Jogging all the way, Jerry didn't even have time to savor the absurd and stimulating "compensation" he just received. At a corner of the corridor, he used the most basic Scourgify charm to clean the mess off his face. Just as the final bell for class rang, he threw open the door to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
The air was filled with a bitter herbal smell and a faint sense of oppression.
The classroom was already full of students, far more than just Slytherins and Gryffindors.
First-year students from all four houses occupied the four corners of the room in distinct groups. Everyone sat upright, barely daring to breathe.
At the very front of the classroom, behind the podium, stood a tall, thin figure with greasy black hair and a hooked nose.
Severus Snape.
His signature black robes seemed to suck in all the light around him. A pair of obsidian-like eyes coldly swept over Jerry, who had just burst in.
"Mr. Rosier, before you decided to grace our boring class with your presence, should Hogwarts have held a grand welcome ceremony for you?"
The eyes of the entire class focused on Jerry instantly.
"It seems our new Slytherin student believes discipline is merely scrap paper meant to constrain other houses."
Snape gave Jerry no chance to explain. He stepped down from the podium, his steps silent as a ghost. "Find a seat anywhere."
Snape let him off; he didn't deduct points.
Jerry shrugged and sat in an empty seat among the Slytherin students, right next to Pansy Parkinson. Her body gave an imperceptible shudder, but she didn't move away, merely lowering her head.
"Good morning, Pansy!"
Before hearing a reply, Jerry immediately heard Snape's cold voice ring out again.
This time, it was addressed to all the new students.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of Defense Against the Dark Arts, a discipline that demands strict adherence to rules.
I assume many of you harbor unrealistic fantasies about this subject, believing that simply waving your ridiculous wands and reciting a few foolish incantations will solve all problems."
The corner of Snape's mouth curled into a sneer.
"But I can tell you, the Dark Arts... are mutable, varied, and eternal.
Defending against them is like trying to hold back a flood with a net.
Therefore, I will not teach you those flashy, so-called 'heroic' dueling techniques."
Snape paused, his black eyes sweeping over every student, sending a chill through them.
"I will only teach you how to attempt to survive in the face of true death."
Snape began to pace the classroom. His steps were light, yet they brought immense psychological pressure to the students, as if every step landed on their hearts.
"It seems we have reached a consensus."
Snape's voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly. "So-called courage and talent are worthless in the face of death.
The only things that will keep you alive are knowledge and the ability to keep your pathetic little brains calm at critical moments."
He stopped between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff seating areas, his black eyes scanning the tender, fearful faces.
"So, let me see what exactly is inside your heads," Snape asked suddenly, his voice devoid of any fluctuation. "Mr. Potter."
Harry Potter jolted, sitting up straight instinctively.
"Our celebrity."
Snape's lips curved into a sarcastic arc. "Tell me, what is the difference between an Inferius and a ghost?"
The classroom was silent.
Harry opened his mouth, unable to utter a single word.
To him, this question was like asking an ant about the composition of stars.
A hand shot up high in the Gryffindor section. Hermione Granger straightened her back, eager to answer.
Snape didn't even bother to glance at her. His gaze remained locked on Harry, enjoying his embarrassment.
"It seems fame does not bring you knowledge."
Snape withdrew his gaze and continued pacing, as if he had lost interest in the answer. "A ghost is the imprint of a departed soul left upon the earth...
Whereas an Inferius..." His voice dropped lower, taking on a bone-chilling quality. "They are corpses, reanimated by a Dark Wizard's spells. Puppets without souls.
They are merely moving lumps of flesh, executing their master's darkest commands.
If any of you confuse the two, the result will be being dragged into the icy waters of a lake by them, becoming one of their number."
For a moment, the temperature in the classroom seemed to drop a few degrees.
Snape walked back to the podium and tapped the blackboard lightly with his wand.
A line of white chalk writing appeared automatically.
[Lesson One: Identification of Common Threats — Boggarts]
"Since you cannot even distinguish basic necromantic creatures!"
Snape turned around, his voice returning to its usual coldness. "We shall start with something that can intuitively reflect the pathetic fears in your hearts.
Today, you will learn how to face and defeat a Boggart."
Snape pointed his wand at a large wardrobe shaking continuously in the corner of the classroom.
"It will transform into whatever each of you fears the most.
And what you must do is use a simple spell to make it look ridiculous."
Snape's gaze swept the room. "Now, form a line. One by one.
Let me see what exactly a group of foolish first-years could possibly be afraid of."
Jerry's gaze moved away from Snape's expressionless face, sweeping unobtrusively across the classroom, finally landing on the Gryffindor section.
There, he saw a somewhat unexpected sight.
The Patil sisters, Padma and Parvati, the twins, looked a little different today.
Beneath their wizard robes, where there should have been white or grey woolen socks, they were now wearing sheer black thigh-high stockings that hugged the curves of their legs.
The color of the stockings made their healthy skin tone even more striking. In the dim classroom, the lines of their slender legs wrapped in black appeared exceptionally prominent.
And once they wore identical stockings...
The only difference left was the hair ties on their high ponytails.
One was tied with a bright red Gryffindor band, the other with a deep blue one.
Without this small detail, it would be almost impossible to tell the beautiful sisters apart.
