After they left the Hufflepuff Common Room.
Professor Sprout looked relaxed.
Clearly, unpleasant moods could be transferred.
The gloom that had been on Snape's and Sprout's faces had transferred to Professors McGonagall and Flitwick.
When they passed the Great Hall.
The students fell silent, not daring to speak loudly.
Once the five professors had left again.
The Slytherin table erupted.
Then several Slytherins could be seen strolling beside the Ravenclaw and Gryffindor tables, smiling with their heads held high.
"Well, I never. I really never expected this. I thought the intruder would turn out to be one of us Slytherins."
"Tsk, tsk. Neither did I. Of course, I suspect those reckless lions more than the Ravenclaws."
"Offending the Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts? They'll probably be expelled."
"I hope so. That sort of behavior is a disgrace to wizards."
Had the professors present not stopped them in time.
Slytherin would have ended up fighting both houses on the spot.
Hufflepuff?
They watched the show.
Normally, they might have helped Gryffindor.
But this involved their respected former schoolmate, Professor Holmes. Until things were clear, they naturally sided with the professor.
Only Percy and Penelope looked worried.
If their guess really was right,
whether this person turned up in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw.
It would be something none of them could accept.
Soon, thanks to Headmaster Dumbledore's privileges.
They bypassed all the winding staircases and took the shortest route straight to Ravenclaw Tower.
There was an old, gleaming wooden door here, with a bronze eagle-shaped knocker hanging on it. To enter, they first had to answer a riddle.
"We use numbers every day, but think carefully: what exactly are they?"
Before Professor Flitwick could answer,
Professor McGonagall answered casually:
"Symbols that allow us to understand some of the essence of magic."