The scene shifts to the Great Hall, which was already filled with a clamor.
The long tables were filled with shimmering plates and goblets, the air thick with the aroma of food and the excited chatter of students.
However, the most eye-catching thing was the hall's decorations—silver and green banners representing Slytherin hung on the walls, and the giant Slytherin serpent crest gleamed behind the High Table.
"It seems this year's House Cup is in Slytherin's pocket again." Edgar shrugged, unfazed by the sea of green before his eyes.
"Do you never look at the House point hourglasses? Slytherin's gems have been way ahead for a long time."
"I haven't gone out of my way to check~ Snape gives points to Slytherin every chance he gets anyway," Edgar said with a wave of his hand.
"I'm just reflecting.
I heard Slytherin has won for seven years in a row; including this year, that's eight years.
Sigh, when will this luck come to us Hufflepuffs? Even just once?"
There was a hint of envy in his tone.
As Professor Dumbledore stood up, the Great Hall gradually fell silent. Everyone knew that the annual House Cup awards ceremony had arrived.
Dumbledore cleared his throat and began to read out the final scores for each house:
"In fourth place, Gryffindor, three hundred and twelve points."
A collective sigh came from the Gryffindor table.
"In third place, Hufflepuff, three hundred and fifty points."
The Hufflepuffs remained calm, even clapping their hands and accepting this middle-of-the-road ranking.
"In second place, Ravenclaw, four hundred and twenty-six points."
The Ravenclaws nodded slightly; for this knowledge-focused house, second place seemed like an acceptable result.
"In first place, Slytherin, four hundred and seventy-two points!"
"Yeah—!!"
No sooner had Dumbledore finished speaking than the Slytherin table erupted into thunderous cheers, applause, and whistles.
Green scarves and hats were tossed into the air, and every face beamed with the joy and pride of victory.
Malfoy even jumped up in excitement. He pointedly turned toward the Gryffindor table, in the direction of Harry and Ron, and mouthed a taunt that clearly meant:
"Potter~ poor Weasley~ Gryffindor isn't good enough either~"
Lynn clearly saw Ron's ears and neck turn from a slight flush to a bright red at a visible rate. His fists were clenched tight, looking like he was about to explode.
"Ahem, ahem~"
Just then, Dumbledore spoke again, his voice easily cutting through the Slytherin clamor and bringing silence back to the hall.
"Well done! However..." He changed his tone. "Before we officially announce the results, there are a few recent events that I believe need to be taken into consideration."
Dumbledore unhurriedly began his performance:
"First—Mr. Ron Weasley, for showing exceptional strategic vision and a spirit of self-sacrifice in winning the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years! For this, fifty points to Gryffindor!"
"Whoa!"
A gasp went up from the Gryffindor table, and the rubies in the hourglass shot up a significant amount.
Ron's mouth hung open. The red on his face hadn't faded, but now it was due to excitement and disbelief.
"Second—Miss Hermione Granger, for facing danger without fear and using exceptional logic and a cool head for critical reasoning! Fifty points to Gryffindor!"
Hermione's face turned red instantly, and she lowered her head shyly, but her shoulders straightened with pride.
Gryffindor's score soared once more.
"Third—Mr. Harry Potter!"
Dumbledore's voice was full of approval.
"For showing extraordinary courage, with remarkable bravery and spirit, he protected the school's safety and stopped a great threat! Sixty points to Gryffindor!"
Harry's name and the massive point gain caused the Gryffindors' cheers to nearly blow the roof off. Their score was now tied with Slytherin's!
"Last—Mr. Neville Longbottom!"
Dumbledore's gaze turned toward the round-faced boy. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends when they break school rules! Ten points to Gryffindor!"
When Neville's name and the points were announced, the total number of rubies in the Gryffindor hourglass finally surpassed the Slytherin emeralds, settling at 482 points!
The entire hall first fell into an eerie silence, except for the uncontrollable sounds of ecstasy from Gryffindor.
Lynn sat at the Hufflepuff table, stunned, his mouth slightly agape.
Wait, what? Hold on!
He ranted frantically in his mind. I can barely understand the reason for "protecting the school's safety," even though I don't know exactly what happened.
But... points for playing chess?! Points for reasoning?! Points for stopping friends from breaking school rules?! You can even play it this way?! These reasons for giving points are way too arbitrary!
Why didn't you say so earlier! Me, the champion of the International Youth Alchemy Competition, bringing glory to the school—wouldn't it be reasonable to give Hufflepuff fifty points?
And before, in the Forbidden Forest, I drove away that Dark Wizard who attacked the Unicorn, and those two Dark Wizards who were sent to Azkaban.
Even though none of you know, setting aside the facts, shouldn't these heroic acts earn me at least a hundred and twenty points?!
Wait... Dark Wizard? Quirrell's resignation... Lynn's thoughts suddenly connected. He remembered what Dumbledore had said earlier: "Professor Quirrell will no longer be the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor for certain reasons..."
Combined with the points given to Harry and the others tonight, which clearly pointed to some major event... the Philosopher's Stone... a Dark Wizard... Quirrell leaving... Harry's "protecting the school's safety"... a conclusion close to the truth formed in Lynn's mind: Quirrell was likely the Dark Wizard trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone, but he was stopped by Harry Potter! And possibly Hermione and Ron as well.
Lynn: "..."
Even though the book he transmigrated into was called "Harry Potter."
But Quirrell... was he really that weak?! He actually got taken down by first-year students?! No wonder Dumbledore said there was a "big fish" in the Castle... this fish looked fierce, but it turned out to be a total pushover!
"Now then..." Dumbledore's voice rang out again, breaking through the various complex emotions in the hall. "I believe the hall's decorations require a little change."
He gave a light wave of his hand.
In an instant, the hanging silver and green Slytherin banners faded away like melting snow, replaced by vibrant scarlet and gold Gryffindor lion flags!
The decorations on the walls and even the colors of the tablecloths switched instantly. Within seconds, the entire Great Hall completed a magnificent transformation from Slytherin to Gryffindor!
"Whoa—!!!"
This time, it was the Gryffindor table's turn to erupt into deafening cheers and applause, filled with the joy of victory!
Red scarves and hats flew through the air.
Ron jumped onto the bench in excitement. He finally found his chance for revenge. Facing Malfoy, whose face was as pale as if he had swallowed a slug, Ron shouted the words he had been holding back for a long time with all his might:
"You're not good enough~ Mal-feces~ You Slytherins are still not good enough~!"
Malfoy: "..."
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