Cold Violence Is the Scariest Thing

That day, as the dismissal bell rang, Sagreles was packing up his books to leave the classroom when he heard the young wizards' malicious discussion.

He looked up and saw Harry and the other two walking past the Slytherins with their books in their arms. The group applauded, whistled, and even cheered. "Thank you, Potter. You're truly our good friend, our great benefactor... Just yesterday, I was wondering how we could catch up to your score, and today, my dream came true!"

"Yeah. I'd say Malfoy is really incredible—"

"That's right. After all, not everyone has the ability to pull something like this off."

"I think we really have the great Mr. Potter to thank..."

They mocked them as they shoved Harry and the others aside, then left the classroom in groups.

The students from the other three Houses didn't look kindly on Harry's group either, because they also didn't want Slytherin to win the House Cup. This year, Gryffindor had originally been the House most likely to defeat Slytherin.

But what happened?

Malfoy had traded one for three at the limit, forcibly turning the situation around. Now, wherever the three of them went, they were met with scornful looks and condemnation.

Even during Quidditch practice, people had stopped calling him by name and simply referred to him as "that Seeker."

Thinking of this, Harry spotted Wood among the crowd. He called out to him dejectedly and said he wanted to quit the team.

Sagreles had expected this, but he didn't want Harry to leave the Quidditch team. Though he didn't particularly like Quidditch, Professor McGonagall invited him to every match.

And Harry truly was talented. If he could end every match quickly, wouldn't that save Sagreles time?

With that in mind, he stepped forward and stopped the noisy crowd, rescuing Harry, Ron, and Hermione from the encirclement of the three Houses.

"Ravenclaws—" He stared at the Ravenclaw students in the crowd and said expressionlessly, "I'm curious. What does this have to do with you?"

As the crowd fell silent, he said without mercy, "You pinned your hopes on someone else, then took your resentment out on them when those hopes were dashed? Yes, if you'd inherited even a trace of Ravenclaw's wisdom, you wouldn't do something this foolish."

He reminded them, "After all, whether Gryffindor lost points or not, Ravenclaw still wasn't in first place, was it?"

As he spoke, he casually swept his gaze over the Ravenclaw students. Everyone he looked at lowered their heads in unspoken agreement.

"As for you—" He tipped his chin toward the other group. "The Sorting Hat always says Hufflepuff students are loyal and upright toward their friends, but regrettably, I haven't seen that..."

He said, "I don't know whether only those who never make mistakes are qualified to be your friends, or whether making one mistake means losing the right to be your friend."

No one answered.

"You worship them when they're useful, then despise them when they make mistakes—your shrewdness and snobbery are no less than Slytherin's!" Sagreles said bluntly.

Even the Gryffindors looked somewhat ashamed. When Harry won Quidditch points, they called him their savior, but the moment he lost points, they immediately drew a righteous line between themselves and him.

Looking at the silent crowd, Sagreles raised his chin expressionlessly.

"Now, leave. Immediately!"

The students left the classroom like frightened quails. Harry and the other two were also about to leave, only to discover that they couldn't move at all.

Less than a minute later, only the trio and Sagreles remained in the classroom, and only then were they able to move again.

"And you—Harry." Sagreles turned toward the young wizard. "You want to quit the Quidditch team?"

Harry said nothing. Suddenly, he no longer had the courage to speak of quitting.

Sagreles looked at him, his tone calm. "Regrettably, I can't see even the slightest trace of Gryffindor in you. All I see is a coward who turns and runs when faced with difficulty."

His voice was cold and firm, like a dagger driven into Harry's heart. "Quitting won't bring back the points that were deducted. It will only ensure that you never have a chance to earn them back!"

Harry lowered his head in shame.

"And you, Miss Granger. I heard you haven't dared to answer questions in class these past few days?"

Hermione lowered her head as well, looking utterly dejected.

Sagreles then turned his gaze to Ron. "Mr. Weasley, do I need to continue?"

Ron shook his head. He seemed much steadier now.

"The three of you, this is a lesson, but also a test—" He looked earnestly at the three young wizards, his tone softening slightly. "I know these past few days have been difficult for you, but perhaps that isn't entirely a bad thing..."

He picked up his books and gestured for the three of them to follow.

The four of them passed the herb garden, crossed the Quidditch Pitch, and finally arrived outside Hagrid's hut.

The three exchanged puzzled glances, but Sagreles offered no explanation and knocked directly on the wooden door.

Creak—the door opened.

"Professor? Harry? What's the matter?" Hagrid asked in surprise when he saw them.

"There is indeed something. Can we come in first, Hagrid?"

"Of course. Come in..."

They entered the hut. Sagreles sat down without ceremony, while Harry and the others stood there awkwardly.

"Hagrid, do you know that Harry and the others caused Gryffindor to lose 150 points in order to send away the dragon you raised?"

That blunt question instantly plunged the room into silence. The young wizards' eyes widened, and Hagrid's mouth fell open. No one could say a word.

Sagreles didn't care about their silence at all. His tone remained calm and natural. "Hagrid, you were expelled from Hogwarts once already, yet you clearly haven't learned your lesson. Have you grown tired of your job as gamekeeper?"

"Professor, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I just..." Hagrid tried to explain in a panic, but couldn't form a complete sentence.

"You don't need to apologize to me. After all, I did nothing—" Sagreles pointed at the young wizards beside him. "You should apologize to them. These three have been isolated by everyone because of the deducted points, while you, the person responsible, have only cared about that baby dragon from beginning to end."

He shook his head. "Honestly, that's disappointing. They voluntarily took on trouble for your sake, yet when they ran into trouble themselves, you didn't even offer them a word of comfort."

Hagrid stood in the hut, his massive body like a stone wall. He stood there silently, completely motionless.

Harry and the others wanted to say something in Hagrid's defense, but one look from Sagreles stopped the words before they could leave their mouths.

"Don't let your friends sink into the mire because of you again. Next time, consider the consequences before making a decision."

After saying that, he rose and led the young wizards out of the hut. But before they had gone far, Hagrid caught up and sincerely apologized to Harry and the others. The innocent young wizards generously forgave him.

Only then did Sagreles finally see smiles on their faces.