The Great Hall was lively with morning chatter.
At the Hufflepuff table, Lucien sat comfortably, eating breakfast while chatting with Cedric, Tonks, Akeno, and Susan. Laughter drifted easily around them.
Then Harry approached.
"Lucien," he said quietly, "can I ask you something?"
Lucien looked up, already knowing.
"Sit," he said.
Harry obeyed, sliding onto the bench.
Around them, Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and even a few Slytherins subtly leaned closer, pretending very hard not to listen.
Harry hesitated.
"…Why did Professor McGonagall deduct points yesterday?"
Lucien sighed and massaged his temple.
"I figured that would bother you."
He looked directly at Harry.
"Tell me something first," Lucien asked calmly.
"Do you think Snape and Quirrell are the same?"
Harry blinked—then nodded.
Around them, several Gryffindors nodded too. A few others followed.
Lucien shook his head.
"Not really."
The Hall grew quieter.
"Let me break it down so you can understand," Lucien said.
Harry nodded seriously.
"Quirrell stutters, repeats books word for word, and teaches stories instead of skills," Lucien continued.
"There's nothing meaningful to learn from him."
A few Ravenclaws frowned thoughtfully.
"If Quirrell is fired," Lucien went on,
"Hogwarts can hire a new professor."
He paused.
"Even with the curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, the school can still appoint a temporary instructor."
Harry's eyes widened slightly.
"That's… true," he admitted.
Lucien nodded.
"That's why Hufflepuff wrote the complaint."
Harry hesitated.
"…Is that why you didn't lose points?"
Lucien shook his head again.
"That's only part of it."
He gestured lightly toward his table.
"Even if Hufflepuff did lose points," he said evenly,
"we wouldn't care."
Every Hufflepuff nearby shrugged.
Tonks lifted her cup.
Cedric smiled.
Susan nodded.
Akeno didn't even blink.
Harry stared.
"You… don't care about house points?"
Lucien met his eyes.
"No."
Around them, Gryffindors went still.
Lucien tilted his head.
"You're wondering why I didn't choose Hufflepuff, aren't you?"
Harry didn't answer—but inwardly, he nodded.
So did half the Gryffindor table.
At the staff table, Professor Sprout chuckled softly, clearly amused.
Professor McGonagall sighed.
Deeply.
Because right then—
She understood something very uncomfortable.
Hufflepuff didn't chase points.
They chased results.