After Draco finished speaking, the Gryffindor table fell silent.
Harry felt a chill run down his spine; he knew better than anyone the suffocating feeling of having his happiness sucked away.
Ron's enthusiasm for going out to play vanished instantly, and he clicked his tongue in surprise:
"Absorb... absorb souls? What's the difference between that and death... From now on, I'll definitely stay obediently in the castle."
Hermione saw that Ron was completely terrified, so she explained it to him again, "Did you hear me? Only death row inmates are Dementor's Kiss."
"As long as we don't break serious laws or deliberately provoke them, we won't end up like that."
"Ordinary people will at most feel cold, sad, or recall painful memories when they get close; their souls won't be sucked away."
Hermione's words reassured everyone somewhat.
"That scared me to death... I thought it would be over if I got too close."
"Even without being kissed, just having your happiness drained is bad enough," Olivia said.
These words made Seamus shrink back.
"Stop talking, stop talking! It scares me. This isn't a guard, this is a monster!"
"What are you afraid of? Just blast them away with a spell, won't you?" Dean couldn't help but tease him.
"No, no, don't joke around! I don't want to be sucked dry before I even finish chanting the spell!" Seamus waved his hands in fright.
"Actually, there is a way," Draco said.
These words immediately silenced the entire table.
All eyes turned to him, and the people at the Hufflepuff table in front of him stopped their chatter.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for him to continue.
"What method?!" Lavender asked anxiously.
It's incredibly disheartening to finally make it to the third year and not be able to go to Hogsmeade.
Draco casually remarked:
"Didn't Professor Lupin say that Expecto Patronum will protect you and drive away Dementor?"
As a result, everyone at the table immediately deflated.
"Well--"
Everyone sighed in unison; it was as if he had said nothing at all.
Olivia gently shook her head. "It's useless, not many older students know how to do it."
"It's not that there aren't many, it's that practically no one knows it! The Patronus Charm is ridiculously difficult; Percy, who studied so hard, couldn't learn it..."
Ron's words silenced everyone.
The hope that had just been ignited was quickly extinguished by reality.
Parvati said, looking aggrieved:
"Does that mean every time we go to Hogsmeade, our happiness will be drained first?"
"We go to Hogsmeade to have fun... If even our fun is sucked away, how can I possibly be happy...?"
The atmosphere suddenly turned dejected and helpless.
"Just study hard, it's not like you were born knowing how."
Draco said with a serious face, but Ron retorted with a bitter face, "You're really talking without understanding the difficulties! Forget about the Patronus Charm, I struggle with even ordinary spells!"
"Now all our hopes are pinned on you, Hermione!" Lavender exclaimed, his eyes wide with a sudden inspiration as he looked at Hermione as if she were his last hope.
Parvati nodded vigorously:
"Yes! Hermione, you'll definitely learn it! Then I'll be your little sidekick, following you everywhere, and you'll protect me!"
In an instant, all eyes at the Gryffindor table were fixed on Hermione, with even Harry, Ginny, and Neville looking on expectantly.
Hermione's heart tightened. She didn't like being relied on by so many people, and she didn't want to be their only hope.
She actually already knew the Patronus Charm.
She just couldn't say it, and didn't want to be in the spotlight at this time.
Just when she was in the most difficult situation,
Draco spoke up in her defense, "Don't put so much pressure on my wife."
The moment the word "wife" was uttered, the surroundings fell silent.
Lavender turned to him and said:
" Draco, give it your all! You're second in the whole grade, you'll definitely learn faster than any of us!"
Draco scoffed:
"What's the point of trying? It's just a spell."
"I already knew how to do that."
Hermione felt a warmth in her heart and instantly understood.
He did it on purpose.
He deliberately drew all the attention, expectations, and pressure from her and took it all upon himself.
The next second...
"What did you say?!"
Ron jumped up with a thud, the chair scraping against the floor with a screeching sound.
His voice was so loud that it could be heard clearly throughout the entire Great Hall.
In an instant...
Thousands of eyes across the entire school turned to look.
Even Dumbledore raised his eyes.
Ron's face flushed bright red, wishing he could disappear into the ground. He hurriedly waved his hands and stammered an explanation to the entire audience:
"I'm so sorry, everyone... Please continue eating, please continue eating... I just... I just cared too much about the Dementor!" He hurriedly sat down after saying that.
Fred and George, not far away,
The two brothers exchanged a glance, and a mischievous grin, as if they were enjoying the spectacle, simultaneously crept onto their lips.
"Hey--our Malfoy from Gryffindor, he's got this trick up his sleeve!" George shouted at the top of his lungs.
"This is interesting. I want to see what his Patronus looks like," Fred grinned.
A hushed murmur immediately filled the Great Hall, and all eyes turned to the Gryffindor table.
Hermione glared at Ron:
" Ron, you really have no restraint!"
Ron scratched his head awkwardly and apologized softly, "I'm so sorry... I was just too shocked and couldn't control myself..."
" Draco, are you serious? You really know the Patronus Charm?" Harry asked Draco incredulously.
Draco's hand rested casually on the back of Hermione's chair, his tone carrying a hint of nonchalant protectiveness:
"I will, but I'll only protect my wife; it doesn't seem to concern you."
Hermione blushed and lowered her head, pretending to tidy up her napkin.
The people around immediately became unhappy.
Lavender exclaimed dramatically, "Wow, that's such a double standard! We're friends too!"
"Exactly! We can't just protect Hermione!"
"Think about it, in the whole of Hogwarts, we're the only two who aren't afraid of Dementor. We can go to Hogsmeade whenever we want. Wouldn't that be awesome?" Draco said cheekily.
Upon hearing this, everyone's faces fell, and they all crowded around, pleading, "Please don't—"
" Draco, please help me!"
"From now on, we'll follow you guys!"
"Stop bragging! Who knows if you're just all talk? If you're so capable, show us your Patronus right now!" Ron deliberately provoked him.
Lavender shook Draco's arm and pleaded:
"No way, Draco! Ron may not believe me, but I do! Take me with you then, it'll make a difference!"
Parvati quickly followed:
"Exactly, since you've already brought Lavender, there's no harm in bringing me along too!"
With two people starting, the others were eager to try as well. Neville said, "Count me in... I promise I won't cause trouble."
"I believe you too. If we really get to Hogsmeade safely, I'll need your protection," Harry said.
"We'll go with them too, it makes us feel safe," Seamus said, and instantly the entire group defected, all siding with Draco.