[147] A Rose in Winter

"Well done, Hall!" Amidst the booming fireworks, Ron rushed to Hall and hugged him tightly, his face flushed. "Amazing! Amazing!"

Hall smiled and hugged him back. "I thought so too."

Harry and Cedric pushed through the crowd. "You truly deserve the title!" "Thank goodness you are alright. Congratulations!"

Their faces showed no reluctance — only gratitude.

Students from all houses began to applaud.

"Hall is the champion! Hall belongs to Slytherin!" Draco, not to be outdone, raised his wand — suppressing his embarrassment — and shouted loudly.

Blaise smiled at the young master, whose face was flushed.

Draco glared at him. "Zabini! What are you laughing at!"

Blaise raised his hands. "Oh, Draco, I think you are absolutely right! Hall is a champion of Slytherin!"

Draco snorted, forcing a satisfied expression.

The Slytherins who had previously mocked Hall showed hesitation. They were happy to have beaten Gryffindor. But Hall was a Weasley... a touch of resentment crept in.

George and Fred, unable to wait any longer, rushed out arm in arm. "Well done, Hall! Hall Weasley is our most amazing little brother!"

The Slytherins suddenly became furious. This was clearly their Slytherin champion! What were those stupid lions so excited about?!

"Hall Weasley is our Slytherin champion! Get lost, stupid lions!"

The Gryffindors shouted even more enthusiastically. The atmosphere was electric.

Dumbledore, who had just finished contacting the other professors and sending the burned Karkaroff to St Mungo's, turned and saw this scene. A kind smile spread across his face. "Oh, Severus, look how adorable these children are!"

Snape nearly laughed out of anger. "Headmaster, do you truly believe Karkaroff would do this to save a Hogwarts student?"

Dumbledore smiled without answering.

After the Triwizard Tournament, a special celebratory banquet was held in the Great Hall. The four houses of Hogwarts enjoyed a peaceful evening of playful banter.

Hall, the champion, was dragged to the Headmaster's office by Snape.

"Champion of the Goblet of Fire, our great Mr Weasley," Snape sat in his chair, holding a glass of sweet honey-water that Dumbledore had given him, "surely you can give your professor a satisfactory explanation for what happened tonight?"

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"Um — Professor — I mean — is it possible I have already told the truth —"

Hall's voice trailed off under Snape's gaze. He obediently shut his mouth, picked up his cup, and gulped down his drink.

"Hahaha, alright, Severus. Stop putting pressure on our champion." Dumbledore smiled, his eyes crinkling. "Were you not worried when you heard Hall was missing?"

He turned and winked at Hall. Those blue eyes, behind his glasses, gleamed with a honey-like light. Hall could not help but click his tongue. No wonder he was Dumbledore. Just that wink was enough to make Hall imagine what the old man had looked like in his youth.

Hall set down his cup, jumped off his chair, and strode over to Snape. Under Snape's dark, murderous, yet slightly embarrassed gaze, he hugged him tightly.

"Thank you for your concern, Professor," Hall whispered in his ear.

Unlike his joking tone, every word was sincere.

Snape stiffened.

Hall grinned at Dumbledore from an angle Snape could not see. Then he spoke.

"By the way, Professor!"

Snape had a bad feeling.

"Where is my promised reward?!"

The tiny spark of emotion that had just welled up in Snape's heart vanished instantly. He reached out and tried to push Hall away — but could not budge him.

What had started as a casual attempt became a matter of defiance. Snape tried again, with renewed force. Still no use.

He looked down at Hall silently.

Hall clung tightly to him, tilting his head back, his large eyes wide and innocent. Could anyone resist such an adorable creature?

Even the hard-hearted Professor Snape could.

"If you do not let go," Snape said, his voice precise and controlled, "the reward I promised will be... discounted, Weasley."

Hall, who had been making others scream all evening, finally broke down.

"Oh! No! Dear Professor! You have changed!" Hall jumped up and down. He thought the nickname was behind him. Clearly, Snape was still bothered by his red hair.

A gentle smile flickered in Snape's eyes. He pulled out a money pouch and shoved it into Hall's hand. "Galleons. The reward I promised you."

The moment Hall held the pouch and felt its weight, his eyes widened. This weight — ten thousand Galleons! Having developed an intimate relationship with Galleons, Hall could guess the amount just from the weight.

"I love you, Professor! I knew you loved me too!" Hall stuffed the pouch into his robes, carefully placing it in a safe spot, then rushed forward to hug Snape again.

Sitting nearby, Dumbledore removed his glasses and wiped the lenses. "Such a touching teacher-student relationship..."

Before Dumbledore could finish, Snape cut through him with a cold snort. "Touched? Then show some real action."

Hall's ears perked up. He turned sharply, looking at Dumbledore with an excitement entirely different from what he had shown Snape. Yes! Actions, not words!

Dumbledore froze, his hand still wiping his glasses. "This... well, it was agreed that after you protected Harry, you would receive one thousand Galleons..."

Ten thousand was rather more than that.

Snape's lips twitched. Even towards Dumbledore, he could still spit venom. "Protecting Harry, bringing honour to the school — is that only worth two thousand?"

Hall nodded frantically. "Yes, yes!"

"And this two thousand is Hall's due reward for protecting Potter." Snape pressed on, not letting Dumbledore off the hook. That old honey-loving man who spent all his money on Sherbet Lemons — he should have it taken from him.

"Severus, you are right." Dumbledore's expression returned to calm. "As a champion of Hogwarts, Hall deserves a special mention."

He produced a coin purse and a larger pouch. The coin purse held one thousand Galleons. The larger pouch held ten thousand.

Hall's reserves: plus eleven thousand Galleons.

"Hehehe, I really should not!" Hall said apologetically, taking both from Dumbledore's hands without any hesitation and stuffing them into his robes.

"Is this Headmaster Dumbledore's personal stash?"

Dumbledore said nothing.

Silence spoke volumes.

Hall chuckled, his heart as hard as iron. A professor at Hogwarts earned more than that in a month, let alone the Headmaster. He felt no pity.