Everything that had happened in class today had not escaped Wentworth's notice. As soon as the lesson ended, he sought out Cassandra and said,
"Cassandra, you don't have to do that in Potions class anymore. Professor Snape isn't a fool, and I'd rather not have him hold a grudge against me."
Hearing Wentworth's words, Cassandra was momentarily taken aback, but then she smiled and replied, "Not in Potions class? What about the other subjects?"
Wentworth was silent for a moment before responding casually, "Fair competition. I want to see for myself whether I'm truly the best of my year!"
Cassandra watched quietly as Wentworth walked away, lost in thought.
The moment Wentworth returned to the Hufflepuff common room, he called Kirk to his dormitory. Whatever they discussed remained a mystery—even Cedric had no idea. But everyone saw Kirk leaving Wentworth's room with a face flushed red.
From that day on, throughout the rest of the Hogwarts academic year, the other students became mere spectators. Every lesson seemed to turn into a stage for Wentworth and Cassandra's rivalry.
Interwoven with the intense competition for House points between Hufflepuff and Slytherin was, of course, the Hogwarts Quidditch tournament. While Hufflepuff celebrated a flawless three-match winning streak, Slytherin unexpectedly lost their game against Gryffindor, widening the gap between the two houses significantly.
As June arrived, so did the most stressful time at Hogwarts—exam week. Even the most study-averse Gryffindors, including the Weasley twins, were caught up in the flurry of last-minute revision.
The previous weekend, Lupin had bid farewell to Wentworth and Cedric, with both sides agreeing to meet again at the start of the new term.
But for Wentworth and Cedric, these exams were merely a formality. They didn't even need to review. Instead, their attention was focused on Kirk's O.W.L.s.
When Kirk emerged from his final Defense Against the Dark Arts exam, Wentworth and Cedric, who had been waiting outside, rushed to meet him.
"How did it go, Kirk?" Cedric asked anxiously, noticing Kirk's unreadable expression.
Kirk glanced at them both, the corners of his mouth slowly lifting into a smile.
Wentworth and Cedric exchanged a glance before letting out simultaneous cheers, throwing their arms around Kirk in celebration.
Grinning widely, Kirk said, "Not bad. I think I at least got an 'E'. That means I'll probably end up with over eight O.W.L. certificates!"
Upon hearing this, Wentworth and Cedric gasped in admiration. They both knew that Kirk had opted out of several subjects from the start, such as Divination and Ancient Runes.
In other words, he had passed nearly every subject he had chosen.
At that moment, Wentworth realized he might have made a mistake.
Perhaps influenced by the original story, he had always assumed Cedric was the top scholar among his peers. But now, he saw that Kirk was just as much of an academic star—if not more—excelling in all areas.
A Hufflepuff Prefect, the Captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, and now with at least eight O.W.L.s—he was a true all-rounder!
So why, Wentworth wondered, had Kirk barely been mentioned in the original story? After some thought, he could only conclude that Kirk's age difference from the main characters meant their paths simply hadn't crossed often enough.
When exam week finally ended and the results were announced, Hogwarts was filled with both jubilation and despair.
Some students were excitedly preparing for their summer holidays, while others were anxiously plotting ways to keep their parents from seeing their report cards.
Wentworth himself received an 'E' in the History of Magic but achieved 'O' in all his other subjects. Among the first years, only Cassandra, who earned 'O' across the board, managed to outperform him.
Despite this personal loss, Hufflepuff had managed to break Slytherin's long-standing dominance over the House Cup, thanks to the massive lead gained through Quidditch victories. Hufflepuff had finally been crowned House Cup champions.
When the end-of-term feast arrived, the Great Hall had been beautifully decorated, with every banner changed to Hufflepuff's colors.
Every Hufflepuff who entered the hall did so with their heads held high.
The reactions of the other three houses varied. While the Slytherins sat sullen and dejected, Ravenclaw and Gryffindor seemed unbothered by Hufflepuff's victory.
In fact, the Weasley twins even clapped in congratulations, happy to see Slytherin defeated.
As Professor Dumbledore announced the commencement of the feast, the atmosphere in the Great Hall turned lively once more.
In the midst of the boisterous celebration, Wentworth suddenly noticed something peculiar—his napkin had folded itself into the shape of a hand. It gave him a small wave before pointing towards the exit of the hall.
Frowning in curiosity, Wentworth looked around and spotted Professor Dumbledore rising from the staff table and making his way outside.
Realizing what this meant, Wentworth quietly informed Cedric and Kirk before slipping out of the Great Hall.
As soon as he stepped outside, he saw Dumbledore waiting a short distance away.
"Professor Dumbledore, were you looking for me?" Wentworth asked respectfully as he approached.
Dumbledore regarded him with a warm smile. "Wentworth, you've grown quite a bit over the past year. You're beginning to resemble your grandfather in his younger days."
Hearing this, Wentworth's heart skipped a beat. Was Dumbledore about to confront him?
But just as he was bracing himself, Dumbledore changed the subject.
"Tell me, Wentworth, do you have any plans for the summer?"
Caught off guard, Wentworth hesitated before answering tentatively, "I was planning to practice some spells at home or perhaps learn a few new ones."
Dumbledore nodded approvingly. "I'm pleased to hear that—even during the holidays, you maintain your diligence."
Wentworth was about to respond when Dumbledore continued, "I have an old friend who travels the world in search of magical creatures. However, he's getting on in years and has asked me to recommend a talented young wizard to accompany him. Would you be interested? Think of it as a summer camp!"
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