Twice Chosen | Esmerelda Potter

31. Last Feast

I could smell the Great Hall all the way back from the Hospital Wing when I passed. Harry, Ron, Hermione and I are walking to the Great Hall to enjoy the last feast of the year. It's hard to believe how fast the year has gone. I guess time flies when you are put in near-death situations multiple times in a year. 

As we walk into the Great Hall, the noise dies down. I feel like everyone is staring at us. The hair on my arms stands up, aware of the hundreds of eyes boring into my skull.

After most of the students go back to talking, I get a chance to look around the Great Hall. Green Slytherin House banners hand from the ceiling due to the fact that they won the House Cup. I'm pretty sure Gryffindor has come in dead last, solely thanks to us.

After I sit down next to Harry, I pile food on my plate. The rest of the Gryffindor table appears to be already done. When I turn around, people from every table are turned around, looking at all of us. I quickly flip myself around, my face hot from embarrassment. 

Percy drops a sealed envelope in front of me.

"What is it?" I ask.

"Your exam results," Percy replies. He turns and walks over to the other side of the table.

Hermione tears it open as fast as she can. 

"How'd you do, Hermione?" I ask.

"Fantastic! How about you?"

"Pretty good. Probably not as good as you, especially with my Astronomy grade. I just barely passed that class!" I sigh. 

"I passed!" Ron shouts. "Potions was horrible. I'm lucky I passed!"

Professor Dumbledore stands up and steps behind the podium. 

"Attention!" Professor Dumbledore shouts. 

Silence falls over the entire crowd. 

"Another year, gone! My, how time flies! What a year!" Dumbledore hollers.

Professor Dumbledore folds his hands. "Now, I believe the House Cup needs awarding," Dumbledore sighs. 

"In last place, with 282 points, is Gryffindor." Every student looks at each other, unsure whether to clap or not. Most of the students from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw manage to clap while most of the Slytherin house laughs. 

"In third place, is Hufflepuff, with 352 points. The entire Gryffindor table half-heartedly claps while grimacing.

"In second place, with 426 points, is Ravenclaw. The Ravenclaw table looks around, satisfied while I barely clap.

"And, in first place, for the seventh year in a row, with 472 points, is Slytherin! Well done!" 

The Slytherin table erupts in cheers while whipping their black hats at each other in victory. I catch Malfoy banging his water goblet on the table while trying to smirk at Harry. 

"Well done, Slytherin! However, some recent events need to be taken into account," Dumbledore says.

I sit up a little straighter in my seat. 

"D'you think he means us?" Ron whispers. 

Hermione quickly shushes him. 

"We have a few last-minute points to hand out. First, to Mr. Ron Weasley..."

Ron gasps while his face turns red, looking more like a tomato than a human being.

"...for the best-played game of chess Hogwarts has seen in many years. I award Mr. Weasley...fifty points."