"Wouldn't that be more beneficial for you?" Michael asked indifferently.
"That's true—but I'm sure Cedric and the others would prefer a fair competition," Ryan said earnestly.
"Hmm... definitely a Hufflepuff," Michael mused.
Ryan retorted, annoyed, "Don't think I don't know you're trying to say I'm stupid."
"Hahaha, how could I?" Michael chuckled dryly.
He knew that if it were Ravenclaw, his house wouldn't miss such a golden opportunity.
"Actually—Wade—I wanted to ask—" Hermione said, a bit awkwardly and pleadingly, "Can Harry join the SSC too?"
The air suddenly went quiet.
Ryan felt a little uneasy.
He saw the smile vanish from Michael's face as he looked at the brown-haired girl, then at Wade.
Wade's expression didn't change. He even agreed readily: "Of course, Harry Potter isn't hard to get along with. The problem is you—Hermione."
"—Me?" Hermione looked over nervously.
"Have you forgotten how Ron Weasley made you cry? Potter and Weasley are inseparable. If he joins, he probably won't keep it from Weasley—are you ready to forgive him?" Wade asked gently.
It seemed he had no objection, and all his considerations stemmed from concern for Hermione's feelings.
"Oh, that!" Hermione sighed in relief and smiled, liberated. "That's long past. And he wanted to warn his friend later, didn't he? Even if it didn't help much—after spending time together, I don't dislike Weasley as much anymore. It's not like I'd hold a grudge for a lifetime over one argument, right?"
"Turning enemies into friends, I think it's great," Ryan interjected, easing the tense atmosphere. "And Ron Weasley's brothers are all excellent; he must have an outstanding side too, right?"
On that point... Hermione probably wouldn't agree.
After relaxing, she couldn't help but explain a few more things: "Actually, I hadn't planned on bringing them in... Ron found out Neville made great progress and asked several times, but Neville didn't say anything... But you all know Harry—if the Death Eaters and the Dark Lord return, Harry will be the first one they go after—but he's really not outstanding in his studies, his grades are mediocre, he hasn't mastered the spells taught in class, and he often has Quidditch training—"
In Hermione's eyes, Harry Potter was originally a "good-for-nothing with an empty reputation who didn't work hard at all."
Later, he was "a good-for-nothing with decent character but still not hardworking enough."
When she truly realized that Harry Potter had lost his parents due to the war and was still being threatened by Voldemort and his remaining followers—
Harry Potter was enveloped in a "poor little thing" halo in Hermione's eyes.
—What did it matter if his grades were a bit poor or if he was a bit playful? Seeing him grow up so happily and healthily, how relieved his parents must be!
But then, a greater anxiety welled up in Hermione's heart—she was already a very anxious person.
The thought of Voldemort being so close, Quirrell lurking, and Dumbledore having mysterious, unknown plans, while Harry just spent his days foolishly eating and playing, his homework either cobbled together or copied from others…
Hermione practically wanted to pry open his skull and cram her anxiety inside!
Undoubtedly, Harry Potter's future faced immense challenges and dangers, and those were things he absolutely couldn't cope with by simply copying homework.
Hermione tried to teach them the spells she learned in the Umbrella House, but the problem was—when Wade taught them, she found it very clear and easy to understand. When she tried to teach Harry and Ron in the same way, they seemed to have been hit in the head by a troll, not understanding anything for a long time.
Hermione didn't understand why; she just felt incredibly exasperated. Sometimes she would doubt their intelligence, but seeing Neville's progress, she had to admit that perhaps her teaching method was the problem.
To help Harry improve his abilities quickly, joining the SSC seemed to be the only option. The only thing better than this would be if Dumbledore himself was willing to personally tutor Harry... but how was that possible?
Therefore, despite knowing how presumptuous it was, and that it might even make others displeased with her, Hermione still made the request.
Fortunately, Wade agreed.
Having been in the SSC for so long, Hermione naturally understood that as long as Wade agreed, no one else would be an issue.
"Why did you agree?" Michael couldn't help but ask when they were alone.
"Harry Potter's matter?" Wade asked, knowing the answer.
"Of course." Michael said seriously, "Wade, I don't think you'd be unaware of how much trouble Harry Potter means—I thought you wouldn't like that kind of trouble."
"Hmm, I genuinely don't like it," Wade said, leaning back in his chair. "But if it's Harry Potter, then naturally an exception can be made."
"But—" Michael frowned, puzzled. "After all this time, even Neville should have realized—he's just an ordinary boy, who escaped the Killing Curse for some unknown reason... and for some unknown reason, the Dark Lord disappeared that night, and the whole world put the 'Savior' title on him, as if the Dark Lord was defeated by a baby—I used to think he had powerful magic inherently, but—"
Michael trailed off, hesitant.
"But after starting school, you realized that his wisdom and ability don't match the reputation of 'Savior Star'?" Wade looked out the window, articulating what Michael wanted to say but didn't.
Michael sighed in relief. "Exactly, that's what I meant."
He paused, then added, "You must also see it clearly, and not have any special expectations for Potter because of it. But why—"
"But Michael—" Wade shifted his gaze from the window to his friend, saying, "You shouldn't have forgotten that Potter's parents both died fighting the Dark Lord. They fought bravely until the very end. That night, Harry Potter not only became the 'Savior'—he also lost his closest family—"
"Yes—that's right—" Michael's face flushed with shame, and he stammered.
"So no matter what he did—or didn't do—back then, it has nothing to do with any of that," Wade sighed. "Harry Potter—is the orphan of a martyr."
"Orphan of a... martyr?" Michael chewed on the words, suddenly understanding why his parents wouldn't let him speak ill of Harry Potter when he gossiped about him with them.
"Yes," Wade said finally. "All those who fortunately escaped the shadow of war, those who enjoy the current peaceful life, have an obligation to take care of him—and children like him, don't you think?"