Dumbledore slowly wiped his spectacles before finally speaking.
"You'll need to calm Draco Malfoy down and ensure Lucius Malfoy doesn't cause any trouble for Harry."
"Lucius won't just let this go," Dumbledore added.
"I don't want the news of your duel with Harry getting out, so I won't be taking points from Harry."
"What?" Snape looked as if he thought his ears were playing tricks on him.
"Yes, Severus. I've already decided Harry's punishment: detention until Christmas, and you'll be responsible for it."
"?" Snape was quite certain his ears had indeed malfunctioned.
"Yes, Severus. Harry will be serving his detention with you. I've always believed there are no misunderstandings that can't be resolved, and since Harry now knows about your connection to Lily, why not—"
Slam! Snape shut the Headmaster's office door with a resounding thud and left.
Dumbledore gave a wry smile, watching Snape's furious departure.
A moment later, Dumbledore looked at the Philosopher's Stone and murmured to himself, "Oh, Harry, what's truly happening with you...? It seems I'll need to write a few letters to my old friends in France."
On the way back to the Gryffindor Tower, Hermione began to scold Harry.
"Harry, your attitude just now was simply not sincere enough."
"I was telling the truth," Harry insisted.
Hermione sighed in exasperation and smacked Humphrey firmly on the head.
"Crikey!" Humphrey immediately let out a series of hisses.
They walked all the way to the portrait of the Fat Lady without another word.
The Weasley twins, surprisingly, hadn't gone to bed yet. As Harry and Hermione entered the common room, they immediately swarmed them, full of mischief.
(Fred): "Oh, Hermione, sorry to have worried you."
(George): "Don't say sorry, we're friends~"
Hermione's face instantly turned a deep shade of red, and she quietly pulled out her wand.
"Ah, Miss Granger's cross! Run, George!"
"Harry, I've got to say, you looked positively dashing smacking Snape... Ow! Don't hit me, Fred, wait for me!"
After shooing away the Weasley twins, Hermione hesitated, then said, "Harry, was that stone behind Professor Dumbledore just now...?"
"It should be the Philosopher's Stone."
"I can't believe the Professor has the Elixir of Life!" Hermione sounded genuinely shocked.
"Oh," Harry replied offhandedly.
Hearing Harry's dismissive response, Hermione thumped Humphrey on the head in annoyance.
"Harry, what was that 'special' thing you mentioned in the Headmaster's office?"
"Oh, that's Parseltongue, the ability to talk to snakes. Dumbledore told me not to mention it to anyone."
Hermione nodded, looking a bit confused. At that moment, she had no idea what Parseltongue truly implied.
After wishing each other goodnight, they parted ways.
Back in the dormitory, Harry practically collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep instantly, leaving Humphrey to climb into his trunk by himself.
On Saturday, the first-year Gryffindors had no classes.
So, Harry slept in until noon.
"Ah~" Harry yawned as he walked into the common room; Hermione wasn't there.
In a corner, Ron was playing Wizard's Chess with Seamus. When he saw Harry come down, Ron hesitated for a moment, then walked over.
"Harry, is it true what everyone's saying about you dueling Snape last night?"
"Just a rumour, nothing more. I'm just a first-year; how could I possibly duel a professor?" Harry said loudly, noticing the surrounding students straining their ears to listen in.
"Right... I suppose not."
"Is there anything else you need? If not, I'm heading to the Great Hall," Harry said quite directly.
"Er, could we maybe borrow your homework for a bit of a look?" Ron said, scratching his head awkwardly.
"My homework, Accio!" Harry directly summoned his homework with a summoning charm and handed it to Ron.
"Harry! You shouldn't be lending Ron your homework!"
Hermione had just returned from the library and saw Harry handing his parchment to Ron.
Seeing Hermione storming over, Ron and Seamus quickly dashed back to their dormitory.
Harry casually put an arm around Hermione, who was still about to lecture him, and gently but firmly guided her out of the common room.
"I was just about to grab some lunch; I know you haven't eaten either."
In the Great Hall, even though it was late, there were still students eating lunch.
When they saw Harry walk in, whispers immediately broke out.
"How is Potter just walking around like nothing happened? Wasn't he expelled?"
"The way I heard it, Snape was actually killed!"
"?"
Hearing the murmurs, Hermione looked at Harry with concern.
Harry, however, remained unfazed and said, "Looks like we'll have to have lunch outside then."
They took their lunches and walked towards the Black Lake, settling under a large tree.
"Harry, is that Hedwig?" Hermione pointed uncertainly at an owl in the sky.
Harry looked up and, sure enough, it was Hedwig.
Hedwig fluttered down between a plate of beef and some pumpkin juice, extending her left leg, which had a note tied to it.
Hermione picked up a piece of bread to feed Hedwig, while Harry opened the note.
It read: Dear Harry, your detention begins today and will last until Christmas. See Severus at 9 o'clock tonight.
"Harry, what does the note say?" Hermione asked curiously.
Before Harry could answer, another owl arrived.
"What's going on today? So many owls at once," Harry thought as he opened the second note.
The second note read (the handwriting was quite messy): Hello Harry, I'm Oliver Wood. Your first Quidditch practice starts at 3 o'clock this afternoon.
Harry handed both notes to Hermione, then grumbled, "Just brilliant. Couldn't ask for a more relaxing weekend."
"Ow, Hedwig! I wasn't blaming you..." Harry suddenly yelped as Hedwig nipped him.
At 2:45 PM, by Hagrid's hut.
Harry handed his trunk to Hermione, but kept his broomstick.
"Hermione, Humphrey's all yours."
"Don't worry, Harry, I'll take him for a quick walk and then meet you at the Quidditch pitch."
Watching Hermione walk towards the Forbidden Forest with Humphrey, Harry mounted his Nimbus 2000 and flew towards the pitch.
Harry was clearly in high spirits, circling the Quidditch pitch several times.
"Oi, Potter, come down!" Wood had arrived, a large wooden box tucked under his arm.
"You're a truly excellent flyer," Wood said eagerly, then his eyes landed on Harry's broomstick.
"Wow, a Nimbus 2000? We'll definitely thrash Slytherin this year!"
"Of course, we will."
Wood didn't find Harry's reply arrogant; on the contrary, he admired such a fearless attitude.
"Excellent! Right, let's get straight to practice. This is the Golden Snitch..."
When Hermione arrived at the Quidditch pitch, Harry was elegantly dodging a Bludger, then diving to snatch the Golden Snitch in a truly spectacular move.
Wood, sitting on his broom, clapped enthusiastically, while Hermione's gaze was fixed on Harry's dashing figure, unable to look away.