"I learned a lot! The ' Compendium of MACUSA Acts Through the Ages ' details the complete evolution of Rappaport's Law, which is completely different from the legal logic of the Britain's Ministry of Magic. And that book, 'A Comparative Study of Magical Education in the Old and New Worlds,' compares in detail the differences between Ilvermorny and Hogwarts in curriculum design, year-level assessment standards, and practical safety regulations. I copied down many key passages." Hermione spoke at length, clearly having learned a great deal.
However, she was still a little unsatisfied. "It's a pity that time was too tight. I only had time to read the first half of ' The Complete Book of Charms and Runes North America Unique Charms and Runes.' I'll have to read the chapters on shielding charms and anti-tracking runes later."
"Me too," Draco said.
"Who do you think you are? You've been wandering around all day, flipping through this book and that book, but I haven't seen you sit down and seriously read a single one." Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes at him.
"You don't understand." Draco smiled mysteriously.
Don't tell me you're learning with your mind.
Draco smiled without saying a word, thinking to himself: That's really true.
But he didn't rush to explain. The two walked along the mountain path for a while longer, and he teased Hermione, " Miss Granger, would you like all the books in the Ilvermorny Library?"
Hermione was stunned and looked at him, asking, "What do you mean?"
"Well... that depends on Miss Granger's wishes!" Draco's words were cryptic, but his intentions were obvious.
Hermione instantly realized that this guy was going to ask for a reward again, and her cheeks flushed, but she refused to give in to his wishes. A sly glint flashed in her eyes as she pinched Draco's soft flesh at the waist.
She pinched him hard, then said gently, "I'm generally a reasonable person and never mistreat those who have made contributions."
A sudden sharp pain in his lower back made Draco gasp, his body tensing. He could only plead, "I'll confess, I'll confess..."
Hermione loosened her grip, but didn't withdraw her hand. Instead, she placed her arm around his waist and asked, "How was it? I didn't force you, did I?"
"No..." Draco's face contorted in a grimace, his lips twitching, his voice carrying a hint of reluctant flattery.
"How could Miss Granger force me? Miss Granger has always been one to persuade people with virtue and reason... gentle, virtuous, and understanding, she would never resort to violence—"
With each word he uttered, the bitter smile on his face deepened, as if someone were holding a knife to his throat while reciting hymns.
Hermione nodded in satisfaction, then withdrew her hand and patted his shoulder. "Good boy, you should have said so earlier, wouldn't that have been better?"
Draco rubbed his waist where he had been pinched, thinking to himself: If he has a problem with this, I'll give him another pinch on the waist.
"Tell me, what did you do this time?" Hermione said smugly.
"Honey, would you believe me if I said I could memorize the entire book with just one glance?"
Draco dropped a bombshell.
Do you think I'm stupid?
Hermione gave her a look that said, "Do you think I'm a three-year-old?"
Draco had anticipated Hermione's disbelief, so he calmly took a bound booklet from his pocket and handed it to Hermione: "Here, this is a complete catalog of all the books in the Ilvermorny Library. I've categorized and organized them all."
Draco spoke with a hint of smugness in his voice.
Hermione took the list and quickly scanned the densely packed entries. "This is somewhat useful... but it's not the same as what you meant by 'scanning and entering information at a glance,' is it?"
"No, no, no!" Draco raised an index finger and shook it confidently. "Which book do you want? I can print it out for you right now, word for word."
"I don't believe you unless you print out a copy of the North America exclusive ' The Complete Book of Charms and Runes ' right now."
"That's easy."
"Watch closely, don't blink." Draco put his hands in his pockets, and when he came out again, he was holding a thick book.
With a flick of his wrist, the " The Complete Book of Charms and Runes " was laid flat.
Hermione's pupils dilated, she took the book, and eagerly began to flip through it. But when she saw the contents, she froze on the spot.
From the cover and back cover, the preface, the chapter layout, to the densely packed rune diagrams, annotations, and content inside,
Hermione was increasingly shocked as she flipped through the book; it was exactly the same as the original she had been looking at all afternoon.
Hermione stopped flipping through the book and looked at Draco in surprise.
Draco was extremely pleased.
"So, Granger? I wasn't lying to you!"
Hermione suppressed her shock and questioned, "What can one book prove? Maybe you prepared it beforehand. If you're so capable, why don't you come up with three more books Potions, herbs, and a general history?"
"That's easy." Draco reached into his pocket again and pulled out three more books, one after the other, placing them neatly on top of the spellbook Hermione was holding.
Hermione's shock intensified. She clutched the book in her arms tighter and continued to increase the difficulty, "This isn't enough. I won't believe you unless you can come up with ten more obscure books."
"What's so difficult about that? Just tell me, which obscure books are you referring to?"
Hermione immediately rattled off the names of two extremely obscure North America magical classics, then rattled off the remaining books at breakneck speed:
" Ilvermorny: The Legacy of the Four Houses," " Practical Defensive Spells," " Fantastic Beasts in the Americas "..."
As Draco listened, he gradually sensed something was amiss. "Honey, are you sure these are all obscure books?"
Hermione blushed when he called her out, but quickly regained her composure and said confidently, "I don't care if it's obscure or not, as long as you can pull it off, I'll believe you."
"I see!" Draco suddenly realized—this girl wasn't trying to test him at all; she was taking the opportunity to fleece him and get a free copy of the Ilvermorny Library's collection.
Hermione was uneasy at his knowing look, so she pressed him for details. "What do you know?"
Draco laughed, exposing Hermione's little scheme, "You little brat... you actually want to get ten more books from me for free?"
Hermione couldn't keep up the act anymore, but she still stubbornly insisted, "How can you call it freeloading? You're proving your abilities! I'm giving you a chance to show them!"
"Thank you so much Miss Granger, for your generosity, but I have no intention of proving anything." Draco withdrew his hand, effectively giving up.
After saying that, he made a move to quicken his pace and walk forward.
Now it was Hermione's turn to panic.
She had finally found a perfect opportunity to easily collect all the books, saving her the trouble of looking them up and copying them down; how could she possibly let it slip by?
Hermione hurriedly grabbed the three books and ran after him, her voice tinged with a hint of panic and compromise. "Hey—don't go! Don't go! I believe you! I really believe you! Please stop!"
Draco didn't turn around, but he slowed his pace slightly.
Hermione caught up with him, freeing one hand to tug at his sleeve, and said in a spoiled tone, " Draco! Stop! I don't want ten books anymore, three is enough! No, two will do!"