Time crawled forward for several suffocating seconds in silence. Hermione finally found the switch to her voice, but all that came out was a short, weak, "...Huh?"
Lynn's brow twitched almost imperceptibly, as though confirming that she had heard him. Patiently, he repeated himself in an even tone. "The ball. Do you have a partner yet?"
"No, I don't!" Hermione blurted out, her voice rising slightly from nerves. She immediately regretted it, feeling that she had answered too quickly and too eagerly, making her look... foolish. She hurriedly lowered her head and pretended to straighten her perfectly neat sleeves, trying to hide her burning cheeks and racing heart. The Moon White Stone against her skin pulsed warmly, as if echoing her pounding heartbeat.
"Mm." Having gotten his answer, Lynn merely responded simply. His gaze remained on Hermione's face, as if assessing something, or perhaps waiting.
The air fell into another delicate stalemate. Hermione felt as though her mind were about to burst from all the chaotic thoughts crowding inside it. What does he mean by asking that? Is he just curious? Or... no, no, no, impossible! How could Lynn... But if he doesn't mean that, why would he ask specifically? Could it be... A bold thought that made her heart tremble surfaced uncontrollably.
Gathering the greatest courage of her life, she abruptly looked up and met Lynn's deep, pool-like eyes. Her voice carried a faint tremor she did not even notice. "You... why are you asking?"
The moment she said it, she regretted it. It sounded like she was demanding an answer!
Lynn seemed to have expected her reaction. He did not answer immediately. Instead, he took two steps forward and stopped in front of Hermione. The distance between them suddenly closed, and Hermione could even smell the familiar clean, refreshing scent around him, like a forest after rain, mixed with the faint starlit aura of the Star Stone. It enveloped her in an instant. She held her breath without meaning to.
He lowered his head slightly until his gaze was level with hers. In those black eyes, always so calm and still, her small face, flushed with shyness and nervousness, was clearly reflected. Then, in an utterly natural, matter-of-fact tone, he said clearly:
"If you don't, then..." He paused, as though stating an established fact. "Go with me."
It was not a request. It was not a question. It was a statement.
Boom!
Hermione felt as though something had exploded in her mind, brilliant beyond measure. All her nerves, guesses, and uncertainty were swept away by that blunt, almost domineering "announcement." An immense, indescribable joy instantly broke through every barrier and surged up from the deepest part of her heart, spreading rapidly through her limbs until she could barely stand. The Moon White Stone abruptly turned scorching hot, conveying its owner's uncontrollable excitement.
"Yes!" This time, her answer held not the slightest hesitation. It was crisp and loud, carrying a delight and determination she had not even realized were there. Pure, unreserved light shone in her bright brown eyes as she stared fixedly at Lynn, her cheeks red as ripe apples.
Watching the girl before him light up in an instant, a faint, elusive hint of amusement seemed to pass through the depths of Lynn's usually tranquil eyes. He nodded almost imperceptibly. "Mm." It was as though he had merely finalized an item on his schedule.
The air in the practice room transformed in an instant from tense and stagnant to light and sweetly warm. Outside the window, another magical paper crane flew past, scattering fine golden dust like the fireworks blooming in Hermione's heart.
The joy of settling on a partner was like the sweetest honey, filling Hermione with energy for her practice over the next few days. She even felt that the orb of Lumos Maxima shone a little brighter than before.
At last, the day of action arrived. Late one Friday night, when the entire castle had fallen asleep and only moonlight streamed through the tall arched windows, four figures once again squeezed beneath the Invisibility Cloak. Like ghosts of the night, they silently slipped toward the corridor of the third-floor forbidden area. This time, besides nervousness, Hermione felt an unusual sense of calm—because Lynn was beside her.
It was still that eerie, silent corridor. The heavy oak door was tightly shut, and heavy breathing that made their hearts pound seeped through the crack in the door.
Ron took a deep breath and pressed the play button on the recorder with a trembling hand. At once, an exceptionally soft, soothing lullaby, like a mother humming gently, rang out in the silent corridor. Amplified by the Amplifying Charm, it clearly pierced through the thick wooden door.
Inside, Fluffy's thunderous snoring and wet breathing abruptly stopped the instant the lullaby began! Then came a strange, confused whimper, punctuated by several snorting sounds like sneezes. Heavy footsteps paced irritably behind the door for several circles before the unsettling snoring began again, rapidly becoming deep and steady, as though a real infant had fallen sound asleep.
Harry cautiously pushed open a crack in the door. Fluffy's enormous body was curled up in the center of the room. All three massive dog heads drooped against the floor, six eyes tightly shut. Drool flowed from the corners of his mouths, pooling beneath him as his huge, rhythmic snores rose and fell. The power of music truly was magical!
"Quick," Harry whispered, slipping sideways through the door crack first. Ron followed close behind, clutching the recorder to make sure the music continued playing. Lynn shielded Hermione as they quickly slipped inside.
The room was filled with the heavy, rank stench of Fluffy's sleeping body. The three-headed beast was like a slumbering mountain of flesh, each breath sending tremors through the room. The four of them held their breath and tiptoed around Fluffy's enormous body, their hearts nearly leaping from their throats. Hermione gripped her wand tightly, her fingertips icy cold. Lynn's hand remained hovering behind her, maintaining a silent protective stance.
At last, they safely reached the entrance between Fluffy's hind legs, covered by a heavy trapdoor. Harry crouched down, grabbed the cold iron ring, and pulled upward with all his strength!
Creeeak—
The heavy trapdoor lifted open, revealing bottomless darkness below. A damp, icy wind carrying the scent of soil and rotting plants rushed up at them.
"I'll go first!" Harry said, leaping down without hesitation. A dull thud came from the darkness below. "It's fine! It's not far! It's soft down here!"
Ron jumped down right after him. Lynn looked at Hermione, signaling with his eyes. Hermione took a deep breath and nodded. Lynn jumped first, then immediately turned around after landing and held out his arms steadily. "Jump."
In the darkness, Hermione could not see below, but Lynn's steady voice and outstretched arms gave her tremendous courage. She closed her eyes, stepped forward, and leaped down!
There was no expected sensation of weightlessness. Her feet landed firmly on some kind of springy, slightly damp "ground," and her body tipped forward slightly from the momentum. A pair of strong arms immediately caught her shoulders and steadied her.
"Are you all right?" Lynn's voice was right beside her, his warm breath brushing against her bangs.
"Mm." Hermione steadied herself. By the faint moonlight filtering down through the trapdoor above, she could barely make out a cramped space resembling a cellar. Beneath her feet was a thick layer of... dark green, slimy moss? No, that was not right! It seemed to be writhing!
"What kind of horrible place is this?" Ron's voice was full of disgust as he tried to yank his foot free from the slimy "moss."
Just then, the trapdoor above slammed shut with a bang! The last trace of moonlight vanished, and the entire space plunged into complete darkness!
"Lumos!" Harry and Hermione shouted almost at the same time, light flaring from the tips of their wands.
Yet the instant the light appeared, the "ground" beneath their feet suddenly came alive!
The dark green, slimy vines, like venomous snakes roused from sleep, lashed around them at astonishing speed! Cold and wet, they carried a nauseating stench of decay! In an instant, they coiled around Harry's ankles and Ron's calves! The vines were incredibly strong, filled with malicious intent to drag them deep underground!
"Devil's Snare!" Hermione screamed, instantly recalling Quirrell's mark in Snape's book! She desperately tried to shake off the vines winding around her ankles, but they seemed alive, tightening more and more!
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