Hogwarts: This holy light is righteously evil.

Hufflepuff did not rely on any opportunistic means, nor did they take advantage of any irregularities or loopholes in the game. Instead, they relied on their extremely solid team defense and seamless teamwork to withstand Slytherin's malicious harassment and fierce attacks throughout the game, defeating their usually arrogant and domineering opponents with absolute strength.

On the field, the entire Hufflepuff team immediately surrounded Cedric, keeping him firmly in the center.

After a fierce and arduous battle, everyone's faces were covered in sweat from exhaustion, yet they radiated pure and enthusiastic smiles.

Cedric stood in the center of the crowd, his eyes gentle and his lips curved into a humble and composed smile. Even after winning the game, he showed no arrogance or pride.

His composure contrasted sharply with the somber, resentful, and angry expressions of the entire Slytherin team opposite him.

The next second, the team members worked together to lift Cedric high into the air, and with light cheers, they carried him around slowly on the field in celebration.

Despite the intense combat and continuous flight that had drained their energy, the group was now bursting with energy and showing no signs of fatigue.

Watching the lively scene from the stands, Puni couldn't help but think to himself that the Hufflepuff team's abundant energy was probably inseparable from the constant nourishment of the castle kitchen. Their location next to the kitchen allowed them to always have enough energy to replenish.

In stark contrast to the warm and harmonious celebration at Hufflepuff, the Slytherin rest area was oppressive and chaotic.

The captain, who had just been injured by a broken baseball bat, lost a tooth, and whose wound had not yet healed, had long forgotten Mrs. Hoch's instructions for treatment and the rules of the game.

He endured the pain in his face, his emotions completely out of control. He angrily grabbed the batter whose bat had broken, waving his arm wildly, venting his anger and resentment at the defeat, blaming all his frustration for the loss on this accident.

The excitement of the Quidditch match lingered long after the final battle, and the Hufflepuff students, who had successfully won the match, flocked into the Great Hall of Hogwarts.

The students of the entire academy were in high spirits, celebrating this hard-won victory with open hearts. Everyone spontaneously gathered on both sides of the Hufflepuff table, with laughter and cheers rising and falling.

They deliberately used the dinner as an opportunity to organize a special celebration. The noisy laughter and lighthearted conversation filled the hall, creating a highly infectious atmosphere.

Many students turned their gaze to the Slytherin table not far away, openly expressing their joy at victory and fully enjoying the sense of accomplishment from winning this hard-fought battle.

In the faculty and staff section, Snape sat upright in his designated spot, his aura cold and rigid, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

His eyes were shrouded in an unyielding shadow, his face was expressionless, and he was in a state of extreme silence.

His fingers gripped the knife and fork firmly on the table, cutting the food on the plate neatly, one stroke at a time.

His anger had been building up with the Hufflepuffs' continued cheers, and he had several times considered drawing his wand to punish the noisy students on the spot and forcibly end this deliberate celebration.

But he ultimately suppressed his inner rage and maintained a facade of composure and dignity.

Professor Strawny, sitting next to Snape, was initially swayed by the enthusiastic atmosphere, her brows relaxed and a smile playing on her lips.

Hufflepuff's comeback victory, achieved through sheer skill and unwavering commitment to the game, overcoming malicious interference from their opponents, is something to be proud of.

But when she glanced at Snape beside her, who had a gloomy expression and was silently struggling with the steak on his plate, she immediately sensed a dangerous atmosphere.

She quickly suppressed all the smiles on her face, her expression returning to calm and composed, no longer daring to reveal even a trace of joy.

She knew very well that Hufflepuff had always kept a low profile in various school competitions and rarely received such outstanding competition points, making this victory all the more precious.

If the atmosphere is allowed to continue to fester, it will anger Snape, who holds grudges and has a penchant for suppressing rival houses. Snape might then use his teaching authority to deliberately find mistakes and deduct points in subsequent studies, thus erasing the hard-earned achievements of Hufflepuff.

Inside the auditorium, the atmosphere of the two opposing academies created an extremely stark contrast.

