The days after exams passed like a long exhale.
Gone was the nervous energy of last-minute studying, replaced with a warm sense of relief. No more essays, no pop quizzes, no tricky potions or impromptu dueling drills. The halls of Hogwarts buzzed instead with laughter, lazy mornings, and long evenings by the lake.
The trio found themselves enjoying every second of it.
They wandered the grounds, spent hours under the giant beech tree near the Black Lake, and even taught a few curious second years how to tickle the pear for the kitchens. There were pick-up games of Gobstones and wizard chess, and a few brave (and slightly foolish) students tried to start a water fight with animated buckets and enchanted hoses near the greenhouses.
Iris, Hadrian, and Dora joined in. No one left dry.
The Final Feast
The night of the final feast arrived in grand Hogwarts fashion. The Great Hall was decked in all house colors, enchanted candles floating low and bright as if honoring every student's effort this year.
There was a kind of electric expectancy in the air.
Professor Dumbledore stood and beamed at them all. "Another year ends," he said, "and what a remarkable year it has been."
"Before we send you off on the Hogwarts Express, there is the matter of the House Cup."
The hourglasses along the walls shimmered. Emeralds, rubies, sapphires, and yellow topaz sparkled in towering columns.
"Hufflepuff," he continued, "has not won the House Cup in quite some time. But this year... through consistent excellence in studies, commendable behavior, and... an unusually creative interpretation of curriculum…" He gave a subtle, knowing glance toward the Hufflepuff table. "They stand at the top."
A stunned pause—and then the Great Hall erupted. Hufflepuff students screamed in joy, hugging, clapping, standing on benches. Professor Sprout dabbed at her eyes, glowing with pride. House banners magically transformed to gold and black, and yellow fireworks burst in the air above them in the shapes of dancing badgers.
Hadrian, Iris, and Dora were swept into a flurry of group hugs, back-pats, and congratulations from older students.
"We actually did it," Dora breathed.
"Brilliance and chaos wins the cup," Iris said with a wink.
"I think we've earned some history this year," Hadrian added.
Somewhere across the hall, even Professor McGonagall cracked a smile. Professor Flitwick stood and applauded enthusiastically. Snape, however, looked like he had swallowed something sour, very sour indeed.
The Night Before the Train
Back in the common room, students stayed up late talking, singing, and eating leftover sweets from the kitchens. There was a fire roaring in the hearth, and the warmth of success filled the air more than the flames.
"Next year's going to be even better," Iris said dreamily, curled up under a yellow blanket.
"We've got prank plans," Dora muttered, half-asleep, "study goals… animagus dreams…"
Hadrian looked at them and smiled softly.
Next year was already waiting.
But for now, they had this perfect ending.