As soon as Dumbledore's figure completely disappeared into the shadows, Hermione's questions, which had been building up all night, finally erupted.
She stepped forward and asked urgently:
" Draco! Explain yourself—what's with all those levels on the fourth floor? What kind of riddles are you and Professor Dumbledore playing?"
Draco, seeing her flustered and serious expression, frankly told her:
"That was originally intended as a test for Harry to help him grow quickly, but now that I'm added as an unstable factor, we'll definitely be part of it."
Hurton was utterly shocked.
A test for Harry's growth?
He said it so casually, and even mentioned that we'd get a share?
Was he planning to take her with him into the face of danger all along?
Before she could recover, Hermione pressed on with more questions:
"So what exactly is this 'destruction' you were talking about earlier?"
Draco's expression darkened:
"There's nothing I can't say. It's just about the key items for Voldemort's resurrection. As long as we destroy all of those things, he'll never be able to truly resurrect."
Hermione gasped.
Voldemort, resurrection, destruction, secret plan...
So he wasn't throwing a tantrum, and he wasn't trying to flirt with her!
Instead, they have been shouldering the same heavy and dangerous responsibilities as the principal.
Seeing her shocked and worried expression, Draco softened his tone:
"I've just been waiting for the right opportunity to tell you."
"I'm saying it now because I believe—my girl—is brave enough and smart enough."
These words gently struck Hermione's heart, disrupting its rhythm.
Everything at that moment transformed into a burning surge of emotion and heartache.
She always thought he was just proud, playful, and liked to tease her.
Little did she know, he had already placed her in the most trusted position.
She was bound to the most dangerous and burdensome future.
Thinking of this, Hermione looked at him firmly:
"I... I won't hold you back."
"No matter what it is, I want to be with you."
Draco, seeing Hermione's serious expression return, immediately switched to a mischievous grin and said nonchalantly:
"Alright, let's leave the heavy topics behind—it seems like it's time for a passionate kiss again."
These words abruptly interrupted Hermione's initial surge of excitement, heartache, and determination, leaving her utterly speechless.
She was internally ranting:
Does this guy ever have a serious moment?!
Just a second ago they were talking about a matter of life and death, and the next second he's jumped to this kind of place!
Seriously... he ruined the whole atmosphere!
There's just no way to deal with him; his shamelessness is utterly incurable!
Hermione glared at him fiercely:
"Shut up! Who wants to passionately kiss you... Draco Malfoy, can't you be serious for three seconds?!"
Seeing her both embarrassed and annoyed, Draco quickly stopped joking, gently patted her head, and said softly:
"Okay, okay, I won't make a scene anymore. I just don't want the atmosphere to stay so heavy."
"No matter what we have to do or what we have to face next, I will never exclude our Miss Granger."
Hermione felt a warmth in her heart, and her earlier speechlessness vanished instantly.
"I understand... Thank you, Draco. With you by my side, I'm not afraid at all."
At this point, a mischievous glint appeared in Draco's eyes. "Oh? Now that you mention it, are you so moved that you're determined to marry no one but me?"
Hermione's cheeks flushed bright red. She pinched his arm hard and muttered under her breath, "... Here we go again! Can't you tone it down a little?"
Draco winced in pain, his playful grin fading slightly, and asked, "Would Miss Granger like a man who's too serious?"
Hermione's cheeks continued to burn, "I... I don't dislike being serious, I just dislike someone who's always so unserious and deliberately trying to annoy me."
Draco chuckled, then softened his tone. "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. Miss Granger, do you still have any questions?"
Hermione was stunned for a moment, and all the jumbled questions in her mind seemed to be soothed away at once.
She shook her head. "No... You've told me everything, I understand."
"In that case," Draco's eyes flashed with a knowing smile, "Can we go back to sleep now? Or... is Miss Granger planning to stay out all night with me?"
Hermione's face was burning hot, and she snapped:
"What nonsense are you spouting! Go back now! Who wants to stay out all night with you... Draco Malfoy, if you keep talking nonsense, I'm really not going to talk to you anymore!"
Hermione said, her cheeks burning, and she dared not look at him again. She took a step forward and ran quickly toward the door of the Room of Requirement.
Draco chuckled and took a step to follow him, "You always say that, but you never actually do it."
Hermione, with her back to him, paused for half a second, then stubbornly said, "This time is different."
"How is it different?" Draco quickly caught up, his voice right behind her.
Hermione left without turning her head and said:
I'm very serious this time!
Draco watched her retreating figure, finally abandoning his teasing thoughts. "Alright, I won't say anything more."
He silently followed Hermione's footsteps, ceasing his teasing and simply staying quietly by her side.
Only the soft footsteps of the two remained in the corridor.
As Draco escorted Hermione to the girls' dormitory stairwell, Draco simply whispered, "Goodnight, Granger."
Hermione glanced back at him, her heart skipped a beat, and whispered, "... Goodnight, Draco."
After saying that, she quickly walked up the spiral staircase and disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Draco stood there and smiled, then turned and walked towards the boys' dormitory.
The night was gentle, and Hogwarts was quiet.
The two went back to rest, hiding all the secrets and excitement of the night in their deep sleep.
After Halloween, as November arrived, Hogwarts grew extremely cold, with a biting chill in the wind.
Hermione always looks clean and beautiful in her winter clothes whenever she appears.
That morning, in the Gryffindor Common Room, before most of the others had come down, Draco suddenly pulled a red and yellow scarf from behind his back.
The color is just like the school flag, full of Gryffindor flavor.
As always, his small portrait was woven into one corner of the scarf.
Is it pretty?
Hermione's cheeks flushed slightly.
"When did you get this scarf? I didn't even know!"
Draco thought to himself, "I got it from the system, how could you possibly know?"
Thinking it over, Draco stepped forward without saying a word and gently wrapped the scarf around her neck, his movements both tender and natural.
"So warm," Hermione thought.
It wasn't just the warmth of the scarf, but also his scent when he was close.
It was clearly Gryffindor's color, but the way he wore it made it seem like the scarf and he himself had become his exclusive mark.
Anyone could tell at a glance that it was a gift from Draco Malfoy.
He's so domineering, yet impossible to dislike.