The Hufflepuff table was bustling and warm, while the Slytherin table next to it was deathly silent and oppressive.

All the Slytherin students around the long table sat in silence, no one talking, no one making a sound, and they even deliberately controlled their movements. Even the slightest sound of knives and forks touching plates was completely gone, and the entire area was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

This defeat was a devastating blow that was hard for them to accept.

Throughout the Quidditch match, the score remained tied for a long time. Slytherin tried every trick in the book, frequently using the edges of the rules to interfere with their opponents, and even resorting to illegal tricks to try to disrupt their rhythm, but ultimately they still couldn't turn the tide of the game.

For the Slytherin students, who are always proud and believe that their bloodline and strength are superior to others, being defeated head-on by Hufflepuff, whom they have always looked down upon, is an extreme humiliation.

The Quidditch players, in particular, gave their all but failed to achieve anything, and even caused a blunder due to equipment malfunction, resulting in a loss of the game. Their sense of frustration and humiliation reached its peak.

They ate in silence with their eyes downcast, occasionally glancing at the Hufflepuff students celebrating across from them; their eyes held more than just simple defeat and resentment.

Their long-held sense of superiority was shattered, and the regrettable defeat in this arduous tug-of-war caused clear resentment and hostility to grow deep in their eyes.

The other professors, seated in the main seats, had already taken in all of this.

Everyone understood that competition and antagonism between schools was the norm at Hogwarts, and moderate feelings of winning or losing, or opposing camps, would not lead to serious consequences.

As long as the students' conflicts and hostility are kept within a reasonable range, do not violate school rules, and do not cause malicious harm, the teachers will not actively intervene in this healthy competition among the young students.

Chapter 124 You actually found Ravenclaw's crown?

The Hogwarts Express glided smoothly through the English countryside. The private compartments were quiet and comfortable, with only the rhythmic sound of the wheels rolling on the rails echoing slowly. In the small space, Cho Chang stood attentively, his wand held straight and level, his eyes fixed on the suitcase on the floor.

"Yugadimurleviosa!"

She recited the complete incantation for the Levitation and Movement Charm, and a faint stream of light burst forth from the tip of her wand, gently enveloping the suitcase below. The heavy suitcase then detached from the ground and floated in mid-air, moving steadily and slowly along the subtle guidance of Cho Chang's wand, gradually approaching the storage rack on the top of the carriage.

Under her spell control and magical fine-tuning, the suitcase fell into the empty space on the shelf and was placed neatly and orderly. The entire spellcasting process was clean and efficient, without the problems that beginners often encounter, such as magic loss of control, objects shaking and falling.

The moment Qiu Zhang finished the practice, his eyes lit up, and he lightly leaped up on his tiptoes, turning to face Puni beside him.

"Puni! Look, I've mastered it!"

Looking at the girl's bright face, Puni smiled gently and deliberately imitated Professor McGonagall's serious and rigorous tone when she taught: "A very standard spellcasting rhythm and magic control. Such a skillful movement and levitation spell is not something a first-year student can easily master. It is enough to show that you have put in a lot of practice in private."

Before Qiu Zhang could react, he added with a smile, "According to the reward standards for outstanding students, I have the right to give you an exclusive award."

After saying that, Puni took a step forward, gently opened his arms, and tenderly embraced the unsuspecting Qiu Zhang. Qiu Zhang was completely taken aback by his sudden action, his body stiffened instantly, and he stood there stunned.

The close proximity allowed her to feel the boy's clean and refreshing scent, lingering around her nose and instantly overwhelming her thoughts. The warm touch and close intimacy quickly flushed her fair cheeks with a deep blush, her ear tips burned, and even her neck turned a light pink. She was so shy that she dared not move.

A few seconds later, Qiu Zhang finally found her voice, her soft and gentle voice tinged with unease and panic, barely audible: "P-Puni...can you let go of me first?"

Puni held the slender girl in his arms, his smile deepening, and deliberately lowered his voice to tease her: "What if I said I don't want to let go?"

