The wheelchair-bound warrior is speedrunning Hogwarts.

Hermione's voice was very low, almost whispering in her ear: "I didn't tell the headmaster what happened, and I told Harley... not to say anything."

Vera's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, and she turned her face, which was buried in the pillow, slightly to the side, revealing one eye to look at Hermione.

The sound of running water in the bathroom masked the brief silence between them.

"What is it?" Vera's voice carried a hint of languor from just finishing a massage and a perfectly appropriate touch of confusion.

Hermione gently pressed a pressure point on Hermione's lower back, the pressure light but carrying a tacit meaning.

“What you told me last time,” she said softly, her brown eyes looking particularly serious in the soft light of the bedside lamp, “was about…your legs.”

Vera turned her head completely, her long silver-gray hair spread out on the pillow, and the sleepiness in her dark eyes dissipated, becoming clear and deep.

She didn't answer immediately, but just looked at Hermione quietly.

Hermione didn't avoid her gaze and continued softly, "Harley might not have fully realized it yet; she was too nervous, but... I saw it."

I saw you stand up, and… you moved very quickly, incredibly quickly; that's not the kind of strength an ordinary person could have.

There was no fear or doubt in her tone, only a solemnity filled with trust: "That's your secret, isn't it? You don't want anyone else to know."

Vera met her gaze for a moment, the sharpness in her eyes gradually softening into a complex gentleness.

She sighed softly, her voice almost blending into the sound of the water: "Thank you."

"It's nothing," Hermione shook her head, a slight blush rising on her face, as if she were a little embarrassed.

She paused, her voice even lower, "And that fire, I looked it up afterwards, it was very powerful black magic..."

So I asked Harley to keep it a secret. Right now, no one but the three of us knows all the details about that room.

Vera stared blankly into her eyes, then suddenly reached out and gently placed her hand on the back of Hermione's hand, which was resting on her waist.

The girl's hands were warm and slightly damp, and her fingertips still carried the fresh scent of a bath.

"But...why do you have to keep this a secret?" Vera asked in a low voice.

In that situation, she didn't have time to tell them to keep it a secret, but Hermione did it anyway.

Hermione grabbed her fingers with her other hand and squeezed them hard.

“Because I believe in you.” Her voice was soft, yet exceptionally firm. “Everything you do has its reasons.”

You protected us, you protected the Philosopher's Stone, you even saved that unicorn… and even without all that, we're still companions we can trust, aren't we?”

Vera stared at her intently for a long while before softening her expression, then lay back down, burying her face in the pillow. "Keep pressing here."

Hermione paused for a moment, then smiled and gently pressed her fingers against Hermione's waist again, with just the right amount of pressure.

She didn't say it, but she also had her own selfish motives.

As long as Harry and Dumbledore aren't told, it's a secret between her and Vera, and no one will know.

After pressing the button for a long time, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped.

Harley, wearing pajamas and drying her wet hair with a towel, came out with a rosy and relaxed look on her face after her shower: "What were you talking about just now? I think I heard some voices."

“They were talking about tomorrow’s exam results,” Hermione immediately resumed her usual tone, getting up and returning to her bedside as if the private conversation had never happened. “Some people had better pray to Merlin.”

Harley's face immediately fell: "Oh, stop it, Hermione! I want to get a good night's sleep!"

She pounced on her bed, rolled over, and then peered at the two of them. "I bet you both got straight O's, right?"

Vera smiled, lay back down, and closed her eyes: "I don't know yet. Go to sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow to pack our bags."

The three said goodnight to each other, the dormitory lights went out, leaving only the bright moonlight shining through the glass and casting a soft glow on the floor.

Vera lay on another bed, listening to the even breathing of the two people beside her, staring at the ceiling for a long time before closing her eyes, a faint smile appearing on her lips.

Chapter 134 It's unclear who's manipulating whom.

The exam results were already fresh out of the box before I even boarded the train.

Vera had to marvel at the speed; magic was truly amazing, managing to review and grade thousands of exam questions so quickly.

Harley passed the exam with a very high score, which at one point made her feel a little unreal.