What caught Jerry's attention even more was that their earlobes were reflecting the glimmer of magical candlelight with every subtle movement of their bodies.
They were wearing two pairs of dazzling, ornate earrings—the very "gifts" Jerry had given them before.
Facts proved that even girls, like dragons, had little resistance to shiny, golden things.
Seeming to sense a gaze, the sisters' bodies stiffened almost simultaneously.
Padma and Parvati looked up in unison, their eyes searching through the dim classroom, and soon met Jerry's gaze.
"It's that bastard!"
Padma and Parvati certainly hadn't forgotten.
The night they lost the bet last time...
It was the most shameful and thrilling night the Patil sisters had ever experienced in their lives.
They clearly remembered how, in the bustling, brightly lit Great Hall, under everyone's noses, they had used the cover of the table to blushingly stuff their still-warm panties into Jerry's hand.
The sticky texture and the brief heat of Jerry's fingers touching their palms gave them goosebumps all over.
What was even more unforgettable was what happened afterward—being asked by Jerry to lift their skirts slightly in the name of "checking if the bet was fulfilled," displaying the shameful sight of having nothing but bare skin beneath their skirts.
Although it only lasted a few seconds.
The feeling of their most private parts being scrutinized by a male gaze made their legs go weak, nearly unable to stand.
And in the end, they had to finish that dinner in front of everyone as if nothing had happened.
Every time someone walked past them, every time they shifted slightly, the draft under their empty skirts and the strange sensation of the cold wooden bench directly touching their skin reminded them constantly of their shameful state.
That experience left Padma and Parvati with extremely complex emotions toward Jerry: resentment and shame mixed with a trace of indescribable, hidden excitement they were unwilling to admit even to themselves.
So at this moment, when caught by the boy's gaze while wearing the earrings he gave them, memories of that night flooded back like a tide.
Subconsciously, they clamped their legs together, then panicked and looked away with a hint of annoyance, daring not to meet his eyes again.
A flush lingered on their faces for a moment before the sisters quickly lowered their heads, pretending to read their books seriously.
However, the corners of their eyes couldn't help but drift uncontrollably toward the Slytherin section.
Parvati nudged Padma gently with her elbow, whispering through gritted teeth, "Look at his smug face. I really want to gouge his eyes out."
"Keep it down, Professor Snape is watching."
Although Padma warned her, her knuckles were white from gripping her quill, clearly not calm inside either. She couldn't help touching the cool, ornate earring on her lobe, feeling mixed emotions.
These earrings were too beautiful; their mother had never owned such exquisite magical jewelry. Not only did they sparkle, but they also carried a faint warmth, capable of warding off some hexes.
For them, coming from a middle-class wizarding family, these were absolute luxuries.
But thinking of the price paid for them made Padma feel both ashamed and angry.
"We can't just let this go," Parvati said, her face full of defiance. She leaned closer, her warm breath blowing in Padma's ear. "We have to win it back! If he loses..."
"If he loses, then what?"
Padma raised an eyebrow, intrigued by her sister's words.
"If he loses... if he loses, we'll make him take off his damn underwear in front of everyone and give it to us!" Parvati said fiercely, as if this would even the score.
Padma was stunned for a moment, then a deeper blush spread across her face. She slapped her sister lightly in rebuke. "What are you saying? What do we want his underwear for? It's filthy!"
"I... I was just making a point!"
Parvati stammered but quickly regained her righteousness, retorting in a barely audible voice, "Who said we want it?
We just want him to take it off, to let him taste what it's like to eat in the Great Hall with a bare butt!
And... and we can... secretly see if that thing of his is really like the ones in the books..."
Parvati's voice grew smaller and smaller, the last sentence almost a mosquito's hum, but Padma heard it clearly.
Padma's heart skipped a beat. Messy images floated uncontrollably into her mind, and her face burned even hotter.
She didn't argue further, just pinched her palm with her fingernails, but inside, she had already begun calculating how to drag this hateful Slytherin boy into the same shameful situation next time.
On the podium, Snape signaled for the line to move forward. A skinny Hufflepuff boy walked at the front, his face pale.
The wardrobe door opened, and the Boggart twisted into a three-headed dog, its blood-red eyes staring dead at him.
The boy screamed and waved his wand, but fear made him mispronounce the spell, producing only white smoke.
The three-headed dog roared and lunged; the boy shrieked, dropped his wand, and fled.
Snape expressionlessly recalled the Boggart, snorting a cold "Pathetic."
The students following were no better.
A Ravenclaw girl wept before the phantom of her angry mother; another Gryffindor student froze in place, terrified by a giant, hairy spider.
The classroom was permeated with the scent of panic and failure. Not a single person successfully repelled their Boggart.
But Parvati's eyes lit up. She whispered excitedly into Padma's ear again, "None of them can do it!
That Slytherin pretty boy definitely can't either!"
Looking at her classmates, faces pale and on the verge of tears, Padma felt a strong surge of confidence.
She nodded. "This is a good chance. We'll bet on this."
"Bet on whether he can handle the Boggart!"
Parvati said quickly. "If he's scared witless, we win!
If he succeeds... he wins."
Hearing the second half, Padma's excitement cooled slightly. She asked hesitantly, "But what if... what if he wins again?
