Amorta, in Paris, was facing trouble concerning Hogwarts at a party while at Hogwarts, the newly appointed aide, Hermione Granger, who was really a teacher of military training disguised as a physical education teacher, had been worrying all day.
As the gloomy sky grew darker, her state became increasingly hysterical.
After dinner, in the noisy common room, the small group of students participating in this course had already gathered one by one. Hermione was pacing back and forth by the fireplace, mentally imagining what might happen later. Her anxious appearance only made Neville's already frightened state more helpless.
"Don't be too nervous, Hermione——"
Hermione and Neville were appointed as teaching assistants by Professor Bryce, which was absolutely good news for Gryffindor, and Harry was pleased about it as well.
"If there's any situation, we won't stand idly by."
"You don't understand, Harry!"
Hermione muttered irritably.
"Something is bound to happen, isn't it? I must be fully prepared to live up to Professor Bryce's trust. If he comes back and sees that the physical education course he cares about so much has been abandoned, he will kick me out of Hogwarts!"
Hermione's assumption made Neville even more anxious. Helplessly, his eyes darted around in search of a reasonable suggestion.
"But, don't you have the right granted by Professor Bryce?"
Ron watched Hermione's anxious state with delight while munching on a potato pie,
"If I were you, and if the Slytherins' snakes dared to cause trouble, you could totally make them clean the castle's bathrooms. I think you could talk to Percy; he has a book called 'How Heads of House Gain Power.' Percy held onto that book like a lifeline over the summer when he was appointed Head Boy; he's said to have a thousand legitimate reasons for locking away little witches."
Neville's eyes shone with excitement, as if he wanted to say something but was holding back. However, Hermione stopped him with a stern tone.
"We cannot abuse our power, Neville!"
"If you're really concerned about classroom discipline, Hermione--" Harry hesitated and then offered a more reliable suggestion, "I can ask Sirius. I think if he shows up in the classroom, the Slytherins definitely wouldn't dare cause trouble for you."
This method was indeed good, and even Hermione was somewhat moved. However, after a brief moment of contemplation, Hermione shook her head slightly.
"Professor Bryce clearly hopes that we can be trained, so this is our own business. What's the point of seeking help from Sirius if it has no significance?"
"Malfoy that little scoundrel wouldn't think twice about morals or ethics, you dummy."
The twins bounced down the rotating staircase, and Fred said in a cheerful tone.
"No matter what, we need to rely on ourselves." The light in Hermione's eyes gradually turned determined.
Harry and Ron looked at each other, both helplessly shrugged. They knew Hermione well. She was intelligent, but sometimes liked to go down blind alleys, and once she made a decision about something, even ten dragons couldn't pull her back.
It was just before seven o'clock in the evening. The Gryffindor gang was ready. Seeing that Hermione couldn't completely shake off her tension, Ron stuffed the rest of the potato pie into his mouth and stood up too.
"I can call Sim and Dean and the others. If that little punk Malfoy dares to cause trouble for you, just give a signal, and we'll rush in and beat him up good."
"Oh—"
Hermione raised an eyebrow, looking at Ron with a hint of a smile on her lips, but she eventually took a deep breath and spoke solemnly.
"Thank you, Ron, but I think this approach is not practical."
"Don't worry, we'll keep an eye on her for you!"
Fred and George gave Ron a rough tousle of his hair and then left with arms slung around each other. Harry, too busy cheering up Neville, didn't have time to say goodbye to Ron. After all, Neville was under more pressure in his position as teaching assistant than Hermione was.
Ron stood by the fireplace on the sofa, watching the crowd of people leave the common room. Suddenly, he felt a difficult feeling in his heart.
"Hey, Ron, want to play some Gobstones?"
Dean waved at him from a few seats away.
"Okay--"
Ron shook his head, pushing aside the strange feeling in his heart. He skirted around a sofa blocking the way and sat opposite Dean.
