The Return to Hogwarts

Only now did she realize something. She had thought that facing the questioning gazes of so many important figures in the magical world in the room behind the Great Hall was terrifying enough, but now Hermione realized that what she was about to face was even more terrifying.

Perhaps sensing her timidity, Hermione felt Professor McGonagall gently squeeze her shoulder with the hand that was on her shoulder.

Finally, they arrived at the entrance to the Gryffindor common room. Professor McGonagall stopped Hermione a short distance away from the portrait of the Fat Lady. Hermione immediately looked up at Professor McGonagall and saw that she was smiling at her with her lips pursed. She could clearly see that Professor McGonagall was trying to hide her worry with her smile.

“I must admit, Miss Granger, this matter seems very strange to me—”

Professor McGonagall's shoulders swayed, but after taking a deep breath, she spoke in an unprecedentedly gentle tone.

"Now that things have come to this, no matter what the person who cast your name into the Goblet of Fire is plotting, Miss Granger, you have already been a hero. So, I hope you can live up to the Gryffindor spirit and do your best to face this outcome, okay?"

Hermione's eyes welled up with tears again; she didn't know how to respond to Professor McGonagall's expectations.

"There's been a lot of talk among the students that you're just a bookworm—oh, what a ridiculous notion! The professors have always ignored it. But I think you understand, Miss Granger, this is a good opportunity to put an end to those rumors!"

"But--"

Hermione's mind was filled with many things, but she tried her best to clear those thoughts and focus on what Professor McGonagall had instructed her to do.

"Beauxbatons and Durmstrang have chosen their best students, as has Cedric Diggory. Professor Blaine also said the Triwizard Tournament is dangerous, and I don't know enough magic, Professor McGonagall. I don't know..."

“Oh, Miss Granger—”

Professor McGonagall interrupted Hermione.

“I don’t know how good Beauxbatons and Durmstrang are as coaches, but at least Cedric Diggory, yes, that kid is excellent, but I think you have to be better than him, Miss Granger. If he can handle those competition events, then there’s no reason you can’t!”

In the bright firelight, Hermione stared wide-eyed at Professor McGonagall, unable to believe that Professor McGonagall would give her such high praise. After all, Professor McGonagall was always very 'reserved' when it came to praising people.

"Ah, of course. I don't want my assessment of you to reach Pomona's ears. You understand what I mean, Miss Granger?"

Professor McGonagall gave a rare, playful wink, which was quite unexpected for her, given her usual focus on her image and her need to maintain an air of authority in front of her students!

"I've already told you!"

As soon as the portrait of the Fat Lady was opened, Harry's impatient voice came through the doorway, "Hermione has been with me, Ron, Hagrid, and a whole bunch of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students all day long. They can all testify that Hermione couldn't possibly have had time to put her name in the Goblet of Fire!"

The Gryffindor common room was packed with people; almost all the students from the first to the seventh year of the house had gathered there, and at the center of the crowd were a few people who had previously been close to Hermione.

"Potter!"

As soon as they entered the common room, Professor McGonagall's expression returned to the solemnity that Hermione was familiar with. She stood at the entrance and called out to Harry, but the noisy crowd easily drowned out her voice. Everyone's attention was on Harry, and they didn't notice Professor McGonagall and Hermione entering.

“Mr. Potter!” Professor McGonagall raised her voice and called out sternly again, “Could you please get down from the table first?”

Harry was exhausted from dealing with the crowd's repeated questions. Everyone was concerned about how Hermione got her name into the Goblet of Fire. They wouldn't listen to his explanation that Hermione simply didn't have the time, and that she wouldn't do it behind their backs. But it was as if these students had a filter on their ears, blocking out all his words. Meanwhile, Ron, who was supposed to be testifying with him, remained silent and sullen.

Harry heard Professor McGonagall's voice at the same time as everyone else. He immediately looked toward the door of the common room and saw Professor McGonagall staring sternly at him, and Hermione smiling at him beside her.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Professor McGonagall!"

