Some oter Hufflepuff students had also noticed the way Draco Malfoy and his companions were staring over from the Slytherin table, so they instinctively closed in around Esther, forming a tighter circle to block those hostile gazes as much as possible.
"Don't be afraid," said an unfamiliar older Hufflepuff girl, gently and sympathetically patting Esther's hair.
"That's right," another upper-year added reassuringly. "Our Head of House may be kind and gentle, but she would never stand by and let our students be bullied for nothing. You can rest easy."
Yet another older girl reached out and lightly pinched Esther's cheek, then let out a small gasp of surprise. "Merlin's beard! You're so cute! You look just like a little porcelain doll! How could Malfoy and his lot bring themselves to threaten someone this adorable?"
Faced with this wave of enthusiasm from the senior girls, Esther could only respond with a polite, helpless smile.
Ernie, who had been squeezed to the outer edge of the crowd, complained indignantly to his friends, "That's my sister! What are they doing? Fine, touching her hair is one thing, but why are they pinching her cheeks too?"
Hannah glanced at him and replied calmly, "There's nothing to be done about it. Esther is pretty, well-behaved, and looks just like a doll. Not many girls can resist something that cute."
Ernie was still displeased. "Honestly, Esther just got back from the hospital wing, and now she's surrounded by so many people. What if she gets scared again?"
At that very moment, he completely forgot that Esther's earlier 'fear' had been an act from start to finish.
Justin bumped his good friend with his shoulder and teased, "Look over there, Malfoy from Slytherin has been glaring at your sister nonstop. Aren't you going to go over and do something about it, as her big brother?"
Ernie shot Justin an annoyed look. "Do you think I'm afraid of Malfoy? Sure, the Malfoy family looks impressive these days, but my family isn't exactly lacking either, all right? In terms of bloodline, I'm just as pure-blood as he is. In terms of connections, the Macmillan family has plenty of influence too. The difference is that I don't go around shouting 'my father' all day long like he does, as if he's afraid the whole world won't know how powerful his family is!"
Justin struggled to keep a straight face as he watched Ernie bristle, then deliberately put on a wounded expression. "Hey, mate, I didn't expect you to be a blood purist too. What, do you look down on me for being Muggle-born? That really hurts, you know."
Ernie immediately panicked. "That's not what I meant! My family isn't like the Malfoys, obsessed with blood supremacy and looking down on everyone else! Well—maybe my grandfather was like that, but he's already passed away! I'm saying you shouldn't accuse people for no reason, all right? Comparing me to someone like Malfoy is a serious insult!"
By this point, he was nearly talking nonsense.
Justin finally failed to hold it in and burst out laughing, laughing so hard that he turned to Hannah beside him and asked, "Did you see that? Wasn't he hilarious just now?"
Ernie snorted angrily and turned his head away, only to see Esther completely surrounded by older students, happily accepting their comfort. When he noticed the way she was smiling with her eyes half-mooned, looking genuinely pleased, he somehow became even angrier.
He sprang to his feet so suddenly that Justin, who had just managed to stop laughing, jumped in shock. "Hey, what are you doing, mate? You're not actually storming off just because of a joke, are you?"
"I'm going to find Malfoy," Ernie declared. "I'm going to make him apologize to my sister."
Hannah immediately stood up as well, cheering him on. "That's the spirit! That's exactly what you should do!"
Susan, who had overheard them, cautioned, "Just be careful. If you end up arguing with Malfoy, those two goons next to him look like they're pretty good at fighting."
Justin hesitated for a moment, then stood up too. "I'll go with you. If it turns into a fight, I can at least help draw some of the fire."
Ernie was deeply moved. He clapped Justin hard on the shoulder. "You're a true brother!"
Hannah looked utterly bewildered. "Wait—weren't you going to demand an apology for Esther? How did this suddenly turn into planning a fight? Don't fight! Fighting gets points deducted!"
Susan muttered bluntly, "Why worry about points? Hufflepuff is already dead last. No matter how much we struggle, at best we'll just be competing with Gryffindor for second-to-last place. What difference does it make?"
In the end, however, Ernie never got the chance to go looking for Malfoy.
Professor McGonagall suddenly appeared in the Great Hall, clearly there to find Harry and Ron.
When Harry and Ron, pale-faced and looking as though they were marching to their execution, followed Professor McGonagall out of the hall, the room fell silent for a single second before erupting into discussion.
Many students were convinced that Harry and Ron were about to be expelled, while others rushed to defend them—more precisely, to defend Harry.
Over at the Slytherin table, Draco, who had been glowering all this time, brightened the moment he saw his nemesis Harry in trouble. He immediately grew smug and began loudly mocking Harry and Ron with the others around him.
That was when someone finally had enough.
"Enough!" Hermione shot to her feet, glaring furiously at Draco. With her already bushy brown hair flaring around her face and that expression of righteous anger, she looked very much like an enraged lion—and surprisingly imposing.
"Harry won't be expelled! The only reason they flew to Hogwarts in a car was because someone tampered with things and tried to stop them from returning to school. I believe Professor McGonagall and Headmaster Dumbledore will uncover the truth and give them justice."
Then she turned her glare fully on Draco. "As for you,Malfoy, a bastard who bullies first-years like you is the one who should be expelled!"
Draco sprang to his feet, his pale face flushing red with rage as he glared back at her. "Me? Expelled? My father is a school governor—who would dare expel me? You ignorant little lioness! Instead of barking at me, why don't you beg Dumbledore to find some new parents for your precious Savior once he's expelled and left homeless? Otherwise, the great Harry Potter might have to wander the streets."
The words were vicious—truly vicious.
The Gryffindors could no longer sit still.
"Malfoy, you'd better watch your mouth, or I'll let you experience the power of my fists!"
A tall red-haired boy stood up. Esther recognized him as one of the Weasley twins, though she wasn't sure whether it was Fred or George.
Draco, of course, had no intention of being intimidated by such threats. He sneered and continued mercilessly, "Oh, right, I almost forgot there's another Weasley about to be expelled. But really, isn't that good news for your family? One less child at school means one less burden for that poor, filthy household of yours. You could even use the savings to buy the rest of you some new robes, instead of wearing those patched-up hand-me-downs that have been passed down for decades, wouldn't you say?"
As he finished speaking, Pansy beside him burst into laughter, along with Goyle and Crabbe.
Cruel—truly cruel.
Every sentence struck straight at someone else's deepest wound. Was this some kind of innate villain talent?
Hidden among a group of older girls, Esther listened to the verbal crossfire with mixed feelings. Being dragged into it at the beginning had been frightening, but now it seemed that Draco Malfoy had his hands full. At least for the moment, he probably didn't have the time to bother with her.
***
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