Including Dumbledore, all the professors could see why Tiger kept venting his fury on Lockhart.
Not just because of Polly.
That lifeless figure in the Hospital Wing was like a thorn lodged deep in Tiger's heart. That was why they didn't stop him.
Reasoning with an angry beast was like pouring oil on fire.
Fortunately, Lockhart was pushed to the front by Dumbledore as a buffer. The professors breathed easier.
Ever since seeing the Basilisk's fate, they worried that one morning they'd wake to news of a missing student.
Especially Gryffindors.
Those little idiots always found new ways to die that weren't in the school rules.
As this year's consumable, with term ending soon, they had no more expectations for Lockhart. As long as he could provide some final use...
However, kind Professor Sprout couldn't escape her conscience. The moment she fed Hermione the potion, she asked Harry to find Tiger.
Afraid that one second later, Lockhart—just back from the centaur tribe—would be stuffed into the giant squid's nest.
Just imagining that scene made Professor Sprout feel unclean.
After all, even Voldemort never did such things. This child was too extreme...
Professor Sprout sighed quietly.
Inside the Hospital Wing, Hermione slowly opened her eyes. Her pale, stiff skin began regaining color.
Then her fluffy cat ears retracted, gradually disappearing into her messy hair. Those pink paw pads turned back into pale, slender hands.
Everything returned to normal.
Her blurry vision gradually cleared. Everything around her felt somewhat unreal, as if her consciousness had traversed an endless dark tunnel back to reality.
"Oh no!"
"Did I miss the final exams?"
Hermione bolted upright. Her still-dazed eyes were full of panic.
During her petrification, her consciousness stayed awake. She'd heard the boys' fury rushing toward the Chamber. She'd heard their relief when it ended.
She'd also felt that subtle touch on her head in the dead of night. Though separated by a cold, hard shell, that unprecedented gentle sigh quietly seeped into her heart, keeping her company through lonely, endless time.
Every word spoken in the Hospital Wing was clearly imprinted in her mind. But time had completely lost its measure...
Seeing Miss Know-It-All's first reaction upon waking, Professor McGonagall couldn't help but laugh.
"Rest assured, Miss Granger."
"You have plenty of time to revise."
"That's wonderful..." Hermione clutched her chest and breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Just then, silent, hurried footsteps sounded outside. Each step seemed to land on Hermione's heart, bringing inexplicable peace and anticipation.
"Tiger!"
Hermione quickly turned to look. Her round eyes sparkled—the joy of surviving disaster, and longing for someone.
Following that was a warm, familiar hand, full of comfort and strength, gently resting on Hermione's head again.
"Were you scared?"
Tiger didn't blame Hermione.
Instead, he comforted her with exceptional tolerance and understanding.
The hand on her head rubbed and rubbed.
At a glance, it looked like a father telling his child that no matter what happened, he'd stand by her side.
This scene made not just the professors uncomfortable—even Hermione felt strangely awkward. She'd imagined many scenarios for meeting Tiger, but not this one.
Tiger still seemed completely oblivious. His hand on Hermione's head rubbed quite vigorously.
Wait... this technique...
Hermione's eyes narrowed.
She looked up at Tiger with suspicion.
Those fierce eyes now showed only regret, even mixed with indescribable discomfort. The hand on her head slowly stopped.
The watching professors looked puzzled. Only Madam Pomfrey's eyes widened in disbelief.
Sensing the subtle change in Hermione's emotions, Tiger fell silent for a moment. He withdrew his hand discreetly. His previously joyful eyes became deep and complex.
"Um..."
Tiger's mouth opened slightly. For the first time in his life, the words stuck in his throat hesitated.
"That Polyjuice Potion you picked up..."
"Can you pick it up again?"
Knew it!
Madam Pomfrey slapped her forehead.
Hermione: (?_?) What do you think?
"Ah... never mind then..."
Seeing the displeasure in Hermione's eyes, Tiger awkwardly scratched his cheek, then turned to leave. Without seeing the cat-form Hermione he'd been thinking about, his heart felt empty.
However, at that moment, barely audible teeth-grinding turned into a blade lunging at Tiger...
Lockhart finally left. Not because Tiger let him go, but because he submitted a confession letter to the Ministry, begging Aurors to come take him away.
Had to admit, everything Lockhart experienced was a shocking scandal for the entire wizarding world. To verify its authenticity, Minister Fudge personally came to Hogwarts.
When Lockhart tightly hugged Fudge's legs and wailed as if seeing family, Fudge's originally angry, cold eyes gradually became confused and helpless.
Especially when he looked at Dumbledore, his expression became visibly panicked.
"It wasn't me, Cornelius."
"It was the Basilisk. You should have heard about what happened at Hogwarts recently."
Dumbledore sighed with a headache.
Since Merlin disappeared, every wizard deeply missed him. His name became legend, carved into magical history.
Every new Minister mentioned Merlin solemnly in their inaugural speech, showing reverence for this great wizard.
However, ironically, though they praised Merlin, no one wanted to witness a living Merlin standing above them.
Dumbledore understood this emotion well.
Fudge, afraid of him entering the Ministry, was full of vigilance. Over the years, he'd actively worked to eliminate Dumbledore's influence in the wizarding world.
But Dumbledore didn't care.
Fifty years ago, he began understanding why Merlin chose to completely disappear from everyone's view.
Looking into Dumbledore's deep eyes, Fudge forced himself to nod with nonexistent confidence, accepting this explanation.
How much he believed was another matter.
Throughout wizarding history, how many people survived encountering a Basilisk?
"Then I'll leave him to you..."
Dumbledore couldn't be bothered with more words.
Though he had no worldly desires, meeting such an idiot made him strangely envy Tiger.
After leaving Hogwarts, Fudge yanked the sobbing Lockhart forward. His eyes were full of suspicious severity:
"Gilderoy, tell me!"
"What did Dumbledore do to you!"
"What trick is he playing now!"
"I'd rather believe there's a nest of Basilisks in the Forbidden Forest than believe one appeared in Hogwarts!"
Facing such questioning, Lockhart didn't answer. Instead, the word "Forbidden Forest" made him scream in terror.
"No! Don't!"
"Let me go!!!"
"Please, don't!"
"Don't let the centaurs near me!"
"No!!!"
Fudge stared at Lockhart in shock.
Previously calm and happy, he'd suddenly become an out-of-control madman. This drastic change was unbelievable.
Until his gaze fixed on a certain place.
As his eyes gradually widened, Fudge's mouth expanded into an O shape...
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