First Arrival at the Granger Home

"Mom! Dad!" Having not seen her parents for an entire semester, Hermione was patted on the head by Mrs. Granger and reached out to hug her waist.

"I missed you so much..."

"We too." Mr. Granger watched his wife and daughter hugging each other with a happy expression.

Lin Yue felt Mrs. Granger's warm palm on her head, tilted her head up expressionlessly, and only spoke politely to greet them after she and Hermione separated.

"Mrs. Granger, Mr. Granger, hello, my name is Lin Yue."

Her voice was devoid of any emotion, as monotonous as a blank piece of paper, and her expression was as rigid as a whiteboard.

This made the Grangers freeze for a moment. She was a young girl of the same age as Hermione.

Although Hermione preferred reading to going out with friends, she was still a lively child who loved to laugh and play.

But this young girl in front of them gave them a feeling of complete detachment from the outside world.

Hermione chuckled lightly, reached out to hold Lin Yue's hand again, and looked up at her mother as if acting spoiled, "Mom, can Lin Yue stay at our house for a while? Please?"

Mrs. Granger smiled and flicked Hermione's nose, "Of course, we'd be very happy to have her as a guest."

Mr. Granger on the side also smiled and nodded in agreement.

Hearing Mrs. Granger's words, Lin Yue's brain reacted quickly, and she bowed slightly according to the rules of etiquette.

"Thank you, Mrs. Granger, Mr. Granger."

This child... even though she's so rigid, she's actually very polite, Mrs. Granger thought, and quickly reached out to help Lin Yue up.

"You don't need to be so formal, you're Hermione's friend. We're just glad to finally have someone to play with Hermione during the summer holidays, so she won't have to spend the holidays with books anymore."

She sighed as she said this. Who would have thought that a child's love for reading could one day become a problem?

Lin Yue heard this and said nothing, but Hermione beside her couldn't help but twitch her lips twice. You're wrong, Mom...

You see, if she didn't stop her, Lin Yue's drive to read and study would definitely be more terrifying than hers.

Because Lin Yue was still there, Hermione didn't explain in detail to her parents, planning to have a good chat with her mother in the car later.

As they walked out of King's Cross Station, opened the car door, and got in, Hermione, who wanted to have a good talk with her mother about Lin Yue, directly let Lin Yue sit in the passenger seat, while she sat in the back with Mrs. Granger.

As the car started, Lin Yue's gaze went straight through the windshield to the street outside, and she began to mentally recite the Potions textbook and the methods for making various potions.

Before getting into the car, their luggage had been placed in the back seat, so she couldn't read a book now and could only recite it in her mind.

Looking at Lin Yue in the passenger seat, who was staring blankly ahead with her eyes occasionally shifting, Hermione knew that this guy had entered her study mode again, probably reciting another book.

"Sigh..." Hermione let out a soft sigh, tugged at Mrs. Granger's sleeve, and motioned for her to lean down and listen.

Mrs. Granger raised an eyebrow and leaned down, bringing her ear close to her daughter's mouth. What did Little Hermione want to tell her?

"Mom, Lin Yue... her situation might be a little special."

Hermione explained to Mrs. Granger with a complicated expression. Mrs. Granger was stunned for a moment, her face turning serious. She also lowered her voice.

"How is it special? Hermione, tell me carefully."

Hermione pursed her lips and told Mrs. Granger about the habits Lin Yue had developed due to her parents.

She studied for one hour of sleep per day and spent all other time studying. She could only eat in three and a half minutes, with no rest time. All her usual time was spent reading and studying.

If she made any mistakes in her studies, or if her study time was occupied by other things, she would punish herself.

Listening to these "habits" that Hermione described, Mrs. Granger fell into a daze.

This is... too unreal, too terrifying. Would any parents really treat their child like this?

"When I discovered it before... Lin Yue's left arm couldn't be lifted. Her upper arm was covered in bruises and black handprints, some of which were even oozing blood."

Hermione still felt a lingering fear when she recalled the scene of discovering Lin Yue punishing herself. The scene was truly bone-chilling and heartbreaking.

