In the three weeks after the start of the school year, Lin Yue's schedule was almost identical to last semesters, except that she was a bit slower when it came to eating. She spent all her free time reading extra books in the library, with the addition of a task to teach everyone Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Under Lin Yue's guidance, the Ravenclaws, Hufflepuffs, and Gryffindors, she taught had completely mastered the Disarming Charm, the Stunning Spell, and the Impediment Hex. They had classes about once a week, focusing on mastering one spell each time. However, Lin Yue's definition of mastery not only required them to be able to use the spells but also to apply them flexibly in combat.

To achieve this, Lin Yue would conduct simulated battles in every class. At the end of each simulated battle, she would always allow her wand to be knocked away. To be honest, her acting skills weren't very good, and since she wasn't even trying to act, the little wizards in the self-study group could easily tell that she was deliberately letting her wand be knocked away.

It's just that everyone knows this is Lin Yue's good intention, so no one mentioned it. After all... after attending a class, being able to see that you are truly making progress is really something to be happy about, isn't it?

During the three weeks, Professors Flitwick, McGonagall, and Sprout had all "casually" passed by the classroom where Lin Yue and the others were having their activities. It’s impossible for them not to care at all that the young wizards from their own house were learning Defense Against the Dark Arts under her guidance.

That's why the three heads of houses would occasionally look for opportunities to "casually" pass by. However, after passing by once, they felt reassured and didn't go again.

Lin Yue spoke very well, and this is the consensus after all three heads of house visited once. The three of them have even started discussing what conditions Hogwarts should offer to keep her as a teacher after Lin Yue graduates. Such a capable young witch, who will undoubtedly become even more capable in the future, and is also so good at teaching—how could they possibly not want to keep her?

So, they need to discuss in advance how to make their side's appeal to Lin Yue surpass that of the Ministry of Magic and other places that Lin Yue might choose. Lin Yue is not aware of the plans of the three heads of house for her, life at school means not thinking about anything else, and studying is the only thing that matters. Of course... this is under normal circumstances.

While having dinner and looking at the book beside her, Lin Yue, completely immersed in her studies, paid no attention to what Cho Chang and Marietta were saying next to her.

"Merlin's eyes, what's wrong with Slytherin? They look at Gryffindor as if they are looking at their father's murderer. Have they developed a grudge again?"

Cho Chang looked at the Slytherin long table and clicked her tongue, gently nudging Marietta beside her with her elbow.

She was always well-informed, so she should know what was going on.

Marietta glanced up at the Slytherin long table and shrugged indifferently.

"Looks like they've made enemies again."

"What happened?" Cho Chang put down her knife and fork, her eyes sparkling with interest as she looked at Marietta.

"Today is Saturday, so both the Gryffindor team and the Slytherin team went to the Quidditch pitch to practice."

"And then they started arguing?" Cho Chang raised her eyebrows in understanding.

"Yeah." Marietta nodded.

"Malfoy was selected for the Slytherin team this year, and his dad gave the Slytherin team a Nimbus 2001, so their captain and Malfoy used that to mock the Gryffindor team."

Cho Chang listened while nodding. Based on her understanding of the Gryffindors, they wouldn’t just sit there quietly.

Sure enough, "Then Hermione retorted with a sarcastic comment to Malfoy. Malfoy had already been on edge because of our actions, and as soon as he was provoked, he said something he shouldn't have."

At this point, Marietta frowned deeply, clearly disgusted by that term as well.

"Again, 'Mudblood'?" Cho Chang mouthed the last three words.

Marietta nodded affirmatively, while Cho Chang rolled her eyes without any mercy.

"Stupid pure-blood families."

Marietta glanced at Lin Yue, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "It's not over yet; I have to thank Lin Yue."

Hearing her full name, Lin Yue quickly swallowed the steak in her mouth and looked at Marietta.

Thanking herself. Why does she have to thank herself again?

Lin Yue instinctively thought with her brain, but without enough information, she couldn't come up with a conclusion at all.

Marietta "kindly" reached out to ruffle Lin Yue's hair, explaining in a gentle tone.

