Chapter 79: Teaching the Patronus Charm
One Sunday in mid-September, Neville Longbottom was about to step out of the Fat Lady's portrait. The moment he opened the door, he shuddered all over.
Draco Malfoy, who was standing with his arms folded, leaning against the doorway, glanced at him sideways.
Merlin! His eyes were exactly like Professor Snape's, like hailstones in a snowstorm.
Neville pulled back his outstretched foot and was about to turn around and run, but was stopped by this terrible Slytherin student.
"Longbottom—" he drawled, asking arrogantly, "Is Hermione here?"
"Yes, yes, she is..." Longbottom said shakily, feeling the fear that was suppressed by the Potions Master again.
"Send her out," Draco said, giving him a malicious look. "Or I'll cast a Leg-Locking Charm on you and stick your legs together so you can't jump."
Neville's face quickly turned gray and disappeared behind the Fat Lady's portrait.
"That's a bit rude, dear," said the Fat Lady, fanning herself in her right hand. "Girls wouldn't like it, I suppose."
"Has anyone asked for your opinion?" the platinum-haired boy said lazily.
The Fat Lady looked offended and turned her head away, ignoring the boy wearing a rare silver-green tie.
Draco waited aimlessly for a long time before he saw the girl step out of the threshold happily, almost tripping.
As she screamed, he stretched out his arms to hold her up, thus avoiding a tragedy.
"Reckless girl..." he said softly, hurriedly straightening her up.
"Draco!" She stood up hastily, her eyes sparkling and her face flushed. "Are you impatient waiting? Sorry, Harry and the others just celebrated for me. You know, cutting the cake, blowing out the candles, making wishes and so on..."
She glanced at the object in her hand and was relieved to find it intact.
It was an exquisite porcelain plate with a piece of avalanche strawberry cake on it.
"I've saved the best piece for you!" she said happily to Draco. "It's a gift from the birthday girl, take it."
Draco raised his eyebrows, not expecting such a gift. He took the porcelain plate and followed Hermione slowly along the way until they came to a secluded corridor.
From the corridor, one could see the endless valley surrounding the castle. They sat on the platform to one side of the corridor. The sunset light still retained a hint of warmth, offsetting the coolness brought by the autumn breeze.
Hermione was struggling with the birthday hat on her head - her hair was a little messy from the wind and got tangled in it.
"Oh my God, it's always like this!" she complained, wrinkling her nose like a helpless kitten tangled in a ball of yarn.
"Let me do it." A faint laugh escaped Draco's lips. He put the porcelain plate aside and moved closer to her.
Hermione stared at him blankly. He was getting closer and closer. A refreshing scent drifted faintly on the wind and landed on the tip of her nose. In an instant, she lost the ability to refuse.
She had no choice but to raise her eyes, look at the corners of his slightly curved mouth, and whisper, "Thank you."
The boy had long, beautiful fingers. He was very patient, with a smile on his face, as he smoothed down the brown hair that was tangled in her birthday hat, strand by strand.
The process was going smoothly until a strand of hair protested. It stubbornly got stuck somewhere on the hat and refused to move. When he pulled it, it caused her to let out a small cry of pain.
The young man in front of her suddenly panicked. He loosened his fingers and leaned forward to examine the red and gold hat on her head. His fingertips accidentally brushed her cheek. He murmured, "Sorry, sorry."
"It's okay," Hermione said softly, staring at his ears which turned red for a moment.
In the twilight, she tilted her head slightly so he could see her more clearly. She resisted the urge to scratch her cheek, even though she felt a slight itch and even heat where his fingers had touched it.
"It's stuck in the decoration." He studied it for a moment and said quietly.
Then he silently freed the stray hair, his fingers making long and gentle adjustments with the bright red and gold decorations. The only sound in the air was the rustling of hair and the sound of his shallow breath falling on her hair.
He never made her feel any pain again.
