Hermione's Cover Blown

It was already dark when they got home. In June, the trees in Hampstead Garden on the outskirts of London were lush and green, and flowers of unknown names were in full bloom. Loren noticed that some ornamental fruit trees had already borne fruit, which was small and had dirty skin.

Everything is still the same as when they left.

After letting Loren and Hermione get out of the car at the front door, Grandpa Bates drove straight into the Granger house's garage. Judging from his practiced movements, he had clearly been parking his car there frequently for the past six months.

Seemingly having heard the car, the door opened from the inside before Loren and Hermione even reached it.

Monica appeared before them, her smile gentle. She knelt down and embraced Loren and Hermione, nuzzling their foreheads together.

"My dear..."

"Mother..."

Hermione rubbed against her clingily, instantly shedding her image as the top student and the Miss Know-It-All.

Loren let Monica rub against him.

Wendell strode out from the inner room and greeted, "Come in quickly, the pie is getting cold."

Monica gave Wendell a reproachful look, then let go of the two of them and let them go inside to wash their hands and prepare for dinner. She then pulled Wendell to set the table.

Hermione turned on the tap and carefully washed her hands once, then squeezed on hand soap and started washing them a second time.

Loren rinsed his hands, rubbed them casually a few times, then wiped them on Hermione's clothes, his expression nonchalant, seemingly unaware of the rudeness of his actions.

"No prize required, but is there any fish your dad caught on the dinner table?"

Hermione didn't answer his question. Instead, she turned around and grabbed his hand with her own, which was covered in hand sanitizer foam, and scrubbed it vigorously. She even patiently instructed him, "The environment in the train station is chaotic. Your hands may have bacteria and dirt on them, so you must wash them thoroughly."

Hermione's hands are soft and tender, and even after being foamed, they are still very smooth and feel great.

But even the best-feeling hands couldn't withstand her vigorous scrubbing with her fingers, causing Loren to grimace in pain. By the time he rinsed off the soap suds, his hands were already bright red.

Loren held his hands up in front of his eyes, his lips twitching slightly. "I just wiped my hands on you, is this the reason for such retaliation?"

Hermione snorted twice, "I was just helping you wash your hands, how is that retaliation?"

While wiping his hands with a towel, Hermione grabbed his hands and rubbed them vigorously, almost rubbing them raw.

When they left the restroom and returned to the restaurant, Grandpa Bates had also parked his car and returned, with two empty suitcases placed against the wall.

A sumptuous dinner was laid out on the table. The sweet aroma of apple pie filled the air, the red and purple cabbage stew looked enticing, the potato stew and salad were plentiful, Windsor lamb and herb pie and strawberry shortbread pie were stacked together, the plate was covered with pastry crust, and the grilled steak was juicy and delicious...

There were no fancy dishes, and the cooking methods were not complicated, yet it exuded a warm and cozy feeling.

"Loren, everything you mentioned in your letter that you wanted to eat is here. The egg tarts are still in the oven, and you can save the ice cream for after dinner." Monica smiled and took a can of Coke from the refrigerator. "The caramel and carbonation in drinks are bad for your teeth... but I'll make an exception for you today since you just got a day off."

Sizzle—

The sound of carbon dioxide gas being released when the Griphook is turned on is rather pleasant.

The can of cola was placed next to Loren's plate. Hermione stared at it longingly, her gaze following the can's movement. She looked up at her mother, blinked, and her bright eyes seemed to speak volumes.

"Do you want a Coke too, Hermione?" Monica's tone was filled with barely concealed amusement; she clearly knew the answer to the question.

Loren turned his head quickly, his eyes wide open, a gloating smile on his face.

Wendell looked over curiously, while Scout Bates stared intently at the salad in front of him.

Hermione quickly sorted out her thoughts—

Grandpa Bates isn't a dentist, so he wouldn't control what Loren drinks. That's why Loren wouldn't specifically mention wanting Coke in his letter. With Mom's intelligence, it would be easy for her to figure out who wanted Coke...

It's Hermione Granger!

This is terrible! Mom and Dad will definitely think she's a bad child who likes to drink carbonated beverages that are bad for teeth and isn't honest!

Meeting the gazes of the three, Hermione nodded with difficulty and replied sorrowfully, "Yes..."

