Honor Before Glory

  Harry and Percy, who had, by the way, escaped from the infirmary and knew very well that Madam Pomfrey would be truly upset about it, did not dare go back. So they both walked straight toward the Gryffindor common room.

  As they made their way through the corridors, the students they passed seemed to give them excited looks, some even accompanied by discreet nods.

  “What is going on?” Percy asked, confused, since just a few days earlier the only looks they had received from almost everyone in the castle had been mocking or annoyed. Very different from now, when it seemed as if everyone held them in high regard.

  “Well, when Hermione took Ron to the infirmary just before us, Ron was not unconscious, so he was loudly talking through the corridors about everything we faced,” Harry explained calmly. “And shortly after that, the professors came running out, so people obviously already know more or less what happened. Fred and George made sure everyone else found out after visiting Ron in the infirmary and asking him what had happened.”

  “Wait… how long was I unconscious? Was it not just a few moments?” Percy asked, confused.

  “Oh, no. It was a whole day,” Harry replied without any remorse. “When I saw you were not fully passing out with the first Stupefy, I cast five more. Though I think the second one would have been enough, I just wanted to be sure,” he added, completely naturally.

  “Harry, tell me the truth… you actually hate me, right? Is it because I always say I am your older brother? Or because I destroyed your favorite jacket?” Percy said in a very serious tone.

  “I do not hate you… wait, what was that last one?” Harry asked, turning his head toward his brother as he felt anger starting to rise in his chest.

  “That was not because of that,” Percy said quickly. “Well, hey, you blasted me point blank with a spell, so we are even,” he added with a shameless grin.

  “Yeah… even,” Harry replied, clearly struggling to keep himself in check.

  “Harry! Percy!”

  A shout came from ahead, and both of them saw Hermione running toward them, followed by Neville and Grover.

  Hermione hugged Harry as soon as she saw that he was completely fine, then turned to hug Percy as well, though Neville eagerly rushed forward and gave his friend a tight hug, visibly happy.

  “It is great that both of you are okay. I was really scared when I found out Percy had escaped from the infirmary, but he seems fine,” Hermione said, looking at Percy, who was gently patting Neville so he would let go, since he was practically choking him.

  …

  The week following what had happened passed quickly.

  Gryffindor ended up winning thanks to Harry’s perfect attendance, defeating Ravenclaw in their final match of the year. Now, more than ever, Harry was seen almost like a hero in his house, regaining his good reputation and fame. Something that, to be honest, did not seem to please him very much.

  He constantly felt eyes on him, something that had always bothered him, so he often stayed somewhere secluded to read his magical tome, wearing a serious, focused expression.

  Meanwhile, Percy spent much of that week talking with Grover about the camp. He did not want to miss a single detail. For some reason, Harry noticed that Percy seemed genuinely interested in seeing it with his own eyes, far more than Harry himself might have been.

  Ron also finally left the infirmary. Apparently, he had only taken a few heavy hits, but he was well enough to attend the end of year feast.

  Percy and Harry also received some rather emotional apologies from Hagrid, who blamed himself for everything that had happened. According to him, Quirrell had learned how to get past Fluffy thanks to his carelessness, not to mention the problem with Norbert, which had cost Harry points and put them through a terrible time. He even said they had almost died, all while crying uncontrollably, leaving the two boys unsure of how to make him stop.

  But all of that eventually passed, and at last the day of the end of year dinner arrived.

  The day the House Champion would be announced.

  Though, to be honest, the result already seemed quite obvious. Even though Gryffindor had won their final match and closed the gap with Slytherin in points, that house still had almost a hundred points more than the others, making their victory practically guaranteed.

  Harry and Percy arrived at the Great Hall, and the moment they stepped inside, the small murmurs they had already grown somewhat used to became noticeable at once as they looked for their seats at the Gryffindor table. The hall was completely decorated with Slytherin banners, green and silver everywhere, celebrating their apparent triumph and their seventh consecutive cup.

  Some students even stood up to look directly at Harry and Percy. Before Percy could truly start to get annoyed, Dumbledore appeared just in time.

