Harry thought for a moment, then flashed a mischievous grin.He leaned in close to Hermione's ear and whispered softly.
As she listened, Hermione's face turned increasingly red—As if she might start steaming any second.
She hesitated, gritted her teeth… and agreed.
After all—No matter what he was betting on,She knew Professor Snape far too well.
She knew she would definitely win.
And since that was the case,Even if his request was a little strange,It didn't really matter.
Hermione convinced herself with that logic.
Then, she countered:
"Alright. But if I win, you have to give me your little Cutie."
Harry froze.Then, remembering he was bound to win,He smiled and nodded.
Poor little Cutie,Blissfully unaware that her beloved owner had just sold her off!
"Meow~~?"
At that moment,Both of them were absolutely convincedThey would be the victor.
Who would actually win?Let's wait and see.
That Night – The Dormitory
Outside, the wind howled through the castle,A chilling cold creeping through the ancient stone walls.
A small blur of fur darted into Harry's bed—It was Cutie.
In just two months, she had grown quite a bit.Ever since Harry took her to the Hogwarts kitchen,She had basically claimed it as her second home.
The sheer abundance of fresh fish had left her completely enamored.
Harry had once tried bringing Cutie to class,But she never sat still,And her constant meowing always disrupted the lessons.
So, he let her roam free,Climbing and jumping all over the school.
In fact,She rarely even came back to his dorm at night.
Sometimes, Harry would go days without seeing her.
But now that the weather had turned colder,Cutie had finally remembered she had an owner.
For the past few nights,She'd curled up beside him,Sleeping soundly in his bed.
Harry was more than pleased.
As the temperatures dropped,What could be warmer or cozierThan a living, purring heater?
So, when Hermione bet for Cutie,Harry did hesitate for a moment.
This wasn't just a cat—She was a natural hot water bottle and a pillow in one!
(Cutie: "Meow... Meow... Meow~~?"Let's ask world-renowned animal linguist, Luo Bei, for a translation!Luo Bei: "Ahem, based on my expert analysis, she's saying—'Master, is that really all I'm worth to you?'"Applause, please! This expert is simply that brilliant!)
That night,Harry gently stroked Cutie's fur,Which had become glossier and silkier from her outdoor adventures.
Her soft purring had a hypnotic rhythm,Lulling him into a deep, peaceful sleep.
The Next Morning – Bitter Cold
The early morning frost was even harsher than the days before.
Harry forced himself up,Throwing on his robes in one swift motion—
The icy fabric jolted him completely awake.
Pure torture.An absolute nightmare.
He reluctantly let go of his warm, fluffy Cutie,Who was still curled up comfortably in his bed.
Meanwhile, in the girls' dormitory,
Hermione was feeling uneasy.
It was the second period of the morning—Potions class.
Watching Harry stride into the classroom confidently,Hermione's self-assurance wavered.
Ever since the night before,She'd been thinking about it non-stop.
Why would Harry ever make a bet he was bound to lose?
And if she lost…Then the bet…
Potions Class – The Dungeon
As usual,Professor Snape's attitude toward Harry was openly hostile.
This eased Hermione's nerves a bit.
As long as Snape keeps treating Harry like that,There's no way he'd agree to his request.
Meanwhile, Neville had changed.
It had only been a few days,But his entire demeanor was different.
They say,"The eyes are the windows to the soul."
And in Neville's eyes,You could see the shift.
For the first time—He wasn't avoiding eye contact.He wasn't trembling when he spoke.He wasn't staring at the floor.
The change was subtle—But undeniable.
The Lesson Ends – Hermione's Anxiety Peaks
It was one of the most intense Potions classes Hermione had ever endured.
She had never listened so carefully before,Hanging onto Snape's every word,Terrified he might say something she didn't want to hear.
The bell rang.
Hermione finally exhaled in relief.
But of course, twists always arrive when least expected.
Snape's face twisted in visible disgust as he spoke—
"Neville Longbottom!"
Neville went pale.His hands trembled as he stood up, stammering:
"Y-Yes, Professor?"
Snape narrowed his eyes,His piercing stare drilling into the boy.
His expression alone was enoughTo send shivers down the spine of the entire class.
Then he smirked coldly—
"Surprisingly, Mr. Longbottom has managed not to blow up a cauldron today."
The class burst into laughter—Everyone except Hermione.
She sat stiff in her seat, feeling extremely uneasy.
But then—
Something no one could have predicted happened.
Snape, his voice cold and indifferent, declared:
"One point to Gryffindor."
"Class dismissed."
With long, swift strides,He stormed out of the dungeon,As if the very air in the room had become unbearable.
The Entire Class: Stunned. Utterly Stunned.
One point.
Was it a lot?No—But it was terrifyingly excessive.
From the start of the school year,Snape had only deducted points from Gryffindor.
Not once—Not once—Had he ever given them a single point.
Even when Harry had excelled in Potions,All he got was mockery.Never a point.
This was one of the reasons Malfoy and the Slytherins adored Potions class.
But now—The impossible had just occurred.
Even if it was just one point,It was still a miracle.
And to make it even more unbelievable—The one who earned it…
Was Neville Longbottom—The student most famously terrible at Potions!
The entire class couldn't process it.
Malfoy, especially,Looked like he'd just swallowed a lemon whole.
The dungeon exploded into chaos.
The Biggest Winner? Harry Potter.
As for Neville—He was too stunned to even react.
Harry grinned, triumphant.
"Hermione, a bet's a bet."
Hermione huffed.
"Fine, I lost. But—"She folded her arms."When did I ever say I agreed to the terms of the bet? Hmph!"
Then—She turned on her heel and rushed off,As if fleeing for her life.
Harry: (⊙o⊙)...
Wait.She could do that?!
Cutie,Your master just fought with everything he had to protect you!
Luo Bei's Notes:
Ever since the reward system changed a few days ago,I haven't really been a fan.
Before, readers could send 10 Qi Points—It wasn't much,But it felt nice seeing those little tips roll in.
Now?
No one tips anymore.It's heartbreaking.
But yesterday,Four readers actually sent 100 Qi Points each!
I was so happy!
This is the kind of recognition I live for.
So, seriously—Thank you.
I need more favorites.I need more recommendation votes.Thank you.
Hogwarts Faculty & Staff
Headmaster:
Albus Dumbledore – Former Headmaster, Former Transfiguration Professor (Deceased)
Current Professors:
Minerva McGonagall – Headmistress, Former Gryffindor Head, Transfiguration
Pomona Sprout – Hufflepuff Head, Herbology
Filius Flitwick – Ravenclaw Head, Charms
Horace Slughorn – Slytherin Head, Potions
Former Professors:
Severus Snape – Former Slytherin Head, Potions & DADA
Gilderoy Lockhart – DADA (Hospitalized)
Remus Lupin – DADA (Dismissed)
Alastor Moody – DADA (Retired)
Dolores Umbridge – High Inquisitor, DADA (Dismissed)
Quirinus Quirrell – DADA (Deceased)
Silvanus Kettleburn – Care of Magical Creatures (Retired)
Other Staff:
Rubeus Hagrid – Care of Magical Creatures, Keeper of Keys and Grounds
Madam Poppy Pomfrey – School Nurse
Argus Filch – Caretaker
Madam Irma Pince – Librarian
Cuthbert Binns – History of Magic (Ghost)
Sybill Trelawney – Divination
Firenze – Divination
Septima Vector – Arithmancy
Aurora Sinistra – Astronomy
Rolanda Hooch – Flying Instructor