“Ten points to Gryffindor, for your bravery and luck.”
Professor McGonagall, true to form, awarded Zhang Dong ten points. When points were due, they were due. Taking down a troll – that was a feat worth celebrating. Would it be fair to not award points for that?
“Thank you, Professor McGonagall.” Zhang Dong, with Hermione by his side, expressed his gratitude to Professor McGonagall, primarily thanking her for not deducting points from him and Hermione.
“Hurry back now. Everyone should be in their common rooms awaiting the results. If you rush back, you might catch some late-night snacks.”
After saying this, Professor McGonagall motioned for Zhang Dong and Hermione to leave. Naturally, they didn't linger. After all, the current scene didn't offer much to linger on, even if it was their accomplishment.
Hermione didn't say a word on their way back. Not being one for expressing herself, she didn't know what to say to Zhang Dong.
Thank him? It felt too shallow. After all, Zhang Dong had saved her life.
Offer herself? She was only eleven! Even if she dared, Zhang Dong wouldn't dare accept.
Without realizing it, they had reached the entrance of the Gryffindor common room.
"Hurry inside. Harry and the others should be saving some snacks for us, maybe even a few slices of cake."
Before coming here, Zhang Dong had eaten a few pine nut cakes, but two slices was all it took for them to become cloying. As a true-blooded Chinese person, he craved food that was more down-to-earth, more in line with his taste.
Hermione shook her head, however. "No, no, after what happened, I have absolutely no appetite."
Zhang Dong had a bit too much heart, didn't he? All that red and white flying around, she was practically sick to her stomach. Who could possibly eat after that?
Hearing Hermione's words, Zhang Dong also recalled the scene and immediately felt a bit queasy.
“Right,” finally, as if making a decision, she looked at Zhang Dong, suddenly stood on her tiptoes, and lightly touched his face while he was unprepared. Then, in a voice barely louder than a mosquito’s hum, she said,
“Thank you.”
Then, she fled as quickly as she could.
To be honest, the troll incident played a crucial role in Hermione later becoming a couple with Ron. Later on, the Harry Potter gang even called it the Toilet Three-Way Oath.
Due to the butterfly effect, all of Hermione's gratitude for Harry and Ron was concentrated on Zhang Dong alone. It wasn't surprising that her favorability towards him increased.
Watching Hermione leave, Zhang Dong smiled helplessly. Truly, girls do mature early.
"Pig snout."
"The password is correct."
The Fat Lady opened the door to the common room, and Zhang Dong walked straight inside. As soon as he entered, Harry, Ron, Neville, and Seamus surrounded him.
"Zhang Dong, you're back! Are you okay?"
"Where's Hermione? Why isn't she back with you?"
"Let me tell you, Harry and I were going to go help you, but Percy stopped us. That guy listens to Professor McGonagall so much, not even a Gryffindor!"
"Zhang Dong, it's so good to have you back."
Looking at the chattering group, Zhang Dong smiled and said, "It's fine. Hermione's already back. As for the troll... I took care of it, and I even got ten points for it."
"Hooray!" X4!
Everyone cheered simultaneously.
Hearing the good news that Hermione and Zhang Dong were alright, everyone visibly relaxed.
Harry: "I knew it. That troll couldn't even handle us, so it definitely wouldn't stand a chance against Zhang Dong."
"Not necessarily. In the video, when we defeated the troll, Professor McGonagall said that there are only a handful of first-years who could defeat a troll." Ron seemed a bit proud. After all, he was the one who personally defeated the troll in the video.
Even if it was a bit like a blind cat bumping into a dead rat.
"Well, the troll's weakness is its head. You can defeat it by hitting its head."
"Huh? How did you know?" Ron asked curiously. He had watched the video too, hadn't he? But, hadn't he left early?
Zhang Dong gave him a helpless look and said, "'Troll Tales,' a book by Gilderoy Lockhart. You can take a look at it."
"Oh, I hate that name. My mom is a huge fan of his. I would rather never meet him in my life."
"Haha, hope your dream comes true."
"But that's not the point." Harry shook his head, clearly focusing on something different from Ron.
"Zhang Dong, I want to ask you, when you saw Professor Snape, was his leg injured?"
"Yes." Zhang Dong nodded. He knew the reason, but he felt that even if he told the truth, Harry and the others wouldn't believe him.
After all, the prejudices in people's hearts are like a mountain, no matter how hard you try, you can't move it.
Seeing Zhang Dong nod, Harry's eyes immediately lit up.
"See! It fits!"
Looking at the excited Harry, Ron expressed his confusion. "Fits what?"
"It means, of course, that when the troll appeared, Snape went to the Forbidden Forest to try and get past Fluffy. Unfortunately, he wasn't well prepared and got bitten by Fluffy."
You have to give Harry credit, he is quite clever. At least he guessed half of it right, although he got the main point wrong.
Zhang Dong thought for a moment and felt he should speak up for Snape. After all, in the seven Harry Potter books, Snape took the blame for six and a half of them.
"Snape wouldn't do that. He deeply respects Dumbledore, and he is deeply trusted by Dumbledore. How could he possibly steal from Dumbledore?"
"No, Zhang Dong, you don't know him. You're too kind. You always think everyone is good. But Snape clearly isn't like that. Don't you remember that time Neville accidentally spilled his cauldron, and he deducted a point from Harry, because Harry didn't remind Neville in time."
This……
Okay, Zhang Dong was speechless. Why would Snape be so hated, even the truth wouldn't be believed?
Clearly, it's all Snape's fault.