Harry jumped off the table in a panic, but there were too many people around. Ginny's foot was stepped on hard, and she let out a painful scream like a cat's meow. But Harry only had time to apologize. Before Ginny could respond, he rushed over and desperately pushed his way through the crowd to Professor McGonagall.

"How is it?" Harry stared at Hermione with wide, bright green eyes.

Hermione clearly realized what had caused Harry's hoarse voice; she pursed her lips and winked at him.

Harry immediately understood from their long-standing tacit understanding that things weren't too bad. At least Hermione hadn't been expelled because of this; otherwise, she definitely wouldn't be laughing.

Slightly relieved, Harry finally began to worry about himself. He glanced at Professor McGonagall and found that her expression wasn't as bad as he had expected. Behind Harry, the Gryffindor students stood obediently. As everyone knew, their Headmistress was a professor who valued rules highly, and it was clear that having so many people crammed into the common room during a time when they should be resting in bed wouldn't please her.

Surprisingly, Professor McGonagall did not fly into a rage.

"The school believes --"

Facing the puzzled and apprehensive young wizards, Professor McGonagall spoke calmly.

"You should know some of the truth about what happened tonight, Hermione Granger being chosen as a champion."

The young wizards stared wide-eyed at Professor McGonagall and the silent Hermione.

"Currently, the Ministry of Magic, Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang have reached a consensus that Miss Granger's name appearing in the Goblet of Fire is not her personal act—"

Wow!

The quiet crowd was suddenly ignited. Even though Harry had been telling everyone this all night, no one took it seriously. Who would be so kind as to put someone else's name into the Goblet of Fire to help him become a champion?

"Who did that, Professor?" Fred asked, raising his hand high. "Have you found out?"

“I’m sorry, Mr. Weasley, not yet!” Professor McGonagall’s voice was slightly colder. “But I believe the truth will come out sooner or later!”

"Then how did you determine that Hermione didn't put her name in herself? And why would that person do such a thing?"

Angelina couldn't help but ask.

These two issues are equally worthy of concern, but regrettably, Professor McGonagall did not provide an explanation, which would have conveyed to them that the conclusion was a consensus reached through discussion, and that no one should doubt it.

Professor McGonagall seemed to have finished speaking, then gently pushed Hermione into the crowd. She turned to leave, but with one foot on the doorway, she seemed to suddenly remember something. She turned back to look at the young Gryffindor wizards, and this time, her expression was less serious, even carrying a hint of a smile.

Oh, right--

Professor McGonagall shrugged and said to everyone in a casual tone,

"After discussion, Hermione Granger's champion status was deemed valid."

After saying this, Professor McGonagall left the lounge, completely ignoring the cheers that erupted after she closed the portrait of the Fat Lady, which shook the floor!

Chapter 575 Celebration and Helplessness

2023-11-05

The sudden cacophony nearly knocked Hermione over. Then, in a dizzying rush, she was pulled into the back of the common room by what seemed like a dozen hands. The students, who had been silent in front of Professor McGonagall, were now screaming, cheering, and whistling.

Harry stared in disbelief as Hermione vanished from his sight in a flash. He had only ever witnessed such a spectacle once before, when they won the Quidditch Cup last year.

"etc--"

Harry, snapping out of his daze, shouted and frantically tried to find Hermione. Professor McGonagall had only clarified what seemed to him the most obvious thing; as for the specific details, and the content of the argument that was expected to take place in the room behind the Great Hall, he still needed to ask Hermione for clarification!

Hermione was stunned by the enthusiastic faces before her. Admittedly, she had always been somewhat well-known in her grade for her excellent grades, but for most young wizards, grades were the least important thing. They preferred fresh and exciting topics, and young wizards like Harry who excelled in sports that people loved.

She had never been so welcomed before; the overwhelming enthusiasm of the people she was being greeted made it almost impossible for her to think calmly.

"We were just complaining that you wouldn't let us put our names in the Goblet of Fire, but you secretly came up with your own ideas!"

