Chapter 291: Code

Although there is no evidence to support the speculation that Beila also guards a Horcrux, it is still the only breakthrough.

Oh right, there's also that Lu Xiu Si stuck in Azkaban; he also has interrogation value.

Let's see if we can learn the whereabouts of other Horcruxes from Lu Xiu Si, the Horcrux keeper.

Of course, that's not John's business.

Sirius and Harry went back; they returned to the Order of the Phoenix to discuss the next plan.

John stayed on standby at home.

Of course, he occasionally stands by at Hermione's house…

For example, now.

"What is this, a rule horror story?"

At Hermione's house, John reclined on Hermione's lap, looking at today's The Daily Prophet, and said with a puzzled expression.

Given the recent surge of Death Eaters' rampage.

the Ministry of Magic published a safety guide in The Daily Prophet.

1. Please try not to leave home alone.

2. Be careful when moving at night; try to return home early.

3. Check the safety measures around your residence and ensure family members are proficient in Defensive Spells.

4. Agree on a code with relatives and friends to prevent Death Eaters from impersonating them.

5. If you notice any familiar or stranger acting oddly, contact the Auror Office immediately!

6. If a Dark Mark appears in the sky above a building, do not enter! Contact the Auror Office at once!

7. If you encounter an undead corpse, report to the Ministry of Magic immediately!

That's something you don't see every day.

Wizard version of rule horror story.

Hermione was leaning down, fixing the stray hairs on John's forehead, and said seriously.

"Don't dismiss it; although when actually facing Death Eaters, most of the rules inside are useless."

"But they can indeed reduce the chance of encountering danger."

"You can also set a code with uncles and aunts, so Death Eaters can't disguise themselves as us and harm them."

Indeed, huh.

The house has a defensive spell set by John; if Death Eaters force their way in, it alerts John, and when they themselves are in danger, it also triggers the Door Key's teleportation.

But if Death Eaters enter disguised or sneak up close, there's no way to give an early warning.

And to avoid that, a code is indeed quite necessary.

Because Death Eaters, aside from using Soul Capture Technique on John, have no other way to learn the code.

Using Soul Capture Technique on parents would trigger the Door Key.

"Shall we set a code?"

John looked up at Hermione, who was fixing his stray hair, and blinked.

"Alright, what do you want to set?"

"Your favorite snack?"

Hermione nodded and asked.

"That won't work; it's too easy to crack."

"We need an unguardable handshake code!"

"I'll ask you what 1+1 equals; you don't answer, just break into a dance on the spot to prove you are… Awo!!"

John just came up with a nonsensical yet unguardable handshake code, but before he finished, Hermione squeezed his cheek hard.

"How about this: you ask me what 1+1 equals, and I slap you."

"That's also pretty unguardable, right?"

Hermione pinched John's face, saying viciously.

Although but, it's indeed impossible to defend against......

"Can we make it a bit gentler?"

John asked weakly.

"Gentler? Sure, that's my code."

"When I ask you what 2+2 equals, you do a somersault on the spot, then stir‑fry four dishes and a soup, stumble into cement that soaks your clothes, then perform a tap dance, then tilt your head back and shout 'Long live Hermione' three times, with the volume decreasing from loud to soft."

After hearing Hermione's ultra‑long convoluted sentence, John fell silent for a moment.

"……Then next time you see me, just treat me as a Death Eater… I think blocking you with a spell is much simpler…"

John said lazily.

He Lin couldn't help but laugh.

"Just come up with a secret only the two of us know, and that's fine."

"Then… what if our tacit understanding isn't as good as you think?"

As soon as that was said, He Lin squeezed his cheek hard again, three times stronger than before.

"Hiss! I get it, I get it!" John winced and begged for mercy.

"Then just ask about the place of our first kiss."

John blurted out the sentence, and He Lin, at first, didn't react and just nodded.

But she quickly recovered, her face flushed bright red, and her hand involuntarily loosened.

"You, idiot, how could you ask such a shy question…"

Hermione flushed, feeling that John was teasing her for fun, pretending to strike.

But John, having broken free from his restraints, countered with a reverse grab.

He seized both of Hermione's hands and pressed them onto the sofa.

In an instant, he knocked her down.

"Weren't you the one who said it should be a secret just between the two of us?"

John pressed his weight onto Hermione, leaned close and chuckled.

"Then what if someone else hears…"

Hermione's ears turned bright red, and she stopped resisting, muttering.

"If they hear it, they hear it; we didn't do anything shameful, right?"

John laughed as he spoke, his face drawing ever closer to Hermione's.

Hermione's body twitched involuntarily a couple of times; though her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkled as they fixed on John.

As if she were expecting something.

Just as John was about to lean in for a kiss,

"Hermione, we're back."

The entryway door suddenly opened, and the voices of Gelanjie Fu Fu came through.

Both of them froze, then quickly released their grip and scrambled up from the sofa.

But it was already too late.

Gelanjie Fu Ren stood frozen at the doorway connecting the living room to the entryway, watching John scramble off Hermione.

"Um… Auntie… good afternoon…" John scratched his head, his gaze wavering as he greeted Gelanjie Fu Ren.

"Mom… I, um…" Hermione, also blushing, sat up straight, twirling her hair and stammering.

While the three were glaring at each other, Gelanjie Xian Sheng finally put on his shoes and entered.

"What's wrong? Is John here?"

Gelanjie Xian Sheng walked in, not noticing the awkward atmosphere, and laughed while speaking to John.

"Sit down, why are you standing?"

"Your aunt happened to buy a lot of ingredients today, let's have dinner here."

Gelanjie Xian Sheng slung an arm around John's shoulder and said with a smile.

"Ah… okay… uh, I mean, my mom asked me to go home for dinner tonight, so I won't intrude…"

"Hey, just give a call to let them know, that's settled."

John intended to decline and make a quick exit, but Gelanjie Xian Sheng gave him no chance to refuse.

"…Fine."

In the end, John had to grit his teeth and stay.

Beside them, Gelanjie Fu Ren finally regained a smiling expression, as if she hadn't seen anything, and gently patted Hermione's shoulder: "Hermione, come help Mom with the cooking."

Hermione silently lowered her head and hurried toward the kitchen, the redness at her ears still lingering.

Then Gelanjie Fu Ren gave John a meaningful glance and smiled faintly.

John felt as if pardoned, snickering as he sat on the sofa with Gelanjie Xian Sheng to chat.