Chapter 53 - Consequences of our own actions

A hundred and fifty points were lost. That didn't put Gryffindor in last place not yet at least. In one night, they'd ruined any chance Gryffindor had had for the House Cup. However, for the Ravenclaw house, the situation was way worse since they lost two hundred points putting them straight in the last place with seemingly zero chances of making it back to the front.

As Thomas reflected on the horrifying situation, he couldn't help but blame himself. He felt responsible for the state of his house's standings, berating himself for not considering all the potential consequences of their actions. If only he had been more cautious, more thoughtful, perhaps they could have avoided this outcome.

Thomas knew that his friends and roommates, shared the blame, as they had all played a part in the events that led to the loss of points. But in his mind, he bore the weight of the blame, feeling that he should have been more proactive, and more attentive since he was the one who, amongst all of them, was supposed the more mature one.

Harry on the other hand didn't sleep all night. He could hear Neville sobbing into his pillow for what seemed like hours. He couldn't think of anything to say to comfort him. He knew Neville, like himself, was dreading the dawn. What would happen when the rest of Gryffindor found out what they'd done? How will he ever forgive himself for putting his friends from another house in trouble and even destroying their hard-earned points?

At first, Ravenclaws passing the giant hourglasses that recorded the house points the next day thought there'd been a mistake. How could they suddenly have two hundred points fewer than yesterday? And then the story started to spread: Harry Potter, the famous Harry Potter, as well as Thomas Grayson, the hero of two Quidditch matches who had won all of the games even against Harry Potter, had lost all those points, the two of them and a couple of other stupid first-years from both Gryffindor and Ravenclaw.

As Thomas and his roommates sat in their room, a knock echoed through the door. Michael, curious about how could be at such an early hour, opened the door only to see Matthew and Emily.

Matthew entered looking solemn, while Emily offered a comforting smile to the worried boys. Once he sat in one of the chairs, Matthew turned towards the boys and spoke, "Hey guys, I heard about what happened. Losing two hundred points is tough, but we won't let our house fall into despair. We're a team, on and off the Quidditch pitch."

Thomas and the others looked up, a glimmer of hope sparking in their eyes. Thomas hadn't expected his friend and captain to interfere, but Matthew's words offered a lifeline. Adam spoke up, his voice filled with gratitude, "You don't have to do this, Matthew. It's our fault. "

Matthew shook his head, "No, this goes beyond curiosity and foolishness. What you guys did last night showed bravery and loyalty to protect something you believed in. We'll make sure the rest of the house sees that too. We'll find a way to make amends. Besides, only a fool or a Slytherin would be so blind to believe that after more than half a year, your first years haven't explored the castle. You don't have to tell me or anyone anything about what you lads have done last night."

"You're right, Matthew," Thomas said, his voice filled with conviction. "We didn't just wander around aimlessly last night. We had a purpose, and we were willing to risk everything to protect it. Thank you for seeing that."

Adam nodded in agreement. "And thank you for reminding us that exploring the castle is a natural part of being students here. We shouldn't be punished for our curiosity and desire to learn more about the magical world we're a part of."

Emily stepped forward, smiling at Thomas and his friends. "We're with you every step of the way. We'll work together to show everyone that there's more to this than just a loss of points. After all, those points can be earned back. Not to mention that from what I managed to learn from some of my friends, you four have gotten yourselves in one scaly situation." She said while winking at the boys.

Emily's encouraging words brought a smile to their faces, her playful remark lightening the atmosphere. Thomas chuckled and replied, "Well, it's true that we found ourselves in quite a scaly situation indeed. At least someone sees that we weren't doing anything bad."

Matthew clapped a hand on Thomas's shoulder, "We'll gather the Quidditch team and anyone else who understands the importance of what you did. Don't worry, mate, we will stand beside you guys. After all, we all are one big family."

Thomas and his friends smile in response, feeling better now that they know that not everyone was seeing them as the bad guys. With Matthew, Emily, and the support of their Quidditch team, they were confident they could turn the tide and restore their reputation or at least make everyone indifferent to them. It was no longer just about the points, it was about standing up for what they believed in and making their voices heard. Not to mention that the house coup wasn't going to grant them anything other than the chance of having their house banners and colors decorating the great hall.

However, things weren't as great for their friend. From being one of the most popular and admired guys at the school, Harry has become the most hated one. Even Thomas' house and Hufflepuffs turned on him because everyone had been longing to see Slytherin lose the House Cup. Everywhere Harry went, people pointed and didn't trouble to lower their voices as they insulted him. Slytherins, on the other hand, clapped as he walked past them, whistling and cheering, "Thanks Potter, we owe you one!"

Only Ron stood by him. Trying his best to make his friend feel better.

"They'll all forget this in a few weeks. Fred and George have lost loads of points in all the time they've been here, and people still like them."

"They've never lost a hundred and fifty points in one go, though, have they?" said Harry miserably.

"Well, no," Ron admitted. "But look at the Ravenclaws. They don't seem to curse our friends."

