"Why? I wanted to go home for Christmas. This term has been exhausting."
Hermione pouted coquettishly, tugging on the professor's arm and swaying it back and forth. Staying at school last Christmas had been understandable, but why did she have to run all the way to France in the dead of winter this year?
"There are eleven ancient magic schools registered with the International Confederation of Wizards around the world. Every school has its own traditionally strong subjects, even genuine mysteries unknown to other schools. Of those eleven magic schools, three are in Europe."
The girl understood. She raised her hand. "I know. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, and Durmstrang Institute. You're taking me to Beauxbatons?"
"Do you remember what happened with Nicolas Flamel last year? The Principal claimed he was hiding the Philosopher's Stone, but it was actually the Resurrection Stone he had stolen. It was a trap to confirm whether Voldemort was truly still alive."
Su Ming rubbed her head. She had grown a little taller than last year, though her front teeth still looked somewhat large.
"I remember. But what does that have to do with this?"
Hermione looked helpless. She felt that if things were really as the books described, the Philosopher's Stone was far more useful than the Resurrection Stone.
Su Ming led her to the Troll tapestry. The moment she saw the location, she knew what to do. She needed a room for a confidential conversation.
After pacing back and forth a few times, a door appeared in the wall. She and the professor stepped inside. It was a heavily guarded secret chamber, like an interrogation room in a prison.
There was not even a sofa, only cold wooden stools.
She heard the professor shut the door, and his