Enjoying desserts and tea, chatting, it quickly became 11 p. m.
The Mr. and Mrs. Granger knew from their daughter's behavior that Vincent must have come to see her for something important.
Chris and Jane exchanged a glance, each making an excuse to leave the living room to the two of them.
The atmosphere suddenly became eerily quiet.
Vincent put down his teacup and rubbed his slightly bulging belly.
"Why don't we go for a walk?"
Hermione gave a soft "hmm" and followed him into their backyard.
Dentists in the Britain generally earn high incomes, and the Granger family even had their own clinic with a private backyard environment far superior to the Wayne family's.
Moreover, it has a particularly large area, surrounded by lush flowers, making it perfect for a stroll to aid digestion.
Vincent was walking slowly ahead, suddenly turned around.
"I went to Austria before I came here."
Hermione stood there, stunned, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Austria has a heavily fortified fortress that imprisons a Dark Lord once terrified the entire Wizarding World.
Her expression was extremely tense, and she looked at him with concern. "Are you alright? Did those anti-intrusion spells hurt you?"
"Of course not." Vincent spread his arms wide. "If you don't believe me, you can come and check."
Hermione blushed and turned her head away. "I believe you."
She caught a glimpse of him lowering his hands out of the corner of her eye before turning her head back. "You still have the mood to joke? It seems the Austrian Ministry of Magic hasn't discovered you."
He must have had many trump cards up his sleeve to arrive in Nurmengard so quietly.
She wasn't surprised; in fact, she considered it a matter of course.
Vincent chuckled softly. "Let's not stand here."
He pointed to a wooden bench not far away, "Shall we go over there and talk about it?"
Hermione nodded gently and sat down next to him on the bench.
The two were very close, yet there was always something separating them.
Vincent placed his hands on the chair and looked up at the stars twinkling in the dark night sky. "I talked a lot with my teacher, and he even gave me a final lesson."
Hermione covered her mouth in surprise.
These things should have been kept absolutely secret, but he has chosen to tell them now.
She stared intently at his profile, as if trying to discern something.
"My teacher said I'm becoming more and more like Professor Dumbledore, always hesitant and timid in my actions."
Vincent suddenly turned his head and looked into her amber eyes. "I think he's right. I really should eliminate all threats to me as soon as possible."
Hermione's heart was pounding, and her head was spinning a little.
She clutched her nightgown tightly to her legs. "He... Grindelwald is too extreme. Do you really think what he said is right?"
"Yes." Vincent's gaze never left her eyes; he appeared remarkably relaxed.
"Because I inherited everything from him, not only his profound magic, but also his and Professor Dumbledore's original dream."
These two big shots actually shared the same dream?
Hermione was once again quite surprised.
She quickly recalled the biographical information about Grindelwald that she had spent a lot of time and effort collecting recently.
This Dark Lord is one of the few true prophets in the Wizarding World, capable of foreseeing major events that will occur in the future.
He witnessed the outbreak of World War II and the nuclear bomb that ended the war.
The reason why the Wizards' Purity Party wants to rule over Muggle is because of its ability to predict the future.
Given Vincent's dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Magic and the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy, this so-called original dream was very likely to resolve the long-standing conflict between wizards and Muggle.
At least it will allow both sides to coexist peacefully and no longer have to be hostile to each other.
To achieve this, Vincent is destined to stand against most wizards.
Hermione looked up and stared directly into his deep, azure eyes.
The price to pay for writing a new chapter of peaceful coexistence between wizards and Muggle will likely be unimaginably high.
She loosened her tightly clenched hand. "Don't worry, I will never be a burden to you."
Vincent was taken aback.
It seems they've already made up their minds.
He tilted his head meaningfully, looking at her sideways, "I might implicate you and shatter your dream of becoming a minister."
Hermione leaned closer to him. "I don't care."
"I know," Vincent, turning to the side as well. "But I care."
The two were so close that they could see themselves reflected in each other's eyes.
Hermione blushed and looked away, but quickly looked back. "Vincent, I actually..."
Her voice grew softer and softer until it was completely inaudible.
Vincent reached out and gently stroked her long hair that fell over her shoulders. "What a coincidence, I've actually liked you for a long time too."
Hermione looked surprised, but quickly became nonchalant about it.
There's no longer any need for them to test each other.
She raised her slightly trembling little hand and gently touched Vincent's face, as if confirming something.
Dreams don't have such a realistic tactile experience, so none of this is an illusion.
Vincent suddenly grabbed her small hand, startling her so much that she instinctively tried to pull it back.
But he pressed his little hands, which were trying to escape, tightly against his chest. "I'm telling the truth. You can hear it say it again."
"Mmm." Hermione, blushing, carefully pressed her ear against his firm chest.
She murmured to herself, "What kind of relationship do we have now?"
Vincent gently embraced her, his fingertips lightly resting on her soft back. "Couple, or more accurately, a couple who have just started dating."
Hermione snuggled her head against his chest. "So you'll be my boyfriend from now on, right?"
"Yes." Vincent released his other hand from hers and gently stroked her head, which was buried in his arms. "Do you have any other questions?"
Hermione wrapped her arms around his waist, looked up and smiled sweetly, "No, I just want to hold you quietly right now."
She buried her face in Vincent's neck, inhaling his scent.
Her current performance is practically a larger version of Crookshanks.
Vincent's eyes were gentle as he continued to stroke her little head.
After an unknown amount of time, a soft cough suddenly sounded behind the two people who were nestled on the bench.
Hermione sat up abruptly as if in a stress response.
When she saw that it was her father, she froze as if she had crashed.
Chris gave Vincent a meaningful look. "I didn't mean to bother you, it's just that it's almost midnight, so I came to remind you."
"Really?" Hermione stood up, feigning composure. "Where's Mom? Did she go back to her room?"
"I just got back. She asked me to come and remind you."
Hermione ran up to him. "Dad, let's go back and rest too."
She pushed Chris toward the house, and after a few steps she turned back and Vincent a shy glare, as if hinting at something.
Should we leave quickly?
This is Granger family after all, so let's listen to her.
Vincent got up and followed him.
The cane is still in her living room.
Before leaving, he felt it was necessary to explain their relationship to Chris.