Struggling to survive at Hogwarts

Chapter 191 Snake-Lion Friendship

"Is this how professors fool their students?"

Thea looked at Dumbledore across the table with amusement.

“It’s just one method,” Dumbledore said modestly.

"By the way, I'm sorry about earlier, I didn't expect Fudge to arrive so quickly."

Thea raised an eyebrow at the old man; she didn't believe for a second that he really hadn't guessed it.

Poor Fudge, he's been tricked by Dumbledore again.

"gone!"

Thea got up and prepared to leave.

Would you like a glass of honey water?

"no need."

Thea had already gotten her answer, so there was no need for her to stay any longer; she didn't want to suffer another forgetting spell.

-

Harry, who was leaving the office, had no idea that Thea had been there just moments before, though she had used the Disillusionment Charm.

"Fred! George!"

Harry jogged to catch up with the two brothers ahead.

"Hey! Harry!" It was that familiar duet again.

"I heard you need money?"

Upon hearing this, Fred put his arm around Harry's shoulder. "Harry, we know you're rich, but that's no excuse for you to squander your money! Right, George!"

“That’s right! And if Mom finds out…”

Gemini exaggeratedly covered their mouths.

"She will kick us out of the house!"

"You can't take a single penny with you!"

"We will be wandering!"

"You'll be looked down upon by others!"

The two actors worked together so well that Harry only got a chance to speak after they stopped.

"No, no, no, I mean I want to invest in you!"

"What?" Fred was stunned.

“Here you go!” Harry handed over the bag—it contained 500 Galleons.

You're kidding!

“No, I didn’t! I genuinely wanted to invest in you!” Harry repeated with a serious expression.

"Don't tell your mother where this money came from... even though she's not as keen on you getting into the Ministry of Magic anymore..."

Before the twins could say anything more, Harry turned and left, demonstrating his resolve through his actions.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

This year's House Cup still belongs to Slytherin, and although no one was surprised, the Slytherin long table was still very lively.

Harry forced himself to ignore the commotion over there and buried himself in the food from the start of the dinner until his stomach was completely full.

Would you like a glass of pumpkin juice?

Hermione handed her a glass of pumpkin juice, her expression aloof yet concerned.

Harry, already feeling down, almost burst into tears when he saw the steaming pumpkin juice in front of him.

"I'm going to find her."

"I've broken off all contact with her."

The two short sentences left Harry and Ron, who had been watching closely, completely bewildered.

The hall lights shone on the girl's face, and Harry could vaguely see tears glistening in her eyes.

“I met her by the Black Lake, and then I asked her the question that had been bothering me.”

"She admitted it, admitted to everything that happened at the cemetery that night, and admitted that she had always known about her background."

Hermione recounted her experience in a casual manner, and no one knew how much courage she mustered to speak up, or how she managed to get back to her dorm room.

Let's turn back the clock to evening.

Thea suddenly felt like going out for a walk. She didn't bring Draco and the others; she just wanted to go by herself.

She was staring blankly at the lake when she heard Hermione's voice behind her.

Thea knew what the other person wanted to ask, and felt regretful that today's walk plan had to end, but her face remained expressionless.

Thea's indifferent expression did not deter Hermione; she bravely asked the question that had been lingering in her mind for so long.

"Are you really...that person's daughter?"

“Yes!” Thea affirmed without hesitation.

Hermione's lips were pale, but she still asked, "When did you find out?"

"When I was nine or ten years old! Anyway, before I started school."

"Is what Harry said true? You really helped... him come back to life?"

“It’s true,” Thea replied without blinking.

"So... have you ever considered us friends?"

Thea, who had just been answering every question, suddenly hesitated, "Is this question... even relevant?"

“It makes sense!” Hermione answered firmly.

"Um...I don't know either..."

"How could I not know?" Hermione exclaimed in frustration.

"Did you know that Sirius is my uncle?" Thea suddenly asked a completely unrelated question.

"...I know."

"Do you know how much effort I put into clearing his name?"

"........."

"Two notebooks! Two whole notebooks! I spent ages finding examples and legal provisions to overturn his case!"

"But what about him? He's completely devoted to his godson! He hasn't said a single word of concern to me!"

"He's clearly my family! My family!"

"Years ago, he betrayed the family and abandoned everything Black had for Potter; but in the end, I was the one who cleaned up his mess! And now he's abandoning me again for Potter!"

"Hermione, how can he be so cruel?"

Under Thea's accusations, Hermione wished she could just run away.

"When you were talking to Sirius, did you ever think for a moment that he had a niece at Hogwarts who also needed his attention?"

"What's the point of you standing here asking me if your friendship is real or not?"

"It was I who restrained the Slytherin students and helped to ease the tension between Gryffindor and Slytherin!"

"It was I who assembled the locked-room mystery investigation team to clear Potter's name!"

"It was also because I created the dueling training that you improved your strength!"

Thea had completely abandoned her gentle facade and was now aggressively targeting Hermione.

After a long silence, Thea uttered a light, airy sentence.

"Not only are you speechless, but I don't want to say anything either..."

"Forget it... this kind of friendship is just too boring..."

"I'm tired of playing the role of maintaining fragile friendships."

Hermione shuddered; this little witch, who always prided herself on her vast knowledge, was now speechless with any words that could ease the tension…

Hermione had no idea how she got back to her dorm.

When she came to her senses, startled by the familiar decorations around her, she realized that she was already in tears...

He was the first person to show her kindness...

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

In early July, the Hogwarts Express slowly pulled out of Hogwarts Station, just like it had for ten years.

Thea stared blankly at the green trees rushing past outside before belatedly realizing what was happening.

Her fourth grade has ended...