Miracle of Life

Dumbledore sincerely felt that Chu Yang's fighting style was remarkably similar to that of Godric Gryffindor, one of Hogwarts' four founders.

The great Godric Gryffindor had once wielded a sword in one hand and a wand in the other, sending his enemies fleeing with a combination of physical force and magic.

Chu Yang had merely beaten his roommates onto the floor. His level was a little lower, but his results were no less impressive.

The more Dumbledore thought about it, the more his head ached. He sighed. "Single rooms are a privilege reserved for prefects. I cannot break the rules. At most, I can arrange a double room for you."

Chu Yang nodded in agreement. Settling for second best was also a way of giving Dumbledore some face.

He just did not know which Slytherin would be unlucky enough to become his roommate...

"Headmaster Dumbledore, you really should have seen it. It was incredible! That Whomping Willow actually responded to me just now!" Hagrid eagerly approached Dumbledore, gesturing wildly as he recounted the miracle he had witnessed.

"As you said, it truly is a great miracle. That is precisely why we must protect this secret. Otherwise, Chu Yang will be in danger!" Dumbledore looked up, his deep eyes fixed on Hagrid, as though they held an endless sea of stars.

Hagrid, who had been brimming with excitement, seemed to have been doused with a bucket of cold water. He instantly sobered up and promised, "Please rest assured, I will keep all your secrets."

"Thank you, Hagrid." Dumbledore walked forward a few steps with Hagrid, then extended his wrinkled hand and pressed it against the equally wrinkled trunk, sensing the aura emanating from the tree and the wonder of life itself.

This was the Whomping Willow he had personally planted for Lupin in 1971.

Whenever the full moon arrived, Lupin would enter the shack through the hidden passage beneath the Whomping Willow.

Werewolf howls often came from there.

That was why it came to be called the Shrieking Shack. In the blink of an eye, many years had passed.

After Lupin left, the shack was completely abandoned. However, that hidden passage led all the way to Hogsmeade, so Dumbledore had not wanted it exposed. Before coming here, he had already concealed it with a spell.

Professor McGonagall, who had been frightened all day, naturally calmed down as well and took in the miracle of life before her.

She finally understood firsthand why Dumbledore had repeatedly emphasized Chu Yang's importance, paying him no less attention than Harry Potter.

This was a magical power that defied common sense, one that had even faintly touched upon some ancient taboo of magic.

Study it, refine it, break through it...

That process would bring modern magic into an entirely new realm!

Professor McGonagall could not help glancing back at Chu Yang. In a sense, he was even more important than Harry Potter, the Savior.

"When one gets old, it becomes easy to dwell on the past." Dumbledore patted the Whomping Willow and said wistfully, "It is no longer suitable for the school. It could pose a threat to the students."

Thinking Dumbledore intended to destroy the tree, Hagrid hurriedly explained, "Chu Yang can command it."

"Even so, it is still unsuitable." Dumbledore slowly shook his head. Student safety was one concern, but Voldemort was the greater one.

Voldemort, who could return at any unknown moment, was like an unpredictable bomb. He lurked in the darkness. If he noticed anything unusual about the Whomping Willow, he might follow the trail to Chu Yang.

Dumbledore could not let Chu Yang face that sort of risk. He was not Harry Potter, protected by the blood curse of his mother Lily.

Given Voldemort's current state, Chu Yang's value was in no way lower than Harry Potter's. Voldemort would pay any price to obtain him.

Chu Yang suddenly suggested, "Why not keep this Whomping Willow in the Forbidden Forest and have Hagrid take care of it? That way, no one will ever know."

Chu Yang could not possibly let the Whomping Willow go. It still had potential to be developed, and it would be of considerable help to him in the future.

Dumbledore hesitated for a while before finally nodding. In truth, he was also very interested in the Whomping Willow's current condition and wanted to study it further.

No one was happier than Hagrid. The more he looked at Chu Yang, the more pleasing he found him!

As Chu Yang's departing figure receded into the distance, the nearly ten-meter-tall Whomping Willow rose to its feet and headed toward the Forbidden Forest. From afar, it already looked quite humanoid, and every step it took caused the ground around it to tremble.

Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall brought Chu Yang back to Hogwarts. Since it was mealtime, the three of them headed straight for the Great Hall.

At the entrance, the point-deduction trio and Neville stood guard with worried expressions. Without seeing Chu Yang return safely, they could barely swallow even the most delicious food.

Fortunately, Chu Yang returned in time. The instant he entered with Headmaster Dumbledore, Harry's dim eyes immediately lit up!

"Chu Yang!"

They happily shouted Chu Yang's name and rushed toward him.

Harry was so excited that tears nearly streamed down his face. He was the first to charge at Chu Yang, wanting to give him a hug.

But as a straight man, Chu Yang found it difficult to accept men expressing their feelings this way, so he sidestepped Harry's embrace.

Then he avoided Ron's hug, and Neville's as well.

Under the three boys' aggrieved stares, Chu Yang opened his arms to Hermione. The two hugged each other tightly before letting go.

"Thank goodness! It's wonderful that you came back safely!" Hermione's eyes were red. After waiting for so long, she had clearly thought something terrible had happened to Chu Yang.

"Luckily, Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall arrived in time." Chu Yang looked full of relief, as though he had just escaped death.

Then Ron, Harry, and the others crowded around him. Ron said indignantly, "You actually dodged our hugs?"

Chu Yang answered sincerely, "My emotions were a little unstable just now. You suddenly rushed at me and startled me, so I dodged instinctively. Otherwise, try again. I promise I won't dodge."

"Forget it!" Ron immediately deflated.

"Alright, ladies and gentlemen, how much longer are we going to stand outside? Aren't your stomachs hungry?" Professor McGonagall said unhurriedly, her authority instantly settling over Harry and the others.

At her words, the young wizards did not dare say anything more. They nervously pushed open the doors and entered the hall one after another.

Since it was not any special holiday, students usually left after eating, so the hall was often empty.

The first-years from both Gryffindor and Slytherin had remained here without leaving. Most were waiting for news of Chu Yang, while some Slytherins wanted to leave but had been unable to.

Whether they had stayed willingly or had failed to leave, the moment they saw Chu Yang return safely, they erupted into cheers as one!

"Because Chu Yang performed outstandingly in the recent incident, Slytherin receives twenty points!"