Walking down the empty corridor, Hermione let out a long sigh. The nerves that had been taut with fear and anger finally relaxed.
Dumbledore's reassurance was like a sedative, calming her wildly beating heart.
She turned her head to look at Lia beside her. The Cat-girl, still in her cat form, wore an oversized Gryffindor robe, revealing only a sliver of her fair calves and bare feet.
She walked steadily, her azure cat eyes, illuminated by the moonlight, no longer held their usual terror. Instead, they resembled two serene lakes, reflecting the stone walls of the ancient Castle.
"You seem… less afraid?" Hermione couldn't help but ask.
Lia stopped and looked up at her.
Indeed, those eyes no longer held that fragile panic, as if they would shatter at a touch.
She raised her hand and gently touched Hermione's brow, where faint lines from a recent frown still lingered.
"Because, I smelled it."
Lia's voice was soft, yet exceptionally clear.
"Smelled what?"
"Headmaster Dumbledore's scent." Lia's nose twitched slightly. "His scent is like a winter fireplace, and like old books freshly sunned. Very warm, very reliable."
"In his plan, there is no scent of despair. Although the web of death is still there, its edges have been reinforced with golden threads by him. Very tough, not easily torn."
Hermione was stunned. Lia was interpreting the dangers and opportunities of this world in a way she couldn't understand, and she was beginning to believe in the "safety" she perceived.
Back in the dormitory, Parvati and Lavender were already asleep.
The fire in the fireplace had dwindled, leaving only flickering dark red embers.
Hermione took a dry towel from the bathroom and placed it over Lia's wet silver hair, gently drying it for her.
Water droplets ran down the ends of her hair, dampening the collar of her pajamas.
Lia narrowed her eyes in enjoyment, leaning against Hermione.
"Hermione," Lia suddenly spoke, looking up at her while lying on Hermione's lap, "what exactly is this 'love' Headmaster Dumbledore spoke of?"
This question made Hermione pause in her actions.
"He said love is the most powerful magic." Lia's eyes were pure, as if she was exploring a profound magical theory.
"But I've seen Tom's memories. He doesn't know what love is either. Is Headmaster Dumbledore trying to say that 'love' can counteract 'hate'?"
Hermione's heart ached at these words.
She had been too engrossed lately, forgetting about Lord Voldemort.
She had overlooked that the most dangerous war was currently raging within Lia.
"Yes." Hermione leaned down and kissed Lia's forehead, leaving a damp mark. "Love is a kind of guardianship, a selfless giving, a… determination that even if the whole world is against you, I will stand by your side."
"Like you are with me?" Lia asked.
"…Mm." Hermione's voice was a little muffled.
"Then, is what I feel for you also love?"
Lia looked up, their cheeks so close they could feel each other's breath.
"I want to protect you, I don't want you to be harmed in any way. The thought of you being in danger makes the blood in my body run cold. Is this also love?"
Hermione didn't answer, but gently met Lia's lips.
This kiss was no longer as assertive as the one at the ball, nor was it filled with desire like their usual private moments. Instead, it was filled with an indescribable tenderness and comfort.
After a long while, their lips parted.
Hermione rested her forehead against Lia's, looking into her moist blue eyes. "Yes." She gave the answer in a hoarse voice, "This is also love."
…In the following days, the atmosphere at Hogwarts became strangely peculiar again.
The Triwizard Tournament was approaching its final task, and emotions of anticipation, excitement, and tension spread among the students.
However, in Lia and Hermione's eyes, beneath this lively facade lay an undercurrent of murderous intent.
They went about their usual routines, but their focus of observation was entirely on "Mad-Eye" Moody.
Lia's ability, after confirming the truth this time, seemed to have been recalibrated for precision.
She no longer just passively received "danger" alerts; instead, she could more actively distinguish and analyze.
"He's guiding Harry again."
After Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Lia whispered to Hermione.
They saw "Moody" pull Harry aside, gruffly teaching him various jinxes and hexes that could be used in the maze.
"The scent of lies on him is mixed with a fanatical, almost 'preaching' odor."
Lia's descriptions were becoming increasingly precise.
"He's molding Harry into a 'qualified sacrifice' in his mind."
Hermione, meanwhile, was responsible for converting these intuitive insights into rational analysis and records.
Her small notebook was densely filled with notes on Moody (Barty) Jr.'s various abnormal behaviors.
"When he demonstrated the Stupefy in class today, the trajectory of his magic output was completely different from last week, more sinister, more aligned with the path of Dark Arts."
Hermione wrote.
"Lia smelled 'impatience' and 'anticipation'."
The two of them were becoming more and more coordinated.
Lia was a human super-sensing instrument, and Hermione was the top analyst for this instrument.
They were no longer simply a protector and a protected, but a pair of partners fighting side by side.
Harry and Ron also noticed Lia's change.
"She seems… much calmer?" Ron once whispered to Harry in the common room, watching Lia studying a star chart with Hermione.
The old Lia used to cling to Hermione like a fluffy accessory.
Now she was still close to Hermione, but more often, she sat quietly beside her, her eyes focused on contemplating something important.
Her endearing fragility had faded, replaced by a sense of calm strength.
Harry nodded.
He was under a lot of pressure. Although Ron's return meant he was no longer alone, the external doubts and fear of the unknown competition still hung over him like a dark cloud.
And Professor Moody's "extra" tutoring exhausted him even more.
"Maybe Hermione takes too good care of her." Harry said.
June 24th, the day of the final Triwizard Tournament task, finally arrived.
The evening sun painted Hogwarts Castle in a golden hue.
The Quidditch Pitch had been transformed into a giant maze, with towering hedges blocking all sight. The entrance resembled a deep, gaping maw, waiting to swallow the champions.
The stands were bustling with people, flags fluttering.
Before the competition officially began, Dumbledore called the four champions—Harry, Cedric, Fleur, and Krum—into the tent behind the judges' table.
Lia and Hermione stood in the crowd not far away, watching nervously.
"The scent of death has never been so strong."
Lia gripped Hermione's hand, her palm slightly cool.
"That web, it's tightened today. All the threads point to the center of the maze."
Hermione's heart was also in her throat.
Inside the tent, Dumbledore looked at the four young champions before him. His expression was gentle, but his blue eyes held serious solemnity.
"Tonight, you will face immense challenges."
His voice carried clearly.
"Courage and wisdom are equally important. But before you depart, I wish to bestow upon you a small protection."
He extended his magic wand and tapped gently in the air. Four soft white lights flew from the wand tip, landing separately on the chests of the four champions.
Lia's eyes widened suddenly.
In her eyes, they were not simple points of light.
Instead, they were four ancient Runes composed of extremely complex Life Magic.
The Runes, like living things, merged into the champions' clothes and disappeared.
The moment the Runes took effect, Lia clearly "smelled" that the tangible aura of death, which had been tightly clinging to Harry and Cedric, was diluted by a warm and powerful force.
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