End of the School Year

Half an hour later, the Hogwarts Hospital Wing was packed. Harry lay on the bed in the center, his face pale, but he didn't seem to be seriously injured, just with a clear bruise around his neck. Ron, with a bandage around his head, sat on the next bed, while Hermione and Silas (who had wandered over again) stood by the bedside.

Hermione's eyes were wide, disbelief etched on her face. She looked at Harry, then at Silas, who had a "that's how it is" expression, and her voice was sharp with shock:

"Wait... Harry, you mean... you... you slapped the Dark Lord... the one whose name can't be spoken... and he... died? Or, he was beaten and ran off again? How is that possible?!"

The story was too bizarre and... childish! That was Voldemort! The Dark Lord who struck fear into the entire wizarding world! How could he be slapped away by a first-year student?

Harry himself looked a bit bewildered and confused. He touched his still aching neck, trying to recall, "I... I don't know exactly what happened... He was choking me, pushing me against the mirror. I was scared, and angry... Then... then I think I just... reached out and hit his face... the face on the back of my head... Then he let out a terrible scream of pain, smoke billowed from him, and then he... disappeared..."

This description plunged the entire ward into an eerie silence. It didn't sound like a magical duel at all, but more like... a Muggle fight.

At this moment, Silas touched his nose and spoke in a tone that was both explanatory and sarcastic. He pointed at Harry:

"Uh... we're not entirely clear on the specifics. Professor Dumbledore arrived at the scene later and found out. According to Old Bee... uh, Professor Dumbledore, it should be related to the ancient protective magic on Harry."

He paused, trying to recall Dumbledore's lecture on "love": "It seems that because of Harry's mother's sacrifice, a powerful protective charm was left on him. This charm has a strong restraining effect on souls like Voldemort's, filled with hatred and killing intent... Especially when Voldemort actively touches Harry with murderous intent, that protective power is triggered... Perhaps the manifestation is... well... rather intense?"

Although Silas's explanation had a personal touch, the general direction was correct. He shrugged in the end, "So, simply put, it wasn't that Harry's slap was that powerful, but that Voldemort brought it upon himself, insisting on touching that 'live wire' and getting backlashed. It was his own fault."

Hermione and Ron listened, dumbfounded. While they still found it incredible, if it involved ancient and powerful protective magic that even Dumbledore acknowledged, it seemed... plausible?

Harry looked down at his hands, still feeling like he was dreaming. He had... in this way, survived Voldemort once again.

Silas looked at Harry and thought to himself: (Internal OS: Protagonist halo plus mother's love cheat, truly invincible... But Voldemort, after taking that slap and the magical backlash, will probably be weakened for a good while. That's good, we can have some peace for a while.)

Regardless, the news of Harry Potter "defeating" Voldemort again, though the process sounded a bit absurd, was undoubtedly exhilarating. Hogwarts had once again overcome a crisis.

Year-End Feast, Hogwarts Great Hall

The hall was decorated in Ravenclaw's blue and bronze, with a large banner bearing an eagle emblem. Professor Dumbledore stood before the High Table and announced the House Cup winner in a booming voice.

"To recognize the extraordinary courage and friendship shown by Mr. Harry Potter and Mr. Ron Weasley in protecting the Philosopher's Stone, I am awarding them one hundred points each!"

The Gryffindor table erupted in deafening cheers, and the rubies in the hourglass instantly surged. Harry and Ron's faces turned as red as their scarves.

However, when Dumbledore announced the final results, although the Gryffindor hourglass was dazzling, it still couldn't match the overflowing blue gem hourglass belonging to Ravenclaw beside it.

"The winner of the House Cup for this academic year is... Ravenclaw House!"

The Ravenclaw students (and a certain light brown-haired boy who often zoned out) also erupted in enthusiastic applause and cheers. Silas Cyril, with his astonishingly huge score accumulated from various events (especially repelling Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest, for which Dumbledore added two hundred points), had almost single-handedly dragged the House Cup back to Ravenclaw Tower.

Hogwarts Express, The Journey Home

The train sped through the countryside, the carriages filled with a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Silas sat in a compartment.

Hermione looked out at the passing scenery with a sigh of regret: "Ah, I wish I had gone with you to the forbidden fourth-floor area... Maybe I could have won a hundred points for the House too." She felt a pang of regret for missing out on the adventure (and points) due to her "rationality."

Just as Harry and Ron were about to comfort her, the compartment door was rudely pulled open.

Draco Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe and Goyle, blocked the doorway. He wore his usual sneering smile, clearly intending to annoy Harry one last time before going home.

"Potter, I heard you played the 'Boy Who Lived' again at school?" Malfoy drawled, "Got some points thanks to Dumbledore's favoritism, feeling proud? Too bad, the House Cup still went to some freaks..."

Before he could finish speaking.

Silas Cyril, who had been leaning by the window, seemingly dozing, suddenly stood up without warning! His movement was lightning-fast. Before anyone could react, he raised his hand and delivered a fierce slap to Malfoy's face!

"Slap!"

The crisp, loud sound of the slap echoed in the compartment!

Malfoy was stunned by the sudden blow. He clutched his face, staring at Silas in disbelief.

Silas's eyes were cold, and his tone was filled with undisguised disgust and annoyance:

"Setting aside the 'pitiful' and 'powerless' filters some readers add to you, Draco Malfoy, you are fundamentally a spoiled brat, a bully who picks on the weak, and a rotten seed full of pure-blood superiority! Get lost! Don't be an eyesore here!"

With that, he didn't give Malfoy time to react. He kicked Malfoy in the stomach, sending him flying out of the compartment doorway into the corridor!

Immediately after, Silas, without even looking, delivered two more "slap, slap" blows, precisely striking the dazed faces of Crabbe and Goyle as they tried to charge in, making the two followers stagger back, seeing stars.

The entire process took place in two to three seconds, so fast it was dazzling.

Silas dealt with the three Slytherins like garbage, slammed the compartment door shut with a "bang," and returned to his seat, a trace of ferocity still lingering on his face.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione stared at him, dumbfounded. The compartment fell silent.

Silas felt their gazes, took a deep breath, rubbed his temples, and simply said:

"Bad mood."

Then, he closed his eyes and pretended to sleep, as if nothing had happened.

The trio exchanged glances and finally decided to remain silent. They knew that although Silas's style of action was unique, he always had his reasons when he acted. Moreover, they had to admit, watching Malfoy get beaten up... felt quite satisfying.

The Hogwarts Express carried the students, along with a carriage full of gossip and the legend of Silas Cyril, towards Platform Nine and Three-Quarters. The first year, full of surprises, adventures, and countless points for criticism, was finally over.