Chapter 43: Scheming Boy George

Chapter 43: Scheming Boy George

"Professor Snape, we booked the entire Quidditch pitch in advance, and it was only because Malfoy called Hermione a Mudblood that Ron attacked him!"

Facing the intimidating Snape, Wood and the others, though furious, didn't dare to argue back. However, Harry wasn't willing to let it go.

Snape's expression grew even more severe:

"You dare to lie?"

"Malfoy, did you call Hermione a Mudblood?"

At this moment, George suddenly spoke up, addressing Malfoy first.

Malfoy, feeling emboldened by Snape's presence and thinking Wood and the others wouldn't dare to cause trouble, raised his head arrogantly and said:

"She is a Mudblood. Hogwarts shouldn't admit Mudbloods as students."

"Who Hogwarts admits as students is not for you to decide!"

Hearing Malfoy's remarks, Snape immediately turned and scolded him sternly.

After all, the witch he loved most, Harry's mother, Lily Evans, was also a Muggle-born.

Seeing that his goal was achieved, George quietly stepped back.

Malfoy, clearly frightened by Snape's sudden harshness—someone who had always been lenient with him—quickly shut his mouth.

Snape turned back to Harry:

"The previous point deduction is canceled. However, Potter, for disrespecting a teacher, Gryffindor will lose five points."

Harry wanted to argue, but Hermione grabbed his arm.

Originally, it was twenty points, but now it's only five. That's already much better.

"Ugh!"

At this moment, Ron opened his mouth, and another stream of slugs spilled out.

"Finite Incantatem!"

George stepped forward, waved his wand, and a blue beam of magic struck Ron. The slugs in his mouth immediately disappeared.

During the tutoring session earlier, Snape had mentioned that if encountering an unknown counter-curse for a dark spell, one could try the general counter-spell first. George had tried it, and surprisingly, it worked.

"Thank you, George."

Ron, now back to normal, immediately expressed his gratitude.

Harry and Hermione also nodded at George. They knew that if George hadn't spoken up and tricked Malfoy into revealing the truth, Gryffindor would have lost fifteen more points.

George subtly winked and then stepped back to Snape's side.

"I wanted to try the general counter-spell I just learned."

Snape said indifferently:

"George helped a fellow student. Slytherin earns five points."

The Slytherin team members, who had just been downcast, perked up again.

"Alright, this matter is over. The Slytherin team will now train two new players. You may leave."

Hearing Snape's dismissal, Wood immediately led everyone off the Quidditch pitch.

However, after leaving the pitch, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sneaked back and hid in the stands to watch.

They weren't there to spy on the Slytherin team's strategies but simply wanted to see who between George and Malfoy would become the new Seeker.

They had learned about George joining the Slytherin team through Ginny the day before.

At that time, they thought George would definitely be Slytherin's Seeker, just like Harry last year. But today, they found out that Malfoy, whose father had provided the entire team with the latest Nimbus 2001 brooms, had already secured the Seeker position.

So they were worried that George's entry into the team might not go smoothly.

"You all know about George. He can perform high-difficulty maneuvers on school brooms that even international Quidditch players struggle with.

Therefore, I have decided to appoint him as the team's new Seeker."

After Wood and the others left, Snape announced George's position on the team.

Malfoy's face immediately darkened:

"Professor, you promised my father I would be the new Seeker!"

"Derrick and Bole will step down to focus on their studies. Malfoy, you will take over as the new Chaser."

Snape replied without hesitation.

This was the arrangement he had decided on last night.

Malfoy did have decent broomstick skills, and his father's generosity had significantly boosted the Slytherin team's strength.

Replacing Terence Higgs, who had lost to a first-year Harry, with Malfoy was reasonable and aligned with Slytherin's interests.

But now, with George's exceptional broomstick talent, the crucial Seeker position naturally went to him.

However, since Malfoy still brought considerable value, Snape replaced the expendable Chaser, Derrick.

"Professor, I disagree. I want to be the Seeker and compete against Potter."

Malfoy immediately protested.

Everyone knew he was supposed to be Slytherin's Seeker. If George took the position, he would lose face.

Moreover, he had always wanted to outshine Harry, and only as a Seeker could he hope to do so.

"Professor, you know George is friends with Harry and gets along well with Gryffindor. If he becomes Seeker, he'll definitely go easy on Harry!"

"Malfoy, do you think Slytherins can't be friends with Gryffindors?"

George stepped forward, facing Malfoy.

"I think not only can we be friends, but if it's the right fit, there's no reason why a Slytherin couldn't marry a Gryffindor witch.

We're all Hogwarts wizards. Competition is normal, but refusing to be friends or partners just because we're in different houses doesn't make sense.

Who says only people from the same house can be friends or marry?"

The rest of the Slytherin team was stunned by George's bold statement. They thought Snape would surely reprimand him severely.

"Professor, see? If George becomes Seeker, he'll definitely go easy on Harry. He even wants to marry a Mudblood from Gryffindor!

A Slytherin wanting to marry a Gryffindor? That's the biggest joke I've heard today!"

"Silence! Levicorpus!"

Snape's face darkened as he cast a spell, hanging Malfoy upside down.

"Either be the Chaser or leave the team."

"Think you can outsmart me?"

George smirked slightly. He had deliberately provoked Malfoy to say those things.

Malfoy didn't know that Snape's deepest pain was losing Lily to James Potter because of his pride as a Slytherin and the harsh words he had said.

Malfoy's words were like slapping Snape in the face.

"Professor, it seems Malfoy isn't convinced. How about this: Malfoy and I compete. Whoever catches the Golden Snitch first becomes Slytherin's Seeker."

He wanted to make Malfoy submit completely, ensuring he would never challenge him again and solidifying his position in Slytherin.

"Liberacorpus!"

With a wave of his wand, Snape released Malfoy.

Malfoy's parents were close to Snape. Besides being former Death Eaters, they were also classmates, and Snape had almost become Malfoy's godfather.

If Malfoy hadn't kept hitting a nerve today, Snape wouldn't have been so harsh.

"Fine. Compete. The winner becomes Seeker, the loser becomes Chaser."

(End of Chapter)