Qiu Zhang lowered her voice even further, her shyness almost overflowing, but she still obediently replied, "That's...that's fine..."

“Then I won’t let go,” Puni replied matter-of-factly.

Qiu Zhang was completely speechless. She just blushed and lowered her eyes silently, no longer struggling or resisting, letting him hold her.

Feeling the gentle and quiet girl in his arms, Puni felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He tightened his arms slightly, holding the tender embrace even more firmly.

"Look at this scene, isn't it just too beautiful!"

"This is truly enviable; we've stumbled upon such a wonderful scene!"

Two rough, distinctive voices came from outside the corridor.

Without even looking closely, just by looking at those two mocking, hoarse voices, one could tell that they were the brothers Fred and George.

Before Qiu Zhang could even look up and see the two figures outside the door, a burning blush instantly spread across her cheeks, and shyness enveloped her entire body.

She quickly retreated to her seat in the private room, curled up, and pulled her cloak over her head, completely hiding her face. Puni watched her adorable act of trying to hide something obvious, a gentle smile appearing in his eyes. However, the brief, warm moment of solitude was deliberately interrupted, and a hint of displeasure rose in his heart. He suppressed his smile, his brows furrowing with a faint anger, and turned to look at the door of the private room, where he met the twins crowding at the doorway, their faces full of mischievous grins.

The peaceful atmosphere that had been painstakingly created, and the rare time alone, were completely disrupted by the two people's mischievous spying, and Puni's dissatisfaction grew stronger.

He flicked his wrist, a glimmer of light flashed at the tip of his wand, and the simple unlocking spell quietly took effect.

The previously closed door to the private room swung open inwards with a snap.

Fred and George were caught off guard and fell straight in.

"Ouch!"

"Get up and close the door, or you'll be hung up and carried home."

Upon hearing Penny's threatening words, the Weasley twins, who had been sprawled on the ground, deliberately groaning and feigning weakness, instantly stopped their act and nimbly got up from the ground, not daring to linger any longer.

Even though they dared not provoke Puni again, the two were still full of resentment and began to complain as soon as they stood still.

Seeing the two of them complaining incessantly, Puni didn't bother with them anymore. Instead, he took out a lot of magical snacks from his storage bag and handed them to the twins.

......

After the train arrived at the station, Puni said goodbye to the others and returned home.

He calmly changed out of his outdoor clothes and into loose, comfortable pajamas. Just as he was about to get out of bed and rest, before he could even step onto the bedside, Murthy strode in with a tightly sealed letter.

Based on the unique wax seal and delivery method of the letter, Puni could immediately determine its origin.

This was a private message that Regulus had just delivered via the Fireplace Flyway, arriving at just the right time, almost exactly when he was returning home.

Puni stared at the letter lying quietly in his palm, feeling helpless and speechless.

He was almost certain that Regulus had deliberately timed his return journey home and sent the message at this particular moment.

He couldn't help but think to himself that the other party was being far too impatient.

The two had already agreed that they could communicate in real time using the two-way mirror, and there was no need to rush to deliver letters.

With a heavy heart, Puni lay down on the soft bed, gently unseal the envelope, and unfolded the letter.

The blank sheet of paper contained no extraneous words or elaborations, but simply the following sentence: "All plans are progressing smoothly. The remaining details will be finalized one by one when we meet."

After reading the contents, Puni felt even more helpless. He already knew all the progress and situation mentioned in the letter. There was no new information, so there was no need to write a special letter to invite him to a meeting!

With his hopes of a short rest dashed, Puni had no choice but to get up. He took off his comfortable pajamas and changed into a well-tailored and exquisitely made outfit. He carefully tidied his appearance and put away the gifts he had prepared in advance for the two younger members of the Black family.

Once everything was ready, he activated the magical link to the fireplace, opening a passage between his own home and the fireplace in the Black mansion, and stepped into the teleportation flames.

With the flickering firelight and a quick shift in perspective, Puni arrived directly at the secret, private room of the Black mansion.

