Succubus System At Hogwarts

Chapter 45: (45) If It Were Me...



After the professors left, they gathered in Dumbledore's office to report on the troll incident.

"I think we should strengthen the castle's defenses," Professor McGonagall said with a frown. "It's too dangerous for the children!"

"Minerva, are the children alright?" Dumbledore asked gently.

Professor McGonagall softened her tone. "Except for Miss Vole and Mr. Malfoy, the others sustained some scratches, but Severus has already healed them."

Snape let out a snort, his expression sour. "Who would want to treat a group of reckless little trolls rushing headlong into danger?"

"Severus, we must be patient with the children," Dumbledore replied with a warm smile. "And they did well, didn't they?"

"That's right! Merlin's big socks!" Professor Flitwick said excitedly. "I just examined the spell traces on the troll—those first-years used offensive spells with such speed and skill!"

"Incredible! Simply incredible!"

Dumbledore's kind smile deepened. "Oh, was it Ian?"

"Yes, Ian Potter handled the Levitation Charm and the Transfiguration Spell with such precision. It's remarkable! He is unquestionably a genius!" Professor Flitwick said, full of praise.

Snape's expression darkened further. "A genius? He impulsively ran off to fight a troll to save his friend. If he hadn't been lucky, he'd be dead by now!"

This proves it, Snape thought grimly. The boy shouldn't be spending time with Harry Potter. Two months in, and he's already as reckless as a Gryffindor! How is he even still a Slytherin?

"Severus, you can't dismiss Ian's courage and wisdom," Dumbledore said. "In a critical moment, he was able to stay calm, use his knowledge, and protect his friends with bravery. That's a rare quality."

Snape snorted coldly and said nothing.

"Well, now the more pressing matter," Dumbledore said, smoothly changing the subject, "is how the troll managed to get into the castle."

"The troll is stupid! It wouldn't just break in on its own! Someone deliberately let it into Hogwarts!" Snape said coldly. "I will investigate this matter."

Dumbledore sighed and then asked suddenly, "By the way, where is Quirinus?"

"Professor Quirrell is handling the troll in the basement," Professor McGonagall replied. "He mentioned checking it for any potential clues."

"Alright, let's leave it there for now. You may all return," Dumbledore said with a wave of his hand.

The professors began leaving one by one, but Snape remained, his expression thunderous.

"Dumbledore! Do you realize that if that boy wasn't strong enough, he'd be a corpse by now? Him and those reckless little fools!"

"Severus," Dumbledore replied gently, "Ian and Harry are vital in the fight against Voldemort. Perhaps you should stop treating them like fragile flowers in a greenhouse and trust them more. Ian is a very clever child."

"You don't understand at all!" Snape shouted, his voice trembling with anger. "If those two boys died in front of me, it would be—" He stopped abruptly, his words catching in his throat.

For a moment, Snape's face twisted with emotion. He glared fiercely at Dumbledore, then spun on his heel, his robes billowing as he stormed out of the room.

Watching Snape's retreating figure, Dumbledore sighed softly.

...

Meanwhile, Ian and the others had already returned to their respective houses.

In the Slytherin common room, Ian lay lazily on the sofa, listening as Draco gushed with admiration.

"Ian, you're amazing! You actually defeated a troll! That's so cool! I'm going to write to my parents about it!"

Ian rolled his eyes. "You've said that at least five times now."

"But it's true! You're incredible! First-year! You are a first-year!" Draco said as if it were the most obvious fact in the world. "Besides, you're my friend, Malfoy! My friend is a hero!"

"Alright, Draco, stop buttering Ian up. Aren't you sleepy?" Cassandra looked at Draco faintly.

Draco opened his mouth to say, "I'm not sleepy," but when his gaze met Cassandra's emotionless light green eyes, he quickly nodded.

"Oh yes! I'm sleepy. Good night, Ian, Cassandra," Draco said, and ran back to the dormitory at an impressively fast speed.

In the common room, only Ian and Cassandra were left.

"You should also go back to the dormitory and sleep, Cassandra," Ian said, avoiding the gaze of her piercing green eyes with a guilty conscience.

Please don't cry, Ian silently pleaded. If you start crying, I'll have to soothe the prideful noble lady after already soothing Hermione…

But Cassandra didn't move. She continued to look at Ian steadily, her eyes gradually reddening. "Ian Potter! Have you ever thought that if you hadn't fought the troll and won, you wouldn't be standing here right now?"

"Cassandra..." Ian hurriedly reached out to wipe the tears spilling from the little witch's eyes.

Cassandra threw herself into Ian's arms, her soft sobs muffled against him.

"I was so scared on the way there. I was terrified I'd find your lifeless body. Thank goodness you're still alive..."

Ian gently patted Cassandra's back and spoke softly, "Don't cry. I'm fine, aren't I?"

"If you ever do something like this again, don't leave me behind! Don't take risks alone!" Cassandra said, lifting her tear-streaked face from his chest.

Her eyes were red, and her tone was commanding.

"Ian Potter promises there won't be a next time," Ian said solemnly, raising three fingers as if taking an oath. "I swear to God."

Anyway, I'm a wizard, not under God's jurisdiction. Merlin is my guy.

Cassandra didn't overthink his wording. Seeing Ian's serious expression, her uneasy heart finally settled a little.

"Okay, it's late, it's time to go to bed." Ian gently kissed Cassandra on the forehead, "Good night, have a good dream, Cassandra."

Cassandra blushed faintly and whispered, "Good night," before walking quickly toward the entrance to the girls' dormitory on the right.

Just as her hand touched the door handle, she hesitated and turned back to look at Ian. "If it were me, would you do the same?"

Ian immediately understood her meaning and nodded without hesitation. "Yes."

"Such a silly guy," Cassandra laughed, this time, it was a smile from the heart that Ian had never seen before.

The little witch's smile made Ian's heart skip a beat, and Ian didn't come back to his senses until Cassandra's figure disappeared at the door of the dormitory.

He touched his chest, where his heart was beating a little faster.

Ian shook his head, he was such a jerk, playing with two girls' emotions!

But he shouldn't be the first man to be attracted to two girls, right?

With a little inexplicable feeling of guilt, Ian returned to the dormitory.

________

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