Me? Take on Charlie?

"Hold on to my arm," Professor Flitwick reminded him.

Charlie grabbed on, and that same sickening feeling of being shoved through a tube washed over him again.

This time, it wasn't as bad. Maybe he'd been better prepared for it.

Back at the Leaky Cauldron, Professor Flitwick didn't hurry back to Hogwarts. Instead, he ordered two drinks at the bar.

Underage wizards weren't allowed to drink alcohol, so Professor Flitwick had a soft drink with Charlie.

"Charlie, about Griphook... He isn't actually a bad person..." Professor Flitwick trailed off.

Charlie waved a hand.

"Professor, you don't have to explain anything."

"Everyone has their own troubles. I understand." Charlie took a sip of his drink. It was warm and soothing.

"But that doesn't mean I'll tolerate him insulting you."

Professor Flitwick's eyes reddened.

"Thank you, Charlie."

"He really is my friend." Professor Flitwick sighed.

"But after I became a professor at Hogwarts, he grew very dissatisfied with me."

"Actually, there are many goblins like Griphook." Professor Flitwick's voice grew heavy.

"They're oppressed by wizards, but they don't have the strength to fight back, so they can only keep their distance."

"And a small number of goblins choose to take revenge, making hunting wizards their goal."

Professor Flitwick suddenly turned around and looked at Charlie sternly.

"Remember, Mr. White: if you ever run into goblins like that, get as far away as you can."

Charlie nodded without arguing.

"Professor, you're very popular with the students," Charlie said earnestly. "Everyone respects you."

Professor Flitwick's eyes grew damp. He wiped the corner of one eye with his sleeve.

"Then, Charlie, could you stop sleeping through Charms Class?"

Charlie's smile froze instantly.

"Goodbye, Professor!"

He bolted, leaving Professor Flitwick standing there, torn between laughter and tears.

Time flew by, and before long, November arrived.

That morning, Charlie gazed at the snow drifting past the window and sighed.

"Time flows away like this stream, day and night without pause."

Ernie stared at him, completely baffled.

"What the heck? Dead people look like your husband? Day and night look pretty much the same." Ernie's eyes widened.

"Where are the dead people? You have a husband?"

Charlie couldn't be bothered to answer him.

How terrifying it was to be uneducated.

Ernie was about to ask another question, but the commotion from the Gryffindor table next to them interrupted him.

Malfoy was up to his old tricks again.

Neville had a poor memory. Whenever he forgot something, his Memory Charm turned red to remind him.

Malfoy clearly wasn't going to miss a chance to mock someone, so he snatched the Memory Charm and had Crabbe and Goyle block Neville.

"Longbottom, I don't think you should use this ball anymore."

Malfoy held the Memory Charm high, his face full of malicious glee.

"You'll forget what it's reminding you about anyway."

Neville wanted to get angry, but he realized Malfoy didn't seem to be wrong.

His face flushed as he stammered,

"I know I'm stupid, but can't you stop teasing me?"

The Slytherin students around them burst into laughter.

Crabbe and Goyle slapped the table, laughing so hard they nearly fell over.

Neville's eyes reddened, but he didn't dare fight back. He could only lower his head and endure their mockery.

Just then, Harry stood up.

"Malfoy, don't you ever get bored? You're always stealing Neville's Memory Charm."

"Give it back to Neville."

Harry's voice was calm, but anger flashed in his eyes.

He couldn't stand seeing anyone bully his friend.

Malfoy sneered and held the Memory Charm even higher.

"Is Savior Potter showing off again?"

His silver-gray eyes were full of malice.

"You don't have a broom this time. What are you going to do, Potter?"

He'd stolen Neville's Memory Charm during Flying Class, too.

Harry had stood up for Neville and ridden his broom after Malfoy to get it back.

Harry had looked so skilled on the broom that Malfoy had actually been a little afraid of him.

Word was that Harry had even made it onto the Quidditch team. In a few days, he'd be playing in the Quidditch Match.

That made Malfoy so jealous he could hardly stand it.

Anger flashed in Harry's eyes.

Ron couldn't stand it either and spoke up for Neville.

"Malfoy, you bully Neville like this every time. What's the point?"

"Give it back to him."

Malfoy scoffed.

"I won't. What are you going to do about it?"

"He's so stupid, and he still calls himself a wizard? I'm worried he won't learn a single spell all year."

"Hahaha..."

Hearing those words, Neville lowered his head, overcome with insecurity. Sometimes he wondered if he really was a wizard.

The tension between the two sides was palpable, and students from both Gryffindor and Slytherin gathered around.

Just then, Charlie walked over.

He was holding half a piece of bread and chewing as he asked,

"Malfoy, are you itching for another beating?"

Malfoy's expression changed the instant he saw Charlie.

He was genuinely a little afraid of Charlie. Charlie had insulted him so badly aboard the Hogwarts Express, and they couldn't beat him.

Besides, this guy even dared to insult their head of house, Snape.

But his underlings were watching. He couldn't back down.

"What business is it of Hufflepuff's?" Malfoy said, summoning his courage.

Charlie smiled. Malfoy reminded him of the bullies from his previous life.

Bullies never thought there was anything wrong with what they did, but when someone bullied them, they couldn't stand it.

Charlie had been bullied, too, but he'd fought back. After that, no one ever bullied him again.

That was why Charlie despised bullies.

He pointed at Malfoy with his bread.

"You bully Neville because you feel like it. I want to bully you because I feel like it."

"Got a problem with that? If you do, step up and fight me one-on-one."

Malfoy's face turned a remarkable shade of green, then white.

He wanted to pick a fight with Charlie, but didn't dare. After all, this guy had even taken down a Troll.

Then Goyle spoke up.

"Boss, he wants to fight you one-on-one. Who does he think he is?"

"Go on, fight him. Show him what you're made of."

Malfoy: "???"

Seriously, are you telling me to take out my Wand and fight him to the death?

Can I even beat him? He takes on Trolls, for crying out loud. You really are an idiot.

That left Malfoy completely unable to back down.

But Goyle didn't care. He raised his Wand, ready to cast a spell.

Malfoy's heart sank.

"Expelliarmus!"

Charlie reacted astonishingly fast. A flash of red light sent Goyle flying.

The Wand arced through the air and landed neatly in Charlie's hand.

Goyle screamed as he was hurled backward, crashing into several chairs.

Malfoy was startled and forgot all about saving face.

"Don't you dare touch me! My father is—"

Before he could finish, Charlie shoved Goyle's Wand down Malfoy's throat.

"Ugh!"

Malfoy gagged at once, his face turning purple.

[His Majesty bullies his page, acting arrogant and tyrannical. Tyrant Points +2]

Charlie pulled his hand back with a look of disgust.

"Get lost. Just looking at you kills my appetite."

Malfoy clutched his throat, tears in his eyes.

"Just you wait, Harry! I'll curse you off your broom during the Quidditch Match!"

He didn't even dare threaten Charlie. He could only take it out on Harry.

Charlie glanced at him, and the icy look in his eyes made Malfoy shudder.

"Run, run, run!"

Malfoy grabbed Crabbe and rushed out, not even stopping for Goyle.

Goyle scrambled to his feet and ran after them, his face battered and bruised.