The final days of the academic term proved no less tumultuous than the preceding ones, as a fresh wave of whispers surged fiercely through the student body. Corridor rumors asserted that a group of students, entering the Potions classroom early, had stumbled upon Professor Snape naked in the company of an attractive, large-breasted woman.
The resulting commotion was colossal. Although Snape deployed his entire repertoire of intimidation to stifle the gossip, the story was true and represented, without a doubt, one of the most humiliating ordeals of his existence. Even his colleagues and the Headmaster himself shot him inquisitive glances from the staff table; Severus, however, merely resorted to Occlumency with desperate firmness to eradicate any trace of emotion from his face. That day tested the absolute limits of his endurance.
From a distance, I observed the scene with a broad, satisfied smirk. I was pleased to have facilitated Snape's reunion with his old acquaintance—the very same woman who had taken his virginity during that wild night back then. Gigi was equally overjoyed with the reunion ever since I brought her into this timeline.
The Ginebra Gill belonging to this timeline had passed away long ago in anonymity—just another prostitute who departed without leaving a trace—which made it easy for the Gigi I brought over to take her place without raising much suspicion.
Although Snape did not retain precise memories of what had transpired in that [secondary campaign], a strange emotional resonance persisted deep within him. It was that subtle, inexplicable familiarity that stayed his hand the following day, preventing him from executing the woman who had practically taken advantage of him. To be sure, such an encounter was hardly the ideal precedent for rekindled ties with someone he felt he remembered without being able to place; even so, it represented a starting point. I would make sure to torment him a bit over the matter... after all, like any good partner-in-crime, I couldn't allow my old comrade to remain an embittered wreck for the rest of his life.
What did exceed my expectations was the speed with which the information came to light. Perhaps due to the meddling of pure-blood families, ever attentive to the affairs of influential figures like Snape, Gigi's identity didn't take long to become public knowledge: she was singled out as a courtesan belonging to Andra's establishment. In truth, she only resided there when she wasn't staying at the fiefdom and no longer practiced the trade, but the sharp eyes of a high-society client who spotted her on the premises were enough to detonate the scandal.
With the truth laid bare, the entire school learned of the Potions professor's exploits. Furtive glances were constantly cast his way; were it not for the aura of terror surrounding him, more than a few would have thoroughly enjoyed mocking him openly, though no one possessed the audacity required to cross that line.
Subjected to the silent judgment of the Great Hall, Snape gripped his fork with white-knuckled fury, longing to vanish into thin air and retreat to the gloom of his dungeons. Yet, to his utter bewilderment, the person who showed him the greatest empathy and understanding was the very same woman who had suddenly attacked him some time ago: Minerva. The Deputy Headmistress watched him with an inscrutable sense of camaraderie, stepping over to offer measured advice on how to navigate such a... relationship.
...
Finally, the last day of the school year arrived. As students debated the singularity of a term packed with extraordinary events, the calendar marked the arrival of the farewell feast—the celebration where some offered a temporary see-you-later, while others bid a permanent farewell to the halls of Hogwarts.
Though the evening was usually steeped in nostalgia, general attention on this occasion did not center on farewells, but rather on the imminent resolution of the House Cup.
The constant hum filling the Great Hall cut off abruptly when Dumbledore, having conveniently reappeared to close out the term, stood up and lightly tapped his golden goblet.
"Dear students, professors, and staff of Hogwarts... I am pleased to announce that another school year has come to an end," the Headmaster declared with his usual deliberation. "It has been, perhaps, a noticeably busier period than usual... filled with unexpected twists that would manage to baffle even an old man like myself."
As he uttered these words, Dumbledore subtly shifted his gaze toward Snape and Minerva. Both professors tensed instantly, fixing their eyes straight ahead in a supreme effort to maintain their dignity. The old wizard let out an internal sigh, beset by an onset of a headache: this term, even his own faculty were throwing unexpected curveballs at him.
"But it is a completed year, after all... and I suppose you are all waiting with bated breath for the same verdict, are you not?"
The student body held its breath, darting glances back and forth between the Headmaster and the giant hourglasses housing the point gems.
Speculation was immediate. Eyes fell upon the girls who intercepted the Heir of Slytherin and the boys who brought down Lockhart. Points for such feats had not been formally awarded, and no one knew if there would be a repeat of the last-minute points drive from the previous year. The crowd tried to calculate mentally how many points would be handed out, and whether victory would go to the house with the highest number of participants or to the one that had carried out the most decisive action.
"On this occasion... even for me, it is complex to weigh the magnitude of these deeds, for many among you have rendered an invaluable service both to the school and to the magical community at large," Dumbledore expressed, sweeping his gaze across the heroes and heroines of the day... and casting a fleeting glance in my direction. "I would like, first of all, to express our recognition to those who assisted in the capture of Gilderoy Lockhart—a criminal who deceived and gravely harmed our community. A warm round of applause for Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Fred Weasley, George Weasley, and Lee Jordan."
