Days at Hermione's House

"Mrs. Thatcher has been granted a life peerage," Wendell mumbled, biting into a piece of bread as he looked at the front page of the newspaper.

He naturally drifted his thoughts to wizards, "Hey, Loren, are there nobles in the Wizarding World?"

Loren was eating bread with milk; he didn't really like strawberry jam. "Yes, in fact, wizarding society is probably similar to medieval society."

Monica also perked up her ears to listen.

Loren felt that as the parents of a young wizard, they had the right to know about the trends and basic situation in the Wizarding World.

Loren said, "The Wizarding World divides people into Pure-blood, Half-blood, and Muggle- born families according to their bloodline. Pure-blood Pure-blood wizard, with the Twenty-Eight Pure-Blood Families at their core, can be regarded as nobles."

"The wizarding community has a serious problem with bloodline theory and discrimination. Pure-blood wizard discriminate against non- Pure-blood, including Half-blood and children from ordinary families. Children from ordinary families are easily bullied by Pure-blood. The situation only improved after Headmaster Dumbledore came to power. However, it is impossible to completely prevent such things from happening."

"Discrimination? This is absolutely terrible!" Monica looked at Hermione with concern. "Honey, you didn't tell us any of this."

Wendell stopped reading the newspaper, looking worried and serious. "What's the situation now? Should we consider transferring schools?"

The Mr. and Mrs. Granger placed great importance on the school environment. Monica's school environment was also terrible; she encountered prejudiced teachers and classmates who were always making things difficult for her, which she found unbearable even as an adult.

They couldn't help but worry at the thought that Hermione, who was so young, might encounter a similar situation.

Hermione's letters home always consisted only of her novel and interesting experiences, never mentioning anything about racial discrimination, because she didn't want her parents to worry.

Hermione quickly explained, "That's not entirely true. Only Slytherin junior wizards are instilled with this idea. No one in Gryffindor House is blood-based."

"Really?" Monica asked Loren for confirmation, worried that Hermione was only saying this to continue learning magic.

Loren nodded. "Pure-blood wizard are now a minority. More and more Half-blood are entering the Wizarding World, bringing modern ideas and bringing about change."

Monica felt a little relieved.

Hermione seized the opportunity to add, "Do you remember? I mentioned that Hogwarts has four houses: Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. Only Slytherin would have such outdated ideas..."

"Gryffindor reveres courage..."

Hermione explained the Founders the Four Houses and the intellectual atmosphere of each house, reassuring her parents that they shouldn't worry.

The dining table was once again filled with a joyful atmosphere, a warm and cozy family breakfast time.

Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. Hogwarts was the only magic school in all of England; if she really wanted to transfer, she would have to go abroad.

Taking advantage of her parents' inattention, she looked up and glared fiercely at Loren. She hadn't been expelled for violating school rules, but because of this person, she almost had to transfer schools.

It wasn't my fault; I was just stating the facts.

Loren glared back defiantly.

After breakfast, Monica tidied up a bit and went out with Wendell. They drove to shop for camping supplies and needed to be back before lunch, so time was a bit tight.

"You guys have a good time at home!" The door slammed shut.

Only Loren and Hermione remained in the empty house. The two sat quietly on the sofa, their posture upright and meticulous.

Hermione felt a little awkward. It wasn't that they didn't have time to be alone together, but now that they were alone in her house, it felt strange.

Especially after being bitten by Loren last night, the strange feeling intensifies whenever I think about it.

After breakfast, her drowsiness seemed to have temporarily disappeared, and she was even quite energetic now.

"Do you want to sleep a little longer?" Hermione tilted her head.

Loren, who usually sleeps whenever he can, was very energetic. He shook his head slightly and said, "I won't be sleepy after breakfast."

"So, what do we do now?" Now that they were alone, Hermione still didn't dare to look Loren in the eye. His clear blue eyes, like the ocean, could draw one's thoughts in.

"Now that you've asked that, I don't even know who's the guest between us," Loren laughed. "What do you usually do at home? Take me with you!"

Hearing this, Hermione's strange feeling slowly disappeared, and she relaxed. "When I was in school, I would read books and do crafts at home. After becoming a student at Hogwarts, I have been practicing magic and reading wizarding books during my holidays."

