Scandal in the great room

// THIS IS AN OLD CHAPTER. THE NEW CHAPTERS ARE IN VOLUME 2. YOU CAN READ THESE CHAPTERS IF YOU WANT SOME INSIGHT ON WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN LATER BUT SOME EVENTS CAN BE DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW CHAPTERS.

We are all gathered in the great hall for the delivery of the cup of the four houses. So far Slytherin is in the lead with 634 points which is way more than the original story thanks to our victory in Quidditch and my big contribution during classes.

In second position, there is Ravenclaw with 414 points followed by Hufflepuff with 341 points and finally Gryffindor with 223 points which is far less than their original score of 312 points.

Unless Dumbledore can justify 411 points, Gryffindor is unlikely to win the cup this year.

Everyone I can consider as friends, even if they are still lacking in maturity at the moment, are by my side. Draco was forgiven for our extra chores because of his detention by buying everyone horned snakeskin wand holster marked with the Slytherin symbol.

"What are you going to do on your vacation?"

"Um, I'm probably going to have extra lessons in the subjects where I had fewer good results but other than that, social events and a trip to New York maybe." Daphne answers me.

"My mom is going to take me on a city tour of Europe," Blaise says relaxedly.

"I'm going to practice to get selected in the Quidditch team next year," Edward would probably make a good guardian in 2 or 3 years but he's still a bit puny for the job.

"And what are you going to do with your vacation Bones?" Draco asks me.

"I have a project for a new means of communication to set up, if all goes well you will hear about it during the holidays", I said, taking the prototype of the magiphone out of my pocket.

"What is that?"

"Well, that, my dear Daphne, is a magiphone. This little gem will allow wizards and witches to discuss all over the world. No more owl messages that take days to arrive, with that you can talk to anyone, anytime "

"And are you sure it works?" Blaise asks me

"I haven't done a full-scale test yet but at close range the system works, and it looks like it goes through barriers because it works on the school grounds."

The others look at the piece of crystal with envy, I now have children of noble families who will circulate the rumor of the new magiphone for me.

Our discussion is suddenly interrupted by Dumbledore. Is he going to dare?

"I have a few last-minute points to hand out. To Ronald Wesley, for the best game of chess we've played at Hogwarts in many years, I'm giving Gryffindor 200 points."

Deathly silence descends on the hall in the general dismay of three houses as Gryffindor rejoices, Percy especially.

"To Miss Hermione Granger, for the cold logic she displayed in the face of dreadful flames, I award Ravenclaw 100 points."

Ravenclaw is once again happy to come back to second place in the standings but outrage rises in the room and the Ravenclaw students don't seem to appreciate that the contribution of one of their brightest members is lower rated than the stupidest Gryffindor.

"To Harry Potter, for his exceptional composure and courage, I give Gryffindor 200 points"

Everyone is amazed, Dumbledore just gave a house, in 5 minutes, as many points as the second-best house in the whole year.

Gryffindor gloats but all the other houses watch Dumbledore in dead silence. If stares could kill, the old wizard would be between six fir planks by now.

"And finally, I give 20 points to Neville Longbottom, because it takes a lot of courage to challenge his enemies, but it takes even more to challenge his friends"

The Gryffindor table squeals with joy as all the other tables look at each other without really understanding what is going on. It's show time.

"Excuse me, I have an objection professor and I don't think I'm the only one," I said to attract attention using a sonorus.

"Yes, Mr. Bones, I'm listening to you"

"You are telling us that you give as many points as a house earns in a year to 3 students when in fact, they have violated a lot of school rules, and coincidentally just enough to win the cup of the four houses ", the students start to stir at my remark the students of Slytherin do not hesitate to mark their indignation at my side accompanied by the students of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw.

"You are telling us that the accomplishments of the best Ravenclaw students are worth less than those of the less talented Gryffindor," Still it takes the Ravenclaw students to rise from their tables. I even see Professor Flitwick staring coldly at the Headmaster.

"The only one who I can understand being awarded points is Neville, because he tried to keep his comrades from breaking the rules and he has fewer points than the ones who did! ", I see McGonagall stand up. She has always preferred compliance with the rules before her house and the simple fact that disruptive elements have been rewarded more than her good students annoys the shit out of her.

"And why in your last-minute points aren't there any Slytherin or Hufflepuff students for, I don't know, a great season of Quidditch or empathy for helping others?" And there I know that I hit the mark, when all the students except those from Gryffindor and all the house directors seems to want to make Albus their breakfast.

"Well, it looks like I got a little carried away. However, being the director allows me to award as many points as I feel it needed." It's not very smart of him to use the status card now, when all the house managers are about to fall on him like misery on the third world.

"Then I guess we don't need to put in more effort to earn points next year?"

"Sorry?"

"You heard me right, if you give Gryffindor 400 points every year to make them win the cup, what good does it that we common mortals go the extra mile to grab a few unfortunate points."

A dead silence falls over the whole room, when suddenly everyone comes to life at once. The Gryffindors rises indignantly accompanied by the Slytherins. Suddenly the Ravenclaws also rise to shout at the other two houses. True to themselves Hufflepuff tries to defuse the situation but even they end up joining the crowd of disgruntled people.

"Silence" Ton Dumbledore, "We are going to have an emergency meeting with your house directors. You will stay here with the other teachers in silence while we discuss the last points distributed."

I smile at the director's announcement, I won a battle.