"Professor, I can vouch for my words. Since the start of term, Lynn had practiced spells with me by the Black Lake every morning, including today. He never left my sight for a moment. Even when we found McLean, we went over together."
Cedric's testimony carried considerable weight with the professors.
His grades had always ranked first in his year, and he was a typical Hufflepuff—upright, honest, and trustworthy.
At this point, the matter had basically nothing to do with Lynn anymore, and Professor McGonagall allowed them to leave.
However, Lynn deliberately lingered until Michel and the others had gone out. He appeared hesitant, as though he had something to say to the two professors.
"Belloc, is there anything else you want to say?" Professor McGonagall asked, seeing through his intentions.
Lynn said uneasily, "Professor, may I move out of my current dormitory and live alone?"
Snape said nothing, while Professor McGonagall asked instead, "Why?"
"I'm scared." Lynn's eyes were filled with fear. "They may not have succeeded this time, but who knows whether there'll be a next time? I don't dare live with them anymore."
Professor McGonagall did not seem inclined to agree to Lynn's request, and she patiently tried to persuade him.
"Rest assured, Belloc. This is Hogwarts, and there are professors here protecting you. This was only an accident. I guarantee they will never dare do such a thing again."
"But Professor, no one can keep an eye on them every moment."
Lynn's words rendered Professor McGonagall silent. He was right. Even ordinary children's conflicts could potentially lead to death, let alone a group of fearless young wizards.
Still, Professor McGonagall did not want Lynn to live by himself. She felt it would not benefit his growth and would only make him withdrawn and unable to fit in.
"I agree. In a moment, I'll notify the boys' prefect, Raphael, and have him take you to a new dormitory where you'll live alone from now on."
Snape, who had not said a word until then, suddenly agreed to Lynn's request.
Professor McGonagall could not help frowning.
"Severus, this is against the rules. Besides, a student was just attacked. It wouldn't be safe for him to live alone either."
Snape gave Professor McGonagall no explanation and merely said coldly, "He is a student of my House. I have the authority to arrange it."
Lynn looked utterly delighted and bowed to Professor Snape. "Thank you, Professor Snape."
Snape nodded, indicating that he could leave.
Lynn respectfully exited the Deputy Headmistress's office and closed the door behind him.
He walked down the corridor, heading back to the Slytherin common room. Every expression he had put on vanished from his face, leaving behind a smile.
He had actually anticipated the result, including the fact that it would be Professor Snape, rather than Professor McGonagall, who agreed to his request in the end.
From the moment he used that title, he had been laying the groundwork for asking to move out of his current dormitory and live alone.
And all that pitiful acting just now had not been for Professor McGonagall. The only audience Lynn truly needed had been Professor Snape.
Because it could stir Snape's sympathy and remind him of his own school days, when he too had suffered bullying.
Professor McGonagall, who cared about rules, certainly would not agree to his request to live alone. But Professor Snape, who shared the same "experience" as Lynn, might not refuse.
Professor Snape would definitely understand Lynn's current "feelings," and he was famous throughout Hogwarts for being fiercely protective of his own.
Of course, Lynn had not come up with this plan from the start. He had merely seen Professor Snape's frightening expression while Michel described their plan and improvised on the spot.
If it failed, it was merely a performance. But if it succeeded, he would gain enormously.
A dormitory to himself meant greater privacy, a more convenient environment for practicing Dark spells, and a quieter atmosphere for studying.
Now, he had succeeded.
Lynn was in an excellent mood, and he even thanked Hubert in his heart.
If Hubert had not wanted to frame him, he would never have found an excuse to live alone.
It was just a pity that no one knew which greater good Samaritan had attacked that good Samaritan, leaving Lynn unable to personally repay his "kindness."
Back in the dormitory, Lynn began packing his belongings in front of Mark and the others.
The atmosphere among the three of them was somewhat awkward. Their plan to frame him had been exposed before it could even be carried out, leaving Mark and Michel unsure how they should face Lynn.
"What are you doing?" Michel finally could not help asking.
As though he bore them no grudge at all, Lynn answered brightly, "I'm moving to another dormitory. Professor Snape agreed to let me live alone from now on. Well, I have you two to thank for that."
Michel and Mark exchanged a glance. They were clearly quite happy to see Lynn move out, since their conflict had already been laid bare.
Just as Lynn finished packing his things, Raphael, the boys' prefect, came to find him and prepared to take him to his new dormitory.
Before leaving, Lynn warmly bid farewell to his two roommates.
"Goodbye, you two. To thank you for taking care of me these past few days, as well as the care you were planning to give me, I have a gift for both of you before I leave."
Hearing that, Mark stupidly craned his neck forward and asked, "What gift?"
Lynn said nothing. He merely smiled and pointed his wand at him.
"Fiery Rash!" ×2 (A type of jinx that covers a person's body in painful, irritating bumps.)
Lynn's new dormitory was the same size as a normal four-person dormitory.
Everything, including the decor, was identical to before. The only difference was that he now lived there alone.
After putting all his belongings away, he picked up the things he would need for afternoon classes and headed to the Great Hall for lunch.
As soon as Lynn arrived at the Slytherin table, the female prefect Betty sat down beside him with a grave expression.
"Do you know what happened to Hubert this morning?"
"What?" Lynn was very interested. He also wanted to know exactly what had happened to Hubert.
"The Cruciatus Curse! Someone tortured him with the Cruciatus Curse, then erased his memories with an Obliviation Charm!"
Lynn froze, only coming back to himself after a long moment.
"Who said that?"
Betty's expression was serious; she did not look like she was joking.
"Everyone is saying it. Apparently Professor Snape accidentally let it slip, and that's how the news got out."
Lynn's face immediately darkened. His good mood from earlier vanished without a trace.
"Lynn, do you remember what I told you before?"
Betty looked at him as though she meant something more.
Multiple Choice "Master? Do you remember what I told you before?" The big ship looked at his readers as though he meant something more. () A. Vote with recommendation tickets B. Give a reward C. Vote with recommendation tickets + give a reward D. Say you are a pig
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