Days at Hogwarts

Chapter 171 Harry is my close roommate, my brother in arms

The first floor of the castle, the auditorium.

Hermione was engrossed in a thick book, with her Transfiguration notebook beside her. Every now and then, she would look up from the book and write down line after line of notes on the paper.

Compared to the simplified and revised compulsory textbooks, the advanced knowledge in the elective courses is more profound, and some concepts and definitions are difficult to pronounce.

"Transfiguration refers to any form of alteration that changes the shape of a target, including higher-level transfiguration, cross-species transfiguration, and human body transfiguration. Summoning Charms do not focus on summoning but on using magic to construct objects. Vanishing Charms cause objects to dissipate rather than be transferred to another location."

Hermione first read the concepts in the book aloud, then read them silently in her mind. After repeating this several times to make sure she had memorized them, she finally wrote down her doubts and questions in her notebook.

The downside of elective courses is that Professor McGonagall doesn't teach them in regular classes, so she has to learn on her own, finding information to solve her doubts or accumulating knowledge to ask the professor for help later.

However, compared to these two methods, she prefers the other approach.

Through the gaps in her hair, one could vaguely glimpse her fair skin and delicate nose, but what was truly captivating were her eyes, absorbed in her book, focused and earnest, reflecting the beige pages of the book as if they were shimmering.

The hall was large and empty. The young wizards who had breakfast came and went, busy enjoying their weekend and splashing water with pebbles by the Black Lake...

They have a million ways to spend their weekends, but Hermione doesn't care; her world is filled with just one book.

As Loren entered the Great Hall, he immediately spotted Hermione reading a book in the corner. Because it was the weekend and she didn't have classes, the girl's loose hair was unkempt and disheveled, almost completely obscuring her head. This messiness added a touch of softness to the girl.

Unconsciously slowing his pace, Loren walked behind the girl, craning his neck to look at the question he had written down in his notebook, and whispered, "Are Vanishing Charms and Summoning Charms the antithesis of each other?"

He thought for a moment and then answered, "It's not really a matter of anti-spells. In fact, there are still disagreements in the magical world about the definitions of Vanishing Charms and Summoning Charms. Just use the concept that's easy for you to understand."

So Hermione wrote a note before this question in her notebook, and then asked, "Can the Vanish Charm be used on people?"

"No, you can't. The Vanishing Charm can only be used on objects that don't have magic."

……

The two naturally began a question-and-answer discussion, adding more notes to the notebook, reducing Hermione's doubts, and thus absorbing the knowledge from the book.

This is Hermione's unique learning method.

Crossing out the last question about the tone of the conversion spell, Hermione stuffed the book, ink bottle, and quill into the small linen bag hanging at her waist. She sighed deeply and said resentfully, "We were supposed to study together during the summer, but you're already ahead of me."

I don't feel jealousy or anything like that. Although learning is enjoyable, the feeling of chasing after someone isn't pleasant.

The little witch clenched her fists, her snow-white chin puffed out, a hint of anger in her voice. This person was truly despicable, secretly studying behind her back—a despicable act of sneaking away.

"And the Forgetfulness Spell too, remember to teach me after you learn it."

"Yes, I know!" Loren stretched out his arms and pushed her shoulders forward, saying helplessly, "Let's go, if it gets any later, I'm worried Hagrid won't have a harvest this year."

"You're almost two weeks late, what's the rush?"

Realizing he was in the wrong, the person changed the subject: "By the way, where are Ron and Harry?"

Hermione didn't mind: "They went to practice on the field."

The two walked together toward Hagrid's cabin.

Autumn has arrived, and some plants that cannot survive the winter are no longer lush and green, their former green tinged with a hint of yellow. Little squirrels dart from branch to branch, clutching their winter food, hiding it in tree holes known only to themselves…

Loren saw a squirrel throw a nut into a tree hole, which popped out a goblin: "I haven't seen Dumbledore for the past few days. I wonder what he's up to?"

The basilisk should have been dealt with by Dumbledore, but he was unsure of Voldemort's condition and what information the diary revealed, so he couldn't help but worry.

"Maybe it's because the headmaster has been too busy lately, so he doesn't eat in the auditorium." Hermione watched as the little squirrel stood up angrily, its little paws flailing wildly.

