After everyone had almost finished eating,
The Great Hall gradually quieted down.
Dumbledore stood up again. "Before everyone officially begins the new school year, I have two more things to announce."
He first looked at Lupin:
"This semester, Professor Remus Professor Lupin will be your Defence Against Dark Magic instructor."
A polite and expectant round of applause filled the Great Hall. After what happened on the train, many students had developed a great deal of trust in this gentle new professor.
Dumbledore and continued to announce the second matter, "At the same time, our Rubeus Hagrid will officially assume the position of Professor of the Care of Magical Creatures at this school."
Hagrid flushed red, and he stood up excitedly, scratching his head and awkwardly waving to the audience.
The applause grew even louder.
As the jubilation of the banquet gradually subsided, the Prefect of the Four Houses stood in front of the long table, beginning to orderly guide the freshmen and seniors to line up and prepare to return to their respective college lounges.
In the Gryffindor group, the students kept turning back, looking with admiration at Draco, who had just amazed everyone.
Draco was holding Hermione's hand, intending to leave with the group, when Dumbledore slowly walked up behind him and gently placed his warm hand on his shoulder.
" Draco, come and have a seat?"
Draco nodded, Hermione quietly followed beside him. The two gestured to the crowd, then turned and left the noisy Great Hall with Dumbledore.
Everyone thought this was perfectly reasonable!
Stepping into the Headmaster's Office again, Draco felt as comfortable as if he were back home.
He casually teased the Fawkes perched on a branch.
The phoenix lazily tilted its head and gently brushed his fingers with its wing, neither dodging nor avoiding, but even showing a hint of intimacy.
Of all the students at Hogwarts, he was the only one who could make Fawkes so relaxed.
Draco casually pulled over two chairs and naturally pulled Hermione to sit down with him.
Crookshanks, curled up on Hermione's lap, glanced at Fawkes, then calmly closed his eyes again.
Thinking to himself, "Even the principal's phoenix is so familiar with him, what is there that this person can't do?"
After sitting down opposite him, Dumbledore got straight to the point:
"That protective barrier on the train that blocked the Dementor, you set that up, didn't you?"
"Headmaster, you think too highly of me. I'm just a third-year student," Draco said innocently.
Dumbledore gently shook his head, revealing the truth. "Others may not be able to, but you will."
"Only someone with your personality could calmly protect an entire busload of people behind them when everyone else is panicking."
Draco scoffed, "You're labeling me again."
"On another note, isn't protecting the students your responsibility, Principal? Why are you expecting it from me?"
"What I need to protect is the greater good of Hogwarts. But you, in a place unseen by everyone, protected their lives in the present moment," Dumbledore silence.
Draco pursed his lips, looking completely uninterested in playing along. "Too official. I don't care what you think. I'll only do what I want to do."
As he spoke, he casually glanced at Hermione, deflecting all the credit. "Of course, it was Hermione suggested protecting the students this time."
Hermione was stunned, and a blush crept onto her face.
She met Dumbledore's smiling gaze and quickly explained in a low voice, "I... I just reminded him that there were many people in the carriage... He was the one who actually set up the barrier and held off the Dementor. I didn't do anything."
With a single sentence, he gently pushed the ball back to Draco.
Dumbledore's smile deepened as he looked at Hermione:
Hermione, many times, saying "There are others" is braver than casting a spell.
"He has the power to protect everyone, and you have the heart that makes him willing to protect everyone."
"The most powerful magic in this world has never been barriers, nor Patronus."
You made him a better person.
Hermione's cheeks burned, and she couldn't say a word. She could only quietly move closer to Draco and grip his sleeve tightly.
Draco listened,
He gave Dumbledore a thumbs-up.
Fawkes tilted its head, chirped, and flapped its wings slightly, scattering a few tiny golden sparks.
Meanwhile, Crookshanks, nestled in Hermione's arms, raised his cat-like face and calmly glanced at Draco, thinking:
Hmph, you guys have some insight. Anyway, I knew all along that he was completely under my master's thumb.
It had an arrogant air about it, as if it had everything under its control.
Dumbledore smiled, then looked at Draco seriously. " Draco, could you set up the same protective barrier for the entire Hogwarts? The Dementor will probably be staying outside the school for quite some time."
"No problem. But you have to owe me one thing: you have to agree to whatever I ask in the future."
Draco is making demands again.
Dumbledore paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded helplessly:
"Good."
Hermione gripped his wrist tightly, whispering worriedly, " Draco, Hogwarts is so big... the full-range enchantment won't be enough for your magic."
Draco smiled at her. "Magic? Old Dumbledore that. I'll just set up the array and activate it."
"Don't worry, Miss Granger, the old man's still in good health." Dumbledore amused and exasperated.
Hermione was a little embarrassed, but she was completely relieved. Then Draco snapped his fingers, "Then tomorrow morning, I don't have classes, we can get right to work."
Dumbledore smiled and nodded, "I will cooperate with the professors; the entire castle is at your disposal."
"We'll be going now." Draco pulled Hermione up and got up, ready to slip away.
Dumbledore gently instructed from behind:
"Get some rest early, don't stay up too late—and Hermione, keep an eye on this Young Malfoy."
Draco waved without turning his head and led Hermione out of the Headmaster's Office.
All the way back to the Gryffindor Common Room,
There's no one left.
Hermione had just sat down when Draco suddenly pulled out something—a huge, super soft, exquisitely decorated cat house with a small staircase, a small hammock, and a small plush cushion. It landed on the floor with a "thud," and its appearance was absolutely stunning.
" Draco! This... this is for Crookshanks?!"
Hermione was both surprised and delighted.
Crookshanks in her arms twitched its nose, then jumped down instantly, circled the cat room three times, and gently scratched at the soft fur with its paws.
The cat was almost moved to tears, its inner screams roaring:
Finally! Finally, I don't have to stay in that broken cage anymore!
That awful place is no place for a cat to stay!
It meowed softly, then happily burrowed into its cat room, sprawled out on the plush cushion, and curled its tail into a contented little circle.
"This cat has finally made it through!"
"How come you... even remember this?" Hermione said.
"I don't remember, I just felt sorry for that fat cat sitting in its cage," Draco said.