HP: Bad Intentions

The year-end banquet at Hogwarts was always the happiest time of the year, and this year was no exception. Students and professors gathered in the Great Hall, its enchanted ceiling reflecting the twilight sky outside.

The hall was buzzing with excitement and energy, but it wasn't just the feast that had everyone so thrilled. No, the real excitement came from the fact that after tonight's banquet, the long-awaited holiday officially began.

For most students, the thought of escaping the heavy studies of the academic year, even if only for a few weeks, was a great relief. Whether they were from the Muggle world or the wizarding world, the universal love for holidays was the same.

No more homework, no more exams—just the sweet promise of freedom. And to make the night even better, no one knew their final exam results, so there was no need to worry about grades just yet.

As Blake Green entered the Great Hall, his eyes were immediately drawn to the sea of yellow that dominated the room. Hufflepuff banners hung from the walls, with their iconic badger emblem proudly displayed on every one of them.

The meaning was clear: Hufflepuff had won the House Cup this year, ending Slytherin's long streak of consecutive victories.

Blake noticed Professor Sprout, the head of Hufflepuff House, grinning from ear to ear. She radiated pride as she watched her students fill the hall. Across the room, however, Professor Snape, sat stone-faced, though it was obvious to everyone that his forced smile was barely concealing his frustration at losing the Cup this year.

Blake found his seat among his fellow Hufflepuffs, but before he could even settle in, he was nearly knocked over by Marcus, a burly seventh-year student and the captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team. Marcus pushed Cedric aside and sat down next to Blake, his large frame shaking as he sobbed tears of joy.

"Thank you, Blake!" Marcus cried, his voice full of emotion.

"Because of you, we finally won the House Cup! And the Quidditch Cup too!" His voice cracked as he tried to compose himself, but the emotion of the night overwhelmed him.

"You made it happen. You made my last year here at Hogwarts unforgettable."

Blake felt a twinge of sadness as he looked at Marcus. This year-end banquet wasn't just a celebration; it was also Marcus's graduation dinner.

After tonight, Marcus and the other seventh years would leave Hogwarts, moving on to the next chapter of their lives. Blake realized that this would be the last time he would see Marcus at Hogwarts.

"Marcus, you should be happy tonight," Blake said, trying to comfort him.

"It's your graduation! Don't waste this night crying."

Marcus nodded, wiping away his tears and forcing a grin. "You're right, Blake. I should be celebrating."

But despite his words, there was a deep sadness in Marcus's eyes. Hogwarts had been his home for seven years, and the thought of leaving it behind, along with his friends, was almost too much to bear.

"I don't want to leave," Marcus admitted quietly. "After graduation, I won't see any of you again. It's hard to imagine not being here."

Blake nodded. He couldn't imagine Hogwarts without Marcus either.

"Blake," Marcus said suddenly, "you're going to be the captain of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team next year."

Blake's eyes widened in shock. "Me? Captain? But I'll only be in my second year!"

Marcus chuckled. "Yeah, it's unusual. But you're not like most second-years. You've got something special, Blake. I know you'll lead the team to victory."

Blake looked over at Cedric, who smiled and nodded. "I agree with Marcus," Cedric said. "You're a great player, Blake. You're the best choice for captain."

Blake still wasn't convinced. "I don't know anything about Quidditch tactics," he protested.

Marcus smirked. "You don't need to. Our strategy has always been simple. You catch the Snitch, Cedric scores goals, and we win. Easy."

As they continued chatting, Blake asked, "What are your plans after graduation, Marcus?"

Marcus's smile faded, and his expression became serious. "I wanted to try out for Puddlemere United as a Keeper, but... I didn't even get an invite to the tryouts."

Blake could hear the disappointment in Marcus's voice. He knew how much Marcus loved Quidditch, but becoming a professional player was tough.

Only the most talented wizards made it to the professional leagues, and as much as it hurt to admit, Marcus just didn't have the raw talent needed to compete at that level.

Blake, deep in thought, looked at Marcus. "You know, Marcus, if Quidditch doesn't work out for you, there are other options. You could always come to me. I'll help you find something you love."

Marcus smiled weakly. "Thanks, Blake. I appreciate it. But it's hard to give up on a dream."

Before Blake could respond, Dumbledore stood up at the staff table, his presence commanding immediate silence in the hall. The attention of every student shifted to the front of the room, where Dumbledore began his annual speech.

"Another year has come to an end," Dumbledore said, his voice warm and full of wisdom. "Before we indulge in this magnificent feast, I must ask for your attention for a few moments."

Dumbledore paused, letting the anticipation build. "First, I would like to announce the winner of the House Cup. But before we do that, we have some special awards to hand out."

The room buzzed with excitement. Special awards were rare and only given to students who had gone above and beyond.

"I would like to begin by awarding points to Mr. Ronald Weasley," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling.

"For his bravery in playing a game of wizard's chess that helped his friends pass through a dangerous challenge, I award Gryffindor fifty points."

The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers, and Ron's face turned bright red as he basked in the unexpected attention. His brothers, Fred and George, stood up and cheered the loudest, making sure everyone in the hall knew that their younger brother had achieved something extraordinary.

Dumbledore continued. "Next, to Mr. Harry Potter. For showing extraordinary bravery in the face of danger, and for his determination to protect the Philosopher's Stone, I award Gryffindor sixty points."

The cheers from Gryffindor grew even louder as Harry smiled shyly. He had faced incredible danger that year, and it felt good to be recognized for his courage.

Finally, Dumbledore turned to Neville Longbottom. "And lastly, to Mr. Neville Longbottom, for demonstrating true courage by standing up to his friends when he believed they were doing wrong. For this, I award Gryffindor ten points."

Neville looked stunned as the hall erupted in applause. He had never won points for Gryffindor before, and the recognition left him speechless.

Once the cheers died down, Dumbledore raised his hand, signaling for silence once more. "And now, for the final award. This award goes to a student who has shown exceptional bravery, intelligence, and loyalty. A student who faced a dark wizard and emerged victorious. Blake Green."

The entire hall went silent for a moment before bursting into applause. Blake, who had been quietly sitting with his friends, felt his face flush as he stood up to accept the recognition. He hadn't expected to be singled out, but hearing Dumbledore recount his battle with Quirrell brought back memories of that terrifying night.

"Blake faced incredible danger, but he remained calm, clever, and brave," Dumbledore continued. "For his actions, Blake Green will receive the Special Contribution Award and will go down in Hogwarts history as the youngest student ever to receive this honour."

The hall erupted into cheers once more, but Blake could barely hear it. His mind was racing, and all he could think about was how surreal it all felt. A first-year student, barely out of his first term at Hogwarts, had taken on a dark wizard and won. It felt like a dream, and yet here he was, standing in front of the entire school, being honoured by the greatest wizard of the age.

As the applause continued, Blake sat back down, feeling a wave of relief wash over him. The school year was over, and though it had been filled with challenges, he had made it through stronger and wiser than before.

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