Loren's heart skipped a beat as he thought of the several large boxes filled with handcrafted items in the room.

Hermione's life is very simple and predictable. She goes to school, and after school she studies and reviews. She spends her extra free time reading and doing crafts, always remembering her parents' advice not to strain her eyes.

In this way, the handmade items I collected filled several boxes.

She had no friends, no childhood, was called a bookworm at school, and couldn't play with other kids her age in the neighborhood.

No wonder Hermione was so afraid of being expelled from Hogwarts, because it was her new and wonderful new life, a new life full of fun and miracles.

Loren let out a breath, then changed the subject, "So, Miss Granger, what do you want to do with me?"

Hermione thought for a moment, then her eyes slowly lit up. "I've finished reading all the books in my own study. I want to go to my parents' study to read, but they won't let me in."

Looking at Hermione's eager expression, Loren hesitated to agree to the suggestion.

No wonder Hermione was so interested in the books in the Restricted Section of the Hogwarts Library; it turns out her family has a Restricted Section at home.

Loren could guess the Mr. and Mrs. Granger ' thinking. Both were dentists with medical school backgrounds, so most of the books in their study were probably related to medicine. Whether it was anatomical diagrams or disease illustrations, most of the illustrations were unsuitable for children and not appropriate for Hermione to look at. The Mr. and Mrs. Granger were thinking of Hermione's mental and physical well-being.

Swollen and twisted muscle tissue, crooked teeth, and skin covered in red, swollen pustules. Young Hermione would probably have nightmares for days after seeing that.

More importantly, a study is a place where if you go in and rummage through things, you're bound to leave traces.

What if the Mr. and Mrs. Granger could detect that they had been inside by looking at the creases in the pages or the location of the pen? Wouldn't that mean it was another case of a naughty classmate corrupting their own good daughter?

But looking into Hermione's bright eyes, her brown pupils seemingly filled with starlight, Loren couldn't bring himself to say the word of denial.

"This is your home, I'll do as you say." Loren compromised. He'd even handled a snake in Snape's office, what could be harder to accept than this?

"Yay!" Hermione exclaimed happily.

She might not have been able to make this decision alone, but with Loren by her side, it was different. Criminals often experience less psychological pressure when they have accomplices.

From this perspective, it was indeed Loren who led Hermione astray.

Hermione took Loren's hand and, with a hunched back, tiptoed to the Mr. and Mrs. Granger ' study door. She took out her wand and whispered, "Alohomora!"

The door lock clicked softly, and the Lockhart twisted under the influence of magic, thus breaking the defenses set up by the Mr. and Mrs. Granger.

Hermione carefully and very gently turned the handle and pushed the door open.

Loren followed behind the little Witch and whispered, "Hermione, why are we acting like thieves?"

He clearly felt Hermione stiffen for a moment, then Hermione gave an embarrassed smile. "Yes, Mom and Dad aren't home, so we can watch openly."

Hermione reached out and touched the switch on the wall, and the white light on the ceiling turned on, illuminating the entire study.

The study is almost as large as the living room, with solid wood parquet flooring and walls painted a smooth, light blue like the exterior walls. In the center is a long black desk with a matte brown wood surface and dotted patterns, next to which are two matching square wooden chairs.

You can almost picture the Mr. and Mrs. Granger sitting there working on things they hadn't finished at the clinic, or one of them looking at last month's expense bills while the other fills out a tax return.

The two graduated from medical school, started a clinic together, built a home, and then Hermione was born.

There was a bookshelf on each side, both crammed full. One side had medical books, and the other side had miscellaneous books, mostly literary novels, and some bestsellers.

Hermione was unconsciously excited when she saw the books, skipping over the obscure and difficult medical books and heading towards other categories of miscellaneous books.

"The Secret Pilgrim, the Great Railway Bazaar ..." Hermione read the titles of the books aloud. "My mother won't let me read these. She thinks I'm too old to read these books."

This is better than Loren had imagined; at least Hermione hasn't shown any interest in medical books yet. As for Mrs. Granger's idea, it's also out of concern for protecting her young mind—each age has its own books to read.

