When Hermione found Lia, she was sitting on a rock covered with thick green moss, being treated with tenderness by all the creatures of the forest.
A few fluffy squirrels were using their bushy tails to groom her long, silver-white hair.
Two or three forest birds with vibrant feathers took turns flying deep into the dense woods, returning with plump, juicy berries to feed her one by one.
Lia squinted her sky-blue eyes comfortably, the tip of her tail twitching lazily; she looked as if she had forgotten all the troubles of the world.
Happy here, she had no thought of Hogwarts.
Sensing a familiar scent, she immediately opened her eyes and looked over.
"Hermione!" Lia's eyes instantly lit up as she waved happily, holding up a crystal-clear red berry. "The fruit near the Moon Spring tastes much better than the ones outside!"
Hermione said nothing.
She simply stepped forward, walking through the scattered ferns and approaching Lia step by step.
Under Lia's confused gaze, Hermione reached out with trembling arms and gently embraced her.
"Hermione?" Lia was dazed by the sudden hug.
She could clearly feel Hermione's thin body trembling violently, and a salty, bitter scent enveloped her.
Was that the scent of worry and sadness?
Did something happen?
Suppressing her confusion, she reached out to gently pat Hermione's back, and her long, snowy-white tail instinctively wrapped around Hermione's wrist to comfort her.
"What's wrong?" Lia asked softly.
Hermione's voice came muffled from the crook of her neck, sounding terribly hoarse.
"It's nothing now."
"Let's go back."
Lia glanced at her again; intuition told her that Hermione's words were definitely not meant literally.
She obediently let Hermione hold her, using her own body heat to warm the trembling girl.
After an unknown amount of time, Hermione finally released her slowly.
The forest animals had long since been disturbed by the heavy atmosphere and had scattered.
Hermione looked up; her eyes were red, but there wasn't a single tear on her face.
She simply reached out and, with the pad of her finger, extremely gently wiped away a bit of juice remaining at the corner of Lia's mouth.
"Let's go."
With that, they bid farewell to Firenze.
The two walked hand in hand on the way back to the Castle.
Hermione's grip was very tight; the relaxed ease from when they arrived was gone, replaced by a suffocating heaviness.
In the shadows of the woods, Firenze's figure flashed by. He watched their departing figures from afar, his eyes reflecting the stars filled with silent pity and a sigh.
Back at Hogwarts.
Hermione gently closed the door to the girls' dormitory.
*Click.*
A soft sound isolated all external noise.
Lia stretched and habitually lay down on the bed, her soft body sprawling out as the tip of her tail curled—a blatant invitation.
However, Hermione had no interest in appreciating this beautiful sight.
Seeing that Hermione didn't react and just stood by the door, staring at her with hollow eyes, Lia felt something was wrong.
On the way back from the Forbidden Forest, Hermione had looked like she'd lost her soul.
Usually, when Lia lay down like this, even if it didn't lead to a battle of wits, Hermione would at least pounce over and take a few hard sniffs.
"Hermione?" she tentatively spoke, her voice very soft.
Hermione finally moved.
She took off her shoes and walked to the bedside step by step, leaning down with her hands on either side of Lia's head, completely enveloping her in shadow.
A few strands of chestnut hair fell on Lia's face, causing a slight itch that made her involuntarily turn her head to rub against the quilt.
Hermione's face was very close, close enough for Lia to feel the warmth of her breath.
"The last two times... right?"
Hermione's voice was hoarse. She had clearly prepared herself mentally, but as soon as the words came out, her eyes reddened instantly, carrying an uncontrollable sob.
Lia's body froze.
Firenze... he told Hermione.
So be it.
Lia suddenly smiled, a smile carrying a hint of relief and comfort.
She raised both hands and gently cupped Hermione's face.
"It's okay," Lia's smiling gaze met Hermione's eyes directly; she wanted to lighten the mood. "Maybe by my ninth life, I'll be even more powerful than Dumbledore!"
However, Hermione had no intention of laughing.
Gradually, Lia's smile faded.
She watched the stubborn tear at the corner of Hermione's eye that refused to fall, and reached out with her thumb to gently wipe it away.
"Hermione, it's fine. I'll be careful in the future."
"You promised that before!"
Hermione suddenly seemed triggered, growling out of control.
"Enough, Lia. Really... enough."
"From today, from this moment on, you only have one life left."
"The one you have right now." Hermione's voice was as cold and hard as iron. "Forget all the others."
You don't have extra lives, no chances to start over. You only have this one life; it's just like mine, only once."
"Promise me," Hermione buried her face in Lia's neck, her voice muffled, "live this last life as if it's your only life."
Lia smelled the intense emotional scent coming from Hermione.
A long time passed.
Lia reached out her arms and returned the hug to the trembling body.
Her snow-white tail gently wrapped around Hermione's calf.
"...Alright."
Hermione just lay quietly on top of Lia, absorbing her reassuring body heat.
Lia was very compliant, her tail wrapped around Hermione's calf, one hand rhythmically patting her back.
Until... *Click!*
The sound of the doorknob turning rang out abruptly, and Parvati and Lavender pushed the door open while chatting.
As soon as they entered, they saw Hermione lying entirely on top of Lia in an overly intimate posture.
Hair disheveled, clothes slightly wrinkled—the atmosphere was so ambiguous it was practically bubbling with pink bubbles!
The air froze for three seconds.
"Oh! Merlin! Sorry to disturb you! We... we'll come back in an hour! No! Two hours!"
Parvati slammed the door shut and dragged the unfazed Lavender away from the scene.
Parvati slammed the door and pulled Lavender away.
Hearing the noise, Hermione suddenly bounced off Lia.
She shouted toward the door, stammering.
Wait, wait! It's not... this time it really isn't!"
[Treasures, please take care of your health.]
[I would really rather have an external injury than be sick!]
[My head is so dizzy, it's so uncomfortable!]
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