Early one morning, a Gryffindor student discovered that their house hourglass was missing a substantial number of points. Surprisingly, not many students were upset; in fact, most seemed rather pleased. Their attention had shifted to Slytherin's hourglass, which had taken an even bigger hit. With a staggering 50-point reduction, Slytherin had slipped to third place, barely ahead of Hufflepuff.
For the normally calm and reserved Hufflepuff students, this was a rare moment of excitement. Their enthusiasm was palpable as they saw an opportunity to push Slytherin to last place. What was once a passive approach to the house competition turned into an all-out effort. Hufflepuff students, led by Cedric Diggory, eagerly devoured his book, "How to Grab Points in Class," treating it as their newfound academic bible.
Not to be outdone, Slytherin retaliated by publishing their own guide, "Hidden Tips I Will Not Tell You: How to Make the Dean Deduct Points from Other Houses." Hundreds of copies were printed and distributed among their students in a desperate attempt to maintain their ranking.
Meanwhile, Gryffindor, despite suffering some deductions, remained optimistic. Thanks to the outstanding academic performance of David and Hermione, they were only a few points behind first place. Confidence ran high that within a few lessons, they would reclaim the top spot.
However, Ravenclaw was not about to sit idly by. Although generally known for their laid-back attitude, a determined group led by Penelope Clearwater took up the challenge. They authored "How to Get Extra Points from Professors in Class," a handbook that quickly became essential reading for their house. Plans for an exclusive crash course were soon underway, featuring Ravenclaw students as instructors.
News of the secret lessons reached Fred and George Weasley, who immediately attempted to infiltrate the sessions. Their brilliant strategy? Seduction.
David, upon hearing their plan, could only shake his head in disbelief. "You guys are dreaming," he muttered. Still, if they somehow succeeded, he wouldn't mind tagging along.
Hogwarts had transformed overnight. The usual morning greetings of "Have you eaten?" had been replaced with, "Did you study today?" and "How many points did you earn in class?" The entire school was caught in the whirlwind of a competitive academic revolution.
Even Voldemort, had he been alive during this time, might have been too preoccupied with scoring points to bother with Horcruxes. The fervor for house points had overshadowed everything else.
Little did Professor McGonagall know that the 100 points she had deducted in anger had inadvertently sparked a school-wide movement. If she had foreseen this outcome, she might have volunteered to take Filch's place on night patrol, just to avoid the madness.
While the rest of Hogwarts was engrossed in their point-earning frenzy, David and Hermione had secluded themselves in an abandoned classroom on the fifth floor, the same place where the magic mirror had been stored.
"David, am I doing it right?" Hermione's voice was slightly breathless as she attempted a spell.
"No, try harder. Your stance is off," David observed carefully.
"How about now?" Hermione adjusted her movements.
"Yes, perfect! Now try casting it."
The room fell silent for a moment before Hermione confidently shouted, "Expelliarmus!"
David's wand flew out of his hand, landing on the ground beside him. His face lit up with pride. "Excellent, Hermione! You did it!"
Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Hermione grinned triumphantly.
They had come here early in the morning to practice spells. After multiple failed attempts and David's patient guidance, Hermione had finally mastered the Disarming Charm.
"Want to take a break? Or shall we keep going?" David asked, retrieving his wand.
"Keep going, of course!" Hermione's eyes sparkled with determination. The thrill of success had only fueled her desire to learn more.
David tapped his head with his wand, pondering their next lesson. "How about the Severing Charm? Once you get the hang of it, you can move on to the Blasting Curse."
Hermione nodded eagerly.
"The Severing Charm is a dangerous spell, so you must be careful. When mastered, you can control its power." David demonstrated by pointing his wand at a piece of paper. "Diffindo!"
The paper instantly split into neat halves.
"This is at low power," he explained. "But if you increase the strength…"
David directed his wand at a wooden board across the room. "Diffindo!"
With a sharp crack, the board shattered into splinters.
"If used on a person," he cautioned, "well, unless there's a Healer from St. Mungo's nearby, they might find themselves discussing ancient magic with Merlin."
Hermione's face grew serious.
"No need to be so nervous," David reassured her with a chuckle. "With your current magic level, you'd barely give someone a scratch."
Hermione shot him a sharp look, clearly taking offense. "Are you underestimating me?"
David smirked. "Alright, show me what you've got. Try the movement first without saying the incantation."
Hermione raised her wand, attempting to mimic David's technique.
"Relax your wrist; you're too stiff," he corrected, stepping closer. "Make the movement slightly wider."
Gently, he took her hand to guide her through the motion. Hermione suddenly realized how close they were, her face warming slightly.
"Hermione?" David called when she remained still.
"Huh? Y-yeah, I got it!" she stammered, shaking off her thoughts.
She stepped forward, focused her gaze on the table before her, and flicked her wand. "Diffindo!"
A loud crack echoed through the room as the table split cleanly in half.
David's eyes widened. "Impressive!"
Hermione turned to him with narrowed eyes. "Didn't you say I'd barely scratch someone?"
David grinned sheepishly. "Well, what can I say? You're a natural."
Hermione huffed, but her smile betrayed her pride. "Next spell, then!"