Dumbledore's voice echoed through the deathly silent Hospital Wing, every word striking the cold floor.
"Lia, where did you... hide it?"
Behind his half-moon spectacles, there was no longer a trace of gentleness in his blue eyes, only a surgical dissection and scrutiny.
Lia, who was lying on Hermione, instantly tensed up.
She looked up, her deep blue eyes reflecting the old man's figure, filled with beast-like alertness and confusion. She tilted her head, unable to comprehend this complex question.
From deep within her throat, an engine-like growl began to gather.
The long white tail wrapped around Hermione's wrist, like a living shackle, tightened coil by coil.
A silent warning.
Dumbledore understood.
Language was useless. Threats would only ignite the power within her that had just devoured the "soul"—a power that made even him feel a sense of dread.
He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, all scrutiny had been withdrawn.
He turned toward Harry's bed, the light from the tip of his magic wand sweeping over the boy's forehead.
The Horcrux... was gone.
Devoured completely.
Dumbledore's tense shoulders slumped.
He had succeeded, but in a way he had never imagined.
But Hogwarts had also welcomed an "existence" more troublesome and unpredictable than Lord Voldemort.
And the "reins" of this existence were currently lying on the bed, fast asleep.
He didn't look at Lia again as he walked slowly toward the door.
Just before the door closed, his gaze passed over Lia and fixed firmly on Hermione's face.
That look was filled with a complex pity.
The Hospital Wing returned to silence.
It wasn't until Dumbledore's presence had completely vanished that Lia's tensed body finally softened again.
She lowered her head, nuzzling Hermione's feverish cheek with the tip of her nose, letting out a satisfied purr from her throat.
Hermione... was safe.
Fatigue washed over her like a tide. She transformed back into that pure white Ragdoll Cat, curled up in Hermione's arms, buried her head deep in the girl's neck, and fell into a deep sleep.
When she opened her eyes again, it was already the next morning.
The ward door was pushed open gently.
Dumbledore had changed into a set of bright purple star-and-moon robes and stood at the door, not approaching any further.
Lia instantly sprang up from beside Hermione's pillow, arching her back, her fur bristling as she let out a threatening hiss.
"Don't be nervous, child."
Dumbledore smiled, as if he didn't see her hostility.
He took a small saucer of warm milk from his sleeve and used his magic wand to make it float lightly onto the bedside table.
A test.
To test if she still retained a cat's instincts, or if last night's "predation" had turned her into... something else.
Lia's gaze never left Dumbledore from start to finish, completely ignoring the saucer of milk.
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