Potter Is Our King

To be honest, Filch is not a very likable person. Even Hagrid, who is usually a nice guy, looks disgusted when he mentions Filch.

Now, the way Filch lunged at him with his hideous face reminded him of Uncle Vernon.

But Uncle Vernon was different; after all, he was nominally his elder and had at least fed him—but what about Filch? He did nothing but be annoying.

With these two factors combined, Harry's anger reached a new level.

You're accusing me of petrifying your cat?

hehe...

If I were truly a first-year student, I might still try my best to argue with you that I wasn't the one who petrified the cat.

Now?

Even if I'm petrified, what can you do to me?

"Pushing Charm!" He pointed his wand at Filch, and a Charms shot out from the tip of the wand, striking Filch as he lunged forward.

Filch was thrown backward at high speed as if he had been hit by a speeding truck.

"Ah—!!" Filch screamed, his limbs struggling helplessly in the air.

"Harry!"

Dumbledore's urgent voice rang out from inside the Entrance hall.

At the same time, a soft cushion appeared behind Filch, which cushioned his fall and prevented Filch from suffering serious injury.

"School..."

Before Filch could finish speaking, another Charms from Harry followed.

"Petrificus Totalus (Full Body-Bind)!"

Filch froze, stiffening on the cushion.

Just then, the students left the Great Hall and happened to witness this scene.

"Potter is our king!" The Weasley twins, never ones to miss a good spectacle, shouted and cheered.

Filch wasn't exactly popular, after all, his office ceiling was covered with gleaming chains and handcuffs, which he used to punish students who misbehaved, whenever he had permission—it was his favorite thing to do.

He even used these chains and handcuffs to intimidate students, and many students were so frightened that they dared not make a sound and let him take them to do dirty and tiring work.

Now that Harry has actually taught Filch a lesson outside the Great Hall, in front of the entire school and even in front of Headmaster Dumbledore, how could the students not be excited?

Everyone started to jeer, especially the Gryffindor students, who had been put in solitary confinement the most and had been intimidated by Filch the most.

Although the Slytherin didn't applaud or cheer for Harry, their eyes clearly showed admiration and approval.

This is awesome!

"Potter!" Professor McGonagall's stern voice rang out from the Entrance hall. She strode quickly to Harry and demanded angrily, "Mr. Potter! What on earth has happened! How dare you... how dare you attack the castle's gatekeeper!"

"Professor McGonagall."

Even in his anger, Harry did not let his emotions affect his demeanor. He politely said to Professor McGonagall, "I think you should make a judgment about this matter after you have a full understanding of the situation."

Professor McGonagall's lips trembled, and she sighed inwardly.

Oh no, this kid is another James!

To think that... to think that they would openly attack the castle's gatekeeper in front of the entire school...

The impact is extremely negative!

No, even James wouldn't dare do that. At most, he'd just cast a couple of Minor Curses on his classmates...

If Albus in time, Filch might have spent months in the Hospital Wing!

"A very good spell combination! Excellent Dueling Techniques!"

A high-pitched voice came from the crowd. Harry looked in the direction of the voice and saw Professor Flitwick, the head of Ravenclaw.

He was standing on his tiptoes, one hand raised as if trying to poke the ceiling, giving Harry a thumbs up.

Professor Sprout pressed Professor Flitwick without making a sound; in this situation, well... it was clearly not appropriate to praise a student.

"Oh, I'm afraid it's not the right time to praise Mr. Potter, Filius!" said Professor McGonagall, drawing her wand and pointing it at the stiff Filch, then casting the dispel spell.

A flash of red light appeared, and the spell on Filch was broken, allowing him to move again.

Freed, Filch stood up. His anger at Mrs. Norris's fate overshadowed his fear of Harry. He pointed a trembling finger at Harry and stammered, "That Potter! That Potter killed my Mrs. Norris! He even hung it on the wall! I'll kill him! I'll kill him!"

"You saw that, didn't you?" Harry said calmly. "He tried to kill me first, he even went ahead and lunged at me... I don't think anyone would be unmoved by such a statement, Professor?"

The boy was elegant, powerful, and composed; even at the age of eleven, he was not to be underestimated.

He really should belong in Slytherin, Miss Farley Slytherin Prefect, thought with some annoyance.

Professor McGonagall's expression softened slightly as she asked again, her tone less stern. "Then what about this cat? Is Mr. Filch slandering you?"

Harry was somewhat surprised. Could it be that Professor McGonagall, who was known for being fair, just, and serious, would also be protective of her own?

This one sentence essentially labeled Filch —was he slandering you? The subtext was that she was willing to believe Harry was innocent.

"He's right here!" Filch roared, his fat, sagging face turning purplish-red. "He did it! Who else but the murderer could be at the crime scene! Besides, why aren't you in the Great Hall? Explain what you were doing just now!"

"I did it, so what?" Harry crossed his arms and looked coldly at Filch. "I not only petrified your cat, I dared to petrify you in front of the entire school—"

A gasp rippled through the crowd. No one had expected Harry to be so bold, admitting it on the spot and even openly threatening Filch in front of the professors and the Headmaster.

Let me tell you.

A greasy, dragging sound came from not far away.

"I'm here to testify for Mr. Potter. He was just brewing Potions in my Potions office," Professor Snape whistled in like a gust of wind. "I believe Mr. Potter was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. We can't wrong an innocent man."

Just as Harry was about to thank him, he noticed that Professor Snape changed the subject.

"Of course, we absolutely cannot let any bad guy get away with it... Mr. Potter attacked the castle gatekeeper, especially in front of the professors. I think Gryffindor should lose fifty points as punishment."

Harry looked up and saw Snape's smug smile.

Judging from his tone, it's clear that no matter which Gryffindor breaks the school rules, Snape will definitely be there to deduct points!