The Whereabouts of Breeze

Hermione stood up straight; she wasn't injured, merely sobbing quietly.

"I'm sorry, I thought I could handle the troll. I'd read about them in books and knew a lot about them..."

Hermione was lying. She didn't want to reveal the truth, as it would get Ron and Harry punished. She didn't want that, for she had come to see them as good people after they had come to save her.

"If it weren't for Harry and Ron, I might be dead. Please punish me instead; they are innocent. Also, Brie, I'm very worried about him right now. You must go find him quickly."

"That is not for you to worry about right now." McGonagall frowned upon hearing this. Although she didn't entirely believe Hermione, Brie's safety was also important... well, perhaps she trusted in Brie's ability to avoid trouble, but he still needed to be found.

"Professor Snape," McGonagall said to Snape, "Breeze Order is a student in your House. I have to deal with these disobedient children now; could you return to Slytherin and check? Perhaps he has already returned, and if not, please search for him."

"Hmph." Snape nodded. While he wasn't particularly fond of the little one who had talent but disliked Potions, he couldn't simply ignore him; he was, after all, a little snake of Slytherin.

Snape cast a cold glance at Quirrell before striding out of the washroom. He had suspected Quirrell of causing today's events all along, yet Dumbledore continued to let it slide.

After Snape left, McGonagall scanned the group and mused, "If that is truly the case... you silly child, how could you think you could face a mountain-sized troll all by yourself?"

"Thirty points from Gryffindor."

"I hope my trust is well-placed, so I will spare you detention for now."

Hermione pursed her lips and remained silent, silently accepting the punishment.

McGonagall then looked at the uneasy Harry and Ron, as well as the obedient Cedric.

"Ten points to each of you. Now, return to your common rooms; I must pay Dumbledore a visit."

"The matter of the troll is left to you, Professor Quirrell."

"Oh, ye-yes, Professor McGonagall, I can, I can handle it."

While matters concluded on McGonagall's side, a major problem had emerged in Slytherin.

"Now, who can tell me if they know where Breeze Order is?"

"Prefects, go out and bring him back. I will punish him."

The Prefects looked at one another. How could they find Brie? They all knew exactly why he wasn't in the common room, and it seemed the matter could no longer be hidden.

Malfoy said nothing. He knew Brie might be at The Owlery, but he wasn't stupid; there was no benefit to speaking up, only trouble.

There were no first-year Prefects, so it wasn't his business.

"Hmm?" Snape narrowed his eyes, sweeping a cold, narrow gaze over the face of every Prefect before finally settling on Malfoy.

"Speak. What happened?"

Malfoy had been singled out. He sighed inwardly; he dared not defy Snape. His father had already agreed to buy him a new broom, but getting a new set for the House would have to wait until next year, depending on his grades.

Malfoy recounted the whole story: how the lower-year Prefects had targeted Brie, thrown his belongings out of the dormitory, and how Brie had fought back. He didn't embellish the facts; he wasn't Brie's enemy.

Not far away, Millicent felt conflicted. After a moment of internal struggle, she gathered her courage and said, "Professor Snape, Breeze Order is the victim. He has been bullied by some who say he is a Muggle-born and unworthy of Slytherin... yet Brie has always earned points for the House, even when he was forced out of the common room."

"Oh?"

Snape looked at Millicent. The other Prefects glanced at her, seemingly surprised she would speak up for Brie, but at this point, it didn't matter; no one could change Snape's mind.

"Muggle-born?" Snape frowned deeply, then suddenly laughed.

"Do you truly believe he is a Muggle-born?" Snape stared into the eyes of every Prefect, seeing their hesitation and guilt. "It seems you have reached a conclusion, yet you chose the wrong path. Fools!"

"Slytherin has produced such a farce, and I, as Head of House, have been kept in the dark. Very well..."

The temperature in the room plummeted, and even Malfoy couldn't help but shiver.

Snape was furious!

"It is a waste that you have eyes! Have you never bothered to look at the books in your own homes!"

The soft purple glow on Brie's black hair was nearly overflowing, and his pure black eyes were known to many, yet these young wizards still didn't understand.

"You should have asked the adults at home whether a wizard with immense magic would exhibit strange phenomena. Oh, no, some of your adults are fools as well."

"Let me tell you grass-heads: any anomaly in the magical world must be treated with caution. Perhaps few have seen it, but when Breeze Order arrived at the school, several learned professors understood that he possessed powerful magical aptitude. Such magic can only be possessed by the descendant of two powerful wizards."

"Muggle-born? That label should be reserved for yourselves!"

"Stay here until I find Breeze Order!"

Snape turned and left the common room, heading straight for Dumbledore's office. McGonagall and Professor Sprout were already there. Snape had no intention of shielding anyone and told them exactly what had happened to Brie.

"Oh, the poor child!"

