Chapter 45: Miracle of Life

Dumbledore genuinely felt that Chu Yang’s combat style was strikingly similar to that of Godric Gryffindor, one of the four founders of Hogwarts.

Back in the day, the great Godric Gryffindor would also hold a sword in one hand and a wand in the other, beating his enemies black and blue with a combination of physical might and magic.

Chu Yang merely beat up his roommates until they lay flat on the floor; while he might be slightly lower in terms of realm, his battle results were by no means inferior.

The more Dumbledore thought about it, the more his head ached. He sighed and said, "Single dormitories are a privilege reserved only for prefects. I cannot break the rules. The best I can do is arrange a double room for you."

Chu Yang nodded in agreement, settling for the second-best option, which could also be considered giving Dumbledore a bit of face.

He just wondered which Slytherin would be so unlucky as to become his roommate...

"Headmaster Dumbledore, you really must see this. It is simply miraculous! That Whomping Willow actually responded to me just now!" Hagrid trotted excitedly toward Dumbledore, gesturing wildly as he recounted the wonder he had witnessed.

"As you say, this is indeed a great miracle. Because of this, we must protect this secret strictly, otherwise Chu Yang will be in danger!" Dumbledore raised his head, his profound eyes gazing intently at Hagrid, holding depths that seemed to mirror an endless starry sea.

Hagrid, currently riding a wave of enthusiasm, felt as though a basin of cold water had been poured over him. He sobered up instantly and immediately promised, "Please rest assured, I will keep all your secrets."

"Thank you, Hagrid." Dumbledore walked forward a few steps alongside Hagrid, reached out his wrinkled hand, and pressed it against the equally gnarled trunk, feeling the aura emanating from the tree while marveling at the wonder of life.

This was the Whomping Willow he had planted with his own hands in 1971 for Lupin.

Whenever the night of the full moon arrived, Lupin would use the secret passage beneath the Whomping Willow to enter the Shack.

Howls of a werewolf often echoed from that place.

Hence, it came to be known as the Shrieking Shack, and in the blink of an eye, many years had passed.

Following Lupin's departure, that shack was completely abandoned, but the secret passage still led all the way out to Hogsmeade village. Therefore, Dumbledore was unwilling to let that place be exposed, and before coming here, he had already used a spell to conceal it.

Professor McGonagall, who had been frightened for the entire day, naturally calmed her mind to experience the miracle of life unfolding before her eyes.

She finally understood firsthand why Dumbledore kept emphasizing Chu Yang's importance over and over again, paying even closer attention to him than to Harry Potter.

This was a magical power that defied conventional reason, one that even faintly touched upon certain ancient taboos of magic.

To study it, to perfect it, to break through it...

This process would propel modern magic into an entirely new realm!

Professor McGonagall couldn't help turning her head to glance at Chu Yang. In a certain sense, he was even more important than Harry Potter, the Savior.

"As one grows older, one easily gets lost in the past." Dumbledore patted the Whomping Willow and remarked with emotion, "It is no longer suitable to stay at the school; it might pose a threat to the students."

Thinking that Dumbledore intended to destroy the tree, Hagrid hastily explained, "Chu Yang can command it."

"Even so, it is still not suitable." Dumbledore shook his head slowly. Worrying about the students' safety was one aspect, but what was even more concerning was Voldemort.

Voldemort, whose return date remained unknown, was like an unpredictable bomb hiding in the shadows. If he were to discover the anomaly of the Whomping Willow, he might follow the clue right to Chu Yang.

Dumbledore could not let Chu Yang face such a risk directly; after all, he was not Harry Potter, who was protected by his mother Lily's blood magic.

Given Voldemort's current state, Chu Yang's intrinsic value was by no means lower than Harry Potter's, and Voldemort would stop at nothing to get him.

Chu Yang suddenly suggested, "Why not leave this Whomping Willow in the Forbidden Forest and let Hagrid take charge of caring for it? That way, no one will ever know."

Chu Yang had no intention of letting the Whomping Willow go; there was still untapped potential within it that would prove immensely helpful to him in the future.

Dumbledore hesitated for a moment before finally nodding in agreement. In truth, he was also deeply interested in the current state of the Whomping Willow and wished to study it in depth.

Hagrid was the happiest of all; the more he looked at Chu Yang, the more pleasing to the eye he found him!

Watching Chu Yang's receding figure, the nearly ten-meter-tall Whomping Willow stood up and lumbered toward the Forbidden Forest. Viewed from afar, it already bore a vaguely humanoid shape, and with every step it took, the surrounding ground shook violently.

Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall escorted Chu Yang back to Hogwarts. Since it was time for dinner, the three of them headed straight for the Great Hall.

At the entrance, the Point-Deduction Trio and Neville were keeping watch with worried expressions. Until they saw Chu Yang return safely, no amount of delicious food could pass their throats.

Fortunately, Chu Yang returned in time. The moment he stepped through the doors alongside Headmaster Dumbledore, Harry's dim eyes lit up instantly!

"Chu Yang!"

The few of them shouted Chu Yang's name happily and charged toward him.

Harry was so excited that tears were almost welling up in his eyes. He was the first to rush toward Chu Yang, eager to give him a hug.

However, as a straight young man, Chu Yang found it quite difficult to accept men expressing their emotions in this manner, so he sidestepped to avoid Harry's embrace.

Then he dodged Ron's embrace, and by the way, sidestepped Neville's embrace as well.

Under the aggrieved gazes of the three boys, Chu Yang opened his arms to welcome Hermione. The two of them embraced tightly before releasing each other.

"Thank goodness, it's wonderful that you're back safe and sound!" Hermione's eyes were red. Having waited for so long, she had obviously feared the worst for Chu Yang.

"Fortunately, Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall arrived just in time." Chu Yang wore a look of profound relief, as if he had just survived a brush with death.

Shortly after, Ron, Harry, and the others gathered around. Ron complained with a hint of grievance, "Why on earth did you dodge our hugs?"

Chu Yang answered with utter sincerity, "My emotions weren't very stable just then, and you guys suddenly rushed over and startled me, so I instinctively dodged. If you want to try again, I promise I won't dodge."

"Forget it!" Ron instantly deflated.

"All right, gentlemen and ladies, how much longer are we going to stand outside the door? Are your stomachs not hungry?" Professor McGonagall said unhurriedly, her majestic aura instantly enveloping Harry and the others.

Hearing this, the young wizards dared not say anything more. Nervously, they pushed open the heavy doors and entered the Great Hall one by one.

Since it was not a special holiday, students dining in the Great Hall usually left as soon as they finished eating, leaving the hall largely empty most of the time.

The first-year students from both Gryffindor and Slytherin had stayed behind without leaving. Most of them were waiting for news about Chu Yang, while a portion of the Slytherins wanted to leave but hadn't been able to do so.

Whether they stayed of their own free will or wanted to leave unsuccessfully, the moment they saw Chu Yang return safely, they spontaneously burst into thunderous cheers!

"For Chu Yang's outstanding performance in the recent incident, twenty points to Slytherin!"