Until Amanda and Hermione's conversation ended, Cho Chang, Marietta Eckmore, Penelope, Harry, and Ron, who had been waiting outside the door, carefully pushed open the door to the Hospital Wing and walked in.
The three girls politely hugged Hermione and congratulated her on her recovery.
Harry and Ron stood by the hospital bed, greeting Hermione with smiles while maintaining a certain distance.
"Hermione, you're finally awake." Harry had a sincere smile on his face as he looked at his close friend whom he had met last year.
"Congratulations on your recovery, Hermione," Ron also said with a smile beside him.
Hermione raised an eyebrow and beckoned Harry and Ron over.
Seeing Hermione's expression, the smiles on Harry's and Ron's faces stiffened slightly, and they walked over somewhat reluctantly.
Experience had always told them... when Hermione wore such an expression, it was definitely not a good thing for them.
Sure enough... Hermione scanned the two boys in front of her, leaned against the headboard, and asked with a smile.
"How did you both do on your final exams? I was counting the time even while I was petrified; the scores must be out by now."
Hearing Hermione's question, Harry and Ron felt a surge of relief, glad they had studied seriously.
They also silently thanked their past selves for choosing to study instead of playing.
Fortunately, they had chosen to study hard; otherwise, facing Hermione's questioning now... they definitely wouldn't have escaped a scolding.
Although Hermione couldn't bear to be harsh with Amanda, she definitely had no qualms about dealing with the two of them.
"We did quite well."
Feeling confident about their revision, Harry and Ron straightened their backs and announced their results with a bit of pride.
Although they certainly couldn't compare to a top student like Amanda, who was first in the year, nor to a true academic like Hermione, who genuinely loved and worked hard at learning.
However, their grades this time had indeed improved significantly compared to last year, and they should be in the upper-middle or even higher range at Hogwarts.
Seeing the slight pride on her two close friends' faces, Hermione was happy to praise them.
Covering her mouth and giggling twice, Hermione lowered her hand and nodded, "You did do very well. It seems you two can learn perfectly fine on your own."
"Then in the future, I—"
Before she could finish, Harry and Ron each grabbed a corner of Hermione's blanket.
"In the future, you'll still help us study, as our good friend."
"Help us check our homework, mark the key points for finals, as our great support."
"Hermione, the two of us can't live without you."
"Pfft, hahaha..." ×4
The two boys played off each other, making the four girls present, except for Amanda, burst into laughter.
The atmosphere in the Hospital Wing was light and cheerful, full of the vitality of youth.
Amanda's eyes wandered over the faces of Hermione and the others. This was a smile... So, was this the kind of expression she had shown during Christmas?
Her gaze lingered on Hermione's face, and Amanda made a very calm judgment in her mind.
Yes, Hermione's smile is very beautiful.
Because she woke up early enough, Hermione was just in time for this year's End-of-term feast.
When Amanda and Hermione walked into the Great Hall together before the feast began, the Gryffindors clapped in unison upon seeing their "own" return.
Because it was Hermione, The Ravenclaws were also generous with their applause, clapping loudly to welcome her back.
The Hufflepuffs also clapped enthusiastically; over the past year, they had learned a lot of Defense Against the Dark Arts knowledge in Amanda's study group.
Much more than they had learned in Lockhart's class, so seeing Amanda and Hermione, they naturally gave them a round of applause.
"I'm riding on your coattails."
Hermione leaned close to Amanda's ear and whispered with a grin.
Amanda turned her head and shook it, "Everyone is welcoming you back; it has nothing to do with me."
"They are welcoming me back, but it's also because of you that so many people are welcoming me back."
Pinching Amanda's cheek, Hermione looked at the three houses clapping warmly, and for the first time, she had a deeper understanding of Amanda's influence.
If nothing else, Hermione glanced at the Ravenclaw Table; now, no matter what Amanda wanted to do, the Ravenclaw Eagles would at least support her.
At least more than half of the Hufflepuff Little Badgers would surely support her without hesitation.
One could only say, "Fortunately, you are a gentle and kind person," Hermione whispered to herself.
"What?"
