Don't Compare Yourself to Someone with Cheats Enabled

"Strange, did Peeves cause trouble in the library?"

"Did the Gryffindors blow up the library?"

"Did Madam Pince finally decide to take a vacation?"

When Andrew returned to the dormitory, the other three stared at him with their mouths hanging open.

"Is that really necessary?"

Andrew rolled his eyes at his roommates, then began rummaging through the dwindling pile of snacks for a packet of candied fruit.

"Of course it is—we've always thought that if Madam Pince let you set up a bed in the library, you'd never come back to the dormitory."

Kevin captured one of Bell's knights, replying with a grin.

"The upperclassmen say the library is our third dormitory. Don't act like going to the library is strange."

As Andrew complained about his roommates, he checked how much longer the Transfiguration effects on the objects in his trunk would last, taking out his notebook to record them. "Where's Hal?"

"He heard there was some new information, so he went to ask around."

"New information?"

"Yeah, that Harry Potter. Apparently, he was admitted as a special exception. Professor McGonagall even used House funds to buy him a Nimbus 2000."

"Huh?"

Andrew stopped what he was doing, his mouth falling open. "A Nimbus 2000?"

"That's right. A brand-new broom and a position as the House team's Seeker." Bell realized he had no chance of gaining the upper hand, so he ignored the knight that was shouting insults and began putting the pieces away in surrender. "And not a single Gryffindor objected."

"Look on the bright side. You can't compare yourself to a legend who made it into the textbooks." Andrew tossed the snacks around—though even if he had not, no one would have stood on ceremony. "Practice properly. Since you can't grab someone with one hand and catch the ball with the other like he can, just wait for the normal recruitment in second year."

"That's all we can do... But are you really not coming to training?"

"Forget it... You know I'm more interested in Transfiguration." Andrew shook his head. "Hughes, want to play cards?"

"Wait a moment. I'll finish copying this section of History of Goblin Rebellions soon. About two minutes."

Hughes looked up from his desk, answered, then lowered his head and resumed copying.

"You should get an automatic quill, mate. I heard from the upperclassmen that they're really useful!"

Kevin replied as he searched for the Exploding Snap cards, while continuing to mutter at Andrew. "You're unbelievable. You go to the library, then drag us into playing cards when you get back. That's just too underhanded."

"Then shall we go to the library together this afternoon?"

Andrew smiled.

"Forget it, I can't do that. How can Ravenclaw have someone like you?" Kevin shook his head repeatedly. "Going to the library twice a week is already my limit. I prefer practical, messy Charms, not digging through those books for long-winded, stinking explanations of theory..."

"One day, you'll end up with a cow stepping on your chest." Bell stuffed away the last chattering knight and packed up the chessboard. "Especially those spells popular among students. Merlin knows what might happen if they go wrong."

"If they've spread around, that means they're safe enough. I just finished studying the Leg-Locker Curse. Interested? One lesson's homework in exchange for the spell. Friendship price, going cheap."

The price was quite reasonable, and Kevin's homework was soon mostly taken care of.

The group began haphazardly preparing cushions, then started playing cards.

About six or seven minutes later, a gloomy-looking Hughes became the test subject for the spell. "Did you three memorize the cards again?"

"Of course not."

They answered in perfect unison.

"Don't worry, I've even figured out the counterspell."

Kevin beamed. "I took part while gambling on the risk of doing my own homework. It's completely fair!"

The spell lesson was a great success. Another day had passed without sending any roommates to the hospital.

By the time Hal returned from gathering information, they had already happily played several rounds—Hughes was having the time of his life as he slaughtered everyone, while Andrew and Bell had their faces covered in paper slips.

"Nice work, Hughes—but Andrew, you came back so early?"

???

What was that supposed to mean?

Andrew rolled his eyes. "Of course. The library doesn't have a dining hall."

"That makes sense. I'll write that down in the suggestion book for you." Hal spoke cheerfully. "You'll never guess what happened in the castle."

Perhaps his urge to share was too strong, because Hal revealed the answer before anyone could start guessing. "That Miss Granger—you know, that one—beat up several Ravenclaw students!"

???

Andrew's eyes widened. Hey, which House are you from? Did our House let a traitor slip in?

Why did you look so proud? Were you a Gryffindor spy?

"It was those scammers... you know..."

Perhaps seeing everyone's expressions grow too bizarre, Hal took the initiative to explain. This time, everyone understood—those people really did deserve a beating.

They forged Herbology specimens, fake protective amulets, and counterfeit Potions. With a slight change in approach, they came up with new tricks. Those people treated the school like a testing ground, willing to take losses just to practice.

Although getting caught meant having everything confiscated and receiving detention, they could not be stopped. It was not enough to get them expelled, anyway, so they were simply a headache... Especially since they ran fast, knew the secret passages well, used magical disguises, and sometimes had Polyjuice Potion, making them even harder to catch.

"Who knows who offended her? It seemed like she started targeting them after being scolded by a prefect. The new students were disorganized, so she actually uncovered a whole group of them, then called the prefects over to deal with some of them.

"The upperclassmen naturally couldn't get involved, but there was no problem with lower-year students getting into conflicts, and then—"

Hal spread his hands. "The first-years naturally got taught a painful lesson by a pile of nasty curses."

"They deserved it. Every one of those people who gathered together was disgusting."

"Exactly. And how did they dare go after someone who ranked first in Defense Against the Dark Arts? Even if she was only a first-year..."

"She ranked first in every subject. There's no competing with that, no competing with that."

"Andrew?"

"What?"

"Don't you want to say anything?"

"What can I say?"

Andrew spread his hands and leaned back in his chair. "The House's admissions criteria are too broad. If I'd been there, I probably would've ended up helping students from other Houses deal with students from my own House... That's ridiculous."

"Look on the bright side. At least we don't have to change dormitories because of that... We all have different interests, but no conflicts. Isn't that enough?"

"True. We shouldn't ask for too much."

Andrew shook his head. "Come on, let's eat."

The spell's effect was quite astonishing. Everyone got up except Hal, who looked miserable. "Don't rush off, I still have firsthand records of Harry Potter's Quidditch tryout."

"Tell us at the table, at the table."

Everyone began noisily heading toward the dining hall.