Tacitly Permitted Night Wandering

Stepping out of the dormitory with a blank expression, Lin Yue drew her Wand and tapped herself twice, casting the Disillusionment Charm on herself.

The Disillusionment Charm was a spell that only older students at Hogwarts could learn, requiring extremely high Magic power and spellcasting proficiency.

Even though Lin Yue's pronunciation, her movements with the Wand were exactly the same as in the book, and her Magic power was sufficient to complete the Disillusionment Charm, her charm still had some flaws.

After all, she was just a first-year Little wizard with insufficient experience. As she moved, mottled patterns would still appear around her body, and her outline could be discerned with careful observation.

She reached the Astronomy Tower without any hindrance. Lin Yue undoubtedly encountered no professors along the way.

Even Mrs. Norris was led by the Hogwarts stairs to the furthest place from the Astronomy Tower.

Standing quietly at the top of the Astronomy Tower, Lin Yue stared lifelessly at the door leading to this place, waiting for Harry and Hermione, who would arrive shortly.

She glanced at her raised right hand. It was eleven fifty. If nothing unexpected happened, Harry and Hermione would be here in ten minutes.

Lin Yue's brain automatically reacted. She lowered her hand and leaned against the wall behind her, waiting with vacant eyes.

Ten minutes later, with a soft click, the door was instantly opened.

However, nothing entered. But if one looked closely, two faint pairs of feet could be seen near the ground.

Lin Yue slowly shifted her gaze from the ground, remaining motionless, so neither Harry nor Hermione noticed her.

She watched as Harry and Hermione took off the Invisibility Cloak, carrying rather large wooden boxes in their hands.

The next moment, a soft call sounded from the air behind Lin Yue, "Harry? Hermione?"

"We are," Hermione quickly shouted back to the person on the Broomstick in the air.

"Hello, I'm Charlie, is this Norbert?" a sturdy boy asked, pointing at the boxes in Harry and Hermione's hands.

"Yes," Harry nodded, "We'll have to trouble you to take it away."

"No problem," Charlie waved his hand, dismounted the Broomstick with a companion, picked up the wooden box, and together they flew back into the air.

"Then we'll be going now," Charlie nodded at Harry and Hermione, and then disappeared into the distance with his companion.

Seeing Norbert sent away, Harry and Hermione instantly breathed a sigh of relief. Relaxed, they both felt a bit lightheaded.

So much so that even the usually meticulous and reliable Hermione didn't notice that they hadn't put on the Invisibility Cloak again. The two of them brazenly opened the door and walked out of the Astronomy Tower, even chatting as they went.

Lin Yue, who had been standing by the wall the whole time, quietly walked forward, picked up the Invisibility Cloak, and slowly followed behind Harry and Hermione.

She didn't speak to disturb their conversation. It was impolite to interrupt others, Lin Yue's brain automatically analyzed.

When Harry and Hermione reached the bottom of the Astronomy Tower stairs, two voices rang out.

"Professor! You should believe me, Harry Potter really has a dragon, and it's being sent away tonight!" Draco Malfoy said anxiously to Professor McGonagall beside him.

"That's absurd, Mr. Malfoy," Professor McGonagall looked at him sternly. "A dragon, how is that possible?"

Despite saying so, Professor McGonagall still led Draco towards the Astronomy Tower. Regardless of whether Harry Potter truly had a dragon, if he was out after curfew, he would still need detention and point deductions.

By the time Hermione and Harry heard Professor McGonagall and Draco's voices, it was too late. They had already reached the bottom of the Astronomy Tower stairs.

It was only then that the two of them realized they had left the Invisibility Cloak on the Astronomy Tower. Just as they were preparing to "surrender" and be caught by Professor McGonagall, Lin Yue acted swiftly, unfurled the Invisibility Cloak, and threw it over Hermione's head, covering her entirely.

Harry looked at Hermione, who had suddenly disappeared beside him, and then at Lin Yue, whose outline was faintly visible. He instantly understood what was happening.

Without thinking, he immediately took a step forward, fully exposing himself, to buy time for Lin Yue and Hermione.

"Mr. Potter!" Seeing Harry suddenly emerge from the Astronomy Tower stairs, Professor McGonagall's eyes widened.

Her breathing quickened. "You really were out after curfew!"

Harry glanced sideways to confirm that Lin Yue and Hermione were hidden, then completely relaxed, looking at Professor McGonagall with a face full of guilt.

