Hogwarts, second floor.
Zabini and the others raced up the stairs, gasping for breath.
They collapsed onto the carpet, their hearts pounding wildly, nearly bursting from their chests.
—What in the world was that?
Was this still Halloween?
"Damn it, what kind of special training did Ethan give his society members? How did they all turn into humanoid monsters?"
Nott couldn't help but swear. He glanced down at his clothes, smeared with black handprints, and felt even more miserable.
Just then.
A faint sound of footsteps echoed through the hall.
The group bolted upright, a flicker of pain crossing their faces.
What now?
What other surprises lay ahead?
Right now, what Zabini wanted most was to drag Malfoy back and force that slimy traitor to suffer alongside them.
The group stood at the ready.
Then, from the shadows ahead, a round figure slowly emerged—it was Neville Longbottom.
Immediately.
The tension eased from their bodies.
Zabini curled his lip, eyeing Neville's uneasy expression, and sneered, "It looks like Ethan Vincent has run out of tricks, sending out a useless lump like you! It's absolutely ridiculous!"
The burly, tall girl, Millicent, burst into laughter, her ample flesh jiggling like waves.
Neville's face twisted, and he gritted his teeth. "Don't... don't underestimate me!"
Underestimating him was like underestimating Ethan, who had personally welcomed him into the society and trained them all himself.
Only Ethan treated him as an equal, never thinking he was unworthy of being a Gryffindor.
He absolutely could not let Ethan down.
Just thinking about those two months of training made Neville shudder.
Parts of his memory were automatically sealed away by his brain, leaving only the agonized, frantic groans of everyone involved.
Neville remembered Ethan telling him earnestly:
"Pain is torment, and torment is grace. You need not fear; this is a great test, bestowing blessings upon others."
"Just do it once, and you'll understand the fun in it."
That's right.
He was ready to spread that grace.
Neville lifted his gaze, forcing himself to meet the Slytherins' eyes directly.
Then he stuck his fingers in his mouth and blew a sharp whistle.
"What are you whistling for?!"
Flint snapped impatiently, raising his wand.
Just then.
They suddenly noticed.
The walls were moving.
As if alive, they cast writhing shadows across the floor.
What... what is this?
"Lumos!"
Specks of white light flickered to life.
When they saw what covered the walls, they all held their breath!
It was Devil's Snare!
Devil's Snare everywhere!
This Devil's Snare was an unknown variant; it was purple!
It clung to the walls like blood vessels, pulsating and throbbing.
And it wasn't afraid of light.
Upon seeing the light, it grew even more excited and lunged forward!
"Don't... don't come any closer! Bombarda!"
"Idiot! Do you want to blow us up too?!"
"I... I can't breathe—"
Neville watched as the group was swiftly engulfed by the mutated Devil's Snare tentacles.
His lips trembled, then curved into a smile.
Haha, I... I'm not afraid of you!
Unfortunately, Ethan had instructed that they couldn't be completely wiped out.
They had to reach the third floor intact.
Neville thought regretfully.
He pulled two Venomous Tentacula from his robes, set them on the ground, patted their leaves, and whispered, "Go."
"Don't kill them."
The fangs in the center of the round cabbage-like leaves snapped open and shut.
They bounced forward and pounced on the Slytherins.
Adding a fresh layer to the screams.
Outside Hogwarts.
Staring at the gruesome scene on the water screen.
All the students were stunned.
The Weasley twins were one thing; Cedric, who wielded Stupefy like a physical bludgeon, was another.
But what in the world was Neville Longbottom?!
In Gryffindor.
Dean Thomas, who shared a dormitory with Neville, murmured, "Neville—when did he get so powerful?"
Every day, they only saw Neville coming and going, looking dazed and covered in dirt.
They had even mocked him back then, saying he'd gone off to be Ethan's punching bag.
They never expected that in just two months, he could take on five Slytherins single-handedly, leaving them crying for their mothers!
Plants?
Plants were a form of strength too!
Dean's face twisted in discomfort.
It was confirmed.
