Chapter 76: The Villain Accuses First?
“Harry… let’s go too…” Ron tugged at Harry’s arm, pulling him quickly down the corridor in the direction Wade and the others had gone. The two, who had once been at the heart of the chaos, were now entirely forgotten. They slipped away unnoticed.
As they turned the corner, Harry glanced back—and saw Pansy and Crabbe finally reaching for Malfoy, only to have him violently shove them away. The once-proud blonde boy now looked disheveled, furiously wiping blood from his nose. The other Slytherins gathered around, grinning and offering mock comfort.
Their hypocrisy and casual cruelty were unmistakable, even from across the corridor.
For so long, Harry had believed that aside from Snape, Malfoy was the worst person he’d ever met—worse even than his cousin Dudley. But now, a sudden realization struck him: Malfoy wasn’t the untouchable leader he’d imagined. In fact, he seemed to have no true friends among the Slytherins.
Then the wall blocked his view.
“—What were you looking at?” Ron asked, curious.
“Nothing…” Harry turned away, murmuring, “I was just thinking—if I ever faced an enemy I couldn’t beat… you and Hermione would stand by me, wouldn’t you? Fight with me.”
“Of course!” Ron, thinking Harry meant the bullying of Neville, immediately fired up. “Slytherins are always like this! We’ll never back down! We can’t let them get away with it! Neville just needs to be braver—he’s too timid!”
“He is brave,” Harry said gently. “Don’t you remember? He stood up to Malfoy with you, for Hermione—one punch right to that bloke’s nose!”
“Oh, right!” Ron brightened, still buzzing from the memory. “Neville finally acted like a proper Gryffindor! You saw Malfoy’s face? I swear, he looked like he was about to cry!”
Harry felt a pang of discomfort. Malfoy deserved every bit of it—but the scene stirred painful memories of being chased and beaten by Dudley and his gang.
As they spoke, they caught sight of Wade and the others in the distance. Standing together, the ordinary students seemed to radiate an invisible aura—one that kept others from interfering.
Harry stopped dead in his tracks.
“Ron—” he said quietly.
“What?”
“They’re the SSC… the Study Group Hermione recommended me to join.”
Ron’s expression flickered. His smile vanished.
“Y-yeah…” he stammered. “I guess so…”
“I want to join,” Harry said firmly. “I want to learn real magic—actual spells. Not just reciting textbook lines with Quirrell.”
“That’s… good,” Ron said, eyes avoiding his. “I mean, you should. Maybe you’ll even make the top students one day…”
“Are you not joining?” Harry asked, surprised.
“I didn’t get invited. Hermione only recommended you,” Ron forced a smile. “You go ahead. I… I think I need to go to the Infirmary. Crabbe probably broke a rib.”
“Maybe Hermione just forgot to mention you!” Harry said, pulling Ron toward the group. “We can ask her together!”
“N-no—Harry—” Ron protested weakly, clearly reluctant but easily dragged along. Harry didn’t need much strength—Ron’s heart was still whispering a quiet hope: Maybe she just forgot. We’re always together. They probably assumed it wasn’t necessary… and we fought side by side with Neville, after all…
They reached the group just as Wade was speaking.
“Neville, you need to go to the Infirmary. Your arm might be fractured. Everyone—be careful. Slytherins will likely retaliate. Don’t wander alone.”
“Wade, what about you?” Theo asked, concerned.
“I’m going to Professor Flitwick to report myself. Using magic on a fellow student in the corridor—no matter what, I’m getting a detention.”
“You’re going? Oh—” Michael looked surprised, then nodded slowly. “Yeah. You should.”
“Why?” Ron asked, stepping closer. “If the Professor didn’t see it, it didn’t happen. Why confess?”
Harry and Theo both nodded in agreement. Liam remained thoughtful.
“You really don’t think Malfoy’s going to report this?” Michael reminded them. “Better to confess to Flitwick than face Snape later.”
“True,” Neville said, shuddering. “If it’s Snape… he might take off ten points, then give you a month-long detention.”
Professor Snape’s harsh treatment of Neville in Potions had left lasting scars. The boy still flinched at the man’s presence.
“Then let’s go together!” Liam said. “We can’t let Professor think it was all on you.”
“But you didn’t do anything,” Wade said, stopping Neville before he could speak. “You were the one bullied. If you’re punished too, that’s just unfair. Go to the Infirmary. And check on Hermione while you’re at it.”
He waved them off and turned to leave.
Harry opened his mouth—meant to ask Ron if he wanted to join the SSC—but before he could speak, Wade was already gone.
“Then… let’s go together,” Harry said, glancing around.
Only then did he realize how badly his whole body ached. He was astonished he hadn’t noticed before.
…
Wade knew Professor Flitwick would be in the staff lounge at this hour. He made his way to the first floor of the castle, knocked on the door—and seconds later, Professor McGonagall’s voice called, “Come in.”
The door slid open by itself.
Wade paused. His eyes widened.
Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, and Professor Flitwick were all in the common room—sitting together.
He hesitated.
Professor Flitwick, still grading assignments, looked up and smiled. “Wade? What’s up? More questions today?”
Wade stepped inside, fidgeting. “Uh… I do have some questions… but actually… more important… Professor—I’m here to report myself. I’ve broken a school rule.”
“Report yourself?” Flitwick’s face lit up with shock. So did the other two professors.
They had never seen a student confess voluntarily after breaking a rule—unless there was an ulterior motive.
“What did you do, Wade?” Flitwick asked, calm but alert.
Wade hesitated. He glanced at the other two professors—not out of fear of Snape, but because now his attempt to avoid trouble felt suspiciously like tattling.
In that moment, the words “The Villain Accuses First” seemed to blaze above his head.
—He wasn’t the villain. He wasn’t.
Professor McGonagall sensed something deeper. Her expression sharpened. “Mr. Gray, I believe every professor has the right to know the full context when a student violates school rules.”
Wade sighed. “Alright…” He took a breath. “It’s like this, Professor—”
(End of Chapter)
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