"Yes, Professor, I'm sorry, I've disappointed you."

Professor McGonagall took a deep breath. "And the dragon Mr. Malfoy mentioned?"

"Huh?" Harry looked at Professor McGonagall with confusion, his acting skills were top-notch.

"What dragon? We have that in our school? I've never seen it? Did Headmaster Dumbledore raise it?"

Professor McGonagall's mouth twitched uncontrollably. "No, Mr. Potter, Hogwarts doesn't have a dragon. Mr. Malfoy said you would be taking a dragon tonight."

"What?!" Harry's eyes widened as he looked at Professor McGonagall, then at Draco beside her, and spread his arms.

"I... I didn't bring one. How could I possibly get a dragon? I mean, isn't that illegal?"

"Yes, Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall nodded, then turned to look sternly at Draco. "Mr. Malfoy, I will take you to Professor Snape to deal with your lying and being out after curfew."

"What?" Draco blinked. "But Professor... I was reporting Harry Potter and the others."

"But you were out after curfew," Professor McGonagall said meticulously, stepping forward to take Harry away.

As she stepped forward, her gaze naturally fell upon Lin Yue, who was standing beside Hermione, hidden by the Disillusionment Charm.

When Lin Yue's Disillusionment Charm was not in motion, it could indeed fool all Hogwarts students and most adult wizards. However, it certainly did not include elite wizards like Professor McGonagall.

She saw through Lin Yue's Disillusionment Charm almost at a glance. Lin Yue stood still, her eyes like dead water, looking at Professor McGonagall.

Her brain clearly understood that Professor McGonagall had discovered her. She should now face the professor's reprimand and punishment.

However, things did not develop as her brain had analyzed. On the contrary, Professor McGonagall's expression actually softened, and even her gaze towards Harry became much gentler.

With the little girl Lin Yue here, and Potter also present, it was likely that Granger was nearby. Were they taking Lin Yue out for a night stroll together?

If it were other students out after curfew, Professor McGonagall would guarantee she'd catch them with absolute fairness, regardless of their academic standing or which house they belonged to.

But Lin Yue was different. All the professors could sense the immense pressure she put on herself, with her studies consuming almost all her time.

So, if another student could take her out to play and have fun, even if it meant bending a few school rules, they were willing to let it happen, even encouraging it, as long as her safety was ensured.

Professor McGonagall coughed lightly, clearing her throat. "Mr. Potter, we'll discuss your punishment when we get back. Come with me."

With that, she pulled Harry away, not even glancing at Lin Yue, as if she hadn't noticed her at all.

Watching Professor McGonagall leave, Lin Yue's mind paused once again.

Professor McGonagall saw me, but didn't catch me. Why? There was no confusion in her emotions, just this question popping into her head.

Why... Lin Yue blinked mechanically. Perhaps Professor McGonagall was waiting for her to admit her mistake voluntarily...

Yes, that must be the final answer. Lin Yue's brain automatically made the most logical analysis.

After Professor McGonagall was long gone, Hermione, hidden under the Invisibility Cloak, dared to exhale the breath she'd been holding.

"Hoo..." Hermione slowly rubbed her chest with her hand and turned to look in the direction Lin Yue had been standing.

"Lin Yue... is that you?" Besides Lin Yue, she couldn't think of anyone else who would know they were sending Norbert off tonight and would help her evade Professor McGonagall's "capture."

"It's me." Lin Yue's emotionless voice rang out, accompanied by her nod, her head's outline appearing in Hermione's vision.

"Wow... is that the Disillusionment Charm?" Hermione's eyes lit up, looking at Lin Yue's location with some surprise.

"Mm."

"That's amazing! The Disillusionment Charm is a spell for older students!" Hermione exclaimed, looking at the scene before her.

"No, my Disillusionment Charm has significant flaws. I didn't learn it well." Lin Yue shook her head, stating the facts without any emotion.

"You're already very skilled," Hermione pursed her lips. "Don't talk about yourself like that."

"Also, thank you for helping me just now. Otherwise, I would have been caught by Professor McGonagall too, and Gryffindor would have lost points."

"It's nothing." Lin Yue shook her head calmly.

Hermione tilted her head, a strange sense of anticipation bubbling up inside her. "Why did you come here? I mean... were you worried about me, about us?"

