." Flint bent down, bringing his face close to Harry's. "But I've heard that Mudblood can't learn politeness. Tell me, Potter, how did you win over Malfoy? By shining her shoes every day? Or do you offer some special services?"

Even more unrestrained laughter erupted from around them.

Harry felt a surge of anger rising within him, but reason told him he couldn't act—they were fifth-year students, and there were three of them.

"I don't need to please anyone." Harry looked Flint straight in the eye. "Now, if you don't mind—"

"I mind." Flint shoved Harry hard, sending him crashing into the cold stone wall, his textbooks scattering all over the floor.

"Shine my shoes," Flint commanded, stomping on Harry's History of Magic textbook. "With those hands of yours, so adept at serving—I want to know, what makes Cassandra Malfoy like you so much?"

Harry gritted his teeth and crouched down to pick up the book.

Just as his hand was about to touch the textbook, Flint suddenly kicked the book away, letting it slide to the other end of the corridor.

"Oops, that was an accident," Flint said feigning concern. "Want me to help you pick it up?"

Harry took a deep breath and stood up.

He realized that no matter what he did, the other party would continue to cause trouble, and the best course of action was to leave as soon as possible.

"Please move aside, I have something to do," Harry said, trying to squeeze past Flint.

But Flint stopped him again, this time with an even more somber expression.

"I didn't say you could leave, Mudblood mouse. I heard you're always paired with Cassandra in Potions Class? How interesting. A lowly Mudblood like you, managing to follow the Malfoy family's eldest daughter around—did you use some underhanded methods?"

"We were just put in a group," Harry said, trying to remain calm.

"Just being assigned to the same group?" Flint scoffed. "Professor Sharpe doesn't just assign groups randomly. Did you make some kind of deal behind the scenes? Or—"

He leaned closer, lowering his voice so that only Harry could hear him.

"You're actually a Veela, pretending to be Muggle-born to get close to Pure-blood families?"

This absurd accusation stunned Harry.

Before he could react, Flint had already grabbed him by the collar and pinned him against the wall.

"Listen, Scarhead brat," Flint said menacingly, "Stay away from Cassandra Malfoy. You're not worthy to speak to her, much less to be her lackey. Mudblood are better off not interfering in Pure-blood families matters. Understand?"

Harry struggled to break free, but Flint was much stronger than him.

Just as he was considering whether to call for help, footsteps came from the other end of the corridor.

"Mr. Flint, I think you should let go." A calm voice rang out.

Everyone turned their heads.

Ominis stood at the corner of the corridor, his wand lightly tapping the air, his pale gray eyes staring blankly in their direction.

Although he couldn't see, he clearly understood what was happening there.

Flint released his grip, but his expression remained arrogant.

"Gaunt, this is none of your business."

"Actually, it's none of my business." Ominis approached steadily, each step precisely avoiding the books scattered on the ground. "Cassandra sent me to find her henchman; he seems to be late."

This statement was made casually, but the implied meaning was clear: Harry was under Miss Malfoy's protection.

Flint's face flushed red, and he asked incredulously, "Miss Malfoy sent you to find this Mudblood?"

"Yes." Ominis stopped beside Harry and turned towards Flint. "And I think she might not be too happy if she finds out her henchman missed dinner because of some trivial delay, you know how much she values punctuality."

A tense atmosphere hung in the air. Flint was clearly weighing the pros and cons of offending the Malfoy family, especially since his family needed Malfoy family support on certain matters.

"Hmph." Flint finally snorted and took a step back. "Tell Miss Malfoy that her pet had better stay in its cage and not run around."

He strode away with two henchmen, his footsteps echoing down the corridor.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief after they had gone far away, and bent down to pick up the scattered textbooks.

"Are you alright, Potter?" Ominis asked, a rare hint of concern in his voice.

"I'm fine, thank you." Harry brushed the dust off the book. "Thank you for your help, Mr. Gaunt."

"You're welcome," Ominis said. "Cassandra did send me to find you—though not for dinner. She discovered you forgot this."

He handed her a thin notebook with Cassandra's elegant handwriting on the cover: <Key Points of Basic Protective Charms>.

"She'll be checking on your progress tonight," Ominis added. "If you're delayed by other things, she might not be in a good mood."

Harry took the notebook, a mix of emotions welling up inside him. On one hand, he was grateful for Cassandra's notes and Ominis's help; on the other hand, Flint's words stung him.

Malfoy's pet is not fit to be her follower.

"I understand," Harry said softly. "I'll be there on time."

Ominis paused for a moment, then said, "Drek Flint is a narrow-minded man. His family used to be vassals of the Malfoy, but now they're in a bad situation. He feels he's been treated unfairly, so he's hostile to anyone close to the Malfoy family —especially those he considers unworthy."

"Like me," Harry said bitterly.

