The Return to Hogwarts

Amosta was finally at ease. He stared blankly at the flickering flames on the torches hanging on the wall.

What kind of girl do I like?

To be honest, he hadn't considered such a question for quite some time. Ever since he left Grandma Ferrena and that Muggle orphanage to enter the magical world, during his years at Hogwarts, he had been living in constant fear, devoting all his energy to improving his magical skills.

In the first two years after graduation, he was eager to see the wider magical world and improve the living standards of the poor children in the orphanage. But when his strength reached a certain level, he was tricked by Dumbledore and returned to Hogwarts. From then on, one thing after another never stopped happening, and at the same time, he also had to think about some changes in the future.

Upon reflection, it seems he had almost never considered this issue.

Amostella, whose thoughts were inadvertently stirred, was momentarily lost in thought. He wasn't sure how long he had been daydreaming, but when he came to his senses, even Hermione, who was shy about discussing the matter, looked up at him in surprise.

Looking at the two little wizards who were still a head shorter than him, Amosta chuckled.

"I think there probably isn't a clear standard—"

"There's no standard, but—"

Angelina said, puzzled.

"There's always a standard, isn't there? For example, most boys in school like pretty and cute girls—"

Pretty and cute--

Hermione pursed her lips, looking hurt.

"Ah, of course, no one dislikes pretty and cute girls--"

Professor Blaine frankly stated,

"But this is a male's nature, and probably has nothing to do with love. If it were me, I might value a woman who can resonate with me on a soul level."

"A resonance of souls?"

"That's right. Well, having common topics and shared pursuits is the most basic thing, Miss Johnson. You know, love itself is a very mysterious thing, very irrational, no language can accurately describe it, and there is no standard to measure it—"

Amosta smiled

"In short, my idea is to have none rather than find the wrong one. Finding a woman with whom you can have a soul connection requires luck, and until then, I would rather devote all my energy to improving my magical skills. I will not look for a partner with the idea that one must have a partner. That would just be a waste of time and energy."

As if struck by lightning, Hermione stared blankly at Professor Blaine, her mind racing with a torrent of thoughts that quickly filled her heart.

Professor Blaine's idea is indeed very reasonable, isn't it?

Even Angelina nodded thoughtfully.

"alright--"

Professor Blaine, who had just gotten some dust on his robes from going into the restricted section, said casually, "That's enough of that, gentlemen. I haven't had dinner yet, so I need to go get myself something to eat. You can go about your business as well."

Angelina turned and walked back to the library. She was also a student in Professor Blaine's physical education class, and she still needed to find some materials to complete the homework left over from last night's physical education class. But Hermione dawdled and didn't take more than two steps until Angelina entered the library.

"Is there anything else you want to talk to me about?"

Hermione hesitated, unsure whether to bring up the question, but Amosta sensed that Hermione probably wanted to talk to him alone, so he stopped her.

Hermione was startled by the suddenness of the situation, and her hesitation intensified. However, Professor Blaine's calm gaze gave her courage. She took a deep breath, turned around, and nodded.

"Um--"

Professor Blaine gave an indifferent hum. He knew Hermione definitely didn't want to discuss 'love' with him anymore; she probably had something important to do. He looked around, beckoned Hermione to follow, and led her to a dusty corridor.

The air was thick with the smell of decay, and the stone sculptures on both sides of the corridor looked sinister and terrifying against the backdrop of darkness. Hermione shrank back in fear, no longer daring to let her gaze wander.

"What's wrong, Hermione?"

Amosta paused in the bright moonlight streaming into the castle, turned around and asked.

"Um, there's something—"

Hermione stammered,

"You mentioned in Professor Moody's class today that there is a kind of magic that can resist attacks from mental spells and is effective against the Unforgivable Curse, but you forgot to mention—"

"Oh!"

Amosta slapped his forehead, his tone apologetic.

"Sorry, I really forgot, but—"

Amosta's gaze shifted, a smile playing on his lips, as he spoke.

"But I think you didn't come to me just for this, right? It's okay, let's be honest, what is it that you want to ask me?"

Hermione didn't think her clumsy excuse would fool Professor Blaine, but she didn't expect him to expose her so directly. For a moment, she didn't know what to say. Fortunately, Professor Blaine was very patient and didn't urge her, waiting patiently.

"I'm sorry, Professor, I actually—"

Hermione clutched her schoolbag tightly, lowered her head in shame, and after a long while, asked in an almost whispered voice,

"--Actually, I wanted to ask if there's any way you'd be willing to give those little wizards who previously skipped PE class another chance."

Silence descended, and in this oppressive silence, Hermione, her cheeks flushed and her expression ashamed, lowered her head further and further until her chin almost touched her chest.