What will he make us do?
We can't..."
Padma didn't finish, but the meaning was clear.
"What are you afraid of?"
Parvati seemed unconcerned. She curled her lip, her voice carrying a trace of self-mockery and reckless bravado. "Is there anything more shameful than eating bare-assed in the Great Hall and giving him our panties?
What else can he do?
Does he really want to do that to us?"
These words were like a shot of adrenaline, dispelling Padma's last scruples.
Yes, the most shameful thing had already been done; what was there to fear?
Padma's eyes became firm again, even carrying a hint of greed. "Then what do we want if we win?
I don't want his dirty underwear."
"Of course not!" Parvati had already thought it through. She lightly stroked the ornate earring on her lobe, eyes full of desire. "We want necklaces! Necklaces that match the earrings he gave us! A set!
Think about it; having just earrings leaves the neck so bare and monotonous."
This proposal instantly struck Padma's heart.
She immediately pictured herself wearing a full set of gorgeous magical jewelry; it would surely make every girl in the house envious.
"Okay!" Padma made up her mind. "Let's do it. This time, he absolutely cannot win!"
Just as the sisters reached a consensus, eyes shining with determination to win, Snape impatiently dismissed another student whose legs had given way before a giant worm.
His cold gaze swept over the line, and Jerry happened to be at the head of the next group.
The opportunity had arrived.
Taking advantage of the moment Snape turned to reset the wardrobe spell, Parvati pulled Padma, crouched down, and with an agility unbefitting their elegant appearance, quickly broke away from the Gryffindor line. They slipped silently across the empty space in the middle of the classroom to the side of the Slytherin line.
"Jerry!"
"Jerry!"
Two nearly identical voices, filled with suppressed excitement and provocation, rang out beside Jerry.
Jerry turned his head to see the Patil sisters squeezing in beside him, pushing Pansy Parkinson further in.
A faint scent of parchment and girlish fragrance wafted from them.
Pansy let out a dissatisfied snort but didn't speak, merely leaning back slightly and pricking up her ears, clearly intending to hear what they wanted.
Jerry looked at the twins. Their faces bore a strange mix of expressions—both the shame of unfinished business and the smugness of impending revenge.
"Is something the matter, Gryffindor's Patil sisters?"
Jerry's tone was flat, as if none of the previous entanglements had ever happened.
"We want to bet with you again!"
Parvati spoke first, trying to make her voice sound confident. "We bet on this—the Boggart!"
She pointed her chin at the shaking wardrobe at the front of the classroom.
"We bet you don't dare face it, or that you'll be scared to tears by it."
Padma added, a provocative smile on her lips.
Jerry was slightly surprised at first, then a knowing smile appeared on his face.
"Oh? And the stakes?"
Jerry asked with interest. "If I win, what do you plan to give me this time?
Is it... bras?"
Jerry's words made the sisters' cheeks flush red instantly.
"We won't lose!"
Parvati retorted through gritted teeth. "If we win, you have to get us necklaces that match these earrings!
Two of them!"
"If you win..."
Padma took a deep breath and stated the condition they had discussed, one they believed was impossible to happen. "...Name your condition."
The sisters looked at Jerry confidently, waiting for him to hesitate out of fear or refuse out of anger.
However, Jerry just looked at them. Those eyes held no fear, only amusement.
He smiled and nodded lightly.
"Deal."
Jerry agreed so crisply that the Patil sisters were stunned.
Pansy, watching from the side, took it all in. She curled her lip, looking at the twins with pity, as if looking at fools.
A devil who could casually kill Dark Wizards and Ministry Aurors would be afraid of a Boggart?
Don't make your brother Jerry laugh!
Just as Jerry's crisp "Deal" echoed in the Patil sisters' ears, leaving them momentarily unsure of how to react, the heavy door of the dungeon classroom was pushed open without warning.
Creak!
In a classroom where students breathed with caution, this abrupt sound was exceptionally jarring.
Everyone's eyes, including Snape's displeased gaze, turned toward the door in unison.
A tall, blonde woman walked in.
She wore a well-tailored dark green robe, her steps steady, her expression cold.
Her arrival seemed to bring a chill distinct from the damp cold of the dungeon.
"Selena."
Snape's brow furrowed tightly immediately, his thin lips pressed into a straight line, clearly extremely displeased with this uninvited intrusion.
Snape was about to speak, his tone already brewing with his usual acrimony and sarcasm: "I thought my class..."
"I'm just here to audit, Severus.
After all, it's my first time being a professor at Hogwarts; I have much to learn from you."
Selena gave Snape no chance to finish his sentence.
Her voice was crisp and cold, plugging Snape's words directly.
Selena didn't even look at Snape much; she simply swept the students in the classroom with her sharp eyes, then walked straight to the shadows at the back of the room. She found an empty seat, sat down, crossed her legs elegantly, and adopted the posture of a bystander.
Snape's face was dark enough to drip water, but ultimately he said nothing, merely letting out a snort of unclear meaning through his nose, acquiescing to her presence.
The atmosphere in the classroom became even more oppressive.
Jerry, however, raised an eyebrow slightly.
He didn't turn around.
But from the moment that woman stepped into the classroom, a thick, tangible malice locked onto his back like a maggot in the bone.
