Daily News: The Prophet of Hogwarts

Chapter 50 Ravenclaw May Be the Biggest Winner

"That's enough, Mr. Ron," Dumbledore said, stopping Ron who was still stammering.

"I must say, you broke several school rules tonight," he said.

These words made the four young wizards and model student Percy uneasy; this was a good boy, inexperienced in the ways of the world.

Vio lowered his head and looked meek, showing no sign of worry; this was his assessment of the situation.

George and Fred, since their debut, have never known what fear is. This guy is called a brute (scratch that), he's called Gryffindor.

"Minerva, Lane, Argus. What do you think we should do about this?" Dumbledore, in the spirit of democracy, asked for everyone's opinions.

It's as if our suggestions can really play a decisive role... Ryan, based on his youngest age and least seniority, fully utilized the dregs of feudalism that have been passed down for thousands of years, letting his senior colleagues speak first.

Although this place is located in England, where bureaucracy is at its peak, my past life's experiences weren't for nothing... He was full of confidence and planned to make good use of his self-cultivation as a corporate slave and flatterer later.

Filch spoke first: "Headmaster, I believe we must reinstate the instruments of torture used against bad students, and punish these people with cruelty!"

He then began rapidly reciting various instruments of torture: "I have carefully maintained these; they are absolutely ready for use..."

"Pah." Ryan coughed twice, spat to the side, and interrupted Filch.

This action drew a furious glare from Filch, whose already protruding eyeballs bulged even more.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Filch, my throat is a little sore today." Ryan gave him an explanation, maintaining a minimum level of respect out of consideration for him as a faculty member.

A few low laughs came from the group that had violated school rules.

"No, Argus. Hogwarts doesn't need corporal punishment now." Professor McGonagall shook her head repeatedly. She was a serious witch, but not a harsh one. She wanted her students to study properly and didn't want them to feel like they were being tortured.

She also expressed her opinion: "Albus, I think they all violated school rules by going out at night, and they should be dealt with according to the school rules."

"Every student who goes out at night will have 50 points deducted! They'll also be placed in solitary confinement!"

As soon as Professor McGonagall finished speaking, Ryan seemed to hear Hermione let out a wail.

He could understand Hermione quite well, unlike Ravenclaw, where everyone was a master at adding points, adhering to the principle of deducting points from those who added them, and never letting excess point gems pollute Ravenclaw's hourglass.

In Gryffindor, there aren't many students who can earn extra credits, but in the first year, Hermione alone carried half the burden.

Unfortunately, six Gryffindors were caught tonight, totaling 300 points.

If I remember correctly, Slytherin only scored 450 points to win the House Cup last year, while Gryffindor's total score at the end of the year was only 300... Ryan mourned for Dumbledore. He could hardly imagine how the headmaster would manage to get Gryffindor, who already had a negative score, to win the House Cup.

"Principal, Professor," he said, "I happen to have a small research project here. Why don't we have them put in solitary confinement here?"

"Of course, Lane, you always have some novel ideas." Dumbledore smiled. "Since both professors and Argus have offered suggestions, I will now announce your punishments."

Everyone stood up straight. After listening to Ryan's advice, most of them had some expectations for Dumbledore's next punishment.

Dumbledore said, "Every wizard who participates in the night tour tonight will have fifty points deducted and will also need to be confined to Professor Lane's for a week."

"However, Mr. Vio demonstrated courage in protecting his classmates and wisdom in taming the three-headed dog, for which I would add fifty points to Slytherin's score."

"The address for solitary confinement..."

Dumbledore suddenly realized that the real professor was only hospitalized, not resigned or dead, and the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor's office could not be directly used by Ryan.

Ryan saw through Dumbledore's predicament: "Headmaster, let's set the address as the Adventurers' Club on the second floor, as my acting professor's office. Once Professor Quirrell has recovered from his injury, he can resume teaching us."

The two agreed on the address of the acting professor's office and planned to post it on the bulletin board tomorrow.

As the two were talking, Vio and the others beamed with joy in front of Filch.

Being confined under Ryan's command, and in the Adventurers' Club no less! What's the difference between this and going home!

Of course, there are also people with different opinions.

For example, Harry absolutely did not agree that being confined to the Adventurers' Club was going home. He didn't want to recall the Dursleys' house at all.

Malfoy also said that although the Adventurers' Club had a good atmosphere, it was not as luxurious as the Malfoy family manor and could not be considered as coming home.

Filch was furious. As the only person without a teaching position and the lowest in status among those with seats, he couldn't say anything about the verdict.

After determining the punishment, Dumbledore said:

"Mr. Percy, Mr. Vio, you may now take your juniors back to the common room. After such a thrilling night, you will be craving the warmth of your beds."

"Argus, it's getting late, you should go back and rest."

Vio led the way, and the group bid farewell to the remaining two professors and the principal in turn.

Filch also stood up, looking at Dumbledore with hopeful eyes as he left, hoping that Dumbledore would "repent" and take his advice to govern Hogwarts.

However, Dumbledore did not respond.

Filch had no choice but to leave in a huff, and at the door he competed with Vio and his group in killing each other with their eyes.

After everyone else had left, Dumbledore smiled and looked at Ryan: "Severus might not be too happy if he finds out tomorrow that his House grade is fifty points lower."

"What a disaster! Slytherin has lost fifty points."

"Especially since you had a heart-to-heart talk with him tonight. Perhaps tomorrow, we'll see a different Severus?"

Don't blame everything on me. I just had a chat with Professor Snape... Ryan thinks it's because a lot of people like the headmaster are overthinking things that rumors spread that he's good at manipulating people.

For example, because Vio and he had a good relationship, these people believed that Vio was completely loyal to Ryan Wales.

Therefore, those who divide people into factions are simply slanderers. He has always been impartial and honest, as heaven and earth can attest, and he would never resort to any manipulative tactics.

He had only done Vio a small favor! But in Ryan's own opinion, with Vio's protagonist aura and background, Vio could escape danger even without Ryan's help.

Every time Ryan thought about this, he felt that there were bad people in the seemingly honest and kind-hearted magical world!

Meanwhile, Dumbledore continued to expand on the topic by mentioning the points deducted from Slytherin House.

Completely disregarding the fact that one of the three remaining people is also the dean of the academy, and that the academy has inadvertently lost three hundred points...

Ryan glanced at Professor McGonagall beside him, wanting to tell the clueless headmaster to stop talking. Professor McGonagall, whose face was as black as the bottom of a pot, was practically breathing out gas!

Gryffindor could now be renamed Gryffindor, so how could Professor McGonagall be in a good mood?

At that moment, he suddenly realized that after Slytherin lost fifty points, Ravenclaw was now in first place!

Add to that the Gryffindors with negative scores, and Hufflepuff who are always third...

The biggest winner of this nighttime duel is Ravenclaw!

I'm afraid that tomorrow countless Slytherins and Gryffindors will be claiming: Ravenclaw, you won! You threatened Ravenclaw's interests, and Ravenclaw set you up!

In the eyes of the "scheming" students, Ravenclaw is like this: These Slytherin and Gryphon students are climbing the ranks again. Watch us send out a substitute professor to corrupt these rank-climbing idiots! Hahaha, they've been tricked again!

"Oh, Minerva, I believe the Gryffindor students are excellent students, and they are certainly capable of earning back the points they lost tonight," Dumbledore added, finally realizing that Professor McGonagall was not in a good mood.

But instead of mentioning that the Gryffindor students had regained their points, his words caused Professor McGonagall to jump up abruptly: "Mr. Dumbledore, Mr. Wells! I think we should go and see why Cerberus has broken free and is roaming freely."