Chapter 92: Changes in John's Mind

Regarding the summer holiday arrangements, John and the others didn't continue to chat.

John seriously read that complete record of cases. According to the table of contents, he flipped through cases of magical animal injury incidents and found that there were indeed quite a few things similar to Buckbeak that had happened.

The final result is either the keeper is punished, or the magical animal that committed the crime is punished.

Anyway, it definitely can't be blamed on the victim.

Also, when such a thing happens, the keeper and the magical animal, one of these two must be responsible.

Now that Hagrid has been protected by Dumbledore, then only Buckbeak can be left to bear this responsibility.

Among these cases, although there are punishments, most of them are not punishable by death, belonging to an acceptable range.

But what Buckbeak faces might be a death penalty.

After all, Draco is shouting every day to execute Buckbeak.

Still that sentence, learning some knowledge in the magical world itself is accompanied by a certain danger.

Thanks to the various potions and magic in the magical world, this danger can often be turned into safety at critical moments, reduced to the lowest, and accepted by the vast number of students and parents.

But now Draco insists on magnifying this accident infinitely, even at the cost of sacrificing Buckbeak to satisfy his private anger.

This is what they cannot accept.

This matter has no follow-up; after all, the final trial result hasn't been sent over yet.

So John is just helping Hermione collect some useful case files so that she can prepare new defense strategies.

The library at night.

Hermione and John sat in the corner as usual.

"Uh...."

Hermione suddenly rubbed her temples with a headache.

Recently, not only has she had to deal with heavy coursework, but she has also had to collect as much information as possible for Buckbeak's case.

This made her mental state somewhat exhausted.

John looked at Hermione with concern and said softly.

"Take a rest, Sister Hermione, your dark circles are a bit heavy these past two days."

"... Ah? Really?"

Hermione subconsciously lowered her head, not wanting John to see. She touched her cheeks, her eyes somewhat dazed.

She stayed up late studying last night, and today she used the Time-Turner to attend two classes, and now she is continuing to flip through case files.

The state of continuous operation really made her unable to take it.

Hermione let out a soft breath and forced a smile, "I'm fine, just didn't sleep well these past few days."

John looked at Hermione's forced smile and silently closed the book in his hand.

"Let's stop here for today, Sister Hermione. Exhausting your body is not good for anyone. Do you want to go out and blow some wind together?"

John put away the book, smiled at Hermione, and issued an invitation.

Hermione looked at John's smile, hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

After tidying up, the two walked out of the library and came to the garden in front of the corridor bridge together.

The night wind brushed across their cheeks, carrying a trace of coolness.

Hermione sat on the stone chair in the garden and let out a long sigh, as if to exhale the accumulated fatigue together.

The lights in the campus were sparse, and the lake in the distance was shimmering, quiet and peaceful.

John sat beside her, leaning against the pillar behind him.

"The night wind is really comfortable."

"Yeah."

Winter has passed, and spring has arrived.

Although the night wind still carried a hint of chill, it was no longer as biting as in winter.

Hermione closed her eyes gently, feeling the night wind brushing through her hair.

Her mood seemed to gradually relax with this gentle wind.

"John, you say, if in the end we still didn't change Buckbeak's ending, then our efforts now, would they seem very ridiculous?"

At this time, Hermione suddenly said a... discouraging word?

John paused, then smiled: "Then are you going to give up?"

"Of course not."

"Then that's it."

Hearing this, the corners of Hermione's mouth raised a smile.

John's left hand was suddenly covered by a touch of coolness.

Turning his head to look, it was Hermione's hand resting on the back of his hand, gently interlocking.

"At Christmas, I discovered that your hands are really warm~"

Hermione looked at the sky, a faint blush appearing on her face, and said softly.

John was stunned for a moment, then smiled again, without taking the next step.

The two enjoyed this moment of tranquility in silence.

Only gradually, Hermione's eyelids became heavier and heavier.

After relaxing, the sense of fatigue surged like a tide.

John only felt his shoulder sink.

Turning his head slightly, he saw Hermione leaning on his shoulder.

Her hair swayed gently with the wind, like an exhausted traveler finally finding a place to rest for a moment.

Hermione's body also emitted a faint fragrance, mixed with a hint of bookish atmosphere, which was very pleasant.

John gently adjusted his posture, letting Hermione lean more comfortably.

At the same time, he waved his wand, draping a robe over Hermione.

"Hmm..."

Don't know how long it had been, Hermione murmured softly, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

Hermione slowly opened her eyes, and what entered her eyes was the night sky with the bright moon hanging high.

She blinked her hazy eyes, and gradually, her consciousness returned.

Remembering that she came out to blow wind with John, but don't know how she fell asleep...

