Chapter 50: Sleeping Pills Become Ecstasy
Hermione regretted it a bit after agreeing to the two, but since she had agreed, she wouldn't go back on her word.
What conditions were needed to abduct Abey? An acquaintance, a drumstick, and a sleeping potion.
Now that all three conditions were ready, Hermione was still a bit uneasy, but Harry and Ron were full of confidence, both believing that this attempt would definitely succeed.
By dinner time, students from all four Houses were gathering at the four long tables in the Great Hall.
Aaron, as usual, put down his pet cat and began to enjoy his meal methodically.
At the Gryffindor table, Ron and Harry exchanged glances, then gave Hermione a subtle look: It's your turn; if you miss this time, you'll have to wait until next time.
Hermione hesitated for a moment but still stood up and walked over to Aaron.
Before she could even figure out how to speak, Aaron asked, "Hermione, is there something you need from me?"
"Um... isn't it almost time for final exams?"
I'm feeling a bit stressed, so I was hoping to borrow Abey for a bit," Hermione said, looking quite embarrassed. "This little guy is especially warm to hug and can help one relax."
Abey immediately raised its proud head, looking as if it wouldn't be pleased even if praised.
However, the hat on its head inexplicably rising by a centimeter still showed its secret delight.
"You're stressed?" Draco, sitting opposite Aaron, couldn't help but interject. "What a joke! I'm the one who's really stressed!
If my father finds out I lost to you, who knows how he'll punish me!"
"Then you should try harder! You just need to not score lower than me," Hermione said haughtily; she didn't have such a good temper with Malfoy.
"I..." Draco's words caught in his throat. He knew the gap between him and Hermione, the academic prodigy, but he wouldn't lose face. He couldn't lose in terms of aura. "I'll prove it to you."
"We'll see!" Hermione said, then looked at Aaron. "Can I borrow Abey for one night?"
Aaron hesitated. If he had a cat in his hands, he would definitely lend it, but this was a dragon!
Generally speaking, girls had little resistance to Abey, but if they noticed the wings under Abey's clothes, it would be a huge problem.
"If not, then forget it. I won't trouble you," Hermione said, sounding a little wronged, but no one noticed the hidden relief beneath her feigned distress.
As long as Aaron didn't agree, then Harry and Ron's plan would fail, and she wouldn't have to reluctantly abduct the cat.
"Actually, it's not impossible," Aaron said. "But you have to promise me you'll take good care of it, and you must be careful not to let anyone else touch it, and especially not to take off its clothes."
"So it sleeps with its clothes on at night?" Hermione asked, a little confused.
Abey's face immediately showed a wronged expression. Although the clothes it wore were specially made by Gines, with good elasticity and breathability, and could be used as pajamas.
But for the past few months, it had only been able to take off its clothes when changing, which was simply regrettable for a dragon to admit.
"Something like that!" Aaron rubbed Abey's head. "This guy is especially afraid of the cold."
"I see.
Alright! I promise I'll take good care of it," Hermione said firmly. As for what came after, she couldn't guarantee it; she only hoped Harry and their plan would go smoothly and that nothing unexpected would happen.
"That's good. I'll give it to you after dinner."
Hermione nodded and walked towards the Gryffindor table, not letting Aaron see the conflicted expression on her face.
"You're not really going to lend it to her, are you?" Dracoasked, somewhat suspiciously. Usually, Aaron treasured Abey like a precious gem, not even letting others touch it, but now he was saying he'd lend it.
"I keep my word," Aaron shrugged. "Besides, it doesn't seem like such a big deal, does it?
If you wanted to borrow it, I wouldn't be unable to lend it to you either."
"Really?" Draco's face showed a hint of excitement. Just as he was about to say something, Abey, who had been calmly waiting to be fed, suddenly bared its teeth, making him incredibly awkward.
"Never mind that.
I'm not a girl who needs a cute creature for comfort when stressed.
I have my own ways of venting," Draco said grumpily, then turned to look at Crabbe and Goyle, who were heartily devouring their food. "You two, come for a walk outside with me after dinner."
