I Will Always Protect You

Late at night, William pushed open the oak door and walked out of the Headmaster's Office.

Snape stood alone in the doorway, waiting to go in and talk.

Upon seeing William come out, he let out a cold snort, seemingly quite displeased that the principal had spoken to William first, leaving him standing outside.

William curled his lip, thinking maliciously to himself, "If you're in such a hurry, you can stay in Dumbledore's office all night and come out tomorrow needing to lean against the wall!"

Snape, whether he had this thought or not, loosened his collar, touched his greasy hair, tidied his hairstyle, and hurriedly went inside.

William descended the spiral staircase slowly, like an escalator, until the wall split open and he stepped into the third-floor corridor.

He walked towards the stairs, took a few steps, then suddenly stopped, looking slightly lost in thought.

William saw Hermione sitting alone at the top of the stairs, her arms wrapped around her knees, waiting for him to come out.

The girl's head was resting on her knees, her fluffy brown hair spread out, and she seemed to be falling asleep.

William crept closer and gently patted Hermione's shoulder, startling her.

"It's me, don't be afraid."

William helped Hermione, whose legs were numb, to her feet and carefully brushed the dust off her robes.

Hermione rubbed her eyes, still sleepy, and asked, "William, you're out?"

William nodded. "What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to go back first?"

Hermione lowered her eyelids and said softly, "I went back, but I was worried about you, so I sneaked out of the dorm by myself."

William paused for a moment, then flicked her forehead with his finger. Seeing that she looked like a girl who had made a mistake and was being punished by a strict elder, he placed his hands on her forehead, his eyes more tender than ever before.

"Thank you for waiting for me. Let's go, I'll go back with you."

Hermione was very bold when she came alone, but on the way back, she was a little afraid of the castle's darkness and clung tightly to William's arm.

They seemed afraid of being suddenly attacked.

Clearly, Filch's situation had frightened her.

"William, did Professor Dumbledore say anything?" Hermione asked softly, glancing warily to both sides.

After leaving the Hospital Wing, Dumbledore left only William and Snape behind, and naturally had something to say to them.

"The professor said... the attacks won't stop, they will continue."

William gathered up some things he could say and told Hermione, who listened attentively.

He didn't tell Hermione that the person who opened the Chamber of Secrets of Secrets was ultimately after Harry.

The principal forbade anyone to say anything; he was about to put the Boy Who Lived to the test.

William was also surprised. Wasn't Dumbledore worried that Harry would break the whetstone?

Big, thick, and hard are rare qualities; not everyone is as gifted as William.

Or perhaps, why is Harry so special... simply because he carries Lily's magic within him?

William didn't understand Dumbledore's motives; the headmaster had his own plans, but he wouldn't say.

"Professor McGonagall instructed us not to tell anyone about what happened tonight," Hermione sighed softly.

Filch identified Harry as the attacker, but Professor McGonagall wanted to cover it up.

The teachers didn't believe Harry was really the attacker; clearly, there was some mistake.

But she couldn't have predicted that there would be four more attacks in the future.

Each time, the victim would point to Harry, until he was transformed from the Boy Who Lived into a feared attacker.

The murderer was a master at framing others and manipulating people's hearts, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows.

This type of opponent is the most troublesome.

Dumbledore's intentions were also clear: to temper Harry's will while secretly investigating.

Finally, Harry is led to find the attacker, resulting in a stunning reversal.

Those students who doubted or attacked him were thoroughly proven wrong and then felt genuinely ashamed.

It can only be said that Dumbledore had a good plan, but William did not believe that things would go as he wished.

"William, what is the Chamber of Secrets?" Hermione finally asked as they approached the Gryffindor Common Room.

I forgot about the book "Hogwarts: A History" at my house in Ottery St Catchpole.

William thought for a moment and then explained it to her.

"So, the Chamber of Secrets really was left by Slytherin to attack us?"

"No, Dumbledore told me that Slytherin built the Chamber of Secrets not to purify the school, but for other purposes, which were deliberately distorted by later generations."

Hermione nodded thoughtfully.

Soon, the two arrived at the door of the lounge.

"You should head home soon. Do you need me to take you?" Hermione said playfully, her hands behind her back.

"Then I'll bring you back?" William chuckled. "If I keep sending you back and forth like this, it'll probably be until tomorrow morning."

"That works too!" Hermione blinked.

"Go inside. It's not safe lately. I'll walk you to your dorm." William patted her head.

He then said to the Fat Lady was clearly engrossed in gossip, "Honey-eating bird."

That's it... that's it?!

The Fat Lady opened the door with a hint of disappointment and let the two of them in.

She was right here back then, witnessing the entire breakdown between Professor Snape and Lily Evans.

Even if you two don't completely break ties, could you at least add some scenes that are inappropriate for children?

The Gryffindor common room was empty; only the fireplace flames still burned slowly inside.

The two climbed the stairs and arrived at the entrance of the girls' dormitory.

As they parted, Hermione lowered her head, her knuckles white, and gripped William's clothes tightly, not wanting him to leave.

"What's wrong?" William asked softly.

Hermione trembled all over, suppressing a sob as she whispered:

"I've been restless all evening. I don't understand... William, do those Pure-blood families really despise us Muggle-born wizard so much?"

William sighed softly. No wonder Hermione had been acting strangely the whole way; it turned out that the impact tonight had on her was not as mild as it seemed on the surface.

After all, before Dumbledore made his judgment, most people believed that Filch had been killed.

The fear brought by the dead is truly terrifying!

"Hermione, Pure-blood wizard can be good or bad, just like Muggle."

Not all kindness is met with gentleness.

Some people don't like the things that ordinary people prefer; they simply want to see the world... burn out!

"However," William patted Hermione's head and said softly, "I will always protect you."

She looked up, her eyes blurry with tears, "Really?"

William's eyes were resolute as he smiled and said, "Of course it's true! With me here, no one can hurt you."

Hermione looked at William... and for no apparent reason, she recalled their first meeting, the scene of the cauldron exploding, and the boy standing in front of it;

For no apparent reason, I recalled that day at Gringotts, that figure who always stood in front, refusing to back down...

Hermione stared blankly at William, momentarily lost in thought.

William reached out to wipe away the tears on her cheeks, gently pulled her head to his chest.

Hermione leaned against William's chest, feeling the boy's heartbeat, and took a soft breath.

Body,

It's finally getting warm.

A trembling heart

Things calmed down.

Very nice!

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