Chapter 124: Love Rival?

John's interview ended quickly.

Afterward, it was Krum's turn; Harry said he was scheduled to be interviewed last.

So John didn't wait for Harry and left first.

Hermione should be waiting for him at Hagrid's hut by now.

They had agreed to meet there after the interview and then ride flying brooms together.

Harry's Firebolt had been borrowed by Hermione in advance.

When John arrived at Hagrid's hut unhurriedly.

From afar, he could see Hermione sitting quietly on a wooden stake in front of the door, basking in the sun, with the Firebolt leaning against her side.

Hagrid's figure couldn't be seen.

Only Hermione sat there looking into the distance, her hands supporting the wooden stake, with lush green grass at her feet, the breeze blowing her long hair, and the sunlight spilling onto her.

Looking from afar, she seemed like the heroine in a story, bathed in the golden afterglow, quietly waiting for his arrival.

Seeming to notice someone approaching.

Hermione turned her head, her eyes lighting up the moment she saw John.

She stood up, a familiar smile rising at the corner of her mouth.

"I thought you were so immersed in the halo of being interviewed that you couldn't come out."

"I really almost couldn't come out just now."

John walked closer with a smile, looking at Hermione seriously, and said something baffling.

But Hermione just blinked, thinking it was another of John's nonsense, so she didn't pursue it, just handed the Firebolt over.

"There, it's time for your performance."

"Oh right, Harry treasures this Firebolt; if you break it, he'll probably cry to you."

Hermione joked.

"Then I'll just say it was your idea."

Hearing this, Hermione laughed out of anger, but didn't care at all, continuing.

"I knew you'd say that, so I already told Harry it was you who borrowed it."

John:?

You even calculated this?

John shook his head helplessly, then straddled the Firebolt, his toes tapping the ground lightly, and his body hovered steadily.

As expected of a Firebolt, its performance and operational feedback were on a completely different level from those standard flying brooms.

Seeing John's takeoff so smooth and stable, Hermione blinked in slight surprise.

She had only heard that John's flying technique was extremely outstanding, but had never seen it with her own eyes.

This time she finally saw it.

"Get on, Hermione."

John lowered the broom's height slightly, reached out to Hermione, a confident smile rising at the corner of his mouth.

Hermione's heart moved slightly, she grabbed John's hand, jumped lightly, and sat steadily behind him.

"Ah, ah ah ah."

But as soon as Hermione sat on it, the broom tilted.

John looked like he couldn't control it, and the broom suddenly spun like a compass needle.

"John!"

Hermione hadn't even sat steady yet, and was startled by John's action, hurriedly hugging John's waist, her chest pressed tightly against John's back.

The wind whistled in her ears, Hermione's face pressed against John's back, and she scolded John with a smile.

"Are you okay or not!"

"Hahaha, try it and you'll know."

Having said that, John laughed, stopped teasing Hermione, pulled the front of the broom abruptly, and the Firebolt carried the two of them and shot out, their speed soaring instantly.

"Ah!"

Hermione screamed, the scenery before her eyes retreating suddenly.

John saw the Firebolt fly over the Owlery, dozens of owls startled and scattering, and there were also owls flapping their wings following them.

Immediately after, John controlled the Firebolt to lower its height and slow down, sweeping toward the sparkling Black Lake.

Hermione looked at the lake surface beneath her, and on the constantly retreating lake water, reflected the swaying figures of her and John.

John pulled the Firebolt high again and flew into the high sky, leaving the ripples of the Black Lake behind.

They circled up around the castle, overlooking the entire Hogwarts.

Hermione gradually adapted, pressing tightly against John's back, feeling the direction of the wind, her heartbeat and the sound of the wind weaving into one.

The wind whistled in her ears, the castle was beneath their feet, owls were flapping their wings beside them, and the person she liked was in front of her.

Oh right, they were circling above the castle so blatantly, they would probably be caught soon.

But at this moment, Hermione couldn't care so much; she just wanted to continue staying with John for a while longer, even if it was just a moment of indulgence.

After flying for a while, they landed back at Hagrid's hut.

I don't know when, but Hagrid had actually returned.

Seeing them land, he even waved at them.

