Hogwarts: Harry Returns from Water Margin

Chapter 171 The Uprising: Hariti's Real Name

Chapter 172 (5k long chapter) The Uprising: Hariti's Real Name

"That was so exciting!"

"This is what happens when you mess with an elite club!"

"That scarred brat is utterly rebellious! He actually destroyed the stone sculpture of Mr. Slytherin's head!"

"That's right, that big, dumb statue isn't even half as imposing as Mr. Salazar."

Inside the Slytherin common room, silver lamps flickered and jade cups gleamed, as a group of noblemen toasted and celebrated the destruction of the Scarface's lair.

During the meal, a young student nervously took a small sip of wine and hesitated before saying:

"Um... Senior Malfoy, are we really sure we won't get revenge on Harry Potter for doing this?"

"That guy actually cleaved a living person in two vertically!"

Before he could finish speaking, a dark cloud suddenly gathered between Draco's brows, and he let out a cold snort, saying:

"I'd love for that scarred guy to get revenge, preferably by beating me into the hospital, so we'd have a legitimate excuse to kick him out of school."

"And Dumbledore, he's going to be impeached and removed from office too."

"The school council is clearly controlled by pure-blooded nobles, yet an outsider has been the principal for so many years. I really don't know how the students in the past tolerated it."

Draco, holding a silver cup, spoke slowly and deliberately, while several students around him listened attentively, their faces filled with admiration.

The previously anxious student, now somewhat calmer, couldn't help but say, "Mr. Malfoy, you are truly the most perceptive and composed person I have ever met."

"It's nothing," Draco said proudly, tilting his head back. "I just think a little more than you do."

Just as everyone was praising each other, the stone wall of the lounge suddenly opened, and two fat figures stumbled in—it was Crabbe and Gore.

The two men were disheveled, their faces bruised and swollen, looking like two rolling gourds on the ground. They cried out in alarm, like stray dogs or fish that had escaped from the net.

"Run! They're here to arrest us!"

"Those lunatics! They chanted six spells in one second! If they catch us, we're finished!"

After they finished speaking, the two of them headed straight for their dormitory to escape the disaster without looking back.

Upon hearing this news, the students in the lounge turned ashen-faced, their cups trembling in their hands, unaware that they had spilled their fine wine.

Draco, however, was not surprised but delighted. He slammed his silver cup heavily on the table, causing the wine to splash everywhere.

"Very well! Since Potter dares to be so ruthless, then he should prepare to go to Azkaban!"

As the saying goes, "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." Draco was determined to ruin Harry's future, and he was willing to endure the beatings.

He immediately grabbed a few bottles of pain-relieving potions, swallowed them whole, concentrated his energy, and strode out the door with the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger.

"Potter! Are you trying to break into the Slytherin common room?!"

Before the shout had even faded, two Aurors stood outside the door, each holding a wand and a register.

Draco stared at the two men, momentarily stunned, all his plans turning into bewilderment.

What about that scar?

Why would an Auror be at the school?

While he was still in shock and doubt, the two Aurors lowered their heads to examine the books in their hands, and when they looked up again, their eyes revealed a fierce glint.

"Are you from the Malfoy family?"

"You've joined the elite club, haven't you?"

Draco's heart skipped a beat, and he knew something was wrong. He quietly took three steps back, trying to remain calm, and said:

"No, I didn't do it, you must have mistaken me for someone else."

The older Auror examined the photograph closely, then flew into a rage and struck the man with his cane.

"Just as cunning as the UMNO! Do you think I'm face-blind?!"

"Excruciating pain!"

"I feel dizzy and lightheaded!"

"Dislocated bones and muscles!"

The two Auror spells were unleashed in quick succession, and the tips of their staffs burst forth with light, startling Draco so much that he dared not retreat to the lounge any further.

He immediately turned and ran away, taking off at full speed.

The two Aurors gave chase, their wands flashing with magical light, striking Draco and making him cry out in pain. In his mind, Draco had already cursed Crabbe and Goyle, those two idiots, a thousand times over.

Is this reciting six spells in one second?

You must recite at least eight times per second!

Although he had taken the potion, he couldn't withstand the Auror's ruthless attack. The curse felt like steel needles piercing his bones, causing him to sweat profusely.

An Auror cast a Transfiguration spell, and two stone sculptures transformed into vicious dogs that bit down hard on Draco's calves. The fangs sank deep, terrifying him so much that he could only grit his teeth, tighten his grip, and struggle desperately forward.