"For example, anyone who doesn't fit his narrow standards," Ominis corrected. "Don't let his words influence Potter. Cassandra chose you as her follower because she saw value in you, not for any other reason. And value is often not determined by birth."

He paused for a moment, his voice gentle.

"I've seen the most vile pure-blood wizard and the noblest Muggle-born wizards. Our character is never determined by our birth, Potter."

These words brought Harry some comfort.

He nodded, and although he realized that Ominis couldn't see the gesture, he still said, "Thank you."

"Let's go," Ominis said. "I'll take you there; some corridors aren't very safe at this time."

Gareth was still a little curious when he returned to the Common Room.

"What's wrong, Harry?" he asked curiously. "Why did Gaunt go to the Great Hall with you? Didn't you go with Malfoy?"

"No," Harry said softly.

"Has something happened?" Gareth asked with concern.

Harry recounted what had happened in the corridor to Gareth, Gareth immediately turned red with embarrassment.

"How could he do this!" Gareth exclaimed angrily. "Don't worry, Harry, I'll get justice for you—I'll definitely talk to my aunt!"

"Thank you, Gareth," Harry said gratefully.

But what Harry didn't know was that after Astronomy Tower practice that evening, Cassandra didn't go straight back to the Slytherin Common Room.

She went to the Owlery and stayed there for almost half an hour.

She chose the fastest school owl and tied a letter written in dark green ink to its leg.

The envelope was sealed with the Malfoy family's wax seal—a coiled silver snake.

"Deliver it as soon as possible," Cassandra said to the owl, her voice calm but carrying an undeniable authority.

The owl spread its wings and flew into the night sky, disappearing into the darkness.

Cassandra stood at the window of the shed, gazing in the direction it had gone. The moonlight, like water, poured onto her face, yet seemed to cast a shadow over it.

Throughout the next day, Harry noticed that Flint was not present in the Great Hall.

He hadn't thought much of it until he overheard hushed conversations coming from the Slytherin Long Table at dinner.

"I heard Flint was called to the Headmaster's Office?"

"It's not just the Headmaster's Office; I heard the Board of Governors has also gotten involved."

Why?

"I don't know, but it's definitely not a small matter. My uncle works at the Ministry of Magic, and he said Mr. Malfoy has spoken with the Board of Governors— "

Harry's heart started racing. He didn't hear what was said after that, but he did hear Mr. Malfoy's name.

Could it be that Professor Weasley informed Mr. Malfoy?

He glanced at the Slytherin Long Table, where Cassandra was elegantly sipping her tea, seemingly oblivious to the surrounding chatter.

But Harry noticed that when she looked up, her gaze swept across the Gryffindor Long Table, lingering on him for a moment before quickly moving away, as if it were just a casual glance.

Transfiguration Class in the afternoon, Professor Weasley called Harry over.

"Mr. Potter, please wait a moment."

Harry walked over nervously. Professor Weasley's expression was very serious, which made him worry that he might have done something wrong.

"Professor?" he asked cautiously.

"I heard something unpleasant happened yesterday," Professor Weasley said bluntly, "Between you and Mr. Flint of Slytherin in the east corridor of the castle."

Harry's heart skipped a beat.

"Professor, I—"

"No need for explanation, I already understand the situation." Professor Weasley's voice softened somewhat. "Mr. Flint's behavior violated school rules and, more importantly, went against the spirit of Hogwarts. He has already received the appropriate punishment—a week of detention, and Slytherin will lose one hundred points for his actions."

Harry's eyes widened in surprise.

A perfect score! That would be a major blow to any college.

No, it's not just a blow----

In this age that values honor, especially in the eyes of Slytherin who value honor, this was no different from being a traitor.

"But professor, this—"

"You're surprised, aren't you?" Professor Weasley continued. "Yes, that's fair. Bullying classmates is unacceptable, no matter the reason. I want you to know that Hogwarts protects every student, regardless of their background or house."

She patted Harry on the shoulder. "Focus on your studies, Mr. Potter. Don't let these things bother you. If anyone bothers you again, come directly to me or any of the professors. Understand?"

"Understood, Professor. Thank you," Harry said gratefully.

He left the classroom with a heart full of warmth.

The Professor Weasley family always cared for him and helped him from the very first time they met.

On Wednesday evening, after dinner, Harry went to the old classroom behind the Trophy Room as planned.

This is an abandoned classroom. The desks and chairs have been pushed against the wall, and an open space has been cleared in the middle.

Some ancient magical instruments hung on the wall, covered in a thick layer of dust.

Sebastian and Anne have arrived, along with Ominis.

To Harry's surprise, Cassandra was also in the classroom.

She sat in a chair by the window, a thick book open in front of her, as if she had just happened to be there reading.

"You've arrived, Potter!" Sebastian greeted warmly. "We're just about to begin—tonight's topic is the fundamental principles of ancient protective Runes."