"John, you're really bold; it's a no-fly period now."

"Be careful of being caught by Filch later and thrown to me as forced labor for detention."

Hagrid joked with a smile, without any intention of blaming them.

"The reward is finished, what about the punishment?"

Regarding Hagrid's scare, John just responded with a smile.

Hanging out with Hagrid couldn't be called detention; that's called a vacation.

Hagrid laughed loudly after hearing this and patted John on the shoulder.

Hermione stood beside John, tidying up her hair blown by the wind, her cheeks still flushed with lingering heat.

At this moment, she saw Professor McGonagall walking over not far away.

"Professor McGonagall is coming to catch us."

Hearing this, John immediately turned his head and caught a glimpse of Professor McGonagall walking over quickly.

"Hermione, the Professor loves you the most, you have to say a few good words for me later."

John looked at Professor McGonagall with a smile, and at the same time pulled Hermione's sleeve lightly and whispered.

Hermione nodded, then walked toward Professor McGonagall.

Then she spoke first.

"Professor, it's all John's fault."

"He insisted on pulling me up for a flight, and I couldn't stop him at all."

John:??

As soon as Hermione opened her mouth, she sold John out.

John widened his eyes instantly, his smile stiffening at the corner of his mouth.

Hermione even turned back and blinked at him, a cunning smile rising at her lips, as if saying 'who told you to scare me.'

Professor McGonagall looked at the two of them and their blatant little actions speechlessly.

As an old professor who had seen big storms and waves and taught dozens of batches of students, she knew exactly what was going on with these two children.

But she didn't oppose it.

But the rules that should be there still had to be there.

"Flying without authorization during the no-fly period, and it was also a dangerous manned flight."

"Both of you are going to detention, and 10 points will be deducted from each of you."

Professor McGonagall said impartially.

As soon as the Professor spoke, John and Hermione shrank their necks.

But seeing the gaze behind Professor McGonagall's lenses flicker slightly, she added another sentence.

"It just so happens that the Restricted Section needs books organized recently; since you two have so much energy, then go help organize them this weekend."

John and Hermione looked at each other in surprise; this errand was more of a reward than a punishment for them.

Because the Restricted Section was rarely open, there were very few books to organize, so giving them two days was completely letting them read books.

"Yes, Professor!"

John immediately responded loudly, putting on a serious attitude.

Hermione lowered her head, unable to stop her mouth from rising.

Professor McGonagall nodded slightly, then turned to look at Hagrid, who was watching the show on the side.

"Hagrid, you too, you can't be too indulgent with these children."

"Uh, haha, alright, alright."

Hagrid was stunned when suddenly named, then hurriedly scratched his furry hair and responded with a silly smile.

Professor McGonagall then turned and left, but after walking two steps, she turned back to look at John and Hermione.

"Relaxing is fine, but John, you must prepare well for the Triwizard Tournament next."

"And Hermione, I don't think you want John to encounter danger in the competition, so help him well."

Once the Triwizard Tournament was mentioned, Hermione immediately straightened her expression and nodded seriously.

"I will, Professor."

John also nodded and said seriously.

"Don't worry, Professor, I will take it seriously."

Seeing this, Professor McGonagall turned and left with satisfaction.

Looking at Professor McGonagall's retreating back, Hagrid scratched his head and complained to them in a low voice.

"You caused the trouble, and I got scolded."

John couldn't help but laugh out loud, and Hermione also covered her mouth and smiled lightly.

They wanted to say something else, when suddenly another figure flew out from the castle.

Professor McGonagall, who hadn't walked far, looked at that figure and paused again, her face sinking again.

How come one after another didn't take the school rules seriously.

She hurriedly walked toward the castle angrily.

"Damn, who is that."

"Don't know, looking at the clothes, it seems to be from Durmstrang?"

John narrowed his eyes and looked at the figure going away, saying with some admiration.

Professor McGonagall just finished catching them, and another one came out to defy the wind.

Hermione shrugged; it was too far, and she wasn't very clear either.

John watched excitedly and commented with a smile.

"But he flies quite well, yo, he can even do mid-air flips and dive-stops; his technique is smoother than our house Quidditch team's chaser."

And Hermione didn't feel anything looking at it, imagining if John flew like this....

