Protect the school! From evil invasion! His deep, powerful voice echoed like thunder in every student's ears.
They looked at Headmaster Dumbledore's figure... hair and beard completely white, but still standing tall. They felt as if they were seeing a towering mountain. Surrounding and protecting them, keeping all evil at bay.
Hogwarts was the safest place precisely because Headmaster Dumbledore was there! A sense of security arose!
Only some professors showed gravity on their faces. Fifty years ago, the Chamber was also opened. And that time, a student died directly.
Professor McGonagall raised her hand, pressing her lips tightly together. Gilderoy Lockhart mentally spat: '[Mr Lamp's] letters have infiltrated the school... what safety are we talking about?' Professor Snape was still worried about the sculpture quintet in the hospital wing.
Below the platform... "Truly worthy of defeating two Dark Lords... such an imposing presence..." Ethan murmured, looking at Dumbledore's authoritative figure on the platform.
What entered his vision was magical power surging like a turbulent river! It gave Ethan goosebumps on his skin. His heart couldn't help but beat rapidly.
When young Tom Riddle attended Hogwarts, he was completely overshadowed by this same formidable Dumbledore, which stopped him from causing real damage back then. I'm starting to understand his resentment. Wait, hold on—why the hell am I empathising with that noseless snake?
Ethan shook his head, casting this strange thought from his mind. Then he felt a pang of heartache! Headmaster Dumbledore, what exactly have you been protecting?!
First year aside, in second year even without me, the Chamber was opened, and you completely missed Salazar Slytherin's special crossdressing fetish! By the Goblet of Fire, someone even died! Then, after falling from the astronomy tower yourself, Hogwarts directly entered its darkest hour! Dark wizards openly ruled the place!
"That won't work, Old Dumbledore. This gentle approach of yours is too soft," Ethan muttered with frustration, his hands tightening into fists.
How can one grow without experiencing storms? Only kind me can bear this responsibility, taking on the task of training the students.
Light sparked in Ethan's eyes. Suddenly he stood up from his seat. Raising his hand, he drew everyone's attention to himself.
Dumbledore's heart skipped a beat. He asked as gently as possible: "Is there something else, Mr. Vincent?"
Ethan surveyed the room, tapped the "gift box" Malfoy had just presented, and spoke slowly: "As president of the Morning Star Club and part of Hogwarts School, I believe I have a responsibility to set an example. To contribute to Hogwarts' prosperity and growth! I'm willing to fund training competitions at the school. Through challenges set by my club members, we can achieve mutual training and improvement! Facilities, equipment, even prize money for winners... all funded by me, representing the Morning Star Club. Prize money could be set at one hundred Galleons for first place, and so on."
As his words fell, the Great Hall erupted!
If at first they thought Ethan was going to torment them with new tricks again, once they heard the first-place prize was a full one hundred Galleons! Ethan's image suddenly became brilliantly radiant, impossible to look at directly!
The Weasley twins were the first to jump up, their eyes almost shooting lasers, shouting: "I propose club members also participate in the competition! Share the prize money!" The Weasley family's textbook fees for next semester depend on you, boss! We'll be your workhorses! We'd even be your butt cushions!
For a moment, words of praise surrounded Ethan. Look! What a kind person, so considerate of the school!
"We all misunderstood Ethan before." "Yes. He just has slightly abnormal thinking, somewhat sinister artwork, and enjoys pain and torment... what's wrong with that?!" "One hundred Galleons... I'll be your dog, Ethan!"
At the Slytherin table, even Malfoy was stunned. He never imagined the money he'd given would be used for this purpose.
Male prefect Yaxley glanced at Malfoy. Suddenly sighing, he laughed ruefully: "I was wrong. Who would have thought I'd become such a selfish person, only caring about myself and sticking to old ways?"
He'd only thought about uniting classmates to squeeze out emerging forces. But he'd forgotten. Slytherin was also part of Hogwarts.
Yaxley looked at Malfoy seriously: "The Malfoy family truly has great ambitions and far-reaching vision. I was narrow-minded before, wrongly accusing you of just wanting to curry favour with Ethan."
