Chapter 3006: How Cold Was That Winter
The next day, although it was only around seven in the evening, it was already completely dark outside the castle. The weather was freezing, with the north wind howling—it was terribly cold.
But the Great Hall at Hogwarts was warm and lively!
That was because this was dinnertime for the students and staff. All four houses' students and the professors—including Headmaster Dumbledore—were eating here, except for those who had other business to attend to.
Hogwarts had a communal dining system: whatever the students ate, the professors and headmaster had to eat too. There were no special meals or separate dining halls, so there was absolutely no chance of anyone pulling some shady, conscience-free stunt with the ingredients.
Perhaps that was also because the students and their parents all had wands in their hands?
Come to think of it, that made sense!
If anyone in the school's administration, the headmaster, or the Ministry of Magic dared to pull something like that, there was no telling who the students and parents would point their wands—and their Avada Kedavra curses—at.
Of course, it was fortunate that Hogwarts didn't have any such unpleasant business. Otherwise, the students and parents wouldn't even need to do anything; some troublesome little girl might just set the whole lousy castle ablaze herself.
And look!
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm..."
(~) Chomp!
Annie was now happily eating dinner in the warm Great Hall, at the Gryffindor table.
The long table was already full of students from every year, all wearing the same red Gryffindor uniforms.
"..."
Unlike Annie, who was focused on enjoying her meal, Hermione, sitting beside her, kept glancing in a certain direction for some reason.
After a long while, she finally couldn't hold back. Looking rather peculiar, she leaned over to whisper