Then she wouldn't be able to enjoy the comfort of holding John in the sky, only clutching his back school robe, too nervous to breathe.

She felt scared just thinking about that picture.

Luckily John flew very steadily, and specifically took care of her by using slow and stable flight, never making any dangerous moves.

Alright, except for deliberately scaring her at the beginning.

Thinking of this, Hermione pinched John's arm casually.

"Hiss... what are you doing?"

John felt the pain and whispered.

Hermione just smiled at this and didn't explain.

John could only rub his pinched arm and look at Hermione's proud look speechlessly.

Soon, a spell flew toward the sky.

Clearly, that was a warning to the figure flying without authorization.

That person had to descend, but strangely, he specifically descended not far from Hagrid's hut.

After landing, they discovered that the person was actually Krum.

Krum landed steadily on the ground, his red robe swaying lightly in the wind, his face looking slightly cold.

He glanced at Hermione's side, the coldness on his face eased slightly, and then nodded gently at Hermione.

Hermione was stunned for a moment, frowned, and subconsciously grabbed John's arm.

Seeing this action, Krum's gentle face stiffened.

Then he looked at John with some resentment.

John looked at Krum speechlessly; he finally knew why Krum's eyes were full of hostility this morning.

It was because of Hermione, treating him as a love rival.

But he wasn't wrong; if he liked Hermione, then he was indeed his love rival.

Thinking of this, John smiled at him.

That smile looked full of provocation in Krum's eyes.

Then John moved closer to Hermione, his face close to her ear.

"Hermione, we should go."

John's hot breath brushed past her ear, bringing a slight itch, especially John's address to her, making Hermione's cheeks flush slightly.

John, who usually called her 'sister,' was now calling her by name; a difference of one word, but the feeling contained was very different.

She nodded lightly, not resisting John's closeness and this intimate action.

Afterward, John boldly took her hand, fingers intertwined, his movements natural.

Hermione's hand trembled slightly, but she didn't pull away, letting John hold it.

"Professor Hagrid, we're leaving first."

"Uh... oh, go ahead."

Hagrid was still thinking about why that Durmstrang child landed here, not noticing John and Hermione's actions.

Suddenly hearing John's farewell, he came back to his senses and responded.

Having said that, John held Hermione's hand and walked along the path toward the castle.

Krum stood in place watching them leave, his fists tightening unconsciously.

On the way, John and Hermione didn't speak.

The clever Hermione noticed John's deliberate action, but she didn't point it out.

She even wanted to thank that Durmstrang visitor; if it weren't for his appearance, perhaps John wouldn't have suddenly declared sovereignty so strongly.

The feeling of being led by John made her heartbeat chaotic, but inexplicably at ease.

They had just returned to the castle through the corridor bridge when they ran into Professor McGonagall, who was planning to catch people.

"Oh, Professor, that guy flying without authorization is at Hagrid's."

As soon as John saw Professor McGonagall, he immediately reported.

He naturally wouldn't pretend to be magnanimous about things that could hit his opponent hard.

Hearing this, Professor McGonagall raised her eyebrows, thinking John was eager to drag someone down with him.

But she also noticed the hands of John and Hermione intertwined, her expression becoming a bit subtle.

Hermione was stared at by Professor McGonagall like this, her ear tips burning, but John still held her hand without letting go, so she had to stand in place and bite the bullet.

Fortunately, in the end, Professor McGonagall didn't say anything, pretending not to see it.

Then she walked quickly toward Hagrid's hut, but when passing Hermione, she slowed down and said to her in a voice only Hermione could hear.

"That... Hermione, John hasn't come of age yet, be careful..."

As soon as these words were spoken, Hermione's face instantly flushed red.

Without waiting for her to explain anything, Professor McGonagall had already hurried toward Hagrid's hut.

Only the two were left standing in place, Hermione lowering her head, not daring to let John see her face.

Because there was no need to look to know that her face must be red through.

"Let's go, return the Firebolt to Harry first, and then we should go to detention."

At this moment, John said with a light laugh.

Hermione then raised her head and said a light 'hmm.'

Then the two walked toward the castle side by side again. ===== CHAPTER 125 =====