Hogwarts Lion Girl

The students of Hogwarts found a sense of ritual in their uneasiness, exchanging various amulets and mysterious props, as if to drive away the bad luck hovering over the campus.

The corridors and classrooms were filled with a mixture of smells, ranging from naturally fragrant herbs to pungent potion ingredients.

Serena watched Neville Longbottom clumsily take out the exchanged items from the messy drawer, his nose almost close to the big onion to confirm whether this thing can really resist toxins as rumored.

Neville's eyes stopped at the center of the complex onion structure, as if it was a miniature magical world. Although the smell was unpleasant, this stench was regarded as a symbol of loyalty and perseverance.

The pointed amethyst next to it seemed to contain unknown power. Its irregular tip seemed to point to some untouchable source of magic, reflecting a dazzling light in the sunlight.

The rotting tail of the salamander, though disturbing to look at, is said to protect the wearer from a fate similar to that of the salamander and from being eroded by the environment.

Neville tied these things carefully around his waist to keep company with his wand and pocket watch. The seemingly funny scene revealed a hint of helplessness and panic.

A satisfied smile appeared on his face, as if these new items gave him the courage to fight against unknown dangers.

The Gryffindor boys around him were somewhat joking, but they could not hide their concern. They told Neville that he actually didn't need to worry.

They looked around to make sure the newly acquired amulets wouldn't draw any more attention to themselves, and in a low, confident voice, they assured Neville, "You'll be fine, Neville. You're a pure-blood wizard, and the things in the Chamber of Secrets can't hurt you."

Even so, Neville's fear had not completely dissipated.

Tension and panic were obvious on Neville's round face. "They attacked Filch first." His voice was trembling, full of heavy worry.

"Everyone knows that I'm almost a squib." As he said this, he grabbed his robe, as if this could suppress the turmoil in his heart.

Colin, who was usually the clever, talkative and cheerful boy, seemed hesitant at the moment. He was hesitant about buying the amethyst from Neville because he was also a Muggle-born wizard.

Besides that, Percy's behavior was also very unusual.

One night, when Salina accidentally caught a glimpse of him in a dark corridor, he was like a silent star, immersed in his own world.

He sat alone in the long common room at Hogwarts, the fire burning before him, casting a lonely shadow.

Percy stared at the fire motionlessly, as if the jumping flames could illuminate the dark corners of his heart.

Salina stood by the door and observed for a while without disturbing him.

Percy seemed to be completely lost in thought, his usual confidence and arrogance rarely seen on his face.

These days, Percy did not stubbornly defend what he believed to be order as usual, or make any passionate comments on recent events. Instead, he seemed unusually silent, even gloomy.

The one in worse condition than Percy was Ginny. She always sat alone in the corner silently, her red hair becoming pale and weak like an oil painting that had lost its color.

Several times, Ginny hurriedly and anxiously found Salina, her lips trembling, as if she wanted to reveal some important secret.

But every time, after a moment of hesitation and panic, she fell silent again, with deep fear in her eyes.

She met Salina's eyes, which were full of worry and confusion, and then quickly looked away, as if she was afraid that her vulnerability would be touched.

Once, when Serena tried to approach her, Ginny suddenly sobbed and retreated into a corner as if she had been burned.

The look of fear and rejection made people feel that she was being disturbed by some indescribable thing, or that the tangled thoughts in her heart were causing her great torment.

Ginny's face was pale, her fingers tightly grasped the edge of the desk, her eyes flashed with a distressing luster. Her sight seemed to pass through the small and familiar space of the classroom until she saw a shocking vision.

"I...I'm really fine, Serena," She tried to hide her fear with a weak smile, but then the smile collapsed again, "But...but every time when it's late at night, I...I start to have nightmares."

Salina put down her wand and textbook, and looked through Ginny's evasive gaze, trying to read the secret hidden in her eyes.

"It's about the Chamber of Secrets, right?" Serena's words hit the nail on the head, and Ginny nodded with a slight tremor.

"I dreamed of a monster. It-it was chasing us, and then..." Her voice was almost inaudible, like a distant whisper, "In my dream, I saw Harry, you, and my family... They fell one by one and died under the claws of the monster."

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Ginny raised her head, her eyes filled with reluctance and powerlessness: "Every time I wake up, my heart feels like something is grabbing and tearing it apart, Salina, I'm afraid... I'm afraid these are not just dreams."

Serena gently held her hand, conveying firmness and comfort: "You know we are all here, Ginny. Whether that monster is reality or a nightmare, we will face it, together."

She was silent for a moment, then looked at Ginny again and asked softly, "Have you noticed anything different about the way Tom Riddle controls you?"

In an instant, Ginny's body seemed to be soaked in cold water. Her lips opened, but no sound came out. The fear in her eyes surged like a tide.

Finally, accompanied by Serena's unwavering gaze, Ginny nodded stiffly, finally mustering up the courage to speak out the dark and heavy thoughts deep in her heart: "I... I'm afraid it was me, I did something terrible." The voice was almost a whisper.

……

The first-year students at Hogwarts huddled together tightly. They moved around the campus like a group of frightened sheep, always afraid that they would be hunted by unknown prey if they got separated.

They sat together on the grass, exchanging the latest gossip and rumors in suspicious whispers, as if seeking a sense of security in the midst of constant panic.

In the cafeteria, they never sat alone when choosing seats at the same table. Everyone tried to find comfort in the eyes of their companions, and the whispers between the plates mixed with an invisible atmosphere of panic filled the air.

Even during class, they unconsciously got close to each other, as if they felt that the warmth of proximity could dispel the uninvited shadows and fears in their hearts, for fear that if they turned around they would encounter an inappropriate presence in the empty classroom.