"Phew—"
Hermione gently blew out the candles, a pure smile blooming on her fair little face.
"What did you wish for?" George asked curiously.
"Mum said that wishes won't come true if you say them out loud." Hermione smiled slyly. "Let's cut the cake, Professor. I imagine you can't wait any longer, can you?"
"Oh ho ho ho... Was I that obvious?" Professor Dumbledore laughed, conjuring a dinner knife and several plates with a wave of his hand before cutting off the top layer of the cake.
"This most exquisite and beautiful piece is yours, Miss Granger."
Hermione accepted the cake Professor Dumbledore handed her, while he took the second layer for himself.
"Once you've finished the cake, please remember to return to your dormitories early. You still have classes tomorrow."
The kind old man with the white beard took his share of cake, left behind two large bottles of cherry juice for them, and departed.
No matter how close he was with the students, they would still be unable to relax with him around. Dumbledore understood that clearly.
"There must be a reason Professor Dumbledore is called Hogwarts' greatest headmaster." Gemini smiled as he watched Dumbledore leave.
After Dumbledore left, Fred and George ate their cake while leaning against the Astronomy Tower railing, snickering at Filch's frantic movements below.
Hermione wore Gemini's cloak over her shoulders, her little face flushed as she sat quietly on the steps and ate chocolate cake.
A few nights ago, when she had broken school rules, she had witnessed the terror of the Three-Headed Dog and experienced the heart-pounding fear of violating the rules.
Yet this time, she was also breaking school rules, but the little girl could not feel the slightest resistance. Her heart was filled with warmth instead.
She secretly glanced up at Gemini's handsome profile, then lowered her head again with a blush.
He's so handsome!
Early the next morning, all of Hogwarts was discussing last night's fireworks.
Of the four Houses, everyone except Slytherin had seen the dazzling fireworks display.
Gryffindor and Ravenclaw had watched it from their towers, while Hufflepuff had seen it through the skylights.
Only the little snakes of Slytherin had seen absolutely nothing...
"Was it you?"
Over breakfast, Harry stared curiously at the twins.
"It wasn't."
"But we were witnesses."
"So who set off the fireworks?" Ron asked.
"Confidential, understand? Confidential!" Fred spread his hands. "Some things can be said, but others shouldn't be discussed carelessly. Don't get us into trouble."
"But you can ask Miss Know-it-all. She might know." George grinned.
Harry and Ron looked at Hermione. Her little face reddened, and she lowered her head to silently eat breakfast.
"Hermione, are you all right?" Harry blinked.
"Oh... I'm fine," Hermione mumbled.
Ron looked puzzled. "You look awful. Are you sick?"
Hermione nearly bent her fork in half before managing to suppress the urge to roll her eyes.
"None of your business..."
Meanwhile, at the Slytherin table.
Draco looked at Gemini uncertainly. "Last night's fireworks—"
Gemini gently cut him off. "Fireworks? What fireworks?"
Draco: "..."
The way you're trying to cover it up is really obnoxiously arrogant...
The whole school knows about last night's fireworks, so why are you playing dumb with me?
"Hurry up and eat. Keep your energy up—we have Flying class today."
Last night's fireworks did not bring any real changes to Hogwarts. At most, they gave the students more gossip to discuss during breaks. Old Filch, meanwhile, had fallen into a state of rage, his sinister eyes glaring at every little wizard entering or leaving the Great Hall as he tried to spot something on their faces.
That weekend, in the Potions office.
Under Snape's guidance, Gemini practiced the Patronus Charm.
"Expecto Patronum."
A hazy expanse of white light...
"Expecto Patronum~"
Still the same...
"Expecto Patronum!"
No progress whatsoever.
"Chirp chirp! Guardian, appear!!!"
Veins bulged on Gemini's forehead, but it was useless. He still could not cast it.
"If you had spent the time you used to set off fireworks practicing spells, I think you would have mastered it by now."
Snape wore a gloating smile.
"Professor, could there be something wrong with this spell?"
"I think there's something wrong with your head."
With a long sigh, Gemini turned to leave. "I'll go adjust my state of mind."
"If you dare walk out that door, pack your bags and go home."
Gemini: "..."
Why is this guy being so unreasonable?
"I understand the principle behind the Patronus Charm. I think the reason I still can't use it successfully is simply because I don't have sufficiently happy memories."
Gemini spread his hands.
The mockery on Snape's face deepened. "Was setting off fireworks not happy enough for you? I heard those fireworks could be seen clearly even from Hogsmeade."
Gemini sighed. "Professor, can you cast it successfully?"
"Of course I can."
"Could you demonstrate it for me?"
"No."
Gemini rubbed his chin. "Professor..."
"Yes?"
"I heard the Patronus Charm can reflect a person's inner state..." Gemini's lips curled upward, his smile like that of a little fox. "What is your Patronus?"
Snape said nothing and continued scribbling in his notebook.
"I'm guessing it definitely isn't a bat."
"You can make an even more outrageous guess!"
A paper ball smacked Gemini squarely on the forehead.
"If you can't cast it today, don't bother going back to sleep. Stay here and keep the dead toads company," Snape said darkly.
Gemini thought about it, nodded gladly, and spun a web in the corner.
Snape's face darkened. "What are you doing?"
"As you can see, I'm planning to make myself a bed first."
Snape: "..."
Damn it, after all these years of teaching, I've never seen such a stubborn student!
"Watch carefully. I'll only cast it once." Snape irritably glanced at Gemini, flicked his wand, and said, "Expecto Patronum."
Dazzling silver light shone throughout the Potions classroom. Within the white radiance, a beautiful figure flashed through the room and vanished.
"So beautiful," Gemini muttered. "Although I didn't see it clearly... Never mind, Professor. What happy memory did you think of when you cast that spell?"
"None of your business."
"I thought it might give me something to use as a reference."
Snape had intended to snap at him, but after thinking for a moment, he spoke expressionlessly. "How did you feel when you set off the fireworks a few days ago? Why not think about that foolish girl Granger?"
"Is that necessary? We get along well, but I don't think our relationship is enough for her to help me successfully cast the spell."
"Besides, Professor, Miss Granger isn't foolish. Although she is Muggle-born, her grades are better than those of every student from a Pure-blood family."
As Gemini spoke, he smiled gently. "I can more or less tell that she worries about being inferior to others because she is Muggle-born, but she has always worked very hard at studying. At least so far, I haven't seen a girl more outstanding than her in our year. Have you, Professor? A Muggle-born girl as exceptional as her?"
In an instant, something seemed to touch a nerve in Snape. He abruptly rose to his feet, strode over to Gemini, and roughly hauled him up.
Then he opened the door and threw Gemini out.
The entire process was smooth and seamless...
Standing outside the Potions office, Gemini helplessly spread his hands. Sometimes, he felt that Snape was rather unlucky.
For example, whenever he faced Harry and the other two—
Harry had green eyes like Lily...
Ron had red hair like Lily...
Hermione was Muggle-born like Lily, and she was gifted and earned excellent grades...
How painful must it be for Snape every time he saw those three?
Worst of all, Harry looked ninety percent like his father...
Still, to be fair, Gemini was very grateful that Snape had privately taught him Defense Against the Dark Arts. If he truly had not been unable to cast the Patronus Charm, he would not have provoked Snape like this.
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