Harry and Ron sat down amidst the cheers, straining to keep from smiling, which left them massaging their aching cheeks.
Led by Neville, students gathered around them, eagerly asking once again about that night's events.
They seemed to never tire of hearing about their friends' adventures.
Harry and Ron happily answered various questions, occasionally gesturing dramatically to gasps from their audience. Soon they spotted Glen and Hermione sitting with the girls. Harry tugged Ron's sleeve, whispered something, and stood up. Though reluctant, Ron followed.
The two approached Glen and Hermione.
Harry stood firmly and sincerely apologized: "I'm sorry, Hermione, and... Glen, right? We shouldn't have eavesdropped on your conversation with Hagrid."
Scratching his head awkwardly, Harry continued: "And Glen, I think... Ron and I misjudged you. We thought you and Snape were trying to steal... Professor Dumbledore's item. But we were wrong, and you even saved us. We're really sorry, and of course, very grateful." Harry's green eyes shone with sincerity - though Glen was a Slytherin, gratitude was still due for his help.
Gryffindor-Slytherin rivalry aside, credit where credit's due.
He nudged Ron, who shuffled awkwardly, avoiding looking at Glen and Hermione: "...Sorry we misjudged you." Then he stepped aside and fell silent.
Glen remained indifferent, saying nothing. Seeing Glen had no intention to speak, Hermione responded: "It's fine, we've both forgotten about that day. Saving you was just coincidence - Professor Dumbledore arrived just in time, he's the one you should thank. But remember, you absolutely cannot break school rules like that again. Just that night alone, if you'd been caught, Gryffindor would have..." Hermione's floodgates opened as she began listing their transgressions.
Seeing Hermione close her eyes and start reciting school rules, Harry and Ron's faces changed dramatically as they quickly fled back to their seats.
Glen patted Hermione's hand, indicating the two had escaped.
"Tch, those two never learn! Even such a dangerous incident won't make them behave?!" Hermione opened her eyes to find her audience gone, realizing neither troublemaker had listened to a word. She'd even started viewing them more favorably for coming to thank and apologize.
"Such immature children," Hermione huffed, resting her chin on her hand.
Turning to find Glen facing her, Hermione immediately knew what he was thinking.
Aren't you a child too?
"I'm nothing like them!" Feeling belittled, Hermione began swatting and pinching Glen in frustration.
After thoroughly disheveling Glen's appearance, Dumbledore finally arrived in the Great Hall. He clapped his hands for silence, and the chatter gradually died down.
Dumbledore cleared his throat and cheerfully announced: "Another year gone! Before we begin our delicious feast, I must trouble you to listen to an old man's waffle."
He paused before continuing: "What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are all a little fuller than they were... you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts..."
Producing a crumpled piece of parchment from thin air, he began announcing: "Now, as I understand it, the House Cup here needs awarding, and the points stand thus: In fourth place, Hufflepuff with 352 points; in third, Ravenclaw with 426; in second, Gryffindor with 432; and in first place, Slytherin with 532 points."
The Slytherin table erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.
Locked in! Slytherin's eighth consecutive win!
Motivated by Glen, Slytherin students had recently thrown themselves into studying, accelerating their already rapid point accumulation. In classes shared between Gryffindor and Slytherin, except for Potions, it had typically been just Hermione earning points for Gryffindor.
But things were different now - Slytherins had become competitive, eagerly raising hands to answer questions. This increased pressure on Hermione enormously. Snape was delighted, increasing the frequency of his questions in Potions class. Slytherin's points skyrocketed while Hermione's point-earning slowed significantly. This shift resulted in Slytherin's hundred-point lead over second-place Gryffindor.
Hermione had truly worked hard, nearly monopolizing answers in all her classes. Despite constant point deductions from a certain troublemaker, she persevered under pressure. Along with Percy and other upperclassmen's frantic point-earning efforts, plus the Gryffindor Quidditch team's solid performance this year, they'd even pushed perennial runners-up Ravenclaw into third place.
The lovely badgers maintained their carefree attitude, following their principle of neither actively losing nor desperately earning points. Their score rose slowly but steadily. But something had gotten into Gryffindor this year, suddenly surging to second place and dropping Hufflepuff to fourth.
This was unacceptable - the drowsy badgers suddenly perked up, apparently already planning next year's comeback.
And the Ravenclaw eagles?
