Gryffindor common room.
The fire crackled in the fireplace, but it couldn't dispel the heavy atmosphere.
Students gathered in small groups, discussing the shocking events of the evening in hushed voices.
"Merlin's beard," George Weasley said in an extremely low voice, "I've never seen anything like this at Hogwarts..."
"A professor pointed his wand at the headmaster?" Dean Thomas chimed in. "This is definitely going down in Hogwarts history."
In a corner, Harry gently nudged Hermione's elbow. "Are you all right?"
"Me? I'm fine..." Hermione answered distractedly, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of her book.
Ron poured her a large glass of Butterbeer from a crystal bottle. "Don't take it to heart. That Malfoy bloke has to serve detention for a month!"
"Mm, I'm fine..." Hermione stared at the liquid in her cup, then suddenly asked, "Do you think... Professor Greengrass will be expelled?"
"Absolutely not!" Ron blurted out, then nervously looked around and lowered his voice to a whisper. "I mean... Dumbledore, he... sometimes..."
His voice grew quieter and quieter.
Harry picked up the thread. "We all know Dumbledore is a great wizard, but if he'd really been watching Malfoy's behavior all along, then he should've stepped in. He's the headmaster. That's what he should do, isn't it?"
"You're right..." Ron nodded in agreement. "He didn't do that, so he apologized to Hermione and made a promise..."
"I'm still worried about Professor Greengrass..." Hermione frowned at the dancing flames in the fireplace. "What if he gets expelled? After all, he snapped Snape's wand..."
Curled up in an armchair, Ron added quietly, "Snape brought it on himself. I bet that old bat is absolutely furious right now..."
"Didn't you say Professor Greengrass used to teach at Ilvermorny?" Harry suddenly said. "He's so talented. Hogwarts won't expel him so easily!"