In a corner of the Hogwarts Library, a black-haired boy and a red-haired boy sat side by side.
Their movements were remarkably identical-quills in their right hands, cheeks propped on their left, seemingly focused on tackling their blank essays. In reality, neither had moved his wrist in ages, and both were staring blankly into space.
"Harry, what do you think... Hermione went off to do today? She's being so secretive..."
Ron suddenly put down his quill, rubbed his stiff cheeks, and said in bewilderment,
"How many days has it been since we really got to know her? Three? Four? Can you believe it-without Hermione, I've realized I don't even know how to write an essay anymore! How did I ever finish all this annoying homework before?"
"Huh? What did you just say?" Harry finally snapped out of his daze and looked at Ron. "Hermione? What happened to Hermione?"
Looking utterly speechless, Ron grabbed Harry's essay and glanced at it. Finding even fewer words on it than on his own, he let out a relieved breath and grinned.
"That's a relief. I'm not the only one with this problem. Looks like you're even more dependent on Hermione than I am."
"What are you talking about? No, I'm not..." Harry took back his parchment helplessly. "I was thinking about Quidditch. The match is coming up, and I don't want to lose and give Malfoy and his crowd something to laugh at."
"Hey, Harry, listen-I don't understand what you're worried about. Fred and George told me you're the most talented and hardworking Seeker they've ever seen-at least ten times better than the last one!"
At the mention of Quidditch, Ron immediately grew excited and shoved his essay aside.
"Comparing the other houses' Chasers to you is like comparing an ordinary wand seller to Ollivander's wand shop-have some faith in yourself, all right? Hermione and I will cheer for you at the top of our lungs!"
His excitement made his voice rise without his noticing, and the library's sole reigning monarch-Madam Pince-immediately looked their way. Ron and Harry fell silent at once, lowering their heads and pretending to discuss their assignments.
But they still heard footsteps growing clearer behind them. Just as Harry and Ron agreed that they were about to get a scolding from Madam Pince and began half-tuning out, they heard Hermione's voice instead.
"I have... something big... to tell you!" Hermione had yet to catch her breath, her cheeks flushed from the wind after walking so quickly. "Guess who I saw outside the Girls' Bathroom?"
"Shh!" Ron gestured for Hermione to come closer. "Madam Pince is watching us!"
Hermione had no choice but to lean in and whisper, "Professor Dumbledore and Mr. Brian!"
Ron hunched his shoulders and asked in confusion, "That new librarian? So? What's wrong with that? Maybe he and Professor Dumbledore were just passing the Girls' Bathroom. Why are you acting so mysterious?"
"Let me finish! It wasn't just any bathroom-it was the one Moaning Myrtle haunts!" Hermione said indignantly. "Mr. Brian told me they were looking for Moaning Myrtle and planning to repair the place, but he was obviously lying!"
"Are you sure, Hermione?" Harry asked doubtfully. "I've spent a little time with Mr. Brian, and he doesn't seem like someone who would lie. Have you found any evidence?"
"I... haven't yet-but my instincts tell me there was more to their visit than that!"
Hermione faltered for a moment, then grew certain again.
"Think about it-why did they leave that bathroom unrepaired all this time, only to suddenly decide to fix it now? And shouldn't that be Filch's responsibility? They're the librarian and the headmaster!"
"When you put it that way... you've actually got a point..." Ron drew in a sharp breath, then his expression suddenly changed. Raising his eyebrows, he asked, "But why did you go all that way to use that bathroom? Didn't you tell us you weren't feeling well today and were going to rest in your dormitory?"
"That's right, Hermione." Harry caught on too and joined Ron in staring at her.
"...All right, all right! Stop looking at me like that." Hermione pushed their heads away and pulled open one corner of her pocket, revealing a tiny cauldron inside. "I just wanted to practice what we learned in our latest Potions class-no one bothers you there, so it's perfect."
"Snape treats you like that, and you're still working so hard at Potions?" Ron said incredulously.
Hermione pressed her lips together and explained, "How Snape behaves is his business. Whether I study is mine, isn't it?"
"That's exactly right," Harry agreed. "However unreasonable Snape is, the marks are still ours."
"Harry... why are you like this too? Sometimes I don't understand how either of you thinks..." Ron frowned and clicked his tongue. "You should learn from my two brothers. Snape's taken points from them countless times, and they still never get tired of defying him."
"Ron, have you forgotten you also have a brother who's a prefect?" Hermione reminded him. "Anyway, let me see your essays. Oh-well done, have you both reached the second page already?"
This time, Harry and Ron exchanged awkward looks.
"We actually..." Harry began hesitantly.
Ron's eyes darted as he added, "Actually, we haven't written anything at all-look, you said you weren't feeling well, so you obviously wouldn't be doing homework. If we got too far ahead, we wouldn't be keeping pace with you, would we?"
"Do you really think I'd believe that?"
Hermione struggled to keep the corners of her mouth from turning up.
"You'd better not underestimate a girl's sixth sense."
In the end, she couldn't hold back and laughed quietly, setting Ron and Harry off into foolish grins as well.
Meanwhile, Brian had just returned to the library with his mind full of things when Madam Pince gave him a task-go and warn the three first-year Gryffindors sitting in the corner, grinning and fooling around instead of studying properly.
"You've come back at just the right time, Brian-keeping the library quiet is something librarians often have to do, whether they like it or not." A cold gleam flashed across Madam Pince's glasses. "Let's see how much authority you have."
"All right, leave it to me."
Brian accepted the task as a matter of course. After a moment's thought, he took the little snake out of the jar in his pocket, placed it in his palm, and instructed it,
"Try to look a bit frightening in a moment, all right?"
The utterly unintimidating little pet snake began flicking its tongue with a hiss, its gaze sharpening a little-it was still adorable.
Yes, the Alchemical Snake now obeyed his commands completely-it recognized its owner through magic, which was very convenient.
Then, carrying the little snake, Brian quietly walked up behind the grinning trio and suddenly spoke.
"Good evening, everyone."
The little snake obligingly hissed-
"Aah!" ×3.
The three first-year Gryffindors sprang from their chairs with a clatter, immediately turning around with both hands braced against the tabletop. Harry reacted fastest, snatching up his quill and gripping it as though he meant to use it as a wand.
But when Harry saw the little snake, something seemed off-his eyes took on a strange, dreamy look, and his lips twisted into an odd shape. Just as he was about to say something, Brian swiftly stuffed the little snake back into his pocket.
"I'm sorry!" Brian crouched down apologetically to check on Harry. "I didn't realize you were so afraid of snakes."
"Afraid of snakes?" Coming back to his senses, Harry gaped at him in bewilderment. "Me?"
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