Observing Hermione, her head buried in her arms, Luke tenderly embraced her and leaned against the bathroom wall. The recent ordeal seemed to have drained Hermione's courage, leaving her silent since the incident. Luke, uncertain of what to say, opened his mouth but found himself at a loss for words. The bathroom echoed with their shared silence.
"Have you thought of a Christmas present for me?" Hermione suddenly looked up and asked, her ears noticeably reddened.
"To be honest, I haven't made up my mind yet," Luke admitted truthfully. Although he had pondered it a few days ago, the recent events had shifted his focus.
"Do you want to know about my present?" Hermione asked softly, her brown eyes half-squinted at Luke's face.
"Your present?" Luke was momentarily taken aback, then nodded. "Of course, I want to know."
"Then close your eyes!" Hermione's request was accompanied by a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Alright," Luke obediently closed his eyes, anticipating what surprise Hermione had in store for him.
A familiar touch on his cheek surprised Luke, and his body froze. Was it a brace again? This time, he didn't allow Hermione to slip away skillfully. Two minutes of surprise was enough for Miss Hermione to give him a stern glare.
"Don't you dare try that again. This is the gift I gave you," Hermione declared, standing up from Luke's arms, avoiding eye contact.
"Actually, I've also thought about what I'm going to give you," Luke said softly.
However, Hermione, having guessed his intentions, quickly shook her head. "You are not allowed to give me the same gift."
"That's a pity," Luke shrugged helplessly.
While they were engrossed in conversation, Dumbledore and the professors rushed into the bathroom.
"Oh my God, are you two doing this!?" Professor McGonagall exclaimed, looking at the troll head pierced by the sharp blade.
"I remember saying that wizards are not allowed to go out. Didn't you two follow the prefect back to the lounge?" an older Professor McGonagall scolded angrily.
"No professor, it's—" Hermione began to explain, but Luke interrupted her.
"Professor, it's my fault. I shouldn't have dragged Hermione here on a date." Luke lowered his head, feigning a sense of remorse.
"A date—a date! This is a woman—" Professor McGonagall froze, but before she could finish, she was interrupted.
"Oh my God, great shapeshifting spell, let me see, and attacking spell." Professor Flitwick examined the battleground, particularly the sharp blade still emitting a cold glow and the blinded eye of the giant monster.
"If you're coming to Ravenclaw, you're going to be a master duelist, Mr. Geralt," Professor Flitwick remarked, impressed.
Hearing this, Snape, who had been standing behind Dumbledore, frowned. "Don't bother yourself; I will train him."
"My Merlin!" Professor Quirrell arrived late, stumbling upon the scene. His eyes widened as he took in the sight of the troll, its head severed in half, and he promptly collapsed to the ground, overcome with dizziness.
"Quirrell?" Luke furrowed his brow, contemplating whether to cast Avada Kedavra on the spot.
"Alright, quiet down," the authoritative Headmaster Dumbledore intervened, his wise eyes seeming to penetrate Luke's thoughts. "I know you're lying. I kicked Quirrell as I saw you running out."
Caught off guard, Luke chose silence, unable to argue with Dumbledore's keen observation.
"And during dinner, Miss Granger wasn't at the table, was she?" Dumbledore inquired, directing his kind gaze at the girl who admitted her mistake with a bowed head.
"Mr. Geralt, your bravery is admirable!" Dumbledore commended, shifting his attention to Luke. "I wonder if the Sorting Hat made a mistake putting you in Slytherin."
Dumbledore's words triggered Snape's direct gaze, as if he was contemplating a betrayal.
"Headmaster, I think Geralt is a perfect fit for Slytherin!" Snape retorted sullenly.
Luke couldn't help but touch his nose, witnessing the professors squabbling over him. Even Hermione, who had lowered her head, leaned in with a surprising comment.
"I feel like you're a good fit for Gryffindor."
Luke shot Hermione a wide-eyed glance, surprised that even she was joining the game of house-switching.
"Severus, you know I'm just joking," Dumbledore reassured Snape, who appeared displeased.
Observing Luke over the past few days, Dumbledore couldn't help but acknowledge that Slytherin might not be the perfect fit. The daily visits to Gryffindor's restaurant and friendly demeanor were uncommon Slytherin traits.
"Okay, let's talk about the punishment tonight!" Dumbledore shifted the focus. Hermione perked up, realizing it was her turn for deductions. However, Luke remained unfazed, confident in his Slytherin support.
"Twenty points from Slytherin and Gryffindor for the two of you going out on your own!" Dumbledore declared the penalty. Hermione's body trembled, unable to believe it.
"But for your bravery and defeating the trolls, each academy will receive fifty points," Dumbledore added, bringing relief and a smile to Luke's face.
"Remember my gift," Dumbledore whispered mysteriously to Luke, who nodded in acknowledgment.
Before departing, Professor McGonagall issued a stern warning, ensuring such incidents wouldn't repeat.
"Don't worry, there won't be another professor," Luke confidently responded.
"You two are alright!" Fred and George approached with Harry and Ronald, signaling the end of the ordeal.
Hermione, however, looked at the uniformed little lions in despair. Meanwhile, Luke concealed a smile, anticipating the consequences.
"The four of you, each of you deduct Two... One hundred points!" Professor McGonagall reluctantly declared, adjusting the punishment for the unexpected quartet.
And so, with this event, Gryffindor found itself at the bottom of the Academy Cup once again.
.....
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