Chapter 338

"Yes, do you remember?" Harry suddenly said. "When you first asked her to dance, she checked with Hermione first."

From this perspective, Harry even deduced Elena's true thoughts: last year, she had received instructions from Donald, and with her intelligence—sufficient to become an Ilvermorny champion—she must have guessed Donald had feelings for Hermione.

So all of Elena's interactions with Ron last year were merely her completing her mission while distracting Donald. This year, to see Hermione again, she could only use Donald—but Donald would never allow her to touch Hermione. So she used Ron as a stepping stone, making Donald believe he was sending her to Ron to permanently end Ron and Hermione's relationship, so she could, through Ron, return to Hermione's side.

Harry couldn't help slamming his fist on the table. He realized he'd misjudged Elena—she wasn't some simple, hardworking model student, but a schemer as calculating and ruthless as Donald in matters of love. Or rather, she was too eager to learn, so much so that she'd learned things she shouldn't have.

"So it's clear now. Next, Elena will prepare to break up with you, then get closer to Hermione," Zhang Qiu said with a hint of sympathy. "There's an old saying in Tianchao: if all the rabbits in the forest are caught, the hound that caught them can be slaughtered for meat."

"Why must you eat him?" Harry's focus instantly veered off.

"Because he's delicious," Zhang Qiu smiled faintly. "A hound that spends all day chasing rabbits—its hind legs must be incredibly firm. Chewy and tasty."

"Aren't we talking about Hermione and Elena?" Ron complained.

"Alright, I'll make an irresponsible prediction about Elena's plan based on her behavior," Zhang Qiu scratched her cheek. "She's forcing you to break up with her, but in front of Hermione, she pretends she still loves you—just a little quarrel, a minor tantrum. Once you actually break up, she won't show any emotion toward you; instead, she'll go cry to Hermione, making it easier to deepen their bond. And after the breakup, Elena will make Hermione reconsider her feelings."

"But there's a problem—if Hermione thinks Elena still loves Ron, how would she come talk to us?" Harry raised a concern.

"Yes, that's the issue. What we've discussed so far is only the first layer," Zhang Qiu said. "If Hermione and Elena don't try to read each other's minds, then my analysis holds."

"First, Hermione usually doesn't try to guess Elena's thoughts. As good friends, you say what you mean and mean what you say—you trust each other completely. Isn't that how it is between you two?"

Harry and Ron exchanged glances. Indeed, they never guessed at each other's thoughts. If either had doubts about the other's intentions, they simply asked outright—even sometimes speaking up before being asked.

"So Hermione's understanding of Elena depends entirely on what Elena tells her. Of course, we assume Hermione hasn't developed improper feelings for Elena—that's unlikely, because if she had, they wouldn't need to drag you two into this," Zhang Qiu said.

"But there's also the possibility Hermione secretly likes Elena, and is willing to break up you and Elena for that reason," Harry said.

"When you were in first and second year, did she ever target Hannah?" Zhang Qiu countered.

"Uh… right." Harry remembered: in first year, Hermione had liked Neville, but when Neville and Hannah began to grow close, she stepped back.

"So let's set Hermione's feelings aside for now and analyze Elena. She must have realized Hermione still had feelings for Ron—she just chose to watch and let it be because of her relationship with you," Zhang Qiu said. "So what will Elena do now?"

"It depends on whether she plans to be with Hermione… oh right, she doesn't like me," Ron said gloomily.

"Or she chooses to let you and Hermione be together," Harry said. "Does Elena know you have feelings for Hermione?"

"I don't!" Ron immediately protested.

Harry and Zhang Qiu stared at him silently.

"Uh… okay, maybe a little. Just a tiny bit."

"If you really had no feelings for Hermione and knew Elena didn't like you, why would you be so troubled?" Harry laughed. "You're obsessed every day precisely because you have feelings for Hermione."

"Fine, now you know," Ron slumped back in his chair. "Help me figure out how to get rid of that white-haired girl so I can be with Hermione."

"Oh~" Harry continued teasing. "You used to call her 'sweetheart,' now you've moved on and call her 'that white-haired girl.'"

Ron glared at him.

