Dumbledore was restless on the night before the end of the year feast. As the Headmaster, he would have to give a speech, announce the House Cup results and say goodbye to the students. Dumbledore looked at the final points standing. Slytherin were at top, followed by Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Gryffindor at last. This would be the seventh straight win for Slytherin. However, Dumbledore had other ideas. Harry and his friends put their lives at risk to protect the Philosopher's Stone. Well, it was safe even without them trying to protect it, but they didn't know that. This was an incredible thing for three first year students to do, and he wanted to acknowledge them for it.

What these three children did is an indication that they are going to be important in the war against Voldemort. I should encourage this kind of selfless heroism. What a better way to do so than giving them the recognition in front of the whole school, and letting them win the House Cup ? Okay, so they are one hundred and sixty points behind Slytherin. One hundred and sixty five should be just enough to win them the Cup. That's fifty five points each for three of them. No, I can't give them equal points – the other two may get the message that they are equal with Harry, I must make it clear that Harry is more important. The-Boy-Who-Is-Prophesised-To-Have-The-Power-To-Vanquish-The-Dark-Lord-And-Was-Marked-By-The-Dark-Lord-As-His-Equal cannot be equal with other random eleven year olds.

Ron Weasley put himself in the path of danger to save Harry. He has proved his loyalty to Harry and shown that he understood that Harry's life is more important than his. Not surprising, a good chess player knows very well that some pieces often need to be sacrificed to win the overall game. With proper encouragement, he will be conditioned to believe that he needs to always do whatever is necessary to protect Harry at any cost. Fifty points would be a good deal.

Hermione Granger, such a teacher's pet, deliberately broke rules to help Ron and Harry. She is also the smartest among the three of them and Harry needs someone with immense knowledge and memory like her. She would also be a good future wife for Harry if I eventually manage to find a solution where it is possible for him to defeat Voldemort without himself dying. She needs to be motivated to use her smartness for important things other than books and exams, and be encouraged with the idea that friendship with Harry Potter is more important than some school rules. Fifty points would be good for her too.

That leaves sixty five points to be given to Harry. That would be a good encouragement for him to face any kind of dangerous situation to stop the evil from being victorious. That kind of learning early on in his life will prepare him to face Voldemort when the time comes.

…. xxxxx ….. xxxxx … xxxxx …

When Dumbledore reached the great hall, the students were already gathered and so were the teachers. The hall was decorated in green and silver, the colour of Slytherin house. No one other than Dumbledore had any idea that it was going to change very soon.

"Another year gone!" Dumbledore said cheerfully. "And I must trouble you with an old man's wheezing waffle before we sink our teeth into our delicious feast. What a year it has been! Hopefully your heads are all a little fuller than they were... you have the whole summer ahead to get them nice and empty before next year starts...

"Now, as I understand it, the house cup here needs awarding, and the points stand thus: In fourth place, Gryffindor, with three hundred and twelve points; in third, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and fifty-two; Ravenclaw has four hundred and twenty-six and Slytherin, four hundred and seventy- two."

A storm of cheering and stamping broke out from the Slytherin table.

"Yes, Yes, well done, Slytherin," said Dumbledore. "However, recent events must be taken into account."

The room went very still. The Slytherins' smiles faded a little.

"Ahem," said Dumbledore. "I have a few last-minute points to dish out. Let me see. Yes...

"First - to Mr. Ronald Weasley..."

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

Gryffindor cheers nearly raised the bewitched ceiling; the stars overhead seemed to quiver. The Weasley prefect was screaming, telling other prefects that it was his youngest brother who had beaten McGonagall's transfigured chess set.

At last there was silence again.

"Second - to Miss Hermione Granger... for the use of cool logic in the face of fire, I award Gryffindor house fifty points."

There was another burst of massive uproar from the Gryffindor table. They were jumping and shouting. Dumbledore waited for the noise to subside before continuing.

"Third - to Mr. Harry Potter..." said Dumbledore. The room went deadly quiet "...for pure nerve and outstanding courage, I award Gryffindor house sixty points."

The uproar was much louder this time. The noise coming from Gryffindor table was so loud that it seemed an explosion had gone off. They were still shouting in joy when Dumbledore realized his mistake.

Merlin ! I gave only sixty points to Harry. Now they are just tied with Slytherin. The encouragement will be less effective if they only tie instead of winning the Cup. I was supposed to give sixty five points to Harry, how could I slip up ? I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, the conqueror of Grindelwald, and the wisest Headmaster that Hogwarts has ever seen should not be making such mistakes, specially after having practiced and rehearsed last night. I should think something quickly. I should give some points to a Gryffindor student before the crowd stops shouting. Who should it be ? Weasley prefect – What's his name ? Yes, Percy. No, I can't give him points. Two Weasleys getting last minute points in front of the whole school is a bad idea, it could encourage Arthur and Molly to start planning for more children. They already have more than they can afford. So who should I give point to ?

At that moment, Dumbledore's eyes met Neville Longbottom's. Dumbledore had heard how he tried to stop Harry and his friends from sneaking out.

Poor Longbottom boy. With his parents in such a tragic condition, and Augusta putting so much pressure on the little boy, comparing him with his father who was such an excellent wizard and a great Auror, life must be really hard for him. Ten points at the end of the term will certainly cheer him up. But I can't simply give points to cheer him up, I need to come up with some explanation. YES ! I can finally use the quote I came up with to console myself and help me feel good about having to fight against Gellert. For the first time I get the chance to say it aloud in front of people and no one will know what I am referring to.

Dumbledore raised his hand. The room gradually fell silent.

"There are all kinds of courage," said Dumbledore, smiling. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends. I therefore award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom."

And then the shouting and noise became unbearable. Everyone at the Gryffindor were celebrating joyously, with Harry, Ron. Hermione and Neville at the center, surrounded by everyone. There was a stunned shock and silence at the Slytherin table.

Maybe I should not have let the decorations be set up before announcing the last minute points. In retrospect, it looks a bit unfair for Slytherin to have them believe they have won the House Cup and celebrate it too, and take it away from them later. But then, it will become insignificant in the grander scheme of things. It is, after all, for the greater good.

"Which means, Dumbledore called over the storm of applause, "we need a little change of decoration."

He clapped his hands. In an instant, the green hangings became scarlet and the silver became gold; the huge Slytherin serpent vanished and a towering Gryffindor lion took its place.

Soon, the feast ended and the students got their exam results. It was time for the students to go to their homes until September. Dumbledore could see the children shaking hands, hugging each other, and exchanging goodbyes. Another year had passed, and it had been a quite eventful and abnormal one. Dumbledore, however, knew that this abnormality was soon going to be the norm – with The-Boy-Who-Probably-Got-Special-Powers-From-Voldemort-And-Might-Even-Be-The-Container-Of-One-Of-His-Horcruxes in school, interesting things were bound to happen.

One thing was going to be the same as always though, they would need a new teacher to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. With death now added to the list of things that have happened to the teachers of the subject, it was going to be more difficult to find a willing person this time.

As if he exactly knew what the Headmaster was thinking, Severus Snape stood in front of him and mildly smiled without saying anything.

Not yet, Severus. Not yet.