A Challenge Issued

"No... that can't be right..."

Wentworth looked at the resentful Coke before him, unable to believe his ears. One had to understand, although Coke was a Hufflepuff prefect, he lacked any of the usual airs and never acted like one.

Despite having only known him for a few days, Coke felt to Wentworth like an older brother from next door who loved to have fun. That was why Wentworth felt so puzzled by the expression on Coke's face.

Coke then began to explain:

"It is right! How could it not be? Take Vane from Slytherin, for example. We entered Hogwarts together, and he has always relied on his pure-blood family background to bully us. The reason I fought to become a Hufflepuff prefect was specifically to get back at him!"

"But I never expected that he would become a Slytherin prefect too! I originally thought I would never be able to settle this score in my life, but I didn't expect you to give me such a huge surprise this morning! Seeing him being pushed around by the crowd, my heart was practically blooming with joy!"

Having said this, Coke couldn't help but burst into loud laughter.

Seeing this, Wentworth smiled faintly and was about to say something when suddenly, the door to the Hufflepuff common room was pushed open. A Hufflepuff student rushed in, looking flustered and panicked:

"Prefect, Prefect Coke, it's bad! Vane is bringing a large group of Slytherin students, and they are marching toward us aggressively!"

Upon hearing the student's words, a suffocating silence fell over the Hufflepuff common room. Every face was etched with tension, but a moment later, Coke stepped forward and said:

"What are you afraid of?! This is Hufflepuff territory! We have far more people than Slytherin! They should be the ones afraid! Have you all forgotten what happened this morning? It was the Slytherins who ended up slinking away in defeat!"

Coke's words instantly rallied the morale of the Hufflepuffs. It had to be said that after the events of this morning, the cohesion of Hufflepuff was stronger than ever before!

"Everyone, follow me out! Let's see what those little snakes from Slytherin are trying to pull!"

With a wave of Coke's hand, all the Badgers rose as one and headed toward the exit of the Hufflepuff common room.

Coke then leaned in and whispered quietly into Wentworth's ear:

"Be careful in a moment. You are now the person Slytherin hates the most. If a fight actually breaks out, you must be cautious. I'm afraid they might target you specifically!"

Wentworth felt a surge of warmth at Coke's concern, but he was more surprised than anything. Wentworth didn't believe Vane would dare to initiate a large-scale conflict between the two houses. Judging by the morning's confrontation, Vane was a prefect who was all bark and no bite.

Time turned back a few dozen minutes, to when Vane had just finished his morning classes and was summoned to Snape's office.

"Head of House, please listen to my explanation, this matter was actually..."

Vane had been anxious the entire way there. As soon as he saw Snape, he eagerly tried to explain himself, but Snape didn't give him the chance.

"Shut up, I will see for myself!"

"Legilimency!"

As Snape continued to view Vane's memories, his expression grew increasingly grim. By the time Vane regained his senses, he saw Snape's frost-covered face staring at him with undisguised disgust.

Vane's heart sank; he knew Snape was dissatisfied with him!

Sure enough, Snape said with utter disdain:

"You took the initiative to look for trouble, only to end up being besieged yourself! And you were humiliated by a first-year student! Vane, are you really a Slytherin? I wonder, has the Sorting Hat gone senile? You should have gone to Gryffindor! Even the Gryffindors are smarter than you! You shouldn't have come to Hogwarts at all!"

Hearing Snape's words, Vane felt so ashamed he wished he could crawl into a hole in the ground.

Seeing this, Vane gritted his teeth and said:

"Head of House, please rest assured, I will definitely reclaim the face Slytherin has lost! I won't let that first-year student off the hook either!"

With that, Vane turned to leave.

Seeing Vane's declaration, Snape felt not a shred of joy.

Realizing that Vane intended to go after Wentworth, Snape immediately thought of the mysterious person who had easily subdued him. After all, Vane was his student, and Snape didn't want to see him lose his life over this!

This was no exaggeration. Ever since Snape learned of Wentworth's true identity from Dumbledore, the identity of that mysterious person had become obvious—it was undoubtedly a wizard from the Acolytes protecting Wentworth. Those were lawless individuals; if Vane really laid a hand on Wentworth, he likely wouldn't live to see tomorrow.

Consequently, Snape immediately barked at Vane to stop:

"Stop! Did I tell you that you could leave?"

Hearing Snape call him back, Vane dared not act out and stood obediently to the side.

At this moment, Snape fell into deep thought.

Although he had stopped Vane, Snape was still brooding over the morning's events. After all, Snape was someone who valued the honor of Slytherin above all else.

Since he couldn't resort to underhanded tactics against Wentworth, the only way to regain Slytherin's lost face was through legitimate means!

Thinking of this, Snape said to Vane:

"You are going to Hufflepuff, but not to cause trouble—you are going to deliver a challenge!"

"A challenge?"

Vane looked blank.

Snape looked at Vane's bewildered expression and felt another wave of contempt, but he explained anyway:

"Yes, a challenge! Say that this morning was a misunderstanding, and for the sake of friendship between Slytherin and Hufflepuff, Slytherin wishes to hold a series of duels between the two houses! To learn from each other and improve!"

"One match isn't enough—you idiot, I'm afraid you'll lose to Hufflepuff! Make it five matches! From first year to fifth year, exactly five matches! Given the gap between the students of Slytherin and Hufflepuff, even if there is one accident, the final victor will undoubtedly be us, Slytherin!"

Hearing Snape's words, Vane finally understood his plan and couldn't help but say with a face full of joy:

"Don't worry, Head of House. We've been in classes with Hufflepuff for five years; how could I not know their level? Rest assured, the winners of all five matches will definitely be us, Slytherin!"

After Vane finished speaking, he bid farewell to Snape and returned to the Slytherin common room first.

Vane relayed Professor Snape's plan to the other Slytherin students, and everyone unanimously agreed that victory would surely belong to Slytherin.

Thus, led by Vane, a large group of them marched aggressively toward the Hufflepuff common room.