A certain broken Hogwarts

Chapter 68 The Establishment of Study Groups

At a long table by the window in the library, Owen, half-bathed in the afternoon sun, held a book called "The Principles of Higher Spells" with a strange expression, absentmindedly flipping through it.

The long table was filled with people, including Harry, Hermione, Daphne, Neville who had come with Hermione, and the out-of-place Draco... The atmosphere was so tense it was suffocating.

Owen and Daphne were suppressing laughter, Hermione held her head high with an air of arrogance, Neville fidgeted awkwardly with his hands, and Harry was so embarrassed that he almost dug his shoes through with his toes. Only Draco sat there with his arms crossed, Crabbe and Goyle standing on either side of him, looking down at Hermione and Neville with the air of a mob boss.

As Draco said, he agreed to come with Harry to meet Hermione Granger… but he didn’t offer an apology. Owen, who had just returned to the common room, was also dragged here and was watching the show with a grin.

"Ahem, this is Neville Longbottom," Hermione said dismissively, glancing at Draco before introducing him in a low voice. She then looked at Owen and Harry: "Neville is very grateful for your help in his flying lesson. He's finally decided to work hard and improve, which I think is a little late, but not too late."

Owen looked at Neville, who looked nervous. Under his gaze, Neville straightened his back like a well-behaved student being called on by a strict professor in class, his round face and even his lips were trembling slightly.

During his last flight lesson, Owen's words made Neville realize that he too could be relied upon and trusted. He began to regain his long-lost confidence and awakened the courage hidden deep within him. He decided to become a truly trustworthy person, someone who could protect others.

Neville looked at Owen nervously, his expression a mixture of unease and a yearning for recognition.

Irving nodded gently at him, feeling that the guy's gaze was exactly like that of his loyal fans from a past life. Ah, farewell forever, my dear fans.

Neville breathed a slight sigh of relief, then opened the book in front of him with a determined and solemn expression. Even the threatening look Draco gave him seemed like a gentle spring breeze to him.

Ignored, Draco turned back angrily to continue glaring at Hermione, disregarding Harry's subtle hints of kicking his legs under the table, his eyes arrogant as if he were looking at a slug wallowing in the mud.

"You're that... Hermione Granger?" He drawled out the name in a strange tone, glancing down with a look of disdain.

"Unless you're so mentally deficient that you can't remember anything, this is my name, barring any unforeseen circumstances," Hermione retorted sarcastically, not one to mince words.

Harry frantically rubbed his face, his features contorted in pain. If he had known it would turn out like this, he would never have brought Draco along.

Draco's grey eyes scrutinized Hermione mercilessly, from her messy hair to her oversized front teeth, his expression growing increasingly disgusted.

"If I remember correctly, you seem quite proud of your 'know-it-all' title?" He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, and said slowly, "I know you, a rigid bookworm who shows off like a peacock in every class and loves to boss others around... Given your background, perhaps you think that's something to be proud of?"

As he spoke, his face suddenly contorted as Harry kicked him hard in the shin under the table. He glared at Harry, forcing himself to continue speaking without flinching.

"I know you too, always wandering around the school like a vulgar nouveau riche with your lackeys. Arrogant, rude, self-important, with your eyes in your nose, pathetic that you can only find a sense of superiority from the weaker classmates..." Hermione retorted, arms crossed.

The two exchanged barbs, sneering and sarcastically mocking each other. Harry, pitifully caught in the middle, tried to mediate like a sandwich filling, finally casting a pleading look at Owen.

Owen couldn't help but cough softly, giving Harry a "good luck" look, then exchanged a glance with Daphne sitting opposite him, and they blinked at each other in unison.

"...It's better than you. Nobody can stand your arrogance." Draco's voice rose.

"So what else can you do besides call me 'Dad'?" Hermione was hit where it hurt and glared at him angrily.

"Stop talking!" Harry couldn't help but slam his hand on the table.

"The library is not a noisy place, get out! Get out!" Mrs. Pince, the librarian, rushed over with a feather duster and chased the whole group out.

"Ha, if you're just here to show off that you're not mute, then congratulations on getting what you wanted," Hermione said coldly as she walked briskly outside the library.

"Wait! I don't know what gave you such an unrealistic sense of superiority. To make you face reality, I challenge you to a duel!" Draco arrogantly raised his pointed chin. "You should be in awe, Granger. Some things are not to be challenged, nor can they be broken by you."

"Childish!" Hermione said, head held high, as she turned and walked away.

"Granger, are you scared?" Draco shouted smugly. "Then apologize to me before I get angry, and I might consider forgiving your ignorance."