Time passed slowly in the stifling atmosphere.
Snape watched coldly as one freshman after another went up, and one after another failed before their respective fears.
The classroom echoed with suppressed sobbing and the roars of the Boggart transforming into various monsters, but no one could successfully cast the simple spell.
Soon, the line moved to Jerry.
However, as if fate were playing a bad joke, standing directly in front of him was Hannah Abbott from Hufflepuff.
Hannah, with her two blonde braids and cheeks still carrying a bit of baby fat.
At this moment, her face was pale, and her hand holding the wand trembled slightly.
Hannah took a deep breath, seeming to try and encourage herself, then took small steps forward.
Snape waved his wand expressionlessly, opening the wardrobe door.
The thing inside shook, then tumbled out.
In front of Hannah, it twisted and deformed, finally turning into a pale-faced vampire in a black suit with sharp fangs revealed, opening its arms and approaching Hannah step by step.
"Ah!" Hannah let out a short scream, instinctively taking a step back.
"The spell, Miss Abbott," Snape reminded coldly, devoid of emotion.
"Riddi... Riddikulus!"
Hannah's voice carried a sob as she waved her wand frantically, but the sound was too weak and filled with fear.
The vampire Boggart didn't change at all; instead, it grinned, revealing a bloodthirsty smile at her.
The girl's psychological defense collapsed completely.
She dropped her wand, covered her face, and ran crying back to the Hufflepuff line.
Snape impatiently used his wand to drive the Boggart back into the wardrobe.
He didn't even bother to evaluate Hannah's performance, merely turning his gaze to the next person in line.
"Next, Mr. Rosier."
At this moment, the eyes of everyone in the classroom focused on Jerry.
The Patil sisters held their breath, leaning forward, their eyes shining with tension and anticipation. How they hoped Jerry would be scared into fleeing like the students before him.
In the back of the classroom, that tangible malice became more focused.
Selena's gaze seemed to want to pierce Jerry's body, to see what kind of fear was hidden deep in his soul.
Under everyone's gaze, Jerry walked out with a calm expression, his steps steady, forming a sharp contrast with the trembling students before him.
Snape was just about to wave his wand to open the wardrobe when he felt an extremely unusual magical fluctuation coming from the back of the classroom.
His sharp gaze immediately shot toward Selena in the shadows, just in time to see a nearly imperceptible, extremely faint black light flash from her fingertip hidden under her robe.
"You..." Snape's face changed, and he moved to stop it immediately.
But it was too late.
Selena's action was lightning fast; that silent, invisible spell had already hit the shaking wardrobe.
BANG!
The wardrobe door wasn't opened; it was blown apart from the inside by a massive force, wood splinters flying everywhere.
A scorching wind carrying the scent of sulfur swept out from the wardrobe, knocking the students in the front row askew.
That was no longer a Boggart—or rather, not an ordinary Boggart.
Amidst the tooth-aching sound of bones deforming, a colossal, pure black figure squeezed out of the cabinet. Its body expanded rapidly, nearly hitting the low ceiling of the dungeon classroom.
It was a true dragon. Every scale was as smooth and hard as obsidian, and a pair of lava-like golden vertical pupils burned with pure desire for destruction.
It gave no one time to react.
The dragon opened its giant maw filled with sharp teeth, locking onto Jerry standing before it. A blinding orange-red light lit up deep in its throat—a devastating dragon breath was charging up.
Simultaneously, its thick hind legs kicked off the ground violently, and its massive body lunged toward Jerry with astonishing speed completely inconsistent with its size.
"Heavens!" The Patil sisters screamed, their faces pale with terror.
Just moments before the fatal dragon breath spewed out, just as the claws were about to tear Jerry apart, Jerry moved.
Jerry leaned backward, dodging the swipe of the dragon claw with a flexibility hard for ordinary people to achieve. Powering his legs, he floated backward several meters lightly as a feather.
WOOSH!
The scorching dragon flame surged out, grazing the spot where he had just stood, scorching the hard stone floor black and filling the air with a pungent smell.
Missing its first strike, the dragon immediately twisted its head, a second breath following close behind.
Jerry didn't even look at the onrushing flames; he simply waved his wand casually.
A barrier, invisible to the naked eye but incredibly solid, formed instantly in front of him. The dragon fire slammed into it as if hitting an invisible wall, spraying out to the sides and burning several nearby desks to ashes.
"Riddikulus!"
As he deflected the dragon fire, Jerry's clear and steady voice rang out in the classroom.
The majestic black dragon, radiating terrifying pressure, froze abruptly the moment the spell hit it.
Its massive body began to shrink rapidly like a deflating balloon, and its obsidian scales turned into colorful, comical polka dots.
With a poof, a crooked clown hat sprouted on the dragon's head, and a red ball appeared on its nose.
It opened its mouth, trying to spew fire again, but instead spat out a long string of brilliant soap bubbles.
The black dragon, terrifying enough to scare adult wizards, turned into a ridiculous clown dragon, waving its stubby front claws and clumsily chasing the bubbles it spat out.
The entire classroom fell into dead silence.
Until!
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Crisp, slow, and clear applause rang out in the dungeon classroom.
Everyone looked in disbelief at the source of the applause—Snape.
