Harry Potter: Even Voldemort Can't Stop Me from Studying

With a formal name, this group, which had initially gathered by chance, suddenly became official. Everyone then discussed some additional rules—such as requiring unanimous consent for new members, not damaging others' belongings, and members of the SSC supporting each other when facing professors or other students.

Wade initially felt it had a playful nature—a small group of only a few people, gathering when it suited them, disbanding when it didn't, why set rules? But everyone else participated very seriously, which gave Wade some strange feelings.

It was as if he had truly joined some mysterious organization.

"Rue was used as an antidote in ancient Greece, discovered in the 16th century—to date, its medicinal value has been found to include: extracts from its stems and leaves can dispel poisons—its pollen has a repellent effect against basilisk venom—rue was widely cultivated, and its cultivation method is—during cultivation, one needs to pay attention to—"

Wade wrote the last letter on the parchment, finishing yesterday's Herbology assignment. As for other subjects, he had completed them all on the day he took the classes. Wade checked the grammar again, and after the ink dried, he rolled up the parchment.

"Wade, have you finished your homework?" Hermione leaned over and asked.

"Yes."

"There's something I want to tell you," Hermione whispered.

The two moved to the other side of the classroom. Wade waved his wand: "Muffliato."

—This way, no matter how loud they spoke, it would only be a faint buzzing sound to others.

Wade looked at Hermione's worried expression and asked, "What happened?"

"Well, the day before yesterday afternoon, that Malfoy fellow challenged Harry to a duel at midnight in the Trophy Room. I knew right away that he had bad intentions, because he doesn't have the guts for it!" Hermione said indignantly. "But Harry and Ron completely ignored my advice, all for the sake of—boy's pride—it's truly selfish! They didn't even think about how many points would be deducted if they were caught! No regard for house honor at all!"

Hermione took a few deep breaths, suppressing her anger before continuing, "Of course, that's not the main point—because we were lucky not to be caught, although it was just by a hair—"

"—You guys?" Wade caught the keywords.

"Yes. While I was trying to stop them from doing something stupid, I accidentally got locked out of the common room and had to go with them." Hermione frowned, saying with disgust, "And it turned out Malfoy didn't go to the Trophy Room; he tipped off Filch!—That despicable fellow! Then, when we were running away, we broke into a locked room—"

Hermione suddenly lowered her voice and asked, "Wade, do you remember what Professor Dumbledore said at the beginning of the term?"

Wade thought for a moment. Dumbledore hadn't said much in his speech, and what stuck out to him most was, of course—

"Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak?"

"Oh, not that!" Hermione rolled her eyes, reminding him, "It was—'All those who do not wish to suffer a most painful death—'"

"—should not go down the third-floor corridor?" Wade remembered. "You went to the third floor? What did you see?"

"Yes. We accidentally ran to the third floor and then saw a—" Hermione swallowed, her face still showing remnants of lingering fear. "—a three-headed dog as tall as a house!"

"—How did you survive?" Wade was speechless. He had long forgotten such details, never expecting Hermione and the others to experience such an adventure so early. He said, "I remember seeing that monster in a book. Although today's three-headed dogs are not the legendary Cerberus, their teeth can easily crush skulls, and their fangs carry corrosive venom, making wounds very difficult to heal after being bitten."

"It probably didn't react at first, but then it roared and lunged at us; we were almost eaten!" Hermione clenched her fists, her body trembling slightly. "The school actually—actually put such a dangerous monster in the castle! It's unbelievable! Even if they want to use it to guard something, what if another reckless student breaks in?! Doesn't the school consider the safety of ordinary students at all?"

Wade made a joke offhand: "Maybe the magical school has some kind of death quota? A few student deaths each year are completely insignificant, and it serves as a good warning to others! To let them know they shouldn't take the professors' words lightly!"

"—There's such a thing!" Hermione grabbed her face in horror, babbling, "But I didn't see anything about that in Hogwarts: A History—oh right, of course, such things wouldn't be written in a book—it's terrifying! How could the Ministry of Magic allow—"

Wade hadn't expected her to not doubt his words at all and quickly raised his hand to apologize: "I'm sorry! Hermione, I was just making it up. Don't take it seriously—"

Hermione stared at him blankly, her brown eyes even welling up with tears.

This time, Wade truly felt a pang of guilt. He sincerely apologized again: "I'm sorry, I was just making a joke because you seemed scared. But it seems to have turned into a morbid joke—I'm an idiot! Please don't be angry—"

Hermione remained poker-faced and silent, too angry to acknowledge Wade for a long time.

It wasn't until practice ended and everyone else had left that Wade stopped Hermione and apologized repeatedly, finally getting the girl to relent.

Hermione lowered her head, muttering, "Actually, I know—everyone dislikes me—but I considered you a friend. Please don't tease me like everyone else—"

Wade's heart melted completely; the guilt almost overwhelmed him to the point he'd slap himself if he thought about it in the middle of the night—because he knew Hermione had been having a tough time in Gryffindor lately, making her sensitive and vulnerable. He raised two fingers as if taking an oath and said seriously, "I'm sorry, I promise it won't happen again."

Hermione looked into his eyes for a long moment, then quietly said, "A joke is only a joke if both parties find it amusing."

"I'll remember that," Wade said, ashamed. He couldn't believe he needed a truly eleven-year-old girl to teach him such a simple truth. Had he truly become a thoughtless little boy after being reborn?

Looking at the swirl on his head, Hermione smiled faintly.

"Alright, I'm not angry anymore," the girl cleared her throat. "Back to the three-headed dog—I was actually wondering if I should go talk to Professor McGonagall?"

"You want to talk to Professor McGonagall about the safety of the three-headed dog?" Wade immediately understood what she meant.

"Yes," Hermione said, irritably ruffling her already messy hair. "Even though they locked that room, a simple Alohomora charm could open it. What if a curious student gets in—sigh, I want to suggest to Professor McGonagall that they hide that room with powerful magic, but that would expose us violating the school's prohibition—"

"Why don't you think about it from a different angle, Hermione?" Wade said after a moment's thought. "Perhaps that door was sealed so simply precisely so someone would open it."