Hermione stared absentmindedly at the small pot of finished potion. The potion inside was exceptionally clear, as smooth as an ancient mirror. According to this was the finished state of Veritaserum. She still couldn't believe she had independently completed such a difficult potion.
The joy and pride only lasted for a moment, followed by apprehension. The use of Veritaserum was strictly restricted by the Ministry of Magic, with specific legal provisions. Even when used on prisoners, it had to be done with utmost caution because this potion violated a person's .
Just like no one would willingly be subjected to Legilimency, once caught, all your secrets would be exposed in front of others, which was even more unacceptable than physical .
Physical would only bring shame, while mental would have far more serious consequences.
"I might get expelled if I'm discovered," Hermione thought helplessly, hanging her head. Poor Professor Snape's private storage of materials had been raided by her again.
Regardless of the reason, stealing was never praiseworthy, even if the target was that annoying Snape.
A battle between good and evil raged in her heart. Even at this point, she could still pull back from the brink and pretend nothing had happened.
But the doubts in her heart would never be resolved, and Harry's safety might not be guaranteed. He was her best friend, and the unease and premonition in her heart prompted her to make a decision.
As if suddenly determined, Hermione took out a delicate and transparent glass bottle from her pocket and carefully poured every last drop of the potion from the cauldron into it.
"Moaning Myrtle, can you do me a favor?" Hermione asked, walking to the toilet where Moaning Myrtle was sitting.
Actually, this ghost was easy to deal with, as long as you sincerely praised her. The reason they often made her cry was because Peeves would often appear at inappropriate times and sabotage.
To prevent this, Hermione had specifically consulted Professor Lupin on how to deal with Peeves. After Professor Lupin taught her a spell, Peeves dared not approach the bathroom again.
She had been getting along quite well with Moaning Myrtle these days. She would tell Moaning Myrtle what styles were popular in the wizarding world and what kind of girls boys liked these days. Even though she had become a ghost, Moaning Myrtle was still full of interest in these things. Perhaps this was the nature of all women, even if these things no longer meant anything to her, Moaning Myrtle still enjoyed it.
When she died, she was just a young girl full of fantasies about the future.
As long as you can communicate with someone and use your sincerity, you can always move them.
Hermione had also analyzed Moaning Myrtle's situation with her knowledge. Sometimes, her crying, pretentious, and annoying actions were just a way for her to protect herself. As long as she was hated by everyone, they would stay away from her, and she wouldn't get hurt.
Except for the mischievous Peeves.
"Is your potion ready?" Moaning Myrtle floated up from the toilet, sincerely happy for Hermione, a faint smile on her face, her thick glasses showing admiration, but her tone also carried a hint of melancholy. She knew that perhaps after this time, Hermione wouldn't be here for long.
She knew that a large part of the reason Hermione chose this place was because it was quiet and there were few people.
"Thank you for taking care of me these days," Hermione said sincerely. She still remembered last year when she, Ron, and Harry were also brewing Polyjuice Potion here, but at that time, she was treated like air, just minding their own business.
Moaning Myrtle would always cry sadly, then hide in the corner and silently watch their actions, or stay in the furthest toilet stall, not knowing what she was doing.
This time, she came alone and instead gained Moaning Myrtle's friendship.
"According to the characteristics described in the book, it should be finished," Hermione nodded slightly, but soon her eyebrows furrowed slightly. The determination she had just made began to waver again. What she was about to do next involved considerable risk.
"I might need you to do me a favor," Hermione took a deep breath and said to Moaning Myrtle.
"What favor?" Moaning Myrtle's heart was suspended when she heard Hermione's serious tone. She was just a ghost now, without a physical body, and couldn't help her friend much.
Moaning Myrtle's first thought wasn't whether the favor would be difficult, but whether she could help Hermione.
"Can you help me verify the effectiveness of the potion I brewed?" Hermione slowly asked. After she finished the whole sentence, she felt all the strength in her body had been drained, and a feeling of weakness spread to every corner of her body.
"But I don't have a physical body," Moaning Myrtle said sadly. She was just a poor ghost and had no ability to help Hermione verify the effectiveness of the potion.
"I'll try it myself, but I need your help in the process," Hermione's right hand suddenly clenched the small bottle filled with Veritaserum, her eyes now filled with determination.
She decided to trust the ghost in front of her and completely open her heart to her.
"What should I do?" Moaning Myrtle said with some fear. Her intuition told her that this was a very important thing for Hermione. She was afraid that she would mess everything up, and then her only friend would leave her because of it. Peeves might also mock her in an exaggerated tone: "Oh, Moaning Myrtle, no one cares about Moaning Myrtle, no one likes Moaning Myrtle, Moaning Myrtle can't help."
"You just need to ask me questions," Hermione looked at Moaning Myrtle with encouraging eyes, her tone full of trust.
Moaning Myrtle was a ghost and couldn't experiment, so the only choice was herself, and even if Moaning Myrtle could take her place, Hermione's heart would never accept letting her friend take the risk, because this was her own choice.
Opening your heart to another person really required great courage.
Then Hermione explained her plan in detail to Moaning Myrtle. After listening, Moaning Myrtle almost cried with excitement, if she could shed tears.
"I promise not to let you down," Moaning Myrtle said with teary eyes, moved by the girl in front of her trusting herself so much.
Then Hermione picked up a silver curved spoon from her pile of potion-making tools, shook the crystal bottle filled with Veritaserum slightly, pulled out the wooden stopper, and tilted the bottle.
Compared to the viscosity of Polyjuice Potion, Veritaserum was very clear, which allowed Hermione to grasp the dosage more accurately.
One drop, no, half a drop was enough.
