"Yeah, yeah, nice job, Ravenclaw,"
Dumbledore said.
"But a few things that happened earlier still need to be counted."
The Great Hall went dead quiet. All the little witches and wizards leaned in, curious.
What had happened?
Snape assassinating Quirrell?
A lucky black cat showing up in the castle?
Or maybe Hogwarts had finally produced an alchemical genius?
No way it was Ron and the others guarding the Forbidden Forest, protecting a unicorn, and driving off some creep who was after that mysterious thing on the fourth floor, right?
That sounded like a fairy tale.
Dumbledore cleared his throat.
"I still have a few last points to award. Let me see… Yes…"
"First—Mr. Ronald Weasley…"
Ron's face went beet red. He couldn't believe his name was being called right now.
"…He spent two dark days in the Forbidden Forest, fighting evil to the bitter end. For that, I award Gryffindor House fifty points."
The Gryffindors froze for a split second—then the cheering nearly blasted the enchanted ceiling right off. The stars overhead actually twinkled harder, like they were shaking from the noise. You could hear Percy shouting to the other prefects:
"That's my brother, you know! My littlest brother! Merlin's beard—what did he do?!"
It took ages for everyone to calm down.
"Second—Miss Hermione Granger… She stayed cool under literal fire and used flawless logic. I award Gryffindor House fifty points."
Hermione buried her face in her arms.
Sean and Justin shielded her—she was secretly crying.
All around their table, Gryffindors were going nuts, jumping up and down on the benches. They'd just shot up a hundred points!
"Third—Harry Potter…"
Dumbledore said. The hall went so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"…He showed fearless courage and outstanding bravery. For that, I award Gryffindor House sixty points."
The roar was deafening. Anyone still doing mental math while screaming knew Gryffindor was now at four hundred and ten—up a whopping one hundred and sixty points.
They were this close to passing the smirking Slytherins.
Dumbledore raised a hand. The hall slowly hushed again.
"Neville Longbottom and Justin Finch-Fletchley—they never bowed to fear or darkness either. I award fifty points each to Gryffindor and Hufflepuff!"
Dumbledore smiled.
"We've passed Slytherin!"
If you'd been standing outside the Great Hall right then, you'd have sworn a bomb went off. Wave after wave of cheers crashed from the Gryffindor table.
Harry and Ron jumped up, yelling at the top of their lungs. Neville went ghost-white with shock before the crowd swallowed him in hugs.
"Gryffindor's at four hundred and sixty! R-Ron, I—I was wrong,"
Seamus stammered, apologizing.
The Slytherins just sat there, looking like they'd swallowed Bubotuber pus.
"Anyone else do anything?! Any more points?!"
Percy was losing it. One more award and Gryffindor could actually win—overtake Ravenclaw and snatch the House Cup.
From dead last, from the lowest score in history, to a legendary comeback—they were writing their own story.
"There is… one more,"
Ron said, snapping out of his daze. He glanced at Sean, who was clapping and grinning.
Sean's applause spread through the whole Ravenclaw table—they didn't look worried at all.
"And finally, I have one important announcement.
Among us is someone who has Gryffindor courage, Slytherin leadership, and—most precious of all—Hufflepuff kindness…
He orchestrated a brilliant counterattack and, alongside Professor Quirrell, defeated a dark wizard who'd infiltrated Hogwarts.
Because of his outstanding performance, Ravenclaw's wisdom shines once more—I award Ravenclaw House one hundred points—to Mr. Sean Green!"
The Ravenclaws shot to their feet, cheering louder than the Gryffindors for a moment.
"Any more points for Ravenclaw?!"
Percy bellowed, sounding unhinged.
Penelope Clearwater gave him a curious look, lips twitching into a smirk.
Professor Flitwick waved his wand; the soaring eagle portrait let out a triumphant screech.
The tiny professor was glowing, shaking hands with McGonagall, then Snape.
Both of them were actually in a decent mood now, watching Sean get mobbed by his house with amused interest.
Professor Quirrell had only just recovered. When he heard "defeated a dark wizard who'd infiltrated Hogwarts alongside Professor Quirrell," he looked totally lost.
Then he clutched his head, buried it low, and started trembling.
…
The Hogwarts Express was pulling into the station.
Compared to the beat-up trunk he'd arrived with, Sean's luggage was now downright luxurious.
Inside were clothes and scarves hand-picked by Professor McGonagall, jars upon jars of potion ingredients, and all kinds of finished potions.
His trunk had vanished twice in the night—after the second time, nothing else would fit.
So letters and books went into the Undetectable Extension pouch Dumbledore had given him.
Fun fact: it really acted like a Niffler. If Sean didn't slip it a silver Sickle as payment, it flat-out refused to hand over whatever was inside.
Try to force it, and it would bite and thrash—harmless, thanks to the fabric, but still. Sean always paid up.
With a massive hiss of steam, the scarlet engine rolled to a stop.
Sean, Justin, and Hermione shared a compartment. For a second, all three just stared out the window in a daze.
The countryside got greener, tidier. The train passed tidy Muggle towns.
This year had flown by so fast that only when King's Cross loomed did Justin and Hermione realize—it was time to say goodbye.
"You will come visit, right?"
Justin sounded more panicked than he had facing the troll.
"We promised,"
Hermione said, rolling her eyes. The sadness got a lot lighter.
"We will,"
Sean agreed. Meeting up in Diagon Alley wasn't hard with Floo powder.
"Oh, it's still so weird… all three of us Muggle-born wizards…"
Justin let out a breath and grinned.
"Mm-hmm."
Hermione nodded.
They stepped off the platform together.
A shriveled old guard stood by the barrier, letting only two or three through at a time so a whole crowd wouldn't burst out of a solid wall and freak out the Muggles.
Hermione's parents, Justin's family, and Professor McGonagall waited at the edge.
"See you."
Justin waved, voice wobbling.
"My mum told me not to be sad," he added, "because winter comes around again, and the people who are meant to meet… will meet again."