He ran straight from the cellar to the courtyard, rushed out of the castle, and was stunned when he looked up.

A hundred or so Aurors were seen roaming about, capturing members of the noble club who were fleeing in all directions.

Countless students who learned of the destruction of the secret room came to identify the heads and secretly chanted spells to beat them.

The huge school had become a trap, with shouts and running around creating chaos.

Upon seeing this, Draco was struck dumb, his whole body trembling violently.

Damn it! These Aurors were summoned by that scarred guy!

Who exactly spread the rumor that Aurors are heartless?

In the brief moment of surprise, the two Aurors behind him had already caught up. Both were breathing heavily, sweat beading on their foreheads; the younger one, leaning on his knee, gasped for breath:

"Huff...huff...you ran pretty fast..."

"Does this guy have giant blood? His magic resistance is so high!"

When Draco saw the two wands pointing directly at his face, he was so frightened that his soul trembled and his spirit wavered.

Looking around, all he saw were vicious Auras; there was truly no way to go to heaven or to hell.

His throat bobbed, and he forced himself to shout:

"I'm still a minor wizard!"

"I am protected by the Juvenile Wizarding Protection Act!"

Upon hearing this, the young Auror indeed hesitated, and his wand unconsciously lowered slightly.

Upon seeing this, the elder glared and shouted:

"Remember why we're here at Hogwarts today! We're here to arrest students who are colluding with dark wizards!"

"These guys who joined the elite club are no longer ordinary students; they must be dealt with severely!"

Upon hearing this, Draco cried out anxiously, "I was misled by Rozier! I know absolutely nothing about this aristocratic club!"

"I... in fact, I've never attended any of their parties!"

The older Auror remained unmoved and sneered, "Then why didn't you say so earlier?"

"Excruciating pain!"

Draco opened his mouth to protest, but the curse struck him squarely in the chest, contorting his face and causing him to collapse to the ground. His protest was swallowed back down, swirling only in his stomach.

Because I was in so much pain I couldn't scream!

After about the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, just as the sun was beginning to set, all the bandits from the Noble Club had been captured.

The crowd huddled together, hands covering their heads. Rita Skeeter ran frantically around the sidelines, her camera flashing like a hundred fireflies.

The students watching from all sides were furious, wishing they could mash these scoundrels into mincemeat and fill the cracks in the secret room.

Flint, unable to bear such humiliation, leaped up and roared like a tiger.

"My mom's on the council! My dad's a Ministry of Magic official! You—"

Harry, annoyed by the noise, launched a flying kick. But with a sharp "crack," the kick landed squarely between Flint's lips and teeth, instantly shattering his two buck teeth.

"You son of a bitch! What are you yelling about! First, make sure your parents settle the money they owe me!"

Upon hearing this, Flint hurriedly fell silent, squatted back down, and dared not say another word.

Before long, Scrimgeour arrived, leading Rosier in a long procession. The old woman, no longer possessing her former composure, greeted Harry and coldly said:

"You're ruthless, Mr. Potter."

Harry sneered, "You old hag, you're all talk and no action! I haven't even unleashed my full power yet. One day I'll show you what true ruthlessness is!"

Just as the stalemate was at hand, Rita Skeeter seized the opportunity, swaying her lithe waist as she lunged forward, letting out a high-pitched scream:

"Oh, it's been a long time, Mr. Potter, and Secretary Scrinker."

"Please allow me to ask, is today a conspiracy targeting noble wizards? — Don't blame me for asking, after all, most of the people squatting here are noble students."

It is truly a case of "a statement that must be startling to be considered a crime." Rita's ruthlessness is evident in how she used just this one sentence to turn today's events into a major treason case.

Hermione's face changed color instantly upon hearing this, fearing that Harry might get angry and say something rebellious.

A quick glance revealed Lockhart lounging with his legs crossed and neck craned, engrossed in watching the spectacle. Without hesitation, Lockhart delivered a powerful elbow strike to Lockhart's ribs.

"Professor Lockhart, now it's time to test your eloquence!"

Lockhart stumbled and staggered into the circle after taking the elbow, landing right between Rita and Harry. Even the shorthand quill hanging in mid-air jumped three times in surprise.

