Chapter 174

The Great Hall.

Dumbledore stood on the stage, while below sat students and professors, as well as the teachers and students of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons.

"Another year is coming to an end."

"The Triwizard Tournament has also ended."

"But new challenges have also begun."

"Many things happened this year; the Ministry of Magic wouldn't let me tell you, but I think it is necessary to let you know the truth."

"Perhaps you have heard of it long ago, yes."

"Voldemort has returned."

The audience was in an uproar instantly; the students whispered to each other, whether nervous, terrified, or questioning.

Regarding the matter of Voldemort's return, after Old Barty shouted "The Dark Lord has been resurrected" in public yesterday, it had already spread quietly inside and outside the castle.

Later, the Minister of Magic brought Dementors into the castle, which made them realize that some criminal had sneaked into the castle again.

They all knew that perhaps something big had happened.

Dumbledore opened his hands, and the venue gradually quieted down.

"Perhaps some people think that you are still young and shouldn't be told."

"Or perhaps they don't believe at all that Voldemort has returned."

"But I still believe that only by telling you the truth can you make the right choice."

John sat under the stage, listening quietly to Dumbledore's speech.

This was the first time seeing Dumbledore speak to them students so seriously.

I always feel that future academy life is going to become nervous...

He still likes the Dumbledore who pops out a joke or two from time to time.

John glanced in other directions; most people were still immersed in shock and whispers, but the people in the Snake House looked very calm.

I remember Titus saying that the former Snake House was a reserve for Death Eaters.

Even many students in the Snake House now are descendants of former Death Eaters.

There won't be an academy civil war in the future, right?

With Dumbledore's speech, urging everyone to be united and not to have gaps because of fear.

The assembly was nearing its end.

Finally, Harry's honor as the Triwizard Tournament champion was confirmed, and at the same time, his courage to fight Voldemort was paid tribute.

After it ended, the students stood up one after another, leaving the venue in twos and threes; the originally suppressed discussion sound became gradually noisy after leaving the Great Hall.

John also stood up slowly, preparing to go back with his little friends.

Just at this moment, Harry suddenly called out to him.

"Wait a moment, John."

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

John looked back; Harry walked to him carrying a bag of gold coins, followed by Sirius.

"This is the champion's prize money, which should have belonged to you."

"If it weren't for you, I couldn't have gone deep into the maze so quickly; I couldn't even help you at all and even held you back."

Hearing this, John was also stunned.

But he immediately came back to his senses and took the bag of gold coins with a smile.

"So generous; Sirius, don't you learn from this? You still owe me a favor; when are you going to divide the inheritance?"

Sirius rolled his eyes speechlessly.

"I'm still young; I won't die that fast."

"Hard to say."

"...... You kid."

Hearing John's words, Sirius was directly angered into laughter.

At such a juncture where a great war is imminent, saying such unlucky words.

John lowered his head and flipped through the money bag on his own.

"Is there a thousand here? The Headmaster wouldn't have embezzled it, right?"

John looked at the gold coins flickering in the bag and said uncertainly.

"Dumbledore isn't short of your thousand Galleons."

"Alright then~"

John closed the money bag, weighed it, and then suddenly threw it back into Harry's arms.

Harry caught it hurriedly and then looked at John in confusion.

Before he could speak, John said in a low voice.

"This prize money belongs to you, Harry."

"Not being able to kill through the maze and get the Triwizard Cup is my own lack of ability."

"And in the end, it was because of my relentless pursuit that you fell into Old Barty's trap, causing you to experience all this."

Hearing John's words, Harry subconsciously retorted: "It's not..."

But when he wanted to continue saying something, he suddenly discovered that John had put away his cheeky face at some point and had become very serious.

He seemed to be blaming himself for not being able to kill through the maze, which led to everything that followed.

Even, he had also taken the responsibility for Voldemort's resurrection upon himself.

Why would John think this way...

He was clearly two years younger than himself, and all of this had nothing to do with him.

Harry opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

John had returned to his usual smile, as if what just happened was an illusion.

He patted Harry on the shoulder and laughed.

"Alright, just treat me to a meal when there's a chance next time; I'm leaving first."

After saying that, John turned and left alone; self-pity wasn't his style.

Better late than never.

Next time, he must rely on his own strength to kill through all obstacles.

