Hermione watched Crookshanks dive headfirst into his new cat room, purring contentedly, and said to Draco:
"You... you're always like this, you don't say anything, but you think of everything for us."
Draco leaned back on the sofa, looking at the smug fat cat in the cat room, then at Hermione's gentle smile, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.
"Don't overthink it, really. I just find it takes up too much space rubbing against you all the time," he said casually.
"I understand." Hermione didn't call him out.
Crookshanks stretched lazily in his new cat room, thinking to himself with delight:
Hmph, you're smart enough to stay by my master's side from now on.
The night gradually quieted down.
Draco cast a spell on the cat house, whispering Feather-Light Charm. The cat house, which had looked heavy, immediately became light, and Hermione could easily lift it with one hand.
"I've put a spell on it; you can carry it."
"Mmm," Hermione replied sweetly.
The two parted ways quietly at the top of the girls' dormitory stairs and went back to their respective dorm rooms. Hermione, carrying her exquisite and fluffy luxury cat room, pushed open the girls' dormitory door...
My roommates all looked over.
"Wow-- Hermione! What, what is this?! It's so beautiful!" Lavender exclaimed in a low voice.
"Is this a cat house for Crookshanks? It's so exquisite! It's even more comfortable than our beds!" Parvati came over and touched the plush surface with envy.
Lavender immediately leaned closer, her eyes sparkling as she pressed for an answer:
" Hermione, where did you get this? It's so beautiful!" Lavender asked curiously.
"No need to ask, it must have been Draco who gave it to you." Olivia crossed her arms, looking like she had known all along.
"Yes, he just changed it for Crookshanks." Hermione's cheeks flushed slightly as she readily admitted it.
"That's too much pampering... They even take such good care of the cat!" Lavender said, clutching her chest.
"It's just a cat room. Draco even learned the Patronus Charm for Hermione," Parvati added.
"He's just... a bit meticulous. Stop teasing me, I still need to settle things in Crookshanks."
Crookshanks peeked out from her arms and gave the three girls a haughty look: Envious, aren't you? I'm now the most prestigious cat at Hogwarts.
Hermione carefully placed the cat room in the corner next to her bed, then gently adjusted the angle to make Crookshanks more comfortable.
As soon as she turned around, the three girls' curious gazes fell on her hair.
" Hermione, your hair... it looks amazing! It's so much smoother than before, and the color is so much brighter!"
Upon hearing this, Parvati quickly answered with a laugh, "I know! It was Draco who took you to get it done, wasn't it? Who else would dress you up so nicely besides him!"
"Are we going to the Muggle barbershop? Or that witch-themed hair salon in Diagon Alley?"
Olivia asked.
"It was done at Primpernelle's Beautifying Potions, but not by one of the wizards there; Draco did it for me himself," Hermione replied after settling the cat's room.
The dormitory fell silent.
"Made by myself... Oh my god, it's so sweet!"
Lavender covered her mouth; she was overwhelmed by the sourness.
Parvati clicked her tongue and sighed, "A barrier, a cat room, and doing my hair by hand—I'm so jealous!"
Hermione, seeing their envious expressions and their attempts to continue teasing, dropped a bombshell. "Do you still want to go to Hogsmeade with Draco?"
This is more effective than any silencing spell.
The three of them immediately shut up and dared not cause any more trouble.
"Sleep, sleep, sleep! Go to sleep now!"
"For Hogsmeade!"
Crookshanks purred softly in his brand-new cat room, while Hermione snuggled into bed, a slight smile playing on her lips.
Meanwhile, far beyond Hogwarts, a dramatic upheaval is quietly unfolding throughout the entire magical world.
Night fell over Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley, and the Muggle corners of London, as well as the Pure-blood mansions hidden in the woods and valleys.
News of the Dementor ' siege of Hogwarts had already spread rapidly throughout the British Wizarding World via owls, whispers, and rumors.
The Ministry of Magic was in a state of panic, with internal disputes raging, Fudge hiding in his office, refusing to show himself.
While desperately suppressing the news, they frantically deployed Dementor to guard key locations at various points.
But the more they try to cover it up, the faster the panic spreads.
The next morning, while a light mist still lingered on the lawn outside the castle, Draco led Hermione to the designated spot, only to find that Dumbledore and Hagrid were the only ones standing there.
"The other professors all have early classes and can't get away for the time being, so it's just a few of us. In terms of numbers... is that enough to make arrangements?" Dumbledore asked.
Draco chuckled indifferently, "That's enough. You're the core, Old Dumbledore. Your magic is the key to the formation. The others are just speeding things up a bit."
Dumbledore nodded.
Draco then waved his wand, and several moonlight amulets, gleaming with a soft silver light, floated in mid-air.
"I want to set up Big Dipper Protective Barrier."
He pointed to seven directions and clearly stated their locations:
"Bury a Moonstone amulet in each of these seven locations: the top of the Astronomy Tower, the edge of the Forbidden Forest, the north corner of the Quidditch Pitch, the lakeside dock, the west tower of the castle, next to Hagrid's Hut, and the top of the gate pillars. This will create a powerful array."
The four worked efficiently, and within half an hour, all seven amulets were in place. Draco stood in the center and loudly chanted the activation incantation, Dumbledore simultaneously infused them with immense magical power.
A layer of pale golden, translucent light slowly unfolded, gently enveloping the entire Hogwarts like an eggshell.
A gust of wind blew, causing the light patterns to flow, and then the protective barrier concealed itself, just like on a train. It wouldn't be easily activated unless Dementor entered the school.
Dumbledore sensed the solid protective barrier and felt much relieved. "I have some departmental matters to attend to, please excuse me."
After saying that, it transformed into a green light and disappeared.
Only Draco, Hermione, and Hagrid remained.
Hagrid scratched his beard and rubbed his hands together expectantly as he began, " Draco, Hermione... I'm just in the right place. We need two teaching assistants for the Care of Magical Creatures."
"You're intelligent, calm, and friendly with all sorts of Fantastic Beasts, could you... do me this favor?"
Hagrid quickly added.
"It's just... you only need to lend me a hand during your Care of Magical Creatures, you don't need to spend too much extra time on me."
"No problem, Hagrid, we'd be happy to help you."
Hermione smiled and nodded, Draco reassured him:
"You don't need to be so nervous. Didn't you do a great job welcoming the students on the first day of school?"
"That's different. Welcoming is one thing, but when it comes to actually teaching... I'm afraid I won't be able to explain things clearly and might scare the students."
Hagrid sighed.