On the last day of the semester, the school announced the exam results. Naturally, Malfoy had no doubts about his own scores, but Pansy's results surprised him a little.
"Not bad, quite an improvement," Malfoy said, looking at the report card and stroking his chin, praising Pansy.
Apart from Charms, everything else seemed to be generally good.
"Of course," Pansy said proudly, raising her small head, a stifled hum coming from her nose.
Soon it was time for the last assembly of the semester. The scarlet and gold decorations in the Great Hall were taken down, replaced by green streamers and magnificent silver ornaments, simple yet luxurious.
Behind the head table, a banner depicting a giant green serpent, symbolizing Slytherin, hung on the wall.
Malfoy's Special Contribution Award this semester, coupled with Slytherin's victory in the Quidditch competition, made this year's House Cup a foregone conclusion.
However, it was clear that Slytherin's popularity wasn't great. In the Great Hall now, only their own house was happy about it.
Professor Lupin's situation caused many students a lot of heartache, leading to resentment towards the Snake House.
Of course, they had never been very popular, so they weren't worried about this negative impact.
"He's getting a Special Contribution Award? He drove Professor Lupin away! I think he should lose five hundred points!" Ron said, sitting at the long table, kicking the stool beside his foot angrily, making a loud noise that caused the surrounding students to look over.
Hermione, sitting beside him, could only helplessly watch Ron's childish behavior, shaking her head slightly.
Dumbledore, on the head table, cleared his throat at this moment, squinting his eyes and scanning the entire Great Hall. Then, all the students' attention was drawn to him, and they looked forward, waiting for their headmaster's address.
"This year, Hogwarts has not been peaceful. Many things have happened during this time. Two new teachers, for various reasons, didn't even stay in their positions for a year..." Dumbledore's tone was very calm, even though the facts he was stating weren't so pleasant.
At this time, many students from the other three houses were simultaneously glaring angrily at Malfoy, who was sitting upright at the Slytherin table, especially the Gryffindor students, who now combined their old and new grudges. Malfoy had even taken away the House Cup that was almost in their hands and had forced Lupin to resign.
As for the other three houses, they didn't have much affection for Hagrid, but Professor Lupin had indeed won them over with his skills, and they felt sorry for his departure.
"And then we believed the lies of a criminal, allowing someone who betrayed their friends to act as a hero, while the true warrior almost paid a heavy price for it. Traitors are good at disguises, and even mixed into our school early on, swaggering around here and accepting our praise. This is my dereliction of duty, and I am very sorry." At this point, Dumbledore's voice became even lower and more somber, and then he bowed deeply to all the teachers and students present.
A murmur suddenly arose from below the stage. Most of the students didn't think Dumbledore needed to apologize for this. After all, the wrongful conviction was caused by the Ministry of Magic. Who could have imagined that an innocent person would stay in prison for so long, while the person who should have been arrested was still at large, almost transforming into a hero worshiped by everyone?
"Of course, this also illustrates a very serious problem," Dumbledore's voice suddenly became a little louder. He rarely used such an excited tone. "Peter Pettigrew's example tells us that you are not absolutely safe in Hogwarts. People with ulterior motives can always seize opportunities, so now you need to accept more rigorous courses. I am trying my best to persuade an experienced wizard to come to our school to teach. I believe you will gain something next semester."
"Phew," Ron and Harry exhaled simultaneously upon hearing this, as if relieved of a heavy burden.
"Hearing Professor Dumbledore say that, I knew it definitely wasn't Snape," Ron said happily, shaking his red hair.
"Then who will he invite?" Harry still missed Lupin a little, and then asked.
"As long as it's not the old bat, anyone will do," Ron said at this time, his voice seeming a little loud. Then he felt a hateful gaze staring at him, making him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles.
Snape, sitting in the teacher's seat, clearly heard this sentence, and a venomous light flickered in his deep eyes.
"Okay, I have to say, he hates us so much, and we can still pass. We're so lucky," Ron's voice was even lower. "I don't care if Snape glares at him a few more times."
Anyway, the relationship can't be salvaged now. From the beginning, they were in completely opposing camps.
At this time, Dumbledore's voice sounded again: "In addition, this year, a student has also received Hogwarts' Special Contribution Award, and that is Draco Malfoy. If it weren't for him, we might still be kept in the dark, deceived by others. He successfully resisted the Imperius Curse and cooperated with the Aurors' actions." Dumbledore's azure blue eyes turned to Malfoy at the long table at this moment, and he met his gaze, revealing a meaningful smile.
"Cooperated with what? He still let him run away," Ron said maliciously.
Hermione, on the other hand, looked straight at Professor Dumbledore, with no obvious expression on her face. But if the two boys beside her were a little more attentive, they would have seen that her body was now tense.
Malfoy simply got up from his seat, nodded in acknowledgment, and then sat back down in his seat, without even saying a "thank you speech."
Then, a not-so-enthusiastic applause rang out in the Great Hall. Apart from the Slytherin students, whose admiration for Malfoy had increased a lot and were doing their best to applaud, the students from the other three houses didn't care much about it.
Pansy, sitting beside Malfoy, was now desperately clapping her small hands, her face filled with excitement, sincerely happy and proud for him.
Now, she had temporarily put aside that "hero saves beauty" plot and was only excited about the first two words.
This is the person she likes!
After that, Dumbledore made some trivial remarks and summaries. After a while, these words sounded.
"Now I declare that this school year you have spent at Hogwarts has officially ended today. I hope you can enjoy the long vacation ahead."
This semester finally came to a complete end with Dumbledore's final announcement.
And all the students, after this assembly, would board the Hogwarts Express and return to their homes to reunite with their families.
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