The Special Award for Services and the House Cup

Mia recovered at just the right time, exactly one week before final exams.

Harry and Ron were still cramming desperately, and Hermione was a little anxious about the upcoming exams. Mia alone was reading at her leisure after catching up on her homework.

After all, as a top student who had finished the entire year's coursework long ago, she could handle final exams with ease.

"Help me, Lady Mia!" Ron was on the verge of breaking down from memorizing his lessons. He could already imagine how badly he would be mocked if he failed.

"Mia, help me!" Harry couldn't go on memorizing either. He had spent all his History of Magic classes sleeping.

"Harry, didn't you swear before that you'd study hard and protect Mia?" Hermione reminded him out of the blue.

Harry stiffened and hung his head.

"All right, all right, I'll predict some questions for you. Happy?" Seeing how pitiful Harry looked, Mia relented.

Final exams arrived as scheduled.

The written exams came first.

During the History of Magic exam, Ron and Harry scratched their heads over the familiar questions. The answers were on the tips of their tongues, but they just couldn't remember them.

The good news: Mia had predicted the questions. The bad news: they had forgotten the answers.

In the exams that followed, the questions Mia had predicted were also more or less on target.

Outside the exam room, Ron thanked the study god profusely.

Then came the practical exams.

For Charms, they had to make a pineapple tap-dance across a desk. For Transfiguration, they had to turn a mouse into a snuffbox. For Potions, they had to make a Forgetfulness Potion.

When the results came out, Mia placed first in the entire school with perfect marks in every subject, with Hermione close behind.

She earned another wave of admiration. The little snakes greatly admired strength: Mia had first defeated Quirrell as a first-year, then taken first place in her year. After writing home, everyone couldn't help turning their attention to Mia.

"Thank you so much, Mia, Hermione! I actually passed everything!" Ron said, holding his report card. He was already imagining how his family would reward him.

Harry's results were good too; he had earned Es in almost everything.

After the nerve-racking final exams, it was time for the end-of-year feast.

The Great Hall was decorated with drapes in Gryffindor's red and gold, and lions were painted on the banners. Gryffindor had won the Quidditch Cup that year, so it was no surprise that they had won the House Cup.

Slytherin had come second by a very narrow margin, and the little snakes were downcast at losing the House Cup after winning it seven years in a row.

In particular, the Prefect and Quidditch captain Flint hung his head in frustration. Draco's expression was especially ugly because they had lost to Gryffindor, and Snape wore a sullen face as well.

The Gryffindors next to them, however, were laughing and cheering, and began taunting Slytherin. "After all, we have the Chosen One, and we won the Quidditch Cup!"

The members of the Slytherin Quidditch Team looked even worse and wanted nothing more than to rush over and punch them.

The little badgers and little eagles were caught in the middle and didn't dare speak. They didn't care who won, as long as it wasn't Slytherin.

Just as they were about to come to blows, Dumbledore finally spoke.

"Another year has passed. If I remember correctly, it is now time to award the House Cup. The scores are as follows: in fourth place, Hufflepuff, 352 points; in third place, Ravenclaw, 426 points; in second place, Slytherin, 472 points; and in first place, Gryffindor, 483 points."

Thunderous cheers and applause erupted at the Gryffindor table, and the students couldn't help hugging one another as they cheered.

"Stupid lions," Daphne scoffed.

"Rude and barbaric," Blaise added sarcastically.

"To think people like that beat our noble Slytherin," Pansy said, venting her frustration as she saw Draco's sour expression.

"It's not fair! Mia defeated Quirrell, and he was a dark wizard!" Although Draco didn't want to bring up Mia's injury again, he couldn't stand having her contribution overlooked.

Everyone heard him, and the Slytherins realized it too. They couldn't help slamming their hands on the table, and the unusually synchronized sound drew everyone's attention.

Mia felt a little awkward under the little snakes' expectant gazes, but she wasn't someone who liked losing either. So she looked at Dumbledore, trusting him to give a satisfactory answer.

"Quiet, please, children," Dumbledore said. The Slytherins stopped and waited to see what would happen.

"I have two important honors and points to announce."

"First, Mia Potter of Slytherin, brave and clever, fought heroically against a dark wizard and protected her companions. For her courage and bravery, I award her fifty points!"

"The new score calls for new decorations. We need to make a few changes here."

Everyone couldn't help applauding Mia, and the decorations in the Great Hall turned silver and green by magic. Although they had lost the House Cup, the Gryffindor students still applauded Mia. She had earned those points.

The Slytherin students clapped until their hands nearly wore out. Their faces were red with laughter as they stood and cheered, having completely forgotten that just a few minutes earlier, they had mocked the Gryffindors for being rude.

Across the crowd, Mia and Harry met each other's eyes, and both pairs of similar eyes crinkled with smiles. Harry was full of pride, and beside him were the cheering twins, Ron, and Hermione. As your friend, even though I didn't win an award, I'm still happy and proud for you.

Draco and Blaise clapped excitedly around Mia, while Theodore's eyes were full of smiles as he applauded softly.

Cedric raised his glass from afar, and Mia raised the drink beside her in return.

Pride also shone in the eyes of Snape and Professor McGonagall as they watched Mia.

"Quiet, please. There is one more award."

Everyone looked curiously at Dumbledore.

"I would like to give special recognition to Mia Potter of Slytherin, who repeatedly thwarted Quirrell and prevented further losses to the school. For this, we will present her with the Special Award for Services to the School!" Mia remembered the unicorn she had saved a few months ago and looked at Dumbledore in surprise.

Heroes shouldn't be buried, should they? Dumbledore gave Mia a sly wink.

Earth-shaking cheers rang out in the Great Hall once again, and Mia couldn't help laughing. She was genuinely worried about the students' throats tomorrow.