The Return to Hogwarts

The weather was sunny on the first weekend of February.

With Valentine's Day approaching, many older boys and girls suddenly appeared on the grass in the school courtyard, by the Black Lake, and at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. They ignored the pointing and whispering of the younger wizards, and even disregarded the professors' disapproving stares. They affectionately touched noses and whispered in each other's ears, completely unconcerned about whether the occasion was appropriate.

"Indecent and immoral—why don't the prefects and professors do anything about it!"

Hermione, who got up early to go to the library, saw at least five or six couples like this on the way. As she passed by them, Hermione thought angrily.

The library was quieter than usual today. Apart from the stern Mrs. Pince, who was still sitting in her usual spot, engrossed in a book with a gold-embossed cover, there were only a dozen or so senior students about to face the OWLW and NEWTS exams in the hundreds of narrow aisles and among the thousands of bookshelves behind her.

However, this did not affect Hermione's mood for studying. She skillfully and quickly moved between the rows of bookshelves, searching for the books she needed.

Ah, found it--

Hermione stopped in front of a bookshelf filled with dozens of large, worn-out books, jumped up, and pulled out a copy of "Forgotten Ancient Magic and Curses" from the top shelf. After opening it, she leaned against the shelf behind her and began to read the intricate and complex text, hoping to find the reason why Colin and Justin had been petrified.

Because Fred and George disappeared without a word, Wood had no choice but to angrily announce the cancellation of today's training session.

This allowed Harry, who had been up early for training, a rare and pleasant weekend—he had originally planned to accompany Hermione to look for clues, but Ron stopped him before he left.

"It's rare for Wood to let you off the hook!"

Ron puffed out his cheeks as he stuffed a small piece of roasted sausage into Scabbers' mouth. "Don't waste your precious weekend on pointless things, Harry. Seamus got a new Goblin suit; I can borrow it to help us pass the time!"

Then, Harry was easily persuaded, and in the end, only Hermione went to the library alone, hoping to find some clues about the attack in the ocean of knowledge and the river of history.

Sunlight filtered through the dust particles in the air and the gaps between the bookshelves, creating bizarre and wonderful light and shadow on Hermione's innocent yet earnest face. As time went by, the stack of books around Hermione grew higher and higher, almost reaching over her slender shoulders.

Amosta, who had come from the forbidden book section, watched silently for a while. For some reason, a ripple of emotion stirred within him, as if he saw his younger self in Hermione.

“Miss Granger—”

"Ah, Professor Blaine!" Hermione, engrossed in her book, turned her head in surprise. When she saw Professor Blaine walking towards her with a smile, she quickly closed the book she was holding and stood up somewhat awkwardly.

"Excuse me, Professor, I didn't notice you here!"

Aside from their awkward first meeting at the school hospital during the Christmas holidays, this was Hermione's first time meeting Professor Blaine in a private setting.

Amostah glanced at the books clutched by the anxious little witch, and understanding dawned on him. He nodded to Hermione and asked gently, "Are you looking for clues about the Chamber of Secrets?"

After receiving Hermione's affirmative reply, Amosta glanced around, his tone surprised.

"Are you alone, Miss Granger? Where are your good friends Potter and Mr. Weasley? Didn't they come to help you?"

"Oh, the two of them!"

The little witch with her messy hair immediately became indignant. She was about to complain about Harry and Ron, but what came out of her mouth was that Harry had to go to Quidditch training, and Ron was studying his Herbology homework in the common room. Only she had finished her homework early and had nothing to do, so she came to the library to take a look.

"Hehe--"

Even without Legilimency, Amosta could tell it was a lie, but he didn't expose it; instead, he nodded in understanding.

"The strong are always lonely, Miss Granger, keep going."

After uttering this cryptic remark, Amosta left.

Long after his figure disappeared around the corner behind the rows of bookshelves, Hermione stood there dumbfounded, staring at Professor Blaine's retreating back. Her mind replayed that inexplicable remark in her head. Somehow, as if she had received a powerful boost, the aches in her arms from carrying books all morning subsided, and her amber-colored brown eyes regained their brightness.

"Go Hermione!"

Hermione clenched her fist and said to herself, then, full of energy, she pounced on the bookshelf again.

Amosta walked through the bustling streets of Hogsmeade. Perhaps because of his new identity, many young wizards came up to greet him, and Amosta responded with friendly nods.

But suddenly, two wizards wearing black cloaks and not very tall appeared not far to his right, causing Amosta to frown. After a brief moment of thought, he deviated from his intended destination and strolled after them into a secluded alley.

Amosta followed them all the way to the Pig's Head Bar, but instead of going inside with them, he waited quietly outside with a playful expression on his face.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, the bar owner’s loud roar echoed through the bar. Two men in black stumbled out of the bar and, before they could exchange a word, looked up to see Amosta, who was smirking at them from twenty feet away.

Well---

Embarrassment, fear, and helplessness tore at the hearts of the two men in black robes as they stood trembling at the entrance of the Pig's Head Bar, awaiting their punishment.

"No, brother, he can't see our faces clearly!"

The man on the right suddenly snapped out of his daze. He lowered his voice and quietly tugged at his companion's sleeve. The companion, alerted, immediately understood, and then a hoarse, heavy cough came from under the black robe on the left.

"Ahem, mind your own business, kid. We're ruthless killers!"

Damn it!

Amosta glared at the two Weasley brats who ran off at top speed, his face darkening. He was determined to find an opportunity to teach them a lesson!