The little squirrel had already started fighting with the goblin. Its short paws were so powerful that the goblin couldn't lift its head, and it slowly drove the goblin down from the branch.

She stared at the two fighting animals, her eyes sparkling. Loren looked into Hermione's bright eyes, feeling the gentle breeze of early autumn caressing his heart, slowly dispelling the lingering heat of summer.

The outer leaves of the willow have turned yellow and withered. It sheds its leaves every year, starting with tender shoots in spring and falling off completely in autumn, leaving it bare and covered in snow in winter. Compared to the leaves, the branches are more important, and it may take several days before a new branch is replaced.

This year is different; Harry and Ron replaced several branches, and from a distance, a large piece is missing.

Hagrid's hut was locked. Loren and Hermione went to the door but didn't hear Babbler barking. They suspected that Hagrid had gone out, so they knocked twice on the spot.

dong dong dong.

"Here it comes!"

Hagrid's enthusiastic yet somewhat anxious voice rang out, and after a series of clattering sounds of tables and chairs, the door to the cabin was opened.

"Hey Loren, hey Hermione, good morning—"

He stood somewhat flustered in the doorway, his burly body hunched over, seemingly reluctant to let the two of them in.

Loren and Hermione looked at Hagrid suspiciously, their eyes glancing into the room every now and then.

"You're not raising some dangerous creature again, are you?" Loren asked.

"Let them in."

Upon hearing Dumbledore's familiar voice, Loren and Hermione exchanged a glance and quickly slipped into the room.

Dumbledore was standing in front of a small wooden table, fiddling with a spider with long, slender limbs, covered in black hair, and eight eyes. Tooth, hunched over, watched the eight-eyed giant spider warily from the side.

Compared to the adult eight-eyed giant spiders the two had seen, this one was much smaller and more docile. Even when Dumbledore waved a silver lighter-like object near its eyes, the little eight-eyed giant spider only casually moved its large pincers.

"Well, Loren and Hermione, good morning! Forgive my rudeness, but this is a crucial moment, and I can't leave," Dumbledore greeted them.

Hermione glanced at Dumbledore, then turned to Hagrid, her expression blank. So Hagrid was keeping the young eight-eyed spiders captive in the headmaster's name.

A series of questions popped into her mind: how were the school rules calculated, and how were points deducted...?

Loren noticed that Dumbledore was holding a Deluminator, seemingly conducting some kind of test related to the eyes of the Octopod.

He then remembered that Dumbledore was an exceptional alchemist whose work had even been featured in a Chocolate Frog illustration. This was the first time Loren had ever seen a fellow alchemist conduct an experiment. He shoved the bottle of potion into Hagrid's hand and excitedly peered over to observe.

"Good morning, Headmaster Dumbledore!"

He understood the function of the light switch; it was originally designed to collect and store light from the surrounding environment and release it when needed by the user. The current experiment was being conducted on animals, specifically near the eyeballs. Loren guessed the experiment's purpose was related to vision, possibly to temporarily deprive the target of sight.

Hermione followed behind Loren. Although she wasn't afraid of the eight-eyed spider, girls are generally a bit wary of arthropods, so she didn't get too close.

She couldn't understand the experiment; her little mind was still full of questions.

Headmaster Dumbledore is suspected of violating school rules. How should points be deducted, and which house should have points deducted from him?

In the magic's vision, the light extinguisher shone with a bright white light, interspersed with silver and candle-like bright yellow flames.

As the Deluminator shook, it tugged at the wispy, dark magical threads within the eight-eyed spider's eyes. Dumbledore seemed to be trying to untangle the chaotic, mottled magical threads and collect only the specific magical energy within them.

"It should take some time," Loren estimated the experiment's progress, and began by recounting what had happened at the castle: "Malfoy told me that Crabbe is acting strangely, and I suspect—"

Dumbledore turned to interrupt, looking at Hermione with a gentle expression: "I think Hagrid needs a student with excellent Potions skills to help him dilute the deworming medicine to the appropriate concentration. Miss Granger, can you help him?"

Hermione knew, of course, that was just an excuse to get rid of her, but this was Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Wizengamot and Hogwarts. He was gentle and polite, and no one could find fault with him.

When a great wizard spoke to a little wizard like that, Hermione felt dizzy and confused, and ended up following Hagrid out to prepare potions.

