"Another year has come to an end!" Dumbledore said. "Before we enjoy our splendid feast, I have a few words to say."
"Over the past year, Hogwarts has hosted the grand Inter-Magic School League. We've had many guests on our campus, and there were also some… unexpected visitors."
His gaze paused on a few people, including Harry, Vid, and Filch, who was standing by the doors of the Great Hall with his chest puffed out.
Dumbledore went on, "What makes me proud is that, in the face of competition and challenge, our staff and students have all shown extraordinary courage and wisdom! And in the end, we once again proved this: no matter what darkness we face, as long as we stand together, nothing can truly break us!"
Most people clapped hard, pride on their faces, as if they themselves had defeated the Dark Lord.
After that, everyone quieted down again at the Headmaster's gesture, and heard him say:
"Before the House Cup is awarded, we must award extra points to a few Champions who performed especially well—"
The faces at the Slytherin Long Table instantly darkened. Many exchanged looks; others straightened their backs even more, their expressions as if covered by a layer of frost.
"First, Cedric Diggory!"
The Hufflepuff students all sat up straighter, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"In the Tournament, he showed the true spirit of Hufflepuff—fair play, humility and courtesy, and a deep understanding and masterful application of Magic."
Dumbledore looked at the young man whose face had gone slightly red, his gaze full of approval:
"His performance reminds us that victory is not everything—character and wisdom are just as important! Therefore, I award Hufflepuff College fifty points!"
In an instant, the Hufflepuff table erupted in thunderous cheers and applause. Quite a few students leaped to their feet in excitement, and Cedric was promptly buried under several nearly suffocating hugs from the boys.
Although Cedric hadn't taken the championship, the Hufflepuff students had absolutely no intention of blaming him for that—
The fact that he had made it all the way to the final task was already enough to make the Hufflepuff students proud. In the last stage of the Tournament, they had all been fighting monsters; anyone who actually charged in might not have come back alive.
The Ravenclaw and Gryffindor students joined in with excited applause as well. Besides the fact that Cedric had a good character and most people liked him, they also foresaw that their own Houses would only be getting even more points.
Only Michael was clapping with one hand while waggling his eyebrows at Vid with the other.
Vid asked in puzzlement, "…What?"
"Haven't you noticed?" Michael's lips curled into a mysterious smile as he leaned over and said in a low voice, "Fair play, humility and courtesy… character is just as important…"
Vid's brow twitched. He narrowed his eyes a little and shot Michael a rather unfriendly look.
Enduring Vid's threatening stare, Michael still finished his thought: "I can't help feeling Professor Dumbledore seems to be hinting at someone… Don't you think so, Your Lordship the Gray Lord?"
Vid: "…Shut up!"
Merlin only knew who it was that had given him the nickname "Gray Lord" after the Poppets had successively used violent means to knock several Champions out of the competition.
Later, even the scene where the Poppets relied on "strength in numbers" to take on Voldemort and the Death Eaters hadn't redeemed his reputation. On the contrary, it had only made that title "Gray Lord" spread even further.
Although people always said it with a teasing tone, and there was even a faint hint of admiration, every time Vid heard it he still felt a little depressed.
He didn't dare imagine what sort of expression certain people would show upon hearing that joke of a title…
Everyone had finally settled down again when the Headmaster's voice rang out:
"The second… Harry Potter."
The Great Hall instantly fell silent enough to hear a pin drop. Countless eyes turned to the "Boy Who Lived."
If, in the past, there had still been many who were resentful of Harry's fame, after that night, they no longer had anything to say.
Just like how recently, none of the Slytherin students had gone to make trouble for him because some of their parents were now in prison—not even Draco Malfoy had jumped out to taunt him.
In their hearts, they all knew: if they themselves were to face Voldemort, they might not even have the courage to remain standing, much less to oppose that man.
Even though Harry had once "died" at Voldemort's hands, he later came back from the dead, adding a layer of unfathomable mystery to the halo of the "Star of Salvation."
And considering Voldemort had publicly said that several of his defeats were due to Harry Potter…
In the face of this Savior boy who didn't look particularly strong and didn't even seem particularly smart, not just the Slytherin students—even those Dark Wizards who had long since made their names felt a chill in their hearts.
Dumbledore slightly raised his voice and said:
"He has faced a darkness that many adult Wizards dare not even speak of. Not only did he never back down, he was able, at the most dangerous moment, to choose to sacrifice himself in order to save others—this kind of courage, selflessness and sense of justice is exactly what we value most."
He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the entire hall, as if he wanted each person to remember the meaning of this moment.
"Therefore, I have decided to award Gryffindor College… eighty points!"
In an instant, the roar from the Gryffindor table was deafening. Students were pounding on the table in excitement, and the Weasley Twins even jumped up onto it!
As for Harry, there was nothing more to say—he was absolutely the eye of the hurricane, the focus of the whole galaxy. Quite a few people were shouting at the top of their lungs, "Harry Potter! Harry Potter!"
At the Slytherin Long Table, Daphne quickly ran the numbers in her head, then hurriedly told the person beside her, "Three hundred and fifty-five plus eighty, four hundred and thirty-five! They haven't passed us!"
"Don't get ahead of yourself!" Pansy dug her nails into her own palm. "They're not done handing out points yet! Don't celebrate too soon and let those people laugh at us!"
Hearing this, Daphne finally smoothed the smile from her face, her foot tapping quickly against the floor under the table.
Before the cheering had even died down, Dumbledore raised his voice again and said loudly:
"The third… Vid Gray."
The wave of sound was once again barely pressed down.
"His intelligence and perseverance have earned him the respect of everyone, including his opponents; he has also displayed a genius for Alchemy and Magic that leaves people in awe; and, when faced with temptation, he chose without hesitation to remain true to his own beliefs!"
"For this, Ravenclaw College… is awarded eighty points!"
The Ravenclaw Long Table broke into its loudest cheer of the night. The stars in the enchanted ceiling seemed to tremble faintly from the noise. The surging shouts seemed to form an echo, and even at the Slytherin Long Table, there were a few students who clapped with reserved dignity.
Professor Flitwick was standing on his chair, trying his best to make himself more conspicuous among the teachers. He was waving his short arms vigorously in Vid's direction, his face blooming with an impossibly radiant smile.
Down at the end of the table, Professor Morry was also slowly applauding. His gaze never left Vid; in his eyes there was the pride of a teacher, and also a touch of fatherly affection.
Vid nodded to them in greeting, showing a joyful smile as well—though, in truth, there wasn't much of a ripple in his heart.
"Now," Dumbledore waved his Magic Wand, "let us take a look at the scores of each House—"
"Ravenclaw, four hundred and twenty-one points;"
"Gryffindor, four hundred and thirty-five points;"
"Hufflepuff, four hundred and thirty-six points;"
"Slytherin, five hundred and seven points!"
"Without a doubt, this year's House Cup goes to—Slytherin!"
This time, the screams from the Slytherin Long Table almost blew the roof off. Many students who usually prided themselves on elegance and poise were banging their goblets on the table; some even jumped down from their seats to dance, looking absolutely no different from a rowdy bunch of Gryffindors.
"Huh?" Anthony gaped. "So that means… we're still in last place?"
"What's so bad about that?" Vid said with a smile. "Tonight, everyone has a reason to celebrate—including Slytherin."