HP: The Dropout Who Saved the World

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Although Slytherin traditionally favored students from pure-blood wizarding families, there were still many half-bloods whose parents included at least one Muggle parent.

Most of these students rejected blood supremacy, naturally, as they loved their Muggle parents.

However, their status within the house was clearly lower than that of pure-bloods, and in Slytherin, where power was paramount, their lack of family background meant they couldn't compete with their peers in terms of influence.

Therefore, these half-blood snakes had been quietly observing Jane Yu.

She possessed everything they could look up to - first, her unclear blood status likely made her one of their own; second, she had the ability to overwhelm her peers; and third, she maintained no close ties with pure-blood families, keeping to herself and treating everyone with the same cool demeanor.

Her willingness to save students from their rival house, Gryffindor, further proved that she didn't care about house or blood distinctions.

Jane clearly noticed her changing status within Slytherin.

First-year half-bloods would follow her with their eyes, trailing behind her between classes. Even when she went to study in the library, they would follow, competing for seats at nearby tables.

Whenever she appeared in the common room, some snake would approach her for conversation, coming up with various topics from Potions knowledge to the uses of certain herbs.

If these snakes were merely seeking knowledge or trying to engage in pointless chat, Jane would have turned away immediately.

After all, she disliked such complicated social interactions.

But the cunning little snakes understood the art of mutual benefit, often approaching with "tributes" - sweets and chocolates from Honeydukes, trinkets from Zonko's Joke Shop - making it difficult for her to refuse.

The snakes who received Jane's guidance were delighted to have completed their "submission to the boss" mission, gaining backing within the house and speaking more confidently.

Some pure-blood young wizards, after corresponding with their families, received permission - after all, Jane was likely a capable half-blood witch, and they didn't mind their children befriending a capable assistant.

Draco viewed such behavior with contempt, his nose in the air:

"I'm grown up enough to make my own decisions, unlike them who need to ask their parents about making friends."

Blaise, hearing this, responded with a hint of amusement:

"Oh? So you're admitting she's a friend now?"

The platinum-haired young master's face instantly reddened, veins popping on his forehead as he argued:

"A follower isn't a friend... how could a follower be considered a friend?"

He continued with incomprehensible mumblings about feeling sorry for her and being classmates, causing the other snakes to burst into laughter, filling the common room with cheerful atmosphere.

Indeed, this young master had inexplicably reconciled with her - albeit one-sidedly - once again.

...

Meanwhile, Jane's image in the professors' eyes became even more exemplary.

These kind-hearted professors felt guilty about misunderstanding her in the Forbidden Forest incident, and out of a desire to make amends, their regard for Jane reached new heights.

In Transfiguration class, Professor McGonagall was determined to award her points.

"Who can tell me the five Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration?"

Professor McGonagall ignored Hermione's hand reaching for the ceiling and swept her eyes to the back row:

"Miss Yu is smiling, she must be very familiar with this question. Please answer."

"Perfect answer, one point to Slytherin!"

Even Ron complained: "Compared to Gryffindor, I think Slytherin is more like McGonagall's favorite house now. Look at all the points she gives Jane! I suspect she'd award a point just for Jane walking into class with her left foot!"

Professor Flitwick gave her extra lessons daily.

This former dueling champion, having learned from Dumbledore about Jane's bullying incident, secretly taught her several harmless minor spells like the Laughing Charm and the Teeth-Growing Spell.

He urged Jane to come to the professors immediately if she encountered any problems, insisting she must never allow herself to be bullied.

Professor Sprout, who taught Herbology, even granted her free access to the greenhouses.

This kind-hearted lady, upon learning that Jane was earning money for school supplies by making potions with Bubotuber pus, generously gave her access to Greenhouse Three to cultivate Bubotubers.

She even offered Jane a work-study position - planting eucalyptus trees.

"Yu, those eucalyptus trees have grown, and I need an assistant to transplant them to the Forbidden Forest," 

Professor Sprout said kindly, indicating that Jane would be perfect for the job.

- She had burned down a large section of the forest, and this was her chance to make amends while earning Galleons.

This was truly a case of lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own feet, as she now realized.

Fortunately, this job earned her ten Galleons per week.

In Potions class, Snape's favoritism toward his house students was on full display.

Jane and Theodore's group was moved to the front of the classroom to demonstrate for all students.

"One point to Slytherin for Miss Yu's perfect nettle-cutting technique."

"Did you see how Miss Yu handled those leeches? Why aren't you taking notes?"

"If you all learned from Miss Yu, I imagine you'd spend far less on replacement cauldrons."

Meanwhile, Harry and Ron's group, along with Neville and Seamus's, suffered terribly in comparison, becoming their foils and losing three or four points every lesson.

Now their legs would go weak just entering the Potions classroom, with Neville needing support just to reach his seat.

...

But behind the scenes, Quirrell lived in constant fear.

He wasn't sure whether his activities in the Forbidden Forest - hunting unicorns for Voldemort - had been discovered.

"Master..." he trembled, fearfully covering his turban with both hands, "have I disappointed you?"

The face at the back of his head twisted, snarling viciously:

"Fool! You can't even handle such a simple task!"

Quirrell collapsed to the ground, enduring his master's punishment, writhing in pain and letting out piercing screams.

"Find out where the Stone is! You're running out of time!"

The voice threatened his pitiful servant. They shared one body, but clearly Voldemort had become the dominant force, with the unicorn blood restoring some of his strength.

"And the Boy Who Lived - kill him!"

Quirrell gasped for breath, curling up in pain: "Yes, Master, I will do it."

"But the girl in the Forbidden Forest, how should I deal with her?"

His master snorted dismissively, showing no concern for such minor players:

"A mudblood - ignore her. Remember, your targets are Harry Potter and the Stone!"

Quirrell quietly agreed, pledging his loyalty to his master:

"I won't fail you, Master."

"The Quidditch match is coming soon. I will present you with the enemy's life."