Chapter 217: Taking Responsibility
A loud cat meow suddenly echoed from the distance, causing Harry-kun and the others hidden beneath the invisibility cloak to shudder.
They dared not move an inch, shrinking against the corridor wall as they waited for the sleek-furred Mrs. Norris-kun to pass.
To their horror, Mrs. Norris-kun trotted over gracefully and stopped right at Sean-kun's feet, letting out a loud, piercing cry.
Justin-kun shot a thoughtful glance at Sean-kun, while Harry-kun and the rest completely held their breath.
We've been caught... we're going to be expelled...
Harry-kun's mind was a mess.
It was over now. He hadn't even been here for a full school year, and soon he would be packing his things to leave. What would the Dudley-kun family say when they saw him appearing at their front door?
Harry-kun, don't say things like that...
Hermione-kun's face was pale with fear, but she forced herself to stay calm to comfort Harry-kun.
I'm so hungry. Can I at least have one last meal at Hogwarts?
Ron-kun stood dazed, seemingly saying whatever came to mind in his despair.
Ron-kun!
Hermione-kun hissed at Ron-kun.
I'm really... very hungry.
Ron-kun seemed to have given up entirely.
The turning point came as suddenly as the panic.
Sean-kun slowly deactivated his concealment. He stroked Mrs. Norris-kun's soft paws and exchanged a look with Justin-kun.
Justin-kun pulled a full jar of dried silver fish from his bag. Mrs. Norris-kun gave a light huff in the direction of Harry-kun and the others, then trotted away with the fish in her mouth.
I should have realized sooner. Mrs. Norris-kun is so obedient whenever she's around Sean-kun...
Ron-kun whispered, filled with the joy of a narrow escape.
We need to move, now!
Harry-kun looked up as if waking from a nightmare. He gave a low call, wanting nothing more than to deliver Norbert-kun as quickly as possible.
We're almost there!
They reached the corridor just below the highest tower. Harry-kun spoke while panting for breath.
The steep spiral staircase leading to the tower felt like the easiest path in the world. They watched as four broomsticks descended, and Norbert-kun's crate was secured with ropes by a group of cheerful wizard-kuns.
They explained that the ropes were enchanted and that nothing would go wrong with Norbert-kun, then invited Sean-kun and the others to say their goodbyes.
Under the night sky, Sean-kun saw Norbert-kun staring directly at him. Sean-kun walked over, and Norbert-kun's head leaned against Sean-kun's.
Sean-kun placed a tracking button on Norbert-kun and watched as the four broomsticks flew into the distance.
Norbert-kun was gone... Sean-kun gazed down the corridor.
He noticed that Mr. Filch-kun was not around, and the Malfoy-kun hiding in the shadows had not been caught. It seemed Harry-kun's night excursion would go unnoticed... so he parted ways with Justin-kun and the others in the corridor. He needed to hurry and finalize the ritual through his thoughts.
The night passed quickly.
The next day, Sean-kun was preparing to head from the Great Hall to the Alchemy office. He needed to discuss the details of the fire dragon ritual with Professor Terra-kun and find Professor McGonagall-kun's notes on the analysis of dragon forms.
However, he saw Professor McGonagall-kun taking her seat at the high table with a grim expression.
Sean-kun looked toward the entrance of the Great Hall with a sense of realization. A crowd of wizard-kuns was gathered there.
How could the points suddenly be one hundred and fifty lower than yesterday?!
Sean-kun heard a Gryffindor wizard-kun shouting.
Then, Professor McGonagall-kun mercilessly announced the punishment for Harry-kun and the others' rule-breaking night stroll.
It turned out that Malfoy-kun, who had been trying to find them last night, was caught by Professor McGonagall-kun. After being caught, he immediately ratted out Harry-kun. Consequently, Harry-kun and the other two were caught by the furious professor right at the Gryffindor entrance.
I am very angry, Professor McGonagall-kun said. Three students out of bed in one night! I have never heard of such a thing before! You, Miss Granger-kun, I thought you had more sense. As for you, Mr. Potter-kun, I thought you placed a high value on Gryffindor's honor.
All three of you will be serving detention. Regardless of the circumstances, you have no right to wander around the school in the middle of the night. It is very dangerous. Fifty points will be taken from Gryffindor.
Fifty?
Harry-kun felt like he couldn't breathe. They had only just caught up to Slytherin because of Quidditch!
Fifty points each!
Professor McGonagall-kun's long, pointed nose puffed with indignation.
That was the sentence Harry-kun regretted hearing the most.
Not to mention the Gryffindors who were now boycotting them, even Hermione-kun didn't understand why he had to speak up while the professor was in such a temper.
Harry-kun was isolated; it was painfully obvious.
Ron-kun was slightly better off, as his fame wasn't as great as Harry-kun's. Hermione-kun, meanwhile, was sulking. She stopped participating in class and instead poured all her energy into studying at the Room of Hope.
Undeniably, the three of them now hated not only themselves but also Malfoy-kun for snitching.
They believe they did something wrong and hate themselves for it, but they don't hate Hagrid-kun, and they haven't said a word about the fire dragon, Justin-kun whispered beside Sean-kun.
Sean-kun, do you know what my mother would say? Never betray others for your own gain—that is called integrity, and it is called courage. And do you know what I would say?
Justin-kun looked at Sean-kun as if seeking approval. Then, he whispered something.
Sean-kun nodded thoughtfully.
Harry-kun and the others were easily influenced by external opinions, but it would be different if a few more people were involved. Justin-kun's plan was quite good.
Professor! I was part of the night stroll too! And Sean-kun! Sean-kun went as well!
Justin-kun charged forward like a truck on a suicide mission, leaving the professors at the high table stunned.
Mr. Finch-Fletchley-kun, oh...
Professor Sprout-kun seemed to understand something. She lightly wiped the corner of her eye.
I must take fifty points from Hufflepuff!
Mr. Green-kun... truly...
Professor Flitwick-kun pretended to be angry as he pulled Sean-kun aside, but he winked, as if saying: It's okay, child, we'll earn them back soon.
Then, he sternly took fifty points from Ravenclaw.
Now the scores of all four houses had dropped significantly (Malfoy-kun had also lost points), and Harry-kun and the others were no longer being singled out.
Professor McGonagall-kun, however, was in a towering rage and immediately took Sean-kun away.
Before this, no matter where Harry-kun went, people would point at him and insult him without even lowering their voices.
On the other hand, whenever he passed by the Slytherins, they would clap and whistle, cheering: Thank you, Potter-kun, you've done us a huge favor!
Now everyone was discussing the rarity of Mr. Green-kun losing points for the first time!
They had assumed such a talented wizard-kun would have no reason to break school rules.
Harry-kun and the other two stood frozen in place. Harry-kun felt his eyes sting, his vision blurring.
Hermione-kun covered her mouth to stop herself from crying with emotion, while Ron-kun bowed his head, trembling, lost in thought.
Beside them, Justin-kun was surrounded by angry Hufflepuffs. He honestly promised that he would compile the best Herbology Guide for the end-of-year exams, and only then did the Badgers let him go.
Looks like I'll be quite busy? he said with a gentle smile.
Harry-kun and the others were completely speechless, lacking even the strength to say that the joke wasn't funny at all.
Would you like me to translate the next chapter to see what kind of detention Professor McGonagall-kun has in store for Sean-kun?
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