A roaring ovation erupted from the Gryffindor table, backed by the rest of the houses. The confrontation against the former professor was public knowledge, particularly due to its unusual aftereffects. At that very moment, Leah Jordan materialized to replace Lee under the intensity of the emotion, eliciting a collective sigh from those present... especially among the boys who found the girl strangely attractive.
Dumbledore soon gestured to quell the applause and address the next students deserving of recognition.
"I also wish to congratulate Red Weasley, Hannah Abbott, and Neville Longbottom for representing Hogwarts in foreign lands, braving countless perils to return safe, sound, and covered in honor," the Headmaster declared.
A second tide of applause echoed through the great hall, albeit more subdued than the previous one, as almost no one truly grasped the full scale of what had transpired in the jungle.
"And lastly, to those who have been dubbed the Heroines of Hogwarts, for defeating the entity that struck fear into this castle, protecting their peers, and overcoming both the Heir of Slytherin and the beast that petrified our students... A warm round of applause for Hermione Granger, Parvati Patil, Lavender Brown, Ginny Weasley, Penelope Clearwater, Cho Chang, Padma Patil, Luna Lovegood, Susan Bones, Tracey Davis, Pansy Parkinson, Millicent Bulstrode, Daphne Greengrass, and Astoria Greengrass!" concluded the old man, his voice nearly cracking after the uninterrupted roll call of names.
The Great Hall erupted into a deafening roar. At every table, students stood on their chairs to cheer and applaud the representatives of their respective houses who had become legends.
Each of the girls became a nervous wreck, their faces flushed with emotion and embarrassment. Though they had grown accustomed to drawing stares, this time they stood at the absolute center of the stage, receiving public recognition for their feats on the final day of the year.
Of course, not everyone experienced it the same way. While they savored the moment, Percy slouched in his seat, crushed by the awkwardness of having been the "supposed heir"—or at least the victim manipulated by him; confusion still clouded his memories, and he had yet to fully digest what had happened.
"It fills me with pride to count students of such caliber among our beloved school, to the extent that I believe the time has come to reveal which house shall claim the cup," Dumbledore announced.
Silence reclaimed the hall after the explosion of shouts and cheers. Wrapped in suspense, the children stared fixedly at the Headmaster, their nerves on edge.
"And I must tell you that the winner of this year's House Cup is..." Dumbledore said, dramatically throwing his arms wide to heighten the suspense: "ALL FOUR HOGWARTS HOUSES!"
At that moment, a massive shower of confetti and streamers in the colors of all four houses began to rain down from the ceiling, while the banners decorating the hall shifted in unison to display the four-part crest.
A murmur of sheer astonishment rippled across the tables. Confusion was widespread: such a verdict was entirely unprecedented. Had everyone won? Or had no one?
"This year has proven that, regardless of the house to which we belong, a group of students from each one was capable of uniting to stand against the evil that threatened us all," Dumbledore continued in a solemn tone. "That is the true spirit of Hogwarts. Above all divisions, we are all part of this institution, and together we can achieve feats we could never accomplish alone. Therefore, it is only fitting that on this occasion, all houses share in the victory."
The Headmaster's words resonated deeply. Although some were still trying to decipher the logic behind the resolution, the sense of unity ultimately prevailed. A warm feeling of fraternity wrapped around the Great Hall; rivalry seemed to melt away, and the decision was embraced as the most fitting outcome.
Even I was nodding silently, pleased with Dumbledore's choice. I hadn't intervened in the scoring, and the result struck me as remarkably astute. I felt tempted to congratulate the old man... right up until his next announcement left me completely frozen.
"And, naturally, I cannot fail to express my gratitude to our dear student Red Weasley, who, to commemorate the feats of our great heroines, has offered to organize an unprecedented performance for next term's welcoming feast, with himself as the main star... A big hand for him! I trust you are as eager as I am to witness his display."
The cheering thundered through the hall once more as all eyes locked onto me. The girls looked at me with a mix of surprise and enthusiasm; the only figure standing petrified, maintaining a smile of absolute dismay, was mine.
From the staff table, the old wizard offered me an imperceptible wink and raised his goblet in a mischievous toast.
I had no choice but to hold a frozen grimace and respond with a nod to the crowd.
I hadn't seen that coming: the old man had gotten me back. He seemed to have regained enough confidence to avenge the pile of trouble I had been causing him, not to mention his pending debt regarding his sister that I had postponed to attend to my own affairs.
The girls wasted no time besieging me with questions about the supposed performance in their honor, leaving me with no choice but to agree and play along. I would find the right moment to repay Dumbledore's audacity later, but for now, I was obligated to put together a real show.
And so concluded the final feast, giving way to the rest period prior to the return journey the following day. Well, not for everyone—I took the liberty of coordinating one last encounter with several of the girls. Even Hermione, who had been so reluctant, ultimately gave in inside the Room of Requirement, swept up by the atmosphere of the moment and the insistence of my caresses, setting aside her bashful objections to surrender to one final session of passion.