Bruised and black handprints, even oozing blood?! Although she was a dentist, Mrs. Granger, being a doctor, understood some related knowledge and gasped.

This child, she really doesn't care about her own body! Even more infuriating are those parents. It was their upbringing that made Lin Yue accustomed to disregarding her own body.

"After that, I forbade her from doing it again and made her sleep for six hours every day. Fortunately, she still listens to me."

Hermione said with some relief, grateful that Lin Yue could still react to the outside world, and that Lin Yue could listen to her words.

"Well done," Mrs. Granger stroked Hermione's head.

"If she's staying at our house, do her parents know about this?"

Mrs. Granger was already silently calculating in her mind how she and her husband would deal with Lin Yue's parents if they found out.

They were definitely not sending Lin Yue back. With the way her parents had educated her, Mrs. Granger had no doubt that if they sent her back to her parents, under their "care," Lin Yue's body would definitely collapse one day.

Hearing Mrs. Granger's question, Hermione was silent for a moment, then lowered her gaze and said.

"Her parents have passed away, which is why I invited her to stay at our house. Otherwise, she would have to stay in a hotel."

"Passed away?" Mrs. Granger was slightly surprised, then returned to normal. How to put it... it's actually better that they passed away, saving them further trouble with this child.

It could only be said that she and Hermione were indeed mother and daughter, and their thoughts on this matter were basically the same.

"Hermione, you did a great job," Mrs. Granger affectionately squeezed her daughter's little face. "For future Christmases and holidays, you can invite her over. At least she won't have to stay in a hotel alone when she's on vacation."

Although Hermione hadn't realized it herself yet, based on her observations during Christmas, Hermione definitely had some interest in this young girl, Lin Yue.

Since that's the case, as a mother, she should plan ahead for her own daughter. Using Christmas and the summer vacation, she'll let Lin Yue and Hermione spend more time together and cultivate their relationship.

This will also allow Lin Yue to experience the Granger family's environment more, which will definitely make it much easier when Hermione confesses to her in the future.

Mrs. Granger's calculations were clearly aimed at a point perhaps years later, when Hermione might confess.

"Mhm!" Hermione nodded vigorously, smiling happily. Her parents always supported her, making her heart overflow with joy.

It felt so good to have someone backing you, to always know you had a pillar of support no matter what.

"Oh, right, Mom, in two weeks Lin Yue wants to rent a villa and stay there with me and a few other classmates. We can all get together and have fun. You'll agree, right?"

Hermione looked pleadingly at Mrs. Granger, her expression like a kitten begging its master for food.

Mrs. Granger smiled and shook her head, reaching out to tap Hermione's little nose. "Of course. I'm happy you want to go out and have fun with your classmates, how could I possibly stop you?"

"But Lin Yue is paying to rent the house?" Mrs. Granger hesitated. "Does she have enough money?"

Although this was the children's decision and plan, and she and her husband shouldn't interfere, she still worried if Lin Yue might have any difficulties.

Hermione nodded, unsure how to react. Lin Yue's parents treated her so poorly, teaching her a bunch of bad habits that harmed her body.

But the material conditions they provided were undeniable. It was truly... contradictory.

"Her parents left her quite a lot of money. She herself said she has as much money as she wants."

Mrs. Granger was stunned by Hermione's words. This was too illogical.

Based on Hermione's previous descriptions of Lin Yue's parents' behavior, Mrs. Granger had no doubt they didn't treat Lin Yue as their own child.

They treated her like a machine, constantly making her absorb knowledge and develop herself. In such a high-pressure environment surrounded by learning, it was no wonder Lin Yue gave her the impression of being rigid and monotonous.

Constantly immersed in studying, how could she have rich emotions and reactions to the outside world?

But if they treated Lin Yue as a machine, her parents wouldn't leave money for a machine. They didn't even care about the child's physical and mental state, so why would they care about her material conditions?

This was clearly impossible. That money... although she didn't know how, it probably wasn't from Lin Yue's parents.

Mrs. Granger slowly stroked Lin Yue's hair, but she didn't share her speculations with Hermione.

