This Hogwarts is not normal

Chapter 1339 Joy and Sorrow

There were several points of light in the Slytherin common room; they were Zabini and Nott, gathered around the fireplace, probably chatting.

As Hermione dragged her finger, the new Marauder's Map on the projection screen moved to the boys' dormitory.

The area was generally well-behaved, with no students running around.

Just as she was about to turn off the projection screen, a point of light left the dormitory.

The name on it was Draco Malfoy, and sure enough, he began to act.

Hermione stared intently at the point of light and noticed that he moved around cautiously, stopping frequently.

The place he was heading to was the potions office.

"If you encounter difficulties, go to Severus; he's just like us..."

Hermione watched the light point walk in with a complicated expression, never turning off the projection screen, just watching quietly.

One glance is one thing, two glances are another, so a few more glances shouldn't be a problem.

Since you've already seen it, why not...

Hermione gently patted her cheeks and reached for the wand on the bedside table.

"Phew—" She let out a long breath, threw off the covers and sat up, covering her entire body with the cool Disillusionment Charm.

She quietly left the dormitory and stood in the silent corridor.

She could hear her own heartbeat; it was steady, composed, and without any panic.

As the damp, cold air of the dungeon mingled with a faint scent of potions rushed towards her, the two points of light in the office remained motionless, as if waiting for something.

Five minutes, or maybe longer, Hermione, hiding outside, didn't check the time and had no idea how much time had passed.

The door finally opened, and Draco practically stumbled out. His legs were weak, and he had to brace himself against the wall to keep from falling.

Hermione noticed that he was clutching a small crystal bottle tightly in his hand; it must have been the potion Snape had just brewed.

This discovery made her even more conflicted; if she continued watching, it would be surveillance.

Hmm... Just make sure he gets back to his dorm safely, that's all.

Hermione followed at a distance, watching him tiptoe back to the common room.

Zabini and Nott are gone, but there is one more person: Pansy Parkinson.

When Draco saw her get up and walk towards him, he quickly hid the crystal bottle behind his back.

Pansy seemed oblivious to what he was holding. She walked up to him and looked at him quietly.

"Draco, what's wrong with you lately? You're deliberately keeping your distance from everyone, preferring to be all alone rather than with us..."

“It’s already very late.” Draco’s panic disappeared, replaced by deep helplessness. “Pansy, let’s talk about it tomorrow.”

He tightened his grip on the crystal bottle hidden behind his back and walked straight toward the door of the boys' dormitory.

Hermione, who was under the Illusion Charm, saw Pansy lower her head and sob softly after he left.

Hermione didn't think twice and slipped inside before the door closed completely.

The Slytherin dormitories are still as they always have been... very much a pure-blooded place.

She had always felt that this kind of decoration, which flaunted status and position, was too ostentatious, to the point of being vulgar.

Draco, who was walking ahead, returned to a state of alertness. He walked and stopped frequently, turning his head to look around from time to time. The journey that should have taken only one or two minutes took him a full five minutes.

Watching his back as he walked into the dormitory, Hermione finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

Just as she turned to go back, a slight "click" sounded, and the tightly closed dormitory door opened again.

It was Draco. He had slipped out again, still holding the long, thin object wrapped in black silk from earlier that day.

Hermione stood frozen in place until the thin figure disappeared around the corner of the corridor before she quickly followed.

After walking and stopping again, Draco entered the empty bathroom, locked the door, placed his things on the sink, untied the black silk, and revealed the elegant bronze bottle with a gold-embossed label.

It was indeed sherry, and not just any ordinary sherry.

Draco's hands were trembling; even though he gripped the bottle tightly, he couldn't control his shaking.

He stared at his trembling hands, and after a long time, his hands were still shaking.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

But it was no use; he was afraid, and the terror on his face had spread throughout his body.

"I had no other choice... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

Hermione, who was hiding behind him, froze once again.

Draco Malfoy, who was always arrogant and looked down on everyone, was actually apologizing.

After saying sorry countless times, Draco's hands finally stopped shaking.

He loosened his grip slightly and carefully peeled off the gold foil covering the bottle stopper.

Perhaps due to excessive nervousness, he tore a corner of the gold leaf.

He froze, then hurriedly took out his wand and focused intently on casting a healing spell.

The gold leaf was restored, and this time he tried to peel it off more carefully.

Hermione, who witnessed all of this quietly, couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

It's not that I think Draco is clumsy, but rather that I feel sorry for him.

Despite still being a student, he was forced to complete an impossible task.

After more than ten attempts, Draco finally succeeded. He finally peeled off the gold foil, revealing the oak stopper underneath.

However, the torment was not over. When he pulled out the cork and took out the small crystal bottle, he hesitated to pour the potion inside.

Hermione looked away; she couldn't bear to watch any longer.

Watching someone being pushed to the edge of a cliff, yet being unable to lend a helping hand, is also a form of torment for her.

Time passed slowly, about half an hour later, or maybe an hour later, Draco finally lifted the crystal bottle and gently poured out a drop of clear, water-like liquid.

The liquid shimmered slightly, blending into the golden wine.

Seeing his hand frozen in mid-air, Hermione knew this wasn't over yet.

The second drop, the third drop.

Having accomplished all of this, Draco leaned weakly against the wall beside him.

He raised his head, covered his face with his hands, as if relieved, or perhaps blaming himself.

Hermione, standing behind him, recognized the three drops of liquid. She felt a mixture of relief and sorrow.

Fortunately, the Truth Potion was brewed by Snape himself, so the dosage was absolutely correct and would not cause Trelawney any serious side effects.

Tragically, she knew the outcome. Trelawney could indeed utter the true prophecy, but only in an unconscious state. Even with a dose of truth serum exceeding the safe limit, the complete prophecy could not be obtained from her.

This mission was destined to fail.

How desperate Draco must have looked when all his perseverance came to naught.

Hermione quietly left; she had seen enough and didn't want to watch anymore.

She didn't know how she got back to the Gryffindor Tower; all she knew was that dawn was breaking.

Pushing open the dormitory door, Lavender and Parvati were still asleep.

She didn't go in, but turned around and left the dormitory, found an abandoned classroom, and locked the door.

The projection screen lit up, she turned off the new version of Marauder's Map, opened her contacts, and tapped it with her eyes closed.

……

……