A Phoenix Chooses a Worthy Tree

At this moment, in a blind spot in the Seventh Floor corridor.

Katie Bell leaned against the cold stone wall, her hand gripping her wand tightly, watching the two members of the Justice Inquisitorial Squad warily. She was cornered, with nowhere to escape.

"Stop struggling, Bell," Marcus Belby chuckled sarcastically. "If you're willing to admit you joined Dumbledore's Army and give up everyone you know, we might consider letting you go."

"And if not?" Katie retorted coldly, her wand trembling slightly—not from fear, but from anger.

Eddie Cammitchell scoffed, raising his wand and pointing it at her. "Then you can wait for Professor Umbridge to interrogate you herself. I've heard her methods are getting increasingly ruthless lately; quite a few have even begged for mercy."

Katie gritted her teeth, her eyes resolute. "I will not betray my friends."

"That's not up to you." Marcus shrugged, about to chant a spell, when he suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps approaching. The next second, a beam of red light shot out, and before Marcus and Eddie could react, they were blasted away and crashed heavily into the wall, unconscious!

Katie was startled and looked up abruptly— Cho Chang was standing at the other end of the corridor, her wand still emitting a faint red glow.

"Cho Chang?" Katie's eyes widened in surprise.

Cho Chang walked slowly forward, glanced down at the two people lying on the ground, and snorted, "What boring guys."

She casually waved her wand, casting a Full Body-Bind Curse on the two people on the ground, before turning her head and fixing her gaze on Katie.

"Are you alright?" she asked casually.

Katie shook her head, her face full of gratitude. "Thank you... I didn't expect you to come and save me."

Cho Chang raised an eyebrow. "Why are you thanking me? This wasn't my idea."

Katie was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

Cho Chang's eyes darkened slightly, and she said softly, "It was Skylar's order."

Skylar Malfoy... the uncrowned king of Slytherin, the legendary Pure-blood prince, but also Gryffindor's most formidable rival... Katie frowned slightly, clearly having some complicated feelings about this name.

Why did he--

"Because you're someone worth saving." Cho Chang interrupted her, looking at her calmly. "Katie, we grew up together, you should know I wouldn't do anything pointless."

Katie was silent for a moment, then her gaze softened slightly. "... Indeed, it's been a long time since we last saw each other."

Cho Chang Qiu nodded, then suddenly changed her tone. "Katie, Dumbledore's Army has no future. Hogwarts has changed. The Justice Inquisitorial Squad is rampant throughout the campus, Umbridge's power is growing, and the Ministry of Magic even wants to take complete control. Do you really think Harry Potter and his two henchmen can change all of this?"

Katie bit her lower lip and didn't answer.

Cho Chang Qiu said calmly, "Everything you've experienced tonight proves that you have absolutely no real ability to stand up to Umbridge. You can be fired at any time if she wants to."

Katie pursed her lips, a struggle flashing in her eyes.

"Think about it," Cho Chang continued, her voice softening slightly but becoming even more cutting, "What will your parents' reaction be when they find out you've been expelled?"

Katie's hand trembled slightly. Her parents had high hopes for her, and although she wanted to become a professional Quidditch player, being expelled from Hogwarts would likely jeopardize that dream forever, casting a shadow over her entire future. Her parents would be extremely disappointed.

Seeing her wavering, Cho Chang softened her tone. "But Skylar is different. He has a noble birth, a powerful background, and he has already proven his strength in the Triwizard Tournament, the Potions Championship, and the Alchemy Conference—don't forget, he is also the youngest member of Wizengamot, the leader of the Diagon Alley Commercial Alliance, and even the Ministry of Magic doesn't dare to easily provoke him."

Katie lowered her head and pondered for a moment, images of her and Cho Chang as children flashing through her mind—their flying speed races, their mischievous antics and subsequent scoldings from their families, their competition in Quidditch Match...

She once considered Cho Chang her best friend, but after entering different colleges, they grew further and further apart, and now... Cho Chang is standing on the opposite side of her.

Katie looked up, staring directly into Cho Chang's eyes, her tone sharp. "Qiu, did you save me today because we're friends, or because you want to recruit me into Skylar's organization?"

Cho Chang met her gaze without flinching, and instead answered even more earnestly, "Both."

Katie's eyes widened slightly.

"We're friends, so I'll definitely save you, regardless of whether Skylar ordered me to do so," Cho Chang's voice was firm. "But Skylar's orders are equally important to me. I can save you this once, but if you refuse me, this will be the last time I consider you a friend."

Katie's heart skipped a beat.

She had a vague feeling that Cho Chang was no longer the girl she knew from childhood. She was now on Skylar Malfoy's side, with her own stance and loyalty.

If she refuses—they may never be friends again.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment. Cho Chang didn't urge her any further, but waited quietly for Katie's decision.