Finally, he let go of the breath he was holding, took off the birthday hat, and said happily, "Okay."
"Thank you." She thanked him again.
She seemed to be thanking him all day long. It was as if she had nothing else to say.
Letting out a breath quietly, Hermione glanced at him, then quickly turned her gaze to the view of the valley. His eyes were as gentle as the fingers that untied her hair, covering her face and making her cheeks even hotter.
Draco looked at the girl who was looking out over the valley. Perhaps because of the sunset, her face was tinged with a soft rosy hue.
He secretly threw the birthday hat behind her - he still couldn't stand the combination of red and gold - and took a silver and green gift box from his pocket and handed it to Hermione.
Hermione took the palm-sized box and was a little curious about its contents.
"Open it," he said with an encouraging look.
She opened the gift box and a gorgeous crystal beaded bag appeared in front of her.
"Happy birthday," Draco said. "I don't know if this style suits you. It's actually an old item. In fact, it was left to me by my grandmother. Look—" he showed her, "It's a storage bag with an invisible extension charm. It's the largest capacity I can find..."
"Oh!" She looked at the prismatic crystal beads - they reflected the gradient light from forest green to Prussian blue in the light - a look of innocent joy appeared on her face. "I like it very much, I really like it. It's very beautiful."
"Glad you like it." He smiled, looked up at her, and felt a peace in his heart that he had never felt before.
She stroked the silver leather chain on the small bag and couldn't help asking, "How big can it hold?"
"I think it can probably fit a small house." Draco said casually while taking a small bite of cake, "Something like 300 square meters?
"300 square meters! You still think it's small?" She shook her head, looking helpless. However, the curve of her mouth betrayed her good mood. She continued to ask, "How did you do it? Extend the space to such a large area?"
"The amount of space a storage bag can expand is mainly affected by the material it's made of. An ordinary small bag wouldn't be able to expand this much, even with a spell." Draco said meaningfully, "Crystal beads may look beautiful, but they're just beads. The most important thing is the humble leather inside; that's the real treasure."
"What kind of leather is that?" asked Hermione with interest.
"If I remember correctly, this should be made from the skins of bird snakes, deformed lizards and Swedish short-nosed dragons. Oh, it seems to have fireproof and anti-theft functions. You have to explore it yourself." Draco said.
"This gift is so precious! I can't imagine anything else that would suit my heart better." Hermione showed an expression of cherishment on her face, "Thank you, Draco. But why did you think of giving me this?"
"I won't ask you about the oddities of your schedule. I just hope you stop walking around Hogwarts with a mountain of books and scaring people," Draco said lazily. "It's not like I can attend every class with you."
——I can't help you carry that pile of books every time.
He thought to himself and glanced at her neck inconspicuously. A thin golden chain was faintly visible between her slightly open collar.
He knew what it was.
His grandfather wrote to him and told him that the Ministry of Magic had a batch of time-turners.
"That thing is rare, and the application requirements are very strict, but if you put your mind to it, you can get it at Hogwarts." Abraxas wrote, "Do you want it? I can get you one?"
Draco quickly wrote a letter to tell his grandfather that he was not very interested in this thing.
He was interested in the Time-Turner's owner.
The owner had no idea that her secret had been revealed. She was still studying the internal structure of the beaded bag over and over again, fantasizing about the possibility of herself becoming a female library robber.
"If, I mean if, I were to rob a library, how many books could I fit in?" Hermione asked him, a hint of genuine liveliness appearing on her face.
"You know you can't use summoning spells in the library, right?" Draco reminded her. "Think about it, you have to put the books in one by one. What you should consider is not whether there is enough space in the beaded bag, but whether you have enough time to commit the crime..."
"You have a point." She thought for a moment, put away the beaded bag, her eyes rolling around, not knowing what she was up to.
Was she trying to use the Time-Turner to get a book? Draco studied the look on her face, imagining her sneaking off to the library like a squirrel stealing pine cones, and couldn't help but chuckle to himself.
