章節 176: Great speech
We reached 200 stones here is the extra chapter :D
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Pandora was walking down the corridors of Hogwarts next to James in the direction of the Great Hall. She was still processing everything that had just happened a few minutes ago.
The image of Emma Parkinson being blown up by a non-verbal Expelliarmus was a huge shock. The rumors about James were true. Magical prowess on an incredible level for a third-year boy.
"Will you be alright? Emma will report you to the professors, and you'll be punished," said Pandora after a few seconds of silence.
James laughed dryly, "What's funny?" asked Pandora, not understanding this peculiar boy's actions.
"That girl Emma was pointing at me and threatening you. It's not the first time you've been bullied, is it?" asked James, and Pandora nodded slightly.
"So why be afraid? We'll tell the school staff that you were being bullied. I saw it, and you're the main victim," said James, untroubled by the subject.
"True, but there are four of them, and they are all from important families," Pandora said uncertainly. Her main concern was that the harassment towards her would increase after the punishment of Emma and the others.
"I am Lord Potter. My opinion matters too," James said.
"I didn't mean that-
Before Pandora could continue speaking, James interrupted her and said in a solemn tone, "I know. I'll teach those spoiled students how a true nobleman should behave,"
James in both lives was born into noble families. The Rotschilds and the Potters. The first were of the nobility, but James, or at that time Edward had another vision of nobility compared to his parents and other family.
For James Noble is the one who practices excellence, demands the maximum when exercising his faculties, and puts his life at the service of others. For that reason, he sacrificed himself to save a little boy from being run over by a truck. His former relatives would never give their lives for what they would consider an inferior life, but Edward thought differently.
His study in etiquette and the definition of noble he took very seriously. He would not look down on others just because of their higher status. Having such a status forced you to be responsible. If he had been happy in his former life his decision to save the child would have been the same. Those were his values.
The noble person has a great sense of justice like his grandfather, Henry Potter. He cannot let him down. However, he will not go to extremes of being merciful to an enemy who has no salvation.
Pandora felt a strange feeling in her chest. A fee-free protection that everything would be all right. Her bullies would no longer dare to bother her again. That was conveyed to her by James' determined look. It was strange.
When they reached the large door of the Great Hall, they noticed a peculiar group arguing. It was the marauders, Gwen and Xeno. It was odd to see everyone together when James wasn't acting as a liaison. Especially Gwen.
"We were looking for you, Pandora!" exclaimed Xeno with a big grin. Then he looked at the odd combination of James and Pandora, who came together.
At the door, as other students entered the dining hall for dinner, the group chatted and explained things to each other. The coincidences were unbelievable, James thought to himself.
Xeno and the others were looking for Pandora worried that her bullies were still bothering her. Gwen wanted to defend her (or rather fight back to test her dueling skills in a more exciting battle).
James coming out of his fifth-year transfiguration exam happened to run into Pandora by chance and recognizing her at the last minute went and saved her from the evil Ravenclaw girls.
"What are we going to do now?" asked Xeno nervously, yet relieved that James was involved in the problem. If he was he could solve the problem. He could defeat a DADA professor. He could take care of older Ravenclaw students.
"We'll wait for Tianne Windsor... When she gets to the Great Hall she'll see," Gwen said, clenching her fist tightly and an expectant smile for the duel.
"No. You won't get involved," James said, looking at Gwen.
"What!? Why not?" asked Gwen in a not-at-all-happy tone.
"For now it is not necessary for you to challenge Tianne and her friends to a duel. For them to stop bullying Pandora we must expose them to the whole school," explained James.
"If they continue with their bullying in the future that will be the time for you to teach them a lesson," added James with a slight smile.
"Fine," said Gwen with a smile and calmer.
Sirius and the others were surprised at how easily James calmed this girl with little patience.
"You think he and she already-" whispered Sirius in Lupin's ear, but was interrupted by Xeno.
"So, what's your plan?" asked Xeno. From what he was, saying James already had a plan in mind.
"We'll head over to the Ravenclaw table and have a nice chat with George Parkinson, Emma's older brother. Just Pandora and Xeno follow me. You observe from your tables," James said, starting to walk immediately without letting the others ask any more questions about the plan.
Pandora and Xeno quickly followed James hesitantly. They didn't know what exactly he wanted to do. Gwen went back to her Slytherin table without taking her eyes off James. Sirius and the others went to their table and watched James.
"This is going to get interesting," Sirius said with a slight smile without once, looking at the delicious food on the table.
