Chapter 410: The New Home of Cohabitation

After returning to school.

As before, Yuer was out and about.

John hasn't attended a single class this year, but the school still has him enrolled.

He just needs to wait until the end of term to take the exam.

The outward reason remains that he needs to rest due to post-war trauma.

Anyway, no one will look into it too deeply, after all he's the hero who defeated Voldemort, so it's reasonable for him to have some injuries.

Days just passed like that.

Finally, they encountered a problem they couldn't avoid.

In the evening, by the Black Lake.

John and Hermione sat together on the grass, watching the sunset dye the lake surface gold.

Today John rarely came out, because they had something to say.

"John, in two months I'll be graduating."

Hermione gently rested her head on John's shoulder, her voice tinged with reluctance.

These years studying together with John have made her feel incredibly fulfilled and happy.

But they will ultimately have to part ways early.

John still has two years of study left, while she is about to leave campus and enter the adult world.

"Yeah, time really flies."

"Have you already made plans for after graduation?"

John put his arm around Hermione's shoulder, his gaze falling on the distant horizon.

"Well, I want to go to the Ministry of Magic, planning to join the Magical Law Enforcement Agency."

"That suits you well." John looked down at her with a smile.

"When you become director, you'll have to look out for me a bit."

Hermione gave him a speechless look.

"I'm just afraid you'll cause trouble again, and then I'll have to figure out how to clean up your mess."

"What are you saying? I'm not the type to stir up trouble," John protested unhappily.

"Cut it out, hurry up and destroy those door keys, and dispose of those prohibited potions, so I don't have to worry about your mess after I graduate."

Hermione said, reaching out to pinch John's cheek.

"That's my inheritance, how can you let me give it up?" John still protested.

"Your inheritance is just a pile of illegal evidence! It'll ruin our home!"

"When Voldemort was still alive that was a special period; now in peaceful times we can't tolerate your lawlessness."

Hermione glared at him and said: "I don't want to just join the Ministry of Magic and then get a report about you illegally possessing contraband."

"Fine." John shrugged helplessly, anyway he could make those things again by hand when he wanted, it's just a bit wasteful.

The two bickered back and forth, the sunset's afterglow spilling over them, casting two long shadows.

Hermione suddenly grew quiet, burying her face in John's collar.

"I've always looked forward to graduation, looking forward to making my mark in the wizarding world."

"I'm not afraid of unfamiliar environments, unfamiliar colleagues, nor of complex cases, complex interpersonal relationships."

"Just thinking that from now on I can't spend every day with you in the library until closing, can't just pull you over to discuss all kinds of interesting topics, my heart feels empty."

Hermione rarely shows this vulnerable expression; she's always so confident and strong, as if nothing could defeat her.

But perhaps because she's about to graduate, she finally let down all her armor, revealing the unease of an ordinary girl, the reluctance to part from her lover.

John looked at Hermione like this, and a soft feeling welled up in his heart.

He had originally planned to wait until he came of age and then tell her the surprise after their engagement, but he can no longer hold back.

All that could be seen was John rummaging in his pocket.

He pulled out two bunches of keys, each with a special keychain attached.

One is a tiny feather pen, the other is an open magic book.

When the two keychains are put together, they form the pattern of a feather pen writing on a magic book, and at the same time, the blank magic book will also reveal the initials of their names.

"What is this...?" Hermione lifted her head, her gaze falling on the keychains, looking at John somewhat puzzled.

John gave a slight smile, handing her the bunch of keys with the magic book keychain: "This is the key to our new home."

"New home?"

Hearing that word, Hermione became even more astonished.

She looked at the keys in her hand, then at John, her face showing both confusion and surprise and anticipation.

"Yes, new home." John nodded firmly.

"I've already talked about it with both our parents ahead of time."

"After you graduate and I come of age, we'll get engaged and then move in together."

"We've already prepared the house."

"From now on, after you get off work and I finish class, we can still live together."

"I originally planned to wait until after the engagement to give you a surprise, but I really don't like so-called surprises, especially seeing you just now, I'd rather let you feel at ease right now."

Hermione stared at the keys in her hand, then looked at John, her face first a mix of surprise and emotion.

Then she thought of cohabitation, that embarrassing yet exciting thing, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

She bit her lip and softly asked: "You... when did you prepare these?"

"Well, just recently, around Christmas."

Ah? When did you guys discuss this behind my back?

Hermione, upon hearing that the time was actually so close, and yet she had been completely unaware, couldn't help but widen her eyes, her tone tinged with a hint of reproach and surprise.

Don't ask more about this~

John laughed as he pulled Hermione into his embrace, speaking softly: "In short, from now on, we can still be like this—reading together, discussing together, living together."

"Hermione, are you willing?" John's voice was gentle yet firm, his eyes full of expectation and love.

Being stared at so directly by John, Hermione's face instantly turned red.

She buried her face in John's chest, clutching the bunch of keys tightly in her palm.

"I am willing." Her voice was muffled, yet filled with an unprecedented resolve.

Looking at the girl in his arms, John also felt warm inside.

Then it's settled—you'll be the mistress of our new home.

Hermione's ears grew even redder at being called the mistress; she shifted uncomfortably in John's arms and muttered softly.

You keep saying embarrassing things...

John laughed, tightening his arms and lifting her chin.

You don't like it? Then I won't say it anymore?

Upon hearing that, Hermione instantly became flustered.

Who said I don't like it!

As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized she had fallen into a trap; she angrily buried her face in John's chest again, repeatedly bumping her head against him while exhaling.

Like a lightning poison dragon drill, she kept cursing "Stupid John" under her breath.

John couldn't help bursting into loud laughter, which only made Hermione more annoyed.

She simply pushed John straight onto the lawn, lunged onto him, sat on his body, braced her hands on his chest, and glared down at him.

No laughing!

Okay, okay, I won't laugh. John raised his hands in surrender, but the smile at the corners of his eyes couldn't be hidden.

Hermione snorted, but looking at him like that...

Finally, she couldn't hold back any longer, leaned down, and kissed him.

The two, under the evening sunset, by the Black Lake's lawn, shared a long, gentle kiss.

Only when a few owl hoots came from afar did Hermione, blushing, sit up.

John, however, remained lying there, licking his lips in front of Hermione, smacking them with lingering desire.

Seeing this, Hermione, embarrassed, gave him two quick punches.

Cough, okay, okay, stop hitting—before dinner starts, let me take you to see our new home...

John quickly begged for mercy; Hermione then stopped, her face red as she climbed off him and brushed grass off her skirt.

John also stood up and took her hand.

Then they directly Apparated, disappearing from the spot.