While the Golden Trio was busy dealing with their falling out, Warren cornered Professor Snape.
"Professor, do you have any free time this weekend? There are some questions I would like to ask you."
Snape glanced sideways at him and said flatly, "I do not."
But Warren, pretending not to have heard, pressed on respectfully. "There are so many potions with recipes that simply aren't available. I have already mastered all the basics. You have no idea how happy I was to receive my Hogwarts letter. Ever since I brewed my first Blood Replenishing Potion at age eight, I have been dreaming of the day I could study under you."
Snape swallowed the retort rising to his lips. The corner of his mouth twitched as he fought to maintain his neutral mask.
"Sunday evening," he said. "Do not be late."
"Thank you, Professor. I will be there."
Snape strode away briskly. The sharp click of his boots against the stone floor rang with a lighter cadence than usual.
Warren was pleased. He needed Reputation Points to grow stronger, and Potions remained the most effective way to make a name for himself. He had spent years honing his craft, giving him a solid theoretical foundation. Mastering advanced potions and expanding his expertise would allow him to vastly improve his understanding of ingredients, refine his recipes, validate his theories, and perhaps even develop entirely new concoctions. The Warren Beauty product line was profitable, but it had reached its limit for enhancing his reputation.
With Snape's promise secured, Warren spent the evening in high spirits. He stopped by the Ravenclaw common room, where the logic puzzles from the bronze eagle knocker posed no challenge to him whatsoever. After charming the older girls into providing a mountain of snacks, he decided to take a walk along the Black Lake to digest. There, he found Hermione sitting alone by the shore.
The evening wind had picked up, rippling the dark surface of the water beneath the night sky. The giant squid was swimming in the shallows, while a group of Gryffindors in the distance appeared to be feeding it.
"Fred and George told me that the giant squid is actually Godric Gryffindor, transformed."
Hermione, who had been staring blankly at the water, jumped at the sound of his voice. She hastily wiped her face and looked up. Warren had settled beside her, holding out a piece of chocolate.
"Here. This will make you feel better."
Warren's pockets were stuffed with sweets. Milo was playing at their feet, a strip of jerky clamped firmly in her jaws. Hermione knew he had just come from Ravenclaw. He and Milo were both very popular with the girls there.
"Thanks," she whispered.
Still watching the giant squid, she could not help herself. "Gryffindor lived a thousand years ago. How could something he transfigured still be alive? They're definitely making it up."
Hermione regretted the words the moment they left her lips. Why couldn't she ever just keep her mouth shut? Did she really have to be so pedantic even at a time like this?
Was her personality truly that awful? Sensing her distress, Warren thought for a moment. "Did you have a fight with Harry and Ron?"
"H-how did you know?"
"You don't usually come out here to brood. You're either in the library or on your way there." Warren smiled. "As far as I can tell, you're only really close to us. I can't think of anyone else who would drive you out here to hide."
Hermione blinked. She had never considered it before, but thinking about it now, she realized she didn't really have any other friends. Aside from Warren, the only two people she had grown close to were Harry and Ron, and today they had...
Feeling even more miserable, she pressed her lips together. After a long silence, she told Warren about Ron's outburst. When she finished, she asked quietly, "Warren, am I really that annoying? I just... I just want everyone to follow the rules."
She expected him to comfort her. Warren was always warm and witty, even if he could be a little mischievous. Instead, he nodded. "A little bit, yeah."
Warren patted her slender shoulder and gazed out at the water, the evening breeze ruffling his red hair. "There's a saying from a country far from England. Good medicine tastes bitter, and honest advice sounds harsh."
It isn't really your fault, or anyone's, for that matter. It is simply human nature. People dislike facing their mistakes. When someone keeps pointing them out, they instinctively push back.
In that moment, looking up at him, Hermione sensed an almost indescribable air about him. Spoken by someone so young, words like that would usually sound strange, like a child trying too hard to act grown up. But right now, he sounded so natural, as if time itself had settled around him. There was nothing odd about it.
She stared at him blankly. "But why don't you ever find me annoying?"
"Because I like your directness."
Hermione flushed bright red under Warren's smiling gaze. He added, "The more mistakes you make, the more you realize how precious it is to have a friend who will call you out. Ron is still immature. He doesn't understand that yet."
Hermione suddenly wanted to ask how he had learned that himself. But she knew she wouldn't get an answer. Some things people simply didn't want to talk about. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
They sat quietly by the lake, enjoying the breeze as they watched the giant squid extend a tentacle and capsize a small boat. The Gryffindors on board screamed as they tumbled into the water, then burst into laughter.
"Hermione, for my sake, please forgive Ron. Also, would you keep an eye on them for me?"
Hermione looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean?"
Warren smiled, though he looked a bit helpless. "Harry's situation is complicated. It seems Dumbledore is testing him. Ron tagging along makes me nervous, but I don't have a good reason to break up their friendship. So I'm hoping you can watch over them for me. If anything happens, let me know."
Hermione's eyes went wide. She caught the implication and lowered her voice. "You mean Harry might be in danger at school?"
"Not danger. Just tests." Warren shrugged. "But nobody can guarantee that everything will go according to plan. Not even Dumbledore."
Hermione's head spun. She wanted to ask Warren exactly what he knew. But Warren was already on his feet, Milo close at his heels. As he turned to leave, he pressed a few more chocolates into her hand.
"That's all. Get some rest, Hermione." He turned back with a smile. "Keep it a secret. You're my secret agent now."
Hermione's face flushed again. She completely forgot what she was going to ask.
Warren walked away, his expression calm. He had never considered shadowing the Boy Who Lived like a babysitter. He had set two goals for his time at Hogwarts. First, to study Potions and spread his reputation. Second, to learn advanced magic and accumulate real power. With those objectives in mind, he did not have the time or energy to track the Savior's every move.