When Amanda, Hermione, and Harry finally parted ways, the boy's face was already flushed bright red.
Watching Harry's back as he walked toward Gryffindor Tower, Hermione turned to look at Amanda, "I bet Harry will start pursuing Ginny before Christmas."
Amanda also withdrew her gaze and looked at Hermione beside her, "I bet one month; Harry will start pursuing Ginny in a month."
"Mm-hmm," Hermione hummed noncommittally, lowering her head to Amanda's ear and blowing gently, "Then let's bet on you. If you lose, I will be very much looking forward to your birthday next year when you come of age."
Although the age of majority is eighteen in the Muggle World, it is seventeen in the Wizarding World. Regarding her darling, Hermione naturally indicated that she would go by the earliest one; she was already impatient.
"And what if I win?"
Feeling the warm, moist air by her ear, Amanda's voice couldn't help but tremble. Not only that, she could feel the muscles in her abdomen involuntarily contracting.
"Hmm, if you win," Hermione arched her eyebrows mischievously, opening her mouth with a wicked smile to bite Amanda's earlobe, "it's the same. I will be very much looking forward to your birthday next year when you come of age."
"Mngh..." Amanda whimpered and narrowed her eyes, her legs unconsciously going soft, and it was Hermione who reached out just in time to support her.
"Hermione is cheating."
"I'm only cheating with my darling." Hermione let go and kissed Amanda's cheek repeatedly. If it were anyone else, she wouldn't be interested in cheating.
"Hermione, stop it, I still have to walk back."
The heat on Amanda's face continued to rise, and she felt like she was about to lose control of her legs.
"It doesn't matter," Hermione said dismissively, leaning down to scoop Amanda up in a bridal carry. She walked with steady steps toward Ravenclaw Tower, "I'm still very strong; I can carry you back."
"But I should be quite heavy?" Amanda curled up in Hermione's arms, looking up at her and asking softly.
"Not heavy," Hermione shook her head, looking down at Amanda in her arms with a curl of her lips, "Amanda isn't heavy at all. You're just right to hold."
Raising her head again to look at the stairs in front of her, Hermione walked up with a light step. If she couldn't even carry her own lover, she would despise herself.
Carrying Amanda all the way into the Ravenclaw Common Room, the originally bustling Little Eagles instantly fell silent.
They were used to seeing Amanda and Hermione being intimate, but this was truly the first time they had seen such a scene. Amanda curled up in Hermione's arms, looking like a truly delicate and fragile girl.
Yet it was this very "fragile girl" who could easily defeat all of them with magic, who could nonchalantly suppress Voldemort in a fight. The only person who could turn Amanda into such a fragile girl was probably Hermione alone.
However, Amanda was becoming more and more vivid and adorable~ The faces of the Little Eagles were filled with satisfaction and relief. The only thing they felt a bit regretful about was that they didn't have a camera in their hands right now.
Otherwise, they could have recorded this scene.
Nodding to the Little Eagles, Amanda was carried back to the Dormitory by Hermione. In the Dormitory, Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore were tidying up their things.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, the two seniors stopped their movements and looked over. At the moment they saw Amanda curled up in Hermione's arms, both revealed an understanding smile.
"Senior Cho Chang, Senior Marietta, good afternoon." Tucked in Hermione's arms, Amanda obediently greeted the seniors.
Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore looked at her well-behaved, sweet appearance and had to restrain themselves several times from going over to pinch her cheeks.
"Senior Marietta, Senior Cho Chang, good afternoon." Hermione, still holding Amanda, also politely greeted the two seniors. Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore smiled and nodded in response.
Placing Amanda on the bed, Hermione sat directly beside her and pulled her into her arms.
"Amanda, Hermione, guess who we saw when we were having lunch just now?"
Marietta Eckmore walked over to the two juniors, swaying slightly, and waited until they weren't speaking before asking.
Who did they see at lunch? Senior Marietta unconsciously emphasized the time constraint of having lunch.
This indicated that the person she and Senior Cho Chang saw was likely someone who was almost only seen during meal times.
Then it couldn't be someone from outside the school, nor could it be a student; otherwise, Senior Marietta wouldn't have unconsciously emphasized the lunch period.
Thinking this way, the person's identity was almost certain; it should be a Professor, or rather, a member of the staff.
And linking this to the excitement and expectation on Senior Marietta's face, and considering that everyone had mentioned on the carriage earlier that Senior Penelope had already graduated.
Then it was very easy to be certain. Amanda reached the final conclusion in her mind in less than two seconds, and she spoke the answer.