Monica casually poured her a can of Coke, acting as if nothing had happened, and then asked Wendell to bring out the steamed halibut. The family then sat down to eat.

Hermione channeled her grief and anger into her appetite, devouring strawberry shortbread pies and gulping down carbonated drinks. Occasionally, when she met Loren's strange gaze, she would glare back fiercely.

The little Witch was unaware that her supposedly secretive actions were being observed by her parents. Wendell smiled broadly and secretly gave his wife a few glances, but Monica refused to take them.

Wendell cut a piece of halibut, put it in his mouth and savored it, looking relaxed and content.

This child is indeed much more lively than before; it seems it's normal to let her play with Loren more often. Hermione was incredibly sensible as a child, so sensible it was heartbreaking. Her parents only briefly mentioned that sugary drinks are bad for teeth, and Hermione consciously avoided them.

But what child doesn't love snacks? At first, the couple was proud of their daughter's understanding and self-discipline. But later, when they saw some customers bringing their children to the dentist, they realized that although they cried and screamed when getting fillings or extractions, the joy they experienced while eating candy was something Hermione had never experienced.

By the time the two realized what had happened, it was too late to bring it up with Hermione. They couldn't very well have two dentists suggesting something that would damage their daughter's teeth.

Fortunately, it's not too late, and Loren has helped them fill this gap.

Wendell cut another piece of halibut and exclaimed, "This fish tastes so good! You know, halibut is rich in protein, vitamins A and D, as well as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and other nutrients, especially vitamin B6, and it's low in fat..."

He mumbled a bunch of things that no one else could understand, then looked at Loren expectantly, with the same look in his eyes as Hermione when she wanted a Coke.

Monica looked helpless, Bates ate his salad.

Hermione stopped eating, looked at her father, then at Loren, her expression complicated.

Loren put down his knife and fork, paused for a moment, and tentatively asked, "So, where did you get such a fine halibut?"

A look of relief spread across Wendell's face, as if he had gulped down several bottles of ice water in the scorching desert. "I caught it in the sea! It was very windy that day. A group of us from the club went fishing, and I was the first to catch a fish!"

"The club?" Hermione repeated, looking at her mother with a puzzled expression.

Monica nodded helplessly. "After you went back to school for Christmas, he joined a Fishing Club."

Wendell pointed to the steamed halibut on the table. "This is the one. I heard you were going home today, so I specially participated in the Sea Fishing Activity to catch some fresh fish for you."

Monica coldly exposed him. "The money you spent on chartering a boat, preparing bait, and buying new fishing gear is enough to buy dozens of fresh halibut."

Wendell turned his head away from her, muttering again, "Halibut is also rich in docosahexaenoic acid, which helps brain development" and "Unsaturated fatty acids are easily absorbed by the body and help lower blood cholesterol."

The atmosphere immediately became cheerful.

After dinner, with the help of Loren and Hermione, Monica tidied up the Kitchen in just one minute.

The five of them sat lazily on the sofa chatting. Monica brewed some tea, and the adults enjoyed freshly baked egg tarts with their tea. Loren and Hermione scooped ice cream from the same cup with plastic spoons.

The TV was showing the mystery series "The Sherlock Holmes Memoirs," Bates was watching it most intently.

Wendell took a bite of the egg tart, sipped his black tea, and savored the aroma and sweetness of the tea on his lips. He smacked his lips and fell into deep thought—could he add the egg to the bait?

After the two children finished their ice cream, Monica put the things away and urged them to rinse their mouths and wash their hands.

When Loren and Hermione came out of the bathroom, the episode of the TV series had ended. Bates took a sip of his black tea. "Loren, Hermione, you'll be in your fourth year next year, right?"

Loren looked up at him, not understanding why he asked that question.

"You graduate from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in seven years, and then you leave the school to start your own lives..."

Bates spoke slowly, as if he were thinking as he spoke, "Outstanding Graduate like you can go to Gringotts, the wizarding Gringotts, or work for the Ministry of Magic in the wizarding government... Hermione once said she wanted to work for the Ministry of Magic, right?"

Hermione nodded, her eyes blank; she didn't understand why Grandpa Bates had asked that question.

"I heard from Mr. Weasley that wizards of ordinary birth like you are different from Pure-blood wizard and seem to suffer from invisible discrimination."

Bates paused, then continued, "It's more discrimination than we initially anticipated."

