The Great Hall gleamed in soft gold light, banners of every House hanging still, unruffled, as if holding their breath. The enchanted ceiling reflected a perfect blue morning, the air thick with anticipation and the faint hum of magic settling after a storm.
The students entered in quiet lines, guided by prefects. There was no chatter — only the sound of footsteps, the clink of cutlery being set, and the rustle of robes as everyone took their seats.
At the staff table, Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Flitwick waited. Several chairs remained empty, Sprouts, Madame Pomfrey and Snapes, an unspoken testament to their continued hard work.
The Ravenclaws were among the last to arrive.
Shya and Talora stepped through the open doors with their friends — Padma, Lisa, Mandy and Luna — their polished uniforms gleaming in the morning light.
At the Ravenclaw table, Cassian and Roman were already waiting, sitting tall and composed, the faintest hint of relief softening their expressions.
As the last group entered, the great doors closed, and Dumbledore rose.
"Students," he began, his voice low but clear, carrying easily through the hall. "Today, we greet the dawn of calm after a very long night.
For weeks, Hogwarts has stood at the edge of peril — not merely because of the beast that lurked beneath us, but because of fear. Fear divides. It isolates. And it blinds."
He paused, letting the quiet stretch. "But when courage and intellect, loyalty and ambition, stand side by side, even darkness must yield."
The hall seemed to hold its breath.
"There are some among you," Dumbledore continued, his blue eyes glinting behind his spectacles, "who demonstrated precisely that harmony. Their bravery, their reason, and their restraint ensured that Hogwarts endures."
He turned slightly, gaze sweeping the tables.
"For Miss Shya Gill, Miss Talora Livanthos, Mr. Cassian Black, and Mr. Roman Nott — eighty points each, for exceptional service to the school, and a Special Contribution Medal for each of you, to be entered into the permanent record of Hogwarts."
The Great Hall erupted into applause — loud and unrestrained.
Blue-and-bronze banners shimmered overhead, joined by proud flashes of green and silver as Slytherin students banged their goblets in salute. Even a few Hufflepuffs stood to clap.
Dumbledore's expression warmed. "And for Miss Padma Patil, Miss Lisa Turpin, and Miss Mandy Brocklehurst, fifty points each — for their courage, quick thinking, and loyalty to their friends and to Hogwarts itself."
The cheering swelled again. Talora caught Shya's eye across the table; both girls laughed in disbelief. Cassian offered a quiet, proud nod.
The banners above shifted:
Ravenclaw — 662 points.
Slytherin — 646 points.
Hufflepuff — 533 points.
Gryffindor — 401 points.
Then the room hushed as Dumbledore lifted a hand. His voice softened — not scolding, but sorrowful.
"However," he said, "there are lessons as important as triumph. Bravery without thought is not bravery — it is recklessness. When courage forgets wisdom, it becomes a danger unto itself."
All eyes turned toward the Gryffindor table, where Harry Potter and Ron Weasley sat very still.
"One hundred and fifty points," Dumbledore said quietly, "will be deducted from Gryffindor House for repeated acts of disobedience, endangerment, and disregard for instruction.
For it is not the act of defying danger that makes one brave — but the wisdom to know when not to."
A hush settled. Even the candles seemed to dim.
Then, after a heartbeat, Dumbledore's voice lightened again.
"Yet let this not be a morning of division. What was done here, what was overcome, belongs to all of us.
When wisdom, loyalty, ambition, and courage stand together — then Hogwarts truly stands."
His eyes twinkled faintly. "And so, as a gesture of relief and celebration, I am pleased to inform you all that final examinations are canceled."
For a split second, silence — and then chaos.
Cheers burst across every table. Goblets banged. Laughter echoed from floor to ceiling. Students hugged, shouted, and jumped to their feet.
McGonagall tried — and failed — to suppress a smile. Flitwick let out a triumphant squeak. Even a few Unspeakables observing from the back exchanged relieved grins.
At the Ravenclaw table, Shya laughed until her eyes watered, Talora's hand clutching hers. Cassian smirked, Roman pretending indifference but clearly fighting a grin.
Above them, the enchanted banners rippled once more, declaring it in bold, shining letters:
RAVENCLAW — HOUSE CUP WINNER.
Blue and bronze confetti showered from the ceiling like stars.
Dumbledore raised his goblet, his voice ringing clear over the cheers.
"The term ends tomorrow," he said, smiling now. "Rest, my dear students. Rejoice. And remember: Hogwarts endures — because you do."
Applause thundered again, echoing against the ancient walls.
For the first time in a long time, laughter filled every corner of the Great Hall — the sound of balance restored.