This is Regulus's private space where he usually spends his time alone and discussing secret plans. It is completely isolated from all outside sight and sound, making it extremely private.

Away from the sight of outsiders and no longer needing to maintain an elegant and composed demeanor, Puni completely shed all pretense, leaning heavily against and slumping on the soft sofa without any regard for appearances, wearily complaining.

"Can you please stop contacting me so frequently? You're always on edge, and I'm exhausted both physically and mentally."

Regulus, who was standing quietly in the secret room, was speechless after hearing this blunt complaint. He could not find any suitable words to defend or refute it, and could only stand silently in place.

He himself knew that the recent contact had indeed been too frequent. He was stubbornly trying to find someone to confide in, confirm the plan, and alleviate the anxiety in his heart. However, he had his own concerns and difficulties. His wife, Cassandra, was pure of heart and simple of mind. She had never been exposed to the dark games and power struggles. She had only seen the gentle and beautiful things in the world. Regulus dared not let her know anything about these dangerous plans and heavy pressures involving life and death and the fight against the Dark Lord. He was afraid that these dark and heavy things would break her pure mind and even more afraid of implicating his family and putting her in unknown dangers.

With no close friends or family to confide in or share his burdens, after much deliberation, the only person in the entire magical world who could understand all his concerns, know the whole plan, and help him maintain his composure was Puni. The entire secret plan to confront the Dark Lord, from the overall framework to the step-by-step details, was built and perfected by Puni himself. Regulus's current arrangements, choices, and confidence all rely on this meticulous plan.

Puni knew very well that without his intervention and guidance, Regulus's life trajectory would never have been as stable and controllable as it is now. He would not have had the confidence to face Voldemort directly, nor would he have the vision, planning, and capital to turn the tables he has now. He would most likely have followed the fate of the Black family and fallen step by step into an abyss from which there was no way to escape.

Thinking of their long-standing relationship and support, Puni sighed silently. A subtle feeling welled up in his heart. He often couldn't distinguish their roles. Although they were equal partners, it had always been him who patiently guided and supported Regulus, helping him to settle his mind, make up for his shortcomings, and grow steadily. This continuous support and guidance had long surpassed the scope of ordinary allies. Instead, it was like an elder carefully guiding a junior to maturity and transformation.

As he participated in Regulus's choices time and time again, and became involved in the undercurrents of the magical world's power struggles, Puni increasingly realized that his original principles of conduct were quietly shifting. He couldn't help but examine himself and question his long-standing alignment with the world. In the past, he had always adhered to the philosophy of chaotic goodness, acting as he pleased, upholding his good intentions, and not being bound by rules or factions. However, with each strategic move, each weighing of pros and cons, and each sacrifice for the greater good, his style of action became increasingly calm and restrained.

He gradually came to understand that people's stance and true nature are never fixed. All changes in temperament and deviations in beliefs stem from the accumulation of life experiences. These changes will quietly occur with changes in experience, circumstances, and obsessions. A stable and peaceful environment is most likely to smooth out stubborn obsessions and gently soften the original firm intentions and beliefs.

Puni quickly gathered his scattered thoughts, no longer dwelling on the subtle shifts in his mindset and stance. He looked up at Regulus, who was about to speak and express his anxieties, and naturally reached out to remove his wizard's hat.

"Don't just worry, look this way." Puni slightly raised his chin, gesturing for the other person to look at the top of his head.

Regulus had already prepared his words and was about to express all the concerns and anxieties that had been building up in his heart, but he was interrupted by Puni's sudden action. He subconsciously looked in the direction the other person indicated, and his gaze fell on the top of Puni's head. A deep sense of doubt instantly surfaced in his eyes.

He had initially thought Puni was just wearing an empty head, but he was surprised to find that under the wizard's hat, Puni was wearing an exquisite and ancient metal crown. The crown had delicate and elegant patterns and a heavy texture unique to ancient magical artifacts. Its shape was particularly unique. Regulus stared at it closely and felt that the object looked very familiar, but he couldn't tell where it came from. He was filled with confusion and surprise.