Ultimately, it was Lin Yue's own business, and she should be the one to talk about it.

The car finally stopped in the Granger family's garage. Getting out of the car, Lin Yue glanced blankly at the detached house in front of her, then walked to the car's trunk, taking out her and Hermione's suitcases one by one.

"Thank you." Hermione took her suitcase and gave Lin Yue a brilliant smile.

Lin Yue nodded, her tone still calm, "You're welcome."

Carrying the suitcases, she followed Hermione and the Grangers into the house. Lin Yue subconsciously lowered her head, not casually looking around someone else's home. It was impolite, her brain told her.

"Here, Lin Yue, you can wear these slippers. They're new," Mrs. Granger said with a gentle smile, placing a pair of new slippers by Lin Yue's feet.

Lin Yue quickly looked up at her and mechanically said, "Thank you, Mrs. Granger."

"Just call me Auntie," Mrs. Granger said, looking at Lin Yue with a hint of concern. The child spoke with such a monotone. She must have been suppressed severely before.

Taking off her own shoes, Lin Yue stepped into the new slippers and followed Hermione into the living room, pulling her suitcase.

Hermione pointed towards the stairs not far away. "My room is on the second floor, and the guest room is also on the second floor."

After speaking, she looked at Lin Yue with anticipation. "Do you want to stay with me, or in the guest room?"

Staying with a friend! And this friend was Lin Yue! Hermione couldn't help but feel happy just thinking about it.

Lin Yue looked at the expression on Hermione's face, her mind rapidly analyzing.

Hermione's expression was... expectant? Based on her tone and demeanor, she was probably hoping Lin Yue would stay with her.

Agree to her, stay with her, a thought popped up again from the depths of Lin Yue's mind.

Lin Yue nodded. "I'll stay with you, is that okay?"

"Of course!" Hermione exclaimed happily, throwing her arms around Lin Yue. "I'll go add another quilt for you in a bit."

Lin Yue thanked her in her usual monotone. "Thank you."

Mrs. Granger watched the interaction between Hermione and Lin Yue, feeling both comforted and a little sad. She reached out and gently ruffled both children's hair again, then said kindly to Hermione.

"You take Lin Yue upstairs first. As for the quilt, it's in the cupboard in your room."

"Okay!" Hermione replied cheerfully, pulling Lin Yue towards the stairs.

The two girls, each carrying a suitcase, went upstairs with a clatter.

The Grangers watched them with concern but didn't step forward to help. Children's independence needed to be cultivated; they couldn't help with everything.

Upstairs, Hermione took out her key and opened the door to her room, which she hadn't returned to for a whole semester. Seeing that the room was a bit dirty, she sheepishly touched her nose.

"Looks like I need to do some cleaning."

Her mother and father hadn't helped her clean her room or entered it since she was ten years old, when they taught her how to sweep, mop, put on quilts, and make beds. They had even given her the key to her room.

According to them, she was growing up and needed her own private space. Even as parents, it wasn't appropriate for them to enter their child's private space. This way, it also helped cultivate her own practical skills.

So now, returning for the holidays, Hermione still needed to tidy up her room herself.

Lin Yue turned to Hermione and asked in a flat tone, "Can I take a closer look at your room?"

Hermione blinked in surprise. Her room was right in front of Lin Yue, wasn't it?

But when she turned to look at Lin Yue, she realized that after asking her question, Lin Yue had lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the floor, not looking anywhere else.

Feeling a slight pang of sadness, Hermione put her suitcase aside and gently hugged Lin Yue. "Yes, of course, you can look. We don't have many rules about etiquette in our house. Relax a little, okay?"

Lin Yue instinctively mirrored Hermione's action out of habit, hugging her back and softly responding.

Raising her head, Lin Yue carefully observed Hermione's bedroom over her shoulder, rapidly analyzing in her mind. The floor needed sweeping and mopping, the windowsill needed cleaning, the bedsheets and duvet cover needed changing, and the desk needed to be wiped clean. The total time required, at her pace, would be fifteen minutes.