The next day, after class, Charlie arrived at the Great Hall for lunch.
Dumbledore told him yesterday that the application for the Order of Merlin had been submitted, and the approval process would take about a month.
With Dumbledore submitting the application, its approval was a sure thing.
Charlie found a seat and began to enjoy his lavish lunch.
However, the atmosphere in the Great Hall today was a bit strange.
The surrounding students occasionally looked his way, whispering something.
Some people had sympathetic expressions, while others looked like they were enjoying the drama.
Charlie frowned but didn't pay too much attention.
If he got worked up every time someone looked at him, he wouldn't be able to do anything else at school.
After all, he was so handsome, it was hard not to attract attention.
"Charlie!"
Ernie rushed over, holding a copy of The Daily Prophet.
"Have you seen today's newspaper?" Ernie's expression was complex, both angry and helpless.
"No, why?" Charlie took the newspaper and asked casually.
Then he saw the headline on the front page:
"Shocking Revelation: the savior and the Potion Genius's Love-Hate Relationship!"
"Exclusive Scoop: Hogwarts' Teenage Love Triangle, Who Did Miss Granger Ultimately Choose?"
Charlie's expression instantly froze.
He quickly skimmed the article, his face growing darker with each line.
What on earth was this nonsense!
He'd be working for UC Shocking News tomorrow.
"This Rita Skeeter is absolutely outrageous!" Ernie fumed.
"How can she fabricate such lies?"
As Charlie's roommate, who interacted with him daily, he naturally knew that Charlie and Hermione had no relationship whatsoever.
This report was pure fabrication.
Just then, Harry, Ron, and Hermione also walked over.
All three looked terrible, having clearly already read the newspaper.
"Charlie, we really didn't say that!" Harry explained anxiously.
"That reporter was completely making things up!"
"I know." Charlie put down the newspaper, his expression calm.
"During the interview, I already felt something was off with her; the quill wrote significantly more than what I said."
Hermione's face turned red with anger: "She's practically slandering us; we clearly didn't say anything, yet she could make up so much content."
Besides anger, she felt more shame and indignation.
A girl of about ten years old being targeted like this, who knew how much ridicule she would face.
Today, she already felt that her roommates were forming cliques behind her back; when she woke up this morning, no one would speak to her.
Some even said: You actually chose Harry? Not Charlie? Have you been blinded by the title of the savior?
Was this even a question of choosing someone?
Ron was also furious: "Reporters like her should be fired!"
But the surrounding students clearly believed it to be true.
Seeing Harry approach, the whispers grew louder.
"Look, the savior is here to confront Charlie."
"I don't think Harry can beat Charlie."
"But Harry defeated You-Know-Who; who knows what tricks he has."
"Do you think they'll actually fight?"
Malfoy's eyes lit up with excitement, and he whispered at the Slytherin table:
"Bets are open, bets are open! How many minutes can Harry last!"
"I bet one Galleon that Charlie will keep Harry in bed for a month."
"I'd say it's three to seven; Harry will beg for mercy three times in three minutes."
Harry heard these whispers and broke out in a sweat.
He wanted to explain but didn't know how to start.
The more anxious he became, the more people felt there was a show to watch.
"Harry, don't worry." Charlie calmly sliced his sausage.
"You can't solve things like public opinion by explaining."
"On the contrary, the more agitated you are, the more others will want to see you make a fool of yourself."
Charlie took a sip of pumpkin juice and continued.
"To solve this problem, you can only start from the source."
Everyone subconsciously looked at The Daily Prophet on the table.
The source was Rita's report.
Neville, behind Harry, had a very serious expression, his fists clenched.
Such slander was unforgivable!
Charlie was the benefactor who saved his parents, a hero who benefited the entire Wizarding World.
How could he be dragged down by such malicious and defamatory reports?
Neville remembered what his grandmother often said: The Lupin Family never forgets kindness.
Now was the time to repay Charlie!
"I won't let them slander you like this."
Neville secretly swore in his heart.
"The honor of the Lupin Family does not allow a benefactor to receive such treatment!"
He turned and went back to his dormitory, preparing to write a letter to his grandmother.
Charlie did not notice Neville's abnormality.
In his opinion, such gossip news was not a big deal at all.
Students were just full of unvented energy, which was why they paid so much attention to such things.
Once the hype died down, everyone would forget.
At worst, he'd find an opportunity later to give Rita a taste of the Nine Clans Severance Curse.
After all, he wasn't some tyrant; a small punishment would suffice.
But at this moment, Senior Jenny couldn't stand it.
"This reporter is absolutely despicable!" Senior Jenny frowned.
"How dare she smear Charlie like this!"
She slammed her hand on the table, startling the surrounding Hufflepuff students.
In Jenny's heart, how could a junior like Charlie endure such excessive slander?
She had to do something, otherwise, their Hufflepuff junior would be bullied!
"Charlie, don't worry about this." Jenny patted Charlie's shoulder.
"Senior Sister will handle it."
After saying that, she pulled a few senior girls to a corner to discuss.
In Potion Class that afternoon, Charlie, as usual, prepared himself for Snape's usual making things difficult.
But today, Snape was unusually quiet.
Throughout the entire class, Snape did not trouble Charlie.
Charlie even wondered if the Potion Professor had been possessed by something foul.
The bell rang, and students packed up their things, ready to leave.
"Mr. White, stay behind," Snape said coldly.
Charlie thought, sure enough, what was meant to come would come.
Ernie and Justin looked at Charlie sympathetically, then quickly left the classroom.
Run fast, or you'll be splattered with blood later.
Soon, only Charlie and Snape were left in the classroom.
Snape walked up to Charlie, his black eyes staring directly at him.
"The healing potion, was it really developed by you?"
Snape asked directly.
Charlie wondered, was it just for this?
He nodded: "Yes, Professor."
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