He glanced at the thin golden chain again, which had left a faint pink mark on her collarbone, spreading to a depth he could not see. His face flushed slightly, and he quickly looked away, gazing at the valley.
The sun suddenly disappeared, and the ink color surged up violently; this was not only because of the change in time, but also because of some other reasons.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked in surprise. "Why is the sun setting so quickly?"
"Look down there," Draco said quietly.
A group of black shadows roamed the valley below - they were Dementors.
A shadow suddenly appeared on Hermione's bright face. Draco noticed it.
He knew she was afraid and what she was afraid of.
He spoke carefully, "You once said you wanted to learn the Patronus Charm. Are you still interested?"
She turned to look at him, her eyes suddenly lighting up.
It was three o'clock on a Monday afternoon when Draco Malfoy lazily walked towards an empty, deserted classroom on the fourth floor.
He opened the door, and confusion suddenly appeared in his arrogant gray eyes: there were many students standing in the room.
Harry, Ron and his sister Ginny, the Weasley twins, the Gryffindor boy who always chased Harry with a camera... Finnigan who loved to blow up the cauldron and the idiot Longbottom who was keen on stealing his study partner (Neville: I'm not that I don't have one)... a few students wearing Gryffindor ties... a few people who were even more unfamiliar to him, with the Ravenclaw crest embroidered on their lapels... Susan Bones, the Hufflepuff who used to "chase stars" with Hermione... and even Ernie Macmillan, the Hufflepuff boy who used to make fun of his position as a Seeker... They all turned to look at him.
"Sorry, we've come to the wrong place." He said to the group of students who were smiling at him friendly, took two steps back and slammed the door shut.
After three or five seconds, he opened the door again—because he realized that this was the agreed location—and asked with a hint of doubt in his tone: "Excuse me, where is this place—"
"Draco, this is it, that's right!" Hermione squeezed through the crowd and ran to him, announcing happily, "They are all here to learn the Patronus Charm."
Draco immediately had a look of horror on his face.
He glanced at the group—they were all looking at him with a certain unsettling kindness—that made him feel very uncomfortable.
They shouldn't have gathered together and stared at him like that.
He leaned closer to Hermione and muttered quietly, "I didn't expect so many people."
Isn't it one-on-one teaching? This is completely different from what he thought.
"Oh, I just mentioned it casually, but I didn't expect them to be so interested. Later, more and more people wanted to learn it..." She raised her chin, looking as proud as the most beautiful cat-civet in the world.
Hermione would never admit that she had brought so many people here on purpose.
As he frequently disturbed her mind, she was a little hesitant to be alone with him for a long time.
She was afraid that she would suddenly panic or experience another bout of sudden heart arrhythmia; but she wanted very much to learn the Patronus Charm, and she also wanted to see him a little.
This contradictory feeling prompted Hermione to do something surprising: mobilize the masses to collectively learn his Patronus Charm.
"Why don't they go to dear Professor Lupin?" Draco asked timidly, swallowing hard.
"He said this spell isn't something students of our age should learn; it's too difficult. Besides, he hasn't been feeling well lately," Hermione explained in a low voice.
Of course Lupin would be uncomfortable - Draco understood - the full moon had only just passed a few days ago.
At this moment, the Weasley twins ran up, grabbed one side of him, and dragged him into the classroom.
"Why didn't you two tell me? We just met yesterday!" Draco asked in a low voice, his arms tied up and unable to move.
"We wanted to give you a surprise!" said Fred with a smile.
"We never miss one of your silly looks of shock!" George winked at him.
He was forced by the two brothers to go to the middle of the room.
Draco wanted to resist them - even wanted to subconsciously hex them - he was not used to being carried around.
But Hermione was standing nearby, watching him with wide eyes and interest; everyone was gathered around him.