The professor known for his acrimony and stinginess with praise was standing by the podium. Although his face remained expressionless, he was applauding Jerry.
Snape's applause wasn't enthusiastic, but in this dead silence, it was as shocking as a drumbeat.
Snape's applause was like a signal.
After a brief moment of shock, thunderous applause and cheers exploded in the classroom.
"That was amazing!"
"He actually did it!"
The first-year freshmen, regardless of house, cheered from the bottom of their hearts for this brilliant scene.
They had just witnessed pure fear transformed into the most hilarious comedy.
Hermione Granger clapped especially hard, her small face filled with admiration and excitement.
Hermione knew better than anyone that what Jerry had just displayed wasn't just simple spell technique. That calm mindset in the face of danger, that flowing counter-curse, was precious knowledge she couldn't learn from any book.
'It seems I really have to go to Jerry for tutoring...'
Just thinking of this thought, Hermione's cheeks flushed imperceptibly.
Beside Hermione, Hannah Abbott, who had been scared to tears earlier, was also clapping hard. Her eyes still held tears, but they were filled more with the light of worship.
Having personally experienced the despair of being paralyzed by fear.
Hannah understood even better how incredible it was to face and defeat it as easily as Jerry did.
Amidst the jubilation, only a few people looked exceptionally grim.
The Patil sisters' faces alternated between red and white. Their hands hung stiffly at their sides, completely forgetting to applaud.
Their minds were blank, with only the phrase "Name your condition" echoing constantly. A fear even stronger than facing a Boggart rose from the bottom of their hearts.
And in the Gryffindor line, Ron Weasley's face was as gloomy as a storm cloud.
He had planned to amaze everyone with a beautiful counter-curse when facing his most feared spider, winning everyone's admiration.
But now, all the spotlight, all the glory, had been snatched away by that slick Slytherin he despised the most.
That feeling was worse than facing an Acromantula directly.
"Damn Slytherin!"
Amidst the warm applause, only Selena remained absolutely silent in the shadows at the back of the classroom.
Selena didn't clap; instead, the corner of her mouth curled into a playful, cold arc.
Looking at the boy standing in the center of the classroom, accepting everyone's adoring gazes, the killing intent hidden deep in her eyes didn't diminish in the slightest. Instead, it became even thicker because of the strength he displayed, far surpassing his peers.
Jerry seemed not to feel the gaze behind him that almost froze him.
He simply gave an impeccable bow to his cheering classmates, his movements as fluid as if he were attending a grand ball, rather than having just experienced a sudden battle.
"Thank you, everyone."
Jerry said softly. His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly covered the lingering applause.
Selena didn't spare another glance. She turned and left the classroom as abruptly as she had arrived, her steps silent.
The heavy wooden door closed behind her with a soft, dull thud, taking that freezing gaze with it.
The feeling of a thorn in his back disappeared.
Jerry put away the smile on his face and turned back to the Slytherin seats.
"A... quite impressive demonstration, Mr. Rosier."
Snape's unique, slow drawl rang out, silencing the noisy classroom instantly.
Snape looked at Jerry, a complex light flashing in his black eyes.
"Given that you handled an... unexpected situation beyond the syllabus."
Snape paused, his voice exceptionally clear in the empty classroom. "Ten points to Slytherin."
After announcing the points, Snape moved his gaze away from Jerry. That brief, nearly approving emotion vanished quickly, replaced by Snape's usual, temperature-less scrutiny.
Snape's gaze swept slowly over the Gryffindor line like a searchlight.
The Gryffindor students instinctively straightened their backs, tension filling the air again.
Ron Weasley's heart was in his throat; he both hoped to be called and feared it.
However, Snape's gaze eventually passed him, fixing on the black-haired boy with round glasses and a lightning scar on his forehead.
"Next!" Snape's voice carried an almost deliberately prolonged disgust. "Mr. Potter."
When the bell rang for the end of class, the Patil sisters bolted almost instantly.
Like two startled deer, they rushed out of the dungeon classroom without even saying goodbye, looking as wretched as if an ogre were chasing them.
Jerry watched their fleeing backs, the corner of his mouth curling into an imperceptible arc.
He wasn't worried at all about the Patil sisters breaking their promise.
After all, greed is human nature!
Jerry turned his head and whispered to Draco Malfoy beside him, "Come to my dorm tonight. The odds sheet for the Quidditch Round of 16 tomorrow is ready."
Malfoy's eyes lit up instantly, flashing with undisguised excitement.
Malfoy had been coveting the latest Nimbus 2000 for a long time.
Although his father Lucius always said he would buy it for him, Draco knew clearly that it was just an empty promise to motivate him, impossible to fulfill in the short term.
And these "small businesses" with Jerry were the only way for him to achieve financial freedom and buy his beloved broom with his own money.
"No problem, Jerry, I promise to be on time!"
Malfoy patted his chest vigorously, as if swearing allegiance.
As soon as he finished speaking, he eagerly grabbed his schoolbag, mumbling about dragging his followers to collect the balance for today's bets, and ran excitedly out of the classroom.
The classroom emptied gradually. Jerry packed his things unhurriedly, preparing to leave.
"Um... Rosier."
A slightly hesitant voice came from in front of him.