George shouted loudly, but his face was beaming with excitement.

"Oh, who could be so kind!"

Fred shouted loudly,

"Why couldn't he include our names in the list!"

"Feel sorry!"

Hermione saw Angelina struggle through the crowd to reach her and say apologetically, "I thought the same thing as Fred and George: you were playing a trick on me, Hermione. Oh, congratulations! At least you can represent Gryffindor now, right?"

Hermione suddenly felt an urge to cry again.

The moment Professor Blaine called her name, the distrustful, mocking, and angry looks seemed to have imprisoned her. And now, her Gryffindor classmates had pulled her out of hell. Oh, not quite. She was in much bigger trouble, and there were still many things she needed to figure out. But right now, she certainly wouldn't have the chance to discuss it with Harry and Ron. Speaking of Ron, she had just seen Harry, but Ron hadn't shown up at all.

An unease rose in Hermione's heart. She stood on tiptoe and tried to look around, but all the classmates who could squeeze in front of her were tall, making it impossible for Hermione to see anything. Even Harry was nowhere to be seen.

Fred and George conjured up a huge feast of food and drink as if by magic, and a grand celebration immediately began. The enthusiastic little lions were excited that someone could finally replace Gryffindor in the Triwizard Tournament, an incredibly prestigious event, completely oblivious to the expression on the face of the person in question.

Hermione felt like a Quake in a Quidditch match, being pushed around by people. Many faces appeared in front of her, forcibly stuffing a pastry and a Butterbeer into her hand, and they wouldn't be satisfied until they saw her drink it. Then, the next person would come next.

She had no choice but to accept; the agility she had developed in Professor Blaine's classes was utterly useless in such a crowded environment, and her strength was insufficient to deter people's enthusiasm.

In the end, her once fluffy curls were completely a mess, looking like the mane of the lion on the Gryffindor banner that had somehow ended up draped over her shoulders. Her cheeks were flushed, mainly from the butterbeer.

Hermione vomited all over Neville. It wasn't from the slight alcohol in the butterbeer; it was pure nausea from being forced to drink so much. Seeing her disheveled state, the crowd finally quieted down a bit. However, they still wouldn't let him leave, and when Ginny tried to pull him towards the girls' dormitory stairs, a large group of boys blocked their way.

"She needs rest!"

Harry shouted, and he and Ginny lifted Hermione up on either side. They obviously couldn't get through the wall of people blocking the dormitory stairs, so they had to squeeze towards the door with her. When the portrait of the Fat Lady was lowered, Hermione realized that Ron, who had been missing for half a day, had suddenly appeared.

"where have you been?"

Hermione knew she must look ridiculous, because Harry and Ginny were laughing at her. She glared at them angrily and tried desperately to smooth her hair down, but it was like springy strands that stood up as soon as she let go.

"I've been sitting on the sofa by the fireplace—"

Ron avoided Hermione's gaze and shrugged.

"Perhaps you only pay attention to those who toast you."

Even Harry felt something was off about Ron's tone and words, but he didn't dwell on it because there were more important things to discuss right now.

They moved away from the portrait of the fat lady, because the fat lady and her friend in the frame were staring at them with great interest, clearly intending to eavesdrop on their conversation.

The four of them stopped on a large step of the spiral staircase. The windows in the wall were wide open, and the cold wind that rushed into the castle made the group, who had been in the sweltering heat for a long time, feel refreshed. Hermione, in particular, quickly lost the haze in her eyes.

Last summer at the Weasleys' house, whenever Harry, Ron, and Hermione tried to talk privately, Ginny would always discreetly leave. But tonight, she ignored Ron's suggestive glances and decided to stay and find out what was going on.

"What exactly did they say?"

Harry pressed on,

"Professor McGonagall said they cleared your name, what exactly happened?!"

call--

Hermione gasped for breath several times as she recalled the argument that had taken place in the small room behind the Great Hall. It had only just happened, but it felt like it had been a long time.

“It’s Professor Blaine—” Hermione said breathlessly.