"Jerry!" Hermione cried, her voice brimming with joy and excitement.
"Hermione, you're finally here!" Jerry said with a warm smile. "I've been waiting for you."
At his words, Hermione's eyes reddened. She hurried over and wrapped him in a tight hug.
"Jerry, you're finally back!"
Jerry gently patted her back. "I'm sorry, Hermione. I made you worry."
Hearing his apology, Hermione felt a rush of relief and emotion. Tears glimmered in her eyes.
Outside the Gryffindor Common Room, around a corner in the Corridor.
"Wow! They're hugging!"
"She's crying! Hermione's crying!"
Parvati Patil and two other girls from her dormitory hid beside the wall, watching Jerry and Hermione excitedly as they whispered to one another.
"What are you three doing?"
Just as Parvati Patil and the others were deep in discussion, a loud voice came from behind them.
Harry, Ron, and Neville had just left the Common Room when they spotted Parvati and the other two girls lurking by the wall, apparently talking about something. Curious, they called out.
"Shh!"
Seeing who it was, Parvati spoke in a low voice and motioned for the other two girls to stay quiet.
"Keep your voices down!"
Neville was about to say something, but the fierce looks from Parvati and the other two girls made him swallow his words.
Jerry had noticed them long ago. When they grew bolder, he said to Hermione, "There's still plenty of time before class. Let's go sit in the Garden in front of the Castle and talk."
Hermione wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and nodded. She let Jerry take her hand and lead her toward the Garden.
When Harry and the others realized the black-haired figure was Jerry, whom they hadn't seen in ages, they rushed to greet him. Parvati and her friends