"Hogwarts: Why So Nervous? The Little Badger’s Just Planting a Tree."

As Hannah Abbott fell, gasps of shock rippled through the crowd of young witches and wizards from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. No one understood what had just happened—except for Char, who was closest to her.

From the outside, it looked as though Hannah had simply lost control and plummeted like a kite with a broken string. But Char had caught a glimpse of a sudden flash of light just before it happened. His sharp eyes followed its origin—and there he saw Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle hurrying away from the scene.

A chilling light flashed in Char's eyes.

That flash… was it Malfoy?

It wasn't just any ordinary light. It had a stunning effect—one that could knock a person unconscious. If Char hadn't possessed legendary resistance to stunning spells and dizziness, he might have been the one to fall. But Hannah had no such defense.

A wave of anger surged in Char's chest.

Malfoy. Just like in the original story—a true scumbag.

But now wasn't the time for revenge. Hannah was still falling.

Without hesitation, Char yanked his broomstick into a sharp, controlled arc, chasing after her in a full-speed dive. Around him, stunned silence spread across the field. Some students covered their eyes in fear, unable to watch what might happen next.

Madam Hooch's face turned ashen. She sprang into the air on her broom, but she knew—this had happened too quickly. There had been no sign, no warning. Even if she reacted with all her experience and skill, she wouldn't make it in time.

Her heart plummeted.

At best, she could conjure a barrier to soften Hannah's fall, but even then, broken bones were almost guaranteed. A head injury, however, could be fatal.

Madam Hooch waved her wand desperately, forming an invisible magical cushion near the ground—her last-ditch effort to protect Hannah.

As all hope seemed lost, something unexpected happened.

Char did the unthinkable.

He stood up on his broomstick.

With a sharp creak, the broom bent under his weight and force. Then, like a launched cannonball, Char sprang forward—leaping off the broom and rocketing toward Hannah midair.

Just as Hannah was about to hit the barrier with bone-crushing force, Char's body collided with hers.

Bang.

A heavy thud echoed across the training grounds.

Both of them slammed into the ground.

For a moment, there was only silence.

Dozens of young wizards rushed forward, but none dared to speak. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.

Madam Hooch flew down and knelt beside them, her face pale with worry. She had clearly seen what had happened—Char had taken the full brunt of Hannah's fall. He had protected her with his own body.

How many bones had he broken?

But then, to everyone's astonishment, Char rolled up with a carp-style flip, standing tall as if nothing had happened.

He took a deep breath and exhaled.

That was close.

If he had been a moment slower—if something had happened to Hannah—it could have impacted his goldfish plant cultivation.

As for the fall?

With his legendary vitality, such injuries were negligible.

At that moment, Hannah stirred and slowly opened her eyes, confused.

"What happened to me?"

Finally, everyone around them let out a collective sigh of relief. Even Madam Hooch, who had faced countless dangerous situations, felt her knees go weak from fear.

Grabbing Hannah's hand, she scolded her with a mixture of concern and frustration.

"Hannah Abbott! Did you skip breakfast or are you anemic? You must always report your physical condition before flying!"

She took a deep breath.

"Ten points from Hufflepuff."

Then, her eyes softened as she turned to Char. Her voice held admiration.

"Beautiful flying skills. And the courage to risk your life to save another—fifteen points to Hufflepuff, Char Sprout."

Char inhaled again, composing himself.

He looked at Hannah, whose eyes brimmed with tears, then at Madam Hooch.

Then he spoke.

"I saw Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle leaving the tower earlier," he said, voice calm but serious. "I also saw a flash of light. I think it was a spell that causes fainting. They aimed at me… but Hannah was caught in the crossfire."

The crowd murmured.

Madam Hooch's face darkened.

"If that's true," she said coldly, "then they won't get away with this."

She led Char, Hannah, and several furious Hufflepuffs back to the castle.

"Nonsense!"

Professor Snape's voice was sharp and cold, slicing through the air of his office like a blade.

He glared at Madam Hooch, his face unreadable but stern.

"Malfoy and the others are injured and still in the infirmary. How could they have possibly done such a thing?"

His voice turned mocking.

"They know their limits. Our Slytherin students would never act with such recklessness."

Then his gaze shifted to Char and Hannah, full of disdain.

"Perhaps it was just a flash of sunlight. Some students are quick to point fingers to cover up their own blunders."

But at that exact moment, the door slammed open.

Professor Sprout stormed in, her eyes blazing.

She rushed to Char, her expression full of worry, and checked him for injuries.

Then she took Hannah's hand and stood in front of them both, protective and fierce.

"Our Hufflepuff students never lie," she said, her voice like iron. "Severus, what Malfoy and his cronies did cannot be ignored."

Snape scoffed.

"Hufflepuffs never lie?" he said mockingly. "Professor Sprout, you know as well as I do—children lie. Especially when they want to protect their own."

He waved dismissively.

"You expect us to punish the son of a powerful school governor over your nephew's accusations?"

His voice grew sharper.

"The school board would never allow it."

Professor Sprout trembled with fury. The badgers in the room had never seen their head of house like this—so livid, so fierce. She stood like a lioness defending her cubs against a venomous snake.

Their argument dragged on—accusations, counterarguments, refusals.

Only when Dumbledore arrived did the room grow silent.

But even Dumbledore, wise and just as he was, looked troubled.

What Snape said was technically true.

There was no evidence, only Char's word.

And while Hannah had indeed fainted, she hadn't been gravely injured. Without proof, the school board wouldn't approve a formal investigation.

At last, Dumbledore sighed.

"This matter requires further investigation," he said gently but firmly.

Later that evening, back in the Hufflepuff common room, Professor Sprout was still visibly fuming. Her lips were pressed tightly, and her hands clenched.

The badgers were just as outraged.

Hufflepuff was a house of unity. When one badger was wronged, the entire den rose together.

"Char, we believe you," one student said. "We won't let Malfoy get away with this."

"That snake has gone too far!"

"Snape is just protecting his own, again!"

Char stood quietly, then slowly took a deep breath.

He remembered Snape's mocking tone, his cold words. He could still see the way Snape had dismissed Hannah's fall as "sunlight."

Yes. Snape might be a tsundere in the original tale—deep down caring in his own twisted way.

But here?

He was absolutely infuriating.

Unreasonably biased. Shielding Malfoy. Refusing to see reason.

Char narrowed his eyes.

If Snape wanted to play this game…

Then it was time to play back.

He turned to Professor Sprout, his voice calm but resolute.

"Aunt," he said.

"I have a way to make Malfoy pay—and leave Professor Severus speechless."

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