The transparent, colorless liquid lay quietly in the spoon. Hermione said to Moaning Myrtle, "Thank you for your help," and then tilted her head back and drank the potion she had concocted herself.
Moaning Myrtle watched in horror as Hermione's bright, spirited eyes instantly became dull, as if her soul had been completely sucked away.
"Calm down, calm down, this is normal, Hermione told me about it," Moaning Myrtle told herself, forcing herself to calm down.
"What's your name?" Moaning Myrtle asked tentatively.
"Hermione Jean Granger," Hermione's voice was like a machine, devoid of any emotion.
Moaning Myrtle felt herself trembling all over, a shiver brought on by fear. The person who had been alive just now had turned into a wooden puppet who answered every question, which was truly terrifying.
"Fortunately, this is only temporary," Moaning Myrtle thought, then suppressed her inner discomfort and continued to ask, "What are you most afraid of?"
"Professor McGonagall giving me a failing exam paper," the answer was still mechanical.
"What are the names of your two best friends?"
Hermione's eyelids began to flutter. This seemed to be something very important to her, but after only a moment of struggle, she blurted out, "Harry Potter and Ron Weasley."
This wasn't a secret to her; at most, it was just something very important.
"Oh, what do I see? You seem to be playing something very interesting, a Muggle game of truth or dare? I remember hearing the Weasley twins talk about it," a voice that Moaning Myrtle knew all too well rang in her ears.
"What do you want, Peeves?" Moaning Myrtle subconsciously took a step back, because Peeves would always say things that made her sad and hurt, such as calling her "Fat Myrtle! Ugly Myrtle! Poor, weepy, moping Myrtle!" and would play all sorts of pranks on her. But she quickly stepped back, because she suddenly realized that her friend behind her was in a very bad state, and she had to stand in front of her; that was her promise.
Perhaps Moaning Myrtle was particularly brave today. Peeves straightened his gray, pointed hat and said formally, "There's never been a place in Hogwarts Castle that Peeves wouldn't dare to go, let alone the lavatory of ugly, cowardly Myrtle."
Peeves paused, glanced at Moaning Myrtle with his round, bright eyes, but didn't see the emotion he wanted to see.
In the past, if he had come to tease Moaning Myrtle, she would have been so scared that she would have crawled into the toilet bowl.
"But you shamelessly asked the teachers for help and even asked about the thing that Peeves is most afraid of. But do you naively think that Peeves would really be trapped outside by such a small spell?" he said indignantly, opening his big mouth, and then suddenly chuckled, "Are you exchanging secrets? I've seen girls from other houses like to play this kind of superficial game."
His cunning eyes began to gleam, as if he had discovered something new.
"Ah, Myrtle, beautiful Myrtle, tolerant Myrtle, I will never laugh at you again, can you tell me what you are doing now?" Peeves asked sincerely.
"Have mercy, compassionate Myrtle, poor Peeves is suffering because his curiosity is not relieved," Peeves took off the hat he was wearing, put his hands together, and his short body floated in the sky and bowed.
"No, no, no," Moaning Myrtle shook her head like a rattle drum, refusing repeatedly. She wouldn't trust Peeves, who lied as easily as eating and drinking.
"Oh, cruel Myrtle," Peeves' head drooped down, looking very disappointed, but then he grinned and said, "But when have you ever seen Peeves ask for permission before playing a prank?"
Peeves suddenly swooped down from the sky, not forgetting to make a face, like the impact of a cannonball being fired, rushing straight towards Hermione. Moaning Myrtle was so frightened that she screamed and dodged.
"Oh, what are the secrets hidden deep in the heart of a young girl?" Peeves muttered to himself in front of Hermione, looking at Hermione, who was now almost unconscious, her eyes empty.
"The color of the underwear worn today? Oh dear, how could Peeves ask such a tasteless question?" Peeves patted his head with his hand in annoyance.
"Peeves should ask questions that produce a more mischievous effect. Oh dear, Myrtle, can you give me some advice?" Peeves stretched his head and looked at Moaning Myrtle, who was cowering aside.
"No, don't do that," Moaning Myrtle could only shake her head desperately, but without a physical body, she couldn't drive away the physical Peeves. She was powerless.
"Oh dear, Peeves suddenly thought of a wonderful question!" Peeves suddenly shouted happily, his eyes filled with cunning light.
"Hermione Granger, do you currently have a crush on a member of the opposite sex of the same age?" Peeves asked directly.
How could a teenager's hazy love for the opposite sex be easily known by others?
"No!" Moaning Myrtle shouted desperately. She felt that she had failed Hermione's expectations of her.
Peeves looked at Hermione with an expectant expression, hoping to get some amazing secret, so that his heart could be greatly satisfied.
"Waddiwasi!" Hermione gave Peeves only this answer.
The cork on the ground suddenly shot towards Peeves like a bullet, instantly shooting into Peeves' laughing mouth. Peeves immediately choked and coughed violently.
"You will eventually be retaliated against by Peeves' pranks!" Peeves left these last words and then floated away towards the outside of the lavatory.
"Are you awake? Hermione?" Moaning Myrtle asked with a look of surprise, then her face was filled with guilt again. She had failed to stop Peeves.
"Yes," Hermione nodded gently in response. Her eyes were clear now, and at the same time, she was grateful that she had only tested a little bit of Veritaserum, so she had woken up at a critical moment.
However, the question that Peeves had asked her last, she had an answer in her heart before the effect of the potion completely disappeared.
This meant that: she had stopped herself from saying her answer at the last moment, and then used the shooting spell against Peeves.
And that answer had been deeply engraved in her heart.
She didn't dare to and didn't want to believe it.
"I have to go now," Hermione said. She would rather the Veritaserum had failed.
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