"We'll be going now," Draco said, carefully tucking the new wand into the inside pocket of his robe. "We haven't even had dinner because of all this wand-tinkering."
"Go on, go on, hurry up and leave."
Ollivander immediately reverted to his languid demeanor, waving his hand as if shooing away flies, urging:
"I finally made it off work, and then you guys showed up at my door. What bad luck... oh no, what a busy day." He muttered, but everyone could hear the immense sense of accomplishment and satisfaction hidden in his complaint.
Draco walked to the door, turned back, and teased, "Having enjoyed the satisfaction of creating a masterpiece, you're already turning your back on me? Fine, next time I have Sickle ask you for it."
"You can't get anyone else to do it as well as I can!" Ollivander retorted, tidying up the counter without even looking up.
"... That's true." Draco was taken aback, but had to admit the fact, and awkwardly touched his nose.
Hermione, listening to the old man and the young girl teasing each other, couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle, her eyes filled with a helpless smile.
Professor Babbling, witnessing Draco and Ollivander's playful banter for the first time, showed a surprised yet amused expression.
I gained a new understanding of Draco's ability to quickly establish unique connections with different people in different situations.
Carefully putting away the " Watcher," the three bid farewell to Mr. Ollivander, who desperately needed to catch up on his sleep, and left Diagon Alley.
Using Apparition once again, they returned to a secluded path on the outskirts of Hogwarts.
It was getting late, and the light in the woods was dim.
The three of them lit their wands, the soft light illuminating their path; however, they hadn't gone far—
"Whoosh!"
A figure emerged from behind a tree ahead, blocking the middle of the road. The light from the wand revealed the person's sinister face.
" Young Rookwood." Hermione warily raised her wand.
"You dare show your face in front of me? Aren't you afraid I'll throw you into Azkaban? The Dementor these days, the Dementor these days are really hungry," Draco mocked.
"Don't get agitated, Young Master Malfoy. I'm not here to cause you any trouble." Although Young Rookwood. also gripped his wand tightly, he raised his hands high, palms facing outwards, adopting a non-aggressive posture.
"Then what are you doing here?" Hermione still stared at him warily. "Don't tell me you've had a change of heart or are desperate and have come to 'cooperate' with us."
She herself thought it was a lame joke.
What was meant to be a sarcastic remark was met with a nod from Young Rookwood: "Indeed, Miss Granger is indeed clever; no wonder Young Master Malfoy likes you so much."
Hermione blushed, then straightened her face, looking at him with disgust, and ignored the ambiguous teasing.
"Spit it out if you have something to say, or just spit it out," Draco interrupted impatiently, raising his wand. "I don't have time for your nonsense."
" Ranrok is already digging into the Repository beneath Hogwarts," Young Rookwood said through gritted teeth. "After it's all done, he'll kick me to the curb without giving me a single penny."
"That's not surprising," Hermione scoffed. " Ranrok despises wizards, and you actually dare to cooperate with him? Are you naive enough to believe he'll share the profits with you?"
"Dislike of wizards?" Young Rookwood said as if he'd heard a joke. "Little girl, you're too naive! In this world, only eternal interests qualify as betrayal!"
"This has nothing to do with us, and you're not qualified to cooperate with me!" Draco glanced at him contemptuously.
"Not qualified?" Young Rookwood raised his voice. "Do you really think you're some chosen one of Ancient Magic? I'm cooperating with you to get a share of the profits!"
"Excuse me," Draco interrupted his reverie, "I don't want soup, I just want rice."
"You'd better get out of my sight right now, before I change my mind and actually send you to feed the Dementor."
"Fine... fine! Young Malfoy, don't think you'll have the last laugh!" He gritted his teeth and uttered a harsh remark.
Finally, it glared venomously at the three of them before disappearing into the shadows of the roadside woods like a stray dog.
"What kind of trash is he, daring to try and steal Ancient Magic from me?" Draco said disdainfully, watching Young Rookwood. leave.
Seeing his arrogant "I'm the best in the world" attitude, Hermione couldn't help but laugh, and her earlier tension dissipated.
"Alright, stop gloating. While Young Rookwood. is not a major concern, there may still be remnants of the ' Ashwinder faction ' and the network he's connected with Ranrok," she cautioned.
Professor Babbling chimed in, " Miss Granger is right. We mustn't let our guard down. Those dark wizards of the Ashwinder faction are cunning and vengeful."
"Okay, okay," Draco replied, but his expression was dismissive. In his eyes, an opponent of Young Rookwood's caliber was no longer worth his time.
The three continued towards the castle. As they passed a fork in the road, Draco suddenly stopped and turned to Hermione and Professor Babbling: "What are you doing?"
Hermione looked completely bewildered, pointing towards the Map Chamber: "Of course we need to go to the Map Chamber! Sealing the energy orb and stopping Ranrok, isn't this an extremely urgent matter?"
"No rush," Draco said. "We're just one step away from the finish line. Besides, food is the priority. I'm hungry, and low blood sugar will affect my spellcasting accuracy."
Hermione stamped her foot in frustration. "What time is it and you're still thinking about food! Ranrok could dig through the Repository at any moment—"
Before she could finish speaking, her stomach let out a loud, extremely untimely "gurgle."
The air froze instantly.
Hermione's face instantly turned bright red. Embarrassed, she clutched her stomach, wishing she could disappear into the ground.
"Look, even your stomach is protesting. Health is the foundation of everything, Hermione." Draco's lips curled into a smile.
Hermione was extremely embarrassed and angry, yet unable to refute it.
All I could do was glare at him fiercely.
Looking at the two children, Professor Babbling shook her head helplessly and smiled, "Anyway, you'll be the final inheritor. But you need to be well-fed to have the energy to work, that's true."
She still trusted Draco, not only because of his abilities and the trials he had passed, but also because of his remarkable ability to control the overall situation at crucial moments, far beyond his years.
Seeing that the professor had said so, and her own stomach was indeed growling with hunger, Hermione had no choice but to give in, muttering softly, "Then... then let's eat quickly."
The three arrived at the kitchen entrance near the Great Hall.
A dinner was devoured in a flash.
Hermione ate incredibly fast, as if Dementor was chasing her, chewing each bite with lightning speed, as if afraid that Ranrok would steal Ancient Magic and destroy the world at any moment.