Not Anymore!

Facing Bing Huan's order to leave, Goyle felt furious. "What are you putting on airs for? One look at that Chinese face of yours and I can tell you're a mu—mmph!"

Before Goyle could finish his harsh words, Bing Huan grabbed him by the chin. "I don't like that. Change it." The boy's tone was relaxed, but left no room for argument. The last person who had spoken to him that way had been the head of the Malfoy family—the person he feared most.

After sending the three of them away, Bing Huan turned around and saw Hermione lecturing Ron and Harry. "Are you two trying to get on the teachers' radar the moment school starts?"

"They were the ones who came looking for trouble."

Bing Huan sighed, stepped forward again to ease the tension, and reminded them all to put on their robes. Hogwarts was almost there.

Bing Huan handed the two boys' luggage to a house-elf, and the four of them left the train. Among the crowd of young wizards stood a towering figure. Hagrid took the first-years by boat to Hogwarts.

By the time they reached the school, it was completely dark. Professor McGonagall took the first-years from Hagrid and began introducing Hogwarts.

"Welcome to Hogwarts," Professor McGonagall said. "The start-of-term feast is about to begin, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you must first be sorted into your respective houses. Sorting is a very important ceremony, because during your time here, your house will be like your home at Hogwarts. You will attend classes with the other students in your house, sleep in your house dormitory, and spend your free time in your house common room.

"The four houses are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin. Each house has a proud history and has produced outstanding witches and wizards. During your time at Hogwarts, your excellent performance will earn points for your house, while any rule-breaking will cost your house points. At the end of the year, the house with the highest score will receive the House Cup. It is a great honor. I hope that no matter which house you are sorted into, you will bring glory to it."

Once Professor McGonagall had arranged the students, she led the young wizards into the Sorting Ceremony, holding the Sorting Hat in one hand and the list in the other.

"Hannah Abbott."

A rosy-cheeked girl with two golden braids stepped forward. "Hufflepuff!"

"Hermione Granger."

"Draco Malfoy."

At last, it was the nervous Harry's turn. After conversing with the Sorting Hat, Harry got his wish and entered Gryffindor. Snape, who had been chatting with Quirrell, finally got a chance to see Harry's face properly.

That face, so much like Lily's, seemed to carry Snape back to the park from decades ago.

"Always..."

At the same time, the Sorting Ceremony reached its end. "Bing Huan."

Bing Huan stepped forward and greeted Professor McGonagall. "Professor, I nearly died of waiting down there."

"All right, get on quickly." Professor McGonagall placed the Sorting Hat on Bing Huan's head.

"Oh~ A mysterious Chinese child. You're even harder to decide on than Harry Potter. Courage, cunning, loyalty, reason—which do you prefer?"

"Gryffindor."

"No, I mean, do you never listen to a word I say?"

"Gryffindor."

"All right, then you'll go to Sly—"

"I'll kill you!~" ^ω^

"—therin."

Dumbledore: (･_･?)

Snape: (ー_ー? )

McGonagall: (ﾟｰﾟ*?)

That evening, after habitually meditating through two cycles, Bing Huan opened his eyes and saw Harry sitting alone on the windowsill, staring blankly at the moon.

"What's wrong, Harry? Can't sleep in a strange bed?"

Harry shook his head. "I just think it's incredible. Yesterday I was still sleeping on the sand, and tonight I can live here with everyone else and even learn magic."

"It'll get better and better from here. Go to sleep. Our headmaster's class is first thing tomorrow, so don't be late."

After lighting a calming incense beside Harry's bed, Bing Huan turned around and saw Hedwig, Old Leng, and Pikachu all staring at Ron's rat and whispering among themselves. "You three get along pretty well. Oh, I mean the four of you."

Although he had been in the Wizarding World for several months, he still couldn't shake his "bad habit" of morning lessons and exercise. At five o'clock, after meditating on his bed for a while as usual, Bing Huan went to the roof of Hogwarts and began practicing Tai Chi.

It was September, and fallen leaves had already begun to appear around the school. As his movements unfolded, the aura he usually kept restrained was released. One extension brought change; one contraction brought condensation. Movement gave birth to the Eight Trigrams, while stillness returned everything to a single qi. The fallen leaves in the open space ahead were gradually drawn toward Bing Huan.

Afraid of being late on her first day, the diligent little witch woke up at seven. Hermione was about to admire the fine weather through the window when she saw a pile of leaves form a ball and spin on its own beside the roof.

Hermione: (ﾟﾍﾟ?)!

Had the fallen leaves grown tired of being trampled by humans and decided to take revenge?

After a while, the leaves returned to the ground, revealing one of her classmates.

Hermione: ┐('д')┌

In the Great Hall, everyone was eating breakfast. Bing Huan felt as though Hermione were looking at him like the monkey in that park. Just as he was about to lose his composure, Hermione leaned over and asked solemnly, "Huan, are you the Child of the Fallen Leaves?"

Bing Huan: "(･_･?) Huh?"

