Pilgrimage

After lightly punishing Luna Lovegood for trying to gossip, Tver found himself conflicted again.

It was too early to go to the Great Hall for dinner, too late to have afternoon tea in the kitchen, and going back to his office would just mean sitting around doing nothing. There was really nothing interesting to do.

Just as Tver was mulling it over and Luna swayed her head as she observed something, three furtive figures suddenly appeared.

"Professor Fawley?!" Harry said in delighted surprise.

Yet Tver vaguely sensed a hint of resentment in his voice?

But the oddity did not show on his face. Amused, Tver watched the trio creep closer as if they were thieves.

"What did you lot do? Why do you look like you've offended everyone?"

Hermione froze for a moment, but quickly waved at Luna with a perfectly composed expression, as though she had not heard the professor's question at all.

"Hello, Luna."

Given the chance to ease the awkwardness, Harry and Ron hurriedly greeted Luna with great enthusiasm.

"Good—afternoon, Luna!"

"Nice to see you, Luna."

Not just Tver—even Luna herself could not help looking rather strange at the trio's unusual behavior.

Just as Luna was about to ask, Tver patted her shoulder and said casually, "Since I've run into Hogwarts' most mischievous students, would you mind accompanying me on a walk around the castle? Consider it a pilgrimage before you graduate?"

"Of course!" Harry readily agreed.

He certainly did not want to tell the professor that, because Hermione had only said half of what she meant, every seventh-year Gryffindor student was now brimming with resentment toward the three of them!

If they had not slipped away so quickly, they would probably have been drowned in the fury of the common room by now!

As if to