Coming out of the Headmaster's Office and leaving Hogwarts, Harry and Ron followed behind, almost holding their breath.
Harry wanted to speak several times, but he didn't know what to say.
An apology? A thank you? Or to ask about that power that could even stand up to Lord Voldemort?
Every thought vanished the moment he saw the slender figure ahead, her hand held tightly by Hermione. They formed a world of their own, airtight and impenetrable, where any words seemed pale and redundant.
For the remainder of the summer holidays, Harry and Ron were pushed by the Order of the Phoenix to study frantically in preparation for a new school year that was destined to be anything but peaceful.
As for Hermione and Lia... Ron only remembered one time bumping into them coming out of their room; Lia was practically hanging off Hermione, her legs visibly trembling as she walked, and her snow-white tail dragging limply on the floor.
Hermione, on the other hand, looked utterly satiated. She was even in such a good mood that she gave him a tip on a certain spell; her expression was exactly like Lia's blissful state after devouring top-quality salmon.
Aside from the two of them, no one knew just how excessive they had been during the rest of the holidays.
It wasn't until today, upon reaching the Hogwarts Express and finding their familiar four-person compartment, that Lia still couldn't help but let out a soft sigh as she sat down. Her bones felt soft all over, and she unconsciously leaned closer to Hermione.
As soon as Hermione sat down, Lia expertly rested her head on her shoulder and closed her eyes to rest.
But her long, snow-white tail wrapped restlessly around Hermione's wrist, the fluff at the tip brushing against Hermione's palm like a feather, every now and then, with a coquettish itchiness.
As usual, Ron dumped a pile of snacks onto the seat. He tore open a chocolate frog and held it out to Lia. "Lia, want some?"
Lia's eyelids lifted lazily, and her nose twitched slightly. Uninterested in "public" sweets that carried the scent of too many people, she shook her head gently and even wrinkled her small nose.
Seeing this, Hermione smiled dotingly and patted Lia's head.
She took another identical piece of chocolate from her own pocket, used her slender fingertips to snap off a small piece, and naturally held it to Lia's lips.
Only then did Lia obediently open her mouth and take the chocolate in. Her warm tongue inadvertently licked Hermione's fingertip, sending a faint jolt of electricity through her.
Hermione laughed and pinched her warm ear tip, the gesture intimate and natural.
Ron and Harry exchanged a glance, both making a "used to it" grimace in silent understanding.
Harry leaned against the window, watching the scenery flash by outside, his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions.
The nominal title of 'the savior' now had a more substantial co-bearer, which made him feel both relieved and strangely conflicted.
With a long whistle, the train arrived at Hogwarts. The start-of-term feast was as grand and lively as ever.
After the Sorting Ceremony, Dumbledore stood up and introduced this year's new Professor in a booming voice: "...Please join me in welcoming Professor Horace Slughorn, who will return to teach Potion Class!"
An old man as fat as a walrus stood up, his round belly straining against the golden buttons of his waistcoat, which looked ready to pop.
A few strands of grey hair grew sparsely on his shiny bald head, which, combined with his silvery-white walrus mustache, gave him a somewhat comical appearance. He waved enthusiastically to the students, but his gaze swept through the crowd like radar, inspecting his future "collections."
His gaze locked onto Harry, and when he saw the famous lightning bolt scar, he broke into an unabashed smile of satisfaction.
Then, his gaze shifted half an inch.
When his eyes landed on the silver-haired figure sitting calmly beside Hermione at the end of the Gryffindor table, the smile on Slughorn's face stiffened slightly, then transformed into a nearly pathological fervor and greed.
His obese body leaned forward uncontrollably, his eyes bulging and his breathing becoming heavy.
Lia, who was sipping pumpkin juice, stopped her movements.
She felt that gaze; its thick greed made her uncomfortable.
She looked up, her pure blue eyes meeting Slughorn's murky ones.
Through Lia's [Eye of Truth], the so-called Professor appeared as a massive, sickly sweet toffee pudding.
The pudding was composed of countless jumbled magical halos; "expired ambition" was a dull gold, and "stale nostalgia" was a murky grey mist.
A blinding light representing "intense possessiveness" and "hoarding" was frantically gathering from his entire body into his "eyes." The light was so bright it almost condensed into physical claws, reaching across the Great Hall toward her.
As soon as the feast ended, Slughorn couldn't wait; holding a glass of wine and puffing out his belly, he walked straight toward the Gryffindor table.
First, he greeted Harry warmly, slapping him hard on the shoulder and loudly praising his mother Lily's talent in Potions.
"Oh, Harry, my dear boy! You are just like your mother!"
Harry was a bit overwhelmed by his excessive enthusiasm and could only smile awkwardly.
Then, Slughorn changed the subject, as if only just noticing Hermione and Lia nearby.
"Oh! This must be the famous Miss Granger? The top student of her year! Headmaster Dumbledore has nothing but praise for you!"
His gaze swept past Hermione and locked onto Lia beside her, his voice turning into an exaggerated, operatic tone.
"And this one... oh, merlins beard! Look what I've found! A companion magical creature with a deep soul-binding to a human Wizard! Snow-white fur, sapphire eyes! This is... this is a miracle never before recorded in Magizoology!"
He rubbed his fat, oily hands together, eyes shining, as he leaned closer to Lia. A nauseating smell, a mix of alcohol and cloying perfume, wafted over.
"Miss Granger, your companion... she... she is truly extraordinary! Unique! I must know more! Her habits, her magical structure... she is simply a perfect work of art!"
Hermione's face darkened.
She placed a protective hand on Lia's shoulder and leaned forward slightly, blocking Slughorn's view and that disgusting smell.
"She is my companion, Professor," Hermione's voice was as cold as February ice. "Not a 'work of art,' and certainly not a 'collection' to satisfy your curiosity."
Rebutted to his face, Slughorn wasn't angry at all; instead, he grinned even wider.
In his mind, it was perfectly logical that the more precious the collection, the more vigilant the guardian.
He pulled an exquisitely patterned invitation from the pocket of his ornate wizarding robes and held it out to Hermione between two chubby fingers.
"Of course, of course! My apologies, Miss Granger. A small party, only for the students I admire most. I know you must have a keen interest in Advanced Potions."
His gaze swept over Hermione's shoulder again as he added pointedly.
"And of course, I would be most delighted if you brought your charming friend along."
Hermione didn't take the invitation; the air around her seemed to freeze.
Just then, a soft voice sounded right against her ear, accompanied by warm breath.
"Hermione," Lia's small mouth almost touched her earlobe, her soft voice tinged with disgust at being ogled, "he smells like he really wants me."
The voice paused, and then Lia looked up, her sky-blue eyes staring calmly at Slughorn. A playful smile curled the corners of her lips as she added the second half of the sentence in a whisper only Hermione could hear.
"He wants to steal me away from you."
Hermione glanced at Lia and saw the teasing look in her eyes.
When did this girl learn to use that tone!
She forced down a smile and kept herself serious.
She glanced at Slughorn's murky eyes, which were full of expectation.
"We," Hermione said clearly and slowly, "are not going."
Having said that, she didn't even look at the invitation, but took Lia's hand and stood up, preparing to leave.
The gesture was equivalent to throwing Slughorn's face on the ground and stomping on it in public.
Slughorn's smile finally froze on his face, and his fleshy cheeks twitched.
He watched Hermione's back and Lia, who was being led away, looking back to give him a provocative smile.
The greed in his eyes didn't fade; instead, it was replaced by an even more obsessive desire for conquest.
"Truly a worthy addition to the collection."
[Every time I go home, I point at my cat and say, "Transform for me!"]
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