Jerry looked up to see Hermione Granger standing before him, holding a stack of books bigger than her head.
Her face still carried some dejection from failing against the Boggart, but her eyes were clear, filled with curious thirst for knowledge.
In the end, Harry also failed to conquer his fear—the Boggart turned into the portrait of Voldemort, and the bone-chilling cold made Harry stiff all over, unable to chant the spell.
And Ron was even worse. The Acromantula he faced appeared for less than three seconds before he dropped his wand in terror, crying and running to the back of the classroom, performing even worse than most of the girls.
In contrast, although Hermione failed when facing the illusion of Snape announcing she had failed all her subjects, at least she didn't cry, merely retreating with a pale face.
"Something the matter, Hermione?" Jerry looked at her, his tone calm.
In Hermione's clever brown eyes, there was a mix of thirst for knowledge and a trace of girlish coyness. She seemed to struggle internally for a long time before two lovely blushes floated uncontrollably onto her cheeks.
"I... I wanted to ask!"
Hermione finally mustered her courage, but her voice was as small as a mosquito's buzzing. "Do... do you still need me to... wash your clothes?"
After asking this, the crimson quickly spread from her cheeks to the roots of her ears.
Jerry looked at her shy yet serious appearance without any hesitation.
"Of course."
He answered crisply and unquestionably, as if it were a matter of course.
The affirmative answer relieved Hermione, but also gave her a stranger feeling in her heart.
Jerry's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, then he changed the subject: "Looking at your expression, besides this, do you have some magical questions you don't understand?"
Hermione's eyes lit up immediately. She nodded instinctively, leaning forward slightly, just about to ask about the principle of that counter-curse.
"Hermione!
What are you talking about with this Slytherin slicker?"
A voice filled with jealousy and hostility came from behind.
Ron Weasley, red-faced, walked over quickly, grabbed Hermione's arm, and glared warily at Jerry. "Stay away from him; he's not a good person!"
Jerry didn't even bother to spare a glance for Weasley behind him. His gaze remained on Hermione as he said calmly, "I have no classes this afternoon, but I'm going to clean the abandoned girls' washroom on the third floor. If you really want to figure it out, you can find me there."
With that, Jerry took his things and walked straight past them.
Just out of the dungeon classroom, around a cold corner, two beautiful figures came into his view.
Katherine was leaning against the cold wall, arms crossed, posture elegant.
Beside her stood Cassandra.
Cassandra seemed very constrained. Her head was lowered, eyes fixed on the tips of her shoes. Her fair cheeks, painted with gothic smoky makeup, were flushed suspiciously red, and her fingers unconsciously twisted a corner of her robe.
Jerry's steps didn't pause at all. He walked straight over, a perfect smile on his face.
Knowing exactly who they were waiting for, Jerry still asked knowingly, his voice carrying a gentle teasing: "Waiting for me to have lunch together, Senior?"
Hearing his voice, Cassandra buried her head even lower, almost retracting into her robe.
Katherine immediately straightened up, a mysterious smile blooming on her face.
"Of course!" Her voice carried a hint of laughter. "We are waiting here specifically for you, Little Junior."
Katherine smilingly put her arm around Cassandra's shoulder, leading her and Jerry to walk side by side toward the Great Hall.
The three formed a beautiful scenery, attracting the attention of a few passing students in the corridor.
However, after just a few steps, Jerry noticed something wrong beside him.
Cassandra's gait was very strange.
Her legs were clamped tight, moving in almost tiny steps. Every few steps, Cassandra's body would tremble slightly uncontrollably, and her shoulders would shrink.
Cassandra kept her head down. From Jerry's angle, he could only see her biting her lower lip tightly, the blush on her cheeks so deep it looked like she had applied too much rouge.
Jerry's gaze swept the surroundings. The corridor was empty now, save for the three of them.
He slowed his pace imperceptibly, falling half a step behind, walking right behind Cassandra.
In the next instant, under Katherine's playful gaze and Cassandra's startled cry, Jerry's hand shot out like lightning, directly lifting the back hem of Cassandra's Slytherin robe and the skirt underneath.
The sight before him immediately confirmed his guess.
Beneath the fabric, the girl's white, perky buttocks were fully revealed.
A simple pair of white cotton panties wrapped tightly around her.
However, in the most private place at the front of the panties, a distinct protruding outline was held up high by a foreign object.
It was a small, pink vibrating egg, clamped firmly in the secret place between her legs.
A thin layer of cotton cloth couldn't block its power at all. It was pressed tight against that most sensitive, tender flesh, emitting a silent buzzing vibration.
It was this uninterrupted stimulation that made every step Cassandra took incredibly difficult, her body trembling involuntarily from the unsuppressable pleasure.
That patch of what should have been pure white cotton fabric was now soaked by a large area of continuously seeping love juices, darkening in color and clinging tightly to her full mound, even faintly revealing the outline of the pale flesh beneath.
The vibration of the egg transmitted through the soaked fabric, acting directly on the most sensitive flower heart. Every buzz caused Cassandra's body to spasm uncontrollably.
"Mmh..."
The moment her skirt was lifted and her most shameful secret exposed to Jerry's eyes, Cassandra could no longer hold back. A suppressed moan carrying a sob spilled from her throat.
