The Mysterious Upperclassman

Jerry looked at Trevor, curious about who wanted to see him—and why Trevor was being so humble about it. As far as Jerry knew, the Shacklebolt family was no minor house. It was one of the Sacred Twenty-Eight.

"Can you tell me who wants to see me?"

Trevor did not answer directly. "Rest assured, sir. We mean you no harm. The meeting place is right beside the Slytherin Common Room. Of course, if you're uncomfortable with that, you may choose the time and place."

That only made Jerry more curious. He decided to go and see who this person was.

Before leaving, Jerry told Hermione that if he was not back before class, she should tell a professor at once that a group of older Slytherin students had taken him away.

Knock, knock, knock.

Jerry followed Trevor Shackle to the Slytherin Common Room and into a small room beside it.

After knocking, Trevor bowed toward the room. "Miss Catherine, Mr. Green is here."

"Come in," a cold voice called from inside.

Trevor gently opened the door and gestured for Jerry to enter, then shut it behind him.

Jerry glanced around. It was a lounge of barely a dozen square meters. Apart from him, the only person there was a young woman seated on the sofa in the middle of the room. She must be the Catherine Trevor had mentioned.

Jerry studied her with curiosity. She wore a simple, elegant white gown that showed off her figure. Her hands were long and slender, and her graceful movements carried an air of composure and nobility. There was something cool and mysterious about her.

Her golden hair looked as soft as molten gold, and her features seemed finely sculpted. Her deep blue eyes were serene yet mysterious; she had a high, elegant nose and vivid, enticing red lips. Her voice was clear and cool, with a hint of warmth beneath the chill. She was like a queen stepping out of winter, someone he wanted to approach yet could not help but hold in awe.

"This is a private lounge?" Jerry asked in surprise. He had not known Slytherin had places like this.

"Welcome, esteemed Mr. Green. You may call me Catherine."

Catherine came up to Jerry, knelt on one knee, took his hand, and bowed her head to kiss it. Jerry froze. When he came to his senses, he snatched his hand back and stumbled two steps away.

Across two lifetimes, he had never encountered anything like this. Looking at Catherine, still kneeling before him, he asked in alarm, "Who are you, exactly? What do you want with me?"

"I'm Catherine Fawley, a fourth-year Slytherin student."

"Could you stand up first?" Jerry asked. Catherine rose, her gaze still burning. "What do you want with me?"

Catherine gave him a dazzling smile. "Mr. Green, let's sit down and talk."

They sat on the sofa in the center of the lounge. Catherine said, "Mr. Green, I didn't invite you here for anything serious. I simply wanted to meet you. If you ever need anything at Hogwarts, you can come to me."

Her sudden warmth made Jerry uneasy. He did not believe good fortune simply fell into people's laps.

"Miss Fawley, haven't we only just met?"

"But we're the same kind of people, aren't we?" Catherine replied. "We're destined to become companions. Jerry, there's no need to doubt it. Just say the word, and this lounge—and everything in it—is yours. From now on, it can be your private lounge."

Before Jerry could object, she suddenly leaned in and grabbed his hand. "Jerry, tell me about your past. When is your birthday? What was your childhood like?"

"Hey, Miss Fawley, I don't think we know each other that well. And I don't think we'll become companions. I have class now. Goodbye, Miss Fawley." Jerry stood and hurried out of the room.

He was under no illusion that this was some tender refuge. Catherine was a beautiful serpent who had her eye on him.

Catherine did not try to stop him. She merely bowed her head and saw him out.

After Jerry left, Trevor knocked and entered. He bowed respectfully, then stood to one side. "Miss Catherine, were you able to confirm it?"

Catherine shook her head. "Not yet. But when I held his hand, I felt his magic. It was similar—very similar. Have you found Jerry Green's date of birth?"

"Not yet. Dumbledore has kept it well hidden."

"Hmph. Useless, all of you."

At the anger in her voice, Trevor hurriedly dropped to his knees.

"Get out. Tell your family to hurry."

Trevor wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and fled.

Alone again, Catherine took out a ring engraved with a Mystic Symbol and slipped it onto her ring finger. She gently touched the mark and murmured with rapt devotion, "Jerry, we will become companions. No one can stop your return. Not Dumbledore, and not Grindelwald."

Back in the classroom, Jerry could not concentrate on the lesson. He kept thinking about what had happened. He refused to believe that winning two fights and injuring a few people was enough to make someone offer to serve him.

There was something strange about his background, too. He had once thought it was a coincidence, but the more he considered it, the less sense it made. Dumbledore had not even gone to collect Harry in person. Why would he come to take Jerry to school? Dumbledore had to know something about his origins. The next time Jerry saw him, he would find a way to ask.

"Jerry, are you all right? You've been distracted ever since you came back to class. Are you feeling sick? Do you want me to ask for leave for you?" Hermione waved a hand in front of his eyes. She had not known Jerry long, but she had never seen him like this.

Whether he was helping her teach Malfoy a lesson or telling them about his fight with the older students, Jerry had always seemed confident, no matter what happened. Now his brow was furrowed and his face full of worry.

Jerry looked at Hermione, who was so plainly concerned for him. She was kind and straightforward. Catherine, on the other hand, was impossible to read. He was certain she wanted something from him.

He smiled at Hermione. "I'm fine. Let's go to the library together after class."

"Okay!" Seeing the Jerry she knew return, Hermione agreed happily.