HP: Hogwarts Snake

Theodore got his reward; after that definitive Defense Against the Dark Arts class, he could practically see Della and him standing right next to her.

Moreover, this reward was not just superficial; Della would actually talk to him a lot, about campus topics and more intimate topics. She talked to him a lot and listened to him a lot.

Theodore knew that part of the close relationship was to reciprocate the favor and reward his loyalty in finally standing up for his choice; another part was to make Draco give up and make the boy realize that he had no chance of winning back his ex-girlfriend in the short term.

Theodore hadn't considered how much of this closeness stemmed from personal feelings for him, but Della was willing to use him to make Draco give up on her.

And there was something even better: after he had been subtly mentioning Hogsmeade all February, Della finally relented and said she could go with him to Hogsmeade for a visit in March.

Theodore had been excitedly preparing for this for a long time, determined to create an image of Della as composed, knowledgeable, and witty; however, he was destined to be disappointed—

Hogwarts issued a notice that the opening of Hogsmeade was suspended.

Theodore felt as if his soul had been ripped out of him, and he desperately wanted to go to Dumbledore and ask why he had done this.

Hopes were built little by little, but were destroyed by force majeure.

Della looked at Theodore's unprecedented gloom and felt both sorry for him and amused. She invited him with pity, "Want to go for a walk, Theodore? Like a stroll by the Black Lake."

"Please let me take a walk with you," Theodore said pitifully, but his face lit up the moment he received the invitation.

Dera looked at the boy twice, and for the first time, she saw a bit of childishness in Theodore. She found it somewhat novel and continued to joke, "Next time, pretend for a little longer, Theodore. Maybe you can get more plans to go for walks together."

“Merlin’s conscience, I was really sad just now,” Theodore said, looking melancholy again, but a smile appeared on his lips. “But since you said so, Della, I’ll be more careful next time.”

Della squinted at him a couple more times, then smiled and followed Theodore out of the castle without saying anything more.

It's March. The grass is green, and the wind is gentle, carrying the year-round dampness of England. It feels moist and gentle on the face. Della gathers her hair that is flying behind her head, closes her eyes, and feels the wind for a while.

Theodore stared at her intently, trying his best to remember every moment of Della's appearance.

“I’ve been to a lot of places in the past year, and many of them were great. But there’s one place I especially love, and I’d love to live there for the rest of my life.” Della brought up this topic for the first time at school, her voice as distant as the wind.

"But as soon as the wind blows, I feel a bit of nostalgia for my hometown. Although the concept of home is a bit ridiculous to me, this is, after all, the land where I grew up, and I hope it can become better."

“I am willing to fight for your vision forever, Della,” Theodore said, his eyes narrowing, his expression loyal and resolute. “I will not compromise on this point again.”

Della met Theodore's tender gaze, and her smile became more genuine. "We'll see, Theodore."

It has to be said that Della felt very comfortable with Theodore's attitude of only saying "for her" without mentioning "what kind of person she is." She was really tired of being labeled with this identity and that prejudice.

Undefined moonlight...

Yes, everyone only knows to call her Miss Moonlight, but they've forgotten that it was originally Sunlight.

But those tender feelings, those lingering emotions, and those tragic moments perfectly capture the image of a melancholy moonlit night.

Della prefers her true self to be seen.

“By the way, Theodore, do you have any plans for the Easter holidays?” Della found Theodore even more agreeable. “I think I can entertain you for a few days. Anyway, I can’t stand wasting a holiday at school.”

“My answer is of course yes, anytime,” Theodore said, still briefly mentioning the task that Della hadn’t brought up again, “Is there anything I can help with regarding the principal’s matter?”

“I’ve already made the arrangements,” Della said, turning to gaze at the Black Lake. “Want a surprise? If so, then ask fewer questions.”

So Theodore stopped asking, and he and Della strolled along the shore of the Black Lake, watching the wind ripple the surface, watching the fish leap out of the ripples, and watching the sunset gradually sink into the Black Lake.

For Theodore, the half-day passed both quickly and slowly. It passed quickly because no amount of time with Della was enough, and it passed slowly because he was daydreaming about spending his life with her.

Like a lake, life is calm on the surface but constantly changing, with surprises and moments, culminating in a magnificent and colorful life.