Hogwarts Lion Girl

Hermione wrinkled her nose. She had not been surprised by Harry's concerns. Her mind quickly weighed the risks and rewards, and she knew they didn't have much choice.

Time waits for no one, and solving the secret of the chamber is their only chance to prevent what might happen next.

"I know, Harry," Hermione's eyes flashed with a firm light, "but do we have any other way?" Her words were full of reason and courage, "Isn't this how we get through every challenge we face? This time will be no exception."

Ron looked around nervously, obviously afraid of possibly angering Snape, but he also wanted to solve the problem of the Chamber of Secrets as soon as possible.

"What we have to do is not only for ourselves, but also for the school and every innocent person." Hermione's eyes shone brighter in the candlelight. She always seemed to show her leadership qualities at such moments.

Harry took a breath and finally nodded.

"Well then." Ron took a deep breath and stood up. "Let's get to work. Polyjuice Potion and changing forms sound exciting enough. To be honest, I'd like to see Malfoy's surprised expression when he hears our questions."

The three of them immediately fell into intense planning, and developed a detailed plan on how to quietly enter Snape's private treasure trove and how to cover their tracks and collect the necessary materials.

In Hermione's mind, strategic maps were carefully outlined, just like she deciphered complex spells in class, with precision and efficiency.

Hermione's eyes swept quietly across the faces of her two friends. Everything was under her control.

……

As the sun sank into the horizon, the sky gradually darkened and the lights in the corridors of Hogwarts Castle gradually brightened.

The girls' bathroom on the third floor was immersed in a hazy darkness. A hint of silence permeated the air, forming a sharp contrast with the noisy corridor of the past.

The leaden moonlight slanting in from under the door broke the darkness and sprinkled on the damp stone bricks, being almost the only source of light.

Three figures quietly walked around the corner of the corridor, and three pairs of young eyes scanned the surroundings nervously and vigilantly.

They moved close to the wall, taking every step carefully, as if they were afraid that the sound of their breathing would disturb the tranquility here.

Harry led the way, followed by Hermione and Ron, both carrying their hands full of precious materials and herbs.

The door creaked slightly when it opened, a sound that was particularly harsh at night.

They hurried into the bathroom, Hermione closed the door quietly, and everything returned to calm.

The worn mirror silently reflected their figures, and the porcelain washbasin glowed with a faint blue light in the moonlight.

The cubicle next to it was silent, and everyone's breathing here seemed particularly loud.

Hermione pulled a meticulously handwritten potion list from her backpack and displayed it on the sink.

Harry and Ron came closer, so that their heads were almost touching.

They whispered to each other, discussing every detail so that nothing could go wrong in preparing the Polyjuice Potion.

……

As time passed, the atmosphere in Hogwarts Castle did not become more relaxed, but became more solemn.

In the corridors, the sounds of fighting and playing have been replaced by whispers and worried conversations, and fearful speculation has spread rapidly across the campus like an infectious disease.

The little wizards walked around during the break with frowns on their faces. Some were having heated discussions, while others were leaning quietly in the alcoves in the corridor, with their eyes fixed on the ceiling with no interest in reading the books in their hands.

During lunch and dinner time, the restaurant, which used to be bustling, now has a dull atmosphere. Everyone chooses their words carefully, and at some seats the entire table is silent.

At night, the air in the dormitory seemed thicker, and the students' low voices penetrated the thin walls, conveying uneasiness and anxiety.

Occasionally, some students cried because of excessive worry, while others prayed silently.

Even those who were usually the most active and cheerful now put away their frivolity and became serious, with anxiety written all over their faces.

The professors are even more exhausted. They shuttle between corridors and classrooms, shouldering the responsibility of educating students, but also trying to maintain order under tremendous pressure.

Their eyes reflected the students' anxiety, but were also mixed with determination and encouragement, becoming a stabilizing force in this depressing environment.

Under the sky of Hogwarts, haze gradually enveloped every inch of land, as if the entire Hogwarts was quietly thinking with its head down.

The deep night sky, which used to be dotted with stars, is now often covered by floating clouds, just like everyone's mood, heavy and confused.

In the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Professor Lockhart eagerly shared his adventure stories.

Harry frowned, feeling a little ridiculous.

He was now standing in the middle of the classroom in his robes, being asked to act out the role of a Himalayan Yeti with a sniffle, which was indeed Professor Lockhart's dramatic teaching style.

The classroom was dimming, and the lights cast a warm halo around Lockhart's podium.

Harry did his best to imitate the professor's poor imitation, with a piece of fake cotton stuffed in his nose that was as bizarre as their current mood.

He pretended to struggle, making low and clumsy noises, imitating the weak and vague groans of the snowman in his memory.

The air was thick with cotton wool and fantasy, and the cotton in Harry's nose made him look like a tiny, clumsy snowman.

He stumbled forward, twisting his body exaggeratedly, one hand limply placed on his chest, as if trying to ease his discomfort by imitating the imaginary snowman.

"Hmm...Ahh...Hao..." - He made strange noises and wondered if he was being stupid.

Professor Lockhart's eyes glowed as he walked around Harry, emphasizing the symptoms of the Yeti's cold and how the brutal climate of the Himalayas was affecting the creature.

His voice was full of passion, as if all this was extremely real.

The class was coming to an end, and as the students began to pack their bags and prepare to leave in groups of two or three, Lockhart specifically asked Harry to stay.

The lights in the classroom gradually dimmed, and the warm yellow light shone on the books, reflecting the flying sparks and Lockhart's excited face.

Harry felt a little uneasy, he was used to being the subject of special attention, but that didn't mean he liked it.

The young wizards took one last look at the classroom and left with all kinds of speculations and whispers, leaving Harry and Lockhart alone.

Lockhart's eyes wandered over Harry's face, and that scrutinizing and passionate look made Harry feel quite uncomfortable.

Professor Lockhart puffed out his chest, full of exaggerated expressions and gestures, as if he had returned to the glorious moment when he claimed to have saved the entire village. His eyes were shining with excitement, and his words fell heavily in the air of the classroom, making Harry feel a little uncomfortable.