The final exams arrived faster than Charlie had imagined.
Before they knew it, June was here.
Hogwarts students, pale-faced, scurried around with textbooks.
The library was packed, every corner seat taken, so latecomers could only study in the Great Hall.
Hermione spent every day in the library, wishing she could cram all the books into her brain.
Charlie found it quite strange; with Hermione's personality, it was unlikely she would only start revising at the last minute. Could something have delayed her?
How odd, but it probably has nothing to do with me, right?
Ron sat in the Great Hall, looking at his thick notebook with a worried expression.
"Oh my God, what did I even learn this semester?" He flipped through the notes Hermione lent him, his head aching.
"Why is there so much to memorize for Potions?"
Charlie sat beside him, holding a History of Magic Class textbook.
The book was open, but his eyes were already closed.
His breathing was even; he was sound asleep.
Ron glanced at him and rolled his eyes.
"You're certainly relaxed."
Hermione returned from the library and, seeing Charlie sleeping so soundly, was furious.
She was so angry; she was slaving away on her essays, and after finishing them, she still had to study for the final exams, while Charlie was here, snoring away.
She walked over, raised her hand, and slapped it down on Charlie's book.
Charlie opened his eyes, his gaze hazy.
"What?"
Hermione stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at him.
"Exams are almost here, and you can still sleep?"
Charlie yawned.
"Why wouldn't I be able to sleep?"
Hermione was so annoyed her teeth ached, but there was nothing she could do; he had good grades.
On the day of the exams, Charlie was his usual self.
He passed all the main courses perfectly, and the Professors gave him full marks without hesitation.
Even Professor Snape couldn't find fault with the Potion Charlie brewed.
Even in History of Magic, Charlie performed steadily, keeping his exam paper clean and tidy, not letting his handwriting smudge the pristine sheet.
A week after the exams, the entire Hogwarts seemed to explode.
Students, who had been tormented by the final exams, collectively entered a mode of retaliatory revelry.
The corridors were filled with students chasing and playing, laughter echoed in the Great Hall, and even the library became a sanctuary for young couples on dates.
When two people started talking, they became intense, lost in the moment, their bodies drawing closer, their voices growing louder.
Madam Pince's face turned green with anger, and she went around shooing people away with her feather duster.
Filch, even more bitter and resentful, swept the messy corridors with his broom; people's joy was not his, he only found them noisy.
"Don't let me catch who it is, or you'll be in for it!"
Madam Norris squatted at his feet, wagging her tail, as if comforting him.
Professor Sprout had successfully cultivated the Mandrake, and Professor Snape immediately prepared the petrification antidote, which is how Madam Norris was finally de-petrified.
Filch sighed and continued to mop the floor.
Before they knew it, it was time for the end-of-year feast.
That evening, the Great Hall was brightly decorated.
The four long tables were laden with sumptuous food.
Students sat at their respective long tables, their faces full of anticipation.
Huge banners, embroidered with the Slytherin crest, hung on the walls of the Great Hall.
Green and silver decorations filled the entire Great Hall, making it exceptionally dazzling.
The Slytherin students were all beaming with joy.
As expected, the House Cup was theirs again this year.
After all, with Snape around, he made every effort to earn points for his own House and deduct points from the other Houses.
Draco sat at the Slytherin long table, provocatively raising his eyebrows at Harry.
This made Harry want to punch him twice.
At this moment, Dumbledore stood at the teachers' table and clapped his hands.
The noise in the Great Hall gradually subsided.
Everyone looked at him.
"Students," Dumbledore said with a smile.
"Another year has passed."
"Before I award the House Cup, I have something to announce."
Upon hearing this, the Slytherin students' faces instantly changed.
Draco's smile froze on his face, and his heart sank.
This scene was so familiar.
It was the same last year; Dumbledore added points to Hufflepuff at the last minute, snatching away the House Cup.
It couldn't be happening again this year, could it?
The other Slytherin students also became nervous, filled with an ominous premonition.
Dumbledore continued.
"This year, a student has made an outstanding contribution to Hogwarts."
"He bravely faced danger, found the Dark Arts objects that had infiltrated the school, killed the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets, and protected the safety of all his fellow students."
The Great Hall instantly fell silent.
Everyone held their breath.
Dumbledore's gaze fell on Charlie.
"In view of Charlie White's heroic performance," Dumbledore's voice became solemn.
"I have decided to award him the Outstanding Contribution to the School Award."
"And to award Hufflepuff House 200 points."
As soon as he finished speaking, a deafening cheer erupted in the Great Hall.
All the Hufflepuff students jumped to their feet.
"Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!"
They wildly chanted Charlie's name, their voices shaking the ceiling of the Great Hall.
Ernie's face turned red with excitement, and he rushed over to hug Charlie.
"Two consecutive wins! We've won two in a row!"
The other Hufflepuff students also gathered around, surrounding Charlie.
Over at the Slytherin long table, they were once again utterly defeated.
Seriously, couldn't these points have been added earlier? If you had added them earlier, our Professor could have manipulated things!
Why wait until the night of the House Cup to add them? Who are you trying to guard against?
But soon, the Slytherin students also lost their temper.
Although they were sad, they had to admit that Charlie had indeed saved them.
If the Basilisk had appeared before them that day, they would probably all have been doomed.
So, Charlie truly deserved these 200 points, and only he was worthy of the House Cup this semester.
The banners on the walls of the Great Hall began to change.
Slytherin's green and silver slowly faded, replaced by Hufflepuff's yellow and black.
Hufflepuff's badger crest shone on the walls.
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