Daily News: The Prophet of Hogwarts

Chapter 44 Crazy Percy

Ron recounted the details of today's duel, claiming that Malfoy had deliberately provoked him, and that Vio had used offensive language, especially Vio's inflammatory remarks about Percy, saying he would hang Percy up and beat him.

Ron said he couldn't stand it at the time, and with Harry willing to be his assistant, he accepted Malfoy's challenge.

"You said your assistant is Harry, where is Harry now?" Percy asked.

Harry emerged from the shadows of the stairs: "Percy, I'm here."

Percy glanced towards Harry's hiding place and seemed to see a few figures, which he guessed were his two troublesome younger brothers. "Harry, what exactly happened today?"

Ron angrily retorted, "You don't believe me! I'm your own brother!"

Percy ignored him completely and looked at Harry.

Harry recounted the original story, but because he and Malfoy disliked each other, he slightly modified a few parts to make Malfoy sound somewhat despicable.

"So you were the one who spoke ill of Ryan, Malfoy retorted, and then you insulted Malfoy?" Percy frowned, his face flushed with anger. He never expected his own brother to do such a thing.

"So what!" Ron declared, craning his neck and crossing his arms. "The Malfoys have always looked down on us! They think we're the scum of pure-blood wizards!"

"idiot!"

Not only Hermione and Harry, but even George and Fred were hearing Percy swear for the first time.

Percy lowered his voice, his tone snarling, and said angrily, "Draco Malfoy is Draco Malfoy! The Malfoy family is the Malfoy family! Draco is not capable of changing his father's mind!"

"And another thing, why do you think Vio singled me out? He wanted me to take you to apologize! He didn't say it in public to save Weasley's face!"

Percy, who has always been particularly concerned about his image because of the Weasleys' current predicament, is going crazy.

"It's alright, Percy. I already said it was a duel, and Vio came up to it himself. He probably didn't mean it that way." George also stepped out of the shadows.

Fred and Hermione followed him out.

Fred: "Fred is right. At worst, you can defeat Vio in a wizard duel."

George: "Fred is wrong. You're Fred, I'm George!"

Percy 50% West: "If we weren't at the Adventurers' Club, George, Fred, guess what we'd see?"

Before the two could answer, he said, "With Vio's methods, Ron will definitely be expelled from Hogwarts without even realizing it because of a series of small incidents that have led to a major disaster! What's more, Malfoy is a member of the Adventurers' Club and a friend of Ryan's... In addition, Ron has been talking about Ryan behind his back, which is why Vio stepped in."

He told the group a little-known rumor:

When Vio was in his first year, his relationship with Ryan wasn't so unbreakable; Vio always wanted to beat Ryan.

After an incident in second grade, Vio and Ryan's relationship became what it is today.

At that time, because several key members of the Selwyn family were not exonerated and were imprisoned in Azkaban, the Selwyn family declined. As a result, Vio often received shouting letters while he was in school, and he was easily followed when he went out.

Then, during the summer vacation of his second year, Ryan met Vio, who was being followed and surrounded by several adult wizards, leaving him covered in wounds, and helped him out.

Percy paused to catch his breath and compose himself, because even though so much time had passed, the events of that year were still deeply impactful.

"It's tough for Vio too. He's the scum of his family who became a Death Eater, yet he's implicated," Harry whispered. "No wonder he joked about being a Death Eater with impeccable blood when he introduced himself."

..............

"I never felt innocent, Draco." Vio leaned against the wall, looking out at the Black Lake through the window of the Slytherin common room. In the depths of the Black Lake, giant creatures could be vaguely seen swimming by.

"I was born in Selwyn, and even though it's declined, it's still a much better starting point than 90% of wizards. I can't only consider myself a Selwyn when it's profitable."

"Lane didn't mention my innocence. He just told those people that I hadn't done anything wrong. They could lay a hand on the Selwyn family, but they shouldn't use such methods against a child. At the time, I thought they could seek revenge on me, but I would fight back no matter what, just to survive."

As Malfoy listened, he genuinely felt that Vio was remarkable. He couldn't imagine that he, as a first or second-year student, was capable of facing such a situation where he was surrounded by enemies.

"What happened next?" he asked, very curious.

Upon hearing this question, Vio laughed so hard he almost fell over, tears streaming down his face: "Later, a guy my age said I was his friend. So I watched him single-handedly take on those who were most hostile to me, and who hadn't yet had any relatives killed by the Selwyn family."

Even among those people stronger than him, he still managed to win using various means...

That summer, complaint letters poured into the headmaster's office like snowflakes, all accusing a Hogwarts student of harboring Death Eaters.

Malfoy could tell that Vio was genuinely laughing from the bottom of his heart, but he found it difficult to discern the meaning behind that smile.

He listened as Vio continued, "Then, he gathered all the wizards who had grievances against me together and said in front of the whole world, 'Vio Selwyn is my friend. Those of you here, whether you have a grudge against Selwyn or harbor resentment, you can take revenge on other members of the Selwyn family or target the Selwyn family directly—that's beyond my control. But those who choose Vio as their target for revenge can come directly to me! I'll take care of them.'"

Vio laughed so hard he couldn't stand up straight: "You have no idea, Draco, I thought this guy couldn't possibly be Ravenclaw! Just look at the way he was waving his wand all the way here, even the most reckless lion wouldn't be more reckless than him! When he made his statement, I was thinking, my God, is this guy even normal? He must be a patient in St. Mungo's psychiatric ward!"

"If the principal hadn't suppressed the rumors, I'm afraid..."

Malfoy, who came from a privileged background and was pampered, felt jealous. He asked himself if, if he were in such a situation one day, would anyone help him as Ryan helped Vio?

Crabbe?

Or is it Gore?

He was silent.

Vio stopped laughing and reverted to his usual self: "So, it's unacceptable for Ron Weasley to dare insult Ryan and the club's members. He should be grateful that his three brothers are in the club."

Malfoy understood his gaze and realized the question he had asked earlier: why did Vio step forward?

"But what if Percy and his gang are protecting Ron and planning to beat you in tonight's duel?" he asked.

................

"And what you guys are saying, me? Beat Vio?" Per's madness level 80% - West's madness intensified.

Before him stood Harry and the others, who were stunned by the story.

Harry finally understood why Vio had used his status as a fifth-year student to interfere in the first-year students' dispute.

He thought, if someone stood up for him and confronted his Uncle Vernon's family...

Harry thought about it more and more and understood Vio's actions. He even felt that Vio was too gentlemanly. If it were him, he would never have been so nonchalant!

"How was it?" Ron asked, head held high, as he was in superb form tonight.

Percy's madness reached 100%, he went completely insane: "@#%……%@#￥￥! What do you think was the reason Vio wasn't easily defeated by several adult wizards in his second year?"

"Is it because he is kind?"