Hogsmeade at Christmas II (Thanks to No One Expected the Ranking Boss for the Love-Powered Support!)
The group walked to the entrance of the Three Broomsticks, pushed open the door, and went inside. The pub was warm, and the air was filled with the aroma of Butterbeer and roasted meat. Several wooden tables were occupied by people, including villagers from Hogsmeade, a few wizards from out of town dressed in traveling robes, and a few Goblin in the distance.
Fa-jie and Ka-jie found a table by the window and sat down. Hermione sat next to Su Yu, and Kurama jumped down from Su Yu, squatted on the table, and looked at the Butterbeer on the next table.
"Would you like some?" Su Yu asked.
"Drink," said Kurama.
Su Yu stood up, went to the bar and ordered five Butterbeer and a glass of milk. She ordered extra milk for Kurama, just in case she took a sip of the Butterbeer and spat it out, and then she would have to buy her another one.
He returned with the tray, distributed the Butterbeer to the women, and then placed both the milk and Butterbeer in front of Kurama. Sure enough, Kurama put his face into the cup, licked it a few times, raised his head, spat it out, spat twice, and then went to drink the milk.
After licking the milk, the Kurama jumped onto his lap, lay down, and covered its nose with its tail.
Fa-jie picked up her Butterbeer and took a sip. "Where to this afternoon?"
"Just browsing around," Ka-jie. "We haven't been to the Elegance brand yet."
"Then let's go to the Elegant Brand," Fa-jie.
Hermione stood silently beside him, holding her Butterbeer, her eyes looking out the window, but her hand resting on Su Yu.
As the Three Broomsticks emerged, the sky darkened again, turning gray and gloomy, as if it were about to snow.
They went to the Gladrags Wizardwear. Fa-jie picked out a few hats, and Ka-jie picked out a few trench coats. They often swapped clothes, since they were about the same height and build. Hermione picked out a scarf, and Fa-jie stuffed several more outfits into her clothes. Kurama took a fancy to a small cloak and insisted on being a flying fox hero. Ka-jie got interested and helped her pick out several items. When the group came out, Su Yu was carrying bags and bags of things behind them. He found a secluded spot and stuffed a bunch of things into his Storage Ring.
After leaving the Elegance store, they went to Dervish and Banges. Hermione bought a new cauldron, Fa-jie bought several bottles of magical paint, Ka-jie bought a book about magical runes. This time, Su Yu was smart and waited for them at the door. He would go in and pay after they finished shopping, as he was too tired to shop anymore.
As evening approached, everyone started walking back together. It began to snow, and fine snowflakes drifted in the wind, feeling cool on their faces. Su Yu held Hermione in his arms, and Hermione buried her face in his arms. The little girl's legs were too short, and she wasn't wearing boots. Su Yu was afraid she would get buried in the snow and her feet would freeze, leaving him with nothing to play with. Fa-jie walked to his left, holding Crookshanks, her scarf pulled up to cover half her face. Ka-jie walked to his right, holding Kurama, a thin layer of snow on her hair.
"Hermione," Su Yu called out.
Hermione looked up at Su Yu.
"Regarding Harry," Su Yu said, "It will be alright, you don't need to worry so much."
Hermione looked at him, her eyes reddening slightly, but she didn't cry; she simply buried her head in Su Yu.
By the time they returned to the castle, it was completely dark, and the torches in the corridors flickered in the draft, casting shadows on the walls.
Hermione was already asleep, so Su Yu had no choice but to carry her into the Slytherin common room.
When Su Yu and his group entered the Slytherin Common Room, the fire in the fireplace was burning brightly. There were only a few people in the room, some reading and some playing chess.
Su Yu placed Hermione on his bed in his bedroom, tucked her in, and went back to the hall to sit down. Kurama Fox was squatting in front of the fireplace with Crookshanks, seemingly oblivious to the pain of her previous injury. She was demonstrating to Crookshanks how to paw at the ashes, Mars flying. She jumped back a step, then moved closer again. Crookshanks wanted to try too, but was stopped by Fa-jie. This cat was really brave...
When Kurama saw Su Yu come out, he forgot all about Crookshanks and jumped into Su Yu, clamoring for candy.
Fa-jie sat down next to him, hugged Crookshanks, and leaned on his shoulder. Ka-jie brought out a few cups of coffee and placed them in front of everyone, then sat down on the other side and casually picked up a magazine to flip through.
Su Yu took out all the candy he had bought that day and shared it with everyone in the break room. Of course, he saved a lot for Kurama as well, otherwise she would have become possessive of her food...
In the early morning of the Slytherin common room, the fireplace, which had been burning all night, emitted pale golden flames, completely dispelling the chill of the underground.
Hermione's eyelashes fluttered slightly as she slowly opened her heavy eyelids.
