As expected, the victory banquet was held inside Hogwarts' miniature castle. On the Ilvermorny side, there was certainly no intention to celebrate their defeat. Even if they had been gracious and warmhearted, putting aside grudges to offer a feast for the Hogwarts wizards, they absolutely would not have dared to partake in it.
Come on, this isn't some storybook where the defeated enemy lowers their head in shame, begging for mercy with a dramatic display of loyalty and devotion, pledging lifelong allegiance to the victor.
Sure, winners might enjoy such a fantasy, but in reality, the losers are rarely humble; they tend to be nothing but bullies.
Luckily, the professors kept the situation under control. Otherwise, the Ilvermorny wizards would likely have been beaten to a pulp, yes, Ilvermorny's, not Hogwarts'.
Although Hogwarts had fewer players, their squad was elite. They hadn't lost the match, but they were certainly boiling with frustration. They weren't puppets, after years of Quidditch, they knew exactly what fouls were.
If the professors hadn't intervened quickly, the opposing team would have gotten a brutal taste of Hogwarts' signature ball sport justice. The opponents weren't Russians, what were they scared of?
Inside the castle, decorations brightened the space with vibrant colors. Normally, the castle would have been decked out in Hufflepuff's yellow and black, but the Hufflepuffs generously insisted everyone decorate as they wished, after all, the important thing was for everyone to be happy after the win.
Under this philosophy, the entire castle looked like a different place. The usual stone walls were hidden beneath ribbons in every color, and at the center of the main hall, the young wizards conjured a large Hogwarts crest. Various decorations hung from the ceiling streamers, completely transforming the atmosphere.
The castle's usual torch and candle lighting was supplemented by a magical glow, several pale blue orbs floated gently through the air, a collaborative gift from some Ravenclaws. These light spheres were said to be a Ravenclaw invention for nighttime reading, confirming many students' belief that Ravenclaws were indeed bookish nerds.
When Professor McGonagall and the others returned after handling the formalities, they were stunned by the transformed hall. But before they could fully react, dozens of colorful ribbons suddenly fell upon them, inevitably, Professor Sprout's side had slightly more ribbons, due to some personal favoritism.
It was impossible to resist, Sprout's usual good nature was well known throughout the school. Normally, no one would dare joke with a professor, but it was thanks to relentless encouragement from the players, including Allen and his team, that this playful teasing happened. Yep, that was their fault.
"Allen, don't worry, the professors won't be angry, this is just their way of sharing in our victory joy! I promise, nothing bad will happen, you can see it in my sincere eyes!" said one of the older Hufflepuffs trying to reassure him.
As promised, the professors showed no sign of anger. Even Professor Snape, whose famously sour expression was rumored to be a permanent "face paralysis", didn't look upset.
Just as McGonagall, struggling to suppress her smile, was about to scold the students, dozens of wands shot into the air. More ribbons and confetti rained down like a blizzard, faster than shards of glass, leaving the front row buried beneath thick layers before anyone could react.
Damn, they'd been outmaneuvered!
The castle was full of tricks, while Allen and the others were happily planning to drape the professors with ribbons as a harmless prank, they overlooked the wicked smiles around them.
The professors were definitely being pulled into the celebration, but as winners, the students wouldn't let them off easily.
While the players distracted the professors with ribbons that could easily pin someone down, others prepared backup plans. After all, the players held the glory of victory, but the professors had their own influence, and more than one could say "the law does not punish the crowd."
As expected, when the professors emerged from the cocoon of ribbons, no visible irritation marred their faces. Even Snape wore his usual indifferent mask, which, given his usual demeanor, was considered quite good.
The banquet table was set and ready. Most of the food was provided by the Hufflepuffs, no surprise there, as regardless of their combat skills, upperclass Hufflepuffs were known for one unmatched talent: their exceptional cooking skills.
Which just goes to show: Hufflepuffs make the best marriage partners! Compared to Gryffindors who loved grand adventures, Ravenclaws too absorbed in their books to notice the time, or Slytherins distracted by their thirst for power, it was the Hufflepuffs with their culinary mastery who were the cutest and most lovable.
Wait, let us quietly cross two names off the boasting list: Leon Houston and Selma Liang. The former was banned from getting within ten meters of the kitchen due to his dangerously advanced cooking skills, while the latter was more of a culinary experimenter, often concocting dark, mysterious dishes.
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Amidst the joyful atmosphere, sharp-eyed Allen noticed a shadow lurking beneath the celebration.
Most of the young wizards present were mingling happily, but even without knowing everyone well, Allen quickly spotted the absence of five Slytherins; the five empty chairs all belonged to their house.
From the morning's events, it was clear they still supported Hogwarts. That was never in question.
But for them, Hogwarts and Dumbledore's ideals were not equal. That, too, was unquestionable.
Even during Voldemort's time, many purebloods refused to attend classes, this fact alone illustrated the issue.
Still, Allen had no intention of being a troublemaker. He raised his glass of pumpkin juice, clinking it with a fellow player, and downed half the cup; he couldn't drink alcohol yet, due to his age and the professors' presence.
To hell with them, come what may, water meets earth, and the fight goes on!
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