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The little wizards were still laughing and bickering when they realized they had been eating lunch until nearly two o'clock in the afternoon.
Professor Dumbledore eventually had no choice but to announce, with a slightly regretful tone, the cancellation of the afternoon classes.
But before the students could break into cheers, Dumbledore added with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes:
"You'll need to make up for today's classes next week. Otherwise, I can't guarantee you'll pass your final exams."
A wave of groans swept across the Great Hall. The mood turned from festive to funereal in an instant.
Several diligent students—particularly those known for their academic rigor—stood up quietly from their seats and started heading toward the library. Among them was the always studious and punctual Head Girl.
Their departure did not go unnoticed.
Leon pointed and shouted, "Look at them! While the rest of us are relaxing, they're sneaking off to study! They're rolling already!"
"It's a roll! It's a roll!"
The Head Girl glared at Leon, her face flushed with frustration.
"Roll you till you drop!"
"Hahahaha…"
A burst of laughter erupted from the Gryffindor table. The Gryffindor students, ever fond of drama and spectacle, found it all very entertaining, even as students from the other Houses watched more seriously.
Tonks, who had been chatting animatedly with Moriarty, gave him a parting grin and returned to the Hufflepuff table.
"My dear badgers," Tonks said, scanning her Housemates with a calm but commanding gaze.
Then, suddenly, she shouted:
"Just because other Houses are known for certain strengths doesn't mean we can't beat them. We may not be the flashiest, but we've got perseverance and hard work!"
Her words lit a spark in the Hufflepuff camp. The students cheered, joked, and laughed, but the spark had caught.
"Let them drink their pumpkin juice, I'll stick with hot tea! Strengthen the body, outlive them all—roll them flat!"
"When my roommates are asleep, I sneak into the kitchens to cook myself better food! Healthier body—roll them!"
"And your roommate says: She's sneaking snacks? Let her! She'll get chubby. Meanwhile, I'll sleep fast so the food smell won't hit my nose—roll her!"
"I nap while others eat—healthier hair, thicker hair! Roll them all!"
"Even if we're cooking, we must win the cooking competition!"
Their laughter echoed through the hall.
When they passed the school choir, they found Cedric chatting with the Weasley twins.
Tonks narrowed her eyes and pointed dramatically.
"Get him! Drag him back! Study time!"
A gang of tall Hufflepuff boys surged toward Cedric. Alarmed, Cedric sprinted for safety, eventually diving onto the Slytherin table to avoid them.
The Weasley twins, unbothered as ever, gave chase to protest the abduction.
"We're just taking him to study, not kidnapping!" said a Hufflepuff boy defensively.
Fred raised an eyebrow. "Study?"
Turning to George, he asked, "Since when do people actually study?"
George grinned, his bushy eyebrows twitching.
"Magic is just wand-waving, right?"
Fred nodded solemnly. "Exactly, so…"
"So let's go back to playing! Race you!"
George darted away with Fred on his heels.
As they passed by the Slytherin table, they shouted:
"Saul! Coming with us? While the rest bury themselves in books, we charm the witches, earn the hearts, and secretly steal the spotlight—roll them!"
Saul shook his head firmly.
"I'd rather join Moriarty on a proper adventure."
With stars in his eyes, Saul turned to Moriarty.
"Sir, would you allow me to accompany you on your next mission?"
"When you learn to Apparate," Moriarty replied dryly, getting up.
He intended to return to the dormitory for a nap and recharge.
The Slytherin students rose with him, but quickly noticed that more than half of the Great Hall had emptied.
The Hufflepuffs had dispersed. Half the Ravenclaws were already deep in books or nestled in study corners, and the remainder either huddled with partners or occasionally sneaked admiring glances at Moriarty.
At the Gryffindor table, Charlie was waving his arms, clearly inspired by Tonks.
"This year, we double our training time! I want four sessions a week from everyone! We're going to be number one!"
"Got it, Captain!" the Gryffindor Quidditch team roared.
"When everyone else is snoozing, we'll be training! We'll be professional athletes soon—roll them!"
The Gryffindor table erupted in spirited laughter, and the team ran off to the tower to grab their brooms.
"Tsk, Quidditch is getting competitive too. This is getting intense," Leon quipped.
His voice had less bitterness than before—he sounded amused, even slightly impressed.
"Sir," Jericho leaned in toward Moriarty, "the other three Houses are rolling. Shouldn't we do something too? Maybe an exclusive club or an event? With your popularity, it'll take off in no time."
Moriarty pondered briefly before shaking his head.
"I don't have time for that. You know I'm working with Professor Nicolas Flamel. There are several alchemical tools I need to develop this year."
"As for all this competition, I see it as healthy."
The Slytherin students leaned in with interest.
Moriarty elaborated:
"After the virus magic outbreak, the students began to see their own weaknesses. It's made them want to improve—personality flaws, mental fortitude, magical skill.
"Tonks got her House learning to cook because they couldn't before.
"Charlie's got Gryffindor training like mad because they weren't very good.
"The Ravenclaws have returned to the library in full force."
Lilith giggled. "What about those who aren't good at flirting? Should they start practicing that?"
She nodded toward the Ravenclaw table. A fourth-year boy was trying—unsuccessfully—to invite Penelope Clearwater to the library. She rejected him with a cold glance.
"I wouldn't have guessed she could be that icy," Moriarty chuckled.
"Too many powerful women around her, perhaps—Lilith, Diana… Maybe she's picking up pointers."
Lilith and Gemma exchanged looks.
"Library later?" Lilith asked.
Gemma nodded. "Definitely. If the Church mentions Shrinking Potions next week, I want to be ahead of the curve."
The two girls headed off arm in arm.
As they walked, Gemma whispered, "Only fools think the way to a man's heart is through his stomach."
Lilith smiled knowingly. "True strength is independence. That's what draws someone in."
They shared a secretive grin.
All over the castle, other girls were having the same thoughts.
Publicly, they told each other they wouldn't chase anyone. Privately, they worked harder to improve themselves—hoping to catch the eye of someone special.
If they couldn't win love with words, they'd win it with excellence—roll them!
More and more students peeled off from Moriarty's side, not out of disinterest, but because they wanted to grow stronger.
They wanted to be ready to aid him on the next great adventure—if and when it came.
From the staff table, Dumbledore observed it all. He leaned toward Nicolas Flamel and Professor McGonagall, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"These students," he said with fondness, "sometimes I wish Hogwarts had more strange events. It brings out their best."
"Then Dracula did us all a favor," McGonagall said with a rare chuckle.
"Dracula is yesterday's news," Nicolas Flamel mused. "Still, I'm grateful he spared us old folk the real trouble. As for these youngsters and their adventures… we can only do so much. The rest is up to time."
The professors fell quiet, watching the scattering students, wondering what futures awaited them.
"Keith!" Snape's voice cut through the calm like a whip.
He had spotted his student bothering a younger Ravenclaw.
"What are you doing while the others are studying?" Snape's eyes narrowed sharply.
"If you can't find anything worthwhile, then head to my office immediately. My black robes are still stained with the tears and snot your grandfather shed while begging me to forgive you!"
Keith winced—he knew the story well by now. His grandfather had come to Hogwarts many times to intercede on his behalf when Dracula's control of the school had made Keith's life difficult.
But Keith didn't flinch. He stood up and declared dramatically:
"While others are buried in books, I'll pretend to feud with my professor! I'll clean his robes—get good marks—roll them all!"
The Great Hall echoed with one last round of laughter.
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