The flames of the torches on the walls flared up, twisting to form a sentence.
"He has returned to his office. Let their daughter go to Hogsmeade, immediately."
The wind stopped in an instant, but the words formed by the flames on the wall did not dissipate.
The surrounding Young Wizards watched this scene in stunned silence. Professor McGonagall laughed lightly. "This is Hogwarts."
"Miss Granger, take Miss Lynn to Hogsmeade. I hope you have a wonderful time."
"Okay! Thank you, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick."
Hermione immediately responded and pulled Lynn toward the gates. Maranhao, Marietta, and Penelope also nodded to Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick before quickly following.
Watching the backs of the five girls, both Professors wore kind and satisfied smiles. Seeing their students healthy and happy was the most joyful thing for them as Professors.
As for grades and academics, the talents of Young Wizards were varied, and everyone had different strengths; how could they be forced?
"Mr. Potter, you don't need to worry either. Once you have sufficient self-protection abilities or the situation is no longer as dire as it is now, I will let you go out."
With Black lurking outside, it was safer for Harry to stay inside Hogwarts.
"Er, okay. Thank you, Professor McGonagall."
Harry nodded with a polite smile, while silently thinking to himself.
Having sufficient self-protection... surely that didn't mean reaching Lynn's level? If so, he probably wouldn't be able to visit Hogsmeade even once before graduation.
That possibility was too slim. He'd better pray that Sirius Black was caught soon so he could be let out.
After finishing his conversation with Professor McGonagall, Harry turned toward the Library. He had originally intended to go preview Potion Class to prevent himself from losing points in class again.
However, he was called away halfway by Professor Lupin to go to his office and see the "teaching aid" for the next lesson—a water demon called a Grindylow.
Entering Hogsmeade, Lynn's eyes began to rapidly scan the surroundings, her brain quickly working to construct a blueprint of everything within her sight.
Every building and every space appeared in her mind, perfectly accurate.
"It's really lively here."
Caught up in the surrounding atmosphere, Hermione couldn't help but giggle.
"Yes, after all, it's the only village in all of Britain that is entirely free of Muggles. So it's not just Young Wizards from Hogwarts who come here; many people from the British Wizarding World treat this place like a Diagon Alley to relax."
Penelope introduced the area to her two juniors with a smile.
Lynn nodded as she watched the adult Wizards and Young Wizards coming and going; it was indeed very lively.
All the Young Wizards could laugh loudly here, playing and frolicking to their heart's content, leaving things like studying and homework behind.
To the original Lynn, this would have been completely incomprehensible, as studying should be a student's primary duty.
But looking at it now, Lynn seemed to fully understand what Hermione and Professor McGonagall meant by health and happiness being the most important.
Because they were people first, and students second.
"Whew... it's only the end of October, why is it already so cold?"
Marietta rubbed her arms vigorously and looked at the other four girls.
"I want to go to the Three Broomsticks for a butterbeer to warm up first. How about you?"
"Agreed." The four girls nodded in unison, including Lynn, who had no objection.
With Hermione holding her arm, Lynn followed the three seniors toward The Three Broomsticks pub.
As they walked, Maranhao looked back at Lynn and Hermione walking arm-in-arm, turned back, pursed her lips, and also reached out to take Marietta's arm.
Her arm suddenly being held, Marietta looked down. Seeing Maranhao's slightly red fingertips, her heart tightened for no reason.
Yet she spoke unhurriedly, "You're cold too, aren't you, Maranhao? Your hands are frozen red."
As she spoke, she took Maranhao's hand and tucked both of their hands into her pocket.
To the side, Penelope glanced at her four juniors walking in pairs. Silently looking away, she tucked her own hands into her pockets.
"The atmosphere here really makes one feel happy."
Hermione kept looking around, the smile in her voice never fading.
"What do you think, Lynn?" She looked at Lynn beside her with great interest.
The girl's exquisite face remained calm, seemingly carrying a coldness that set her apart from the crowd, but upon closer inspection, a hint of a smile could still be seen.
Turning to look at Hermione, Lynn's calm expression slowly softened, and the smile at the corners of her mouth grew a bit wider.
"The atmosphere here is indeed happy."
Hermione smiled brightly and nodded vigorously, happy that Lynn finally felt the joy in the surrounding environment.
"But Hermione makes me even happier."
Lynn said this with a faint smile on her face, and Hermione was suddenly stunned.
It took a full two seconds for her to react, cheering as she hugged Lynn and rubbed her cheek vigorously against hers.
Lynn lowered her eyes and hugged Hermione back with a smile, a series of cheerful ripples faint in her usually calm heart.
The three seniors walking ahead stopped at the same time and turned back in unison to see Hermione tightly hugging Lynn and rubbing her cheek.
Exchanging glances, the three of them simultaneously showed a relieved smile, like parents seeing their daughter grow up.
With their junior reacting like this... it seemed she wasn't far from a complete recovery and an emotional awakening.
Though they didn't know how much longer Hermione would have to work for it, it certainly wouldn't be much longer.
After being excited and hugging Lynn for a full minute, Hermione finally calmed down. Lynn reached out and stroked Hermione's slightly reddened cheek.
"Hermione's face is red."
"Pfft, yours too. Your face is red from me rubbing against it."
Hermione giggled and tapped Lynn's slightly red right cheek. She really had rubbed a bit too hard just now, but... leaving a mark on Lynn's face like this was truly a happy thought.
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