đ¤ Please if you find any incorrect names let me know in comments so I can fix themÂ
The first weekend of February dawned clear and bright.
With Valentine's Day approaching, the school groundsâthe lawns, the Black Lake shore, the Forbidden Forest edgeâsuddenly saw an increase in pairs of senior students, male and female, nestled close together. They paid no heed to the pointing fingers of younger students, nor did they bat an eye at the disapproving gazes of the professors, intimately touching noses and whispering into each other's ears, utterly unconcerned whether the occasion was appropriate.
"How scandalousâwhy aren't the prefects and professors doing anything about this!" Hermione, who had risen early to head to the library, had already spotted at least five or six such couples on her way. As she passed them, Hermione thought indignantly.
The library today was even quieter than usual. Apart from the stern Madam Pince, who sat in her usual spot, engrossed in a gold-embossed book, within the hundreds of narrow passages and thousands of bookshelves behind her, there were only a dozen or so senior students facing their O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s exams.
However, this didn't dampen Hermione's enthusiasm for studying. She expertly and swiftly navigated between the rows of bookshelves, searching for the books she needed.
Ah, found it!
Hermione stopped in front of a shelf laden with dozens of large, old-bound tomes. She jumped up and pulled out a copy of Forgotten Ancient Spells and Curses from the highest shelf. Opening it, she leaned against the shelf behind her and began to read the dense and intricate text, hoping to find the cause of Colin and Justin's petrification.
Because Fred and George had vanished without a word, Wood had no choice but to indignantly announce the cancellation of today's training session. This meant that Harry, who had risen early for training, finally had a rare leisurely weekend. He had originally planned to join Hermione in searching for clues, but Ron stopped him before he left.
"It's rare that Wood lets you off the hook!" Ron said, stuffing a small piece of roasted sausage into Scabbers' mouth, while puffing out his cheeks. "Don't waste precious weekend time on meaningless things, Harry. Seamus has a new set of Gobstones; I can borrow them to help us pass the time!" And so, Harry was easily persuaded, and in the end, Hermione was left to go to the library alone, hoping to find some clues about the attacks amidst the ocean of knowledge and the river of history.
Sunlight filtered through the motes of dust in the air and the gaps between the bookshelves, casting bizarre and fantastic patterns of light and shadow on Hermione's young and serious face. As time passed, the pile of books beside Hermione grew higher and higher, almost reaching her slender shoulders.
Amostra, walking over from the Restricted Section, watched silently for a while. For some reason, a ripple stirred in his heart, as if he saw his younger self in Hermione.
"Miss Grangerâ"
"Oh, Professor Brain!" Hermione, engrossed in her book, turned her head dazedly. When she saw Professor Brain strolling towards her with a smile, she quickly closed the books she was hugging and flusteredly stood up straight. "Sorry, Professor, I didn't notice you were here!"
Aside from that awkward first meeting in the Hospital Wing during the Christmas holidays, this was Hermione's first time seeing Professor Brain in a non-public setting.
Amostra glanced at the uneasy little witch's armful of books, understanding in his heart. He nodded at Hermione and asked gently, "Are you looking for clues about the Chamber of Secrets?"
Upon receiving Hermione's affirmative reply, Amostra glanced around, his tone surprised, "Are you alone, Miss Granger? Where are your good friends, Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley? Didn't they come to help you?"
"Oh, those two!" The messy-haired little witch immediately grew indignant. She was about to complain about Harry and Ron, but the words, once at the tip of her tongue, turned into: Harry had to go for Quidditch practice, and Ron was in the common room researching his Potions homework. Only she had finished her coursework early and had nothing to do, so she came to the library.
"Heh hehâ" Even without using Legilimency, Amostra could tell it was a lie. However, he didn't expose her, but instead nodded understandingly.
"The strong are always solitary, Miss Granger. Keep up the good work." After dropping this enigmatic remark, Amostra left directly.
It was a long time after his figure disappeared around the corner of the bookshelves that Hermione still stood foolishly in place, gazing at Professor Brain's receding figure. She repeatedly pondered the inexplicable words he had just spoken. For some reason, she felt as if she had received some powerful encouragement. Her arms, which had been holding books all morning, no longer ached, and her amber-like, clear brown eyes regained their brightness.
"You can do it, Hermione!" Hermione clenched her fists and told herself, then, full of renewed vigor, she plunged back into the bookshelves.
Amostra walked through the bustling streets of Hogsmeade. Perhaps due to his change of identity, many young wizards he met actively came up to greet him, and Amostra, in turn, nodded back to them very kindly.
But suddenly, not far to his right, two wizards wearing black cloaks, not particularly tall, made Amostra frown. After a brief moment of thought, he deviated from his intended path and casually followed them into a secluded alley. Amostra followed them all the way to the Hog's Head Inn, but he didn't go in with them. Instead, he waited quietly outside, a playful expression on his face.
Sure enough, a few minutes later, the tavern owner's loud roar echoed from inside the pub. Two black-clad figures stumbled out of the pub. Before they could exchange words, they looked up and saw Amostra twenty feet away, smiling coldly and observing them.
Ughâ
Awkwardness, fear, and helplessness tore at the souls of the two cloaked figures. They stood trembling with fear at the entrance of the Hog's Head Inn, awaiting their punishment.