After learning what had happened, Bing Huan smiled and explained morning exercises and spiritual power to Hermione. Only after he promised to teach her if he got the chance did the little witch temporarily set aside her curiosity—mainly because Professor McGonagall's class was about to begin.

As soon as they entered the classroom, Hermione once again began reviewing the lesson in advance, while Bing Huan communicated mentally with Professor McGonagall in her Animagus form on the podium.

"How is he?"

"Harry is doing fine. It's just a bit of a leap for him, and he still can't quite believe he's a wizard."

"I'm asking about you."

Bing Huan froze, then smiled. "It's still more comfortable living next door to a professor."

After finishing her review, Hermione tugged at Bing Huan. "Huan, why did you judge those three differently yesterday?"

"How should I put it? A person's general character can be judged from their features and the malice they show toward others. Draco... isn't bad by nature. His family used to be extremely powerful and still has some influence, but after being closed-minded for too long, they cling to their so-called noble bearing.

"That led to them being overtaken by more and more rising talents. They gradually began currying favor, pursuing profit, and bullying others with their power. He was led astray by that environment and has always been trying to prove himself in the wrong way. In fact, during yesterday's confrontation, he was only humiliated and angry at first."

After taking a sip of water, Bing Huan continued, "As for the other two, they have the classic faces of vicious servants. And after the conflict began, their malice was more than twice Draco's. If the Malfoy family remains powerful, that's one thing—they'll merely be dogs relying on their master's influence. But if the family ever falls, I'm sure they'll be delighted to kick it while it's down under the protection of a new master."

Hermione glanced around. The students were arriving one after another. She turned back and asked, "Where are Harry and Ron? Haven't they gotten up yet?"

"I dragged them out of bed myself. They should be dawdling in the Great Hall by now."

Ten minutes later~

Ron and Harry hurried in. "We made it! If we'd been late, McGonagall's expression would have scared us to death."

"Ron, it's Professor McGonagall."

"What's there to be afraid of? She isn't even here... That's amazing." Ron turned around, only to see the cat on the desk leap down and transform into Professor McGonagall. "Thank you for your evaluation, Mr. Weasley. Perhaps I should turn you and Mr. Potter into a pocket watch, so you can learn to keep time."

After class, Bing Huan grabbed the two boys. "I remember dragging you both out of bed before I left. What happened?"

Ron looked innocent. "But after we accidentally fell down, we fell asleep again. Hehe~"

During Potions Class, Bing Huan felt that his right eye had been twitching nonstop. The moment class began, Snape burst through the door. "You will not need to wave your wand foolishly in this class, nor will you need to babble nonsense incantations.

"So I don't expect many of you to understand the subtle science and precise art of making Potions. However, for the very few who truly intend to pursue this, I can teach you how to confuse the mind and ensnare the senses.

"I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper on death."

After a long pause, Snape fixed his gaze on Harry, who was taking notes. "Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an Infusion of Wormwood?"

Hermione's hand shot into the air. "I don't know, sir," Harry said.

Snape curled his lip. "Fame clearly isn't everything." He deliberately ignored Hermione's raised hand. "Then where would you look if I told you to find me a Bezoar?"

Hermione raised her hand as high as she could without leaving her seat. Harry had no idea what a Bezoar was. Nearby, the three Malfoys were shaking with laughter.

"I don't know, sir."

"What is the difference between monkshood and Wolfsbane?" Hermione nearly stood up, but Bing Huan quickly pulled her back into her seat.

"Your hand is trembling from holding it up so long. He isn't going to call on you." Hermione could only look at Harry, hoping he could answer.

"I don't know. But why don't you ask Hermione? I think she knows."

After explaining the answers to the three questions he had just asked, Snape returned to the podium. "Potter, for talking back to a teacher, Gryffindor loses one point. And Mr. Bing Huan, for your whispering just now, Gryffindor loses another point."

Bing Huan: (･_･?)

The class then moved on to practical work. Just as Neville was about to add the Porcupine Quills, Bing Huan stopped him. "Neville, take the cauldron off the flame before adding them. Right."

But when Seamus moved the cauldron, Neville's hand shook, and he accidentally dropped the Porcupine Quills in anyway.

A sour green smoke suddenly filled the classroom, accompanied by a loud hissing sound. Neville was pulled away in time, but several drops still splashed onto his hand, leaving behind several red spots.

"Idiot!" Snape waved his wand and removed the splashed potion. "Potter, why didn't you tell him not to add the Porcupine Quills? Did you think letting him make a mistake would show off your own cleverness? Gryffindor loses another point because of you.

"And Bing Huan. Since you told them what to do, why didn't you keep an eye on them? Were you trying to stand aside and do nothing? Gryffindor loses another point."

Bing Huan: ヾ(｀⌒´)ﾉ

Bing Huan rolled up his sleeves and was about to have a proper talk with Snape when Hermione frantically pressed him back into his seat.

After class, Ron and Harry went to Hagrid's Hut. Hermione went to the library to study, intending to earn back the points, while Bing Huan charged into Dumbledore's office.

"Old Dumbledore, I'm not doing this anymore!"