Brother, You're Being a Bit Too Extreme

After Charms Class ended, it was time for lunch.

A vast ocean of red and blue surged down from the upper floors, occasionally erupting in exclamations whenever the staircases suddenly shifted direction.

"I'm certain there's some kind of pattern to the way these stairs change."

Ethan's other roommate, Mandy Brocklehurst, pushed up his glasses and said solemnly.

He was a thin, small boy with glasses as thick as beer-bottle bottoms, and he was a half-blood wizard.

"Maybe."

Michael gave a perfunctory reply, smiling at every girl who walked past him.

"Do you guys know Cho Chang from the second year?"

Michael said with great interest, a dreamy expression on his face.

"She is such a beautiful girl. I heard she's even particularly interested in Quidditch—it's so rare!"

Mandy rolled his eyes dramatically, while Ethan let out a "hmmm" through his nose, treating it as a response.

The path to the Great Hall was extremely crowded.

Not only because it was the time between classes, but also because the famous Harry Potter was nearby.

Everyone who passed by would turn their heads to look at him, and some even stopped in their tracks, eyes wide as they stared at his forehead.

Michael said enviously, "I really wish I had fame like Harry Potter's. Look, all the girls are watching him."

"If you look closely, you'll find that all the boys are staring at him, too," Ethan pointed out the fallacy in Michael's statement.

Michael: "...Fine, whatever."

He had already given up hope of having a normal conversation with Ethan.

Soon, the group had to stop because the path ahead was completely blocked.

It seemed a group of people, disregarding the well-being of others, were insistent on trying to talk to Harry.

Ethan looked down, gazing into the deep space beneath the staircase, and muttered:

"I'm very curious to know what would happen if someone fell off the stairs."

Michael shivered.

In order to prevent his companion from becoming a staircase-murdering maniac due to missing lunch.

Michael raised his wand, fired off two loud bangs, and shouted, "Could you please move, just move!"

However, it had little effect.

His shouts were quickly drowned out by the clamor.

"We'll just have to wait." Mandy pushed up his glasses, showing a hint of impatience. "I wanted to finish dinner and head to the Library to do my homework."

Ethan blinked; he also wanted to get through this path quickly.

It wasn't just because it was lunchtime and he was genuinely hungry.

More importantly, he wanted to hurry to the Great Hall to see the newly posted Professor's Commissions.

If he arrived too late and all the good commissions were taken, that would be a disaster.

How could he get them to clear the way...

Just then, a flash of inspiration struck Ethan.

"I have a good idea."

As he spoke, Ethan cleared his throat.

Seeing Ethan's look of supreme confidence, Michael suddenly had a bad premonition.

"Wait—"

"I have Broom Rash."

Ethan's devilish whisper rippled outward like a stone dropped into a lake.

The noise vanished.

Everyone turned back, staring at Ethan and his friends in horror.

The image that everyone had seen before surfaced in their minds once again.

A scent of blood seemed to silently permeate the air.

And then—

The crowd scattered and fled in an instant!

"Ahhh! Don't come over here!"

"Let me through! Don't block the way!"

"Holy crap! Who the hell is grabbing my ass in the chaos?!"

In just a few breaths, the path ahead was completely clear.

No one dared to block the way anymore.

Only Harry and his friends remained, having finally been extricated from the crowd. They stood there with disheveled clothes and bewildered expressions, looking up at Ethan, who stood on the staircase.

Ethan watched them with a smile, his expression gentle and friendly.

His cobalt blue eyes were like starlight, brilliant and profound.

Sunlight spilled in from the window behind him, shining upon Ethan as if plating him in a layer of golden light.

At this moment, Ethan looked just like an angel who had saved others from fire and water, his entire being radiating a holy aura.

Under the gaze of several pairs of eyes, Ethan spoke slowly:

"Don't mention it."

Harry: "..."

Aren't you being a bit too extreme?

Michael slowly raised his hand to cover his face, groaning in despair internally:

He did want to get through quickly, sure.

But he didn't mean for everyone to avoid them like they were the plague!

Merlin, my reputation, my eligibility for dating in school...

Ethan was completely oblivious to his companion's internal monologue.

At this moment, he thought with satisfaction:

I did another good deed today.

I helped the weak, pitiful, and helpless Chosen One out of a tight spot, preventing any falling or trampling accidents caused by the congestion.

Oh my, I really am such a warm-hearted and kind wizard.

Ethan nodded in agreement, took a step, and walked down the empty staircase amidst the indescribable gazes of the others.

He arrived at the Dining Hall without a single obstacle.

The Great Hall.

It was bustling with noise and excitement.

The aroma of the food was mouth-watering; just the scent alone was enough to get one's saliva flowing.

The professors sat at the high table, acting as a stabilizing presence.

Otherwise, these mischievous students might have blown the roof off the place.

Ethan spotted the conspicuous Weasley Twins stealthily placing Fanged Frisbees on their seats.

With a sudden bang, a wisp of black smoke rose from the Gryffindor long table.

A few young boys were left with soot-covered faces from the blast.

They looked at each other and then giggled.

Ah, youth...

Ethan sighed inwardly.

He scanned his surroundings and, sure enough, saw a newly installed Notice Board on the wall, surrounded by a crowd of students.

That must be the "Work-Study Program" Professor Flitwick had mentioned.

Ethan's eyes lit up.

He swallowed hard, trudged past the long tables laden with a sumptuous lunch, and stood outside the crowd gathered at the Notice Board.

Students from every house and every year were gathered here.

However, most of the lower-year students were just there for the spectacle; only the upper-year students were seriously considering which tasks to take on.

After all, this counted as practical campus experience, and they had to consider their paths after graduation.

The students were packed so tightly that the taller upper-year students completely blocked Ethan's line of sight.

Ethan spoke up politely, "Excuse me, could you please make way?"

The student in front turned around impatiently, "Wait, what's the rush—huh?! Ethan?!"

The moment he saw Ethan, the student's expression froze abruptly.

As the name "Ethan" was called out, the students originally surrounding the Notice Board scattered in a flurry.

It left Ethan with the space all to himself.

At the staff table, Professor McGonagall's brow twitched as she witnessed the scene.

She couldn't help but feel like Ethan was bullying the others...

But she had no proof.

After all, it was the other students who voluntarily cleared a path for Ethan, wasn't it?

"...Professor Snape."

Professor McGonagall spoke, her sharp gaze shooting toward the hook-nosed man beside her.

"I recall that when you returned from Spinner's End previously, you reported that this child, Ethan, had no issues with his personality and was no different from anyone else."

Sorted into Azkaban during the opening ceremony, suspected of intimidating classmates in secret.

This is what you call no issues?

The issues are huge, alright!!

"..."

Snape kept his mouth shut.

He averted his gaze, taking a sip of water as if he hadn't heard her.

Inside his mouth, however, he ground his teeth fiercely.

Because of this brat Ethan, he had already been summoned by Headmaster Dumbledore several times.

Now, it even involved Malfoy.

To make matters worse, this brat knew the deepest secret in his heart and had painted him a portrait the likes of which existed nowhere else in this world.

How was he supposed to punish him in a reasonable and justifiable way...

Snape stared gloomily at Ethan.

Suddenly, a plan formed in his mind.

A malicious smirk curled his lips, and he stood up to walk toward Ethan.