Hearing this moan, Katherine, who had been smiling, darkened her face. She took a step forward and poked Cassandra's forehead unceremoniously with her finger, scolding coldly:
"Shut your mouth, bitch.
Do you think two thousand Gold Galleons grow on trees?
If you make another sound, don't think about getting a single Galleon from me, you lowly bitch."
Katherine's words were like ice-dipped knives, each one stabbing into Cassandra's self-esteem.
As she spoke, her thumb hidden in her sleeve moved seemingly casually, pressing the switch on a small remote control.
"Ooh—ah!"
A stimulation several times more intense than before exploded without warning from the depths of her crotch.
Cassandra's body arched violently, her legs going weak instantly. If Katherine hadn't caught her quickly, Cassandra would have collapsed to the ground.
That intense pleasure broke through Cassandra's last dam of reason.
The warm honey juices could no longer be absorbed by that small piece of fabric. Like a bursting dam, they gushed out, soaking the panties completely before winding down the smooth inner thighs Cassandra had tensed from trembling.
The liquid dripped onto the cold stone floor, quickly pooling into a small wet stain.
As Cassandra was half-dragged, half-carried forward by Katherine, her soaked soles left half-deep, half-shallow wet footprints on the dry ground, appearing exceptionally lewd in this empty corridor.
The Great Hall at this time was very different from usual.
Because the qualifying rounds of the Wizard Chess Championship had ended, the Round of 16 was next.
From this point on, it could be considered the true Wizard Chess Championship.
To welcome the ongoing Hogwarts Wizard Chess Championship, the long tables of the four houses were covered with thick white tablecloths that draped to the floor, completely hiding everything underneath.
Exquisite silver candelabras were placed on the tables, the flickering candlelight adding a solemn and elegant atmosphere to the entire hall.
Many adult wizards in various robes, clearly visiting contestants or spectators, were sitting mixed with the students, conversing in low voices while dining. The entire hall appeared livelier and more crowded than usual.
Taking advantage of the lack of attention, Katherine gave a sudden shove, forcing Cassandra to bend down and half-kneel in front of a seat.
"Down, now!" Her voice carried an unquestionable command.
Cassandra's body was tense, like a small beast in a desperate situation. Her gaze scanned the chaotic crowd around her rapidly, trying to find a sliver of a chance to escape.
"No... I can't!"
"Someone will notice!"
"No one will notice!"
But Katherine just sneered, pulling out the draft written for "2000 Gold Galleons" from her robe and waving it in front of Cassandra's eyes.
The golden numbers shone brightly in the candlelight, stinging Cassandra's eyes and completely crushing her last bit of resistance.
Cassandra lowered her body, almost falling, and like a driven bitch, crawled wretchedly under the heavy white tablecloth.
The heavy fabric fell, completely cutting her off from the noise of the Great Hall.
"Let's eat, Junior!"
Katherine licked her lips enchantingly at Jerry. She picked up her knife and fork, cut a piece of perfectly roasted steak, juicy and fragrant, and placed it on Jerry's plate.
Under the cover of the tablecloth, Katherine's other hand had already slid to Jerry's crotch. Her nimble fingers reached in, tugged gently, and completely liberated his thick meat-root from its constraints.
The heavy meat-root sprang out immediately, quivering slightly in Katherine's palm before hanging limply toward the ground.
The hot, damp tip was emitting faint white steam. A few threads of crystal prostatic fluid, with the continuous kneading and rubbing of Katherine's palm, spread over the thick meat pillar, finally forming a teetering drop of water that fell silently toward the ground.
Jerry didn't resist. He simply forked the steak and chewed it methodically, his chewing movements even carrying a kind of elegance.
Jerry's voice was very soft, low enough that only Katherine and Cassandra under the tablecloth could hear clearly: "I need to pee a little, but I'm very hungry right now. What should I do?"
Hearing this, a gleam of excitement flashed in Katherine's green eyes, and the corner of her mouth hooked into a cruel arc: "It's fine, Senior Cassandra will be very happy to help you solve this problem."
Saying this, Katherine's finger hidden under the table pressed the remote control again.
Under the tablecloth, only a muffled groan was heard, followed by the subtle sounds of fabric rubbing against the floor and a body trembling.
Cassandra's body tensed abruptly. An electric-like pleasure exploded from deep within her crotch again, draining her of almost all strength.
Cassandra curled up on the cold stone floor, her body shaking like a sieve. More fluid flowed from her lower body, quickly pooling into a small wet mark beneath her, emitting a faint, fishy-sweet scent.
Cassandra was tense all over, her brain buzzing, the words of Katherine and Jerry becoming blurry in her ears.
"Didn't you hear?"
Suddenly, a foot wearing an exquisite leather shoe thrust fiercely through the gap in the tablecloth, kicking heavily against Cassandra's soft chest with full force.
"Cough!"
A short, painful groan escaped Cassandra's throat. Her body arched backward reflexively, a burning dull pain radiating from her chest.
"Junior needs to pee!" Katherine's voice came from above, filled with cold mockery. "You've been leaking water all morning; you must be thirsty too. Perfect time to rehydrate."
Just as Cassandra was struggling from the pain in her chest, Katherine's other hand had already reached under the tablecloth, accurately grabbing the collar on her neck.