"No, brother, he can't see our faces!" The one on the right suddenly regained his senses. He lowered his voice and quietly tugged at his companion's sleeve. The companion, thus reminded, immediately understood. Then, a heavy cough came from under the left black robe,
"Cough, cough, don't meddle, kid. We kill without batting an eyelid!"
Holy sht!* Amostra glared at the two quickly fleeing Weasley brats, his face darkening with exasperation. He resolved to find an opportunity to teach them a lesson!
He hadn't walked far before he saw Percy Weasley passionately kissing his Ravenclaw prefect girlfriend under a golden cherub in a tea shop that was misty inside, seemingly decorated with ruffles and bows everywhere. This whole family, they're all top talents in the wizarding world! Amostra turned his head, pretending not to see the scene, and quickly headed towards the Three Broomsticks Inn.
In the evening, Hermione told Harry and Ron, who had spent a dispirited day in the common room, about Professor Brain's words from the library that morning. Unfortunately, Harry and Ron couldn't make sense of the phrase either.
"Butâ!" Ron unconsciously waved his arm in mid-air, wrinkling his nose. "It sounds pretty cool, right? Like, if Iâoh no, I mean you, Harryâin the Quidditch final, Gryffindor is down 0-140 against Slytherin, everyone has given up hope, and just before Adrian Pucey scores the winning goal, you catch the Golden Snitch right in front of Malfoy, and then you just drop that one line. I bet you, Harry, Malfoy would be so angry he wouldn't eat for a year!"
"If that really happened, Ron, I'd absolutely be happy to help Malfoy eat his year's worth of food in one day!" Harry also envisioned the scene Ron described in his mind, chuckling happily.
Hermione, on the side, rolled her eyes at the two of them. Just as she was about to give them a scolding, a boisterous commotion suddenly erupted from the entrance hall. A large crowd rushed in, surrounding something. Harry and Ron, who had been enjoying themselves, froze. Hermione quickly realized something had happened. She immediately dropped the food in her hands and rushed over to find out.
On the marble staircase, Headmaster Dumbledore, with several professors, rushed down with solemn expressions. Soon, he dispersed the crowd and led Amostra, who was leading Lockhart, up the stairs. The Heir of Slytherin was active again! Harry, whose mood had just been quite good, felt his heart sink into icy water. He immediately thought of the worst possibility. After exchanging a pale look with Ron, the two also hurried after them.
On the infirmary bed, Lockhart no longer wore his usual dashing appearance. His hair was disheveled, his bloodshot eyes wide, and he desperately made incoherent sounds, seemingly anxious to say something! Madam Pomfrey was examining him, and from her 'serious' expression, the situation seemed very grave.
Dumbledore, being very understanding, allowed the students to visit Professor Lockhart. The students stood outside the curtain, exchanging uneasy glances. Hermione squeezed to the front of the crowd and, looking at the miserable-looking Lockhart, suddenly covered her mouth and began to sob softly!
Ugh. Amostra, seeing this scene, secretly felt guilty, pondering if he had gone a little too far with his prank. However, when he saw Professor Snape, standing in the shadows and seemingly trying desperately to suppress laughter, his mood calmed down again.
"How is he, Poppy?" Dumbledore stood at Lockhart's bedside, not allowing anyone to see his expression, but judging by his voice, he seemed to be in a very heavy mood.
"Very bad, Headmaster Dumbledoreâ" Madam Pomfrey quickly glanced at the grim-faced Professor McGonagall, then began to explain to everyone, "A very severe alcohol allergy, Headmaster. He'll probably spend Easter in the infirmary. Oh, did no one know that Professor Lockhart isn't good with alcoholic beverages?"
Isn't Professor Lockhart's most desired birthday gift a case of Ogden's Old Firewhisky? Hermione, with tears in her eyes, looked up dazedly after hearing Madam Pomfrey's diagnosis.
"It's all my fault, Headmaster Dumbledore!" Amostra stepped forward with a 'grief-stricken' expression. "It's my fault for not understanding the situation and presumptuously inviting Professor Lockhart to drink. Oh, he probably agreed because he didn't want to reject my offer. I⌠I truly feel ashamed for this. If you allow it, I can resign right now to take responsibility!"
"N-NoâŚ" Before Professor McGonagall could even step forward, to everyone's surprise, the already dying Professor Lockhart, relying on his 'strong' willpower, actually managed to speak. He struggled, wobbling, and reached out his hand towards Amostra, uttering a barely audible murmur, "SeâŚcretâŚletter?"
"What are you saying, Professor Lockhart? Do you have anything else to say?" Amostra immediately pushed Dumbledore aside, half-knelt by the bed, and grasped Lockhart's hand. His other hand, hidden in his sleeve, was ready to cast a spell at any moment.
"Gr⌠Granger!" Unexpectedly, Lockhart suddenly called out Hermione's name. Amostra's brow twitched, but in the end, he complied with Professor Lockhart's 'dying wish' and called Hermione to the bedside as well.
"I'm here, Professor. What do you want to tell me?" Hermione's face was streaked with large tears, her voice filled with an unbearable sorrow. "What do you need me to do for you, Professor?"
"You⌠fans, you twoâŚ" Lockhart, his face livid, spat out word by word, "Help me write replies!"
đ¨ Note : Consider to Support this Story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access +300 advance Chapters & 2 Chapters Daily and To Support The Daily Update