Chapter 96

"Come over quickly, we're just discussing Buckbeak's matter!"

Seeing Harry and Ron arrive, Hagrid greeted them immediately, completely unaware of the subtle atmosphere in the room.

Harry and Ron looked at each other and walked over with slight hesitation.

Hermione and John were on the side, awkwardly keeping their distance.

Harry and Ron's gazes swept toward the two from time to time, and finally, Harry was the first to ask about the main business.

"... Hagrid, I heard that Buckbeak, is it..."

"Yes, Harry, it has been sentenced to death."

Hagrid knew what Harry wanted to ask and nodded, saying.

However, at this moment, Hagrid didn't look sad at all; instead, he had an eager expression.

This left Harry and Ron feeling a wave of confusion.

Including the intimate actions of John and Hermione just now, none of it seemed like the reaction they should have.

Hagrid also saw their confusion, so he began to talk about John's plan just now.

After hearing it, both of them also showed surprised expressions.

Harry couldn't help but praise John, patting John's shoulder very familiarly.

"Not bad, John, you could even think of this."

John smiled at this, and Hermione nodded in agreement.

"Then have you planned how to create an accident to let Buckbeak escape?"

"Not yet, we were just about to discuss it."

It was Hagrid who answered Harry's question.

Harry nodded, pulled Ron to sit down as well, and began to discuss a feasible plan.

It was mainly Hagrid doing the talking, after all, this matter required Buckbeak's cooperation, and the one who knew Buckbeak best was naturally Hagrid.

Harry also kept coming up with ideas, but nine out of ten were rejected by Hermione.

Ron, however, had little interest and would only speak up when Harry asked him.

As for John, he had nothing to do and just slacked off the whole time.

After all, with his general plan, he didn't need to worry about the rest.

The group discussed for a good while, and it wasn't until the lunch break ended that they left Hagrid's hut.

With this plan, Hermione was clearly much happier, swinging her arms as she walked in the front.

John walked by her side, and Hermione would talk to John from time to time.

Harry and Ron walked side by side behind them, and Ron finally couldn't help but mutter to Harry in a low voice.

"Harry, what do you think is the relationship between Hermione and that John now?"

Harry's pace slowed slightly, and he followed Ron's gaze to look at the two talking and laughing in front.

"They should just be friends..."

Before Harry finished speaking, Ron curled his lips.

"Friends? You forgot what we just saw; those two were almost stuck together."

"Uh... I saw traces of Hermione having cried on her face just now; could it be that John was comforting her?"

Harry opened his mouth and said thoughtfully.

"Heh, who comforts someone by holding their face... those who didn't know would think they were about to kiss."

Ron snorted, looked at the two in front, and then continued in a somewhat strange tone.

"That kid John wouldn't have taken a fancy to Hermione, would he?"

Hearing this, Harry was stunned; don't say it, you really shouldn't say it.

"I really don't know what he sees in Hermione, spending every day in the library, besides studying it's still studying, it's not interesting at all."

Ron curled his lips, clearly not identifying with any interest in Hermione.

Harry scratched his head, not knowing whether he should agree with Ron's statement.

After all, Hermione was indeed very hardworking, and her knowledge had brought them a lot of help before.

And he always felt that Ron seemed to be acting out of sorts.

At this moment, Hermione, who was walking in front, suddenly remembered something, turned her head, and asked Harry and Ron.

"By the way, how did you two know about Buckbeak's matter? I don't think I've told you yet."

Facing Hermione, Harry and Ron immediately stopped their whispering.

"How else would we know? Just finished lunch, and Malfoy came to mock us to our faces; it's hard not to know."

Harry shrugged and answered, a trace of annoyance on his face.

Hermione realized in sudden realization; no wonder, after all, the execution of Buckbeak was pushed by Lucius single-handedly.

Now that the execution was down, Malfoy would definitely come to show off.

Just after Harry finished explaining, he remembered something and complained to Hermione with dissatisfaction.

"Speaking of which, you didn't tell us about Buckbeak's matter either, and secretly brought John along; if Malfoy hadn't come to provoke us, we wouldn't even know about this."

"... What 'secretly', don't use such strange adjectives..."

Hermione's face flushed slightly, she coughed lightly, but immediately retorted righteously.

"Besides, it's clearly you two who don't care about Buckbeak's matter at all; for so long, it's been John helping me, so of course I have to find him."

Hearing this, it was Harry's turn to be awkward.

But he still retorted with his neck stiffened.

"Then what can I do? I've been very busy lately too."

"Have to participate in Quidditch training, still have to practice the Patronus Charm, and complete the homework of various professors."

That was true; Harry hadn't been relaxed lately either, and Hermione nodded in understanding.

The idlest one was Ron, but clearly, for so long, Ron hadn't helped at all.

Every day he followed Harry to play with his Firebolt.

Regarding this, Hermione didn't say anything; after all, she didn't have the right to demand that others must help her.

But sometimes she would also feel lonely and hoped to get some support and companionship.

At this time, John appeared, accompanying her to study, look up materials, share the pressure, and could also stand up for her and comfort her.

That was why she cherished John's companionship even more.

"Alright, let's go quickly; I don't want to be late for Charms class."

Hermione didn't continue to dwell on this topic, shook her hair, grabbed John's hand, and walked quickly toward the castle.

Watching the two leave hand in hand, Harry and Ron stood on the spot, looking at each other.

For a long time.

"...... Wouldn't Hermione have taken a fancy to that kid too?"

After the rescue plan was set, they just waited for June to arrive.

Before that, they still had to return to normal school life.

John was clearly just a first-year student, but he was no less busy than the upper-year students.

From the morning spell practice with Professor Flitwick, to class, to lunch break going to find Professor McGonagall to practice Transfiguration, then class, then to the library at night, or to harass Professor Snape to learn Potions.

He was like a sponge, constantly absorbing knowledge and power.

Even Titus was infected by John and became diligent.

However, he couldn't keep up with John's rhythm for the time being, so he had been learning with Ryan and Ethan.

And John's efforts were not in vain; the most intuitive manifestation was.

Now, under the condition that Professor Flitwick was going easy on him, he could trade blows with Professor Flitwick and not fall behind.

In Transfiguration, he could already transform living creatures and control them quite freely.

Professor Snape... forget it, better not mention that.

He had indeed learned a lot of knowledge about Potions, but his spirit had also suffered quite a bit of destruction.