NABC Chapter 67 We'll take the fall this time, you guys do it next time!
Chapter 67 We'll take the fall this time, you guys do it next time!
Dudley freed the vines and binding spells that bound the Malfoy trio.
Crabbe and Goyle dared not resist in the slightest. Enduring the discomfort and nausea from their muddy clothes, they got up, helped up Malfoy, who was unconscious, also covered in mud, his face covered in bumps, and barely recognizable, and left the cubicle tremblingly.
Afterward, Dudley removed the Unseen Stretching Charm he had placed in the cubicle and cast a Cleansing Charm to remove the trash and odors, restoring the cubicle to its original state.
"Everyone, stop standing there! The matter is resolved, let's have some snacks! Don't waste them!"
Dudley retrieved the Smetine cane, which had returned to its original form, and greeted his newly acquainted friends with a beaming smile, inviting them to share snacks. His tone and demeanor were completely different from when he had scolded Malfoy's henchmen earlier.
Ron, Neville, and Hermione were all stunned for a moment, seemingly taken aback and shocked by Dudley's 'rapid change of expression'.
But they quickly adapted.
Because Harry took the initiative to eat and chatted enthusiastically with his new friends who were fighting alongside him.
Dudley took in the expressions and reactions of his three new companions, then tore open a bag of chocolate frogs, quickly grabbed a hopping frog leg, and started eating.
He could sense that Ron had become somewhat distant from him, seemingly frightened by his 'cruel methods';
Neville was similar, but because he was rather simple-minded and had a particularly introverted personality, Neville's aloofness was more bewildered and reserved. He was hesitant to make eye contact with Dudley, appearing timid and fearful.
Hermione, on the other hand, did not become distant or fearful of Dudley because of his previous performance. Instead, she put aside her arrogance and showed an expression of gratitude and admiration for Dudley, much like a fan seeing their idol.
Dali gladly accepted, considering it as gaining another clever partner or subordinate.
He knew very well that Hermione was only impressed by his knowledge, abilities, and way of thinking, not that she was attracted to him.
A smart and brave woman like Hermione would only want a partner like Ron, who is both cute and fierce but also a capable and supportive wife.
Hedali, on the other hand, would never fall into the trap of love; becoming stronger was his only pursuit.
"Which house do you want to be sorted into? I most want to be sorted into Gryffindor, my whole family are Gryffindors!"
As darkness fell outside the car window, and Hogwarts was fast approaching, Ron suddenly brought up a topic that piqued the interest of his friends.
Harry said he also wanted to be sorted into Gryffindor, because Hagrid and Dumbledore were both Gryffindor students and he least wanted to be sorted into Slytherin; he wanted to stay far away from those corrupt pure-bloods.
Hermione and Neville also shared their thoughts, which were largely the same; neither wanted to go to Slytherin.
Dudley didn't participate in the discussion. According to the original story, apart from him, everyone in this compartment was from the Gryphon school, and that's probably still the case now.
“Cousin, which house do you want to go to?” Dudley didn’t answer, but Harry asked first, “It would be best if we went to the same house.”
Dudley smiled and said, "It doesn't matter which house you go to. The courses are the same in all four houses, there's no difference. We go to Hogwarts to learn magic and improve our skills. Putting too much emphasis on which house we're assigned to is putting the cart before the horse and is meaningless."
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned.
Ron, in particular, had never thought about the issue this way. His family was almost entirely tied to Gryffindor, and his lifelong ambition was to join Gryffindor.
“But cousin, if we’re not assigned to the same house, won’t we be separated?” Harry asked anxiously.
"What are you afraid of? Do you think these so-called academy rules can restrain me?"
Dali didn't take such a trivial matter to heart at all.
With his current strength and his relationship with Dumbledore, he can stay wherever he wants at Hogwarts, except for the girls' dormitory and the girls' washroom.
He even considered living in the restricted section of the library.
"That's true!" Harry was relieved.
The other friends didn't know what to say and fell into an awkward silence.
Hermione hesitated, wanting to bring up the school rules she had memorized before the start of the semester, but upon reflection, she realized they had already broken many rules even before entering Hogwarts, so she swallowed her words.
"Ding-dong-"
The train's loudspeaker sounded, reminding passengers that they would arrive at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in five minutes. Passengers were asked to put down their luggage and prepare to disembark, and that their personal belongings would be delivered to their respective dormitories.
Upon hearing this news, the atmosphere in the cubicle became both cheerful and tense.
The joy stemmed from the fact that they were finally about to reach their destination and meet the mysterious Hogwarts;
The tension stems from not knowing who they will meet or what will happen after getting off the train; there's a sense of panic about facing the unknown.
"We're getting off soon. Cheer up! Hogwarts isn't going to eat us. Share the remaining snacks."
Dudley remained calm, and with a wave of his hand, the remaining snacks on the table were divided into five equal portions. "Also, if the Malfoy trio are foolish enough to complain to the professors and headmasters of Hogwarts, feel free to push the blame onto me and Harry."
"How can that be? I was involved too, and I'm not going to shift the blame to my friend!"
Hermione immediately stood up and said excitedly.
“Yes, Dudley, let’s be punished together. I have twin brothers who are often punished at Hogwarts. The punishments are nothing more than cleaning the prize room or being put in solitary confinement in a professor’s office. It’s nothing serious!”
Ron chimed in, saying that he clearly had two good role models in this regard.
“I…I am the same.” Neville tried to say something, but couldn’t think of any other good words or phrases, so he could only stammer a reply.
"Great! Excellent! For this friendship, we're all brothers and partners from now on!"
Dudley suddenly said something in a cheerful tone, and gently patted Ron, Hermione, and Neville on the shoulders, warming their hearts.
Before the three could respond, Daddy added:
"Since we're good partners, let's not stand on ceremony. It's better for two people to be punished than five. This time Harry and I will take the blame, and you can step in next time too!"
"Huh?" Ron and the other two were stunned. "There's a next time?!"
Dudley was unhappy, looking at him as if they were looking down on him:
"This is nothing! There will definitely be a next time! And there will be a next time after that, and a next time after that!"
Don't be afraid! From now on, I'll protect you all. As long as we're in the right, don't back down! Bravely fight against evil! If anything happens, I'll take responsibility!
Dali patted his chest and made all the promises, seemingly eager to stir up trouble, without a care in the world.
He schemed and plotted to gain extraordinary strength, which he didn't keep as a decoration; he was going to use it!
Furthermore, he surmised that Voldemort's main soul would most likely come to Hogwarts to find the Philosopher's Stone, replenish his life force, and plan for the rebirth of his body.
By joining forces with the main characters who are blessed with good fortune in the original story, we have more eyes and more paths. Perhaps we will inadvertently discover clues related to Voldemort's main soul.
Why not?