Professor Sprout looked pained and worried. "I don't know how little Oude has survived this past month. He often came to the greenhouses to help me tend the plants; he is such a kind child. I never saw that he was facing such bullying in his House."

Professor McGonagall clenched her fists.

"This is simply unbelievable. Such a thing has never happened at Hogwarts. Oude should not be treated this way!"

Dumbledore frowned upon hearing this, more concerned with Brie's inner state.

"I will not shield Slytherin, but Breeze Order has always worked hard to earn points for them. I believe I have other ways to deal with them."

Hearing this, McGonagall set aside her desire to deduct points. She couldn't destroy Brie's efforts over such a matter; it wouldn't be fair. Deducting points wasn't the goal, but rather a way to manage students better.

"Dumbledore, I think we could set a precedent—perhaps a transfer of Houses!"

Professor McGonagall looked at Dumbledore with burning eyes. Since Slytherin didn't welcome Brie, he was fully qualified to transfer. In her view, Brie was completely different from the rest of Slytherin; while he had his own little schemes, he wasn't mercenary. He maintained a special kind of kindness.

"Yes, I agree with Professor McGonagall. Breeze Order is perfectly suited for Hufflepuff. All the Badgers love him, and so do the house-elves; he is a frequent visitor to the kitchens, and he is quite fond of plants as well."

McGonagall glared sharply at Sprout, who was chattering away to Dumbledore about how Brie was just like a Badger. Since when had she ever said Brie was suited for Hufflepuff!

McGonagall racked her brains and countered, "I think Mr. Oude is also suited for Gryffindor. He... he possesses the courage to stand up to authority, even leaving the common room to face school life on his own."

Snape remained silent upon hearing the two Heads of House, choosing instead to look at Dumbledore.

Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling as he said, "Oh, let us not get so worked up. Every child possesses their own unique character, not just one single trait. Besides, Breeze Order's passion for learning is what he is most famous for..."

Dumbledore's gaze flickered as he looked at the two suddenly stunned professors.

"Ahem, of course... but I was sorted into Gryffindor myself back in the day, and Brie's love for learning is not a reason to choose Ravenclaw." When Professor McGonagall was sorted, she had sat on the stool for several minutes because the Sorting Hat had been indecisive about whether she belonged in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw.

"Indeed, every house has those who love to learn; Cedric is the top of his year, after all," Sprout couldn't help but add.

At this moment, Snape drawled in his cold, indifferent tone, "I believe that as Breeze Order's 'current' Head of House, I am entitled to say a few words."

Dumbledore replied, "Of course, Severus, you have that right."

"The primary issue right now is finding Breeze Order. As for the matter of his sorting, that has been the responsibility of the Sorting Hat for a thousand years."

Snape's words were blunt; he meant that since the Sorting Hat had placed Brie in Slytherin, he must possess the qualities required by Slytherin—whether it be his personality or something else, there was bound to be a reason.

"Certainly." Dumbledore looked toward the portraits hanging on the walls of the Headmaster's office. These were the legacies of past headmasters, existing as soul-consciousnesses that could live within their frames.

"Can anyone tell me where Breeze Order has gone? The boy whom Fawkes was so fond of earlier."

In Hogwarts, no one knew more than the portraits, especially when it came to gossip.

"Oh, I shall have to ask the other portraits," a kind lady in one of the frames said. "I believe the Fat Lady might know."

"Oh, very well, please bring her here, Dilys," Dumbledore said with a smile. Many people knew that the Fat Lady on the door of the Gryffindor common room was the portrait who loved gossip the most.

Soon, the Fat Lady arrived in the frame belonging to Headmistress Dilys Derwent. Her plump figure left no room for Dilys to show her face, forcing Dilys to squeeze into a neighboring portrait to listen.

"Oh, this is my first time here," the Fat Lady said, looking around carefully. "Is there something you need, Headmaster Dumbledore?"

"Oh, please, tell us what you know about Breeze Order. We are looking for him—the Slytherin with black hair and pitch-black eyes. I believe you should know him."

"Of... of course. That boy even threatened some of the other portraits. Hahaha, a very interesting child." The Fat Lady spoke in a comical tone, "Don't tell anyone about my business, or I'll burn you all!"

"He said that over a month ago, when the term had only been open for a week. His eyes looked a bit red at the time; I don't know if he had been bullied."

"We later discovered he was actually a decent child, though he spent a bit too much time with those twins. Otherwise, he wouldn't have used such methods to scare the portraits."

Clearly, the Fat Lady still held some grievances regarding the twins.

Dumbledore smiled and said, "Oh, of course. However, we need to know where he is now. All other anecdotes are the secrets of the Wizards, and we have no intention of prying."

"Oh, I see. I remember the Flower Seller saying she often saw him on the east side of the eighth floor, both in the morning and at night."