Eighth Floor, Headmaster's Office.
Dengbuliduo offered Sifu a cup of honey water. Sifu took a polite sip, set it down, and spoke lowly: "Are you sure this isn't the Dark Lord's trick? A magical reincarnation or possession?"
Dengbuliduo burst out laughing. "Sifu, I didn't know you had a sense of humor. Tell more jokes—it'd change how colleagues see you."
Sifu's expression soured. If he could match the old man, he'd unleash the Half-Blood Prince's rage.
"With wizards like you, no trick surprises me."
Dengbuliduo chuckled, shaking his head. "Sifu, you underestimate yourself… and overestimate me and the Dark Lord."
"He has unimaginable methods, inventing unprecedented dark spells. He might deceive me… but not the Four Founders. Hogwarts doesn't allow double enrollment."
Sifu's eyes lit up.
As Head of Slymerin, he knew Hogwarts scoured the UK for suitable witches and wizards. If Tangmu Lideer was that Tangmu, there'd be no second enrollment.
"Watch that child," Dengbuliduo said. "Slymerin surprised me. With your house's atmosphere, he might face trouble."
"Survival of the fittest," Sifu said coldly. "As Head, I can't interfere much in pupil matters. It's Slymerin's rule."
Slymerin, the most class-conscious house, mirrored the real world's realism. Even if Sifu could intervene, he had no desire to waste energy on an insignificant pupil.
Halili Butei was starting school, Qu'er acted oddly with a familiar aura… Tangmu Lideer wasn't a priority.
"No, Sifu," Dengbuliduo smiled. "I meant other Slymerin pupils will have trouble."
"Lideer isn't that Tangmu, but they share similarities. His magical talent is exceptional. His background taught him to protect himself with force. If trouble arises, I hope… he goes easy."
Sifu: "…"
Dengbuliduo was right.
Trouble came before the first school day— that very night, Tangmu began educating his roommates.
After the feast, Tangmu followed the crowd to the Slymerin common room. This year's Slymerin boys totaled twelve, split into groups of four.
Mafoi, his two lackeys, and Monai Saiweien shared one room. Tangmu roomed with Laisi Zhasini, Kasal Nuote, and Saiodo Luosiai.
Upon entering, Zhasini mocked: "Tch! Rotten luck, stuck with a Mudblood. Lideer, make my bed. Use my bedsheets—school ones are garbage."
"Mine too!"
"Fetch water, now!"
Luosiai and Nuote laughed, barking orders.
Tangmu sighed.
He knew Slymerin would bring this, but not so soon.
With no plan, he followed instinct.
Drawing his wand, he turned. "Shockwave!"
Boom—!
An invisible blast hurled the three against the walls. Before they reacted, Tangmu flicked his wand at the overturned pen holder. Three quills transformed into ropes, binding them tightly.
Another flick, and his wand softened into a whip.
Crack—!
"AAAH!"
Zhasini screamed as the whip lashed his back, goosebumps erupting. Tangmu didn't spare the others.
The dorm filled with shrieks of three human spinning tops.
After ten lashes each, Tangmu stopped.
"I heard Slymerins are cunning, ambitious, shrewd. So why are you morons?"
"You didn't check my background before bullying me. Pure-bloods? Hah."
"Waaaah! I'll tell my mum! I'll get you expelled!"
"Put me down, Lideer!"
"I was wrong, don't hit me!"
They were eleven, indoctrinated with pure-blood supremacy, but logic meant nothing at their age.
Pain spoke clearly.
Tangmu gave another ten lashes.
They quieted.
Ending the spell, Tangmu watched Zhasini, Luosiai, and Nuote kneel obediently.
"From now on, I make the rules here. Disobey, and you answer to my whip. Or worse… I'll strip you and hang you from the school gates."
His gaze swept mockingly. "Luosiai, Nuote—'Sacred Twenty-Eight' descendants. What would your elders say?"
"Zhasini, you bragged about your mother at the feast. Want her to hear how you embarrassed yourself day one?"
They trembled, nodding frantically.
Too terrifying!
Worse than the Dark Lord!
The Dark Lord was one of theirs. Tangmu was scarier.
"I'll give you a chance," Tangmu said, tucking his wand away, embracing his Slymerin side. "We're Slymerins. Might makes right. Beat me, by any means, and you win. Take revenge tenfold, a hundredfold."
The Sorting Hat would've bragged for a month at how fast Tangmu adapted.
"But lose, and you pay. Understood?"
"Understood!" they shouted, fearing more whips if they lacked spirit.
They buried their hatred, swearing revenge if they could defeat him.
[^1]: In the Wizarding World, Slymerin House, founded by Salai, values ambition and cunning, often tied to pure-blood lineage. The term "Mudblood" is a derogatory slur for Muggle-born wizards.