Hermione turned her head slightly and found that she was actually lying on John's lap.

And John had originally leaned back against the pillar, but after noticing the movement in his arms, John lowered his head and looked at Hermione with a smile.

"Sister Hermione, you're awake."

Hermione paused slightly, and a blush quickly appeared on her face.

She sat up immediately and found that she was still covered with a robe, which made her even more embarrassed.

"Sorry, I fell asleep without knowing it... Did I sleep for a long time?"

Hermione tried hard to calm down and asked softly with apology.

John smiled lightly at this: "Indeed, my legs were numbed by you."

Hearing this, Hermione, even if her face was flushed, couldn't help but glare at John playfully.

How could he say it so directly.

No emotional intelligence at all...

"Then why didn't you wake me up directly?"

Hermione muttered, her voice carrying a hint of complaint.

"Because you looked very tired, I wanted you to rest a while longer."

John said softly, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness.

After hearing this, that hint of complaint disappeared, and the blush on her face deepened. She lowered her head to tidy up the robe in her arms, pretending to be very busy.

Don't say, after sleeping this nap, Hermione felt that the fatigue accumulated these past few days had disappeared.

She also understood that John didn't wake her up because he cared about her.

After all, her state recently was indeed not good.

"Thank you, Jo..."

"You're welcome."

Hermione just opened her mouth to thank him, but was responded to by John at light speed.

"...... Idiot."

Looking at John's grinning appearance, Hermione muttered softly and helplessly, but her tone carried a hint of laughter.

After the two looked at each other, they both smiled.

Hermione finally recovered, stretched comfortably, and looked at the moon in the sky.

Today's moon is hanging so high...

Hm? Oh no!

"What time is it now?"

Hermione looked at the night sky with the moon hanging high, suddenly realized something, turned her head to look at John and asked.

"I think, it should be past curfew for a while."

John looked at the moon and said as if nothing had happened.

"......"

Regarding John's appearance of not being panicked at all, Hermione was speechless for a while.

They are now violating school rules.

But she couldn't say anything; after all, it was her falling asleep that caused John to be implicated.

Finally, she sighed helplessly.

"Let's go back quickly, otherwise it will be troublesome if discovered by the caretaker."

John nodded, supported his knees, and stood up.

Then extended his hand to Hermione, and Hermione didn't refuse, holding John's extended hand.

John pulled Hermione up.

After standing up, Hermione didn't let go of John, but pulled John and walked quickly towards the castle.

Neither of them spoke on the road, until they reached the entrance of the Gryffindor common room.

After Sirius was cleared, the portrait here changed back to the Fat Lady.

Hermione stood in front of the Fat Lady's portrait and recited the password.

The Fat Lady also looked like she had just woken up.

"Come in quickly, child, Filch just patrolled past, you made it."

Regarding the students of her own house going out for night tours and returning so late, the Fat Lady seemed to be used to it.

As the portrait opened, the entrance to the secret passage appeared.

When Hermione wanted to walk into the secret passage, she realized she was still holding John's hand.

Her cheeks flushed slightly again, but Hermione still didn't let go immediately, but gently squeezed John's palm.

Showed a shy and gentle smile at John.

"Good night~ John."

"... Hmm, good night."

John felt Hermione's little movement, paused slightly, but still responded.

Hermione then reluctantly let go of John's hand, looking back three times for every step she took as she walked into the secret passage.

John stood on the spot, watching Hermione's figure disappear at the end of the secret passage.

The portrait also slowly closed.

"......"

John was silent for a long time, looked at the hand that had been holding Hermione's, squeezed it gently, and couldn't help but scratch his head.

Even if he was slow, he could feel that the relationship between him and Hermione seemed... a bit subtle?

But he didn't hate this feeling, or rather, he didn't hate Hermione.

On the contrary, he liked being with Hermione very much.

Tsk... shouldn't she be 13 years old? At most 14.

Could it be that I am really a lolicon!?

Oh no, I am only 11 years old now!

The one who should reflect is Hermione!

John was suddenly enlightened.

It turns out I am the victim!

Damn Hermione, actually so cunning at such a young age!

John muttered while brainwashing himself, and turned to prepare to go back.

As a result, at this time, at the top of the spiral staircase, the caretaker Filch was walking from the corner with an oil lamp.

Filch noticed the figure downstairs, raised the oil lamp high, and shouted.

"Who's there!"

"I don't know!"

John responded subconsciously.

Then realized it was the caretaker, and immediately ran away.

Filch chased behind with the oil lamp.

The quiet castle was immediately drowned in noise again. ===== CHAPTER 93 =====

The quiet castle was immediately drowned out by noise once again.