He felt as if his tendons had been pulled out, unable to show his bravery and ferocity in front of her innocent eyes.
"Stop talking nonsense and don't be so stingy, Draco." Fred said with a smile.
"We can't wait to see your Patronus Charm!" said George.
"We wanted to scare the Dementors—" Fred laughed maliciously.
"Or catch one and do some research on it," George said to his brother in agreement.
"Study what's under its cloak—" said Fred with interest.
"Or look at its mouth—" said George.
"No, this is no joke." Draco hurriedly stopped their unanimous response. "I suggest you don't capture it for research. Its mouth, in particular, is extremely dangerous! It sucks people's souls through its mouth, which is equivalent to killing them. The body still exists, but the soul is gone."
"We could shock it with our wands, couldn't we? Or even kill it with the Patronus Charm?" asked Lee Jordan, a boy with terrifying dreadlocks who Draco knew had a good relationship with the twins.
"Actually, we can only repel it," Draco said sternly. "Even a full Patronus Charm can only repel it, not destroy it. It can't be physically killed."
There was a gasp in the room.
"What are you waiting for? Start teaching." Ron urged him.
"Listen, I haven't fully mastered the Patronus Charm, I can only recite the formula... I don't fully understand Dementors... I'm not good at teaching..." Draco said uneasily to the group of students with burning eyes, trying to slip towards the door.
He really wanted to back out at this moment.
But Hermione stretched out her arms, blocking him from leaving. She said matter-of-factly, "But you're already teaching us. You're telling us about the dangers of Dementors, aren't you?"
Draghi was stunned.
"You're already very good, better than the rest of us who know nothing at all." Hermione encouraged him, raising her voice. "You even created that silver mist to hold off the Dementors for quite a while."
"Ah, yes," Ron said cheerfully to the somewhat disappointed students around him, "I can testify to that. He did appear. The Dementor froze at the door, not daring to enter the compartment."
Draco looked back at him, too angry to speak.
Ron Weasley, always with his loud mouth, always goes against him.
"Draco, teach us." While the group of students, who had regained their interest, were surrounding Ron and asking questions, Hermione looked at him with an almost worshipful gaze and whispered, "Please, you promised."
How could you possibly resist such admiring eyes from Hermione Granger?
Her big eyes looked at you without blinking, smiling at you slightly, as if she was looking at something pleasing.
Draco sighed.
"Alright. I have to point out that successfully casting the Patronus Charm is extremely difficult. Conjuring a complete Patronus requires exceptional talent and skill." He said in a tone that seemed to be reluctant to bother. "If you can't teach me, I won't be held responsible."
He glanced at Longbottom intentionally or unintentionally.
Longbottom hadn't noticed his gaze yet. He was listening intently to Ron's description of the silver mist, a hint of eagerness appearing on his round face.
"Of course," Hermione said happily, giving him a small smile. Then she turned to the crowd and shouted, "Okay, the lesson's about to begin! Pay attention and stop talking!"
The room fell silent.
Looking at this group of students who had gathered around him again, eager to learn, Draco found it difficult to run away, no matter what the reason was.
He cleared his throat resignedly, trying to recall the few bits of knowledge Narcissa had given him, summarizing them in as simple and understandable terms as possible:
"The Patronus Charm is one of the most powerful and oldest defensive spells in the wizarding world, and it's also the most famous. It can be used to protect against Dementors and Voldemorts... Different people have different Patronuses. Only a few wizards can summon a complete and advanced Patronus through the Patronus Charm, which can be used for communication. Most people can only summon a silver shield or mist..."
Draco didn't expect that everyone was listening to him eagerly.
They didn't dislike him or avoid him because he was a Slytherin.
No one was scared away by his cold attitude and indifferent expression - not even Longbottom, who continued to listen tremblingly.
The students in this classroom were all very strange. They were different from the Slytherin classmates he had come into contact with before, who needed to be forced to submit by using strength, power, status, or even threats and blackmail.