"Most of the members of the Gryffindor team are part of a study group, and after hearing Malfoy say that they all drew their wands immediately."

"The Slytherin team got beaten up pretty badly."

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Cho Chang covered her mouth with her hand, laughing happily, and even spoke with a hint of laughter, "That really is thanks to Lin Yue."

Thanks to her helping everyone improve their spell-casting abilities and practical skills in Dark Arts defense, the Gryffindor team was able to easily defeat the Slytherin team.

I wonder if the Slytherins would regret not joining Lin Yue's study group if they knew the truth.

Thinking of this, Cho Chang shook her head again. No, no, no, maybe some of the Slytherins would think that way.

But for pure-blood loyalists like Marcus Flint and Draco Malfoy, they would probably just resent Lin Yue.

As she thought of something, Cho Chang turned to glance at the teacher's table. "Did Professor Snape say anything?"

He usually shows a lot of favoritism towards Slytherin, yet this time, when the Slytherin team was beaten by Gryffindor, he didn't show any reaction... that seems very unreasonable.

"This time Professor Snape's handling of the situation was very fair," Marietta wrinkled her nose, clearly surprised by this as well. "He put Harry and Ron in detention because they were the ones who fought the hardest."

"Flint and Malfoy, the two who mainly insulted Hermione, were also deducted points and given detention."

"If we're talking about punishment, even Slytherin received a heavier penalty than Gryffindor."

Cho Chang widened her eyes in surprise. To her, and indeed to everyone, this was an incredible event. Gryffindor and Slytherin had a conflict, and the side that was punished more severely was Slytherin?

"Ah... I heard that Hermione cried after Malfoy insulted her, and it was only after Hagrid comforted her that she felt better," Marietta said with a sigh. The eagles of Ravenclaw, who had learned this news, had already decided to escalate their "actions" against Malfoy.

If before it was just minor skirmishes, now these top students were going to get serious. They had insulted him once, and now they had done it again. Would there be a third time?

Even if it were not for Hermione, they would be furious for Lin Yue. Hermione crying was like a thunderbolt that struck Lin Yue's mind, causing a dull pain that reverberated through her head, and for a moment, she couldn't help but see flashes before her eyes.

Hermione has been hurt again... because she didn't completely eliminate the threat.

Lin Yue's heart felt as if it was being tightly squeezed. She stood up unsteadily, supporting herself on a chair. After stumbling a couple of steps, she quickly walked towards the Gryffindor long table.

"Lin Yue, be careful!" Cho Chang stood up worriedly as she watched Lin Yue stumble, steadying the chair that Lin Yue almost knocked over, preventing her from tripping over it again.

By the time she wanted to help Lin Yue, she had already walked quite a distance away.

Marietta was sitting on the other side of Lin Yue, and it was too late for her to help Lin Yue as well.

"Lin Yue must be going to find Hermione," Marietta speculated as she watched Lin Yue head straight for the Gryffindor long table.

"That should be it," Cho Chang nodded affirmatively.

Then, in their line of sight, Lin Yue reached behind Hermione and gently tapped her shoulder.

"Hermione..." Lin Yue's voice was now hoarse and low, making it hard to believe.

Hermione, who was bowing her head to eat dinner, quickly turned around upon hearing Lin Yue's voice. Once she confirmed it was her, her worried words came pouring out without stopping.

"Lin Yue, why does your voice sound like that? Are you feeling unwell? Did you go to the hospital wing? Drink some water."

As she spoke, she handed Lin Yue her own water cup from the dining table, too anxious to remember that it was one she had already used.

Lin Yue clearly didn't think about that either; she mechanically took the cup Hermione handed her and took a big gulp.

"Do you feel better?" Hermione stood up and gently patted Lin Yue's back.

"Mm..." Lin Yue nodded expressionlessly.

"You came to find me because... you heard about what happened this morning?"

Hermione pulled Lin Yue to sit down at the Gryffindor long table, and the Gryffindors nearby showed no displeasure at the arrival of this Ravenclaws.

In fact, they even moved aside a bit to make her more comfortable and spacious.

"Mm." Lin Yue nodded affirmatively again.