"..." Malfoy blushed. Feeling the respect coming from all directions, a small sense of pride arose from his heart.
As a noble Malfoy, he was used to others' reverence and flattery. But this time felt different...
Malfoy looked at that spirited black-haired figure. For the first time, so sincere and without any ulterior motives, he wanted to follow someone.
[You've transmitted the "lamp's" radiance to everyone! Let everyone feel your will!]
["Breaking Out of Shell" progress increased by 5%]
[When students train and compete with your club members, lamp propagation will continuously increase.]
Ethan narrowed his eyes, allowing himself to bask in praise and reverence. I'm truly so kind... providing such good training methods for young wizards to face future darkness. I should have gone to Hufflepuff before. Stupid hat, it knows nothing about sorting.
"The future will surely bring more storms." Ethan said solemnly.
As soon as he spoke, the hall quickly quieted to complete silence. "Terrors like last night might happen again."
Ethan seemed to recall something. He lowered his head, frowning, painfully clutching his collar, looking like he was gritting his teeth in endurance.
"Oh! Ethan!" Hermione covered her mouth, her eyes reddening. She couldn't imagine what terrifying things Ethan had encountered last night.
In the silence, Ethan's voice slowly rose: "Do you know? Tomatoes were once considered devil's fruit; poison and medicine were initially indistinguishable. Even magic itself was once considered witchcraft."
Tomatoes? Poison? Students looked at each other, not understanding why Ethan was talking about this. But they all listened intently.
"Everyone feels fear and terror. This is human nature. But!" Ethan suddenly looked up! In his cobalt-blue eyes, an unyielding determination blazed forth! As if crossing some barrier, his resolute voice echoed throughout the hall!
"What we must do is carry our fears, persevere tirelessly, and forge ahead courageously! Until..." Ethan raised his hand. Under countless gazes, he slowly closed his open palm into a fist. "We turn 'fear' itself into our power."
So. Let him create opportunities for everyone's trials. Ethan slightly curved his lips.
After several seconds of silence... "Clap clap." Starting from someone unknown, fervent applause quickly blazed throughout the hall!
"Click click click!" Gryffindor's little Colin frantically took photos, his cheeks flushed with excitement.
Everyone's eyes lit up... even Slytherins couldn't help but applaud and praise. If before they were immersed in the security Headmaster Dumbledore brought, now they felt a courage... that they themselves could resist storms and terror!
One hundred Galleons! Charge!
At the staff table, the professors were stunned. Professor Flitwick jumped excitedly, shouting, "That's my student!" Even Professor Snape raised his eyebrows high, snorted, and gave an almost imperceptible clap.
On the platform, Headmaster Dumbledore was stunned. Applause swept through the hall like a storm. Looking at those children, Dumbledore suddenly felt they had grown up.
After a long moment, his face showed a helpless yet gratified smile. Wrinkles were pushed up by the smile, revealing how aged this face had become.
He had underestimated his students. This Chamber opening had instead become a trial for the students. And Ethan had used this to break through his inner shadows, leading the entire school to rise up courageously. At the same time, once again elevating his image and reputation.
Just... for some reason. Dumbledore felt a sense of incongruity. As if a large hand were secretly manipulating all of this. Like a woven spider web, drawing moths into the planned trajectory.
It must be an illusion.
In the prolonged applause, Ethan bowed and slowly sat down. As soon as he was seated, hands reached over from all around, wanting to shake his.
Indian girl Padma Patil blinked her black grape-like eyes, gazing at Ethan with rippling emotion. She removed an exquisite gold ornament from her wrist, gently tossing it onto the plate in front of Ethan with a clear ting.
Third-year Ravenclaw Cho Chang was also drawn in. A blush rose on her small face as she leaned forward to look at Ethan, unconsciously joining the applause.
Until a paper crane flew wobbling to her table. Opening it, Cho's rosy complexion instantly turned pale:
[Tonight 8:30, come to the Round Table Council meeting room!]
The handwriting was messy. The final exclamation point had torn through the paper.
They're panicking.