Which is more important: Slytherin's dignity or deducting points from Gryffindor?
This wasn't exactly a hard question.
Although Snape was notoriously shameless, this time... he wanted to save face!
Otherwise, Hogwarts would soon be flooded with countless jokes about Slytherins.
Snape stopped mentioning how Hermione had "beaten up" the entire Slytherin team.
Nor did he want William and the others to bring it up. Instead, he focused on Malfoy's injuries as an excuse to stir things up.
"You two attacked Malfoy. You admit it, didn't you?"
Snape grabbed Malfoy's head and roughly exposed the injury for everyone to see.
"Look at this! See what they did to him? He's just a child!"
There wasn't much of an injury—just a large bump, wrapped tightly with bandages over and over again. If someone didn't know better, they'd think he was smuggling a giant diamond under there.
"We admit to hitting Malfoy," William said calmly.
"But Malfoy insulted Hermione by calling her a 'Mudblood.' Annie gave him a light hit for that, it wasn't excessive at all.
"As for Hermione attacking Malfoy, that was because he tried to assault my sister. Hermione, while trying to stop him, accidentally... injured him.
"This is a textbook example of self-defense!"
Snape's sallow skin turned the color of spoiled milk. He suddenly twisted his head and locked eyes with Malfoy.
"You called Granger... a Mudblood?" Snape's voice was low, almost a whisper.
Malfoy opened his mouth to deny it, but Snape's pitch-black eyes bore into him.
Frightened, Malfoy took two steps back and then nodded reluctantly.
Snape's voice remained low, almost conspiratorial.
"Draco, my dear boy... maybe you should take a trip to the Albanian forests and play sumo wrestling with mountain trolls. Perhaps after enduring a few of their mighty slaps, your brain might clear up a little!"
"Come along!"
Snape's black robes billowed as he seized Malfoy by the collar and dragged him away.
The way he did it, it was as if he were carrying a bag of trash.
William blinked in astonishment. He'd been expecting Snape to throw a fit, to cause a scene... but that was it? That's all?
How strange.
Wait... William remembered Snape's letters, the ones he had written to Lily.
That must be why he hated the word "Mudblood" so much.
Once Snape was out of sight, Professor McGonagall turned her stern gaze on Hermione and Annie.
Both girls lowered their heads, standing quietly as they awaited their scolding.
"I don't believe they were in the wrong, Professor," William stepped forward to stand protectively in front of the two.
"Pureblood families' prejudice against Muggle-born witches and wizards is nothing new, but very few have the audacity to hurl such slurs in public.
"Malfoy needed to be taught a lesson, to understand what he can and cannot say!
"However, no matter the circumstances, you must never use magic to attack your fellow students. Am I clear, William?" Professor McGonagall sighed.
"I'm truly sorry, but because Miss Granger and Miss Stark attacked Malfoy, I must deduct sixty points from Gryffindor. And both of you will have detention."
William stood calmly. Everyone knew that anything said before the word but could practically be ignored.
"But... if it were me, I probably wouldn't have been able to resist slapping him either." McGonagall's hands trembled slightly with anger. "What a loathsome boy!"
"I'll recommend to Professor Dumbledore that using insulting language should be explicitly banned in our school rules."
Hermione and Annie looked up at Professor McGonagall with surprise and gratitude.
McGonagall took a deep breath.
"Well then, Miss Stark, for your actions in defending your fellow student's honor, Gryffindor is awarded thirty points.
Miss Granger, for your efforts in protecting another student from harm, Gryffindor is awarded thirty points as well. Of course, your detention still stands."
"What kind of detention?" Annie asked meekly.
"You'll be cleaning the Hogwarts kitchens," McGonagall replied sternly.
William couldn't help but laugh.
This punishment was practically a joke… The house-elves cleaned the kitchens at least ten times a day. If they didn't, they'd punish themselves, thinking they'd been lazy.
Hogwarts' kitchens were probably the cleanest place in the entire castle.
McGonagall shot William a sharp glare as he laughed.
Clearly, she knew that William frequently sneaked into the kitchens in violation of school rules.
William smiled back. Professor McGonagall wasn't as rigid as she appeared.
But then he paused... Wait, she didn't award any points to Ravenclaw?
How unscientific.
Well, William took back his earlier compliment.
McGonagall spoke gently, "You're dismissed. No more fighting in the future."
"And William, I hope you won't seek out any more trouble with Malfoy."
William nodded and gave her a Cedric-like, earnest smile.
Cedric always wore that honest smile, right before he came up with clever ways to outwit people.
Hufflepuffs were deceptively cunning... Never underestimate the quiet ones.
As for McGonagall's warning... William wouldn't dream of storming into the Slytherin common room, wand in hand, to beat Malfoy up.
That would be the most inefficient method, and also the most obvious one. William had plenty of ways to make Malfoy apologize on his own.
As for the other Slytherin Quidditch players...
Heh...
As they left the office, Annie hung her head, looking apologetic. "Big brother, it's only been a week since term started, and I've already caused you trouble."
William reached out and pinched her cheek gently. "Next time, don't rush in. Learn to keep a low profile. It's perfectly fine to fight dirty or strike from the shadows."
"Remember this: Hogwarts has a thousand rules, but rule number one is don't get caught."
William, Cedric, and the twins always broke the rules without getting caught.
The best students... were the ones who didn't get caught!
"I understand. I'll go apologize to Dumbledore now. Bye, Hermione!" Annie said as she dashed off.
William walked slowly down the long corridor, hands in his pockets.
Hermione followed a few steps behind, always keeping just the right distance.
After they'd walked for a while, William asked, without turning his head, "So? How did it feel—your first duel with another student?"
"They seemed... rather weak," Hermione whispered.
"That's because you've gotten stronger," William replied with a smile, "You're already far ahead of your peers, in both combat skills and magical aptitude."
"But... I still can't beat you."
"That's normal."
"So... do we still train for two hours every night?"
"Of course."
"Do you even have the time and energy?"
"For you, Hermione... I'll always make time."
Hermione beamed. She suddenly reached out and tugged lightly at William's sleeve.
Taking a step forward, William pulled his hands out of his pockets and took her hand naturally.
They walked in silence, side by side, down the long, endless corridor.