stonecrandall Chapter 76 Will We Eventually Part Ways, Slack?
Chapter 76 Will We Eventually Part Ways, Slack?
Chapter 76 Will We Eventually Part Ways, Slack? (Second Update of 10,000 words)
The power of example is endless.
After Neville Longbottom was asked his name by Orochimaru and walked out of the classroom with his head held high, the remaining Gryffindors were encouraged.
Ron Weasley gave up on pressuring Harry to take a stand; he was ready to draw his wand and wager with the Slytherins!
The Weasleys have been Gryffindors for generations, and they certainly don't lack the courage to face formidable enemies!
Ron Weasley was just about to step forward.
But there are people who are faster than him!
Seamus Phagani and Dean Thomas stepped forward, drawing their wands.
They're always inseparable, aren't they?
Although no one paid them any attention, this drew them closer together, leading them to make the same judgments, even faster than Ron Weasley.
"We are not afraid of you!"
"That's right, Slytherins, bring it on!"
This is a poor imitation.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, sizing up the two shrewd opportunists, and a sinister smile crept across his face.
He can still remember that afternoon in Amegakure.
In the pouring rain, Tsunade carried Jiraiya on her back, and he stood in front of the two of them.
Behind the three of them lay countless Konoha ninja, their bodies strewn across the ground.
The ninja standing in front of them at that time was none other than Hanzo the Salamander, who was known as a demigod.
What did Hanzo the Salamander say back then?
"Considering that Konoha will be the final victor in this war, I will spare your lives."
Has Hanzo the Salamander never said this to anyone else before?
Why is it that no one else has a similar reputation, but only the reputation of the Three Ninjas is spreading?
Because once humans see a glimmer of hope and find a small hole to crawl through, they tend to relax and give up the courage to persevere.
Only a few truly magnanimous people can give the correct answer.
"Bullshit, Hanzo! We can still fight!"
That was Jiraiya's answer.
This is the only answer.
Even if we die, the three of us will drag you down with us. Who needs your pity?
At that time, Tsunade wished she could shove her hand into Jiraiya's mouth, but she did nothing, simply maintaining the same smile as she does now.
He curled his lips into a sinister smile, then looked at the person who had challenged him with what might be the last look of his life.
Whether he is strong or weak.
It is often said that youthful spirit is something that cannot be regenerated, but if one could return to youth, would that spirit be even stronger than before?
Orochimaru wanted to give it a try.
Orochimaru wanted to recapture the feeling he had when he fought alongside Jiraiya and Tsunade during the Second Shinobi World War.
This was something far removed from his life after he had already defected from the village.
For someone who had witnessed countless deaths, this was utterly absurd and unfounded.
But at this moment, Orochimaru wanted to test whether he could still fight with cold blood in a frenzied manner.
fighting spirit —
break out!
He clearly did nothing; in fact, everyone saw that Slack Anguill didn't even reach into his pocket to pull out his wand.
However, everyone felt as if a venomous snake was coiled around their necks.
No, it's not just wrapped around the neck.
They could even sense that the snake was speaking.
"You may be able to pierce my heart with your sword, but my snake will also bite your throat."
So, do you want to give it a try?
"I'm really looking forward to it."
Orochimaru silently exuded fighting spirit, slowly tilting his head.
Clang!
Two soft sounds.
Seamus and Dean's wands fell to the ground.
The two gritted their teeth and hurriedly picked up the wands, but dared not raise them at all.
They didn't even dare to look at Orochimaru; they just hunched over and rushed towards the classroom door as if fleeing for their lives.
The Slytherins did not make way, but instead looked at Orochimaru, awaiting his orders.
Orochimaru waved his hand lightly, and a way out appeared before the two Gryffindors.
They fled in panic, not daring to look back.
And who is next?
The Slytherins turned their gaze away and followed Orochimaru to the next person.
The person had unknowingly drawn their wand, and now it was impossible to take it back.
The person had fiery red hair and a youthful yet courageous face.
That person must be brave.
After all, his family has been Gryffindors for generations, hasn't it?
"Ron Weasley, I know your name."
To Ron Weasley's surprise, Orochimaru slowly reached into his pocket.
Is he going to let me go?
Ron Weasley thought with a sense of relief.
People always have to grow up. It would be too cruel for a young wizard to face such an enormous challenge right from the start.
But he refused to back down; he still wanted to maintain the family's honor, the honor of the Weasleys, the Gryffindor family for generations!
"I know your name too, Slack Anguill!" Ron Weasley shouted without fear.
"very good."
Orochimaru, once again to Ron Weasley's surprise, slightly turned aside, making way for him to escape the classroom.
Ron Weasley was granted a pardon!
He mimicked Neville's earlier actions, raising his wand high and holding his head high as he strode forward under the piercing gazes of the Slytherins.
He walked steadily and bravely.
At least that's what Ron Weasley thought.
Just then, Orochimaru's voice, like a petrifying spell, came from behind Ron Weasley and struck him accurately.
"Aren't you going to cast a curse before you leave?"
Orochimaru asked with a smile.
In an instant, the Slytherins' malicious gazes multiplied, and all the pressure fell on Ron Weasley in the blink of an eye.
He paused, and the wand in his hand unconsciously lowered halfway.
Unlike Seamus and Dean, who slammed their wands to the ground, or Neville Longbottom, who bravely raised them high, Seamus did not do the same.
