Time Was the Cheapest Thing

As a significant property of Hogwarts, the Whomping Willow has lived a royal life ever since it was transplanted to the school.

The soil surrounding it is silt that Dumbledore asked the Merpeople to dredge from the bottom of the Black Lake, and it is rich in organic matter.

The Jinkela it usually uses is freshly excreted Welsh Green Dragon droppings, which have the strongest odor and are only a few days old.

It enjoys the highest level of haircut and grooming, with dozens of House-elf pruning its branches and leaves.

Even the tiny beetles on its body are eaten by the Bowtruckle.

But how dare someone harm it today?

And they were so heartless as to run it over with a car?

The Whomping Willow was beyond furious. It had always assumed the worst of wizards, but it never expected, nor could it believe, that they could be so vicious...

The Whomping Willow began to go berserk, wildly swinging its branches, which were as thick as pythons.

The branch rose high, like a green rainbow hanging in the air, and then crashed down fiercely, shattering the stones on the ground.

In a short time,

Dust rose up

A loud boom resounded.

William waved, and everyone stepped back once again.

Harry and Ron were both deathly pale. Ron, in particular, looked utterly terrified; he had just wanted to stay in the car!

However, Mr. Weasley's "beloved car" was not exactly fuel-efficient.

After having several headlights knocked out, several windows shattered, and taking a wave of damage, he miraculously turned the tide and escaped through frantic, serpentine maneuvers.

The car seemed to have acquired artificial intelligence, throwing Harry and Ron's luggage out and scattering it all over the ground.

Then, the car, riddled with scars and craters, steaming as it rumbled into the dark, Forbidden Forest, its taillights still flashing angrily.

After a moment of stunned silence, Ron let out a heart-wrenching, hoarse scream and collapsed into the dust.

"Come back!" Ron shouted, "Dad will kill me!"

"I don't know if Mr. Weasley will kill you, but Professor Sprout probably will."

As Cedric spoke, he picked up the broken willow branches.

So happy... cough cough, so uncomfortable!

Seeing so many branches and leaves broken off the Whomping Willow, Cedric was in unbearable pain, his mouth agape in a wide grin.

He got the branch without risking his life, so the trip was worth it!

"Let's go, the banquet is about to start, it would be terrible if we were late."

William transformed into a sea eagle again, with a rope wrapped around its talons. Several people held onto the rope, and it spread its wings and flew towards the castle.

As for riding on William... what a joke! Did he go through all that trouble to learn the Animagus just so others could ride him?!

Of course, it's not that you can't ride it, it just depends on who you are.

When William led the group to the castle gate, Hermione and Cho were still waiting for them there.

"What just happened?" Hermione asked as she walked over.

The shout of "idiot!" echoed across the campus, and everyone heard it.

"The first-year wizards are all talking about it, saying you almost bumped into them and knocked Hagrid into the water. You're going to be expelled from school," Qiu said, puzzled.

Harry blushed deeply, his initial confidence gone.

Harry really hoped that Cho would see him, like William did last year, dashingly leading a group of students, flying coolly over the Black Lake.

Instead of nearly bumping into a first-year wizard and now facing expulsion!

"Not only that, they also bumped into the Whomping Willow," Fred added.

"And he even wrecked Dad's car." George shrugged.

Hermione and Cho were stunned.

"Why are you driving a car?!" Hermione's tone was almost as stern as Professor McGonagall's.

"Stop lecturing us," Ron said impatiently. "Hurry up and get to the Great Hall, or I'll miss the Sorting Ceremony."

"The Sorting Ceremony? I guess you'll never see it." A greasy laugh came from the gate.

Snape quickly approached the group, his black robes fluttering in the cool breeze. He was thin, with sallow skin, a hooked nose, and greasy black hair that fell over his shoulders.

It seems the shampoo William gave him was useless. William thinks it would be better to give him some Liuwei Dihuang Pills instead, as the professor seems somewhat malnourished.

It needs to be improved.

What? Why would a single man be malnourished?

Isn't it precisely because you're single that you might suffer from malnutrition?

This is common sense!

At that moment, Professor Snape wore a strange smile.

"I remember your father worked for the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, didn't he?" He looked up at Ron, his smile growing even more sinister. "Oh dear... his own son..."

"The car? Professor Dumbledore told me to keep it under control!" Snape asked lazily. "To prevent you fools from harming the young wizard again."

"I bumped into... the... Man-Willow," Harry whispered.

"What did you bump into?!" Snape either didn't hear clearly or couldn't believe his ears.

"Whomping Willow..." Ron shouted.

"Professor, you'd better check out the Whomping Willow; it's damaged... a bit too badly," William said.

The Whomping Willow is a precious species, and the school must take care of it.

Snape's expression changed. He hurriedly ran forward, but after a couple of steps, he turned back and said sternly, "Go to my office!"

I'll have Dumbledore expel you both! Staying at Hogwarts, Professor Sprout will kill you."

Harry and Ron didn't dare look at him. They lowered their heads and climbed the steps, entering the empty, echoing Entrance Hall lit by torches.

William and his companions followed behind.

Professor McGonagall came out of the hall. Seeing the group, she said sternly, "Hurry inside, the Sorting Ceremony is about to begin."

Harry and Ron looked up in surprise.

Professor McGonagall said angrily, "I wasn't talking to either of you. Get to Professor Snape's office right now!"

Thank goodness school hasn't started yet, otherwise I would have deducted 200 points from each of you!

Harry and Ron walked toward the dungeon with their heads hanging low.

"William, wait a minute, I have something to say to you." McGonagall softened her tone.

Cedric and the others headed towards the Great Hall, with Hermione deliberately lagging behind, turning her head to look at William with concern.

William blinked, signaling her to relax.

"William, this is your class schedule." Professor McGonagall picked up a form.

"Are you sure you want to take so many courses? Many of them will conflict with your schedule."

"Of course, Professor Dumbledore already told you, didn't he?"

"We've discussed it. I was originally going to help you apply for Time-Turner; you're qualified."

William shook his head; he had no desire to use that thing.

Professor Tywin's experience serves as a painful lesson.

Someone could die if they're not careful.

William no longer needs Time-Turner; the Ravenclaw Ring has already given him far too much time.

Time is the cheapest thing to him!

(Thanks to "Hell Cat" for the generous donation (//?//))