Consequences [?/? ? ??????????? ?????]

Third-person's view

Losing fifty points for getting caught with Harry while sneaking Norbert away was a disaster. The Hufflepuff common room, normally warm and welcoming, had never felt so suffocating. [Y/N] could feel the weight of her housemates' disappointment pressing down on her, even if they didn't say it outright.

But she wasn't going to sit back and let it be.

If she lost points, she could earn them back.

With that thought, she set out on a mission: go to every Head of House and find a way to gain points before detention in the Forbidden Forest.

♬⋆.˚

She started with Professor Sprout, knowing her Head of House would be the most likely to give her a chance. After an hour of repotting Venomous Tentacula seedlings (and nearly losing a finger), she earned back ten points.

"At least you're trying to fix your mistake," Sprout had said with a sigh. "Just be careful next time, dear."

♬⋆.˚

Next, she found Professor Flitwick, who was delighted when she offered to help organize his chaotic stack of enchanted books. One had nearly bitten her hand off, but after charming them into alphabetical order, she gained another five points.

"Wonderful work, Miss Beaufort! Five points to Hufflepuff!"

♬⋆.˚

Trying McGonagall was a mistake.

"Miss Beaufort, points are not something to be bargained for. You will earn them through good behavior and time."

Ouch.

Still, she had fifteen points back. Not bad. But she needed more.

Which meant...

Snape.

♬⋆.˚

The dungeons were colder than usual when she stepped inside. Snape was hunched over his desk, examining a cauldron filled with something thick and dangerously bubbling.

[Y/N] cleared her throat. "Professor Snape."

He didn't even look up. "What do you want, Beaufort?"

She resisted the urge to grimace at his tone.

"I lost fifty points. I want to earn them back."

That got his attention. His black eyes flicked up, studying her with unreadable curiosity.

"Do you?" he drawled, voice smooth as silk but sharp as a blade. "And what makes you think I would waste my time handing out points like sweets?"

[Y/N] clasped her hands behind her back, keeping her expression neutral. "Because you value competence, Professor. If I do something useful, something worthy of earning points, surely it wouldn't be... wasting your time."

Snape raised a brow. His fingers tapped against his desk in thought.

"Interesting," he murmured. "I don't recall many Hufflepuffs with such... resourcefulness."

[Y/N] smiled. "I like to be an exception."

Snape exhaled through his nose—either amusement or irritation, she couldn't tell. Finally, he stood.