Harry Potter and the Great Old Ones

Chapter 624 Hermione's Transformation

Hermione has been busy calculating something lately, and with Christmas approaching and her schoolwork becoming increasingly heavy, Harry can only exchange a few words with Hermione in the evenings.

Not to mention Tyrell, who has been busier than Hermione from the start. These past few days, aside from Professor Tyrell barely managing to maintain a basic level of public presence, Tyrell has been—

Even the student Tierra has disappeared.

If Harry hadn't learned from Hermione that there were forty or fifty Tyrians conducting all sorts of calculations and experiments in the various chambers of Requirement, he would have thought that all the Tyrians had abandoned Hogwarts and even the Ministry of Magic, which he had worked so hard to conquer.

Harry usually meets Hermione at the library, because Hermione needs to look up information there and use the alchemy machines that Tyrell recently purchased, one of which is placed in the Dark Arts classroom and the other in the library, to assist in complex calculations and the construction of three-dimensional magical structures.

Even amidst the relaxed and festive atmosphere before Christmas, Hermione refused to relax at all. She didn't want to sit by the fireplace in the Gryffindor common room like she had in previous years, reading a book while chatting with Harry, Ron, and Tyrell. Nor did she want to sit in the Great Hall, competing with Tyrell in reading various books on magic while condescendingly criticizing Harry and Ron's wizarding card games. Hermione's unwillingness to relax meant they wouldn't have any of that; Harry would have to accommodate Hermione by meeting her in the library—

This means that they can only communicate in whispers.

Fortunately, Harry now has his own favorite books to read. He sat down next to Hermione, took out the Half-Blood Prince's "Advanced Potions" and started reading. Then, noticing that Hermione had finished her calculations, he briefly looked up to relax his neck and quickly struck up a conversation with her.

“Hermione,” Harry said quietly, “the Ministry of Magic isn’t doing so well right now.”

"Mmm," Hermione said perfunctorily, then put one arm around the back of her neck and braced herself. She then frowned, looking down at her calculation formula and process as if she wanted to see a hole through the paper in front of her.

Seeing Hermione's expression, Harry sighed helplessly.

Harry guessed that Hermione wasn't really listening. Heaven knows how much he missed the old Hermione. Harry even thought that Hermione's old, high-and-mighty, lecturing tone was much cuter than her current one.

This made Harry feel a sense of alienation and loneliness.

It seems like something in my life is changing silently.

Seeing that Hermione seemed to be tilting her head back and closing her eyes to rest, Harry reluctantly lowered his head as well, preparing to continue reading the Half-Blood Prince's "Advanced Potions Tutorial".

“You’d better be careful,” Hermione said suddenly, just when Harry thought she wouldn’t answer him.

"How many times have I told you?" For some reason, a small surge of anger suddenly rose in Harry's heart, and he said somewhat impatiently, "I'm not returning this book. I've learned far more from this book than from Slughorn or Snape."

“I’m not talking about your so-called half-blood prince, of course, but that’s another matter. You should definitely be careful with this book,” Hermione said, giving the book an unpleasant glance as if it had always been rude to her. “I’m talking about every aspect.”

“For example?” Harry asked.

"First, there's the matter of studying. Before I came here, I went into a girls' restroom. There were a dozen girls there, including Romirda, trying to decide how to give you a love potion. They all want you to take them to Slughorn's party. They all seem to have bought Fred and George's love potion; I think that might work—"

"Then why don't you confiscate them?" Harry retorted. It seemed very unusual that Hermione, as a prefect, hadn't shown her usual zeal for enforcing school rules in this matter.

“I suspect they didn’t bring them to the bathroom,” Hermione said dismissively. “They were just discussing strategy. Since I highly doubt the Half-Blood Prince—and then glanced at the book again—he can’t immediately teach you how to concoct the antidote for the love potion, if it were me, I would ask someone else to go with you. That would crush any hope they might have, and by tomorrow night, they’ll be in despair.”

After saying that, Hermione suddenly burst out laughing. Harry felt like he hadn't seen Hermione laugh so happily in a long time. "The disappointment on their faces must be more spectacular than if I just confiscated their love potion!"

Harry looked at Hermione strangely, as if for a moment Hermione had become someone he didn't even recognize.

“But I don’t want to invite anyone!” Harry muttered unhappily. “If I hadn’t accidentally agreed to Horace Slughorn’s invitation, I wouldn’t want to go to any of his parties.”

“Alright, if you don’t want to go, that’s perfectly fine. But be careful with your drinks, Romirda doesn’t seem to be joking,” Hermione said with a smile.

“Wait a minute,” Harry said slowly. “I think Filch is strictly forbidden from bringing anything from the Weasleys Shop of Wizardry.”

“Pfft—when has anyone ever cared about what Filch forbids?” Hermione retorted, her attention returning to her calculations.

“But Filch…” Harry wanted to retort, but suddenly Hermione stopped laughing and put on a serious face.
Harry heard it too; someone was approaching them from behind the dark bookshelves.

They waited, and a moment later Mrs. Pins, who looked like a vulture, appeared around the corner. She had sunken cheekbones, skin like parchment, and her long, hooked nose was unflatteringly accentuated by the lamp she was holding.

"The library is closing. If you don't mind, please put your borrowed items back where they belong—oh my goodness! Merlin! What have you done to that book, you wretched boy!?" Mrs. Pince suddenly shrieked.

“That’s not a library book, that’s mine!” Harry said angrily, grabbing his Advanced Potions textbook from the table as Mrs. Pince reached out a claw-like hand toward it.

"You little rascal!" she hissed.

“This is just a book that has been written!” Harry said, pulling the book hard from her hands.

She looked like she was about to explode. Hermione quickly packed her things and grabbed Harry, forcing him out of the library.

“If you’re not careful, she’ll ban you from the library! Why do you have to bring that stupid book?” Hermione whispered after they had gone quite a distance from the library.

“It’s not my fault she’s barking like a mad dog, Hermione,” Harry complained, then suddenly paused, turning to look at Hermione—

Hermione felt a chill run down her spine from Harry's stare.

"Hmm, Hermione, do you have a dance partner for Horace Slughorn's Christmas Ball?" Harry suddenly asked.

"Huh? Oh, I... I promised someone else," Hermione said helplessly, then slapped her smooth forehead hard. "Oh, right, Harry, how could I not have thought of that!"

Then Hermione stared intently at Harry: "Yeah, Harry, so you're a boy too!"

(End of this chapter)