Kate really didn't expect that she would be mistaken for a sickly invalid.
Even if she was afraid of the cold in the winter, considering her comprehensive strength was already close to that of Hogwarts' most outstanding graduates, being treated like a sickly invalid was simply too degrading.
Was physical training truly an urgent matter now?
As a confirmed homebody, making the resolve to exercise was truly a test of determination and willpower.
She decided she might as well drag Hermione along. Having someone to accompany her would at least urge her to persist.
By the time she returned to the castle, the sky was almost dark. There was still an Astronomy class in the evening, shared with Gryffindor.
Kate walked leisurely toward the vicinity of the Great Hall and spotted that familiar little lion with brown hair looking around at the entrance. As soon as Hermione saw her, she hurriedly ran over.
"Where did you go? I came here as soon as class ended, but I didn't see you anywhere," Hermione asked with a hint of complaint, breathing slightly heavily.
As she spoke, she very naturally pulled Kate's hands out of her pockets.
"Why are they cold?" She frowned her small brows. "Didn't I make you a warming jar?"
Seeing her guard her like she was protecting her own eyeballs, did she really consider Kate some kind of critically ill patient?
Kate felt as if another arrow had pierced her chest, so she hurriedly explained her plan.
"Exercise? Of course!" Hermione's eyes lit up upon hearing this. While warming Kate's hands, she chattered on, "I've felt for a long time that you should do some exercise. After class is over—"
Her voice paused. After Astronomy class, it would be close to curfew.
If they were targeted by Filch for wandering at night again, she wasn't sure if their luck would be as good as last time.
"Then you can say hello to your roommates first and come sleep at my place tonight," Kate proposed seriously.
Except for Wednesday nights with Astronomy class, Hermione still had plenty of time to go back and forth on other days.
Sleeping at her place just one day a week shouldn't be an issue, right?
Hermione, who had been chattering, suddenly had her small face flush red upon hearing this. "The—the school rules say that students from different houses aren't allowed to visit each other's dormitories!"
"Is that so," Kate shrugged in disappointment. "Forget it then. Every Wednesday night, I'll just exercise by myself."
Saying this, she held Hermione's hand in return and walked toward the Great Hall.
Hermione was led by her in a daze, her fair little face full of blushes.
This guy really is... why didn't she ask just one more time?
M-Maybe she would have agreed?
Kate naturally wouldn't perceive the tumultuous psychological activity of her little childhood friend. The two walked into the Great Hall side by side, then separated as usual to go to their respective House long tables.
The Quidditch match would be in three days, Kate thought while eating a roasted sausage.
Some time ago, Cho Chang had successfully joined the Quidditch team and suddenly became busy, rarely even going to the library.
Kate had hardly seen her during this period. She would wait until the Ravenclaw match to cheer for Cho Chang.
If Cho could teach her a few more sports techniques, that would be even better.
Thinking about this, Kate felt a little embarrassed herself. Why was it that every time she sought out Cho Chang, it was to ask for a favor?
Next time, she should ask her out alone, just to deepen their relationship.
That way, it would be easier to speak up when asking for help!
*
That night, after Astronomy class.
Kate struggled alone in the dormitory doing sit-ups. After managing to sit up a few times with great difficulty, she fell back onto the bed, her face flushed crimson.
Boo hoo hoo, exercise is so hard. Without anyone to supervise, it's really difficult for her to persist!
[Ding! Detected that the Host has a need for supervision. Initiating mission.]
Kate's eyes lit up. Is it coming? The Daily Quest that allows her to shear the sheep (exploit the system) is finally back!
[Permanent Mission: Complete the following exercise tasks continuously for one month to receive a reward of 5 Attribute Points.]
"...System, have you become stingy?"
If the System had a physical form, she would definitely tap its head to see if it was malfunctioning.
Doing a mission for a whole month only to reward 5 Attribute Points? That was way stingier than the Daily Quests of the past that gave Attribute Points every day!
[This mission is a Permanent Mission with no mandatory completion mechanism. The Host may choose to complete it optionally.]
Kate fell silent for a long while, then resigned herself to fate and began doing sit-ups again.
If there's a mission and you don't do it, if there's a reward and you don't take it, then you're a fool!
This was a Permanent Mission. 5 Attribute Points a month meant 60 points a year! Many little drops make an ocean; there would always be gains!
The consequence of the frantic sit-ups was that after waking up the next day, her abdomen was so sore it felt like she had been beaten. With the slightest movement, it hurt so much her face turned pale.
Even when she bumped into Malfoy leaving the dormitory, this guy who usually had a poor attitude toward her looked her over with a weird expression and, surprisingly, didn't utter any ridicule.
Kate was still wondering about his attitude when Malfoy let out a cold snort, raised his head, and turned to walk away.
However, Blaise, who was following behind him, stepped forward a few paces and whispered, "Remember to drink more hot water."
Huh? Drink hot water?
Kate frowned in confusion. Before she could react, she saw Pansy rummage in her pocket for a while and stuff a packet of brown sugar into her hand.
What girl wouldn't instantly realize what this meant upon seeing this stuff!
Staring at the brown sugar in her hand with a dumbfounded expression, Kate's brows were furrowed tightly enough to trap a mosquito.
What on earth are these guys thinking!
She's only twelve—
This isn't the 21st century; there aren't that many additives and hormones. Could she really have developed that early?
Holding the brown sugar in her hand, she couldn't throw it away, nor could she keep it. She could only stuff it into her handbag with a face full of black lines.
She could only say that although these little snakes were annoying most of the time, during certain "special periods," they seemed quite considerate.
It was just that Kate felt she hadn't reached the time where she needed this kind of kindness yet.
Clutching her sore lower abdomen all the way to the Great Hall, Hermione saw her appearance and snickered for quite a while.
"I guess you must have done your sit-ups too intensely last night," she said, proud of her guess. "You're going to be in pain for a few more days."
Although she was being teased, compared to the little snakes' misunderstanding, Hermione's guess was much more reliable.
Kate sighed with a bitter face. "I think you have to help me rub my stomach tonight."
A massage should always be able to alleviate some of the pain.
Thinking this, she came back to her senses only to find that Hermione's face had turned red again.
The weather this morning doesn't seem cold, does it?
Why does this little girl blush at the drop of a hat? Is there something wrong with her?
Just as she wanted to ask with concern and tact if she should go to the Hospital Wing for a checkup, Hermione abruptly turned around and walked quickly into the Great Hall.
Kate blinked, somewhat dazed. Why is this temper coming in fits and starts?
The one who should be drinking more hot water ought to be Hermione.
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