  “Another year has gone,” the headmaster said cheerfully. “And I will trouble you with the ramblings of an old man before you begin the feast,” he added with an amused smile.

  “Another year has ended, and I hope you leave with your heads a little fuller than when you arrived. Now you have the whole summer to make them nice and empty again before the next school year begins,” he added, drawing laughter from both students and professors.

  “Very well, I believe I am meant to present the House Cup now,” he continued. “The points stand as follows: in fourth place, Gryffindor with 362 points; in third place, Hufflepuff with 373; Ravenclaw with 376; and Slytherin with 472.”

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  At the sound of the number, which far surpassed the other houses, a wave of joyful, excited applause erupted from the Slytherin table.

  For a moment, Harry caught sight of Draco Malfoy pounding the table with his goblet while looking at him mockingly, an expression he found truly repulsive.

  “Yes, yes, well done, Slytherin,” Dumbledore said, gradually quieting the applause. “However, the following events must be taken into account,” he added.

  The smiles on the Slytherin students’ faces began to stiffen, and even Snape looked completely darkened, as if he already knew what was coming.

  “I have a few last minute points to add,” Dumbledore said, bringing absolute silence to the hall. “First, for the Hufflepuff student, Grover Underwood.”

  Everyone looked at Grover in confusion.

  “The centaurs told me what you have been doing in the Forbidden Forest. Though you broke a few rules, they informed me that you were helping save several unicorns, bringing them to safety and arriving just in time to rescue them when they were injured. Thanks to that, at least five unicorns are now with their families, completely healthy and safe,” he continued. “That, of course, is a truly brave act.”

  Dumbledore paused briefly.

  “The next time, however, it would be better if you sought help, perhaps from the gamekeeper Hagrid, since that is part of his duty. Even so, that bravery is worth far more than you might think. Therefore, one hundred points will be awarded to the house of Hufflepuff.”

  An exaggerated number, without a doubt.

  “I am sure a very special former Hufflepuff student will be proud of you… he even insisted quite strongly that your reward be appropriate,” the headmaster added with a smile that seemed to recall someone for a brief moment.

  At once, the members of Hufflepuff rose from their seats and began shouting excitedly. With that number of points, they were now, quite literally, the winners, and not Slytherin.

  Meanwhile, the Slytherin students wore truly furious expressions as they realized they had been defeated by just a single point… and, worse still, by the house that seemed to never win the cup.

  “All right, all right, I am not finished yet,” the headmaster said, raising his voice slightly as he tried to calm everyone down.

  “For Ronald Weasley, for being the best chess player seen in many years, I award fifty points to the house of Gryffindor,” Dumbledore announced.

  The redhead turned completely red with embarrassment, while the rest of Gryffindor burst into applause and congratulations.

  “Third, to Miss Hermione Granger, for the use of cool logic when facing the fire. I award fifty points to the house of Gryffindor,” Dumbledore continued.

  Hermione, upon hearing that, buried her face in her arms. Harry noticed that she was crying with joy, so, with a soft smile, he gave her a few gentle pats on the back.

  However, Harry’s gaze slid toward his brother.

  Percy wore a serious expression, even somewhat annoyed, and seemed to tense more and more as Dumbledore continued speaking.

  “Fifth, to Mr. Percy Jackson, for his sword control, something not seen in a very long time, and for always staying at the front to protect his friends. Fifty points to Gryffindor,” the old man announced.

  The Gryffindor table erupted in even greater excitement. With those points, they had now completely surpassed Slytherin, becoming the number one house. Even so, many remained expectant, because they knew there was still one more to come.

  “We are about to break a record, right?” Harry heard an older student say excitedly, as everyone began to stare fixedly at Dumbledore… and then at Harry.

  “For Harry Potter, for his ingenuity, his courage, and his high magical aptitude, uncommon in a first year student, I award fifty points to the house of Gryffindor,” he declared.

  “We broke it! We broke the record!” many shouted from the Gryffindor table, excited and happy. “You really did it, Harry,” one of the older Weasleys said, looking at him with pride for belonging to their house.