"Back to the point: does Elena know Ron has feelings for Hermione? I think she definitely does," Zhang Qiu said. "Look back at last year's dance invitation process—it's clear you and Hermione both had feelings for each other."

Harry suddenly understood: Elena knew Ron and Hermione had feelings for each other, because Donald's mission to her was precisely to break them apart.

"But back then, only we two students from our school were there," Ron said defensively. "I don't speak French—I could only talk to Hermione."

"You expelled an entire trainload of students," Harry pointed out again.

"Right. So everyone suspected something, but once you and Elena got together, you all forgot about it," Zhang Qiu said. "So knowing you two had feelings for each other, Elena had two choices: one, see you as a rival and do everything to make Hermione think you're worthless; two, generously let you two be together."

"It looks like she chose the first," Ron frowned. "She keeps picking fights with me, always bringing up your dad and Harry, making me seem like I've accomplished nothing."

"But that's exactly what Hermione likes," Zhang Qiu shook her head. "Hermione doesn't love someone strong or capable—she loves being favored."

Harry didn't fully agree. Girls don't deliberately love weak, incapable people—they choose among capable ones the one who favors them. If Donald was the man Hermione truly loved but dared not admit, then Zhang Qiu's point held: Donald showed Hermione the rarest favoritism—he was the only Hogwarts student he ever truly recognized.

"Ron, you're one of many children in your family, and your parents never favored you—you understand how precious favoritism is," Zhang Qiu said. "Do you have many friends? No. You've always considered Harry your best friend; everyone else is just casual."

"Uh…" Harry and Ron both felt a little embarrassed.

"Hermione knows this. So she knows that if you two start dating, she'll become the one you care about most," Zhang Qiu paused, then added, "as long as she doesn't clash with Harry's great cause—that's Harry's problem. He still has a great cause to worry about; he can't fully devote himself to loving anyone."

"It's not my fault," Harry said weakly.

"I didn't say it was," Zhang Qiu smiled. "It's actually good for Ron too—since you're worrying about it, he doesn't have to think much. Though honestly, he couldn't think much even if he tried."

"So Elena's strategy is to make Hermione think I'm involved in the great cause?" Ron frowned. "But honestly, I do think the great cause matters more than love."

Zhang Qiu's expression suddenly turned serious. She glanced sideways at her notebook, then turned to Harry.

"What do you think?" she asked softly. "Hermione is Ron's perfect match. Do you want them to be together? Or should we just leave it alone?"

Harry knew she was referring to the conflict between Ron and Hermione's relationship and the great cause. Donald was an excellent partner—or tool—but gaining his support required selling Hermione to him, to the bastard who had abandoned his lover.

"Let's talk about Elena first," Harry thought. Since she started playing games, he had no reason to spare her. "Let's see exactly what she plans—but one thing's certain: Ron isn't a bad person. We can't let Hermione misunderstand him."

"Actually, we don't know Elena's full strategy, but we can be sure she likes Hermione. If this were only about her mission, she wouldn't have gone to such lengths—she must like Hermione, which is why she cares about Ron," Zhang Qiu tapped the table. "If Rosa Parks' plan is to begin, Ron, you'll be Martin Luther King."

"What?"

"Yes, originally Bai Gong planned to have Cui Ge organize the march," Harry stressed the term "Bai Gong," believing Zhang Qiu understood it referred to Donald. "We might not control Elena, but Cui Ge won't mind helping Ron's feelings for Hermione."

As the conversation neared its end, Harry began explaining his predictions about the coming events to Ron. But deep down, he was certain that he and Zhang Qiu had already agreed on a strategy regarding Donald—even in Ron's presence.

Since Elena truly likes Hermione, she will eventually have to face Donald. Ron's actions are reasonable—he only turned back to Hermione because Elena first created conflict. Donald, unwilling to break ties, must still assign Elena to continue seducing Ron, and he'll blame Elena for failing her mission when Ron returns to Hermione. And Elena? She's forced to seduce someone she doesn't love, so her boss can possess the one she loves—how could anyone endure such pain?

Elena will surely break before Ron does. Let her face Donald's first move—Harry felt deeply satisfied.

Yet, from Zhang Qiu's serious expression and her notebook filled with Chinese characters, it remained uncertain whether she truly agreed with this plan.