Analysis complete, Lynn released her arms from around Hermione, mechanically stepped out of her embrace, and her lifeless eyes scanned the entire room but found no brooms or mops.
"What are you looking for?" Hermione turned to Lynn, asking in confusion.
"Brooms, mops, rags. Your room needs cleaning," Lynn blurted out expressionlessly, making Hermione momentarily stunned.
Snapping back to reality, Hermione quickly raised her hands and waved them, "I'll do it, you don't need to clean. Just rest by the side; you still look a bit flushed."
After speaking, she reached out and ruffled Lynn's head, indicating that Lynn didn't need to worry about cleaning the room.
Lynn shook her head, her voice devoid of emotion, "I'll help you."
Hermione sighed helplessly and didn't argue with Lynn any further. If she wanted to help, then she might as well let her.
Thinking this, Hermione took Lynn's hand and walked out of her room into the second-floor bathroom, where the broom and mop were kept.
Before Hermione could speak, Lynn had already taken the mop and mop bucket. Considering filling it with water, carrying the bucket, and wringing out the mop, mopping was essentially the most strenuous task. Her brain, without needing to think, took on the task of mopping.
Placing the bucket under the faucet to fill with water, Hermione picked up the broom and, looking at Lynn's back as she filled the bucket, asked, "Do you need help carrying the bucket?"
The bucket was quite heavy when filled with water; her arms always hurt every time she used it.
Lynn subconsciously calculated the maximum capacity of the bucket in her mind, then turned back to Hermione and shook her head, answering mechanically.
"No, I can do it."
"Alright," Hermione pursed her lips and walked out of the bathroom with the broom.
Returning to her room with the broom to slowly sweep the floor, Hermione's attention was mostly focused on the second-floor bathroom outside her room, carefully listening for any sounds, afraid that something might happen to Lynn alone.
That bucket, even if not completely full, was so heavy. What if she accidentally fell while carrying the water? What if she accidentally strained her arm?
Or... what if she accidentally got her clothes wet while wringing out the mop? Would she catch a cold?
All sorts of worries popped into Hermione's mind one after another, but Lynn, on the other side, was not as "dangerous" as she imagined.
Noticing that there was enough water in the bucket, Lynn reached out and turned off the faucet.
At this point, the water in the bucket was just enough to thoroughly clean the mop without splashing, not a drop more, not a drop less, as precise as if it had been measured out with a graduated cylinder.
Picking up the mop, Lynn bent down and efficiently wrung it out, then twisted it dry.
Holding the mop in her right hand and lifting the mop bucket with her left, Lynn steadily carried the mop bucket out of the second-floor bathroom and returned to Hermione's room door with firm steps.
Hermione had almost finished sweeping her room. Lynn walked in with the mop and began mopping diligently, putting a lot of effort into each stroke, visibly cleaning it very thoroughly.
After all, being only eleven years old, Hermione felt a bit tired after sweeping the floor. She straightened her back and leaned against the wall by the room door, preparing to catch her breath.
Then she saw Lynn swiftly finish mopping once, not even forgetting under the bed, and then, without stopping, walk over to wring out the mop again to prepare for the second round of mopping.
Seeing the faint beads of sweat on Lynn's forehead, Hermione's heart thumped. It seemed like she felt sorry for Lynn, but it also seemed... to be more than just pity.
Reaching out to press on Lynn's shoulder, Hermione spoke softly, "Lynn, take a break before continuing."
Lynn stiffly shook her head, her voice even, "No need, I'm not tired."
After speaking, she took off her slippers at the room door, walked into the room in a pair of black short socks with the freshly wrung mop, and began the second round of mopping.
Hermione pursed her lips, watching Lynn work diligently. She placed the broom by the door and hurried downstairs to find Mrs. Granger for rags to wipe the desk and windowsill.
Lynn was working, so she couldn't rest. She couldn't just wait for Lynn to finish mopping while she hadn't done any of the other tasks, leaving it all for Lynn to do alone.
Seeing Hermione run downstairs into the kitchen, Mrs. Granger, who was talking to Mr. Granger about Lynn's situation, paused, a hint of understanding flashing in her eyes as she saw Hermione's slightly sweaty forehead.
She pulled out a tissue, walked over, and wiped Hermione's sweat, "Are you cleaning your room? Why did you come down?"
Hermione awkwardly touched her nose, "Lynn is helping me clean. She's mopping, so I came down to get rags to wipe the desk and windowsill."
Mrs. Granger nodded, picked up a rag, wrung it out carefully twice, and handed it to Hermione.
"How did you get someone to help you with chores?"
Hermione mischievously stuck out her tongue, "I tried to stop her, but it was no use; she insisted on helping."
"She really is a good child..." Mrs. Granger sighed, her condemnation of Lynn's parents deepening.
Such a good child, and look what they've done to her.
Hermione took the rag, and hearing her mother praise Lynn, she couldn't help but feel happy, then excitedly turned and went back upstairs.
"Compared to that child, our Hermione... seems much more lively and active."
Mrs. Granger turned to her husband and couldn't help but exclaim. Hermione used to be seen as a bookworm by teachers and students at school, after all.
Mr. Granger smiled and put his arm around his wife, "After all, we respect Hermione's own wishes and life enough."
So Hermione was only a bit quiet because she loved to read, but in reality, she was confident and optimistic.
Mrs. Granger nodded in agreement. They were also first-time parents and felt they still had many shortcomings and areas where they hadn't done enough.
But compared to what Hermione had said about Lynn's parents... they instantly felt that they might actually be qualified parents.
Returning to her room with the rag, Hermione had expected Lynn to still be mopping, but to her surprise, she had finished mopping and had even tidied up Hermione's desk.
All the books were placed where Hermione could easily reach them, and some books that were clearly unfinished were placed by Lynn at the very front of the desk. The entire desk was orderly and arranged for the most convenient use.
Hermione stood there in a daze, staring wide-eyed at the spotless floor Lynn had mopped and the meticulously tidied desk.
Swallowing with difficulty, Hermione couldn't help but think, Lynn's cleaning skills... they were almost on par with a professional housekeeper.
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