Chapter 121: The Secret Base

Though the professors had confiscated a large number of gaming consoles, it didn't mean students like Draco Malfoy were ready to give up so easily.

Where there's a will, there's a way. The warriors' spirit of resistance remained unshaken.

—After all, their "underground gaming club" base was still undiscovered.

Inside the club base.

The Weasley twins had secured access through the portrait for the warriors, ensuring that even if they lost their gaming consoles, they wouldn't lose their clean robes.

"I can't believe I made it out alive!" Ron collapsed into a chair, looking as though he had just survived a life-or-death ordeal. "You wouldn't believe it—Snape interrogating me about the source of the gaming consoles was like a snake flicking its tongue! I honestly thought I wouldn't make it out of his office!"

Harry nodded fervently, having endured several rounds of Snape's questioning himself. He was still shaken, almost convinced he'd end up buried in the dungeons.

"We kept the secret, Yu. We absolutely didn't give you away!" Ron patted his chest, assuring Jane Yu.

Draco let out a derisive snort. This simple action immediately triggered Ron, who retaliated angrily:

"What are you laughing at, Malfoy?"

"Was it you who ratted Yu out to the professors? You probably ran to them with your tail between your legs!"

Falsely accused, Draco slammed the table, his face flushing red as he glared at Ron.

"Is slander the only thing left in your dictionary, you red-headed mole rat who only knows how to scurry in gutters?"

"Don't you realize that the professors could ask other people besides the club members?"

"And with the massive name displayed on the console when it boots up, even someone as thick as you could guess it was Yu's handiwork!"

Realizing he was in the wrong, Ron begrudgingly turned his head away.

Draco, now holding the upper hand, raised his head arrogantly and triumphantly pulled out a gaming console from his robes:

"Why don't you take a look at this?"

The sight immediately elicited gasps from the group. Their consoles had been confiscated, leaving them bereft of both galleons and joy.

But Draco was different.

His new allowance was enough for him to be a repeat customer.

Though his parents had lost double the galleons, he had gained double the happiness!

The students swarmed around him, reverently running their fingers over the console and murmuring in awe, treating it as if it were a priceless treasure.

"Look! The latest model! I just bought it from Yu yesterday!" Draco boasted. "It supports multiplayer mode—Player 2 can assist Player 1 in completing levels, or they can compete against each other!"

The surrounding gasps grew even louder. Basking in the envious gazes of the crowd, Draco's head was practically tilted skyward.

He had long grown accustomed to the sycophantic flattery within Slytherin regarding the Malfoy family, but the genuine admiration from students of other houses suddenly ignited a sense of pride and satisfaction within him.

This was an unprecedentedly delightful experience!

"But Malfoy, you're the only one with a console now," Ron pointed out sharply. "Who are you going to play with?"

Draco froze, realizing the issue.

Harry stepped forward from the crowd. He approached Jane Yu and resolutely pulled out his money pouch—

"Yu, I'll take one too!"

Perhaps it was a competitive instinct ingrained in his DNA, but he felt he couldn't let Malfoy outdo him.

"I'm donating this console to the club!" he declared firmly, his eyes burning with conviction. "This is my contribution to Yu's gaming enterprise. I hope everyone here can enjoy gaming and find happiness!"

Thunderous applause erupted in the room. If not for the silencing charm, the cheers could have pierced through the entire castle.

"Harry, you're a true warrior!"

"We thank you on behalf of our families!"

"We won't forget your contribution!"

The students hugged Harry one by one and shook his hand. Even a few Slytherins seemed tempted to join the excitement.

Such grandeur! Such vision!

This instantly elevated Harry several levels above Draco.

Draco turned green.

Being overshadowed by his arch-rival's generosity and vision made his blood rush to his head, and his anger felt like it might set his hair on fire.

If he didn't donate a console, wouldn't that make the Malfoys inferior?

As the heir of the Malfoy family, how could he allow the family's prestige to fall?

Absolutely not!

