Days at Hogwarts

Chapter 785 A Good Sleep Environment

The clock struck precisely on time.

Loren and Dumbledore turned and walked into the Great Hall.

Crookshank glanced at the two figures as they walked away. Usually, if you went to the Great Hall and lay down at the Hufflepuff table at this time, you could get some chicken legs or ribs, but Crookshank had a better option.

It pressed down hard with its two front paws, stretched, and walked lightly down the stairs.

Go straight downstairs to the kitchen, where the house-elf knows its owner. It can choose any food it wants from the kitchen, and occasionally even packs some for Tooth.

"Actually, I don't have a deep relationship with Mr. Kohler, and officials from the Magical Congress of the United States don't have the authority to request Hogwarts to provide student information. But out of courtesy, perhaps I could write him a less detailed letter in reply, along with some archival information. However, I don't need to reveal the adventures we went on together to him, what do you think?"

"What files or documents?"

"I asked Professor McGonagall for your transcripts and award certificates from the past few years, intending to make a copy and send it to Mr. Kohauer."

"What reward will I receive?"

"During the teachers' meeting before the holidays, Severus suggested that you would definitely become famous in the wizarding world after graduation, so Hogwarts should give you some awards before you graduate."

"A distinguished alumnus, right?"

"In fact, we all agree that because you have fully proven yourself over the past few years, repeatedly thwarting the dark wizard's plots, improving and optimizing the wolfsbane potion, achieving excellent grades, and helping your classmates, in recognition of your outstanding performance during your time at the school, several professors have agreed to award you the Outstanding Character Award and the Special Contribution Award. The trophies are already in the display room; you should be able to see them while you are in confinement."

Why am I only finding out about this now?

Dumbledore blinked: "Because after the commendation proposal, the next step is to discuss the punishment for you randomly placing alchemical items around the school."

"Perfectly reasonable..."

Indeed, rewards and punishments are clearly defined.

Loren followed the principal into the auditorium.

Back at their seats, the banquet had already begun, and Professor McGonagall stood in the center of the head table to deliver her opening address:

"Welcome! Welcome back to Hogwarts! The next few months will be the second semester of this academic year, and also the start of a brand new semester in 1998. We hope you will all be ready to embrace the new courses with renewed enthusiasm..."

His voice was steady and powerful, and his pace was neither too fast nor too slow. He lacked Professor McGonagall's usual seriousness and instead exuded a sense of amiability. Apart from the absence of awkward and boring jokes, his opening speech already carried a hint of the principal's demeanor.

The young wizards in the audience widened their eyes, glancing at Professor McGonagall who was speaking, and then at Dumbledore who was slowly sitting down to the side of the main guest seat, as if they had already understood something.

Our cat-like dean is getting promoted to principal!

The Gryffindor students looked excited; they had never listened to the opening speech so attentively before.

Just as the prospective headmaster was about to continue her long-winded speech, former headmaster Dumbledore picked up his glass, took a sip of sparkling wine, and quietly tugged at her sleeve under the table.

Professor McGonagall paused briefly. "We'll discuss the list of contraband after the banquet. Now, I declare the banquet open!"

"Long live Professor McGonagall!"

The students erupted in cheers, instantly engulfing the entire Great Hall. A few shouts of "Headmistress McGonagall" were also heard. The Gryffindor students' chins were practically pointing to the ceiling. When their Headmistress looked over, they immediately lowered their heads to avoid eye contact, behaving themselves obediently.

"Look at how Harry acted just now, didn't he look just like the old Draco?"

Loren turned to Hermione and chuckled.

Hermione: "..."

Food appeared out of thin air on the plate, and wine glasses emptied and then refilled.

The flickering torches and candlelight along the wall symbolize the bright future that teachers and students have been hoping for.

……

"Myrtle's in the prefectural bathroom, Neville, are you still going to shower?"

Loren, dressed in cashmere pajamas with a towel draped over his shoulders and radiating warm steam, casually tossed his change of clothes into the laundry basket, took out his wand, and waved it at his hair. A few wisps of wind swirled above his head, simultaneously drying and styling his hair.

Neville silently picked up his toiletries and change of clothes and headed towards the dormitory's private bathroom. Ever since he learned that Myrtle frequently visited the prefectural bathroom, he had basically given up this prefectural privilege. On the contrary, the other students in the dormitory were initially a little awkward, but later they basically stopped caring.

Loren rolled onto the bed, stretched vigorously, and let out a comfortable sigh.

Harry and Ron were busy with their homework nearby, with Loren and Neville's templates in front of them. They could quickly glean the useful information by glancing at them, mentally draft their ideas, and then transfer them directly onto the parchment, skipping the copying steps and making rapid progress.

The experience accumulated over the years has become muscle memory.

Simo was much slower. He had textbooks and reference books in front of him. When he encountered a problem, he would look it up in the book. If he couldn't find the answer, he would ask Loren and Neville for help. His focused and serious attitude was touching.

"Loren, it says to add the belladonna juice at the right time... what is this right time?"

"Potions Mastery homework? Didn't you not choose the Advanced Potions Mastery course?"

"This won't affect my participation in the NEWT exam for Potions."

"??"

"Perhaps Merlin will be on my side on the day of the exam, and Lady Luck will smile upon me, and the examiner might accidentally let me get an extra certificate. That's not impossible, is it?"

That makes sense.

"So when is the appropriate time?"

"The medicine is boiling gently, and small bubbles are appearing at the bottom of the crucible."

A flawless version after careful inspection!

"How much belladonna should I add?"

"Add slowly, drop by drop, until the medicine changes color."

"Slowly... dripping..." Simo muttered as he wrote on the parchment.

Loren looked at the three students studying diligently and felt a little awkward. After a moment's hesitation, he asked, "When is our house's next Quidditch match?"

Ron answered immediately, without looking up: "Before Easter."

"Who is that? Hufflepuff?"

"Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff lost the last game. Their Seeker was sleepwalking the whole time. He didn't even see the Golden Snitch. He was like a headless fly."

Harry put down his quill, looked up at him, and frowned slightly: "Hey, don't say that. He's just a new player with no experience."

"..." Ron waved his hand dismissively and busied himself with finishing his homework.

"is that so?"

Loren glanced discreetly at their expressions and added at the opportune moment, "Actually, I think their goalkeeper is pretty dumb too, um... what's his name again?"

"Flit, he's the brother of the former goalkeeper. His skills aren't outstanding, but he's great at controlling the game and is the brains of the Hedgehog team." Ron still didn't look up.

Harry had already put down his quill: "I think his skills are terrible. He can never keep up with the goal. 'Smart' is just an excuse. Justin always says he got the goalkeeper position through connections."

Ron looked up, frowned, and stared at Harry: "That's just an outsider's opinion."

"I'm a layman too!?"

"I don't want to say this, but Harry, your Seekers hardly participate in infield battles, and only have a superficial understanding of tactical arrangements?"

"I only have a vague understanding!?"

"I can tell from your comments about Fleet just now."

"Your assessment of Hedgehog's new Seeker is equally unprofessional!"

"I'm the Quidditch captain, I saw it clearly!"

"But you don't understand the seeker at all."

"..."

Loren listened to their reasoned debate, lay down, covered himself with the blanket, said goodnight to Simo who was still working late into the night, and closed his eyes contentedly.

(End of this chapter)