Wendell and Monica looked worried upon hearing this.

"Don't worry..." Loren comforted her, "The Wizarding World is already starting to change. Perhaps by the time we graduate, the job market will be better... Besides, we can live well without relying on the Wizarding World, so don't worry."

The three adults were taken aback for a moment, then remembered the amount of money in their savings account and put their worries aside.

After all, it was an investment made on Loren's advice.

Hermione seized the opportunity to say, "Loren and I are planning to go to United States this holiday. The International Confederation of Wizards is being held there, which will be a good opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the political landscape of the Wizarding World."

"The International Confederation of Wizards, what's that?" Wendell asked.

"It's like a wizarding United Nations conference, which is attended by the Ministry of Magic of many countries."

"Oh..." Bates became interested and asked curiously, "Which other countries have Ministry of Magic?"

"England, France, India..."

Listening to their questions and answers, Loren picked up the egg tart, relaxed and at ease.

Actually, he hadn't finished speaking. After the Wizarding War was over, the old headmaster and Voldemort cleaned up the Ministry of Magic, breaking the bones of the Pure-blood Families, leaving only a Wizarding World in ruins.

That doesn't mean Hermione can just show off her skills.

As night deepened, Loren and Bates said goodbye, taking a plate of egg tarts and a plate of pies back next door.

After Hermione finished her shower and changed into her pajamas, she clung to her mother's hand before going to bed, insisting on having a private chat with her.

"Mom, when did you figure out about the Coke thing?"

Hermione lay flat on the bed, her head resting on Monica's arm, her eyes darting nervously, avoiding her mother's gaze.

"You little rascal..."

Monica chuckled and pinched the tip of her nose. "The Loren family always keeps Coke in their fridge, why would they need to write a special letter to ask for it?"

Hermione shook the hand off her nose and muttered in annoyance, "So he anticipated this when he wrote the letter, and deliberately played a trick on me! That wretched Loren..."

"And what about you?" Monica pinched her daughter's nose again. "You force others to write letters, aren't you awful?"

Hermione was furious when she heard this. "He took a fee for his work, and now he's asking for compensation for emotional distress!"

Monica was astonished. "What is that?"

"Ouch~"

Hermione turned away shyly, not wanting to face her mother.

Monica smiled, grabbed her daughter's shoulders and turned her back, pressing her for answers, "Tell me, what is the writing fee? What is the compensation for emotional distress?"

Hermione covered her face with her hands and let out a shy sob, avoiding answering.

Then Monica grabbed his itchy waist and tortured him to extract a confession.

Loren put the egg tarts and pies in the refrigerator for breakfast the next morning, then followed Grandpa Bates into the bedroom.

The sheets and blankets had been packed before he came home. Bates opened the closet and told him about the new clothes he had bought in the past six months, reminding him to wear them. This had happened before; Bates would buy new clothes, Loren would forget to wear them or bring them to school, leaving them in the closet for more than half a year, and then they would no longer fit when he came back.

Before leaving, Bates earnestly advised, "Loren, if Hermione wants to do anything, you must help her. Be smart, don't act like a fool."

"You can say whatever you want, but why are you resorting to personal attacks..." Loren couldn't help but retort, "She's Hermione, of course I'll help her."

"You still dare to say that!" Bates tapped him on the head. "When we got off the train today, I saw you give both of your suitcases to Hermione."

"The suitcase is empty and doesn't weigh at all!"

"That won't do either!"

"..."

When Loren saw off the eccentric Grandpa Bates and finished his bath and changed into his brand-new pajamas, a bright crescent moon was already hanging on the treetops outside the window.

Loren gazed at the moon for a while, then decided to continue practicing his Patronus Charm techniques during the day.

He took out the Fantasy Book, hesitated for a second between the Duel Chamber and the Library icon, and decisively chose the Library.

A flash of silver light.

His consciousness appeared in the bright Library. Loren had just stood still when he heard an unexpected sound coming from behind the bookshelves.

"Mr. Flamel, why can't my Patronus shrink?" Hermione asked in a clear voice.

Flamel replied in a gentle voice that Loren had never heard before, "It takes a little skill. Your notes already state that while paying attention to the output of Magic Power, you must also be mindful of the control over your mind and memory..."

Loren slowed his pace and crept up quietly.