It's like asking a young child to read Mo Yan's "Fat Man," which is also inappropriate.

Loren carefully chose his words: "Perhaps she is right?"

"I know, but I just wanted to take a look." Hermione's cheeks flushed with excitement. "You pick one too, and we'll flip through it."

Loren immediately understood that Hermione didn't necessarily want to read these books; it was just that the Mr. and Mrs. Granger ' ban had sparked her interest.

Hermione had found her target. She picked out a book, squatted down, and quickly flipped through it. She didn't look like she was reading seriously at all; she was just looking for a thrill.

He crouched down to see what book Hermione was looking at. The book had very little text, mostly illustrations, with two simple line drawings clearly demonstrating actions: a spinning top, a takedown, Scissor Hold kick...

Loren gently lifted the page and checked the book's title—"Krav Maga Analysis".

Looking at Hermione again, she was completely absorbed in the book, her eyes Winky, clearly enjoying it very much.

Loren paused for a moment, then finally mustered his courage, closed Hermione's book, and put it back on the shelf.

Hermione stared blankly at the series of actions, "What are you doing?"

"Let's practice magic instead; we shouldn't waste the morning."

Loren's reasoning was perfectly valid, but he lacked confidence. "Didn't you say that your memory and state of mind are best in the morning, making it twice as effective to study?"

Hermione looked at him suspiciously.

"I want to practice the Patronus Charm with you."

"The Patronus Charm?" Hermione's eyes lit up. "Let's practice in the backyard then."

Hermione turned back and looked at the book's title again, as if trying to memorize it, before pulling Loren out of the study.

Loren followed behind without saying a word, silently raising the priority of Apparition several levels higher in his mind.

The Granger house's breakfast time is around 7:30. Even after their study exploration, the morning sun still lingers outside, its bright white light interspersed with orange-yellow clouds, conveying a vibrant scene.

The two stepped into the courtyard. The water that had been splashed yesterday had been completely absorbed by the grass, leaving only some dewdrops hanging on the leaves and branches.

Seeing that Hermione seemed to still be recalling the fighting techniques from the book, Loren took out his wand and gently waved it, signaling Hermione to pay attention:

"The Patronus Charm is an ancient and mysterious spell. It's a response to our most positive emotions and can summon a Patronus in animal form to ward off certain dark creatures, such as Dementor and Diricawl. You know all that, right?"

"Yes! I know."

Speaking of magic, Hermione's gaze hardened. "Miranda Gossack mentioned this spell. It's a symbolic spell. People believe that wizards who can use the Patronus Charm always have lofty ideals, and those wizards who can summon a physical Patronus are often nominated as high-ranking officials in Wizengamot and the Ministry of Magic."

"On the contrary, dark wizards are believed to be unable to use Patronus Charm."

Loren couldn't help but look at him in amazement and exclaimed, "You haven't memorized all of Miranda Goshak's books, have you?"

He knew that Hermione greatly admired this legendary Witch and might have studied her "Standard Spellbook" series of books, but to be able to recite even content outside of "Standard Spellbook" was simply outrageous.

Hermione took it as a compliment and said with a smile, "I just wrote down the parts that interested me."

The morning light shone on the girl's confident face, making it Winky.

Loren reluctantly averted his gaze and steered the conversation back on track. "When casting a spell, you need to concentrate and recall the happiest memory you can think of. The stronger the pleasure the memory brings, the more powerful the spell will be..."

"Dumbledore can also use his Patronus to send messages, which is very convenient."

When the sun had fully emerged from the clouds, Loren had finished explaining all the theoretical content.

"Let's start practicing."

"[Patronus Charm] " Loren drew a circle with his wand, and wisps of silver light the size of heads appeared on it. Drifting mist and some solidified silver ribbons floated and rotated continuously.

Hermione leaned closer to examine it, then looked up at Loren and said, "I can't tell what kind of animal it is."

"I still can't summon a physical Patronus. Dumbledore said I need to practice more." Loren was also observing the ball of silver light, which looked a bit larger than when it was in Dumbledore's office.

Sigh, I didn't expect the second case to be even more troublesome than the first. Everyone, please take care of yourselves.

I will make up the 4k debt as soon as possible.