They looked at him with more kindness, eyes full of equal respect, instead of the contempt, ridicule, fear and avoidance he had felt before.
This was a fresh experience he had never had in his previous life. An inexplicable sense of accomplishment and joy spread in his heart.
When he came to his senses, he suddenly found himself pacing back and forth in the center of the circle with his chest straightened, saying:
"When casting a spell, you need to concentrate, think of the happiest thing in your heart, and say 'Expecto Patronus'. Now everyone draw your wands and practice with me..."
He found Hermione looking at him with relief and a smile on her face.
Perhaps the smile infected him, and he became interested and even walked around in the crowd to guide those students he was not familiar with.
He even personally instructed Longbottom, whose brain was barely bigger than a walnut kernel. It was outrageous. He even suppressed the urge to lash out in sweet talk. He didn't glare at him, but simply said to Longbottom, whose progress was slow, with a blank expression, "Don't panic even if there's no fog. You need to practice more and spend more time."
Neville looked at Malfoy's stern face and thought of Professor Snape. Then, he remembered that not long ago, this terrible Slytherin had waited for him outside the Gryffindor common room, threatening to cast the "Leg-Locking Curse" on him. He quickly made a sad face and stammered to agree with Malfoy, just like Quirrell, the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in his first year.
"What's wrong? What are you laughing at?" After finishing the practice, Draco walked up to Hermione and asked her in a low voice.
He had noticed her snickering beside him.
"Nothing." Hermione said meaningfully, "I just remembered that a classmate from Slytherin once advised me not to help others."
"Yes, I still think so. I still think you shouldn't be overly helpful in Potions class." Draco said with his neck stiff, hurriedly hiding his happy emotions and putting on a bit of arrogance on his face. "Listen to the advice of a Study Par... Slytherin Classmate. Don't do anything that is not good for you."
He originally wanted to say study partner, but suddenly remembered that he was not even in a stable position as a study partner and was often abandoned by her.
"Oh, really? You think so?" She was shocked by this argument and asked him in confusion, "Then, Slytherin, what good does it do you to teach people the Patronus Charm?"
He finally smiled for the first time that day, but without answering her, he put his hands behind his back and slowly left the classroom.
"Benefits..." His voice echoed unfathomably in the empty corridor and gradually faded away.
What are the benefits?
Her eyes and her smile echoed in his mind, and he was too lazy to think about "what good this could bring."
By early October, Draco had largely turned his attention to Quidditch.
One Thursday night, Slytherin team captain Marcus Flint called a meeting to discuss tactics for the new season.
In the chilly Quidditch locker room, Draco heard a tone of determination in Marcus's subdued voice. Quidditch seemed to be the only thing he cared about this year.
"This is my last chance, and I want to end it with honor." A wild glint flashed in his eyes. "We had a chance of winning last year, but the Quidditch tournament was cancelled. This year we must win the championship!"
"Yes, Marcus, we'll be fine this year," said Chaser Graham Montague. "We've got a very strong team this year." Adrian Puse, the Chaser next to him, nodded.
"Perkin, Lucian, what do you say?" Marcus looked at the two batsmen.
"Of course, I'm not going to hold back while I have the bat in my hand," said batter Perrikin Derrick, weighing his short bat.
"Even if the bat falls, we have to try to hit someone," said batsman Lucien Boll with a smile.
"Miles, Slytherin's best goalkeeper! Guard our goal and protect Slytherin's underwear. Can you do it this year?" Marcus said affectionately.
Miles Blackie nodded, twitching his face as he said, "That being said, there's no need to describe it as underwear—"
Marcus ignored Miles, patted Draco's shoulder, and looked at him seriously. "And Draco, my favorite Seeker. Never lost a Golden Snitch. Keep up the good work this year."
Draco shrugged and smiled at Marcus. Perikin made faces at everyone behind Marcus's back. The team members tried to hold back their laughter, but had to put on a serious face in front of Marcus, who was full of hatred and resentment.