"For Mr. Ron Weasley?"

After a long silence, Amosta asked with a calm smile.

Chapter 527 An Unforeseen Situation

2023-10-11

"Oh, no!"

Hermione answered nervously, her anxiety so great she didn't even realize what she was saying, but Professor Blaine's calm purple eyes seemed to see through any lie. Hermione lowered her head, her face flushed crimson, and she stammered...

"And there's Seymour and Dean Lavender. Many people regret giving up physical education classes, Professor Blaine, if you'd be willing to give them another chance—"

Hermione couldn't continue. Professor Blaine's calm gaze felt like a mountain pressing down on her head, making her unable to lift her head.

In the suffocating silence, a faint, almost imperceptible groan could be heard. It was as faint as a gentle breeze brushing against one's cheek. Hermione didn't hear it, but Amosta looked toward a dilapidated classroom with a rusted door hinge, his expression slightly moved.

"Of course, Ron also regrets it; they didn't anticipate—"

"Didn't expect my course to become so interesting?"

Professor Blaine withdrew his gaze and said calmly.

Hermione's anxious heart sank as if into an ice cave. She had already anticipated Professor Blaine's answer, and sure enough, Professor Blaine sighed softly and said slowly,

“Your noble character is truly admirable, Hermione, but I suppose you already knew what my response would be before you even spoke to me, didn’t you?”

Hermione's cheeks flushed crimson, and her slightly long front teeth bit her lower lip, drawing a few drops of blood. This was indeed a very difficult situation for her. First, she knew very well that she couldn't possibly help Ron get an opportunity from Professor Blaine; second, she, who always followed the rules, had taken the initiative to approach Professor Blaine this time, hoping he would overturn them.

Everyone wants to become better, but often, hard work alone cannot solve the problem.

Professor Blaine said earnestly,

"We also need vision, wisdom, luck, and a series of other factors to have the opportunity to change our destiny. Do you understand what I mean?"

Hermione nodded with difficulty.

Professor Blaine meant that the students who dropped out of the course lacked what he was talking about.

Seeing Hermione's dejected expression and reddened eyes, Amostella pursed her lips and continued,

"Life is a wonderful journey, Hermione, and no one can definitively say how to spend it in a happy and meaningful way."

Perhaps you now think that your friends who dropped out of my course missed a valuable opportunity, a terrible loss. But if you look at it from a higher perspective, maybe it's actually a good thing for them. So, I don't think you need to worry about it too much. Everyone's life is in their own hands; you can't interfere.

Professor Blaine's words left Hermione bewildered. For her, only by becoming more outstanding could she realize her own value and find happiness. For a young wizard of her age, mediocrity was also terrifying. She couldn't understand how losing such a precious opportunity could be a good thing for Ron.

"Well!"

Hermione was in a daze, still trying to understand Professor Blaine's words, but then the whistling sound that Hermione had previously taken as the whistling of a breeze passing through the corridor windows suddenly became clear, and she realized that it was not the sound of wind at all, but a painful wail.

Hermione looked somewhat panicked. She quickly turned around to look at the classroom behind her, whose door was covered with cobwebs, and her mouth quietly opened.

Who's in the room?

No one answered, but the painful groans continued unabated. Hermione could hear the people in the classroom trying their best to suppress their cries, but the pain had clearly exceeded the limits of endurance and could not be suppressed by willpower alone.

"Is someone injured?"

Hermione stepped back, her face drained of color and pale. She involuntarily grabbed Professor Blaine's sleeve and asked tremblingly.

"Oh--"

Amosta's lips twitched a few times, his expression one of utter disbelief.

"It's not that anyone is injured. Well, this situation is indeed quite rare. This is the first time I've encountered something like this, but since it has happened..."

Amosta frowned.

"We really can't just ignore it—"

what is the problem?

Hermione tilted her head back and stared at Professor Blaine's face. She had never seen the confident and composed Professor Blaine speak in such a troubled tone before. What had happened in this classroom that made Professor Blaine look so troubled?

"There's something going on inside, Hermione. I need to go in and handle it. You see—"

Hermione paused, taken aback by Professor Blaine's sudden dismissal. Disappointment flickered in her eyes. She nodded slightly, and regardless, slowly walked back the way she had come. In any case, she didn't need to worry about Professor Blaine. Whether at Hogwarts or in the wizarding world, probably nothing could harm him.

"May I ask what's going on inside, Professor Blaine?"

Hermione dawdled along, then suddenly, as if possessed, she stopped, turned to Professor Blaine who was rolling up his sleeves, and asked abruptly.