Chapter 18: How To Break Down Family Defenses
“……I’ve memorized the course schedule. Vaughn, Gryffindor and Slytherin have many classes together. I don’t think the Sorting Ceremony affects much.”
“The first class today is Transfiguration. Are you prepared? If not, I can lend you my notes, or we can sit together during class?”
At the four house long tables in the Great Hall, breakfast was already laid out and was quite lavish.
Among the English “cuisine”, only breakfast did not annoy Vaughn.
Besides the usual sausages and bacon, there were also scrambled eggs and tomato sets.
Even the staple bread had a multitude of varieties.
Vaughn, wearing his Slytherin Serpent Shield Badge, brazenly sat at the Gryffindor long table, listening to Hermione chatter beside him while leisurely eating breakfast.
Every Gryffindor who passed by them would first look up as if in disbelief.
After confirming they weren’t groggy and had gone to the wrong place, they would then hurry away from the two with strange expressions.
The Slytherins not far away kept looking back.
The news of Vaughn stunning a Prefect with two spells last night had spread throughout the night, and almost the entire Slytherin Academy knew about it.
It was said that the spell on the Prefect was very powerful. His classmates, even after casting a counter-spell, couldn’t break it and had to send him to Madam Pomfrey overnight.
Everyone was re-evaluating this red-haired Weasley!
This, perhaps, was the only good quality of the Slytherins; they revered power and authority, and in their Pure-blood education, power and authority were synonymous.
Whoever was stronger, they would pay attention to!
But… why was that guy sitting at the Gryffindor long table? Was it the Weasley family’s nature to be rebellious?
It was unbearable!
Many Slytherins who wanted to talk to Vaughn, afraid to provoke him, instead glared at the Gryffindors.
The Gryffindors also found it strange. Out of consideration for Percy, Fred, and George, they couldn’t bring themselves to drive Vaughn away, so they glared back at the Slytherins.
It was a very ordinary breakfast, yet the two houses inexplicably managed to create an atmosphere of gunpowder.
This naturally also caught the attention of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.
However, among these two houses, Ravenclaw had always been adept at self-preservation and was too lazy to get involved in anyone else’s affairs, while the Hufflepuff badgers were simple and honest, and disliked being in the spotlight.
No one fanned the flames or egged them on.
Until Fred and George stomped in angrily.
“Look, George! A Weasley viper, sitting at the Gryffindor table!”
“Yes, Fred, you’re not mistaken. It’s appalling. This fellow has betrayed us, and he still has the audacity to show up!”
The two stood on either side of Vaughn, arms crossed, behind him, trying their best to widen their eyes, wanting their brother to understand how angry and disappointed they were!
Vaughn broke off a piece of bread, ate it with the thick mushroom soup, and said slowly:
“Are you sure you want to cause trouble for me?”
“Hmm—I recall two people trying to curry favor with me all summer. Seeing how sincere they were, I was planning to put 10 Gold Galleons in the Halloween package I was sending them, to support their cause…”
As he spoke, Vaughn turned back and looked at his two brothers with a sincere expression: “It seems now, they don’t want it!”
The Twins unconsciously lowered their arms and exchanged glances.
“What do we do, Fred?”
“… Shall we… forgive him for now?”
“Wouldn’t that make us seem like we have no principles?”
“10 Gold Galleons…”
“Percy said yesterday that no Weasley has ever been Sorted into Slytherin. Someone needs to be taught a lesson…”
The Twins exchanged another glance, then suddenly burst out laughing: “Who cares what Percy babbles about!”
“We are absolutely not doing this for the Gold Galleons, but how could we bear to disappoint our brother’s heartfelt support for our cause? Right, Fred?”
“That’s right, George. So what if he’s in Slytherin? Aren’t they Hogwarts students too? Aren’t they our brothers?”
“Cough, cough, there are quite a few Slytherin scoundrels, but they definitely don’t include our brother.”
“Exactly, George!”
Vaughn smiled, not teasing them any further, but asked seriously: “Are 10 Galleons enough?”
The Twins nodded repeatedly, saying:
“Enough, enough.”
“Crucial, Vaughn!”
The two were in excellent spirits, casually grabbed a few pieces of bread, and quickly left while quietly discussing product development.
After they had walked quite a distance, one of them quietly grumbled: “No Weasley has ever been in Slytherin…”
“What can we do? He’s our brother, George.”
“Sigh…”
…
“The Twins have been dealt with.” Although he appeared calm, Vaughn secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The situation had not exceeded his expectations.
Of the entire Weasley family, Fred and George were the most mischievous.
But due to their similar age, they were the most protective of their younger brothers.
Last night, he had also written a letter to Molly and Arthur, explaining his reasons for joining Slytherin – he didn’t mention Legilimency, but said he had discussed it with the Sorting Hat and that he wished to study Potions under Professor Snape.
Regarding his studies, and with Snape involved, his parents shouldn’t hold any grudges now…
“Sigh, if I had had such clear thinking when dealing with interpersonal relationships in my past life, I wouldn’t have ended up as an ordinary salaryman!”
Vaughn sighed.
Then, he heard Hermione beside him say hesitantly in a small voice: “Actually, I don’t think going to Slytherin means anything.”
Vaughn looked at her. Her cheeks were flushed, but she still said earnestly:
“I’ve read 《Hogwarts: A History》, 《History of Magic》, and 《Modern Magical History》. No magical historian has ever said that Slytherin only produces bad people. I also don’t believe that the Sorting determines whether someone is good or bad. In 《Modern Magical History》, I even read about a most notorious Death Eater who was from Gryffindor!”
Listening to her earnest explanation, or perhaps, comfort?
Vaughn smiled and ruffled her hair: “Thank you, Hermione.”
Although he didn’t need comfort.
But it was pleasant to have a sensible young girl who cared about you, wasn’t it?
This pleasant mood lasted until the end of breakfast, and then he went to Transfiguration class with Hermione.
This was the first class of his first year. When Vaughn and Hermione arrived, there were only two or three people in the classroom, such as classmate Malfoy, and Neville, who was being mocked by him.
And on the podium, a tabby cat was crouching.
Upon seeing Vaughn, Malfoy and his cronies instinctively shrank into a corner. Neville was very grateful for this. He didn’t care at all about Vaughn being in Slytherin and tearfully thanked him: “Thank you, Vaughn! Only you can make Malfoy afraid. I heard you gave him a good beating. You’re truly amazing!”
The tabby cat crouching on the podium showed a stern expression on its face.
Vaughn’s good mood vanished instantly.
Thank you, Neville, but it would have been better if you could just shut up…
