Adding Points Like They Were Free

Muya stood with her hands on her hips. "Old Mischief-Maker, is this your meticulous plan?"

Harry was utterly bewildered. He could not understand what Muya was talking about. He looked at Dumbledore, then at Muya.

At the door, Hermione and Ron spotted the three of them. "How are you?"

Harry and Muya turned in a circle to show them that they were fine.

"Ahem."

"Oh, Ya Mu, no need to remind me again. Come see me tomorrow morning, and I'll tell you what you want to know." Dumbledore smiled at Muya and ushered all four of them out of the room.

"Now, it's time for bed."

Back in the dormitory, Harry tossed and turned in bed, Quirrell's words repeating in his mind.

Snape had never intended to harm him, but why?

Snape had always targeted him.

And what did Muya mean by Dumbledore's plan?

Could Dumbledore have known Voldemort would return and made preparations in advance?

As Harry thought, his eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

"Fizzing Whizbees." After breakfast, Muya arrived at the Headmaster's office. When the door opened, she saw that Harry and the others were already there.

"Good morning, everyone!" Muya waved at them, then casually found a place to sit.

Dumbledore began explaining his plan.

When he had finished, Muya could not help speaking up. "But Harry is only an eleven-year-old student. How could you let him face Voldemort alone?"

"To cement his reputation as The Savior?"

As soon as Muya said that, Dumbledore fell silent for a moment, because that had indeed been his intention.

Hermione and Ron also looked at Dumbledore with some disapproval. Although they wanted Harry to truly earn the title of The Savior, they did not want him to get hurt.

Dumbledore nodded. "You're right, child. That was what I originally intended."

"Originally?" they asked in confusion.

But Muya quickly figured it out. "Because I accidentally became part of the plan?"

Muya looked at Dumbledore. The smile on his face seemed never to have faded.

"That's right. You and Harry drove away the weakened Voldemort after his return, but according to the prophecy, only Harry can defeat Voldemort."

Under Dumbledore's gaze, Harry nervously swallowed. He was stunned to hear that only he could defeat Voldemort.

Harry asked several questions he wanted answered, such as why Snape had saved him while constantly making things difficult for him.

By the time they finished talking, it was almost time for the year-end feast.

Muya had nearly fallen asleep listening.

They hurried to the Great Hall and returned to their respective houses.

Muya saw the current house scores: Slytherin was first, Ravenclaw second, Hufflepuff third, and Gryffindor fourth.

Somehow, news of their battle with Quirrell and Voldemort last night had spread. Now, every student in the school knew about it.

That morning, Shalian and the others had already given her a thorough scolding. Thankfully, Cedric had rescued her, which was why she had arrived at the Headmaster's office a little later than Harry and the others.

"Junior Ya Mu, can I invite you to my house during the summer holiday?" Sean asked with a smile.

"Sure." Muya agreed.

The Great Hall was decorated in Slytherin green and silver. Muya looked toward the Slytherin table, where Draco was gazing proudly at the enormous banner hanging on the wall behind the high table.

Theodore happened to meet her eyes. She smiled at him, while Blaise was talking to Draco.

At that moment, Dumbledore rose at the high table. "Another year has passed. You have all made it through this wonderful year, and your minds are now filled with abundant knowledge."

He continued enthusiastically, announcing the scores of each house. Cheers erupted from the Slytherin side.

"Yes, well done, Slytherin," Dumbledore said.

"However, several recent events should also be taken into account." As soon as he said that, the Slytherins fell silent. Muya raised an eyebrow. Was there going to be a twist?

"Mr. Ron Weasley, for winning an exceptional game of chess, I award Gryffindor fifty points!"

Ron's face turned bright red with excitement, and Gryffindor began cheering wildly. Muya even heard Percy shout, "That's my brother, my youngest brother! How did you know he made it through Professor McGonagall's giant chessboard?"

Muya did not know whether to laugh or cry. Percy usually seemed so composed; she had not expected him to have this side to him.

She guessed Hermione would be next.

Sure enough. "Second, Miss Hermione Granger, for calmly reasoning her way through blazing fire, I award Gryffindor fifty points!"

"Finally, Mr. Harry Potter and Miss Ya Mu. In the face of their enemy, they displayed fearless courage and calm composure. I award one hundred points each to Gryffindor and Hufflepuff!"

After hearing that, Muya awkwardly stared at the villa by her feet. Why were points being added like they were free?

The next second, Dumbledore waved his hand, and all the Slytherin decorations transformed into Gryffindor ones. Gryffindor descended into chaos, while the atmosphere among Slytherin was heavy.

Snape's face darkened. Muya thought he looked as though he had downed several bottles of his own potions.

The rankings were now Gryffindor first, Slytherin second, Hufflepuff third, and Ravenclaw fourth.

On the Hufflepuff side, Muya's friends clinked their cups against hers and asked her to tell them exactly what had happened last night.

After dinner, Muya and Shalian walked down the corridor with the others, preparing to return to the common room, when Cedric's voice suddenly came from behind them.

"Ya Mu, sorry, do you have a moment? I'd like to talk with you alone." He walked over, his expression as gentle as ever.

Muya nodded and let the three of them go back first.

"Cedric, what did you want to talk about?"

Cedric seemed a little nervous. His Adam's apple bobbed, looking rather sexy. "Ya Mu, may I call you Ya Ya? You can call me Ced too."

For some reason, Muya felt a little nervous as well, though she kept her expression calm. "Sure." They were friends, after all. Little nicknames were perfectly normal.

"Then, Ya Ya, I know I'll miss you during the summer holiday, so could you send me a few letters?" His clear eyes were beautiful, and Muya was momentarily transfixed.

When he received no answer, Cedric thought Muya was refusing him. He lowered his head slightly. "It's fine if you don't want to."

Muya came back to herself and hugged Cedric, patting his back. "I'll write to you, Ced."

After Muya said goodbye to Cedric, Vester unexpectedly appeared as well. He had come out of the common room, holding a book whose title Muya could not understand.