Amanda turned her head and asked in a voice as calm as water; Hermione's voice had been too quiet just now for her to hear.
"Nothing," Hermione shook her head and pushed Amanda toward the Ravenclaw Table, "Go sit down, the feast is about to start."
"Okay." Amanda nodded and walked to her seat at the Ravenclaw Table.
The eyes of all the Little Eagles didn't move away from her until she sat down, then they looked toward Headmaster Dumbledore at the Staff Table.
Hermione quickly returned to the Gryffindor Table, sat down opposite Harry and Ron, and also turned her gaze toward Headmaster Dumbledore.
Under the gaze of all the students, Headmaster Dumbledore stood up gracefully, walked to the front of the Staff Table, and held up his hands to signal for silence.
The sound of students talking in the Great Hall vanished instantly, and everyone, including the Professors, looked at him.
They looked at this respected headmaster, the Principal who was the pillar of support for everyone at Hogwarts.
"Another year has passed, and your little heads must be filled with a lot of knowledge."
Headmaster Dumbledore looked at the students below with a smile; they were in their youth, lively and vibrant—what a beautiful age.
"Before you enjoy the feast to your heart's content, I must first announce the winner of the House Cup, as is tradition."
As soon as he finished speaking, the students of the other three houses looked toward The Ravenclaws in unison.
With Amanda's daily point additions surpassing everyone else, no one would have any objection to the final winner of the House Cup.
And in their view, if there were no major accidents in the future...
For the next five years, until Amanda graduated, the House Cup would likely belong to Ravenclaw.
"This year's House Cup belongs to Ravenclaw House!"
Headmaster Dumbledore continued in a loud voice while clapping, "Congratulations to Ravenclaw House."
All the houses in the Great Hall were clapping, even Slytherin House was clapping symbolically to congratulate Ravenclaw on winning the House Cup.
Although they had a bad impression of Amanda and The Ravenclaws because of the previous incident of drawing wands on each other.
They were still genuinely convinced by their win of the House Cup.
"Furthermore." Headmaster Dumbledore waited for a full ten seconds before signaling everyone to stop the prolonged applause.
"Miss Amanda of Ravenclaw," he looked at Amanda with gratification and affection, "provided clues about the Chamber of Secrets and protected her fellow students."
At the Gryffindor Table, Ginny was telling her friends with a face full of admiration about how reliable and powerful Amanda had been when saving her.
"She slew the Basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets. Therefore, I will award Miss Amanda another five hundred points and announce that she has received the hogwarts special award for services."
The five hundred point addition made everyone in the Great Hall freeze for two seconds. Two seconds later, the Ravenclaw Eagles stood up collectively and cheered.
The Little Badgers clapped in a friendly manner, cheering and celebrating with them.
At the Gryffindor Table, Hermione clapped with both joy and heartache; her eyes were slightly red as she looked at Amanda at the Ravenclaw Table.
Everyone heard the points and awards she had just received.
But she was thinking more about the injuries Amanda had suffered behind those points and awards.
"Amanda! You are now the only person in Hogwarts in nearly fifty years to receive the hogwarts special award for services!"
Cho Chang pulled Amanda, who was still in her seat, up and looked at her with joy.
Amanda blinked, not looking happy at all, "I only did what I should have done, protecting my classmates within my ability and helping those I could."
"Be proud of yourself, Amanda," Marietta Eckmore put her hand on Amanda's shoulder from the other side, "Say it with me: I am proud of myself."
Amanda was stunned; she shouldn't say such things; it didn't conform to the principles of modesty.
"I... I can't say that. It doesn't conform to the rules of humility, and I should have higher expectations for myself."
"You really, really deserve to be proud of yourself, Amanda."
Penelope walked over from beside Marietta Eckmore and leaned down to look Amanda in the eye.
"Say it, take the first step in being proud of yourself."
"It's not just others' praise; your own praise for yourself is just as important."
"Come on, affirm yourself!"
Penelope straightened up and ruffled Amanda's hair. The Ravenclaw Eagles seemed to sense something and stopped their cheering one after another, turning their gazes toward Amanda.