Turning around, they hadn't walked far when they saw Percy Weasley passionately kissing his Ravenclaw prefect girlfriend under golden cherubs in a steamy teahouse where everything seemed to be decorated with ruffles or bows.

This family consists of top talents in the wizarding world!

Amosta turned his head away, pretending not to have seen what was happening, and strode towards the Three Broomsticks bar.

In the evening, Hermione told Harry and Ron, who had been listless all day in the common room, about Professor Blaine's words in the library that morning, but unfortunately, Harry and Ron still couldn't understand what they meant.

"but---"

Ron wrinkled his nose and unconsciously waved his arms in the air.

"That sounds pretty cool, doesn't it? Imagine if I—no, I mean you, Harry—were in the Quidditch final, Gryffindor down 0-140 against Slytherin, and everyone had given up, and you caught the Golden Snitch right in front of Malfoy just before Drian Pursey hit the game-winning shot, and then said something like that, I bet Harry, Malfoy would be so angry he wouldn't be able to eat for a year!"

“If that’s the case, Ron, I would be more than happy to help Malfoy eat a year’s worth of food in one day!”

Harry also imagined the scene Ron had described and chuckled happily.

Hermione rolled her eyes at the two of them, and just as she was about to give them a piece of her mind, a commotion suddenly broke out in the hallway, and a large group of people rushed in, surrounding something.

Harry and Ron, who were having a good time, froze, and Hermione quickly realized something was wrong. She dropped the food she was holding and ran over to find out what was going on.

On the marble staircase, Principal Dumbledore, accompanied by several professors, rushed down with serious expressions. After a short while, he dispersed the crowd and led Amostella, who was riding Lockhart, up the stairs.

The Slytherin heirs are active again!

Harry, who had just been in a good mood, suddenly felt his heart sink into the ice water. He immediately thought of the worst possibility, exchanged a glance with Ron, whose face was ashen, and the two of them hurriedly followed.

On the hospital bed in the school hospital, Lockhart was no longer the debonair man he used to be. His hair was disheveled, his eyes were wide and bloodshot, and he was making muffled noises as if he was trying to say something urgently!

Mrs. Pomfrey was examining him, and judging from her 'serious' expression, the situation seemed quite serious.

Dumbledore very understandingly allowed the students to come in and visit Professor Lockhart. The students stood outside the curtain, exchanging uneasy glances, while Hermione squeezed to the front of the crowd, looked at Lockhart's miserable appearance, and suddenly covered her mouth and sobbed softly!

Well.

Amosta felt a pang of guilt upon witnessing this, wondering if he had gone too far. However, when he saw Professor Snape standing in the shadows, seemingly trying his best to suppress his laughter, he calmed down.

"How's it going, Bobby?"

Dumbledore stood by Lockhart's bedside, not letting anyone see his expression, but from his voice, it seemed that he was in a very heavy mood.

"This is very bad, Headmaster Dumbledore—"

Mrs. Pomfrey glanced quickly at Professor McGonagall, whose face was stern, and began to explain to everyone.

"A severe alcohol allergy, Principal. He'll probably be spending Easter in his hospital bed. Oh, doesn't anyone know that Professor Lockhart isn't good with alcoholic beverages?!"

Wasn't Professor Lockhart's most desired birthday present a case of Ogden Flame Whisky?

With tears welling in her eyes, Hermione looked up blankly after hearing Madam Pomfrey's assessment.

"It's all my fault, Headmaster Dumbledore!"

Amosta stepped forward with a 'grieved' expression.

“I invited Professor Lockhart for drinks without understanding the situation. Oh, he probably agreed because he didn’t want to offend me. I… I’m truly ashamed of this. If you would allow it, I can resign right now!”

No, no, that won't do.

Before Professor McGonagall could even take a step, to everyone's surprise, the seemingly dying Professor Lockhart, through his 'powerful' willpower, managed to speak. He laboriously and unsteadily reached out his hand towards Amosta, uttering a barely audible murmur.

"Xixi, a letter?"

"What did you say, Professor Lockhart? Is there anything else you want to say?"

Amosta immediately pushed Dumbledore aside nervously, half-squatting in front of the bed and holding Lockhart's hand, while his other hand, hidden in his sleeve, was ready to cast a spell at any moment!

"Giggle. Lan Jie!"

Unexpectedly, Lockhart suddenly called Hermione's name again. Amosta's brow twitched, but in the end, she obeyed Professor Lockhart's 'last wish' and summoned Hermione to her bedside as well.

"I'm here, Professor. What do you want to say to me?"

Large tears streamed down Hermione's face, her voice filled with unbearable sorrow, "What do you need me to do for you, Professor?"

"You two, the fans."

Lockhart, his face ashen, uttered each word slowly and deliberately.

"Please write me a reply!"

Chapter 46 Professor Blaine's First Lesson (Part 1)

Almost no one paid attention in Monday morning's Charms and Herbalism classes; everyone was whispering about what happened on Saturday. Even Hermione, who was usually very focused in class, looked sickly and listless.

Until lunchtime, no one could give a definitive answer as to whether Professor Lockhart was allergic to alcohol or had drunk poisoned wine.

"This afternoon, during the second period, first and second-year students from all four houses will be attending Defense Against the Dark Arts together in the Great Hall—"

The prefects, both male and female, hurried down from their professors' chairs and relayed the startled news to the whispering young wizards below.