"Oh, Perrikin, don't be like this." Marcus didn't turn around, but said this suddenly, which scared Perrikin. "This matter has nothing to do with individuals. What I care about is that the Quidditch Cup, which Slytherin has kept for many years, should not be given away in our hands!"
This sentence is very effective, it appeals to the sense of honor and competitive spirit of the other team members.
So the team members stopped smiling and started shouting slogans together, and collectively passed the "three times a week" training plan with firm determination.
They endured mud, strong winds, torrential rain and the ubiquitous high-altitude cold waves, fighting for the honor of Slytherin this year.
Patronus Charm training had to be moved to a time outside of Draco's Quidditch training day, a fact accepted by the students, with no one raising any objections.
"That's all right," Harry told him, "I have Quidditch practice those days anyway."
After a period of practice, most students who received Patronus Charm training could release a ball of silver-white mist properly.
That day, the Ravenclaw girl named Luna Lovegood conjured up a silvery-white, translucent animal that scurried across the ceiling of the old classroom like a ghost in the fog. It looked like a rabbit.
"Very good." Draco said expressionlessly, with a hint of approval in his tone.
Luna Lovegood is a quirky girl. She wears a pair of carrot-shaped earrings and a necklace made from butterbeer bottle corks. She's close to the Grey Ladies and even helped Hermione last year.
At this moment, hearing Draco's comment, she smiled dreamily, her protruding eyes showing a surprised joy.
"How did you do that? Create animals or something?" Hermione asked with a pursed mouth.
She wasn't making much progress and could only create some silvery-white mist like Draco.
"In general, it's about digging out happiness. You need to find the thing that makes you happiest. I changed it several times before I succeeded... Also, believe in your patronus 100%..." Luna generously imparted her experience to the people around her in her erratic voice that was detached from reality.
Digging for happiness...? Draco mused.
He thought about it and tried to wave his wand. A vague silver-white shadow emerged from the tip, as if trying to condense into some shape.
Still a little bit short.
He let out a soft breath, not having the chance to practice it a second time, now that he was being shakily called upon by that damned Neville Longbottom for help.
Neville Longbottom, a diligent and hard-working Potions wizard and Crucible Slayer.
On the Friday before Halloween, Professor Snape, as usual, walked around the students with a gloomy face, sarcastically humiliating their potion results.
Draco had reason to believe that Professor Snape had not yet recovered from the cross-dressing incident in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, because he still hung around Longbottom the most and did not hesitate to use his humiliating words.
At this moment, something unexpected but reasonable happened - Longbottom's hand shook in a panic, and a crucible exploded.
The potion and its residue splashed all over the people around, especially Professor Snape, who was closest to the eye of the storm and whose black robes were covered in the wet, sticky mixture.
This was the most serious offense to Professor Snape, the master of potions.
He stood there angrily, with a threatening look in his eyes.
"What happened, Neville? What did you throw in there?" Hermione hurried over from the front of the classroom, her face horrified. "I just went to the sink and washed my hands! It only took half a minute!"
Yes, that's right. Draco thought, you can't control this kind of Potions genius.
Give it up, Hermione Granger!
"Miss Granger, you should be thankful you escaped. Longbottom, stay and clean the Potions classroom! Potter and Weasley, why didn't you remind Longbottom next to you that he added the wrong potion ingredients? Is this to show that you are smarter?" Professor Snape said slowly, with a malicious glint in his eyes. "Detention tomorrow. All day."
"But, sir, Saturday is Hogsmeade's open house," said Harry.
"That's a shame," said Professor Snape gleefully. "I'm afraid you won't be able to go."
"I've never seen such a shameless person..." Ron looked at Professor Snape's figure that was leaving as fast as the wind, his eyes seemed to be spewing fire.