Lin Yue heard the word "worried," thought carefully about its meaning, and then shook her head. "I don't have that emotion. I don't have emotions. My brain just told me I should come, so I came."

Hearing this familiar phrase again, Hermione no longer felt fear, only a sense of oppression and pain.

Taking a deep breath, Hermione tried to steady her voice and pulled open the Invisibility Cloak, gesturing for Lin Yue to come in. "Let's go. I'll take you back to Ravenclaw first."

Lin Yue nodded expressionlessly and slipped under the Invisibility Cloak. "Thank you."

While Hermione was escorting Lin Yue back to Ravenclaw, Professor McGonagall, after handing Draco over to Professor Snape, returned to her office with Harry.

Harry stood before Professor McGonagall with his head bowed, awaiting the impending scolding.

However, the expected reprimand never came. On the contrary, Professor McGonagall actually offered him words of comfort.

"I'm very sorry, Mr. Potter. Since I caught you, I had to deduct points, so Gryffindor will lose fifty points."

Harry looked up at Professor McGonagall blankly, not understanding why she was apologizing.

"I understand that you and Miss Granger took Lin Yue out after curfew, wanting to help her let go and relax."

"I am proud to have students like you, who are not afraid of difficulties and potential negative consequences, bravely helping their friends. You truly embody the courage a Gryffindor should possess!"

Harry opened his mouth, wanting to say something but unable to. It was only at this moment that he truly realized what kind of excellent professors he had encountered at Hogwarts.

"Students first" was never just something they said; they lived it.

"However, I think perhaps you could be a bit more careful next time?" Professor McGonagall smiled at Harry, a sly smile in her eyes, much like the Little Lions of Gryffindor.

Harry couldn't help but smile too. "Of course, Professor McGonagall. We will."

Professor McGonagall nodded with satisfaction. "Very good. But remember, you can't be sleepy in class the next day, or I might change my mind?"

"I understand." Harry nodded firmly.

Professor McGonagall walked to the office door and opened it. "Let's go, Mr. Potter. I'll escort you back. I'll tell you the details and duration of your detention at another time."

"Okay, thank you, Professor McGonagall." Harry nodded obediently and walked out of Professor McGonagall's office.

Lin Yue was sent back to Ravenclaw by Hermione. As soon as she returned to the dormitory, she was met with the curious gazes of two senior students.

"You're back?"

"Did you have fun?"

Qiuzhang and Marietta poked their heads out from their respective beds, asking curiously.

Lin Yue paused slightly, surprised they were still awake.

Then, her voice mechanically stated, "Professor McGonagall saw me, but she didn't catch me. She's waiting for me to admit my mistake voluntarily."

"What?" Qiuzhang frowned in confusion. She understood every word Lin Yue said, but how they formed a sentence, she didn't understand.

Marietta next to her was in the same situation, her face full of bewilderment.

So, at the unanimous request of her two senior students, Lin Yue meticulously recounted how Professor McGonagall saw through her Disillusionment Charm but didn't catch her. Of course, her brain subconsciously made her omit Hermione and Harry's presence.

After listening to Lin Yue's description, Qiuzhang and Marietta first marveled that she could use the Disillusionment Charm, and then, empathizing with her situation, they thought about why Professor McGonagall hadn't caught Lin Yue.

Qiuzhang pulled Lin Yue to sit on her own bed. "Don't overthink it, Lin Yue. Professor McGonagall didn't mean for you to go confess your mistakes yourself."

"That's not what I meant," Lin Yue's tone was flat, but it was clear she was asking a question.

"Yes," Qiuzhang nodded.

Marietta chimed in from the side, "Professor McGonagall probably just wants you to be happy. As long as you can be happier and more cheerful, and stop being so tense, even if you sneak out at night, it's a good thing."

Lin Yue's mind raced, but ultimately, due to her lack of emotion, she couldn't understand their words. She just subconsciously felt her eyes and chest burning.

"Breaking rules requires punishment. Admitting mistakes proactively... might lessen the punishment," she still stated the results her brain had analyzed.

Qiuzhang pursed her lips and crouched down, placing her hands on Lin Yue's shoulders. "Don't think about it anymore. You don't need to admit your mistakes."

"Or... you can go if you want," Qiuzhang raised an eyebrow. "But I'm absolutely, positively sure the outcome will be very different from what you're imagining."