When John walked outside the Great Hall, he looked left and right.

Huh, Titus and the others just said they were waiting for me to leave together, why are they gone?

John was just wondering when a soft little hand suddenly held him.

Looking back, it was Hermione who had come to his side at some point.

She had originally intended to find an opportunity to talk to John alone, and then just now she saw Harry and John talking, and from the expressions of the two, she roughly guessed the content of their conversation.

So she waited outside specially.

And Titus also saw Hermione waiting for John, so he pulled Ryan and Ethan and left first.

Hermione didn't talk to John about any topic immediately, but blinked playfully and said.

"Do you have time, Mr. Warrior?"

"Hmm... that depends on what you want to talk about, Miss Know-It-All."

Listening to Hermione's slightly teasing words, John responded with a light laugh.

"Hmm~ let me think, a warrior shouldn't be able to refuse a lady's invitation."

Hermione pretended to think, placing one hand on her chin, and then looked at John with a smile.

A lady, huh...

Just hearing Hermione's adjective, John couldn't help but think of the scene where Hermione lifted him up with one hand last year, and swallowed his saliva.

"You seem to be thinking about something very rude, right?"

Hermione suddenly revealed a dangerous smile and said.

"I'm not! I didn't! Don't talk nonsense!"

John shook his head hurriedly to deny it.

"Come with me!"

As a result, Hermione was too lazy to listen to his explanation and pulled him directly toward the corridor bridge behind the school.

Oh no!

John wailed in his heart while being dragged.

The two arrived at the deserted corridor bridge all the way.

Hermione pulled him and stopped in the middle of the corridor bridge.

John was ready to be beaten, but not only did he not wait for Hermione's fist, but instead, a touch of warmth entered his arms.

Hermione suddenly hugged him, leaning her head on his shoulder.

John was stunned directly; it took a long while before he reacted and slowly raised his hand to hug Hermione back.

"What's wrong with this? Your emotions came too suddenly."

John teased amusingly while stroking her hair lightly.

As a result, what responded to him was a pinch on the waist from Hermione.

"Ouch!"

John cried out in pain.

This cry made Hermione in his arms laugh.

She rubbed against John's neck, her breath brushing lightly across the side of his neck.

Finally, she still spoke softly.

"... Idiot, don't take yourself too seriously."

"Even Dumbledore couldn't stop Voldemort's resurrection, let alone you."

John blinked; it turned out Hermione was worried about him.

John saw the corners of his mouth lift, laughing lightly as he tightened his arms around her.

"Hermione, were you peeping at me~"

"No way!"

Hearing John's inexplicable words, Hermione immediately raised her head and retorted with a blushing face.

"Then how did you know what I was thinking?"

John looked at Hermione, who was close at hand, and pressed his forehead against hers.

The two almost touched nose tips, their breaths mingling.

Hermione's heartbeat accelerated by John's action, and her speech became stumbling.

"I! I'm just... worried about you..."

"You, refusing to accept Harry's prize money, isn't it just because you feel that you aren't qualified to receive this honor..."

"But those accidents clearly weren't your fault..."

"I'm just... Mmph!!"

Hermione's stumbling words hadn't finished when she was suddenly sealed by John with a light kiss.

John held Hermione's waist and pressed her against the pillar of the corridor bridge.

Hermione could only passively accept John's kiss, her fingertips trembling slightly as she climbed onto his shoulders.

This kiss wasn't intense, but it made both of their heartbeats disordered all at once.

Until their lips separated, Hermione still looked at him innocently with wet eyes, her breathing rapid and shallow.

John's thumb wiped across her hot earlobe.

"Don't worry, Hermione, I'm not that fragile."

"But I accept your concern."

Hermione pursed her lips tightly, only able to blink her watery eyes, too shy to speak.

Although this wasn't their first kiss, this kind of forceful, straightforward situation was the first time.

All at once, it tore apart all the twisted feelings they had before.

Making them clearly realize that they were indeed in love with the person they liked.

And John stared at her trembling eyelashes and her face that had turned into a ball of red, and suddenly said with some hindsight.

"Uh, speaking of which, I seem to have never confessed to you yet..."

"......"

Hermione was immediately gnashing her teeth.

How could someone remember to confess after forcefully kissing someone, and still say it so directly...

"You idiot..."

"Huh?"