As they fell silent, the Hufflepuffs, Gryffindors, and Slytherins also quieted down, and all eyes in the Great Hall were now focused on Amanda.
"Say it, Amanda," Cho Chang smiled gently.
"Say it, you deserve it," Marietta Eckmore nodded in agreement.
Amanda looked up and saw Hermione at the Gryffindor Table out of the corner of her eye, giving her an unabashed thumbs-up.
Maybe... she really did deserve to be praised by herself.
"I... am proud of myself."
The Ravenclaw Eagles, who knew the truth about Amanda's past, could hardly contain their excitement, punching each other enthusiastically.
Penelope tried hard to suppress the smile at the corners of her mouth and stabilized her voice, "Say it again, Amanda. Say it loudly, say it confidently."
"I am proud of myself."
Amanda raised her volume, and her calm, level voice without any fluctuations spread throughout the Great Hall.
In the next instant, Hermione, Harry, and Ron jumped up cheering, shouting and clapping loudly.
The Ravenclaws threw their hats into the air, and several seventh-year seniors also shouted out.
"To hear Amanda say that before I graduate, I have no regrets!"
"Amanda, don't push yourself too hard; your seniors will carve out a path for you in advance!"
"And your older brothers too!"
Luna had a misty smile on her face as she clapped her hands hard, "She's laid down another heavy burden."
Her roommate standing next to her felt a sudden jolt and turned to look at her.
"Luna... I think I suddenly understand what you're saying."
"Is that so? That's wonderful." Luna smiled gently, her eyes still misty.
Although the other three houses didn't know why one sentence from Amanda caused such a big reaction from The Ravenclaws.
They still clapped along, and the Professors at the Staff Table also clapped in unison.
Professor McGonagall looked at Amanda, who was still expressionless but could now affirm herself, and the gratified smile on her face couldn't be hidden.
Professor Flitwick laughed out loud with joy, forgetting his usual refinement; he was truly happy for his student.
Professor Sprout also looked at Amanda kindly, clapping for this wonderful child. Professor Snape remained unmoved, but his clapping was not the least bit perfunctory.
Looking at the constantly cheering Ravenclaws and hearing those graduates' determined words telling Amanda not to push herself too hard and saying they would carve out a path for her first.
Headmaster Dumbledore's eyes were slightly moist; if you hold everyone in your heart, everyone will surely hold you high.
Even if Amanda hadn't learned emotions, she still maintained true kindness and love toward others.
She did her best to help her companions, and because of this, her companions would also spontaneously and unsparingly pull her out of the mire and smooth the road ahead for her.
This was probably something Tom would never understand.
An alliance maintained by fear and power would be fragile in the face of such unity.
Turning back to sit in his seat, Headmaster Dumbledore stroked his long white beard, a peaceful smile on his lips.
"They are better than all of us... these children."
Professor McGonagall beside him glanced at him, "You've also done very well, Albus. Don't always push all the blame onto yourself."
"Miss Amanda has learned to affirm herself; similarly, you also need to affirm yourself."
Headmaster Dumbledore blinked, "I do affirm myself; I never deny my own wisdom, but... a mistake is a mistake."
He waved his hand and didn't continue the topic, "In them, I can see the future of the Wizarding World. Minerva, what about you?"
Professor McGonagall no longer dwelled on that topic and turned her gaze toward Amanda, who was surrounded by cheering Ravenclaws and remained expressionless.
"Yes, the future of the Wizarding World," she said, looking at Hermione, Harry, and Ron at the Gryffindor Table, "I see it too, Albus. They will do better than us, they certainly will."
"I have no doubt about that." Headmaster Dumbledore nodded with a smile.
The cheering lasted for a full five minutes, and only then did the Ravenclaw Eagles slowly sit down.
Mainly because it was time for the feast, and they were afraid Amanda would get hungry.
Sitting at the Ravenclaw Table, Amanda enjoyed the care of all the Little Eagles as usual.
Looking down at the various foods being placed on her plate, Amanda instinctively looked toward the Gryffindor Table.
Hermione, who was also eating, looked up as if by some intuition and met her gaze, a big smile spreading across her face.
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