"Ron, you and Harry just need to take care of yourselves, don't overdo it."
Hermione looked at the two of them and gave them some instructions.
"Don't worry," Ron said confidently, his arm around Harry's shoulder. "We've already rehearsed."
Hermione nodded with great satisfaction.
"Neville, you do your best to hold Malfoy back. You can use the Leg-Locker Curse on him. If he keeps moving around, just sit on him," Hermione continued, strategizing.
"No problem," Neville replied somewhat nervously.
"This way, Silan can focus on dealing with Michael Corner." Hermione was quite satisfied with her arrangement.
There was really no need to go through all this trouble.
The outcome of the match was already predetermined.
However, Silan did not stop her; he liked the feeling of being cared for by Hermione.
"Then we'll just have to go cheer you on," George and Fred said at the same time, then looked at each other and chuckled, winking playfully at Silan.
"We've prepared something really great, perfect for cheering and clapping."
Ron knew his two older brothers' character best, and his face immediately changed. He stammered, "It's not... Dungbomb, is it?"
The thought of George and Fred turning the game into a cesspool made Ron grimace and his face contort.
"How could that be?" George sat down next to Ron, hooked his arm around his neck, and tickled him with his other hand. "Ron, you have absolutely no imagination."
Fred chuckled and said, "It's just a clapping toy, why are you so scared?"
After chatting for a few more minutes, the group got up and prepared to return to the lounge.
All of them, except for Silan, were Gryffindor students.
They had originally planned to go back together, but Hermione lagged behind and stood with Silan, dawdling along and unable to reach them.
"Hermione, come quick! We have to get back!"
Harry turned and glanced at Hermione, then called out urgently.
"Hmm... okay..."
Hermione grunted twice, but her feet seemed glued to the ground, unable to move.
George and Fred exchanged a glance, then grinned and helped Harry up.
"Let's go first, she'll catch up soon."
Harry, who was being held up, was somewhat confused, his legs swinging back and forth in the air.
George and Fred picked him up and left, giving Hermione a meaningful look before they went.
Ron and Neville hurriedly followed.
Hermione breathed a sigh of relief after they left, then moved closer to Silan, their robes becoming entangled and inseparable.
"I'll take you back, Hermione," Silan said slowly as she walked behind them.
"Okay." Hermione nodded shyly.
After walking for a while, Hermione's eyes darted around nervously. She tried to make conversation, saying, "It's quite late today. I only intended to say a few words, but it seems curfew is almost here. Was I talking too much?"
After saying all that in one breath, Hermione fell silent.
"No."
Silan shook her head, then looked into her eyes and said, "I'm so glad you think so much about me."
"Thank you, Hermione."
By the flickering torchlight in the corridor, Hermione saw her own reflection in Silan's pupils, which made her a little shy.
"You're welcome."
Hermione turned her head away with some difficulty, not daring to meet Silan's gaze, but she regretted it as soon as she looked away.
If only I could watch it a little longer...
"Let's hurry up and go, Filch might be here soon."
Hermione changed the subject.
Despite being told to hurry, Hermione stayed close to Silan, moving forward slowly.
The two walked side by side without saying a word. Their sleeves and arms occasionally bumped into each other, but they ignored it and showed no intention of distancing themselves.
Hermione carefully extended her little finger and gently hooked it around Silan's little finger as their arms touched again.
They liked to hook their fingers together when they were very young.
But now... Hermione felt inexplicably shy.
She stopped, too shy to look up, and whispered, "Silan, you must be careful in tomorrow's match."
Perhaps due to nervousness, Hermione's speech became very fast.
"Michael Corner from Ravenclaw House. I've inquired about him; I heard he's very intelligent, knows many Spells, and is a formidable opponent."
In fact, Michael Corner has another very prominent characteristic.
He has good relationships with many girls.
But Hermione felt that such a womanizing habit was completely unbecoming of Silan, so it was best not to mention it.
Silan hooked her little finger around Hermione's and said with a smile, "Don't worry, Hermione."
After Hermione finished speaking, she reluctantly let go of her hand and walked towards the Gryffindor common room.
As soon as she reached the door, she found that Harry and the others were blocked there.
"Why don't you go inside?" Hermione asked curiously.
George glanced in the direction she came from with a grin.
"We told her you were still behind, but Fat Lady was too lazy to drive again, so she told us to wait for you."
"Luckily, we didn't have to wait too long," Fred said with a laugh. "Ron thought we were going to have to wait a century."
"Nonsense!"
Ron shrank back and hid behind Harry. "I only said it would probably take all night."
He placed his hands on Harry's shoulders, peeking out only halfway to look at Hermione, and whispered to Harry, "If Hermione rushes at me, you hold her off for me."
Harry grinned, thinking to himself, "Why did you provoke her?"
Hermione beckoned with her little finger, remembering what had just happened, and a smile almost melted her cheeks.
Without even glancing at Ron, she shouted the command at the portrait of the Fat Lady.
"Honey-eating bird".
The Fat Lady glanced at the beaming Hermione and muttered, "Oh, you do look like a honey-eating bird now..."
Hermione smiled broadly, her face beaming.
Harry and Ron looked at each other, completely bewildered.
Why are you being so gentle today?
The next day.
A temporary grandstand was erected on the open ground in front of the Forbidden Forest, with an enclosed dueling arena in front of it.
Upon hearing about the match, the students poured out of the castle as soon as get out of class ended, flooding the area around the dueling arena and instantly creating a lively atmosphere.
Lee Jordan, seated in the stands, shouted passionately, "Students! Welcome to this wizarding duel!"
"Although it's not Quidditch Match, I, Lee Jordan, will still provide you with excellent commentary!"
"As you all have seen," Lee Jordan glanced to his left and right, "Even Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick are here to watch the game. It's truly an unprecedented spectacle."
Lee Jordan stood up from the stands, squinted at the distance, and shouted excitedly.
"Look! The competitors are here!"