Hermione stopped in her tracks, her shoulders trembling with rage. She whirled around and brandished her wand at Draco: "Petrify them all!"

Draco was startled and took a step back. An invisible barrier appeared in front of him, deflecting the sudden spell. Hermione was also taken aback, narrowly dodging the rebounding spell, dropping the books she was holding.

"A sneak attack! How despicable!" Draco said angrily and smugly, drawing his wand and shouting, "Stand Still, Die!"

"Tarantella Dance!" Hermione's spell followed closely, and the two sparks collided in mid-air, canceling each other out.

Owen pulled Daphne to one side of the corridor, chuckling as he encouraged them, "Hey Draco, watch out for the book behind you! Oh dear, Hermione, your spell only missed by half an inch, what a pity... Harry, don't just stand there, drag Goyle over here!"

Neville stood by, bewildered and at a loss. Crabbe hopped away like a rabbit, while Goyle, caught in the spell, grinned from ear to ear, tears welling in his small eyes.

Harry stamped his feet in frustration. He glared at Owen, who was fanning the flames, and drew his wand, pointing it at Draco, who had started the trouble: "Expelliarmus!"

Draco's wand flew out of his hand, spinning as it landed in Harry's grasp. Immediately afterward, he was struck by Hermione's Body Binding Charm, his legs snapping together, his arms stiffening at his sides. He swayed for a moment before collapsing to the ground, leaving only his angry and panicked eyes darting around.

Looking at Hermione, who was still holding her wand, Harry said, "Alright, Hermione... I'm so sorry, I didn't expect it to turn out like this..."

"I don't need your apology." Hermione huffed and puffed, putting her wand away as if she wanted to tear Draco to pieces with her eyes.

Just then, Crabbe, who had run a long way like a monkey, came running back, shouting, "Filch is here!"

"Oh no, if we get caught, we might be locked up until Christmas!" Harry grabbed Draco, who was stiff as a board, his hands momentarily numb. "Owen, stop watching!"

"Well, actually it's quite interesting." Owen shrugged and drew his wand. In his opinion, kids fighting was no big deal; he could just stand by and watch. If Voldemort's fights only involved spouting "Grinning Whoosh" or something, the world would be a much better place.

"Stop the spell." Owen pointed his wand at Draco, then at Goyle, who was laughing incessantly. Draco sprang to his feet with a somersault and grinned at Hermione.

"Run!" Harry grabbed him and ran.

The eight of them wandered through the complex corridors and staircases for a long time before they had a chance to stop and catch their breath once Filch's cursing had faded away.

"Listen, this isn't over yet, you despicable opportunist!" Draco pointed at Hermione provocatively. Then he looked at Harry with intense resentment, like a betrayed woman: "You actually helped her against me? I didn't do anything to wrong you..."

"You good-for-nothing who relies entirely on alchemy and dares to cause trouble, you have no right to say such things!" Hermione retorted before Harry could speak.

Draco's pale cheeks flushed slightly; if it weren't for the alchemical artifacts he possessed, he would have undoubtedly lost. He said slowly, "This has always been my advantage, a foundation you can't even dream of matching..."

"It's really impressive how you can justify your incompetence so confidently," Hermione said sarcastically.

"You think I'm afraid of you? I can beat you without them!" Draco exclaimed, jumping up and down.

"Ah, great! Now that you've reached a consensus, why not put your limited energy into your boundless learning?" Owen said earnestly. "Knowledge is power. How about we seek common progress through peaceful competition?"

"Oh! Why don't we form a study group?" he said with a smile, clapping his hands. "To compete with each other in the realm of wisdom and strength, to strive for excellence, and to promote mutual progress... there's nothing better than that."

Hermione and Draco looked at Owen with puzzled expressions, wondering when they had reached a consensus. However, when it came to studying, Hermione wasn't afraid at all.

"Agreed! If you're scared, you can stay away from here in the future," she said, glancing sideways at Draco.

"Who's afraid of who!" Draco was not about to back down.

"See, wasn't my suggestion pretty good?" Owen looked at the remaining people with amusement.

"That sounds interesting," Daphne said with a bright smile.

Harry nodded blankly, feeling that his peaceful life was gone forever. Neville also nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, his face full of excitement and trepidation, just like a slacker who had infiltrated a group of top students.

"Then I hereby declare that the strongest study group at Hogwarts is established today!" Owen said, raising his right hand.

"That's a stupid name!" the others exclaimed in unison.

Crabbe and Goyle secretly stuffed candy into their mouths, nodding blankly. Pitiful, helpless, slow-witted, ignored, but able to eat.

(End of this chapter)