"Ah, this feels good!"
Jerry and Hermione leaned against a bare tree at the top of the slope, soaking up the warm winter sun.
Before long, Jerry drifted off to sleep in the peaceful comfort.
The sun was setting when a chill woke Jerry. He looked at Hermione beside him and asked, "Is the match over? Hermione, why didn't you wake me?"
Hermione smiled at him. "It ended ages ago. But you were sleeping so soundly, I couldn't bear to disturb you. I wanted you to rest a little longer."
Noticing that Hermione's hands were red from the cold, Jerry felt a rush of warmth. He clasped them tightly, as if he could pass that warmth on to her.
He looked into Hermione's eyes and asked with concern, "Are you cold? Did it get chilly while we were sitting here?"
Hermione shook her head gently. Her cheeks flushed as she stared at his hands wrapped around hers.
Her cold hands began to warm in his grasp, and an indescribable feeling welled up inside her.
Seeing the concern on Jerry's face, Hermione didn't feel uncomfortable. If anything, she was secretly delighted. She even enjoyed it.
She could feel how sincere his concern was. It brought her a happiness she had never known and couldn't put into words.
"We should head back. The sun's almost down!"
"Mm!"
Hermione gathered their things, slipped her arm through Jerry's, and set off toward Hogwarts Castle.
In the last light of sunset, two figures skipped along the path, laughing and playing.
Jerry and Hermione had barely stepped into the Great Hall when the lively scene caught their attention.
The Gryffindor students were gathered in celebration, every face lit with a jubilant smile. They acted as though this were their greatest day of victory.
Jerry couldn't help thinking they probably hadn't been this happy even when they won the House Cup.
The students in the Slytherin section made a stark contrast. They sat with their heads down in silence, though some glared toward Gryffindor through gritted teeth.
"Jerry! Hermione! You're finally here!"
When Harry, Ron, and Neville spotted them entering the Great Hall, they ran over. Harry was so excited that he gave Jerry a hug.
"Jerry, Ron and the others told me what happened," Harry said. "Thank you for saving my life today!"
"Don't mention it. We're mates!"
Jerry brushed it off aloud, but privately he had a few choice thoughts about this convenient little tool. Even if I hadn't saved you, Dumbledore wouldn't have let anything happen to you.
Though his friends were celebrating in the Great Hall, Jerry didn't join them.
Taking Hermione by the hand, he slipped away from the crowd to the far end of a long table. It was quieter there, away from the noise in the middle of the hall, and they could enjoy their food in peace.
The table was laden with dishes, their aromas filling the air. Jerry and Hermione sat down and began to eat.
Jerry speared a piece of roast meat with his fork and savored it. It was tender and cooked just right. Together, they sampled the side dishes and desserts too, enjoying every bite.
The house-elves in the Hogwarts Kitchens definitely aren't from Britain!
"Hey, Jerry!"
"Neville? Why aren't you celebrating with Harry and the others?"
"I came to warn you about Snape and the Malfoy family. I remember my gran telling me the Malfoys were all Death Eaters."
"I don't know if Snape knows about their ties to the Death Eaters, but he's very close to the Malfoy family. You need to be especially careful in Slytherin House."
Hermione looked worried as she agreed. "He's right, Jerry. I didn't want to believe it either, but Snape's behavior today was suspicious."
"Don't worry. I'll be careful," Jerry reassured her softly.
After dinner, Jerry and Hermione got ready to return to their respective dormitories.
As they were about to part, Hermione still looked uneasy. "Jerry, I'm worried. To be safe, I think you should go with Neville and the others and stay in the Gryffindor boys' dormitory."
Seeing her anxious expression, Jerry hugged Hermione and let her rest her head on his shoulder. Then he whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, Hermione. I promise I'll look after myself."
"Well, look who's here. If it isn't Slytherin's model student, little goody-two-shoes Jerry Green."
Jerry sensed something unusual the moment he entered the Slytherin Common Room. The atmosphere was far tenser than usual. A group of older students had gathered there, led by the Quidditch players.
Looks like they're all waiting for me.
Marcus and the others had disliked Jerry Green for a long time. It was bad enough that a wizard from a Muggle family had gotten into Slytherin. He even spent all his time with Gryffindors!
The taunt didn't faze Jerry. He looked at them calmly and said, "You lost the Quidditch match, so now you're upset and want to pick a fight with me?"
"If you suck, practice more!"
"Shut up!" Jerry's jab hit a nerve, and Marcus shouted, "You're a disgrace to Slytherin, you filthy Mud—"
"Enough, Marcus. Do you have a death wish?"
A cold voice cut Marcus off before he could finish.
What a shame, Jerry thought, slipping his half-drawn wand away again.
Everyone turned toward the back of the crowd.
It was Trevor Shackle!
Ignoring everyone else, Trevor Shackle strode to the front of the crowd. Smiling, he bowed to Jerry.
But the smile vanished almost at once. His expression turned stern, and he fixed Marcus and the others with a cold stare.
As soon as Jerry saw it was Trevor Shackle, he turned and left the Slytherin Common Room.
Trevor Shackle and his associates were far too mysterious, and Jerry was certain they were watching him for some reason.
That sense of being watched and threatened made him deeply uncomfortable.
Until I'm strong enough to kill them all, I'd better avoid them whenever I can!