"No problem, boss," Crabbe said while eating, his voice a bit muffled.
As for Goyle, he just kept nodding. A walk after dinner, perfectly reasonable!
"Sigh!" Draco let out a long sigh. Having these two followers was truly exasperating; though loyal, their abilities were mediocre, only reaching an average level.
On the other side, Hermione returned to her seat. As soon as she sat down, she was met with two pairs of questioning eyes.
"Don't worry! Aaron has already agreed.
But you two absolutely, absolutely, absolutely must ensure everything goes off without a hitch."
"That's absolutely no problem," Harry emphasized the word 'absolutely'. "We have the Invisibility Cloak; no one will find out."
Seeing their confident expressions, Hermione said nothing more, only hoping time would pass quickly so they could get this over with soon; every extra second felt like an ordeal to her.
After dinner, people in the Great Hall gradually left, and only about a dozen students from all four Houses remained, more than half of whom were big eaters.
"We're leaving first," Draco said, then pulled his two cronies out.
Aaron nodded, then looked at Abey solemnly, "This is your first time staying overnight somewhere else. Remember to be well-behaved, understand?"
Abey nodded, then rubbed against Aaron's palm, showing a sense of reluctance.
"Haha, alright. I trust Hermione; nothing should happen tonight.
Besides, you're going to grow up eventually; we can't stay together forever. Consider this an early adaptation!"
Aaron comforted it for a while before taking it to the Gryffindor table.
At this point, besides leftover food, there were only five people at this long table.
Two older Class students, Hermione, and Harry and Ron.
"Hermione!"
Hearing the sudden call, Hermione involuntarily shivered, then reluctantly turned around. "Sorry, I was thinking about something just now and didn't notice you."
"It seems your stress is a bit high," Aaron teased, then placed Abey in her arms. "I'm entrusting it to you. You can give it back to me at breakfast tomorrow."
"Mm!" Hermione's voice was barely a whisper; she didn't even dare to look him in the eye.
"Is she alright?" Aaron frowned slightly.
"She should... be fine," Harry said. "Hermione is just a bit tired; she'll be fine after a good night's sleep."
Aaron didn't suspect anything and turned to walk towards the door. Only after he left the Great Hall did Hermione let out a sigh of relief.
She looked at Harry and Ron with a resentful gaze. "You two had better not ask me to do something like this again, or I'll definitely break off our friendship."
"Got it, there won't be a next time," Ron said, then took out a drumstick he had specially saved. "I prepared something good for it."
Abey's eyes lit up at the sight of the drumstick, but it turned to look at Hermione, its big eyes making her feel somewhat guilty.
"Sigh! Just eat if you want to!"
Abey instantly jumped onto the dining table and began to gnaw, completely oblivious to the triumphant smiles on the faces of the two opposite it.
Seeing Abey's behavior, Harry and Ron felt their hearts settle. Only they knew how difficult the past few days had been.
Abey's eating speed wasn't slow; finishing a drumstick was a matter of minutes.
Soon, a chicken bone appeared on the plate. Abey patted its belly contentedly. Just as it was about to jump back into Hermione's arms, it felt dizzy, and countless double images appeared in its vision.
It staggered, extended its front paw, and then collapsed onto the table.
Hermione immediately picked it up, tenderly stroking its head with concern. "Abey won't be hurt, will it?"
"No, I only added three drops. It should wake up after sleeping for six hours."
"Wait!" Harry frowned. "How much did you say you added?"
"Three drops of sleeping potion!"
"Heh heh!" Harry slapped his forehead. "I was worried you'd forget, so I added another three drops."
Ron:...Good heavens, with this layering, the sleeping potion has turned into a powerful sedative.
"Ahem! Actually, it's not a big deal.
One drop can make an animal sleep for two hours, so six drops are just enough for it to sleep until tomorrow morning.
This way, we'll have more time. At most, Hermione, you can just wake it up tomorrow morning, and Aaron won't notice."
"It can only be this way," Hermione murmured softly. She didn't want to participate in this plan, but since she was already on the pirate ship, she could only try her best to row to the other shore.