HP: The Dropout Who Saved the World

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 At two in the morning, the headmaster's office was ablaze with light.

Jane Yu sat dejectedly in a plush armchair, clutching a glass of pumpkin juice that Dumbledore had insisted she drink.

When the unicorn had greeted her with unexpected warmth, she knew her grand scheme had failed yet again!

Not only had she failed to drop out, but she'd somehow managed to earn even more outrageous favor with the professors.

If this were a mobile game, their approval ratings would have maxed out already!

She couldn't help but wonder if some invisible plot force was driving her forward.

How else could she explain why all her attempts to leave school were thwarted by various accidents?

Was her fate as a mere cannon fodder truly unchangeable?

Jane brooded, her spirits at an all-time low.

She felt like a zoo exhibit, with everyone watching her drink pumpkin juice, where even the simple act of raising her cup brought mysterious smiles to the professors' faces.

Only when they saw her drain the last drop and color return to her pale cheeks did they breathe a collective sigh of relief, making their best effort to offer Jane their gentlest smiles.

"What a wonderful child, so brave!" Hagrid exclaimed emotionally, dabbing at his ruddy nose with a crumpled handkerchief.

Though the Acromantula nest was destroyed, he was still deeply moved by Jane's rescue of the unicorn.

"Toffee Fingers!"

The gargoyle began to rotate, and the office door swung open.

An anxious Harry stood in the doorway. He entered, nervously fidgeting with his robes:

"You wanted to see me, Headmaster?"

Seeing Harry's arrival, Dumbledore finally managed to break free from his overwhelming sense of guilt. He gestured for Harry to take another armchair and spoke kindly:

"Don't be nervous, Harry. I just have a few questions for both of you."

Harry complied. He actually had many questions himself - what was hidden under the trapdoor, who was trying to steal it, why the Forbidden Forest had caught fire...

He glanced at Jane and saw that she remained expressionless, appearing completely composed. Her calmness was contagious, helping him settle down as well.

"Did you notice anything unusual in the Forbidden Forest earlier?" Dumbledore asked Harry, hoping to investigate the identity of the dark wizard. Now besides the centaurs, no one knew who that person was, how long they had been lurking in the Forbidden Forest, or if they had acted within Hogwarts.

Harry carefully searched his memory but hadn't noticed anything special.

He hesitantly shook his head, but suddenly thought of someone: Quirrell.

"After Hagrid left us, we met Professor Quirrell on our way back to the castle. He seemed to have been burned by the forest fire - there was a scorched smell about him."

Harry's words immediately alerted the professors.

Why was Quirrell in the Forbidden Forest late at night, claiming to have witnessed Jane starting the fire?

Now that they knew Jane was innocent, things had become quite mysterious.

Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully, then turned to Jane with a solemn expression:

"I must apologize, child. We misjudged you."

"You are a brave and kind-hearted student, and I must apologize for my prejudiced suspicions."

He continued earnestly: "However, child, you shouldn't wander into the Forbidden Forest alone. No matter how talented you are, creatures like werewolves and giant spiders could still be lethal to you."

Jane nodded vigorously in her mind.

Exactly!

So punish her!

For trespassing into the Forbidden Forest! For burning the plants!

But unfortunately, there was little reproach in Dumbledore's words, only a gentle, guiding tone.

And this guidance was quickly interrupted by Harry.

Eager to defend his fellow student whom he considered kind-hearted, his eyes blazing emerald:

"I'm sorry, Headmaster, this was all my fault."

"I was the one complaining about having detention with Filch."

"She only followed us because she was worried I might get hurt!"

After hearing Harry's sincere confession, Dumbledore's expression changed immediately, his gaze towards Jane becoming even more tender.

What a magnificent friendship!

Transcending houses, transcending blood status!

Even causing Jane to extend a helping hand to Harry despite pressure from all of Slytherin!

He had now completely abandoned his earlier suspicion that Jane might become the third Dark Lord.

She would never become another Grindelwald, let alone another Voldemort.

Thinking this, Dumbledore felt even more guilty about his misconceptions.

Meanwhile, Snape's face had turned completely dark.

Of course it was Potter, just like his wretched father!

Even surpassing him - already in first year and manipulating female students, even having a girl protect him!

Wasn't he ashamed of himself?

Unable to contain his anger, Snape spoke with biting sarcasm:

"How fitting for Mr. Potter, not above seeking protection from a female student for his own safety. Perhaps he's even proud of his charm."

Harry was speechless, completely bewildered as to how he had once again provoked the black bat.

"That's enough, Severus." Dumbledore stood up, signaling both parties to cease arguing. "It's very late, perhaps everyone should get some rest."

His blue eyes twinkled mischievously at Jane:

"Adequate sleep is very important for first-year students."

...

During mealtime the next day.

Everyone was excitedly discussing the previous night's forest fire incident.

Hearing the whispers from below, Dumbledore couldn't sit still any longer.

He cleared his throat twice, tapped his golden goblet, and cast Sonorus on his voice:

"May I have your attention, please? I have a few words to say."

The young witches and wizards fell silent, curious and excited eyes turning to their headmaster.

"Yesterday, due to the thunderstorm, lightning struck a pine tree in the Forbidden Forest, causing a fire."

"After an hour of effort from all the professors, the flames have been extinguished, so there's no need to worry."

"For this occasion, I would like to specially commend Miss Jane Yu of Slytherin. For her outstanding contribution in extinguishing the fire, she is awarded the Special Award for Services to the School!"

Screams and thunderous applause erupted throughout the Great Hall. Students from three houses turned their heads toward Slytherin, trying to identify Jane.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione clapped until their hands were red, excitedly standing on their chairs with broad smiles, eagerly pointing Jane out to those around them:

"The one at the very end, that's her!"

"She's always helped us, she's the best Slytherin I've ever met!"

Neville's face was also flushed as he clapped, stuttering to the older Gryffindors around him:

"She-she saved me - during flying lessons!"

The Slytherin students fell silent for a moment. They looked at Jane with incredulous expressions, seemingly unable to comprehend how this mysterious girl had accomplished such an extraordinary feat without anyone noticing.

Many of them had spoken ill of Jane's blood status behind her back, and those two senior students who had once attacked Jane under Millicent's orders now wore particularly twisted expressions.

Millicent and Pansy's faces contorted with jealousy, resembling Mandrake roots.

Draco glared at her intensely, letting out a derisive snort.

But Theodore leaned toward Jane's direction, quietly congratulating her: "Congratulations."

Dumbledore continued with a smile: "Fifty points to Slytherin!"

This got the Slytherins moving. Prefect Gemma led the way, standing up with a broad smile to shake Jane's hand.

The last recipient of this award had been nearly fifty years ago!

She knew she hadn't misjudged Jane at the start of the school year!

How wise she had been to establish good relations with Jane early on.

Gemma secretly rejoiced.

Thunderous applause erupted from the Slytherin table. Even those who despised Jane most, like Millicent and Pansy, were forced to give a few reluctant claps to appear unified and show house pride.

But Jane's social anxiety flared up again under all the attention.

Her face remained stiff and numb, while internally she was screaming like a prairie dog: Don't look at me...

To her Slytherin classmates, however, this appeared as modesty and composure, refusing to let the award go to her head.

What a humble and well-mannered person!

With such powerful abilities, having saved Nott before, and beloved by professors...

Even if she kept to herself, wasn't it all because of Millicent's rumors?

How could they have believed those rumors suggesting she didn't care about Slytherin's honor?

Many now cast disapproving looks at Millicent.

And added Jane to their list of worthwhile acquaintances.