James followed by Pandora and Xeno arrived at the head of the Ravenclaw table. Many students at the table looked at him. His Gryffindor uniform gave him away and more so his identity. Everyone at Hogwarts knew him from various events he was involved in.
"Do you need anything Gryffindor student?" asked a girl with circular glasses who was eating and reading a book at the same time. She was the sixth-year Ravenclaw prefect and knew James like the vast majority.
"Yes. Just give me some room here..." said James, shifting the girl a little from her spot. That way, he could stand on the bench and look at everyone from a higher position. This way his big speech would be heard by everyone and already many are looking at him as they see him standing on the seats of the Ravenclaw table.
Before the prefect could complain about this rude act, James exclaimed, "George Parkinson!"
"I want you to know something. A few minutes ago, defending a classmate, I threw an Expelliarmus that sent your sister Emma flying and knocked her unconscious," James said in a firm tone echoing through the dining hall.
The murmuring from the other tables died down, and they listened to what James said with shocked expressions. Then a murmur rippled through all the tables at James' statement.
George stood up, his face showing surprise and anger.
"What did you say, Potter?" spat George, advancing towards James.
"What you heard," James replied, not looking away, "Your sister was bullying Pandora, along with some other girls. I caught them red-handed each pointing their wands at Pandora in a disused classroom. That's when I intervened,"
George turned red with fury. "You have no right to attack my sister! What you say is slander!"
"Slander, eh?" retorted James, keeping his gaze fixed on George. "Then explain to me why I found Pandora cornered by your sister and her friends, all with wands in hand, ready to attack her,"
The Great Hall fell into a tense silence. All the students were intent on the confrontation, whispering amongst themselves as James spoke.
"You have no proof," George growled, his voice trembling with anger. "You only have your word against my sister's, and you've said in front of everyone that you attacked my sister,"
James held up a hand to calm the tempers that were beginning to flare around him, "Just like your sister you are narrow-minded..."
James paused, then looked at Pandora, "Pandora, please tell us what you have endured,"
Pandora swallowed saliva and took a step forward, her voice shaky at first, but quickly gaining strength. "They've ruined my things, they've cast spells on me when no one was looking, and today they wanted to cover me in red paint just for fun. I can't go on living with this constant fear,"
The silence became thick, charged with empathy and pent-up rage. James turned his attention back to George, his tone now firmer. "Is this what you stand for, George? Your sister's right to humiliate and terrorize others just because she believes her bloodline allows it? They claim to be noble and pureblooded, but all I see is cowardice,"
"Your sister and her friends believe that their lineage gives them the right to do whatever they want, to humiliate and terrorize those they consider inferior. But true nobility is demonstrated by fairness and responsibility. They call Muggle-born wizards mudbloods, but their actions are dirtier. They call Muggles animals, but you act like wild animals by gang-attacking a defenseless girl. Where is your honor?" continued James, his voice echoing through the dining hall.
James paused, looking around. "Everyone here deserves respect and dignity, regardless of our origin. A wizard's greatness is not measured by his blood but by his character and actions,"
Pandora, with tears in her eyes, but with her head held high, added, "I have done nothing to deserve the treatment I have been given. I just want to study and live in peace, like everyone else,"
The silence in the dining room was broken by murmurs of agreement and sympathy. James seized the moment to continue, "Hogwarts is a place of learning and growth. We cannot allow bullying no matter how minor,"
More and more students began to rise, showing their support for James and Pandora. The murmur of agreement spread throughout the Great Hall. The Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables showed 100% support. The Ravenclaw table was less so, but many students agreed with James' speech. The table with the least enthusiasm was the Slytherin table, but there were even a few students, who were encouraged to show support for James.
"Together we can change this," James declared, raising his voice for all to hear. "Let's make Hogwarts a place where everyone can study in peace,"
The dining hall erupted in applause and cheers. Students surrounded James and Pandora, showing their solidarity and support.
James was a little surprised by the support he was able to garner. Even many bullying victims began to give their testimonies encouraging them to tell on their bullies.
"That boy making a fuss again," McGonagall said from the professors' table. She had listened to James's entire speech, and she was surprised and a little excited, even if she didn't want to admit it.
"A great speech in which he comments on many truths," said Dumbledore with a slight smile, seeing all the students applauding and supporting the cause. Dumbledore is not always at Hogwarts dinners, as they are going through a turbulent time. Luckily today he was able to attend the dinner and listen to James's speech which united many students.
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