Peeves's prank! A moment of peril!

The staircases of Hogwarts Castle.

The Slytherin first-years were quite excited.

It was not just because Argus had earned his first points. More importantly, Gryffindor, Slytherin's sworn rival, had actually taken the initiative to ask Argus for advice.

And not just one of them!

This gave their vanity immense satisfaction.

Chattering away, they strutted ahead of the Gryffindors.

"All right, give it a rest."

"We're classmates and future companions. It was just one lesson. Do you really need to keep bringing it up?"

Argus reminded them helplessly.

This was already Draco's third time describing the Gryffindors' awkward expressions.

Another two repetitions, and he would practically have it memorized.

"Argus, you didn't see how those little lions wanted to thank you but were too embarrassed. It was absolutely hilarious!"

Draco was just about to describe the scene to Argus again when a strange figure suddenly appeared overhead.

It gave him a fright!

"Hee hee hee, guess what I saw! Gryffindors walking with Slytherins! Hahaha..."

A strange, transparent figure emerged from the wall above their heads.

He wore brightly colored clothes and a hat.

Long splits in his tattered slippers exposed several dark toes.

Laughing, he hurled the water balloons in his hands at them!

"Protego Totalum!"

Argus reacted quickly, placing a transparent barrier in front of everyone.

Water splashed, but none of it landed on the Slytherins.

The little lions behind them were not so lucky!

Seeing that his attacks on the Slytherins had no effect, Peeves grinned wickedly and threw water balloon after water balloon at the little lions.

The little lions began swearing furiously!

"Damn you, Peeves! Go away!"

"I'm telling Professor McGonagall! She'll teach you a lesson!"

"..."

Argus frowned slightly.

There was an account of Peeves in Hogwarts: A History.

In 1876, the Hogwarts caretaker had tried to drive Peeves out of Hogwarts using various weapons supplemented with spells.

Yet he had escaped with ease!

Not only that, Peeves had even seized a pistol and a small cannon!

He had fired them indiscriminately inside the school, nearly causing a major disaster.

The incident had only ended when the headmaster granted Peeves special privileges to make mischief.

Argus had no desire to give himself a headache over something so difficult to deal with.

"Keep moving. Don't stop."

"Once we reach the Potions Classroom, Peeves won't dare make trouble."

He expanded the barrier overhead as far as possible, protecting as many people as he could.

"Ah!!"

A scream from behind instantly drew everyone's attention.

Argus looked back and saw that a girl at the rear of the Gryffindor group had failed to notice the staircase quietly rotating while she dodged a water balloon.

Caught off guard, she fell off the stairs!

"Someone, help!"

Another Gryffindor girl clung tightly to her arm.

But she was not strong enough on her own!

In barely two seconds, her entire body began teetering on the edge!

Those nearby tried to grab her, but they were a moment too late.

The girl's body plummeted!

Just then, a male voice rang out swiftly.

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

An invisible force caught the falling girl, and she slowly floated upward.

Argus ran forward a few steps, guided the girl toward the end of the staircase, and caught her the instant he released the spell.

"Are you hurt?"

The girl, who had been waiting quietly for death with her eyes tightly shut, heard Argus's voice and scrambled upright with a jolt!

Her eyes were red, and her legs gave way, leaving her slumped on the floor.

"Parvati!"

The girl who had grabbed her earlier rushed over, her face streaked with tears, and pulled Parvati into her arms.

Only then did Argus see that the two looked almost identical.

Wait, Parvati!

The Gryffindor beauty from India in the original story!

Argus's pupils contracted slightly as he studied her with interest.

Another supporting character with quite a few scenes.

In the original story, Parvati had been Harry's partner at the Triwizard Tournament ball.

But now that I've saved her today...

Whether she'll still be interested in him in the future is uncertain!

"Padma, I'm all right!"

"Thank you, Mr. Grindelwald!"

Parvati staggered to her feet and bowed deeply to Argus in thanks.

Padma beside her also came to her senses and gave Argus a tight hug.

"If my older sister had really died because of this, I wouldn't have wanted to live either!"

"Mr. Grindelwald, I, Padma, will never forget your kindness!"

"It was no trouble. I couldn't bear to watch a pretty little girl die right in front of me."

Argus gently patted Padma's back to comfort her.

"Wow, did you see that? Argus reacted so fast! I hadn't even seen who it was before he'd already cast his spell!"

"Exactly! Thank goodness he was here. Otherwise, Parvati would definitely have fallen!"

"Falling from this high up, wouldn't she have been black and blue!"

Waves of praise rose from the little lions of Gryffindor.

First, he had set aside the rivalry between Slytherin and Gryffindor and taught them everything he knew in Transfiguration.

Now he had saved their classmate at a critical moment.

However much these little lions loathed Slytherin, they could not help developing a genuine fondness for this chief.

"Oh, heavens! Peeves, what have you done!"

Professor McGonagall, arriving belatedly, was like an enraged lioness as she drew her wand and pointed it straight at Peeves.

Knowing full well that he had nearly caused a catastrophe, Peeves hurried into the wall and fled.

Seeing Parvati in such a sorry state, Professor McGonagall shuddered at what might have happened and hurried to her side.

"Miss Patil, how are you feeling?"

"I'll take you to Madam Pomfrey for a checkup."

"Peeves has gone far too far this time. I must have Professor Dumbledore discipline him properly!"

"Professor, I'm all right. Mr. Grindelwald saved me!"

Parvati briefly recounted what had just happened.

The admiration in Professor McGonagall's eyes deepened as she looked at Argus.

"Mr. Grindelwald, on behalf of Gryffindor, I offer my heartfelt thanks for your help at that critical moment."

"In recognition of your brave deed, I have decided to award Slytherin twenty points!"

Twenty points!

Gasps of amazement rippled through the crowd.

After all, even winning the Quidditch championship only earned a hundred and fifty points.

And that was the result of a whole group working day and night for an entire school year.

Yet Argus had earned Slytherin an impressive twenty-five points in the space of a single lesson!

Though the score was high, not a single person thought it inappropriate.

Everyone knew Argus deserved it!

"All right, young witches and wizards, your next lesson is about to begin."

"If you don't want to anger your Professor Snape, hurry along."

Professor McGonagall turned to Parvati.

Although the girl said she was all right, she still intended to take her to Madam Pomfrey to be safe.

Parvati cast a reluctant glance at Argus in the crowd.

Amid everyone's good-natured teasing, she could only watch helplessly as Argus and the others left.