Losing Big Points

The next morning, Hermione was slowly chewing bread, with Bing Huan, who had just finished his morning training, beside her. "My taste buds seem to have been spoiled by you," Hermione whispered into Bing Huan's ear.

"Then how about... I discuss it with Auntie, and I'll make dinner tonight?"

Hermione glanced at Mrs. Granger and found that she wasn't paying attention to them, so she excitedly nodded. In the afternoon, as the two adults were about to go out to buy groceries, they were stopped.

"Mom and Dad, you've worked hard all year. Let us handle tonight's Christmas dinner!" Hermione pulled Bing Huan and stood in front of the two adults.

"Hermione, you can cook now?" Mrs. Granger marveled at her daughter's growth. Hermione touched her nose, "I... I'll help out."

"Little Huan is a guest, how can we let him cook."

"It's okay, Auntie, I quite like cooking." After half an hour of persuasion, the position of head chef finally fell into Bing Huan's hands.

"Do you really not need my help, dear?" Mrs. Granger asked, standing at the kitchen door, seemingly unaccustomed to suddenly having free time. "Actually, there is. Please wait for me a moment." Bing Huan, who had originally planned to politely refuse, suddenly remembered that the main course for the evening hadn't been decided yet, which was a good opportunity to involve everyone.

A while later, Bing Huan arrived at the dining table with a large piece of dough and a basin of filling. He called everyone over and demonstrated how to cut small portions, roll them into dumpling wrappers, and a few conventional ways of wrapping them. "These are called chiaotzu, a staple food from Huaxia. During gatherings, families would wrap chiaotzu together. Of course, if you have your own ideas, you can do it your way; it doesn't have to be the same as my demonstration."

After speaking, Bing Huan returned to the kitchen to handle the large goose. He stir-fried sugar until caramelized, then added the goose, which had been cut into pieces and blanched. He added scallions, ginger, dried chilies, doubanjiang, and light soy sauce, and finally, a splash of wine "borrowed" from Martial Uncle, before adding water and seasonings to stew it. Beside it were cut potatoes, green and red peppers, and mixed cornmeal. When it was almost ready, he would roll them into cakes and place them on top.

Returning to the counter, Bing Huan took out a chicken that had almost condensed its demon core (in life). After preparing it, he took out some medicinal herbs that could neutralize the spiritual energy in the meat without affecting the taste and stuffed them into the chicken's belly. He added a little seasoning for the base flavor and then cooked it in a clay pot.

After finishing all this, Bing Huan was troubled in the kitchen. The quantity was certainly enough, after all, it wasn't just any goose; it was a full twenty-pound goose. But two dishes felt a bit insufficient.

"I've got it." Bing Huan took a few pears and red dates, cored and chopped them, then added the chopped white fungus and rock sugar to make a sweet soup. He took out a watermelon and cut it into a fruit platter.

As the cooking progressed, the aroma gradually wafted out of the kitchen. "No wonder you didn't let me cook. So, my baby thinks Mom's cooking isn't good enough anymore."

Hearing this, Hermione's face turned red, and she hugged her mother, acting spoiled. "No way~! Mom's cooking is the best."

Meanwhile, Harry received the invisibility cloak left by his father. After overhearing a conversation between Snape and Quirrell, he accidentally entered the room where the Mirror of Erised was kept and saw his parents for the first time. The next day, Ron was also called over. However, Ron saw himself holding the Quidditch Cup, having become a Gryffindor prefect.

Upon learning that the mirror did not predict the future, Ron keenly sensed that something was wrong with it. Especially when Harry started neglecting his meals because of it, Ron directly advised Harry not to think about the mirror anymore. At this time, Harry was still immersed in his longing for his parents and couldn't listen.

Finally, tonight, Dumbledore gave him his first lesson. "You've come after all, Harry." Harry stiffly turned around and saw Dumbledore smiling behind him. "The Mirror of Erised shows us our deepest, most urgent desires, but it does not teach us knowledge, nor does it help us face reality. Many people waste their time in front of it, indulging in the illusions the mirror brings, even going mad for it."

Dumbledore hoped Harry could move past it. Although Harry didn't fully understand, he was sure the old man in front of him meant well. He obediently put on the invisibility cloak and went back to sleep. The invisibility cloak remained under his bed until the end of the holiday.

The day before school started, Hermione returned with Bing Huan. Hermione immediately told Harry about Nicolas Flamel and the Philosopher's Stone. That evening, the four of them went to Hagrid's hut. Hagrid was about to refuse visitors when Harry blurted out, "We know about the Philosopher's Stone."

Hagrid let them into the hut and said helplessly, "Are you still suspicious of Snape? I can tell you that Snape is one of the teachers guarding the Philosopher's Stone, so he wouldn't steal it."

"One of them? So there are other teachers?" Hermione asked, sitting on the sofa. "Of course," Hagrid raised his eyebrows. "Although I don't think it's necessary, no one except Dumbledore and I knows how to handle Fluffy."

