In the past, Hermione would study with Kate in the study just like this. Whenever she encountered something she didn't understand, she would ask Kate for a solution.
Every time, Kate would patiently and gently explain the difficult problem clearly to her, and in the end, she would even comfort and praise her.
Compared to those classmates at school who always isolated her because of her excellence, Kate was the gentlest peer she had ever met.
Although Hermione knew that in her parents' eyes, Kate was a strange child with poor health who didn't like to go out.
But what did that matter?
For a child like Hermione who had no friends at school, someone like Kate, who gave all her gentleness solely to her, was a true friend.
And now, she and Kate shared another commonality: they were both Wizards.
This meant they could become closer than ever before. They could go to school together, do homework in the library together, and stick together almost every day.
Hermione had dreamed of such a life, but now that it was coming true, it felt somewhat unreal.
Even more unreal was the fact that Kate was staying over at her house tonight.
"I apologize for coming over without prior notice. I hope I haven't caused you any trouble, Mrs. Granger." Kate sat upright at the dining table, speaking in a voice that was slightly hoarse.
Mr. Granger had a patient today, so he would be back a bit late.
Mrs. Granger, who was enthusiastically setting the silverware for her, asked with some surprise upon hearing her voice, "Little Kate, do you have a cold?"
"Mm... perhaps. My throat is just a little uncomfortable." Kate gave a shy smile, returning to the state she often displayed in front of outsiders.
"You poor thing," Mrs. Granger hurriedly walked to the cupboard to take out the medicine box. "We have cold medicine at home. Remember to take a pill before going to sleep."
Kate nodded. "Thank you, Mrs. Granger."
Hermione, sitting across from her, lowered her eyes with a guilty conscience, staring at the plate in front of her without speaking.
She knew the inside story. Kate had actually caught a cold because she had lectured her for the entire afternoon and had been exposed to quite a bit of cold wind.
It was all her fault. If she hadn't spent the afternoon just staring at Kate's lips, she wouldn't have been so distracted that she didn't take in the lesson at all.
"Dear, what's wrong?" Mrs. Granger put away the medicine box and keenly perceived her young daughter's mood.
Just as Hermione wanted to speak, she heard Kate say, "She studied all afternoon today; she's probably just tired."
"Then don't study anymore tonight. Rest early." Hearing this, Mrs. Granger rubbed Hermione's head.
Remembering something, she turned to Kate and said, "By the way, we don't have a guest room at home, so I'll have to ask you to squeeze in with Hermione."
"It doesn't matter," Kate smiled faintly. "I came over to stay so I could study with Hermione. Sleeping with her tonight means we can talk for a while too."
Tonight... Kate is going to sleep with her.
Hermione lowered her head, but her fingers, hidden under the table, unconsciously gripped her trouser leg tightly.
After finishing the meal without really tasting it, Hermione took the initiative to help her mother clear the tableware. After carrying the items into the kitchen, she was sent out by Mrs. Granger, who was considerate of her daughter.
At that moment, Kate was already sitting on the sofa, watching the soap opera playing on the living room TV.
Hermione felt like she was sitting on pins and needles in her own home for the first time. She stood blankly at the kitchen door for a moment before walking lightly to the living room and asking in a soft voice, "Kate, are you going to wash up?"
Or... wash together with her?
"Oh, indeed, I should clean up." Kate snapped back to reality and stood up under Hermione's nervous gaze.
Then, she pulled out her wand: "Scouring Charm."
Hermione almost couldn't catch her breath; she felt her little heart give a twitch.
She had actually forgotten about the magic aspect!
"By the way, once we go to Hogwarts, it's best not to cast magic outside of school," Kate remembered this rule and quickly added.
"But since we haven't enrolled yet, we can use a little bit. I can teach you a few simple spells later."
She blinked at Hermione, but for some reason, the little lion who had been bright and lively before was now drooping her head like a frosted eggplant.
Hmm... did she say something wrong just now?
She asked uncertainly, "Hermione, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, I'm going to take a shower!" The little lion suddenly lifted her head and marched into the bathroom with her head held high.
Kate watched her close the door with a strange expression, scratching her cheek in confusion.
Perhaps children at this age were all like this, their moods coming in waves.
Forgive her for being too far removed from this stage; she had long forgotten what she was like when she was eleven or twelve.
"Little Kate, remember to take your medicine," Mrs. Granger poked her head out of the kitchen to remind her.
Kate hurriedly responded, grabbed the pills on the table, swallowed them with water, turned off the TV, and went upstairs to Hermione's room.
Unlike her own preference for simple elegance, Hermione's room was full of girlish flavor.
Although it wasn't exaggerated enough to be pink everywhere, the room's decoration did indeed use a lot of pink and tender or warm colors.
If one removed the bookshelves filling the walls, it would really be the type of room most beloved by ordinary girls.
Looking at a fluffy pink toy rabbit on the bed, Kate couldn't help but smile, picking it up and playing with it with great interest.
"Kate." Hermione's voice sounded from behind her.
She immediately turned around, her eyes curving into a smile at the little friend who had just finished showering and was still shrouded in water vapor. "Which side should I sleep on today?"
Hermione froze for a moment, glancing at the side of the bed against the wall. "Then... the inside."
"Okay." Kate raised her eyebrows slightly, flicked her wand, and while muttering an incantation, changed her clothes into pajamas.
"I took medicine today, so let's sleep early."
She nimbly squeezed into the innermost part of the bed, then patted the empty space beside her for Hermione, who was still stunned at the door. "Do you want to play for a while longer?"
"N-no, I don't." Hermione hurriedly shook her head and climbed onto the bed, almost using both hands and feet, turning her back to Kate.
After a long while, feeling her rapidly beating heart gradually calm down, Hermione hesitated before speaking, "Kate, I'm very sorry about this afternoon."
"Hm?" A muffled sound came from behind.
"I mean, I didn't listen to the lesson properly today, and I caused you to catch a cold."
There was another light chuckle from behind. "It's fine. People always have off days."
"But—"
Hermione turned around, feeling upset, only to find that in the faint light coming through the window, the person sleeping beside her had already fallen asleep.
She propped herself up, looking at that clear and gentle sleeping face with complex emotions. She pondered in her heart for a long time before lying back down.
"Goodnight, Kate."
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