By telling Harry that her words concerned him and providing ambiguous information, she'd captured his attention, making him temporarily forget the current troublesome situation while concealing details from the others.
Her supplementary statement—delivered in a somewhat authoritative tone—indicated the matter required absolute secrecy and was unrelated to anyone besides Harry and Ron. This could temporarily dissuade them from following to investigate while simultaneously stirring their curiosity about the unknown.
However, due to her warning, they wouldn't directly approach her with questions. Instead, they'd focus on Harry and Ron—who were closer to them and notoriously loose-lipped—shifting their attention from the conflict Glenn had created to extracting the information they craved from those two.
This way, the trouble had transferred from her to Harry and company!
Perfect.
Reviewing her flash of inspiration, Hermione couldn't help feeling rather pleased with herself. Glenn observed the girl beside him, whose lips curved into a small arc revealing a fox-like cunning smile. Recalling her recent maneuvers, he gained some insight into Hermione's current thoughts.
When it came to verbal prowess, Hermione surpassed tongue-tied Glenn by dozens of times.
But...
Why had he also been dragged along?
Glenn hadn't originally planned to continue wasting time on this trivial matter.
So he simply stared at Hermione, attempting to discern information from the girl's expression.
Though she still wore the black silk blindfold, Glenn's probing gaze could be felt by Hermione. Initially, she could pretend ignorance, but as time passed, Hermione grew increasingly guilty, instinctively turning her head away from Glenn's scrutiny.
Then Hermione realized she'd made a mistake.
Witnessing Hermione's reaction, Glenn withdrew his perception, confirming something that had felt subtly off from the beginning.
Hermione must have calculated him into her scheme as well, ensuring he'd accompany her to find Dumbledore and learn about the aftermath.
Regarding observational skills, Glenn still held the advantage.
But he'd still been outmaneuvered.
Whatever. He'd consider it keeping Hermione company.
"So... what exactly... is this about?"
A silent confrontation had occurred within mere seconds, while Harry behind Glenn and Hermione remained completely oblivious.
From his perspective, Glenn and Hermione stood leisurely ahead, completely at ease and relaxed, while he suffered tremendously. Not only did he have to support his own weight, but he also carried the dead weight of Ron on his back. Now his attention was being fractured by countless questions. When he asked Hermione, she wouldn't answer. Under the dual drain of physical and mental energy, Harry was nearly collapsing.
It was only because Ron had been unable to eat, drink, or sleep properly since Scabbers' disappearance from last night until today—becoming quite haggard and losing considerable weight—and because the moving staircases to Dumbledore's office could reach their destination while standing still, that Harry didn't think he'd collapse midway.
"Professor Dumbledore forbids us from saying."
To Harry's inquiry, Hermione replied swiftly and coldly with a stern expression, actually masking her shame at having her scheming discovered.
"Besides, we're nearly there. You can ask Professor Dumbledore directly when you see him, can't you? Look, we've arrived."
At that moment, the moving staircase had delivered all four to the headmaster's office entrance. Hermione shrugged, while Glenn beside her stepped forward and knocked on the door.
"Please enter."
Dumbledore's voice emerged from behind the door. With the room owner's permission, Glenn pushed it open.
In that familiar headmaster's office, Dumbledore currently sat on the sofa, smiling as he regarded them. Beside him was someone within Glenn and Hermione's expectations, but completely outside Harry's.
"Sirius Black?!"
Harry stood stunned for two seconds, as if his eyes were deceiving him. How could Sirius Black—an Azkaban escapee continuously hunted by the Ministry of Magic—possibly appear in Hogwarts' headmaster's office?!
But after rubbing his eyes, he still saw that gaunt, emaciated face he'd only encountered in newspapers, now lying on a hospital bed with a complex expression as he gazed at him.
His entire body was covered in wounds, as if he'd endured brutal torture. The worst were his limbs—shoulders, wrists, knees, ankles—every joint wrapped in bandages that faintly seeped red blood and other strange-colored substances that smelled like potions.
This wasn't an illusion.
That was Sirius Black in an utterly wretched state. Seeing him so battered, Harry even felt a microscopic flicker of sympathy.
He could sympathize, but only when his brain hadn't processed the situation. The next instant, faced with what he perceived as his mortal enemy, surging fury and hatred in his heart shattered Harry's confusion, his fear of Sirius Black, and that insignificant, meaningless sympathy.
This also obliterated his rationality, making him forget his current location, forget the impossibility of Sirius Black appearing in Hogwarts' headmaster's office.
Harry stepped forward rapidly, pushing past Glenn and Hermione to position himself at the front. He released one hand supporting Ron, drew his wand, and aimed it at Sirius Black.
Facing Harry's towering hatred and the wand beginning to emanate magical fluctuations, Sirius Black neither dodged nor retreated, simply watching him quietly with an expression whose meaning perhaps only he understood.
But just as Harry prepared to release a spell to avenge his parents, Ron—having lost Harry's right hand support—finally lost balance and crashed to the floor with a resounding clang.
"Thud!"
Harry: ...
Ron's fall restored Harry's rationality, forcing him to halt the spell's release.
"Why are you here!"
Harry forcibly suppressed his current desire to immediately kill Sirius Black with magic, but his voice still betrayed barely concealed fury.
"Harry, I can explain. You need to know the complete truth."
Confronted with Harry's interrogation, Sirius Black remained remarkably calm, choosing this response.
"The complete truth?"
Hearing Sirius Black speak thus only intensified Harry's anger. Flames of rage rampaged through his chest, nearly suffocating him.
"You betrayed my parents to Voldemort—that's the..."
He was practically roaring this half-sentence, but before completion, Harry's voice ceased abruptly.
Harry touched his throat, shocked to discover his tongue had adhered to his palate—he couldn't speak.
Behind him, Glenn quietly lowered his wand.
The Tongue-Tying Curse remained as practical as ever.
Hermione harbored no particular thoughts about this intervention, since Harry's accusatory phase was completely pointless. Having Sirius Black or simply Professor Dumbledore explain the truth would naturally prove far more efficient.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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