Chapter 349: Identification Effect

Hogwarts.

The exam week had just ended, and the professors under the Huanggang model worked overtime to finish grading the papers.

Then they posted a huge ranking list in the Great Hall.

Since the exams were taken, how could they not rank them to let the students realize the gap? How to highlight the role of role models, how to let poor students follow the good students?

So at lunch that day, all the students surrounded the score ranking list.

Hermione found the ranking list for the third year at a glance. "First place: Hermione Granger. Average GPA 3.9. Total credits 23."

The little girl breathed a sigh of relief; her status as the top student was preserved. It wasn't in vain that she had worked so hard for a year.

Third-year students could already choose elective courses. To better measure the students' learning situation, Hogwarts introduced a credit GPA system. Compulsory courses were two to three credits, elective courses were one to two credits. Hermione chose a bunch of electives, and her grades were also good, so she could get first place.

"Harry! You're second!" Ron shouted.

Sure enough, Hermione looked and saw the line right below hers: "Second place: Harry Potter. Average GPA 3.9, total credits 19."

She turned around, looking for Harry, but saw the latter just nod slightly and walk back to the empty dining table, preparing to eat.

He didn't seem to care about grades.

Ron called him twice, but Harry didn't seem to hear. He was holding a thick book and gnawing on bread.

"Sometimes I feel like Harry has become a different person," Cho Chang leaned over. "Hermione, you're so great, first place again."

"It's been almost two years, he still doesn't seem to have walked out of that incident..."

Hermione sighed.

Because they belonged to different houses, although the common rooms were connected, they didn't meet often, plus the elective courses were different. This year, except for practical classes, she and Harry hadn't had much contact.

But she could feel that Harry had undergone huge changes.

He seemed to be drawn by something, walking in a direction extremely different from his past self.

He used to be enthusiastic and impulsive, but now Harry was calm and steady. That rationality and persistence were as if Tom had possessed him.

"I chose a psychology course," Cho Chang said. "The teacher said this is called 'Identification Effect of the Lost'. When a person loses an important person, they may subconsciously imitate the characteristics of the lost person due to the unbearable sense of loss, making them appear on themselves in whole or in part to make up for the pain of loss."

"Harry now seems more and more like Tom."

The two returned to the dining table and sat down, preparing to start eating. At this time, Draco walked over. "Granger, I need you to do me a favor."

For the past two years, Draco Malfoy had been a member of their Hero group since Tom left, and his personality seemed to have improved a lot compared to before, and their relationship was not bad.

"What's wrong?"

"A physics problem," Draco said. "I have to understand the wave equation. I know you are self-studying advanced physics; only you can help me."

"What do you need it for? Our practical class topics don't include this aspect, right?"

"This summer vacation, my dad arranged an internship position for me—I have a chance to be by the teacher's side. He gave me some materials and made me learn them."

"Teacher?" Hermione glanced at him.

Among the members of the practical group, the only person called "Teacher" instead of "Professor" was one.

Now, even the students at Hogwarts knew who the person who actually ruled the British wizarding world was.

Hermione was still very ignorant about future, employment, and similar issues, but she could understand the reason why Draco and the Malfoy family valued this opportunity. "Okay, I have time tomorrow morning. You come to the Ravenclaw common room to find me."

After Draco left, Cho Chang leaned mysteriously toward Hermione. "Draco has changed a lot in the past two years, but he didn't go to the senior students, but came to find you. Does he like you?"

Hermione was in the third year, and Cho Chang was in the fourth year. Of course, she was not uninterested in love.

"Huh?" Hermione was shocked by Cho Chang's brain hole. "He doesn't call me Mudblood, I thank God, okay?"

Although Draco now seemed to have become humble on the surface, the arrogance in his bones hadn't completely disappeared because of this, but had transformed into something else—it was said that this guy now had a group of subordinates in Slytherin.

The two chatted for a while, when suddenly an owl flew in and threw a letter in front of Harry. It was almost time for vacation, and letters were rarely received at this time, so everyone, including Hermione, looked at Harry's position.

The latter picked up the letter and opened it, looked at it for two seconds, and suddenly froze.

An apple he was holding fell onto the table, spilling the juice, but he seemed completely unaware.

The next instant, he stood up abruptly. The letter fell to the ground; he didn't go to pick it up, but ran out in a daze.

"Harry, Harry..." Ron was frightened by Harry's state. "Where are you going?"

Hermione and Cho Chang looked at each other. "What's wrong with Harry?"

They came to the position where Harry had just sat and picked up the letter.

"Dear Harry: It is with great regret that I tell you that your godfather, Sirius Black, passed away yesterday. The funeral is tomorrow evening. I think you should be able to see him for the last time."

There was no signature on the letter, but Hermione was shocked by the content of the letter.

"God, Harry..." Cho Chang covered her mouth. "He must be very sad."

……

Harry didn't know how he left the school or how he returned to White Ferret Mountain.

After receiving that letter, he felt as if he were dreaming. Many details couldn't be remembered clearly. It seemed he met Filch when running toward the outside of the castle, and then he was knocked away by his own spell.

Then, a professor stopped him. He seemed to have said something to the other party, seemed to have cried, and finally, Professor Flitwick took him away from the school, and he was sent back home.

He stood in front of that two-story wooden house again, but the familiar person who would welcome him at the door with a smile was gone.

The yard was planted with some vegetables again, and some flowers. The hoe was standing next to the door, as if its owner could return at any time.

Harry suddenly felt that something must have gone wrong. Although the professors seemed to have confirmed this, he still couldn't believe it. Sirius might just have left for a while, he should come back, the letter might just be a prank...

But soon, in the evening, Mr. Weasley came over, followed by several wizards from nearby, and took Harry to a place.

Then he saw Sirius.

Sirius lying in a wooden board, as if asleep.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 350 =====

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