Like sleeping beneath heavy clouds.
Tiger felt his body suddenly plummet, then break through the layers and crash back into the waking world.
The scene before him gradually sharpened into focus, familiar shallow breathing returning to his ears.
Sensing something, Gunpowder—curled into a ball beside Tiger's hand—suddenly lifted her head and looked at him.
When she saw Tiger open his eyes, Gunpowder pounced with soft mewing sounds, her fluffy little head constantly nuzzling against his chin.
Tiger gently stroked Gunpowder, his eyes half-closed.
[Venom, how are you feeling?]
[Don't tell me you've already kicked the bucket.]
[Not great, asshole.]Venom's slightly weakened voice echoed in his mind.
[It's like Polly took everything she threatened and practiced it on my body.]
[This feeling is absolutely terrible...]
It had to be said—sonic resonance caused devastating damage to Venom, especially banshee screams.
Magic mixed with sound waves. Venom not dying on the spot was already miraculous.
[How about you?]
[That female prefect fed you quite a lot of nasty potions, and took some serious liberties...]
[I'm fine...]
Tiger instinctively assessed his slightly heavy body. Apart from some fatigue—
[Wait! What did you say?!] He suddenly widened his eyes, looking to his side.
On his right lay a fluffy little head, tear stains still clinging to the corners of tired eyes, breathing softly.
And his left hand was tightly cradled in the arms of a certain disheveled female pervert, who was sleeping quite peacefully...
[Unconscious people have trouble drinking medicine themselves, you know. Someone had to make sacrifices...]
Venom's muffled laughter carried wicked amusement.
[Honestly, asshole, the way you humans express emotions is remarkably similar to symbiotes.]
[When that female prefect was feeding you medicine, it was like she wanted to devour you whole...]
[Shut up, you idiot!]
Tiger gritted his teeth and yanked his hand back, then shot the female prefect an irritated glance.
No wonder his mouth was covered in bite marks.
You know you're committing a crime, don't you!
[Don't be ungrateful, asshole.]
[That chocolate bean with glasses had his mouth pried open with pliers and was force-fed.]
[First time I've ever seen that greasy black-haired chocolate bean actually laugh out loud...]
Venom's laughter was particularly grating.
Sensing the veins bulging on Tiger's forehead, it finally stopped its mockery and returned to dormancy.
Coming out to banter with Tiger was just to keep him from worrying. Venom's current condition truly wasn't good—it needed massive magical replenishment...
The sunlight was rather harsh. Tiger's slow movement of sitting up woke the sleeping Hermione.
"Tiger! You're awake!"
Her excited voice overflowed with irrepressible joy.
Seeing those features that had fallen into peaceful tranquility regain their usual fierce intensity, Hermione almost instinctively threw herself forward, her arms wrapping tightly around Tiger's neck.
Tears swirled in her reddened eyes before finally spilling like broken pearls across Tiger's shoulder.
Worried, frightened sobs echoed through the Hospital Wing.
"I was so terrified you'd die..."
"I should have brought more landmines... I should have given you Harry's talisman instead..."
"I'm such an idiot..."
Harry in the adjacent bed: "(°_°)"
Are you being serious right now?
Gunpowder split into several masses, flowing like liquid from Hermione's embrace while making disgusted sounds.
As for Gemma Farley, she had somehow vanished from beside the bed, leaving only a trace of delicate fragrance...
End-of-Year Feast.
Dumbledore announced each House's final scores.
However, facing their first-place results, only scattered, half-hearted applause rang out from the Slytherin table.
The little snakes kept glancing toward the Great Hall entrance.
Even the usually proud and reserved pureblood children merely tapped their crystal goblets lightly in acknowledgment.
Students from other Houses looked bewildered.
In previous years, thunderous applause and stomping would have already shaken the hall...
"Of course, some events occurred recently, and I still have additional points to distribute."
"Perhaps you've heard something about it."
Dumbledore coughed lightly, drawing the students' attention back.
At the Gryffindor table, the little lions clenched their fists tightly, faces flushed with excitement.
Gemma Farley and others frowned slightly.
Slytherin students maintained almost instinctive wariness toward any of Dumbledore's actions.
"Mr. Neville Longbottom."
"When faced with danger, he stood at the forefront protecting his companions. For your courage, fifty points to Gryffindor."
Facing Gryffindor's sudden burst of cheers, Dumbledore's expression seemed oddly strained.
"Miss Hermione Granger."
"Under limited circumstances, she made the most comprehensive preparations possible to protect her companions."
"And successfully led them through crisis."
"For your wisdom..."
Dumbledore couldn't help but sigh.
"For your wisdom and... madness."
"Fifty points to Gryffindor."
The Gryffindor table erupted in cheers again.
However, Hermione only pressed her lips together tightly, staring absent-mindedly toward the hall entrance...
Any sane person wouldn't think of having Harry carry a claymore mine in a suicide mission against Voldemort.
Any rational Harry wouldn't have agreed to such a plan, even with a Shelby family talisman...
So even Dumbledore had to admit—this plan could only be conceived by someone completely unhinged. He'd underestimated Hermione's influence within this little group.
He'd also underestimated Tiger's magnetic pull.
"Mr. Ron Weasley..."
As scores jumped dramatically, Gryffindor's total completely overtook Slytherin.
Deafening cheers and table-pounding shook the ground. Slytherin sat in absolute silence. Ron looked at Malfoy's sour expression and laughed with pure satisfaction.
Just then, the Great Hall doors slowly opened.
The suffocating presence of an apex predator spread through the chamber. Raucous screams and cheers cut off instantly—the heated atmosphere returning to dead silence.
Everyone turned toward the entrance in stunned confusion.
"It's Father and Tiamat."
"Father's here!"
Amid rustling whispers, every Slytherin rose and bowed with hands pressed to hearts.
Only they truly understood what Tiger had done that night.
Directly confronting Voldemort was an unimaginable nightmare for anyone...
Tiger's gaze swept coolly over the assembled crowd as he gripped the Basilisk Staff, slowly entering the Great Hall.
The surrounding silence shattered under inexplicable tension. Each strike of his staff against stone was amplified infinitely—like hammer blows against hearts, sending waves of dread through the chamber.
Tiamat walked behind Tiger, his gaze toward Gryffindor tinged with open mockery.
Only after Tiger claimed the head seat did the Slytherins finally sit.
"Then, continuing..." Seeing Tiger's expectant look, Dumbledore sighed helplessly.
"Mr. Ramos Tiamat—faced with fire and poison, he reasoned with perfect clarity."
"For his wisdom."
"Fifty points to Slytherin."
The fact that Tiamat hadn't even glanced at Harry during his life-or-death crisis gave Dumbledore a considerable headache.
Immediate applause rose from the Slytherin table—no longer distracted. The little snakes all displayed restrained but genuine smiles.
"Mr. Tiger Shelby."
"When faced with mortal danger, he advanced to the forefront, shielding his companions from harm. For his..."
"For his selfless assistance."
"Another fifty points to Slytherin!"
Professor Snape actually applauded—a rare sight—recognizing Dumbledore's statement that completely violated his moral principles.
This was indeed unprecedented.
"Congratulations..."
"Slytherin claims the House Cup for the eighth consecutive year."
Amid restrained yet pleased applause, Dumbledore waved his wand. The Slytherin banners hanging throughout the hall burst with brilliant radiance, their noble and sinister serpent patterns seeming to hiss with life.
Watching Ron's face flush crimson with frustration, Draco Malfoy laughed with pure, vindictive joy...
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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