On the day before Halloween, Harry and Ron went downstairs for breakfast, feeling rather dejected. Hermione tried to persuade them for a long time, but to no avail. Finally, they could only watch helplessly as Hermione left the castle, all the way to the gate, where they were stopped by Mr. Filch.
"Students not going to Hogsmeade stop here!" he told them gruffly.
"I'll bring you lots of sweets from Honeydukes," said Hermione, feeling terribly sorry for them both.
"Bring us a whole bunch," Ron said nonchalantly, but he couldn't hide his envy; Harry forced a smile at her, which was uglier than crying.
"The main force has set off! Is this your first time going? Then you'd better hurry up, otherwise you won't be able to find the way." Mr. Filch said to Hermione impatiently, thinking about the leaking toilets, the ceilings covered with frog brains and the classroom doors with Peeves blocking the keyhole.
Hermione looked back and saw that the students had already walked into the vast morning mist, becoming a group of small black dots that were barely visible in her vision. She was a little anxious, but she couldn't bear to leave Harry and Ron alone. Their expressions were too tragic.
At this moment, Draco was strolling out of the castle and casually greeted them.
Harry pulled him aside as if he had found a savior, "Do me a favor, Draco."
"What kind of help?" Draco scratched his platinum hair lazily, looking like he hadn't woken up yet.
"Sirius...he's been in a bad state lately," Harry said anxiously. "I wrote him a few letters, but he hasn't replied. I'm...very worried about him."
Draco pouted.
He had always been upset about the Golden Cup. He also didn't want to have any further dealings with that troublemaker Sirius Black. Last time in Dumbledore's office, he tried his best not to have a direct conversation with him or even make eye contact.
"I finally made an appointment with him to meet at the Three Broomsticks today, but you know, I can't go today," Harry said irritably. "Could you run the trip for me and help persuade him?"
"Why do you think he would listen to me? I've only met him twice!" Draco finally cheered up, an expression of disbelief appearing on his face.
"Of all my friends, you're the one who knows him best! You spend the most time with him, don't you?" Harry looked up at the clock hands on the tower and said quickly, "Draco, please. I have to go to your headmaster for detention."
Before Draco could think of a word to mock his "wild imagination", Harry and Ron were already hurrying towards the castle.
"Hey, come on, I haven't agreed yet!" he shouted in annoyance at their backs; hearing this, Harry slid away faster and waved his hand wildly at him with his back turned.
So, Mr. Filch could finally slam the ornate cast-iron school gate shut and rush off to clean a leaky bathroom.
Only Draco Malfoy was left standing outside the school gate, staring back at Harry in amazement; and Hermione Granger, who was left alone, stood shoulder to shoulder with him in front of the school gate.
Oh my god! Are they the only two left? Hermione glanced back at the misty road, then turned to look at the frowning boy beside her, and suddenly realized something.
Were they going to walk this road alone? She pondered this fact, and a sense of nervousness rose in her heart.
He just yawned lazily beside her, and she started to feel short of breath again.
She stared at the stone pillars on either side of the school gate, pretending to study the winged boars on top - said to be the symbol of Chrysaor, the brother of Pegasus - and tried to keep herself calm by recalling the obscure contents of "Hogwarts, A History" with her eyes and nose.
Draco froze for a moment, until Harry was out of sight.
He scratched his head in annoyance and sighed. He should have stayed out of the house earlier—it would have been better to just hide away in the common room.
He already knew Hogsmeade like the back of his hand, and there were secret passages to take him there. On days like this, it made no difference to him whether he went there or not.
However, after glancing at the dazed little girl beside him, he suddenly became interested in Hogsmeade village today.
"Shall we go?" He relaxed his brows and asked, looking at her pink profile.
"Okay—" Hermione said hurriedly, glancing at him furtively, "but I don't know the way."
"It doesn't matter. I happen to be very familiar with it." Draco raised the corners of his lips and put his hands in his pockets proudly, "Come with me.