"I think everyone, having gone through the tense exams, is probably feeling starved right now, but before we start the feast, I must ask you to bear with this old man's clichés."
"Those who know me understand that I don't enjoy giving these speeches either, but our Professor McGonagall reminded me that if I didn't say a few words at this time, everyone might soon forget we're still under my headmastership." Albus Dumbledore quoted Professor McGonagall's complaint about himself.
A burst of laughter erupted in the Great Hall.
Once the sound gradually subsided.
Only then did Albus Dumbledore continue in a gentle voice, "This year has undoubtedly been a remarkable one, both for you and for me."
"Everyone has gained more than in previous years, and I'm sure your little heads are filled with more knowledge, while an entire summer should allow you to digest it thoroughly."
"Come next term, there will be more, richer knowledge eager for you to learn, so please do enjoy the pleasures of the holiday during your break."
"These will become your precious memories, especially when you reach our Professor Lockhart's age and are beset by trivial matters and work, you will cherish them even more."
Albus Dumbledore also took a moment to tease "Lockhart," and after a humor-filled opening, he began the annual customary report.
"I believe that everyone already has some understanding of this year's House Cup, but we still need to go through the procedure... Let's see, the specific scores for each house should be like this."
"Gryffindor, unsurprisingly, still firmly holds the fourth position. I hope you'll work harder next year, make fewer mistakes, and raise your score of three hundred and sixty points a bit higher."
Albus Dumbledore did have feelings for Gryffindor College, so he evaluated it a little more when mentioning it, but he also knew that it's almost impossible to make Gryffindor not make mistakes.
The old headmaster didn't even suggest moving up in rank; he only mentioned that the score should be boosted, showing his understanding of the students' tendencies in Gryffindor College.
Professor McGonagall sighed.
She wanted to give the house's two biggest troublemakers a stern glare, but couldn't find them, so she silently picked up a glass of red wine and drank it in one go.
"Third place, Hufflepuff, with five hundred and eleven points, very good, a full one hundred and thirty points more than last year, I think I've seen your effort."
"As for second place, Slytherin, it's a pity you couldn't win the Quidditch championship, but a score of seven hundred and thirty points also reflects your excellence."
Albus Dumbledore paused for a moment, and silently glanced at Professor Snape; both of them knew how inflated the score was.
"Gulp~"
Professor Snape began drinking to cover his embarrassment. Despite his mutual dislike with Aurora, Aurora was still the best Slytherin student he'd met in years.
Whenever there was an opportunity for more points, he wouldn't let it go.
Unfortunately.
Such a huge lead didn't help Slytherin continue their glory—Snape glared at his nephew fiercely; he didn't know the reason but realized something was messing around behind the scenes.
"Lastly, let us all congratulate Ravenclaw College, who have reclaimed the House Cup championship after several years. I think this is the best gift for this year's Ravenclaw graduates." Albus Dumbledore finally announced where the House Cup championship went.
He felt too embarrassed to read out the winning score, so he purposely omitted it, as he found it difficult to utter their score of four thousand six hundred eighty-two points.
"We won! We won!"
"We're the best, after all!"
"Even when everyone from other houses added their scores together, they weren't as many as ours! We're awesome!"
"No! It's the Young Professor who's really awesome!"
...
Regardless of how bizarre this score was.
The Ravenclaw table burst with cheers. Slytherin College stomped their feet in frustration, but no one dared to stand and claim the House Cup results were tampered with.
They were a rather mature group, well-versed in worldly ways, so even if they suspected all the professors were helping that half-blood of eight families in Ravenclaw cheat and break rules to get points, they didn't dare jump out to voice any doubts, only casting resentful looks in the direction of the teacher's table.
"Gulp gulp gulp~"
"Gulp gulp gulp~"
The professors, who couldn't voice their frustrations, all used the gesture of drinking to mask their helplessness, knowing that the little wizards, who didn't understand the truth and whose grievances they couldn't correct, simply wouldn't get it.
"Endure seven years and it'll be fine."
More than one professor comforted themselves this way. Looking at Albus Dumbledore's demeanor, they knew that even if they "petitioned" the Headmaster's Office, it would be useless.
"Of course, next, we still have some procedures to follow, and as in previous years, I have some points here to distribute, let me see the list."
Albus Dumbledore lowered his gaze to the parchment in hand.
"First of all, Gryffindor College's..."
This was the annual point-adding session, meant to honor students who achieved outstanding accomplishments during their studies or had helped the school or other little wizards in some way.