Ron and Neville were able to pass the level smoothly thanks to Hermione's previous study plan.

Hermione and Vera, of course, both achieved straight O's, tying for first place in their grade.

Both parties stated that they remained calm and had no particular thoughts about the outcome.

Although Vera had seen Hermione secretly looking at her report card more than once that morning—

Although she tried to maintain a calm demeanor, the upturned corners of her mouth and her shining eyes had already betrayed her inner joy.

How come she never noticed before that Hermione had this contradictory side?

"Alright, the report card isn't going to grow legs and run away." Vera couldn't help but chuckle at her expression. "We're about to board the train, let's pack our luggage and hurry over."

These words instantly brought them back to reality. The thought of their impending separation mixed their excitement with a touch of sadness at parting.

Soon, everyone gathered in the auditorium and followed the path they had taken at the beginning of the semester. Hagrid led them onto the fleet of boats that would cross the lake, and then they arrived at the station.

The train was already waiting there.

The platform was packed with students. The hooting of owls, the scratching of cats in their cages, and the farewells of young wizards mingled together, creating a mix of summer's vibrancy and the bittersweet melancholy of parting.

“Let’s go, I’ll push you up.” Hermione pushed Vera’s wheelchair, carefully avoiding the crowded people, and walked towards the train door.

Harley was about to follow, but when she saw Hagrid waiting in front of the car, she unconsciously slowed down.

“He’s waiting for you.” Vera patted her hand. “Go.”

Harley nodded and quickly ran towards Hagrid.

Hagrid's enormous figure stood out in the crowd. He was wiping his eyes with a handkerchief, and when he saw Harley approaching, he immediately opened his thick arms.

Seeing them hugging each other, Vera smiled and turned to Hermione, saying, "Let's find an empty private room first."

“Okay.” Hermione nodded, pushed her onto the train, and slowly searched along the corridor until they finally found an empty compartment in the middle of the train.

Hermione secured Vera's wheelchair securely in a corner of the box, while Vera herself used the strength of her arms to easily move from the wheelchair to the soft seat.

Knox climbed out of the pet carrier and settled comfortably down beside her legs.

As she stroked the cat's soft fur, Vera's gaze involuntarily drifted out the window, searching for that familiar figure.

Not long after, the cubicle door was opened, and Harley, radiating summer heat, burst in, her face flushed and her eyes sparkling with a complex light.

Hermione noticed a photo album in her arms and asked curiously, "Did Hagrid give that to you?"

Harley nodded, carefully holding the thick, leather-bound photo album as she sat down, gently stroking the cover: "Hmm... Hagrid made it himself, and inside are... photos of my mom and dad."

Her voice was slightly choked, but mostly warm, "I've never seen them before..."

Hermione immediately leaned closer, her eyes filled with curiosity and goodwill: "May I take a look?"

Harley nodded, took a deep breath, and solemnly opened the photo album.

The first page features a magical, animated photograph—a young couple holding their child as a child, smiling at the camera.

The man had messy black hair like Harley, wore glasses, and had a flamboyant yet warm smile; the woman had long, deep red hair, gentle green eyes, and nestled affectionately beside her husband.

“They’re so good-looking…” Hermione murmured in admiration.

Vera leaned over as well, her gaze falling on the photograph.

Looking at the vivid images of the couple in the photo, she couldn't help but feel a complex mix of emotions.

These are Harley's parents, the heroes who sacrificed themselves to protect their daughter.

Harley's fingers gently traced the faces of her parents in the photo: "Hagrid said my mother's eyes are exactly like mine."

“They really do look alike,” Vera affirmed softly. “They’re both very beautiful.”

The family of three in the photo is full of vitality, as if they have captured the most beautiful time before the shadow of war.

Unfortunately…

Vera looked away. "Then you must take good care of it."

“Of course.” Harley nodded solemnly.

With a long whistle, the train slowly started moving, and Hagrid's figure gradually disappeared into the distance along with the platform, eventually vanishing from sight.

As the train began to accelerate, Hogwarts Castle, the mountains, and the lakes were gradually left behind.

The carriage fell silent, with only the rhythmic clanging of the wheels on the rails remaining.

