Chapter 59

Chapter 59

The farce of rising and falling points could not continue forever. Professor Flitwick and Professor McGonagall noticed the absurd fluctuations.

Then that man stepped forward.

“The castle has been exceptionally lively of late,” Dumbledore said. “That is a good thing. Young people ought to possess energy. But I hope you will devote more of it to acquiring knowledge and making it your own.”

“You should not spend it tormenting an elderly professor who has lived in this castle for a thousand years. He has devoted a millennium to the teaching of History of Magic and possesses an extraordinary wealth of historical knowledge. That is what deserves your attention.”

“The scores have changed too frequently over the past fortnight. I should like them to return to normal.” Dumbledore looked around the hall. “I have no intention of investigating who began this affair.”

The old bee’s gaze paused briefly upon the Hufflepuff table, but moved on too quickly for anyone to notice.

“I also hope that the professors will exercise reasonable control over their conduct and use the authority in their hands responsibly.”

“That will be all.”

With a broad sweep of his hand, he restored every hourglass to its state from two weeks earlier.

At the long table, Suer noticed Snape’s expression become exceptionally ugly.

If Suer remembered correctly, two weeks ago was precisely when Hufflepuff had begun its enthusiastic participation in Professor Binns’s lessons. In other words, all the points Snape had manufactured since then had been wiped away.

One wave of Dumbledore’s hand, and they were back where they had started!

The Headmaster was plainly appeasing the young Hufflepuffs while also pushing Slytherin below Gryffindor. Why else restore the scores to two weeks ago instead of before Christmas?

Good heavens. Three birds with one stone. Suer silently raised a thumb.

The little snakes drooped in misery. Before Christmas, Slytherin had stood first. Now they were last.

It had never happened in their history. It was a monumental disgrace!

“Now, let us enjoy dinner.”

But was the matter truly over?

…

“Snape is refereeing?” Suer and Ron stared in confusion at Harry, who had clearly run all the way.

Hermione frowned down at the wizard chessboard, searching for a way through Ron’s current sequence of moves.

It might have been the only skill at which Ron could defeat everyone.

“Don’t play!” Ron urged.

“What could possibly go wrong with Snape as referee?” Suer asked, knowing perfectly well.

“Everything!” Ron launched into a lengthy account of Snape’s persecution of Harry, exaggerating until it sounded as though Snape lacked only a sharp kitchen knife before chopping Harry into pieces and boiling him in a cauldron.

“It isn’t quite that extreme,” the more rational Hermione said, looking up at Harry. “But I do advise you to miss this match. Find a suitable excuse.”

“I’ve got a good idea,” Ron said. “Break your leg. I mean truly break it. Madam Pomfrey can cure any injury.”

“It would take only one spell.”

Harry stared at Ron in horror. Was this friendship worth preserving?

“Only if you don’t mind being expelled.” Suer glanced at Ron. “The school rules say that a student caught maliciously injuring a classmate with a wand will have that wand snapped and be expelled. Then they receive free room and board in Azkaban for a while.”

“I can’t do that anyway.” Harry shook his head. “I’m Gryffindor’s only Seeker. We haven’t got a reserve.”

“Then you can only hope Professor Snape won’t make trouble for you.” Suer shook his head, sighed theatrically and patted Harry on the shoulder.

“That’s about as likely as a troll learning to eat with a fork,” Ron remarked.

Harry did not know whether to laugh or cry.

At that moment, a figure hopped into the Great Hall like a rabbit, making muffled noises through a closed mouth.

It was Neville.

Many students burst out laughing at the sight.

Suer’s brow tightened. He drew his wand, approached Neville and cast a counter-spell. Neville’s legs sprang apart, and he collapsed trembling to the floor, his face pale.

“What happened?” Suer asked.

“Mmmph, mmmph…” Neville pointed at his mouth.

“Finite Incantatem!”

After casting another counter-spell, Suer put away his wand. Hermione came over, and together they helped Neville to his feet.

“What happened?” Hermione asked this time.

Neville stumbled to a bench and sat, panting heavily.

“Malfoy,” he said at last. “Professor Sprout asked me to return some books to the library. Malfoy saw me on the way.”

“He said he’d been looking for someone to practise the spell on.”

“Go to Professor McGonagall!” Hermione urged.

Neville muttered something and shook his head. “I don’t want to cause more trouble. Even if Professor McGonagall punishes him, he’ll know I reported him…”

“That’s why people like Malfoy keep choosing you to bully.” Suer patted Neville’s shoulder and offered him a piece of chocolate from his pocket.

“Have some chocolate,” he said. “When you’ve finished, I’ll take you to settle the score.”

“Thank you, Suer.” Neville accepted it but still shook his head. “I want to go back and sleep.”

“Perhaps I don’t belong in Gryffindor. Malfoy said I was too cowardly to deserve being there.”

“He’s talking rubbish!” Hermione said angrily. “You’re worth twelve of Malfoy. The Sorting Hat placing you in Gryffindor proves a great deal.”

“Perhaps.” Neville managed a weak smile. “Thank you, Hermione. I’m going back.”

Suer watched Neville’s pale, dejected figure retreat and frowned in silence.

“I’m going to Professor McGonagall later,” Hermione said bitterly. “She can punish Malfoy properly.”

“It won’t help, Hermione. Reporting him will only make matters worse.” Suer could not resist rubbing Hermione’s bushy hair. “Unless Malfoy leaves the school…”

“Which obviously won’t happen. Even if we tell Professor McGonagall, he can invent a hundred excuses to wriggle out of it.”

“So we simply watch Neville be bullied?” Hermione’s small face scrunched up. She slapped Suer’s hand away.

“Of course not.” Suer shook his head. “It depends upon Neville’s choice.”

“What choice?” Hermione tilted her head in confusion.

“Want to know?” Suer smiled into her eyes. “Then lean closer.”

Hermione cautiously retreated half a step and studied him. In the end, curiosity defeated reason.

Suer leaned towards her ear. His breath turned it scarlet.

He rather wanted to take a bite… No. That would be criminal.

With difficulty, he suppressed the little devil with the long tail and sharp teeth.

“This is what I plan to do…”

“I’m not telling you.”

“SUER!”

Hermione screamed, face blazing. How many times had this happened now? Why did she never learn?

The girl seized the boy by the neck and shook him back and forth, baring her little canine teeth.

Not far away, Harry looked at the snacks on the table, then at Ron.

“Why do I suddenly feel full?”

“Me too…” Ron looked at his favourite Chocolate Frog and belched.

“Buuurp.”