Although the incident happened hastily, Lockhart was used to such things. He hurriedly straightened his clothes, cleared his throat, put on a solemn expression, and raised his voice:

"My dear Rita, I must correct you. In fact, this was just a counterinsurgency operation against the UMNO party."

Rita was so angry that she gritted her teeth and cursed Lockhart's ancestors for eight generations.

That damn man!

They used to get along so well and created so many buzz!

Since coming to Hogwarts, he's been like a completely different person!

He got involved in so many big things while being around Harry Potter, but he didn't even get a sip of soup for himself!

She cursed inwardly, then forced a smile. "You're right, Professor Lockhart, I misspoke."

"I just noticed that there aren't just noble wizards squatting here, but also many children of Ministry of Magic officials, so—"

"My dear Rita, you may not have heard me clearly. We are only targeting students who are too close to the remnants of the UMNO party."

No matter how Rita questioned him, Lockhart insisted that he came for the UMNO party, without giving a single clue.

Rita, still unwilling to give up, continued to pester him, while Harry, unable to contain himself any longer, drew his wand and cast a fire spell.

With a "crackling" sound, the shorthand quill and notebook in mid-air instantly turned into ashes and scattered down.

"What nonsense are you spouting! Are you trying to exonerate those bastards from the UMNO party?!"

Having said that, he beckoned to two Aurors and shouted, "Take this fellow away and keep him under guard along with those remnants of the Witchcraft Party, awaiting their fate!"

The two Aurors, upon receiving the order, their eyes gleaming with ferocity, pounced forward like hungry tigers. One removed Rita's wand, while the other untied the ropes and bound her tightly, making her look as secure as a Dragon Boat Festival dumpling.

Rita was stunned for a moment, then struggled and screamed, "You're using this for personal gain! You're violating my personal rights—"

Before he could finish speaking, the Auror cast a silencing spell, rendering him unable to utter another word.

Lockhart clicked his tongue inwardly, thinking that magic was indeed more effective.

Harry then turned his blue eyes to the group of reporters from the Daily Prophet, pointed to a seemingly dull and mature-looking one, and shouted:

"You, sir, will be the one to write this report!"

Upon hearing the roll call, the reporter trembled and dared not disobey in the slightest, so he hurriedly stepped forward.

Once everyone from the Noble Club was tied up, Scrimgeour straightened his sleeves and went to say goodbye to Harry.

As the two linked arms, Harry slipped a secret letter into his palm.

With many eyes and ears around, Scrimgeour couldn't easily look at the document, so he lowered his voice and asked:

"What is this?"

"Brother, take this letter to Gringotts. The goblin will give you four thousand gallons. Use it to buy wine for your brothers and sisters as a token of our appreciation. Don't refuse."

When Scrimgeour heard the number "four thousand," it was as if a thunderbolt struck him; a chill ran down his spine and his hair stood on end.

If the 4,000 Galleons are divided equally, it means that each person will receive at least 22 Galleons.

This is already a month's salary!

And this is even while working overtime every day.

Doesn't this really count as accepting a bribe?

Seeing the change in his expression, Harry had already discerned his hesitation and whispered:

"Brother, please hear me out. The 180 people present today are undoubtedly loyal and devoted. But how many more, not even a hundred, could have come? They are all good men and women with loyal hearts. How can we show favoritism and let them feel disheartened?"

"These four thousand Gallon followers and heroes will all receive the benefits, but as for this matter of distributing gold and silver, I'm sure it won't be difficult for you, brother."

Upon hearing these words, Scrimgeour, despite his long and storied life, was stunned.

They even considered the Aurors who didn't come?

This treatment is far better than working under Fudge.

With mixed feelings in his mind, Scrimgeour could only nod and head straight out of the school.

As the members of the Noble Club were escorted out of the school gate, thunderous cheers erupted all around. It was truly a case of the clouds parting to reveal the sun, and their faces lit up with joy.

Those still remaining at school were all good men and women who had entered the secret room. Overjoyed, they crowded around and headed towards the secret room.

Fred and George had already hired seven or eight clever men who quietly made their way to Hogsmeade through the One-Eyed Witch's secret passage. In no time, they carried back more than a dozen cases of aged wine.

Inside the secret chamber, Harry first restored the golden statue of Guan Yu, set up a table dozens of feet long, and then summoned the house-elves to cook for them.

Bowls and plates clattered, delicacies were laid out in abundance: roast chicken and smoked meat, pumpkin pies piled high, and butterbeer frothing with golden foam. Regardless of age, everyone found their seats.

