Chapter 35: What Should I Do If My Roommate Is Not Very Friendly?

He looked at Dumbledore with confusion. Could it be that the man intended to kill this child?

Dumbledore did not offer Snape an explanation, but instead shook his head, signaling him not to ask further questions, his gaze urging him to take Chu Yang away immediately.

Snape snorted coldly, gave Dumbledore a slight bow, and turned to leave.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Headmaster Dumbledore; the snacks here were quite good," Chu Yang said with a polite bow before following close behind Snape.

Dumbledore watched their retreating figures until the heavy doors closed behind them.

The Slytherin dormitories and common room are located in the dungeons of Hogwarts. The Hufflepuff house is also situated in the same depths. The two houses lie in opposite directions, separated by the Hogwarts kitchens, where hundreds of house-elves toil away.

Chu Yang followed Snape back along the path the first-years had taken from the grotto landing to the school entrance, then turned down a different corridor. Before long, Chu Yang saw a damp stone wall blocking the path—a scene identical to the back entrance of the Leaky Cauldron.

"Pure-blood!"

Snape raised his chin and stated the password proudly, casting a glance at Chu Yang. The stone wall crashed open, revealing a path paved with cobblestones.

The two walked deep into the passage until a spacious common room suddenly appeared. The surrounding walls were built of dark, Gothic-style marble, and the ceiling was a transparent, semi-circular dome of carved crystal, through which the shimmering light from above could be seen. They were deep beneath the lake—the Black Lake, to be precise.

Chu Yang looked up. Through the windows, he could see fish and various large aquatic creatures swimming by. Green-tinged lamps hung from the ceiling by chains, and there was a fireplace with an intricately carved mantelpiece. The common room branched off into the boys' and girls' dormitories.

Snape stood at the entrance and said coldly, "You don't expect me to tuck you into bed as well, do you?"

"Thank you." Despite Snape's cold demeanor, Chu Yang bid him a polite farewell.

"Slytherin is different from other houses. The students here harbor strong hostility toward non-pure-blood wizards. If you don't have the ability to protect yourself, you would be better off leaving now, rather than losing your life here later," Snape added abruptly.

He then walked out of the common room without looking back.

*Sharp tongue, soft heart.*

Watching Snape’s haughty back, Chu Yang shook his head and walked up the stairs toward the boys' dormitory.

As Chu Yang entered the room, he saw a row of beds draped with dark green curtains. Unlike the lively atmosphere of Gryffindor, the Slytherin boys were rather solemn. They were not playfully roughhousing; instead, they were preparing to determine who would be the leader of the dorm.

As for what they were competing over... naturally, it was their prized family lineage. Whoever had the most illustrious heritage would have the most influence and authority in the room. Draco Malfoy was not there, so for the moment, the boys could not decide who held the upper hand. However, one thing was certain: Chu Yang, a non-pure-blood, would undoubtedly have the lowest status.

"How are you here!" Goyle, who had been arguing, shouted in alarm the moment he saw Chu Yang standing at the door.

The other first-years turned their gazes toward Chu Yang, recalling the shocking scene in the Great Hall earlier.

"Isn't he Muggle-born? How could he possibly be sorted into Slytherin?" Crabbe and Goyle, who knew of Chu Yang's background, whispered to the other students. Soon, everyone was aware of his true status.

The students who had just been ready to welcome him changed their expressions instantly. With silent, mutual understanding, they formed a united front, staring at him with undisguised hostility.

"Excuse me, would you mind leaving? This is the great Slytherin House, not a place for a non-pure-blood wizard like you. You must have taken a wrong turn," said Blaise Zabini, his dark skin contrasting with his look of disdain as he stepped forward.

Chu Yang looked at these classmates who viewed him as an enemy, his lips curling slightly. "You don't like me being here? As it happens, I feel the same way. Even back at the orphanage, I preferred sleeping in a room by myself."

"A shared dormitory simply doesn't suit me, so you had better get out and let me sleep in peace. Otherwise, many of you might not make it to class tomorrow. If Slytherin loses points because of that, it will be quite troublesome for me."

"How dare a lowly Mudblood threaten us?" Chu Yang's attitude stung Blaise's pure-blood pride. "This isn't your territory, you Oriental!"

"I seem to recall that the profession of 'wizard' doesn't exist in Africa; there are only shamans," Chu Yang retorted mockingly. "I heard your ancestors learned their magic in a cotton field."

Blaise, who had African heritage, flew into a rage!

He charged straight at Chu Yang, intending to make this lanky Oriental feel the weight of his strength. The scene was somewhat comical; Blaise, who prided himself on being a pure-blood wizard, was resorting to using his fists because he hadn't yet learned any offensive magic.

As the conflict between Blaise and Chu Yang erupted, Goyle and Crabbe retreated with silent coordination. They still believed Malfoy’s misfortune might have been related to Chu Yang. Though they were dim-witted, their instincts were sharp.

How much damage could an 11-year-old's fist do?

Chu Yang didn't even bother to dodge; he seized the moment and delivered a kick straight to Blaise’s abdomen.

Blaise felt a massive force slam into him. As the pain hit, his consciousness began to blur, and he felt as though he were flying. In reality, he had been kicked across the room, sliding several meters across the smooth floor before his momentum jammed him under a bed.

Blaise was instantly knocked unconscious.

The others were shocked! With just a casual kick, the robust Blaise had been knocked out cold.

"Damn it, let's all go at him together! Drive him out of Slytherin!"

The group swarmed forward, intending to overwhelm Chu Yang with sheer numbers. The sounds of the scuffle drew first-years from other dorms, who, upon learning the situation, joined the fray against Chu Yang.

Once again, Goyle and Crabbe retreated in perfect synchronization. Their instincts were still proving accurate.

Within a few breaths, a group of 11-year-olds lay on the floor, foaming at the mouth.

Chu Yang clapped his hands and smiled at the two remaining boys. "If you don't mind, please take this trash out when you leave. Try not to disturb my sleep, alright?"

Goyle and Crabbe nodded frantically like chickens pecking at rice.

Afterward, Chu Yang found a bed by the window where he could watch the mysterious creatures at the bottom of the lake. He nimbly shed his robes, slipped into the soft covers, and closed his eyes with a satisfied smile.

Goyle and Crabbe carefully carried the boys out one by one, terrified of waking Chu Yang. While moving Blaise, Goyle faltered, causing Blaise’s head to bump against a bedpost with a dull thud.

Chu Yang's eyelids twitched, but he did not open them, merely wearing an expression of annoyance. Goyle and Crabbe were scared out of their wits; trembling, they slowly dragged the rest of the boys out of the room.

By the time the two of them tiptoed out and closed the door, Chu Yang was smiling, having drifted into a deep sleep.

Looking at the pile of unconscious first-years in the common room, Goyle and Crabbe, sweating profusely, looked miserable as they each found a comfortable sofa to lie down on.

The fireplace roared, but it could not dispel the damp chill of the dungeon. Since they were at the bottom of the Black Lake, most of the freshmen would surely catch a cold by morning.