Katie's hand remained tightly gripping her wand, her knuckles turning slightly white. She wasn't a fool; Cho Chang's rescue of her wasn't merely out of "friendship." She knew very well that her current choice would determine her future path.

"Autumn, tell me honestly, why did Malfoy want me to join his forces?" Katie asked warily.

Cho Chang looked at her and smiled slightly, "Because you are very important."

Katie frowned. "Me? Important?"

"You probably don't know this, but our influence has already infiltrated Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin; only Gryffindor remains untouched," Cho Chang said slowly. "You'll be the first."

Katie's breath hitched.

This information was a huge shock to her.

She had always thought it was amazing that Harry could organize Dumbledore's Army to fight against Umbridge's Justice Inquisitorial Squad, but she never imagined that there was such a hidden organization lurking in Hogwarts, whose size covered all three houses, and judging from Cho Chang's tone, it seemed to be even larger than Dumbledore's Army.

"You hold a high position on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, and you're very strong. You understand the atmosphere of the house better than most people," Cho Chang continued. "If you're willing to join, Skylar will arrange a very important position for you—you won't be an ordinary follower, but a bridge for us in Gryffindor."

Katie was silent for a moment, then gave a cold laugh, "Sounds good, but you're asking me to betray my school and my friends."

Upon hearing this, Cho Chang was not surprised, but gently shook her head. "Katie, you overestimate them."

Katie's brow furrowed even deeper. "What do you mean?"

"Potter is impulsive and stubborn, completely incapable of considering the bigger picture. His so-called 'leadership' is nothing more than reckless charging ahead with sheer courage," Cho Chang sneered. "And Ron Weasley? He's cowardly and incompetent, a complete appendage of Harry."

Katie gritted her teeth. She wanted to argue, but she couldn't deny it— Harry and Ron did indeed have these obvious character flaws. While they were brave, they weren't suited to be good leaders.

"Where do you think they can take you? Harry even became the Clown in the Triwizard Tournament," Cho Chang scoffed. "He only got his place in the tournament by accident, surviving entirely by luck. If Skylar hadn't saved him at the last moment, he wouldn't be alive now."

Katie's fingertips were turning slightly white; she didn't even realize that her grip on the wand had tightened.

Cho Chang noticed her wavering and continued, "Besides, what about your own future?"

Katie was startled and looked up at her. "What... do you mean?"

Cho Chang laughed, "I remember you said when you were a kid that your dream was to become a professional Quidditch player, right?"

Katie was stunned.

Cho Chang sighed softly, "Katie, you have good talent, but talent alone isn't enough. The competition for positions in the professional Quidditch league is fierce; skill alone may not be enough to secure a good position."

"Skylar can help you."

"How can he help me?" Katie's voice was a little hoarse.

"He owns two teams, the Tutshill Tornados and Puddlemere United, and he also has a long-standing relationship with the Holyhead Harpies," Cho Chang said slowly. "If you're willing, he can definitely get you into the professional league after graduation."

Katie's breathing quickened.

Born into a middle-class family, she realized for the first time the gap between a true Pure-blood families and her own. Her lifelong dream was simply to join a decent mid-table football team, while this other person already owned two teams.

Moreover, these are Tutshill Tornados and Puddlemere United, two of the traditional powerhouses in the British and Irish Quidditch League, accounting for two of the top four teams. Holyhead Harpies is also a rising star, and its captain, Jones, is an idol for all female players.

"This isn't a 'transaction,' but rather an affirmation of your abilities," Cho Chang said softly. "Skylar is a visionary; he doesn't waste resources. The reason he's willing to help you is because he believes you're worth the investment."

"Katie," Cho Chang pondered for a moment before finally speaking her mind, "Perhaps you think courage and friendship are important now, but those are things fairy tales teach you. In reality... the true Phoenix always chooses to perch on the tallest, most lush tree."

Silence filled the space between them.

Katie was overwhelmed with complex emotions. Her reason told her that joining the Sleeping Dragon Society meant betraying Gryffindor, betraying Dumbledore's Army, and betraying her friends who had fought alongside her.

But her intuition told her that Cho Chang's words were not without reason.

Harry's bravery is indeed admirable, but his leadership skills are questionable. Ron is even less noteworthy.

On the contrary, Skylar Malfoy has already proven his talent to the world, and his recent actions have demonstrated his charismatic leadership qualities, most importantly, the Ministry of Magic has been unable to do anything about him until now.

Cho Chang didn't urge her, but waited quietly for her answer.

After a long while, Katie finally took a deep breath, raised her head, and the look in her eyes as she looked at Cho Chang had changed.

"... Okay, I'll join."

A satisfied smile appeared on Cho Chang's lips as he extended his hand, "Welcome to the Sleeping Dragon Society."

Katie took her hand, and the two smiled at each other after a long time.