Since it was Ravenclaw charging over, it was obvious who they were looking for; it could only be that little girl who had transformed into an Animagus.
After all, Harry and the other two were in Gryffindor... but these Ravenclaws... Professor Lupin looked at them with a complex expression as they reached the door.
Usually, they studied quietly, giving off the impression that they were just bookworms who knew nothing but how to read.
But looking at them now, he seriously doubted that if someone like the Dark Lord were to ever unite The Ravenclaws,
the fear and destruction they would cause might be even greater than that of Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters.
"Lynn!" three voices cried out in unison.
Having seen Lynn's Animagus form before, Maranhao, Marietta, and Penelope cried out in horror as they saw her lying motionless on the ground, tears streaming down her face.
They immediately ran out of the crowd to gather around Lynn, staring intently at her dragon head alongside Hermione.
"It's all my fault... all my fault... Lynn did this to protect us again."
Hermione covered her mouth, her head bowed as tears fell one by one onto Lynn's face.
As her tears traced paths across Lynn's tough skin, it seemed to soften under their touch.
Taking a deep breath, Maranhao quickly composed herself, stood up, and went to Hermione's side, putting an arm around her shoulder.
"Silly girl, the first thing Lynn would think of is protecting you, protecting all of you."
"If the person beside Lynn had been me, or any of us from Ravenclaw, she would have done the exact same thing."
"This isn't your fault."
Maranhao gently reached out to wipe the tears from Hermione's face. "You've only just started your Third Year; you can't be expected to have learned the Patronus Charm yet."
"That spell is truly difficult. Don't forget what you and Lynn said: don't set your expectations too high or push yourself too hard."
"But... but I'm always a burden!"
The emotions Hermione had been harboring since the Basilisk incident last year finally erupted, and she wept loudly, burying her face in Maranhao's arms.
"With the Basilisk, it was... and now, it's still the same!"
"I can never help her... I can never do it!"
Maranhao sighed and gently patted Hermione's back.
She couldn't help but keep looking at the dinosaur slumped on the floor. Lynn... if you keep sleeping, Hermione really is going to cry herself unconscious.
Marietta and Penelope also looked back and forth between Lynn and Hermione with worried eyes.
The other Ravenclaws were sensible enough not to crowd forward, leaving enough space for the air to circulate around Lynn while standing silently at a short distance.
They formed a semicircle, keeping a wary eye on the scenery outside the window as it slowly began to move backward, while looking at Lynn with concern.
Harry and Ron also kept their heads down in silence. The atmosphere grew oppressive for a moment, leaving only the sound of Hermione's sobbing in the entire carriage.
"It's not Hermione's fault..."
A talon that had transformed back into a human hand grabbed Hermione's hem before anyone could react.
Lynn, lying on the ground, struggled to look up at Hermione, who was still sobbing in Maranhao's arms; her face remained absolutely indifferent.
Even though a moment ago she had been "experiencing" doing push-ups barehanded and barefoot in the snow.
"It's because I didn't learn the Patronus Charm... I'm stupid..."
Before she could finish, she was pulled into a tight hug by Hermione, and her vision was completely filled by her.
In front of Lynn, Hermione's crying stopped instantly; she seemed to be making herself strong at an incredible speed.
She reverted to that steel-like strong person, the shield that could stand in front of Lynn, even if she couldn't quite do it yet.
Hermione held her hand tightly over Lynn's mouth, her voice a bit raspy from crying.
"Don't you dare say that about yourself," Hermione sniffled. "If you say it again, I won't hold back; I'll use something else to plug your mouth."
Lynn blinked, her heart as calm as still water. Her still-aching brain even began to wonder what "something else" Hermione meant to use to plug her mouth... Harry took a deep breath, stepped forward cautiously, and held out a piece of chocolate.
"Sorry, I don't want to interrupt, but Professor Lupin said Lynn would feel much better if she ate some."
"Thank you." Hermione took the chocolate, thanked Harry and Professor Lupin, who was standing not far away, unwrapped it, and fed it to Lynn bit by bit.
"Hermione is not a burden."
Lynn chewed the chocolate and suddenly spoke.
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