  Harry looked around for a moment. Everyone was happy, celebrating, jumping, while the green and silver curtains of Slytherin were replaced by red and gold, with the lion of Gryffindor waving over the Great Hall.

  Even so, Harry could not bring himself to feel happy.

  He looked at Dumbledore, who returned his gaze with a satisfied smile and a slight nod.

  “With all due respect, Professor Dumbledore… I do not accept those points.”

  The voice cut through the celebration instantly.

  For a moment, it seemed as if no one had heard properly. Then, all eyes turned toward the source of that voice.

  It was Percy.

  He was standing, his face serious, and his displeasure could be felt in every movement of his body.

  The silence was absolute.

  Ron stood up at once and tried to make him sit down, but Percy shot him a hard look that stopped him cold.

  “Pardon me, Mr. Jackson?” Dumbledore asked, clearly confused.

  “I said that I reject the points that were given to me,” Percy repeated in a louder tone, so everyone could hear him.

  Harry brought a hand to his face. His body trembled slightly, which many interpreted as embarrassment. But Ron and Hermione, who were beside him, could clearly hear him laughing.

  “May I ask why?” Dumbledore asked, still bewildered. Then he looked at McGonagall, who wore the same expression of confusion after the initial joy over her house’s victory.

  “I put my life at risk not for Hogwarts, nor for Gryffindor,” Percy said firmly. “I did it for my brother and for my friends, when they needed it most. No one else was there.”

  His voice did not shake.

  “I was raised with the honor of a knight. And I will not accept honors from people who turned their backs on us when my brother needed them. My teachers would be truly disappointed if I accepted those points. So I reject them.”

  He remained standing straight, like a perfectly upright sword, making it clear that he was serious and that his honor was at stake.

  It took Dumbledore a few seconds to react.

  “Well…” he murmured, not quite knowing what to say. Even for him, this was something entirely new.

  Then Harry also stood from his seat, after finishing his laughter. Ron looked at him pleadingly, but Harry had already made his decision.

  “I am sorry, Headmaster. I was raised under the same discipline as my brother,” he said calmly. “Though he is far more chivalrous than I am, I also reject my points. Especially because, honestly, we do not deserve them.”

  He gave Percy a smile, supporting him without hesitation.

  Percy returned the smile.

  Both of them looked at the professors, who were practically in shock. Something like this had never happened in all the school years.

  The Gryffindors were even more stunned. Some clutched their heads in despair as they realized what was happening. Others tried to convince them in hushed voices, but only received hard looks from Percy, which brought silence back to the hall.

  Dumbledore finally spoke, staring directly at both boys.

  “I understand. If out of pride and honor you reject the points, I cannot force you to accept them, even though I believe you more than deserve them,” he said. Then he moved his wand slightly.

  The Gryffindor curtains changed once more.

  Now the Great Hall filled with yellow and black, with the badger of Hufflepuff waving high above.

  That only increased the sadness and frustration at the Gryffindor table.

  “Then, the winner of this year is Hufflepuff,” Dumbledore announced.

  The Hufflepuff students leapt to their feet, celebrating with overflowing happiness. It had been so many years since their house had won that some, for a moment, thought it was a joke.

  Many looked at Grover, afraid that he might reject the points. But he could not, or rather, he was not allowed to. A student named Cedric Diggory had him firmly held, covering his mouth just in case, knowing very well that Grover was Percy’s best friend.

  The Slytherins were truly upset, not only with Hufflepuff, but even more with Gryffindor. To them, it all seemed like a cruel joke by Percy and Harry just to humiliate them.

  Meanwhile, the Gryffindors, who had seen victory, a broken record, and honor for their house, looked at Harry and Percy for a long moment before lowering their heads, ashamed. They could not say anything. Deep down, they knew they had brought this upon themselves.

  Even so, some could not help but feel a bit relieved.

  At least, Slytherin had not won.

  And the Hufflepuffs looked at Harry and Percy as true heroes.