The first thing that entered her nostrils was a crisp, calming scent, with a faint woody fragrance—a unique aroma belonging to Su Yu. She was momentarily dazed, then stiffly shifted her body before realizing that she was curled up on an enormous bed, nestled in Su Yu's arms—her head resting on his shoulder, one hand unconsciously clutching his sleeve, her posture intimate and completely unguarded.
Hermione's mind went blank for a moment, and the next second, her cheeks flushed bright red, even her neck turning a light blush. She tensed up abruptly, subconsciously shifting back slightly, unsure of what to do with her hands and feet. Her large brown eyes were filled with helplessness, and her long eyelashes trembled incessantly.
She was Gryffindor student, yet she had slept in the Slytherin common room all night, and was even leaning so intimately against Su Yu. She was filled with shyness and embarrassment, her cheeks were burning hot, her heart was pounding like crazy, and she couldn't say a word. She had completely lost her usual calm and collected demeanor.
Su Yu was awakened by her movement. He looked down at the girl in his arms, whose face was flushed and who was feeling uneasy. The sleepiness in his eyes quickly disappeared, and he spoke calmly and gently, comforting the girl in his arms. "Why did you wake up so early? Why don't you sleep a little longer?"
Hermione's fingertips twitched slightly upon hearing this. She kept her head down, not daring to look him in the eye. She exuded the shyness of a young girl caught in an intimate moment, and seemed somewhat at a loss for what to do.
Seeing her shy and flustered state, Su Yu's eyes softened with a gentle tenderness. He gently raised his hand and softly tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his fingertips slightly cool. He soothed her gently and patiently, "Don't be afraid. It's very quiet here. No one will bother you. You must have been tired from walking around last night. I can't go into Gryffindor either, so you'll have to sleep here. Lie down a little longer and get some rest."
Hermione slowly relaxed her tense body, though her face was still flushed and her eyes darted around. She obediently leaned against the spot, snuggling slightly to find a more comfortable position, and quietly rested in Su Yu, feeling completely at ease.
The two of them nestled together quietly, lying there lazily for a long time.
It wasn't until Kurama Fox trotted over, wagging its tail and rubbing against the two of them, that it spoke up to remind them. Crookshanks had been impatiently hungry for a long time, pacing back and forth in Fa-jie's bedroom and meowing incessantly.
Hermione was momentarily at a loss, her expression flustered. Only after Su Yu reminded her did she come to her senses, hurriedly propping herself up to get up and go feed Crookshanks.
When Hermione finished getting ready and rushed to Fa-jie's bedroom door, she immediately saw Ka-jie using Egg Beater to get cat food and carefully squatting down to feed Crookshanks, who was crying and whimpering from hunger.
"Oh, thank goodness, thank you so much, Cassandra," Hermione said, repeatedly expressing her gratitude.
In the other lounge, Malfoy and Blaise were sitting together, leisurely drinking coffee.
Suddenly, a figure dressed in Gryffindor robe flashed past the doorway and disappeared in an instant.
The two stopped simultaneously, exchanging a bewildered glance, utterly shocked and unable to believe that Gryffindor would actually pass through the Slytherin dormitory area.
"Rebel against the Heavenly Gang!"
"This is outrageous!"
Gryffindor now so blatantly brazen? Challenging Slytherin's authority so early in the morning? Am I, Malfoy, too old to wield a knife, or am I, Blaise, too old to lift a gun?
When they saw Hermione carrying Crookshanks and coming out of the dormitory with Fa-jie and Ka-jie, the two immediately sat back down. They hadn't seen anything today!
Every Slytherin student who passed by would politely greet Hermione, addressing her as "Miss Granger," which made Hermione blush deeply.
Crookshanks was happily snacking in the lounge, his fluffy orange fur soft and smooth, his round eyes squinting, looking gentle and cute. Before long, Callis and Pansy also came over, staring at Crookshanks who was engrossed in eating, their eyes full of affection.
"This cat is so beautiful, with such soft fur and such a fine appearance." Pansy crouched down and carefully reached out to gently stroke Crookshanks's back, her voice full of joy.
Callis also teased Crookshanks with great interest, gently scratching its chin with her fingertips, and chimed in with a smile, "Indeed, clever and well-behaved, much cuter than Mrs. Norris."
The group sat together, chatting or teasing the well-behaved Crookshanks. Callis would occasionally share some interesting gossip, and Pansy would chime in, creating a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere.
Hermione was initially a little reserved, but under everyone's gentle treatment, she gradually relaxed, holding the docile Crookshanks and quietly staying to the side, occasionally chiming in with a few words. She spent the whole morning leisurely playing in the Slytherin common room.
At noon, Hermione, holding Crookshanks, who had eaten and drunk his fill and was now nestled obediently in her arms, got up to leave. Holding the cat, she quietly said goodbye to everyone in the common room. After a kiss from Su Yu, her face flushed slightly, Earth Flow the Slytherin common room with somewhat hurried steps and returned to the Gryffindor Tower.