"Did you finish the essay Professor Sprout assigned, Dean?"
"No--" Dean was busy fiddling with the props, and he answered casually, "There are still a few days, right?"
"Oh, sure!"
Ron shook his head and his expression gradually calmed.
As they were walking to the special classroom, they encountered Luna, who was climbing the stairs alone. But there was no trace of any unease or loneliness on her face.
"Good evening, Luna--"
Hermione glanced at the pocket on Luna's buttocks, where she had rolled up a bundle of vellum given to her by Professor Bryce, said to reveal Nifflewinks and Swoobles.
"How do you feel?" Hermione asked cautiously.
"It's great."
Luna said cheerfully, but there was a strange emotion in her silver eyes, an emotion that was contagious. Even Hermione, after making eye contact with such a gaze, unconsciously unknitted her furrowed brow.
"I can see them more clearly now, which means maybe one day I can avoid them. Oh, my father will be surprised by Professor Bryce's research on them. I'm thinking about writing a letter to tell my father about these methods today –"
Nobody paid much attention to Luna's words, or even wanted to respond but didn't know how to start.
Curious, Hermione glanced at the scroll sticking out of Luna's buttocks and, after a moment of thought, cautiously suggested,
"So you're saying you want to show your father Professor Bryce's research paper on Nifflewinks, right? Well, I think it would be best to get permission from Professor Bryce first."
After a few simple conversations, the Gryffindor group had arrived at the classroom for physical education.
The Hufflepuff witches were almost all there, and the remaining three girls of Ravenclaw had arrived as well. Harry was a bit surprised that they didn't invite Luna to join them. However, when he saw Cedric standing next to Ginny, who was almost as thin as him but much taller, Harry's mood suddenly turned bad for no reason. He didn't even care about standing up for Luna.
The Slytherins were also there, giving a cold glance to the Gryffindor group before averting their gaze to continue their conversation.
Professor Bryce has been absent all day most of the time lately, even at meals he didn't appear at the staff dining table, so the witches from the other three houses were unaware of his departure.
Over the next ten minutes, the door of the classroom opened and closed repeatedly, with students gradually taking their seats. Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson also entered the classroom during this time, waiting for Professor Bryce, who always appeared in the last moment.
Harry was eavesdropping on Cedric and the three Ravenclaw girls, but as the time for the start of the class approached, his attention returned to Hermione and Neville. Neville looked as if he were beyond help, his body as stiff as wood. Hermione, who was adjusting her breathing to calm herself, noticed Harry's worried gaze and gave him a reassuring look.
"Ho ho ho!"
At 7:59, Hermione suddenly coughed heavily, a signal that had been agreed upon earlier. The Gryffindor witches and wizards immediately began to organize their formation. The students from the other three houses watched the scene with confusion.
Neville also wanted to return to his position, but Hermione grabbed him by the arm.
Shivering with fear and cold sweat, Neville immediately alerted the witches and wizards in the room, who were already accustomed to observing something might happen.
Some were curious, and others watched coldly.
"Ho ho ho!"
Hermione coughed again heavily and gave Luna a glance to signal her to come over.
"What's up?"
Pansy Parkinson looked scornfully.
"Your throat must be covered in frog brain secretion, Ginevra!"
Laughter erupted in the classroom instantly, mostly from Slytherin, and some of the Hufflepuff students thought Pansy had told a good joke.
"In fact!"
In that moment, Hermione felt a sudden sense of calm. She didn't look at Pansy Parkinson but scanned the classroom and loudly said,
"Professor Bryce left Hogwarts early this morning to take care of some business, and in order not to affect the progress of the course, he appointed me, as well as Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood, as teaching assistants for today. In his absence, we will supervise the daily training of the course. Now"
Hermione took a deep breath and paid no attention to the expressions of the Slytherins, continuing to speak.
"I hope you can quickly sort out your team and start the training today!"
(End of Chapter)
