Chapter 155 "House Cup"

Wentworth and Cedric resumed their brisk pace after the Christmas break when classes officially commenced.

During the day, the duo practiced spells together in the Room of Requirement, while on weekends, they dedicated time to studying in the Shrieking Shack with Lupin, finding the experience enriching.

Meanwhile, Green delved into preparations for the O.W.L.S exam, spending his days attending classes and diligently reviewing in the library.

With the conclusion of the Christmas holiday, the academic year was halfway through, and the race for the House Cup intensified. Each house fervently vied for points.

Traditionally, Slytherin consistently led the scoreboards by a significant margin.

However, this year marked a departure. Hufflepuff, usually ranked third or fourth, managed to match scores with Slytherin.

This shift could be attributed to Hufflepuff's early accumulation of points and a peculiar inclination from the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Ilona.

Much like Professor Snape's favoritism towards Slytherin, Professor Ilona's preference for Hufflepuff became apparent in the initial months of the academic year.

As a result, Hufflepuff and Slytherin found themselves in a neck-and-neck competition for the lead.

As the school year commenced, the highly anticipated duel between Hufflepuff and Slytherin ended in victory for Hufflepuff, sending waves of encouragement through the academy.

Simultaneously, Prefect Green, a newly appointed prefect in Hufflepuff, has garnered recognition and admiration from fellow students.

Guided by Green's inspiring leadership, Hufflepuff took an uncommon stance, fueled by unwavering determination to claim the grand prize—the House Cup.

Green's motivational mantra echoed within the house: "As a Hufflepuff, use the biggest bowl and eat the most delish meals!"

In his role as a leader, Green consistently entrusted Cedric and Wentworth with a vital mission: "Both of you, remember, this year presents the golden opportunity for Hufflepuff to secure the House Cup. I cannot afford any missteps from either of you!"

Displaying his lack of enthusiasm, Wentworth responded to Green with drowsy eyes, "Is that why you disturbed our peaceful sleep in the dead of night?"

Despite Green's impassioned words, Wentworth, a seasoned individual in the magical world, found the House Cup less captivating.

Unfazed by his unenthusiastic reply, Green patted Wentworth's thigh and asserted, "Wentworth, my esteemed leader! Your fighting spirit must shine through! Never forget your identity! In the future, the revival of the Alliance rests on your shoulders. Winning the House Cup is just the beginning; you can't afford to overlook any details!"

Cedric, beside Wentworth, extended his hands in a gesture of helplessness and remarked, "The House Cup involves the entire school. You can't seriously expect the two of us to secure it for Hufflepuff alone, can you?"

Green reassured Cedric with a pat on his hand, "Indeed, Cedric, the crux of the House Cup lies in the efforts of students from the first to the fourth grades. Fifth years are occupied with O.W.L.S exams, while the sixth and seventh years are engrossed in graduation matters, exerting minimal influence on the cup."

"For the lower grades, particularly the first and second years, they are often the primary contributors to earning extra points. Professors incentivize them—correct answers earn extra points, a privilege not extended to senior students. Conversely, incorrect answers result in deductions," Green explained, his expression briefly revealing a hint of unpleasant memories.

They could even see how Green shuddered as he seemed to remember a time when he was scolded by some of the Professors, which resulted in Hufflepuff's points reduction.

Quickly recovering, Green refocused on the task at hand, "The two of you, although there's still a gap between you and me as a prefect, possess a substantial advantage within your respective levels. Your immediate mission is to accumulate points vigorously for me! We don't necessarily need to outscore Slytherin completely, but we must prevent them from taking away the lead and letting them widen the gap much further!"

"Maintain a score close to Slytherin's, and victory in this year's House Cup will undoubtedly belong to Hufflepuff," Green asserted with determination.

Cedric inquired with a puzzled expression, "Why is that? Why should our victory over Slytherin secure the House Cup for us?"

Wentworth interjected, leaning in before asking, "Is it due to the Quidditch match?"

Green snapped his fingers, pointing at Wentworth enthusiastically, "Exactly! We've already triumphed over Slytherin in this year's Quidditch game, discounting the Ravenclaw intellectuals. Once we defeat Gryffindor, the championship is practically ours! Winning the Quidditch Cup awards substantial points for the House Cup. So, let's focus on earning those points, my friends!"

Upon hearing Green's reasoning, Cedric nodded in understanding.

However, Wentworth raised his hand and remarked, "Excuse me, Cedric, I do not doubt you, and not just as a second-year. Even in the third or fourth years, Cedric could function as a scoring machine."

"But don't overlook the fact that in the first year, there's also Cassandra! And she happens to be a Slytherin! While other subjects may pose no challenge, Cassandra only needs to ace Professor Snape's potion class, a feat easier than brewing a simple Potion. After all, Potion-making involves hands-on effort, and she just needs to move her mouth!"

Hearing Wentworth's words, Green shot him an annoyed look and retorted, "It's just a woman, Wentworth. Be confident. Or are you telling me that the leader of Alliance can't win over a woman of his age?"

Green paused a moment before taking in a deep breath, "Well, I mean what can I say? If the leader of the Alliance himself has lost the will to win this battle, then I believe we already lost our chance..."

Upon hearing Green's remark, Wentworth was offended by it; he promptly straightened his back and asserted, "Nonsense, don't forget, she originally wanted to be my follower!"

A light was shining on Green's eyes as he saw Wentworth had taken the bait, "Got you!" He thought to himself.

However, he quickly backtracked, muttering, "It's just that I didn't agree..."

Green rolled his eyes at Wentworth's indecision but eventually patted his shoulder, whispering mysteriously, "Don't worry, Wentworth, I have my own way with Cassandra."

Intrigued, Wentworth asked, "How? What?"

Green shook his head, wearing a secretive smile, "A magician never reveals his secrets."

Wentworth glanced at Cedric, who merely shrugged, indicating he was as clueless as Wentworth.

They both decided not to pursue the issue further and just let Green continue talking about his plans all night long.

Despite the romantic entanglement, the trio remained committed to Green's enthusiasm for the House Cup. They couldn't bear the thought of Slytherin clinching another victory.

Without even knowing it, they were already caught by Green's snare. Thanks to the earlier bait he had thrown for them, he is now reeling them in sneakily...