Zhang Xiao discovered that the aftermath of Flying Class had a far greater impact than he had imagined. Perhaps life at Hogwarts was simply too peaceful, because the young wizards talked about this slightly legendary tale for a long time.
The biggest change was in Neville. He suddenly found that plenty of young wizards wanted to get to know him. Although he was still clumsy, the professors showed him more patience than he had ever expected.
Even Snape's average number of sarcastic remarks per lesson dropped from ten to eight!
With Hermione's help, Neville actually managed to stumble his way through the lessons and keep up. His grades were even a little better than Crabbe's and Goyle's.
For the young wizards, classmates with good grades were a dime a dozen, but how many friends would risk their lives for you when it mattered? They knew perfectly well whom to choose.
Neville was happy every day now, because instead of his classmates' sneers and mockery, he received smiles and encouraging cries of "You can do it!"
As for Zhang Xiao, that went without saying. He even overshadowed Harry, becoming the most popular first-year.
Handsome, charming, an excellent student, and very polite. Wait... hadn't a certain Noseless Freak followed this exact same script back in the day?
Hagrid's attitude toward him had also improved considerably. He even offered to help tend his vegetable patch. The straightforward giant waved a hand and said in his gruff voice:
"It's no trouble. Just a little extra work while I'm at it. Don't you worry, I've been doing this for years!"
The only odd one was Malfoy. At first, he had quite enjoyed all the attention.
But everything changed after he received a letter from home at noon the next day.
Zhang Xiao still remembered how Malfoy had seemed to deflate as he read that letter, his eyes red before he hurried away. That afternoon, Zhang Xiao had even seen him trying to dry his pillowcase with magic.
Concerned about Draco, Zhang Xiao asked him about it, but after a moment's hesitation, Malfoy only shook his head. Zhang Xiao did not press him. The most important thing between friends was knowing where to draw the line.
As a friend, all he needed to do was be there when Malfoy needed him most.
Zhang Xiao's days became easy and pleasant again. He went to classes, did his homework, and visited Hagrid whenever he had time to tend his vegetable patch with him.
Just as Hagrid had said, he was an old hand. He knew his way around both animals and plants, and even had a few little tricks he had worked out himself.
Although there were a few things he had never grown before, Hagrid said that all he needed was a little time to figure out what made those little things tick.
"The Forbidden Forest? Albus, did I hear you correctly? Did you say the Forbidden Forest?"
In a spacious, beautiful circular room, portraits covered the walls. Their occupants had their eyes closed, pretending to sleep, but their faintly twitching ears betrayed that they were secretly listening to the conversation in the room.
Professor McGonagall was like a fearless lion. Her stern gaze fixed on Dumbledore as she enunciated every word:
"Absolutely not! Those children may have broken school rules, but their hearts were in the right place. This punishment is far too harsh, and you know the Forbidden Forest hasn't been safe lately. There's..."
Albus Dumbledore seemed long accustomed to his old friend's attitude. His slender fingers picked a Fizzing Whizzbee from the silver tray on his desk, and he replied without answering her objection:
"Minerva, I went to Albania and discovered some... interesting traces. Those same traces have recently appeared in the Forbidden Forest."
"Interesting traces? Albus, do you mean..." Professor McGonagall caught on quickly. Then she stared at Dumbledore in disbelief and said heatedly:
"And you're still sending them into the Forbidden Forest? They're only first-years! They can't protect themselves!"
Dumbledore's blue eyes were unfathomably deep, as though they could see through the mist. He said softly:
"Minerva, I will be following them. Besides, there are a few things I would like to verify."
McGonagall miraculously regained her composure. She breathed a sigh of relief and finally nodded.
"If you'll be following them... very well, very well. You're always so stubborn. Shall we schedule it for after Halloween?"
Zhang Xiao stared at the punishment notice in his hand, his mind full of question marks. I understand the reasoning, but why am I being punished too? Haven't they already deducted points?
Beside him, Malfoy had already started trembling. He leaned closer, his face filled with terror, and whispered:
"Zhang, Father told me there are savage, cruel centaurs in the Forbidden Forest. There are even werewolves!
"No, I have to tell Father and have him write to Dumbledore. I'm not going into the Forbidden Forest. This punishment is completely unreasonable!"
As he spoke, a strange feeling welled up inside Malfoy. If I'd done what Father said and hadn't acted on impulse, if I'd kept the Malfoy family's usual cool head and shrewd judgment...
Forget centaurs and werewolves-there are giant spiders and a free-roaming Voldemort in there too!
Zhang Xiao also frowned at the notice. This punishment really was unreasonable. Points had already been deducted, so the punishment should have been reduced accordingly. It was like beating someone up in his previous life: once you paid compensation and settled, you did not have to go to prison.
But the Forbidden Forest... that's like paying compensation after a fight and still getting a life sentence. Isn't that ridiculous?
Unless... the punishment isn't the real point!
He carefully tried to recall the plot. He remembered certain events, but he really could not sort out their order. Still, as far as he could remember, punishment in the Forbidden Forest had only happened once.
He had discussed this online back then, and everyone had said there was no point demanding such airtight logic from a children's book. Just enjoy it.
But the problem is, now it's happening to me!
Right, first, rule out the possibility that Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall want to send these young wizards to their deaths.
Zhang Xiao suddenly remembered a question that had bothered him ever since he started school. Did Dumbledore really not know there was something wrong with Quirrell?
After all, he personally investigated every professor before appointing them, let alone someone teaching a subject with such "symbolic significance" as Dark Magic Defense Class.
As Snape put it: "Have you been secretly hiding behind gardens and bushes again, carefully watching your target's every move?"
After quickly running through the entire Philosopher's Stone story, Zhang Xiao sucked in a sharp breath.
I get it. I get it all now.
There were clearly a hundred safer ways to protect the Philosopher's Stone. The simplest, for instance, was for Dumbledore to tie it to his waist.
Yet Dumbledore had still chosen defenses that were practically child's play, starting with Hagrid, the giant who could never keep a secret, then the clues being revealed, and finally the series of challenges at the end.
And every problem just happened to be one that first-years could solve. If they had simply sealed the Philosopher's Stone inside a box made of brick walls, the Three Little Ones would have been helpless, because they had not learned Bombarda or Diffindo yet...
Zhang Xiao's eyes shone, as though he had seen through a veil of mist. Forget the Philosopher's Stone, forget the obstacles, forget calling it a children's book.
This is Dumbledore's way of assessing newcomers, with a little fishing on the side.
And the key is that Quirrell, that stupid fish, actually took the bait. Anyone with half a brain could see it was a trap. They might as well have written "trap" across that door on the fourth floor.
But Quirrell clearly has two brains. Why would he still fall for it?
Zhang Xiao racked his brains but could not figure it out. In the end, he could only put it down to Voldemort's orders.
Whatever the case, one thing was certain: Dumbledore had killed two birds with one stone. He had won twice!
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