The Professors were relieved, at least the students were safe, and Charlie was truly a good young man who thought of his classmates.
But not everyone thought so.
Professor Snape crushed a Potion bottle because his class was interrupted by Rooster calls several times.
Filch had to feed the Roosters every day and clean up their droppings, so he hadn't had the energy to catch the Weasley Twins on their nightly escapades recently.
In Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
Lockhart stood in front of the podium, smiling broadly.
"Let's open our textbooks to 'Wandering with Werewolves.' "
"This book chronicles my experiences with Werewolves."
"It's very exciting, very thrilling."
He read large sections of the book aloud.
Since the last time the House-elf went out of control, he no longer brought live creatures but instead read from books.
His class was only slightly more expressive than Professor Binns'.
He hadn't read many sentences when the Rooster outside the door crowed again.
Lockhart's eyes suddenly lit up.
"That's right."
He turned around, looking at the students.
"I once used Roosters to deal with many Basilisks."
"That was in Egypt, in an ancient pyramid."
He grew more excited as he spoke.
"There were three Basilisks at the time, very fierce."
"But I easily dealt with them using the Rooster's crow."
Harry and Ron pouted below.
"He didn't say anything earlier; now that Charlie has brought out the Roosters, he's become an expert."
"Anyone who believes him is a fool."
Hermione's face flushed slightly; she had actually believed Lockhart was a powerful Wizard before.
Lockhart walked to the cage and opened it.
"To enable everyone to deal with Basilisks, I deem it necessary to give you a demonstration."
He reached out to grab the Rooster.
The Rooster turned its head.
"Cluck!"
It pecked Lockhart's hand.
Lockhart cried out in pain and quickly pulled his hand back.
The Rooster was unrelenting, flapping its wings and chasing Lockhart.
Lockhart retreated in disarray.
Laughter erupted in the classroom.
Lockhart's face turned crimson.
He quickly closed the cage, pretending nothing had happened.
"Ahem, this Rooster has a bad temper."
"Let's continue with the lesson."
The students laughed even harder... It was Saturday again.
The area outside the stadium was bustling with people.
Students, wearing their respective House scarves and holding banners, surged into the stadium.
Today was the first Quidditch match of the semester.
It was originally scheduled for Slytherin versus Gryffindor.
But Snape suddenly suggested changing it to Hufflepuff playing Gryffindor first.
Hufflepuff didn't mind.
They were terrifyingly strong this semester; they would beat anyone who came.
They immediately agreed.
Gryffindor also did not refuse.
They had to play anyway, sooner or later, so it didn't matter.
In the stadium stands, Draco and Marcus Flint sat in the Hufflepuff spectator section.
Marcus was the captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team, stout and always with a fierce expression on his face.
He turned his head, looking at Draco.
"Why did you suddenly ask the Professor to change the date?"
"Are you afraid to play Gryffindor?"
Draco glanced at him.
Am I avoiding his edge?
He sneered.
"Gryffindor is not to be feared this semester."
"But Hufflepuff is a formidable opponent."
"The date change is to let Gryffindor test Hufflepuff's true strength so we can respond accordingly."
Marcus was stunned, then showed a look of realization.
"I see."
He patted Draco's shoulder.
"You're still the quick thinker."
Ernie, who was nearby, heard this and looked at Draco with disdain.
Draco's face instantly flushed.
"What are you looking at!"
He stood up, glaring at Ernie.
Ernie showed no weakness.
"What's wrong with looking at you?"
Draco was annoyed; when had he, Young Master Malfoy, ever been afraid of anything?
But then he remembered Ernie was Charlie's roommate.
He immediately fumed for a moment in extreme anger.
"Go ahead and look."
"Where's Charlie?"
"Why haven't I seen Charlie?"
Ernie was stunned.
He clearly hadn't expected Draco to suddenly ask this.
It was as strange as someone arguing with you and then suddenly slapping themselves and taking a taxi home.
"Charlie is going to cheer for the Hufflepuff team today," Ernie said.
"He should be in the team's locker room."
Draco nodded and sat back down.
A little more time passed.
The commentator on the field, Lee Jordan, stood up.
He held his wand to his throat.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
His voice echoed through the stadium.
"Welcome to the first Quidditch match of the semester!"
Cheers erupted in the stands.
"First, let's welcome the Gryffindor team to the field!"
The door to the Gryffindor locker room opened.
Seven figures in red uniforms flew out on brooms.
Harry was at the very back.
He gripped his Nimbus 2000 and circled in the air.
A deafening cheer erupted from the Gryffindor stands.
"Potter! Potter!"
"Gryffindor will win!"
Lee Jordan continued speaking.
"Next, let's welcome the Hufflepuff team!"
Everyone's gaze turned to the Hufflepuff locker room.
But the locker room door did not open.
The stadium was silent for a few seconds.
Lee Jordan was stunned.
"Uh, Hufflepuff team?"
He called out again.
Still no movement.
Whispers started in the stands.
"What's going on?"
"Where are the Hufflepuff people?"
Just then.
The Hufflepuff locker room door suddenly opened.
A huge throne slowly ascended into the air.
The throne was entirely golden, with badger patterns carved into its armrests.
Charlie sat on the throne.
He wore a black robe and held a wand in his hand.
Behind the throne followed Senior Jenny and several other Senior girls.
They were not riding brooms but rather standing on a wooden longsword.
The longsword cut through the air, leaving faint trails of light.
The stadium instantly fell silent, then erupted in whispers.
"What is this?"
"I've never seen anything like it."
Charlie flew into the air and stopped.
He raised his wand and pointed it at the sky.
Colorful sparks shot from the tip of his wand.
The sparks exploded in the air, outlining a giant badger.
The badger opened its mouth and let out a silent roar.
At the same time, the Senior girls behind him also launched fireworks with their wands.
Reflected behind the giant badger, it made the badger appear exceptionally imposing.
The Hufflepuff team members flew out of the locker room.
They flew through the fireworks and onto the field.
Charlie sat atop the flying throne, raising his wand.
"Hufflepuff will win!"
His voice echoed through the stadium.
The entire stadium was silent for a moment.
Then a huge roar erupted from the Hufflepuff stands.
"Victory!"
-------------------------------
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