The sorrow of parting filled the small compartment once again as the photo album was closed.

Hermione began checking their luggage, while Harley, clutching a photo album, stared blankly at the pastoral scenery rushing past the window.

Vera could sense her low spirits and said softly, "Two months will pass quickly."

"Of course, but to make Hedwig feel a little better, you'll still need to bring your own owl."

Harley tried to mask her emotions with jokes, but her slightly choked voice betrayed her.

Vivi reached out and gently covered the back of Harley's hand, which was resting on her knee.

Immediately, she gripped Harley's hand tightly, as if afraid that if she let go, their two-month separation would become a reality.

"Would you like something to eat?" Hermione took a paper bag out of her bag. "I brought some cookies."

Vera smiled and accepted a piece; the sweet aroma of butter and sugar temporarily dispelled the sadness of parting.

Harley also took a piece and ate it in small bites, her mood seemingly calming down a bit.

As the train traveled north, the scenery outside the window gradually changed from open fields to more rugged mountains.

When the witches pushed their carts by, Harley selectively bought some of their favorite snacks this time.

So, they chatted about their summer vacation plans and shared their expectations for the next school year, and time slipped away in their relaxed conversation.

As the afternoon drew to a close and darkness fell, the train finally slowed down, nearing King's Cross Station.

The carriage bustled with activity once more as students changed into Muggle costumes, packed their luggage, and a restless energy, a mixture of excitement and reluctance, filled the air.

The train, whistling, came to a steady stop at Platform 9¾.

The crowd began to surge toward the car door. Hermione was the first to stand up, help Vera take off her wheelchair, unfold it, and secure it.

The three of them got off the bus one after another with the crowd. The platform was even more chaotic than before they boarded the bus. Owls were hooting, cats and toads were scurrying around, and parents were calling out their children's names.

Vera looked over through Halle's fixed gaze and saw the Dursleys standing like rocks in the crowd, their stiff and uncomfortable expressions making them seem out of place among the other parents.

Harley instinctively took a few steps forward, stopped, and turned to look at Vera and Hermione: "Well then... see you next semester."

"Hurry up, girl!" Vernon Dursley shouted gruffly, his voice low as if afraid of being overheard by the "weirdos" around him. "Don't dawdle!"

Harley bit her lip, glanced at them one last time, and turned to walk toward the Dursleys.

Her figure stood out as particularly lonely amidst the bustling crowd.

Vera watched them until the family disappeared into the crowd leading to the exit to the Muggle world.

"Let's go, Vera," Hermione's voice sounded beside her, carrying a reassuring tone. "My mom and dad should be waiting for me over there. Do you... is someone coming to pick you up?"

Vera nodded, turning her gaze away from the direction where Harley had disappeared: "Mm."

She paused, looked at Hermione, and gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about me. Have a great summer vacation, Hermione."

“You too, Vera.” Hermione nodded, turned around, dragged her suitcase, and walked through the crowd toward the other end of the platform.

Soon, Vera spotted the Grangers through the crowd; they were an ordinary-looking couple who appeared very friendly and well-dressed.

She watched as Hermione happily threw herself into their arms, looked up, and said something to them.

Her parents naturally took the suitcase from her hands, and the family turned and left the platform chatting and laughing.

As the crowd on the platform thinned out, Vera pushed her wheelchair, holding her cat in her arms, and headed towards the house-elf in the corner.

“Miss,” Kreacher bowed respectfully, his wrinkled face as humble as ever, his eyes showing a hint of joy as he looked at Vera, “the house has been cleaned.”

Vera nodded slightly. "Thank you. Let's go home."

Kreacher reached out and gently placed his hand on the armrest of Vera's wheelchair.

The next moment, with a slight cracking sound, the corner of the platform was empty, with only a faint magical fluctuation remaining in the air.

After a brief moment of pressure, Vera found herself back at 12 Grimmauld Place—the old residence of the Black family.

The house still exuded an old and oppressive atmosphere, but it was still relatively clean and tidy. However, it seemed to have become more lively than when I left last time.

Warm flames danced in the fireplace, the ash had been swept away, and even the air was circulating much better.