Draco barreled through the crowd, shoving his bulging money pouch into Jane Yu's hands, but his words were directed at Harry:

"Is that all you've got, Potter?"

"One console isn't enough! I'm donating two!"

"This is all for our great gaming enterprise. I want the glory of gaming to shine across the world!"

Once again, thunderous applause filled the room. Such selflessness moved even the Gryffindors, who rarely let go of their animosity, to applaud with genuine smiles.

"Is this really Malfoy?" Ron's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "Could it be someone using Polyjuice Potion?"

Basking in the fervent admiration, Draco once again felt like he was on cloud nine.

He felt as though he stood atop the world, gazing down at everyone, utterly intoxicated.

The adoration from Gryffindors and the astonishment of his rival filled him with unparalleled satisfaction.

Jane Yu, too, was in high spirits.

She couldn't stop smiling.

The crisp sound of galleons falling into her pouch was music to her ears, washing away the sorrow of her failed attempt to drop out.

Please, more customers like this!

Competition is good. Competition is wonderful. Competition drives progress!

As she had hoped, the two of them set the tone for the room. The donation of three consoles in quick succession fired up everyone's enthusiasm.

Some whispered in awe, others cheered loudly, and still others joined the ranks of donors.

Terry Boot from Ravenclaw raised his hand high:

"I'll donate one too! I want to contribute to this great cause! Let's unite!"

Even Slytherins and Gryffindors, known arch-rivals, could set aside their animosity for the shared cause of gaming. How could Ravenclaw lag behind?

Susan Bones from Hufflepuff also stepped forward, clenching her fists with determination written all over her round face:

"I'm donating one too! Hufflepuff won't be left behind!"

The Hufflepuffs cheered as they lifted her up. This was the glory of Hufflepuff!

Jane Yu spoke up to amplify the excitement:

"Perhaps we come from different families, different houses, and different backgrounds—"

"But we share the same great dream. As long as you love gaming, we are siblings from different parents!"

Her words ignited another round of applause, almost shaking the roof off the room.

The warriors from all four houses were swept up in the fervor, many with tears in their eyes, hugging each other tightly as their passion and conviction burned brightly.

Everyone generously emptied their pockets without hesitation, pooling funds to buy more consoles to fill this "underground gaming club."

This would be their battleground for pursuing a great cause and their haven for relaxation!

The Weasley twins clutched their chests, exclaiming:

"Ah—this is our last sanctuary!

"Our final home!"

As long as the green hills remain, there's no fear of running out of firewood.

Jane Yu knew this well. She understood that as long as this "underground gaming club" continued to operate and grow—

One day, it would inevitably be discovered by the professors!

When that time came, she would step forward to take the blame.

With the new rule banning gaming consoles on campus, her deliberate violation of the rule—

Surely, that would get her expelled!

She decided to contribute to the base's construction.

"Perhaps we could hold a competition on Halloween," she suggested. "What do you think?"

The proposal was met with overwhelming support.

"Halloween!" Harry's face lit up with excitement. "The day before is Hogsmeade Day, so we'll have a long weekend!"

His best friend Ron looked at him with a horrified expression:

"But Harry, aren't you going to Hogsmeade?"

Harry shook his head, his emerald eyes filled with burning determination:

"Professor McGonagall rejected my permission form. She must have noticed I forged the signature—"

"But what's so great about Hogsmeade? What is it compared to gaming consoles? I'm staying to practice for the championship!"

Ron found this very reasonable and couldn't help but give Harry a look of admiration:

"You're right, Harry. I'm not going either. Hogsmeade is nothing compared to gaming consoles!"

Seeing his rivals so determined, Draco grew anxious:

"I've been to Hogsmeade hundreds of times. I'm not going either!"

"Potter, just wait to be utterly defeated!"

Everyone present was full of fighting spirit. Older students who had planned dates changed their meeting places from Hogsmeade to this classroom, and students who had planned to shop entrusted their friends with their errands...

Hogsmeade was long forgotten, replaced by the blazing flames of gaming in their hearts!

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