He merely held his wand half-suspended, straining to lift it, wanting to turn around but not daring to, wanting to leave but unwilling to.
"Come on, you're not mature enough yet."
Orochimaru waved his hand lightly, and the previously closed escape passage reopened in front of Ron Weasley.
The Slytherins watched Ron's retreating figure as he fled the classroom, observing this Weasley who, while not quite qualified, still bore a resemblance to a Gryffindor.
Now, only Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, the two Gryffindors, remain in the classroom.
Apart from them, they were all Slytherins.
Harry remained motionless. Hermione Granger glanced at Harry, who seemed lost in thought, and wondered if this was the outcome she had hoped for.
Didn't she already pass on Orochimaru's message to Harry yesterday?
Why does he look so conflicted right now?
Can't figure it out.
Even the wisest witch at Hogwarts had things she didn't understand. She shook her head slightly and strode towards Slyke Anguill.
"Aren't you going to take out your wand?"
Orochimaru watched Hermione Granger, the second to last to step forward, with great interest in how this clever witch would handle the situation.
Hermione is indeed Hermione.
"My parents are both Muggles, and I didn't know any evil curses before I came to Hogwarts."
Hermione looked fearlessly at the Slytherins standing behind Orochimaru, her tone more proud than ever before.
"But one year later, three years later, ten years later, I will use my magic to defeat you all one by one!"
"This is your last chance to defeat me. If you want to come, then come!"
Hermione Granger didn't even draw her wand; she simply raised her chin proudly.
She was prepared to be attacked, and she showed the courage she was entitled to.
Unlike the typical reckless courage of Gryffindors, Hermione Granger's courage has its roots in her confidence and pride in her own intelligence.
This is her way of coping.
She believed that with her own efforts and intelligence, she would never be relegated to a lower rank or fall behind others.
She is brave and proud.
This was the first time the Slytherins had come into close contact with such a unique Mudblood. Although their expressions still betrayed their disdain, they felt a growing respect for Hermione Granger.
This mud-bearing variety is quite unusual, isn't it?
They thought to themselves silently, but then they all turned their gazes toward Orochimaru, who was leading them, and awaited his orders.
"A wise and courageous answer. Tell me your name," Orochimaru said softly. "I look forward to your future."
"Hermione Granger, whose parents were both Muggle witches!"
Hermione Granger answered proudly.
She loves her mom and dad, and she has never felt ashamed that her parents are Muggles!
Orochimaru did not respond; he simply waved his hand lightly.
The Slytherins parted to make way, and once again stared at Hermione Granger with eyes that seemed to daggers.
But Hermione Granger did not go any further.
She reached out and pointed to Harry Potter standing next to her.
"Harry didn't leave, and neither will I. We Gryffindors will never escape alone!"
There was nothing she could do, but she stubbornly crossed her arms and stood beside Harry Potter to keep him from being too lonely.
And what about Harry?
The Slytherins all turned to look at their savior, who had not uttered a word or done a single thing from beginning to end.
If we consider the entire Hogwarts school, which house is most afraid of Harry Potter?
Then Slytherin is the only one who fits the bill.
Before they had a close and extended encounter with the young wizard who defeated the Dark Lord, their parents and elders had all speculated about Harry Potter's magic.
Could the infant who defeated the Dark Lord and left his fate unknown be born with unimaginable magical power?
They had their doubts, and no one dared to openly deny them.
Now----
Perhaps the time has come to see its true face?
The Slytherins were filled with unease, but Harry's mind was not on their thoughts.
He just felt a little lost and confused.
Things were developing too fast and too quickly, leaving him overwhelmed and unable to think calmly.
They enrolled together with their best partner, but were assigned to different colleges.
Just when she thought their friendship was over, her best friend still remembered her, and the two embarked on a pleasant nighttime outing.
The forbidden forest under the moonlight is dangerous, and the enemy on the other side of the lake is also very powerful.
But didn't they also manage to escape death?
When did things suddenly veer into an irreversible state?
Was it when the professor told him to keep it a secret, when Ron was loudly proclaiming the "truth," or when he was confronting Orochimaru on the grass?
Just when he felt he was in despair, Hermione brought news.
She said that Orochimaru wanted to put on a show with her to fool the professors who were eager for them to break up.
And so, things have turned out the way they are today.
Led by Orochimaru, the Slytherins, like knights arriving at the castle to challenge Gryffindor, issued a challenge.
The Gryffindors longed to stand up and lead them in declaring war on Orochimaru and on the Slytherins.
It was as if they were nothing without them.
But he didn't want it to be like this, because this planned break always gave Harry a strange feeling, a very bad premonition.
Harry looked up at his friend who had given him a code name, and for the first time abandoned his plan to call him by that code name.
He wanted to ask his friend by his full name, honestly and without reservation.
"Will we eventually go our separate ways, Slack Anguilar?"
As Orochimaru listened to this seemingly familiar question, the afternoon that Jiraiya searched for him after discovering that he had been conducting human experiments involuntarily came to mind.
The two were drinking at a roadside liquor stall, but neither of them spoke.
Only when he paid and got up to leave did he hear Jiraiya's pleading voice behind him.
He asked the exact same question.
Will we eventually part ways, Orochimaru?
When Orochimaru looked up again, Jiraiya was no longer in his sight. He was looking at the boy in front of him who was extremely similar to Jiraiya, yet completely different.
"Who knows, Harry Potter?"