They couldn't tolerate the lions ranking above them and were now constantly self-reflecting, already recording study plans for next term in their notebooks.
The underachievers in each house shuddered, suddenly feeling the air grow tense.
They sensed a strange feeling of rejection but couldn't understand why, only able to tremble in their seats.
Meanwhile, the top students were already fired up.
"Excellent work, all!" Dumbledore gestured for the Slytherins to quiet down.
"However, recent events must be taken into account. I have some last-minute points to award."
The hall fell silent, though Gryffindor students clearly had something in mind, growing excited one by one.
"First - to Mr. Ronald Weasley." Ron's face instantly turned carrot-red at hearing his name. He instinctively stood up, ramrod straight.
Dumbledore continued: "For showing courage and dedication to friendship, I award Gryffindor thirty points!"
The Gryffindors cheered, having anticipated this. Percy, George, and Fred Weasley were loudest of all, with Percy proudly telling other prefects: "That's my brother, the youngest! He helped Harry catch the thief!"
George and Fred alternated cheering, nearly jumping onto the table before others pulled them down.
Once everyone finally quieted, Dumbledore continued: "Second - to Miss Hermione Granger, for her cool logic and organized rescue efforts, I award Gryffindor twenty points!" Hermione's girlfriends screamed in delight, genuinely happy for her, while Glen beside her gave gentle applause.
The young witch was clearly pleased, not expecting points just for supporting Glen.
Since she got points, then...
Hermione turned to Glen.
"Third - to Mr. Glenn Hawthorne!" Dumbledore emphasized notably, though he found Glen already facing him, and inwardly smiled wryly.
Days earlier, after abandoning Hermione to the girls' attention, Glen had visited the headmaster's office to briefly state his request.
"So, you want me to minimize your and Hermione's involvement in this matter?" Dumbledore was surprised, but understanding Glen's personality, he grasped the intention.
Sensing Glen's determination, Dumbledore nodded with a wry smile.
This child was truly too clever.
He'd likely seen through Dumbledore's intentions?
And conveniently, it didn't conflict with his request - he knew Dumbledore couldn't refuse.
Vanity? He didn't seek it. Honor? He didn't value it. Money... though Glen had extracted many Galleons from Dumbledore, he knew Glen didn't care - it was just an odd habit, a sense of contract.
What he truly cared about was the safety of those close to him.
Glen's purpose was to minimize his and Hermione's presence in the public eye.
He clearly understood the principle of "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down."
Seeing Dumbledore's intention to boost Harry's reputation, he cooperated to help conceal himself and Hermione.
Ending his reminiscence, Dumbledore sighed. He'd been torn between favoring Gryffindor or Slytherin for the House Cup, but now he had no choice.
"For his decisiveness and precise grasp of the situation, I award Slytherin twenty points!"
Originally, Glen should have earned the most points from this incident, but given his "request," Dumbledore could only follow his wishes and balance his points with Hermione's.
The Slytherins instantly erupted in cheers, shouting Glen's name even louder than the Gryffindors had earlier. Draco, throwing caution to the wind, jumped onto the dining table, waving his arms.
The young witch frowned - something seemed wrong with the points. Had Professor Dumbledore made a mistake? She was about to stand and question it.
She believed Glen deserved more points!
Glen beside her held her hand, stroking it to signal Hermione not to speak.
Feeling Glen's small hand, she gradually calmed down. Clearly Glen knew something - she could just ask him later.
Dumbledore continued without pause: "Fourth - to Harry Potter!" The hall instantly fell silent, even the excited Snakes containing themselves as Crabbe and Goyle pulled Draco off the table.
Everyone held their breath, knowing from the circulating stories that Harry had contributed most to stopping the theft.
"For pure nerve and outstanding courage in facing the thief alone, I award Gryffindor sixty points!"
The noise was now deafening. Hermione quickly covered her ears, though she too was excited.
Because Gryffindor was now just ten points behind Slytherin, and she knew one more person might receive points from Dumbledore.
That person was...
"There are all kinds of courage," Dumbledore smiled. "It takes great bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand firm before our friends. Accepting help when appropriate is also a form of wisdom. Therefore, I award twenty points to Mr. Neville Longbottom!"
They'd done it! Gryffindor had overtaken Slytherin!
The hall seemed ready to explode, with Gryffindor cheers threatening to blow off the roof.
But Neville was completely bewildered.
How did I get twenty points for doing nothing?