Harry sat at the head of the table, with Ron and Hermione flanking him. The room was filled with a cacophony of voices, all talking about how they had swept away the bunch of scoundrels from the Noble Club that day. Everyone was beaming with pride, acting like chivalrous heroes, quick to vent their frustrations!

After several rounds of drinks and several dishes, Colin, drunk, jumped up, dizzy, and cried out.

"Harry! I think we need a name!"

"Otherwise, I wouldn't know how to introduce myself to others!"

His shout was met with enthusiastic responses from the others.

"That's right, those guys from the Noble Club always call us the Secret Room crew!"

"Harry! Let's come up with a name!"

"It has to be louder than the elite clubs!"

The crowd chattered excitedly, and Harry, holding his wine glass, pondered to himself:

What you brothers say is absolutely right. Now that we have gathered here in righteousness, how can we not have a resounding name?

Having made up his mind, he slammed his wine cup down on the table. The noise in the room immediately ceased, and over a hundred eyes turned to him.

"Today we gather here in righteousness, to worship Guan Yu, the God of War, and to revere the word 'righteousness'!"

"Though there were differences between the various academies in the past, today we are all like brothers! Have you not heard that petty people agree but do not get along, while gentlemen get along but do not agree?"

Everyone nodded in agreement after hearing this.

"As the saying goes, a single thread cannot make a line, and a single hand cannot clap. Now that we are united as one, we exemplify this principle, and we shall call ourselves—"

"The Boxers!"

Poems as proof:

With a spirit that could swallow mountains and rivers and sweep away clouds and smoke, the British rose up in rebellion.

Don't underestimate the fledgling eagle before it spreads its wings; when its wings are fully grown, it will turn the world upside down!

After Harry finished speaking, the Chamber of Secrets fell silent for a moment, then erupted in thunderous cheers. The sound surged through the pipes, making the castle tremble.

The secret room was filled with joyful atmosphere, just like the thunder and spring rain that startled bamboo shoots as they broke through the soil.

Harry seized the opportunity, raised his wine cup, and leaped onto the long table, stomping on the dishes with a loud clatter.

He looked around and shouted, "Listen up, brothers and sisters! Today, in my cups and spirits, I must shamelessly ask for another favor, which I will need your help with!"

Before the words were even finished, a deafening roar erupted from below, with people pounding their chests and stamping their feet. One was pounding his chest like a war drum, while another was shouting at the top of his lungs, "At your command!"

Harry said, "As the saying goes, honest people don't beat around the bush, there's no need to hide anything. I'm going to do something now, and I need to go to the Ministry of Magic openly and honestly."

"If we're going to do this, we'll have to rely on my older sister's methods."

Hermione understood, and immediately stood up and said loudly:

"I have a way to get Fudge to think about inviting Hogwarts students to visit the Ministry of Magic."

"But this requires too much magic power—perhaps all of you would have to lend me your magic power to do it."

The crowd was stunned for only a moment before they started making noise again.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's get started!"

"Even if you drain me dry, it's fine. I'll just need a day or two to recover."

"That's right! We're on the same side!"

Seeing everyone echo her sentiments, Hermione was delighted. She immediately turned around and sat cross-legged on the ground, with her back to the crowd, and secretly took out the Death Diary from her bosom.

Harry threw down his wine cup, and the heroes also put down their bowls and chopsticks, each holding a wand.

However, in a short while, Harry felt Hermione's magic dissipate like the receding tide, and hurriedly shouted:

"Replenish mana!"

As soon as the words were spoken, hundreds of streams of magic surged toward Hermione. The moment this magical bridge was established, everyone felt their entire bodies being flooded with magic.

Harry felt he was about to be drained dry by Hermione, so he gritted his teeth, snapped his fingers, and summoned the house-elf.

"You all must quickly channel your magic power!"

The house-elves dared not disobey and immediately complied.

In about ten breaths, all the heroes in the room were exhausted and lay sprawled on the ground, like crops withered by frost.

Harry took a deep breath, used his knife as a crutch to move to Hermione's side, and crouched down, saying:

"Is it done, eldest sister?"

Hermione's face turned as white as paper, her lips as cold as frost, and her body went limp as she leaned on Harry's shoulder, whispering weakly:

"I think... it should have succeeded."

(End of this chapter)