Ethan's Enlightenment Society was Hogwarts' talent cultivation program, wasn't it?!
Professor, we want to learn too!!
Up ahead.
Dumbledore exclaimed, "That color of Devil's Snare—is it a new species? I've never seen it before."
Herbology Professor Sprout was equally astonished. "Indeed!"
"And, I'm ashamed to admit, this wasn't something I taught him."
"For the past two months, Longbottom has indeed asked me for a lot of knowledge—but I never imagined he could actually cultivate a new species of Devil's Snare!"
Of course, there was a reason no one had done it before.
Making Devil's Snare resistant to fire and light?
What was the difference between that and breeding cold-resistant mosquitoes!
Sprout sighed. "It seems Neville has a more capable teacher, one who can truly unlock his potential."
Dumbledore nodded. "Turning the prank-loving twins into experts at chaining Exploding Charms, transforming Cedric, a close-combat specialist, into a master of armor and weapons—"
"And guiding Longbottom, with his interest in Herbology, to cultivate mutated plants."
"Heh heh heh, it seems Ethan is truly dedicated to nurturing his Enlightenment Society."
"I must award Ravenclaw twenty points."
It's just that.
The direction of the nurturing was a bit... unconventional.
Dumbledore gazed at the Slytherins enduring ultimate torment within the Devil's Snare.
"By the way," Dumbledore added casually, "regarding the attitude of those Slytherin students toward Longbottom just now—"
Professor Snape: "—"
He was sweating bullets.
These idiots!!
With no other choice, Snape gritted his teeth and deducted five points from his own house.
Five points each.
Hogwarts, third floor.
Five limp figures sprawled on the ground.
They could fight no more—
Everyone's eyes were vacant.
They had been thoroughly broken.
"—No, don't give up!" Zabini bit his lip, struggling to rise from the floor.
"Although Ethan's society members are bizarre, we've still made it to the final hurdle through our own efforts!"
"Are we really going to quit now?!"
"We carry the honor of Slytherin on our shoulders!!"
The passionate speech hit like a shot of adrenaline, surging through their veins.
They exchanged glances and, one by one, hauled themselves up from the floor.
That's right! We can't give up!
Hope is right in front of us, and the other students are still watching!
Let them see that Slytherin will never bow to Ethan!!
In their eyes, the flames of determination and hope reignited.
"Last floor, let's go!"
Zabini waved his arm.
Staring at Flint and Crabbe, his feet remained planted firmly on the ground, unmoving.
Flint: "—"
So this is how we're going to "go"?
The group regrouped, encouraged each other, and cautiously proceeded down the corridor.
However, they covered most of the distance without encountering anyone or any traps.
—Had Ethan forgotten to set up the third floor?
Where was Ethan himself?
Just then.
"What's that?!"
Millicent suddenly shrieked, fearfully jamming her plump fingers into her mouth.
Ahead on the ground lay a pale shadow.
Like a ghost that had collapsed.
The group approached warily.
To their astonishment, it was a blonde girl in a white shirt, unconscious on the floor!
"I remember her; she seemed to be one of Ethan's followers."
Zabini muttered, prodding the girl's upper body with his toe.
Why no reaction at all?
Would she suddenly leap up and scare them?
However, on the other side.
Watching the scene on the water screen, Dumbledore suddenly frowned.
Something seemed—off—
The next second.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, as the Slytherins advanced, their shadows shifted.
It moved.
As if an entire wall had come to life.
It twisted slowly, slowly.
But this time.
It wasn't Devil's Snare.
In an instant.
It was as though a giant hand had clamped down, silencing all noise, seizing everyone's throats.
The scene fell deathly quiet.
They widened their eyes, staring blankly at the colossal creature unveiling its inky-black scales.
An overwhelming terror slammed into their minds, beyond comprehension, freezing them in place.
What—what was that "monster"?
!!!
Dumbledore's pupils shrank, and he raised his wand, intending to dispel the water screen!
However, he was a step too late.
Under the gaze of nearly every Hogwarts student.
A massive golden eye.
Suddenly opened amid the writhing, inky-black serpent body.
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