"Jerry? Are you in the kitchen?"
The door creaked open, like rusty gears turning in the silence. Hermione poked her head around it, instantly dispelling the heavy, tense atmosphere between Jerry and Dumbledore.
"Hermione?" Dumbledore's blue eyes narrowed slightly behind his half-moon spectacles. His stern, tense expression immediately gave way to a warm, kindly smile. "Come in, child."
"Oh, sorry, Professor Dumbledore. I... I didn't realize you were here too." Surprise flashed in Hermione's eyes, followed by a flurry of apologies and flustered hesitation. She stammered, "I'll go back to my room. I won't interrupt your conversation with Jerry."
"It's quite all right, child. Come in and sit down!"
"I..." Hermione's gaze shifted between Dumbledore and Jerry as she hesitated.
"Come and sit down," Jerry said.
At his words, Hermione moved over and obediently sat beside him.
"It's so late. Why aren't you asleep yet?" Jerry glanced at the pocket watch in his hand. Its hands had quietly crept past midnight.
"Because you're going to the Ministry of Magic for your hearing tomorrow. I've been so anxious that I couldn't sleep, no matter how much I tossed and turned." Hermione's voice was barely audible. "So I thought I'd come and talk to you, but you weren't in your room..."
"Hahaha, Hermione, there's no need to worry about this little rascal. Look at him—he isn't taking it to heart himself, so why should you fret over him?" Dumbledore said with a laugh. "I promise you, he'll be going to school with you, just as before!"
"Of course. I have every faith in the Ministry of Magic's Congressmen." Jerry shrugged casually, turning to Dumbledore with a playful smile. "After all, they're all people who respect the law and can tell right from wrong, aren't they?"
"That's wonderful," Hermione said happily. "It's just