Usually, villains aren't the most popular characters, there are exceptions, but generally, they have one common trait summed up in a single word: cool.
Before we rant again about this pill-like world, we have to ask: why is it that villains are almost always hunted down by the hero and their entire team?
The reason is simple: unlike the hero's naïveté, villains tend to be seasoned players, everyone meets, exchanges a sly smile, and just by that you know exactly what's up.
They're all thousand-year-old foxes, why bother with fairy tales?
Therefore, aside from a few sharp-minded followers who admire the villain's unique charm, most villains can only con a handful of fools into being their underlings, looking at you, Goyle and Crab!
Because of this, villains tend to dislike each other intensely, after all, scammers are plenty, fools are rare. Fighting over scarce resources is just natural.
But Allen's dislike for the guy in front of him had nothing to do with these usual reasons.
On his left was a bratty kid, and on his right, another brat, on the left, pale and skinny; on the right, black-haired, wearing glasses and bearing a lightning-shaped scar.
Yep, perfect timing, Allen had just come to change his robes when he happened upon this couple's first encounter, like a golden breeze meeting jade dew, surpassing countless human encounters.
Long story short, Harry didn't realize that in his upcoming school life, 30% of the time he'd be running errands with his trio, 20% spent dueling normal monsters with the young wizard in front of him, and the remaining 50% split between gossiping about love and fighting Voldemort's bosses.
When Allen arrived, Malfoy was busy lecturing Harry on basic Quidditch knowledge. Seeing Allen enter, he didn't stop, after all, for a little wizard like him, chances to show off to peers were rare.
Allen understood, everyone has their angsty phase. Also, although his memory was fuzzy, it seemed the brat had been slapped down.
Though Allen's memory was a bit off, unfortunately for this wannabe tough guy, what he faced wasn't just a brush-off, it was a real slap in the face when he said:
"...But I know I'll be sorted into Slytherin, because my whole family graduated from there, if I'm put in Hufflepuff, I think I'd just drop out, what do you think?"
Before Allen could think of how to teach him a lesson, a crisp slap landed on Malfoy's face, it was Annie.
That slap stunned everyone, including Allen.
"How dare you?", the first to react was the victim himself. Though his left cheek was covered, a faint blush showed, well, looking healthier already.
Sadly, his long string of words was cut off, Annie's tone, though not loud, completely overwhelmed him.
"New students, shut up!" Annie showed unprecedented firmness, her tone still soft, but it scared the brat.
"As Slytherin's top student, someone like you smearing the house before even joining is an insult to Slytherin!"
"Tell me now, what's the greatest virtue of Slytherin?"
"Honor?" The poor kid looked confused, because according to Slytherin rules, strength makes right.
"You know that? Then where's your honor? True skill is defeating your enemies head-on, not venting your anger with backstabbing insults!"
After schooling the unlucky brat into a daze, Annie grabbed Allen and hurried out of the shop, leaving behind two stunned brats and a bewildered store staff.
"Hehe," shortly after stepping out, Annie laughed and said to the dumbfounded Allen, "That's what Professor Snape used to say to us, we all froze and memorized it. No wonder that guy got scared just now, haha!"
So that's where Annie picked up all those words, straight from Snape.
The only regret was not buying any clothes, though if they went back in, that brat would still be stunned, but to avoid awkwardness, better not see each other again anytime soon.
What if the parents showed up and didn't fall for the nonsense? Fighting parents would be too much, even if they weren't brats themselves.
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Still September 1st, the day that countless students who rushed through summer and dreaded homework detest.
Hogwarts' charm was in full force today, none of these brats were eager to start school!
To avoid being blocked by the mob, Allen got up early, took Annie and the slimming-failed pudding cat, and arrived at the station ahead of time. What about Valor?
If it hadn't caught that little illness of fighting owls for food, it would have been worry-free!
The benefit of waking early was snagging any seat you wanted, except those reserved for prefects, whose authority is boosted and obvious in every way.
After Allen rested in a good spot, two very familiar voices suddenly rang out.
It was the twins, eagerly inviting Allen to see their new discovery, Harry Potter!
Not the dry, photo-less introduction from the books, but a live, moving Harry, this was a real fan event!
Looking at the excited twins, Allen didn't bother and shifted to a more comfortable position to try sleeping again, after all, it wasn't like he couldn't see Harry later.
But soon Allen couldn't sleep, his many friends and others were spreading the old news of Harry's arrival like it was some big scandal involving Minister Fudge and the Minister of Magic.
You can imagine how awkward Harry must have felt, still, Allen chose to keep sleeping, hoping Merlin would protect the poor kid from further disturbance.
Soon the compartment door was knocked again, through Annie's giggles, Allen reluctantly opened the door.
"I already know, thank you very much..." His sentence was cut off.
Because what they asked wasn't about that news, but a question:
"Excuse me, have you seen a toad?"
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