Harry sighed, appreciating Ron's attempt to console him. He leaned back against his chair, staring at the Ravenclaw table.

"You're right, Ron," Harry replied, a touch of bitterness in his voice. "Maybe the Ravenclaws understand Thomas and his friends better than our own housemates do. Despite losing two hundred points, they didn't turn against them. It's as if they see beyond the surface and recognize the bravery and sacrifice in their actions."

Ron nodded in agreement, his brow furrowed with concern. "It's strange, isn't it? I mean, we're Gryffindors, supposed to value courage and standing up for what's right. But when it comes to our own housemates, some of them are quick to curse you and act like you have done something unforgivable."

Harry glanced at Ron, grateful for his unwavering support. "I appreciate you standing by me, Ron. You're a real friend."

"Don't worry, Harry. We'll prove them wrong, just like Thomas and his friends are doing. Gryffindor may be going through a rough patch now, but we won't let it define us. We'll rise above this."

Despite his friend's words, Harry felt that It was a bit late to repair the damage, but he swore to himself not to meddle in things that weren't his business from now on. He'd had it with sneaking around and spying. And even more with dragging his friends, the very few he had made into dangerous situations that frankly shouldn't have been their problem to begin with.

He even tried to resign from Quidditch but Wood, made him realize that doing that would not solve anything. "Resign?" Wood thundered. "What good'll that do? How are we going to get any points back if we can't win at Quidditch?"

But even Quidditch had lost its fun. The rest of the team wouldn't speak to Harry during practice, and if they had to speak about him, they called him 'the Seeker'.

Hermione and Neville were suffering, too. They didn't have as bad a time as Harry, because they weren't as well known, but nobody would speak to them either, other than Thomas and his friends. Hermione had stopped drawing attention to herself in class, keeping her head down and working in silence.

One day, when Thomas sat in the library, ready to look over some of his notes, he saw Hermione 'hiding' in one of the farthest corners of the library, as far away from the others as possible. Even though at first he didn't notice it, in the past few days, things seem to have gone from bad to worse for Hermione. In their few shared classes, usually, she would have been the most active one, but now, she barely even speaks, and that made Thomas worried. Worried that this whole ordeal was hurting her more than any of them.

"Hey, Hermione," Thomas whispered while sitting beside her. "Is everything alright?"

Hermione looked up from her textbook, her expression turning into a mixture of shame and fear. She hesitated for a moment before opening up to Thomas.

"I... I'm scared," she admitted, her voice barely above a soft whisper. "After what happened with the points deduction and the way everyone treated Harry, Neville, and me, I feel scared. Scared that if I speak up or draw attention to myself, I'll face the same backlash as Harry or worse since I wasn't famous like him. So, I've been keeping my head down, trying not to stand out."

Thomas listened attentively, his heart aching for his friend. Despite having his team and friends explaining some things to their house, the prejudice against him hadn't disappeared, but it was by no means as bad as Harry or Hermione's.

"You have nothing to be ashamed of. What happened wasn't your fault. We all made mistakes, and frankly, it was mostly my fault. I should have realized that we weren't in the clear and yet just like Harry and the other, I walked side by side with you, without having my invisibility spell hiding us.

Listening to Thomas's comforting words, the weight of guilt and fear that she had been carrying seemed to release all at once. Overwhelmed by it, she couldn't hold back her tears any longer.

With a quivering voice, Hermione managed to speak through her sobs, "Tom, I... I'm sorry. I've been so scared, and I blamed myself for everything. I thought I had let everyone down. But you're right, it wasn't just you or Harry or any of us. It was a collective mistake."

At that moment, Hermione couldn't bear to stand on her own any longer. The weight of the situation, combined with Thomas's understanding and support, was too much for her to handle. Without hesitation, she buried her head into his chest, seeking solace and comfort in his embrace.

Thomas wrapped his arms around Hermione, holding her gently yet firmly, offering a sense of security and reassurance. He let her cry, understanding that it was a release of pent-up emotions that she had been suppressing for the last few days.

"You're not alone, Hermione," Thomas whispered, "I'm here for you, and I swore I will never let you be alone."

Hermione clung to Thomas, finding solace in his words and the warmth of his embrace. She felt safe knowing that she had a friend like him who could understand her pain and offer unwavering support.

In that quiet moment, Hermione allowed herself to feel vulnerable, knowing that she had someone who would stand by her side.

After the emotional release, Hermione gradually regained her bearings, wiping away her tears and taking deep breaths. Thomas offered her a kind smile while keeping her in his arms. Resuming their studies, Thomas and Hermione delved back into their revision notes, reviewing the various subjects they would be tested on in the upcoming exams.

As the week progressed, James, Adam, and Michael, who were with Thomas every day, noticed a subtle change in the dynamic between their two friends. They observed the way they looked out for each other, exchanging knowing glances and offering silent encouragement to a higher degree compared to before. However, Harry and Ron, consumed by their own concerns and the aftermath of the recent events, remained unaware of the growing connection between Thomas and Hermione.

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