Hufflepuff's Lucky Star

After hearing Professor McGonagall, Snape's anger eased slightly. He turned to look around and said:

"Hufflepuff, for throwing a party in the Common Room without permission and causing a misunderstanding with another House, Hufflepuff loses twenty points!"

Afterward, Snape turned his gaze to Wentworth. After all, anyone could see that Wentworth was the one behind the whole affair.

Seeing Snape fix his gaze on Wentworth, Professor Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff House, stepped forward.

"Professor Snape, I think Wentworth..."

But before Professor Sprout could finish, Snape cut her off.

"Mr. Wentworth, you seem to be very skilled at using a cauldron. That's excellent—it shows you have talent! I've decided that for the next month, Monday through Friday, you'll come to see me after dinner. I'll give you special lessons in brewing Potions in a cauldron!"

"This isn't a punishment. It's a reward!"

Without waiting for anyone to react, Snape turned and strode out of the Hufflepuff Common Room.

After hearing what Snape had said, Professor Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff House, had been about to plead on Wentworth's behalf, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to say a word.

Once Snape had left, all the Hufflepuff students except Wentworth let out a long sigh of relief. As for losing points? It didn't matter! Hufflepuff hadn't won the House Cup in ages. To Hufflepuff students, the so-called House Cup was nothing more than a big bowl!

Wentworth was the only one thinking that Snape really was a master of turning black into white, just as one would expect of someone who had worked undercover for the Second Generation Dark Lord! It was clearly a punishment, yet Snape had somehow made it sound like a reward, leaving Professor Sprout unable to plead on Wentworth's behalf.

Just then, as Snape left and the other professors were preparing to go, Dumbledore walked in.

Unlike Snape, Dumbledore was held in high regard by every Hufflepuff student.

"Is this thing called hot pot? It certainly smells delicious!"

Dumbledore said with a smile, pointing at the cauldrons in front of the students.

At his words, the Hufflepuff students immediately beamed. One Hufflepuff Prefect hurriedly took out a clean little bowl, filled it to the brim with meat, added some seasoning, and handed it to Dumbledore.

Dumbledore didn't hesitate. He immediately tried some.

"Very good indeed. I never expected such a simple way of cooking could make food this delicious."

A student beside Dumbledore replied:

"Headmaster, it's mainly because Wentworth made such good seasoning!"

Dumbledore nodded slowly. After finishing the whole bowl, he declined the students' offer to get him more food and waved a hand.

"I'm getting old, so I don't eat as much as I used to. Ha ha! Still, Hufflepuff has really surprised me today!"

"I've already learned the full story. When faced with a danger that might be lurking, you didn't run away. Instead, you faced it together, entering the Common Room that you thought might be dangerous. That took tremendous courage. Hufflepuff, ten points!"

There was a moment of silence in the Hufflepuff Common Room. Then it erupted into cheers. Even Professor Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff House, couldn't help applauding them.

When the cheering gradually died down, Dumbledore continued:

"When faced with the possibility of punishment, you didn't try to shift the blame. Instead, you stepped forward and eagerly accepted responsibility. That's a rare quality, one that many adult wizards lack. Hufflepuff, ten more points!"

An even louder cheer rang out. This time, not only Professor Sprout but the other professors as well couldn't help joining in the applause.

Seeing that Dumbledore didn't seem to have finished, the cheers quickly quieted. The Hufflepuff students gazed at him, their faces full of delighted anticipation.

Dumbledore walked over to Wentworth and looked him straight in the eyes.

This was Wentworth's first time face-to-face with Dumbledore, currently the most powerful wizard in the Wizarding World. He fought to contain his excitement and gazed at Dumbledore with adoration... while activating Occlumency.

A moment later, Dumbledore said with a smile:

"Wentworth, thank you for giving an old man such a delicious meal and making an outstanding contribution to the variety of Hogwarts' menu. So, Hufflepuff, five more points!"

Dumbledore's words sent the atmosphere in the Hufflepuff Common Room soaring. Many Hufflepuff students even hugged one another in excitement.

There was a good reason for their excitement. It was the first day of term, and it was also the weekend, so none of the students had attended classes yet. None of the four Houses had earned any points.

Snape had just taken twenty points from Hufflepuff, putting it in last place. But with Dumbledore adding twenty-five points, Hufflepuff had become the top House out of the four!

Coke said tearfully, "Five years. Five whole years. At long last, Hufflepuff has taken the lead over the other three Houses for the first time since I became Prefect! Even if it's only for one day, I'm still incredibly proud!"

Coke's words made Wentworth think more highly of him. In Wentworth's mind, Coke had become a strong candidate for future Minister of Magic in the British Ministry of Magic!

Perhaps sensing Wentworth's gaze, Coke looked over at him too. Then he threw his arms around Wentworth and said:

"Wentworth, you really are Hufflepuff's lucky star!"

As he spoke, Coke winked at Cedric. The two of them lifted Wentworth up and tossed him into the air. More and more Hufflepuff students joined in, and Wentworth's startled cries rang throughout the Hufflepuff Common Room.

Watching the scene, Ilona finally couldn't help showing a proud smile.

This was the future leader of the Acolytes, the one who would conquer Hogwarts. How long would it take him to win over a House? Wentworth's answer was: one meal!

Suddenly, Ilona thought that perhaps joining Hufflepuff had also been part of Wentworth's plan.

Hufflepuff students might not come from families as illustrious as those of Slytherin, nor earn grades as high as those of Ravenclaw, but Hufflepuff was the largest House at Hogwarts.

Wizards who came out of Hufflepuff would spread into every corner of the Wizarding World. They were its foundation for the future.

With that thought, Ilona looked at Wentworth with even greater admiration.