"She slew the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets. Therefore, I will award Miss Lynn another five hundred points and announce that she has received the hogwarts special award for services."
The five hundred point addition made everyone in the Great Hall freeze for two seconds. Two seconds later, the Ravenclaw Eagles stood up collectively and cheered.
The Little Badgers clapped in a friendly manner, cheering and celebrating with them.
At the Gryffindor Table, Hermione clapped with both joy and heartache; her eyes were slightly red as she looked at Lynn at the Ravenclaw Table.
Everyone heard the points and awards she had just received.
But she was thinking more about the injuries Lynn had suffered behind those points and awards.
"Lynn! You are now the only person in Hogwarts in nearly fifty years to receive the hogwarts special award for services!"
Maranhao pulled Lynn, who was still in her seat, up and looked at her with joy.
Lynn blinked, not looking happy at all, "I only did what I should have done, protecting my classmates within my ability and helping those I could."
"Be proud of yourself, Lynn," Marietta put her hand on Lynn's shoulder from the other side, "Say it with me: I am proud of myself."
Lynn was stunned; she shouldn't say such things; it didn't conform to the principles of modesty.
"I... I can't say that. It doesn't conform to the rules of humility, and I should have higher expectations for myself."
"You really, really deserve to be proud of yourself, Lynn."
Penelope walked over from beside Marietta and leaned down to look Lynn in the eye.
"Say it, take the first step in being proud of yourself."
"It's not just others' praise; your own praise for yourself is just as important."
"Come on, affirm yourself!"
Penelope straightened up and ruffled Lynn's hair. The Ravenclaw Eagles seemed to sense something and stopped their cheering one after another, turning their gazes toward Lynn.
As they fell silent, the Hufflepuffs, Gryffindors, and Slytherins also quieted down, and all eyes in the Great Hall were now focused on Lynn.
"Say it, Lynn," Maranhao smiled gently.
"Say it, you deserve it," Marietta nodded in agreement.
Lynn looked up and saw Hermione at the Gryffindor Table out of the corner of her eye, giving her an unabashed thumbs-up.
Maybe... she really did deserve to be praised by herself.
"I... am proud of myself."
The Ravenclaw Eagles, who knew the truth about Lynn's past, could hardly contain their excitement, punching each other enthusiastically.
Penelope tried hard to suppress the smile at the corners of her mouth and stabilized her voice, "Say it again, Lynn. Say it loudly, say it confidently."
"I am proud of myself."
Lynn raised her volume, and her calm, level voice without any fluctuations spread throughout the Great Hall.
In the next instant, Hermione, Harry, and Ron jumped up cheering, shouting and clapping loudly.
The Ravenclaws threw their hats into the air, and several seventh-year seniors also shouted out.
"To hear Lynn say that before I graduate, I have no regrets!"
"Lynn, don't push yourself too hard; your seniors will carve out a path for you in advance!"
"And your older brothers too!"
Luna had a misty smile on her face as she clapped her hands hard, "She's laid down another heavy burden."
Her roommate standing next to her felt a sudden jolt and turned to look at her.
"Luna... I think I suddenly understand what you're saying."
"Is that so? That's wonderful." Luna smiled gently, her eyes still misty.
Although the other three houses didn't know why one sentence from Lynn caused such a big reaction from The Ravenclaws.
They still clapped along, and the Professors at the Staff Table also clapped in unison.
Professor McGonagall looked at Lynn, who was still expressionless but could now affirm herself, and the gratified smile on her face couldn't be hidden.
Professor Flitwick laughed out loud with joy, forgetting his usual refinement; he was truly happy for his student.
Professor Sprout also looked at Lynn kindly, clapping for this wonderful child. Professor Snape remained unmoved, but his clapping was not the least bit perfunctory.
Looking at the constantly cheering Ravenclaws and hearing those graduates' determined words telling Lynn not to push herself too hard and saying they would carve out a path for her first.
Headmaster Dumbledore's eyes were slightly moist; if you hold everyone in your heart, everyone will surely hold you high.
Even if Lynn hadn't learned emotions, she still maintained true kindness and love toward others.
She did her best to help her companions, and because of this, her companions would also spontaneously and unsparingly pull her out of the mire and smooth the road ahead for her.
This was probably something Tom would never understand.
An alliance maintained by fear and power would be fragile in the face of such unity.
Turning back to sit in his seat, Headmaster Dumbledore stroked his long white beard, a peaceful smile on his lips.
"They are better than all of us... these children."
Professor McGonagall beside him glanced at him, "You've also done very well, Albus. Don't always push all the blame onto yourself."
"Miss Lynn has learned to affirm herself; similarly, you also need to affirm yourself."
Headmaster Dumbledore blinked, "I do affirm myself; I never deny my own wisdom, but... a mistake is a mistake."
He waved his hand and didn't continue the topic, "In them, I can see the future of the Wizarding World. Minerva, what about you?"
Professor McGonagall no longer dwelled on that topic and turned her gaze toward Lynn, who was surrounded by cheering Ravenclaws and remained expressionless.
"Yes, the future of the Wizarding World," she said, looking at Hermione, Harry, and Ron at the Gryffindor Table, "I see it too, Albus. They will do better than us, they certainly will."
"I have no doubt about that." Headmaster Dumbledore nodded with a smile.
The cheering lasted for a full five minutes, and only then did the Ravenclaw Eagles slowly sit down.
Mainly because it was time for the feast, and they were afraid Lynn would get hungry.
Sitting at the Ravenclaw Table, Lynn enjoyed the care of all the Little Eagles as usual.
Looking down at the various foods being placed on her plate, Lynn instinctively looked toward the Gryffindor Table.
Hermione, who was also eating, looked up as if by some intuition and met her gaze, a big smile spreading across her face.
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