A flash of red light streaked through the air. Without any resistance, Gilderoy Lockhart watched in panic as the wand in his hand was disarmed by a spell and sent flying, landing firmly in Hermione's grasp.
Hermione herself was taken aback by how effortlessly her Disarming Charm had sent Lockhart's wand flying. Surprised, a bead of cold sweat trickled down her forehead.
It wasn't because of any pressure from her opponent, but rather her constant speculation about how Glenn would handle Lockhart.
Even though Glenn consciously avoided directing his killing intent at Hermione, the chilling sensation emanating from him was still palpable to the perceptive young witch.
Hermione had no doubt that Glenn, when faced with someone who directed killing intent toward him, would not hesitate to strike with lethal force, burying Lockhart here and now.
The sharp intuition of the young girl was something Glenn could never fully conceal.
Moreover, Hermione was no longer an innocent child. Two years ago, during that Death Eater attack, her mindset had undergone a complete transformation.
Although Hermione only knew of four people Glenn had personally killed—those four Death Eaters who had attacked Muggles during their first encounter with the magical world—she always had a vague feeling that he had taken lives in secret, away from her eyes.
She had no concrete evidence, but Hermione firmly believed it to be true.
So, did Hermione feel repulsed by this?
She was indeed repulsed by the act of killing, an innate biological instinct shared among her kind.
But she didn't feel repulsed by Glenn. Hermione understood that whatever Glenn had done, it was for her, for his family, and for her family.
Though Glenn never spoke of it, Hermione could sense that this boy—the boy she loved the most—was always silently bearing everything for those around him, undeterred by hardship, unyielding to exhaustion.
He never lied to her, but sometimes he would use ambiguous words to avoid the concept of "deception," keeping her from knowing the things he didn't want her to know.
Hermione was aware of this, but she never forced Glenn to share what he wished to keep hidden. She respected his decisions.
It was precisely because of this that Hermione pushed herself even harder—to study, to train, to grow stronger.
If Glenn could silently bear everything on his shoulders, then she would strive to become stronger, to stand beside him and support the burdens he carried, silently lending him her strength.
This was Hermione's unspoken wish.
Thus, she did not feel repulsed by the things Glenn had done.
What she did feel repulsed by was the impact that "killing" might have on Glenn.
After all, killing was not without consequence for the one who committed it.
Whether it was the act of taking a life, the surge of negative emotions from the victim before death, or the subsequent societal repercussions of the victim's death—all of it, every single part, would weigh solely on the killer's shoulders.
Just as using an Unforgivable Curse inflicted severe negative effects on the caster, the psychological toll of killing could be equally devastating.
Mental collapse, desensitization, or even an uncontrollable descent into bloodlust—these psychological impacts could leave permanent, irreparable scars on a person's life.
So… so…
Hermione's left hand, hanging by her side, clenched tightly, slightly dampened by cold sweat. She cast a subtle sidelong glance at Glenn.
If Glenn could hold back his murderous intent and prioritize capturing this suspicious individual—likely the mastermind behind the current events—and handing him over to Dumbledore, who would then transfer him to the Ministry of Magic and eventually Azkaban, it would be a win-win situation.
But if…
If Glenn decided to act recklessly and kill him on the spot, then… Hermione would share the burden of the guilt with him!
Regardless of the circumstances, Hermione would always stand firmly by Glenn's side.
That was the most important thing in her heart.
"Phew…"
Taking a deep breath, Hermione tightened her grip on her wand, her gaze fixed on the bewildered Lockhart before her. Slowly, she spoke.
"It's your call, Glenn."
A barely perceptible curve appeared on Glenn's lips, like a fleeting bloom of a flower, quickly returning to calm.
Glenn's insight surpassed Hermione's. He could sense the determination in her words.
Hermione was using this situation to observe Glenn's convictions and, in doing so, solidify her own resolve. But wasn't Glenn doing the same?
Since Hermione had this kind of determination, Glenn believed she deserved to know everything about him.
But not now.
As for now…
"Hermione, Stupefy."
Glenn suddenly spoke, and the young girl by his side immediately understood his intent. A bright smile spread across her face.
"Got it!"
Hermione nodded enthusiastically, while Lockhart, standing opposite them, was completely panicked. To him, the little witch's current smile resembled that of a devil from hell.
"Wait—"
Sensing the growing danger, Lockhart finally broke free from his fear and reached out, trying to stall for time.
But it was too late.
"Stupefy!"
A flash of blue-purple light struck Lockhart, sending him flying backward. He landed on the ground with a heavy thud, unconscious and silent.
"Obliviate."
A white light illuminated Glenn's emotionless face. The Memory Charm hit Lockhart, erasing his recollection of the day's events.
"Let's take him to the Great Hall and hand him over to Dumbledore. He'll deal with it."
For an unconscious person, the spell Mobiliarbus worked wonders, effortlessly lifting the weight of an adult man. With a wave of his wand, Glenn made Lockhart's limp body float gently into the air.
"Come on, Hermione, we've already wasted enough time. Let's head down quickly."
Glenn turned slightly, opening his arms to Hermione.
The young girl, elated, leapt into Glenn's embrace, allowing him to carry her horizontally. Crookshanks purred softly, clinging once more to Glenn's head.
Guiding the floating Lockhart behind him, Glenn turned toward the direction they had come from and cast a Terra Motus spell.
"Let's go."
The two of them, along with a cat and an unconscious Lockhart, moved swiftly back. Throughout the journey, Hermione nestled against Glenn's chest, her face rubbing against him in delight.
Glenn remained silent, quietly indulging in Hermione's affection. Once he confirmed that her attention was no longer on Lockhart, Glenn discreetly retrieved a tiny pellet from his black ring. Using magic, he pried open Lockhart's mouth and slid the pellet down his throat, ensuring it adhered firmly to the area near his heart.
It was the most effective delayed-death device Glenn could currently create, designed to evade magical detection. It was set to activate in thirty days.
By then, Lockhart would likely already be in Azkaban.
As mentioned before, Lockhart, who had directed killing intent toward him and Hermione, was destined to die. This decision had nothing to do with the truth of the incident.
He might be innocent, but…
Glenn had never considered himself a good person.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
The story isn't over...
🤔 Want to know what happens next to the characters?
🤫 Eager to explore the untold secrets of this world?
✍️ Ready to read more of my wildest stories?
✨patreon.com/DarkGolds