Anne smiled slightly at Harry, her smile gentle and reserved, a stark contrast to her brother's enthusiasm.

She was a very beautiful little witch, with a gentle and serene demeanor.

Ominis nodded in greeting.

Kassandra also looked up, intently reading her book.

"Uh, Miss Malfoy is here too?" Harry asked tentatively.

"This classroom is close to the library, quiet, and suitable for reading," Cassandra replied briefly, turning a page. "Don't worry about me, go about your business."

Sebastian winked at Harry, signaling him not to ask any more questions. They sat down around an old desk, and Sebastian began explaining some basic ancient Runic script.

"Ancient Egypt sorcerers believed that specific combinations of geometric shapes and symbols could channel magical energy and form protective barriers." Sebastian excitedly drew intricate patterns on the Parchment. "Look, this is the most basic triangular array, said to be used by the Druids— "

Harry listened attentively, occasionally flipping through his Notebook to jot down notes.

He discovered that Anne's understanding of ancient Runes was more profound than Sebastian's; she could always point out errors or omissions in her brother's explanations, her tone gentle yet sharp as Cassandra's.

"Actually, Seber, that symbol for multiplication is Druids, used by earlier Celtic wizards," Anne gently corrected. "The Druids version has an extra bend here, representing the phases of the moon."

She pointed to the edge of the pattern with Quill, showing it to Sebastian.

"Oh, right, you're right." Sebastian scratched his head sheepishly. "I always get these details mixed up."

Ominis sat quietly to one side, his fingers gently tracing ancient symbols carved into the wooden board. Although he could see them, Harry always felt that he could feel the magical markings on those symbols by touch.

"This symbol," he began abruptly, his finger pausing on a complex spiral pattern, "Is not for protection, but for guidance. It directs energy from one point to another, like a river changing its course."

Sebastian leaned closer to look, his eyes widening in surprise. "How did you know? This book says it really is an energy guide!"

"I can sense the flow of magic," Ominis said calmly. "Just as water has its flow, magic also has its own direction. This symbol creates a vortex, attracting surrounding magical energy and then guiding it in a specific direction."

Harry watched this scene with awe, realizing that these young wizards from Pure-blood families were already exposed to such profound theories in their first year.

And what about him? He was a wizard from a humble background, with absolutely no foundation in the arts, and even quite playful—

Thinking about this, he felt a little ashamed, and secretly resolved to work hard. Even if he couldn't catch up with them, at least he would have tried.

About an hour later, Kassandra closed the book and stood up.

"I'm going to die," she announced, her voice exceptionally clear in the quiet classroom. "Potter, come with me."

Harry paused for a moment, then hurriedly packed his things. "Yes, Miss Malfoy."

Sebastian and Anne exchanged a glance, but said nothing.

Ominis nodded slightly, as if he had expected it.

In the gallery, Cassandra was moving very fast; Harry could barely keep up with her.

They walked until they reached a secluded corner of the stairs before Cassandra stopped.

"How is your research progressing with the Saru siblings?" she asked, her voice betraying her emotion.

"Very good," Harry said. "Sebastian knows a lot, and Anne is even more attentive. Ominis —his way of looking at magic is quite unique."

"And what about you?" Cassandra asked indifferently.

"I—" Harry lowered his head, his lips moving, "I—I feel a little strained—"

Before she could finish speaking, Cassandra impatiently interrupted her.

"Remember, you're just my follower. Your behavior in public represents me, and I don't want you to embarrass me, otherwise..."

After saying that, she looked Harry up and down, her meaning very clear.

If you dare embarrass me, then I'll punish you severely!

"I know, Miss Malfoy," Harry immediately whispered, "I'll do my best and promise I won't embarrass you."

Cassandra stared at him for a moment, then suddenly spoke.

"Flint will cause you trouble again."

Harry looked up in surprise. "How did you know?"

"I know about the situation at Slytherin's camp, of course," Cassandra said, her tone still haughty. "The Headmaster formally warned him today that any further bullying would result in immediate expulsion. The Slytherin Guild has also expressed its dissatisfaction with the camp."

A warm feeling welled up in Harry's heart as he thought of Gareth's help.

"Professor Weasley has helped me a lot. She told me today that Flint has been penalized with a point and will be sentenced to a week of detention."

Cassandra's expression suddenly became somewhat strange, a mixture of street rage, helplessness, and slight anger.

"Professor Weasley, of course," she finally spoke, but her voice was colder than usual, "She's always so helpful."

She turned around, ready to leave, but paused, then casually tossed a notebook onto the ground without looking back.

"Take this notebook back and copy it." Her voice was more biting than the December wind. "Five times. If you finish copying it before Christmas, or if I tell you you had someone else do it for you, you know the consequences."

(600 words were missing yesterday, 1400 words will be added today)