Hogwarts Lion Girl

"Since you are likely to be poisoned due to various stupid behaviors during Christmas," Snape said in his unique cold tone, with an imperceptible sneer on the corners of his mouth, "I decided to teach you some life-saving knowledge in advance. Of course, in order to test your learning results, I will randomly select some lucky people in the last class of the semester and let them personally test the antidote they brewed."

The students looked at each other, and a tense atmosphere filled the classroom. They didn't know whether Professor Snape was serious or just trying to scare them.

But one thing is certain, this Christmas is destined to be different.

The bell rang for the end of get out of class and students filed out, their faces filled with excitement and anxiety that were difficult to conceal.

The air was filled with the scent of various herbs, mixed with a hint of tension.

"It's terrible! The test is held on the last day! Can't he just let us spend Christmas in peace?" Ron complained as he packed up the crucibles and test tubes, his tone full of dissatisfaction.

Hermione carefully poured a bottle of light green liquid into the crystal bottle, carefully plugged the cork, and replied without looking up: "Professor Snape is always like this, you know it. Instead of complaining, you might as well concentrate on brewing your antidote. It would be a pity if you really got poisoned during Christmas and missed the ball."

Ron's face suddenly fell, and he said bitterly: "Okay, you're right. But speaking of the dance, Hermione, do you have a partner?"

Hermione had a wooden face. She closed her Potions textbook, turned to look at Ron, and said, "I haven't decided yet. What about you? Who are you going to invite?"

Ron blushed and stammered, "I, I haven't thought about it yet. Maybe I can invite Eloise Midgen. She's really beautiful. What do you think?"

Hermione stood up suddenly, with a hint of anger in her tone: "Elois Midgen? Are you crazy? She is from Slytherin! Moreover, she is always so arrogant and arrogant, can't you see it?"

"But she's really beautiful..." Ron argued softly.

"What's the point of being pretty? Is that all boys care about?" Hermione interrupted Ron angrily, "Even if she's as pretty as a Veela, she's still a bad guy! I've had enough of you boys!"

After saying that, Hermione left the Potions classroom without looking back, leaving Ron standing there alone, looking stunned and innocent.

Hermione returned to the Gryffindor common room angrily. She sat in the armchair by the fireplace, not saying a word.

Her roommates Parvati and Lavender came over, concerned and asking what happened, but Hermione just shook her head and refused to talk about it.

After a while, Hermione got up and returned to the dormitory.

She drew the bed curtains, buried herself in the soft quilt, and tried to forget what had just happened.

But she kept thinking back to Ron's words and the beautiful, arrogant face of Eloise Midgen.

"Are all boys really so superficial?" Hermione thought to herself.

……

In the next few days, Harry and Ron noticed that Hermione's behavior was a little strange.

She no longer spent her free time in the common room chatting with them and discussing homework as usual, but often left alone quietly and did not return until very late.

"What's wrong with her?" Ron asked Harry with a huge apple in his hand, looking confused. "She has been acting strange since she came back from Potions class that day."

Harry shrugged, indicating that he didn't know either: "Maybe she has something on her mind. Didn't you ask her?"

Ron took a bite of his apple in frustration and said vaguely, "I asked, but she refused to say anything. I just mentioned Eloise Midgen casually, and she suddenly got angry. It was really inexplicable."

Indeed, Hermione was always alone these days.

At dinner time, she would finish her meal in a hurry, then pick up her book, say "I'm going to the library", and disappear into the noisy hall.

Harry and Ron could only look at each other, wondering what Hermione was so angry about.

In the library, Hermione sat by the window, reading the History of Magic attentively under the soft light.

She tried hard to concentrate, but Ron's words were like an indelible shadow, always lingering in her mind and disturbing her thoughts.

"Are all boys really so superficial? They only care about appearance and not the inner qualities?" Hermione closed the book irritably and rubbed her sore eyes.

She looked out the window. The dark night sky was dotted with stars, but she had no intention of appreciating the beautiful night view.

……

At dusk at Hogwarts, the afterglow of the setting sun dyed the ancient castle a warm golden red.

On the drawbridge in front of the castle, Cedric Diggory caught up with Salina.

"Salina, wait for me." Cedric walked quickly to Salina with a little shyness on his face.

Sharina stopped and turned around, her long hair shining in the sunset, and her bright smile made Cedric's heart beat faster involuntarily.

"What's wrong, Cedric?" Salina had some guesses in her mind, but she still asked to avoid making the situation awkward because of her self-conceit.

"Well, Salina, are you willing to..." Cedric took a deep breath and mustered up his courage, "Will you be my dance partner and attend the Christmas dance?"

Salina was slightly stunned, as if a little surprised, but she quickly smiled again, with a moving light flashing in her eyes.

"Of course, I'd love to." Serena said softly, a blush appearing on her cheeks.

Cedric was immediately ecstatic. He excitedly took Salina's hand, and the two of them held hands and walked on the suspension bridge under the sunset. A sweet feeling of happiness spread between them.

Victor, who was a few steps behind, saw it all. He looked at Cedric walking away holding Salina's hand, and an indescribable sense of loss and unwillingness surged in his heart.

He clenched his fists and secretly made up his mind that next time, he would not hesitate again and he would bravely express his feelings to Salina.

……

On a weekend afternoon, the sun shone through the treetops at the edge of the Forbidden Forest and fell in front of Hagrid's hut, adding a bit of warmth to this simple hut.

Salina, Harry, Ron and Hermione sat around Hagrid's table, which was filled with steaming tea and biscuits.

"So, Rita Skeeter really did come to you for information?" Ron asked curiously, picking up a biscuit. "Did she say why she wrote all that nonsense about you and Harry?"

Hagrid sighed and ran his rough hands through his messy hair. "She said she's not interested in magical creatures and just wants to write stories that catch the eye."