No wonder Cassandra had been keeping her head down all this time; she was wearing an exquisite collar around her neck.
The black leather collar was now tightly choking Cassandra's slender neck, the metal ring pressing coldly against her throat.
Katherine yanked hard, and Cassandra's head was forcibly pulled forward until her cheek almost touched the thick meat-root on the ground.
"How many times do I have to repeat myself, bitch?"
Katherine's tone was filled with impatience. Her toe pressed down hard on Cassandra's chest, pinning her in place. "Or are you planning to violate our agreement right now?"
Cassandra's body trembled violently. Tears flowed silently, sliding past the corners of her eyes painted with gothic smoky makeup, then absorbed by the cold stone bricks. She gritted her teeth, every muscle in her body fighting against this humiliation, yet the pulling force from the collar was too strong for her to break free.
"Hurry up!"
Cassandra's body jerked, a whimper escaping her throat, and her mouth opened instinctively.
The moment Cassandra opened her mouth, Jerry's waist thrust forward slightly.
A stream of warm liquid, carrying a distinctive musky scent, shot violently into Cassandra's mouth.
"Ugh... cough cough!"
Caught off guard by the impact of the urine, Cassandra's throat made violent retching sounds. Her body arched, trying to spit out the foreign liquid.
Cassandra's cheeks flushed the color of liver from holding her breath. Tears and saliva mixed together, dripping down her chin.
However, Katherine's hand gripped the collar on her neck deathly tight, preventing her from retreating, the pressure forcing her unable to close her mouth.
Jerry's stream continued uninterrupted. The warm liquid washed over the depths of Cassandra's mouth, overflowing from the corners of her lips and soaking her gothic-makeup-stained cheeks.
Cassandra swallowed instinctively, every gulp accompanied by a "glug" sound from deep in her throat, like a drowning person forced to drink water.
When the last trace of urine was gone and Jerry let out a satisfied hum, Katherine released her foot from Cassandra's chest but kept her grip on the collar, allowing Cassandra no chance to escape.
Cassandra collapsed to the ground. Her lips were red and swollen from excessive opening and flushing, still stained with crystal liquid, looking exceptionally lewd in the candlelight. She gasped for air, chest heaving violently, eyes wet, radiating the aura of humiliation after being forced.
However, she was given no chance to rest.
Katherine yanked the collar violently, pulling Cassandra's head forward again until the meat-root, which had just expelled urine but remained full and hard, pressed against her lips.
"Now it's time to replenish energy!
Bitch, am I good to you?
Eat more, or it won't be good if you collapse during class this afternoon."
Katherine's thumb pressed the remote control again, increasing the vibration frequency of the egg.
Cassandra's body convulsed violently under the table. Her legs clamped tighter unconsciously. The itching pleasure from her crotch intertwined with the humiliation of being forced in her mouth, causing Cassandra to break down completely.
Slowly, Cassandra stopped struggling and began to submit, like a worn-out doll.
Mechanically, she used her mouth to suck and tease, the swallowing sounds deep in her throat becoming more frequent and urgent.
But submission couldn't hide the clumsiness of her tongue; the "pop, pop" water sounds between her lips and the meat-root continued. Fortunately, these sounds mixed with the noisy background of the Great Hall, and no one noticed the odd noise.
Jerry sat at the table as if nothing were happening, elegantly cutting the steak on his plate, occasionally forking a small piece into his mouth.
Katherine's hand stroked gently in his crotch, fingertips circling around his privates, also supervising Cassandra's actions.
Katherine looked at Jerry's calm profile, a satisfied smile curling the corner of her mouth.
At the same time, she kept speaking words that only the three of them could hear.
"Faster, bitch."
"Is this how you service that senior boyfriend of yours?"
"Open your mouth wider."
"If your teeth scrape the meat, I'll knock them out one by one."
About ten minutes later, with a shallow low growl from Jerry, Cassandra's mouth was instantly filled by the sudden intensified impact, a "woo" sound escaping from deep in her throat before she could digest it.
Scalding turbid fluid, carrying a strong fishy-sweet scent, gushed out like a flood, rushing violently into Cassandra's throat.
"Glug, glug..."
Cassandra swallowed continuously, her throat making painful yet clear sounds. The thick liquid carried scorching heat, washing over Cassandra's tongue coating, sliding down her throat, all the way down.
And Jerry's meat-root twitched violently a few times in Cassandra's mouth, each twitch injecting more essence unreservedly.
Until Cassandra's cheeks were stuffed full, her fair neck taut from the violent swallowing action, blue veins faintly visible.
Some that she couldn't swallow in time mixed with Cassandra's own saliva.
Overflowing from the corners of her mouth, it dripped onto Cassandra's stain-covered chest and the stone bricks, forming a nauseating slick.
Only when Jerry's meat-root finally softened and withdrew from her mouth could Cassandra gasp for air.
Katherine glanced down at Cassandra's wretched appearance, then released her collar. Her finger wiped lightly over Jerry's meat-root stained with residual fluid, then stuffed it back into Jerry's pants. Only then did she naturally retract her finger, the tip stained with thick essence gleaming in the candlelight. Katherine extended her tongue slightly, taking that finger into her mouth.
"Does it taste good?"
"Of course!"