The fireplace beside them suddenly made a noise. The four of them peeked and saw Hagrid walking over with a burnt, black egg. "Hagrid, this isn't a dragon egg, is it? Where did you get it?"

"I won it. Little Huan, do you like dragons too?" The movement inside the egg grew louder, and Hagrid seemed very happy, completely forgetting that it was illegal.

Bing Huan frowned. The trade of fire dragons was prohibited. How could smugglers gamble with contraband, and in a legitimate place that Hagrid would frequent?

Soon, a deep crack appeared on the eggshell. But with a piercing scraping sound, the egg finally cracked open, revealing the little dragon inside. Although Bing Huan thought it looked more like a lizard. Hagrid was interacting with the little fire dragon when he suddenly caught sight of a figure moving outside. "Who's there?"

The door was pushed open, revealing the familiar blond head.

"Draco? What are you doing here?"

"Of course, to see if you're up to no good," Draco said with feigned seriousness, hands on his hips.

"Tch." (The Savior rolled his eyes.)

"Damn it, Potter!"

Draco had loved dragons since he was young, though under Lucius's strict upbringing, he never had the chance to interact with them personally. Today, he had just wanted to see what fun mischief Potter and the others were up to, but when he saw the little dragon hatching from the window, he couldn't move.

For the next few minutes, Draco and Hagrid were busy playing with Norbert, the name Hagrid had just given him. "Hagrid, I know you're happy, but how do you plan to raise it? I read in a book that Norwegian Ridgebacks grow very quickly, and your hut won't be big enough soon," Hermione said with a frown.

"I'll hide him."

Hagrid was about to explain, but Bing Huan interrupted him. "How will you hide him? He doesn't even need to be fully grown; in less than a month, he'll be able to give you a few nips. Don't tell me you plan to stuff a fire dragon into the Forbidden Forest and let him grow. Besides, the Forbidden Forest is only off-limits to students by school rules. Adult wizards like George and Fred sometimes sneak in. Do you expect everyone to be a dragon slayer?"

"I..."

"If he's discovered, killing Norbert would be considered light punishment. At worst, he'd be sold directly to Gringotts to be raised as a treasure vault guard dog, with no freedom for the rest of his life. You wouldn't want that, would you?"

"But... he's still so small. I mean, at least we need to find a suitable place for him." Despite his reluctance, Hagrid understood that he had no choice now.

"Aren't the Weasley brothers working at the dragon reserve?" Draco interjected. "Right! Charlie!" After some discussion, Ron wrote a letter to his brother in Romania that night, asking him to take care of Norbert.

The reply took a week to arrive. Charlie said it wasn't practical to send him directly, but his friend could pick him up first and then transfer him to Romania. They agreed to meet at midnight on Saturday at the highest tower for the handover.

Saturday night was unusually dark, a good time for mischief. Bing Huan, with the four people who insisted on coming along and Norbert, teleported to the top of the tower. At the farewell, Draco wanted to hug Norbert, but almost got bitten.

Since Draco had to return to the Slytherin dormitory, they could only teleport them to the staircase. Bing Huan went to the Headmaster's Office alone. "Old Dumbledore, what do you need me for in the middle of the night?"

Dumbledore poured Bing Huan a glass of milk and motioned for him to sit down. "It's a small request. You should know that we've set up several challenges to protect the Philosopher's Stone. In fact, the first few challenges were prepared for Harry and the others. I hope you'll go easy on them when the time comes, so they can get some practice."

"Then why don't you just not let me go?" Bing Huan asked, confused. Dumbledore shook his head. "The opponent is Voldemort, after all. Even though he's just a wandering spirit now, by that day, I suspect I'll be kept away, and Grindelwald won't be able to intervene easily. Besides, you wouldn't want the news of sending away a dragon today to get out, would you?"

"...Fine. But I can't just work without getting anything, can I? Harry has been given the title of the Chosen One by you, but my Hermione hasn't."

"Your Hermione?"

"Never mind!"

Dumbledore glanced teasingly at Bing Huan. "Youth is a wonderful thing. In that case, I promise you that students who make outstanding contributions to Hogwarts will definitely receive the House Cup."

"But we're already in first place."

"Not necessarily." Dumbledore handed over a handwritten note. "Mr. Filch, please escort these four students to Mr. Bing Huan. He and Hagrid will lead them into the Forbidden Forest."

"This wasn't planned by you again, was it?"

Dumbledore shook his head. "I don't have the ability to plan for the mark you were going to use and have the professors waiting in advance. Earlier, a Gryffindor student fell and got injured. When Professor McGonagall was taking her back, you happened to be bringing them back. Professor McGonagall ran into you; you don't need me to remind you of the consequences."

Bing Huan gave a wry smile. "How many times has she helped us out?"

"Gryffindor lost 150 points, and Slytherin lost 50 points."

Bing Huan (ノへ￣,) felt like he was going to have a stroke.