Loren found it odd. In his view, Hermione and Hagrid were trustworthy people, and this matter was not a secret. Dumbledore's act of sending them away was strange.

He asked, "Shouldn't Hermione and Hagrid know about this?"

"Hagrid is the keykeeper of Hogwarts, the gamekeeper, and has faithfully performed his duties for decades, resolutely protecting the school even in the most difficult days. I trust him completely, and I would not hesitate to entrust my life to Hagrid. I believe you trust Miss Granger in the same way." Dumbledore combed through the messy magical lines.

Loren paused for a moment, then said, "But... just now..."

The little eight-eyed giant spider was getting impatient, and began to struggle, shaking its two large pincers.

Dumbledore casually stuffed the toffee-covered rock cake into the little spider's mouth, and the little spider made a loud "squeaking" sound, trying to poke at the rock cake with its chelicerae and other legs, but it got stuck and couldn't break free no matter what it did.

In the end, the little eight-eyed giant spider curled up into a ball, struggling to deal with the rock bread while trembling and letting Dumbledore do as he pleased.

"Trust doesn't mean complete openness. Sometimes, maintaining an air of mystery can make plans run more smoothly and lead to better outcomes," Dumbledore replied casually.

Loren paused for a moment, feeling that the principal today was malicious.

"Malfoy told me that Crabbe's magical talent and temperament have undergone a tremendous change. I suspect he's been controlled by Voldemort, just like Quirrell last semester. Shouldn't we get rid of Voldemort as soon as possible?"

Dumbledore had anticipated this and was not surprised: "For a long time, I thought that a person's prejudice and hatred were the result of the bad environment he was in. As I grew older, I saw new students joining Hogwarts every year, and I also saw students who had spent seven years at Hogwarts leaving in droves."

"Just as no two leaves or snowflakes are exactly alike, everyone has their own unique personality and unique thoughts. I gradually realized that personal choices are also an important factor influencing destiny."

As Dumbledore recounted his story, he seemed to see the faces of his students flashing before his eyes, those who had left a deep impression on him constantly appearing in his mind.

Bill and Charlie of the Weasley family.

Newt Scamander and Leta Lestrange.

And then there's Tom Riddle.

He said with a hint of melancholy, "If Crabbe can realize that he is in a state of delusion and obsession, we can all help him get rid of Voldemort. If he himself is unwilling to wake up, no one can help him."

Respect others' fates and set aside any urge to help. Loren wasn't keen on saving Crabbe either: "What about Voldemort?"

"Just like Quirrell last year, in his ghostly state he doesn't dare to cause trouble at school, so he can only use petty tricks to stir up some disturbances. In this state, he can actually do some good things," Dumbledore laughed.

What good things could Voldemort possibly do? Loren muttered to himself.

Seemingly sensing his confusion, Dumbledore explained, "He and Harry are like these magical threads, tightly intertwined. One day, Harry will have to face Voldemort himself and settle the score from that night eleven years ago. Harry needs to grow up quickly, especially in his mind; the mind is the source of power."

Judging from Dumbledore's words, it seemed he was planning another scenario where Harry would confront Voldemort directly. Loren silently prayed that Harry would be alright in the end.

Loren seemed to understand why he had just sent the two away. When Harry encountered a problem, he would definitely ask for help from those around him, with Hermione and Hagrid being the first to be asked.

He asked, "So, the reason Hermione and Hagrid can't know is to prevent them from leaking information to Harry?"

Dumbledore neither answered nor confirmed, but continued to comb through the magical lines torn from the eyes of the eight-eyed spider.

Loren chuckled: "Aren't you worried I'll leak the secret?"

"Harry will be under unprecedented pressure in the coming period, and I need your cooperation to help me understand Harry's condition." Dumbledore winked at him. "Consider it an agreement between the two of us."

Loren's smile vanished, his expression turning serious as he glared at him reproachfully: "What are you saying? Harry and I are inseparable roommates, brothers in arms. You want me to spy on him for you—"

Dumbledore also stopped smiling and looked at Loren seriously. He didn't know that young wizards nowadays valued friendship so much.

"You need to pay more!"

"Ahem!"

Dumbledore coughed violently twice, and even his hand slipped from his grasp of the Deluminator.

(End of this chapter)