He’s Only a First-Year?
23: What the Hell?
He’s Only a First-Year?
Hearing those words…
Grey narrowed his eyes.
A dangerous glint flickered within them.
He rose from his seat, walked over to Charlotte, and looked down at him coldly.
“Charlotte Elvis…” “We’ll settle this.” With that…
Every Slytherin in the Great Hall stood up and followed Grey out.
Each one glared at Charlotte with unconcealed hostility.
Hermione frowned.
“You shouldn’t have provoked Grey.” “He’s highly respected in Slytherin.” “He’s already in his seventh year.” “I’ve heard he’s very likely to join the Ministry of Magic after graduation.” “My advice…” “Stay inside the Ravenclaw common room until tomorrow’s match.” “Don’t go wandering around.” Charlotte shrugged unconcernedly.
“This is Hogwarts.” “They won’t dare do anything.” Hermione sighed helplessly.
Gathering her things, she left the Great Hall.
Harry and Ron followed after her.
Before leaving, Ron turned back.
“I think you should listen to Hermione.” “Grey isn’t someone you want to mess with.” Charlotte remained silent.
He calmly finished his breakfast before leaving the castle and heading towards the Forbidden Forest.
Passing Hagrid’s hut…
He continued another ten minutes into the dense woods.
Eventually…
He stopped in an area where the trees were so thick that almost no sunlight reached the ground.
Standing before him was a herd of thin, jet-black creatures.
They watched him warily.
Their appearance was unmistakable.
The head of a dragon…
The body of a horse…
And enormous wings stretched across their backs.
They were clearly born for flight.
They were the magical creatures Hogwarts kept…
Thestrals.
Creatures visible only to those who had witnessed death.
Although Thestrals looked eerie…
They were normally gentle by nature.
Yet these Thestrals remained unusually cautious around Charlotte.
It seemed that if he took one more step…
They would immediately attack.
Charlotte understood why.
The blood of the Thunderbird flowed through his veins.
Among magical creatures…
Thunderbirds were infamous for their ferocity and violent temperament.
The Thestrals instinctively feared such a predator.
Without turning around…
Charlotte spoke calmly.
“You’ve been following me long enough.” “You might as well come out.” The moment he finished speaking…
Grey, Draco Malfoy, and three other Slytherin students stepped out from behind several trees.
All of them wore unfriendly expressions.
Only Grey sensed something was wrong.
He’s far too calm…
Charlotte already knew they were here.
He had to realise they intended to cause trouble.
So…
Why hadn’t he run?
Does he have some hidden trump card?
Impossible.
From the moment Charlotte had left the Great Hall until now…
Someone had been watching him the entire time.
Harry and the others were attending class.
No one was coming to help him.
Just then…
Malfoy drew his wand and sneered.
“You filthy Mudblood.” “I’ll teach you what happens when you offend a Malfoy.” “Expel—” “Expelliarmus!” Before Malfoy could finish his incantation…
A flash of red light shot from Charlotte’s wand.
In an instant…
Malfoy’s wand flew from his hand.
Everything happened so quickly that Grey and the other three Slytherins froze in disbelief.
How…
How could a first-year cast that quickly?
Two seconds later…
They finally reacted.
All four immediately raised their wands.
“Incarcerous!” “Petrificus Totalus!” “Expelliarmus!” “Expelliarmus!” Charlotte merely flicked his wand.
“Protego.” Grey’s eyes widened.
The four spells struck an invisible barrier.
Not one of them reached Charlotte.
One of the red Expelliarmus spells even rebounded…
Knocking another Slytherin’s wand from his hand.
Taking advantage of their momentary shock…
Charlotte cast another spell.
“Levicorpus.” The next moment…
Malfoy and the other four cried out in alarm.
Their bodies floated helplessly into the air…
Dangling upside down by their ankles.
Grey stared at Charlotte in utter disbelief.
Protego…
That was an advanced spell.
Many fully qualified adult witches and wizards couldn’t cast it properly.
Yet this first-year had used it effortlessly…
And blocked four simultaneous attacks.
No wonder he had seemed completely fearless.
He had deliberately lured them into this forest.
Clink.
Something fell from Malfoy’s robes.
It was a small crystal vial.
Charlotte raised an eyebrow.
“So…” “This is the potion you planned to use against me?” “Let’s see what it does.” With a light tap of his wand…
Malfoy’s body rotated until he was lying flat in mid-air.
As Charlotte slowly removed the stopper…
Panic filled Malfoy’s face.
“Grey!” “Help me!” “Charlotte!” “If you dare do this…” “My father will never let you—” “Langlock.” Charlotte pointed his wand.
Malfoy instantly lost the ability to speak.
His eyes filled with terror.
At that moment…
Charlotte looked like a demon crawling out of Hell itself.
“Gulp.” “Gulp.” “Hic!” “Hic!” The instant the potion went down…
Malfoy began hiccupping uncontrollably.
It turned out to be a Hiccuping Potion.
Anyone who drank it would hiccup continuously for twenty-four hours.
Apparently…
Their plan had been to sabotage Charlotte’s performance during tomorrow’s Quidditch match by making him hiccup the entire time.
Unfortunately…
They had greatly underestimated his strength.
Charlotte released Malfoy from the Levicorpus spell before speaking calmly.
“Don’t bother me again.” “Otherwise…” “I won’t be using Levicorpus next time.” With those words…
He casually walked out of the Forbidden Forest.
Moments after he disappeared…
A tall figure in flowing black robes emerged from the trees.
Severus Snape.
Looking at the five thoroughly humiliated Slytherins…
His expression became strangely complicated.
The instant Grey saw him, he shouted, “Professor!” “Please help us!” “It was Charlotte Elvis!” “He hung us up here with magic!” “He even forced Malfoy to drink a potion!” “Hic!” “Hic!” “Hic!” Snape glanced indifferently at the five students.
His face remained completely expressionless.
“Five of you…” “And you couldn’t defeat a single first-year.” “And now you expect me to rescue you?” “You’ve disgraced Slytherin.” “You can stay exactly where you are…” “And spend some time reflecting on your incompetence.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Dark_Verse IF YOU LIKED THE CHAPTER PLEAsE WRITE REVIEW