After that conversation, nothing changed between Hermione and Lia; everything was the same as before.
As usual, Hermione used strict standards to supervise Lia's studies, making her repeatedly practice the powerful spells learned from Tom Riddle's soul.
She also routinely used "teaching" as an excuse to give Lia those "sweet little punishments" that made their feelings heat up and their hearts race.
Under Hermione's "guidance," Lia's changes were visible to the naked eye.
Now, whenever her [Danger Intuition] sounded an alarm in her mind, she would immediately distance herself from the source of danger, instead of rushing over to investigate like the curious little wildcat she used to be.
This progress earned Hermione's great praise, though the "rewards" were generous enough to leave Lia sore all over the next day, with even the tip of her tail radiating lazy exhaustion.
The weather grew colder, and the first snowfall quietly covered the Hogwarts grounds, announcing the arrival of another Hogsmeade weekend.
Hermione hadn't planned on going; she needed some time alone to deal with the increasingly thorny issue—the vanishing cabinet.
Driven by both money and fear, Borgin's repair progress was much faster than she anticipated, so fast that it made her feel a hint of unease.
But Harry and Ron were excited, and unable to refuse the two old friends, she finally followed them out of the Castle.
The trio walked along the snowy streets of Hogsmeade, the thin layer of snow crunching softly underfoot, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.
Harry and Ron were quietly discussing Quidditch up ahead, arguing heatedly over the tactics for their next opponent.
"Merlin, it seems like I haven't seen you two separated since I got to Hogwarts!" Ron turned around and dramatically shook his head at the two who were holding hands tightly.
Lia didn't care about the teasing at all; instead, she squeezed Hermione's hand tighter, puffed a cloud of white breath at Ron, and declared self-righteously: "I like Hermione! What about it!"
"Alright, alright, my eyes weren't stepped on by a Troll." Ron waved his hand dismissively. "Of course I can tell you like her; you practically want to carve 'Hermione is mine' on your forehead."
Hermione listened to their bickering, a pleasant, faint smile curving her lips.
"The Three Broomsticks is up ahead, how about we go get some butterbeer?" Ron suggested.
Harry was about to nod when suddenly, a sharp quarrel erupted not far ahead.
"Let go of me, Leanne! It's none of your business!"
A girl's voice came through. It was Katie Bell, the Gryffindor Chaser.
She was arguing fiercely with her friend Leanne, clutching tightly in her hand a package wrapped in old parchment.
"How can you be so stupid! You don't even know what that is!" Leanne anxiously tried to snatch the package.
Just as they were pulling, Katie's fingertip accidentally tore the parchment, and her skin made momentary contact with the object inside.
—Buzz!
Lia's [Danger Intuition] let out a piercing shriek!
Cold magic filled with extreme hatred and malice burst forth violently from the small package!
"Ah—!"
Katie Bell let out a bloodcurdling scream that sounded utterly inhuman.
Her entire body seemed to be violently seized by an invisible large hand, lifted off the ground, and forcibly hauled into mid-air.
Her body twisted bizarrely in ways that defied skeletal structure, her limbs twitched unnaturally, her eyes rolled up to show frightening whites, and white foam sprayed from her mouth.
The sight was utterly terrifying, as if she were being ripped apart alive by an unseen Fiend.
The surrounding Wizards erupted in terrified screams, backing away quickly, and the previously quiet snowy street instantly descended into chaos.
"Katie!" Leanne was scared out of her wits, screaming incoherently.
The package slipped from Katie's rigid hand and dropped onto the pure white snow with a "thud." Beneath the torn parchment, a magnificent opal necklace lay quietly, flashing with an eerie light.
Hermione's feet were nailed to the spot, and her breath suddenly hitched.
Lying in the snow, the necklace shone with a deadly yet familiar light.
Fragments of memory instantly struck her—the dim light in Borgin and Burkes, the cold metal touched by her fingertips, and Borgin's slick face and greedy warning... "It has already killed nineteen Muggle owners."
This was her Plan B.
It was the Sword of Damocles she had prepared for Draco, hanging over his head.
And now, this sword had fallen upon someone else.
After a moment of shock, an overwhelming chill surged from the bottom of her heart.
"Quick! Get out of the way!" Hagrid's huge figure squeezed through the crowd. He carefully picked up Katie, who was still convulsing in mid-air. "Oh, merlins beard... we need to get her to St. Mungo's immediately!"
Harry and Ron had already rushed forward, describing what had just happened to Hagrid in a flurry of words.
Hermione did not move.
She just stood quietly in place. Lia noticed her stiffness and also looked up at the necklace.
The Cat-girl's nose twitched lightly.
"Hermione," Lia's voice was very low, "that scent belongs to Draco. There is also another person's scent, very faint, like someone controlled by the Imperio."
That single sentence connected all the clues.
Hermione slowly lowered her head, looking at the necklace lying in the snow, flashing with ominous light under the sun.
Malfoy.
He had begun to act.
He used Madam Rosmerta, who was controlled by the Imperio, to hand the necklace to Katie Bell.
An overt plot carried out in plain sight.
Meanwhile, the vanishing cabinet hidden deep within Knockturn Alley, the true killing move, was also progressing simultaneously.
This young man, doubly bound by family honor and the dark mark, was far more insane and reckless than she had estimated.
Hermione's fingers tightened unconsciously.
Lia said nothing, but instead used her own body warmth to tightly wrap Hermione's frighteningly cold fingers.
"We're going back." Hermione finally spoke, her voice devoid of emotion, as if the tragedy she had just witnessed was merely a drama unrelated to her.
"It was Malfoy! I'm sure he did it!"
Harry's angry voice cut through the chaotic crowd and reached them clearly. He was loudly accusing Malfoy to Professor McGonagall, who had rushed over.
Hermione's steps paused slightly, and a subtle analytical confusion flashed in her eyes.
Why was he so certain?
The thought lasted only a second before she suppressed it.
Now was not the time to think about this.
She pulled Lia and turned around without hesitation, leaving the chaotic scene.
Leaving Harry's excited arguments, Ron's agreement, and Professor McGonagall's stern inquiries all behind them in the softly falling snow.
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