"I'm fine," Hermione said with a smile as she brushed Lin Yue's hair. "It doesn't matter to me if they insult me; my excellence won't be diminished by their insults."

"It's just... a bit uncomfortable, the discomfort of prejudice and discrimination between people."

Shaking her head, Hermione reached for the pumpkin juice and took a sip. "We're all human, so why treat each other this way? Equality and coexistence should be the right way to go."

"Humans are the most complex beings," Lin Yue said flatly, quoting something she had read in a book.

"Yes, humans are the most complex beings," Hermione nodded, acknowledging that they are so complex that it's hard to understand them, and sometimes even a person can't understand themselves.

Out of the corner of her eye, Lin Yue saw Draco Malfoy get up and walk towards the hall's entrance. She suddenly stood up and, in a moment of impulse, said to Hermione, "I'm going back now."

"Huh? Okay," Hermione nodded, watching Lin Yue quickly leave the hall.

As she lowered her head to continue eating, Hermione thought about Lin Yue, who had come over to check on her, and couldn't help but smile.

Following closely behind Draco, Lin Yue's gaze shifted between him and his two lackeys, Crabbe and Goyle.

Threatening lackeys equate to smaller threats, Lin Yue's mind automatically generated the equation.

For Hermione's safety, threats should be eliminated, including the smaller ones.

Lin Yue did not hide her intentions at all, casually following behind Draco and the other two. However, because her footsteps were naturally light, and the three in front were just second-year little wizards with no sense of counter-surveillance, they felt completely at ease in Hogwarts.

As a result, they were completely unaware of Lin Yue following them, nor did they notice her emotionless gaze.

Once they entered a corridor that was completely devoid of other people, Lin Yue stopped. It was time to eliminate the threat.

Not addressing the threat in time had allowed Hermione to get hurt, and the upcoming use of magic in the corridor would harm a classmate. She thought a few self-inflicted Cruciatus curses should be enough punishment for herself. If it wasn't, she could confess to a professor, but the threat had to be eliminated.

Looking at the torches on the wall used for lighting, the Levitation Charm was nonverbal spell without a wand once again.

Like last year's treatment of Quirrel and Voldemort, the flames on the torches were pulled together by the Levitation Charm, forming two walls of fire that blocked Draco and his two companions in front and behind, trapping them.

"What is going on?!"

"What happened? Is this some kind of school activity?"

"Damn it, Goyle! Are you stupid? It's obvious that someone has trapped us!"

Hearing Goyle's question about whether this was a school activity, Draco felt like he was going to explode with anger.

The formation of the fire walls happened in an instant, so Draco and his companions had no idea that Lin Yue was behind it; in other words, they had no clue who was responsible for the current situation.

Boom!

With a loud explosion of flames, the addition of the fire spell caused the temperature of the two fire walls to rise sharply, instantly pushing Draco back as he tried to rush through.

Raising his hand to shield himself, Draco and his companions struggled to withstand the intense heat that was rushing towards them.

The extreme heat had already soaked them in sweat, and if this continued, they would be cooked alive.

"Aguamenti!" Draco shouted, drawing his wand and pointing it forward. "Crabbe, Goyle, quickly use Aguamenti!'"

" Aguamenti!" ×2

Three streams of water shot out from the tips of their wands towards the fire wall, but it had no effect at all; the water was evaporated the moment it touched the fire wall.

Lin Yue's eyes moved slightly, and the two fire walls began to close in towards the center.

"Damn it! No matter who you are, I am from the Malfoy family! If you don't want to face the Malfoy family's revenge, let me go!"

Lin Yue's mind suddenly stirred at this moment, and without any feelings of compassion, she immediately realized that she had just overlooked something. Draco's father, Lucius Malfoy, was also a threat to Hermione; she should eliminate all threats before punishing herself.

The wall of fire was closing in, and Draco and the others had already dropped to the ground. The continuous evaporation of moisture from their bodies had brought them close to shock. The wall of fire was about to close, and in that instant, Draco and the others would be continuously burned until they turned into a pile of charred remains.

Just before the wall of fire closed, a soft and warm hand covered her eyes. A gentle voice whispered in her ear, "Relax, Lin Yue, stop."