"It's Senior Penelope, right? She returned to Hogwarts to serve as a teaching assistant? Professor Flitwick's teaching assistant?"
Listening to Amanda's analysis, Marietta Eckmore spread her hands with an 'I knew it' look. "Exactly. Senior Penelope finally decided to return to Hogwarts to teach. However, she has to start as Professor Flitwick's teaching assistant and slowly learn how to guide students. Once she's learned enough, she should start teaching the lower years' Charms Class."
"That's quite good," Hermione said, hugging Amanda. "She'll be a Hogwarts Professor in the future. What a great career."
"It really is." Marietta Eckmore sat at Amanda's desk, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at the two juniors.
Amanda blinked and looked at Marietta Eckmore, asking curiously, "Senior Marietta is also about to graduate. What work do you plan to do in the future?"
Startled slightly by Amanda's question, Marietta Eckmore lowered her eyes in thought. "Me? Maybe I'll want to go to a newspaper office to be a reporter or an editor-in-chief?"
"I might go to the Wizarding World Gazette. It just so happens there are many Ravenclaw graduates there, hehe."
That job was also quite good. Amanda nodded. Moreover, Senior Marietta was a very good person; there was no need to worry about her reporting fake news, spreading rumors, or slandering others. She would definitely be a conscientious reporter.
"What about Senior Cho Chang?"
Having just walked up behind Marietta Eckmore and leaning down to hug her, Cho Chang thought for a moment and rubbed her cheek against Marietta Eckmore's.
"Me? I should become a Quidditch player. I've already submitted applications to my preferred teams."
"Senior Cho Chang's career plan is also very good." Amanda smiled and gave Cho Chang a thumbs up. Both seniors' career plans were clear and very promising.
"Thinking that this is the last year at Hogwarts, I really feel a bit reluctant to leave."
Cho Chang said sentimentally, looking around the Dormitory she had lived in for nearly seven years. She still remembered six years ago, it was here that she first saw that little one who was still reading late at night.
And now, looking at Amanda sitting on the opposite bed with Hermione's arm around her waist, this little one had rediscovered herself and grown into such a big girl.
Speaking of which, when she goes out in the future, she can say she watched Amanda grow up. Hmm, thinking about it feels very nice.
"It doesn't matter. If you miss this place in the future, you can come back and visit anytime."
Marietta Eckmore said softly, kissing her lover's lips.
"Mm." Cho Chang responded happily.
Amanda cleared her throat and spoke a somewhat unpleasant truth, "Actually, Senior Cho Chang and Senior Marietta, there is another possibility of you returning to the school."
"What possibility?" Marietta Eckmore asked without thinking, while Cho Chang seemed to have already thought of something, showing an 'I'd rather not' expression.
"Voldemort launching a Great War against Hogwarts." Amanda shrugged, as if she wasn't talking about the greatest Dark Wizard in Britain today, but about a swarm of mosquitoes about to invade Hogwarts.
"The two seniors will definitely come back then, right?"
"I would still prefer to come back because I miss Hogwarts, miss the Professors, and miss you all."
Cho Chang clicked her tongue. Except for someone like Voldemort, any Wizard who has attended Hogwarts would not want their second home to become a battlefield.
"It's inevitable," Amanda shook her head and sighed deeply. "The faith of the British Wizarding World is here, Headmaster Dumbledore is here, I am here, and Hermione is here. When Voldemort picks the location for the final battle, it will inevitably be here."
"Yes, the possibility of Hogwarts becoming the battlefield for the final battle is indeed very high," Hermione said certainly.
"Sigh..." ×2
Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore sighed in regret at the same time. They also knew the possibility was high; they just didn't really want to accept that Hogwarts would become a battlefield in the future.
"But don't worry, the Aurors have been retrained. When Voldemort invades Hogwarts, they will all be dispatched here. Whether it's Voldemort or the Death Eaters, they won't have a chance to get near Hogwarts Castle."
"Mm-hmm!"
Amanda sat next to Hermione and nodded vigorously. If even one of those guys so much as touched the gates of Hogwarts Castle...
She would double the training intensity for herself and the Aurors twice over.
After all, if that happened, it would prove they couldn't even block Voldemort and the Death Eaters, which would be too incompetent. Extra training, it must be extra training!
The four girls spent almost the entire afternoon chatting together; friends gathered together always have endless topics.
It wasn't until evening approached that Amanda and Hermione quickly packed their luggage and headed to the Great Hall with Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore to attend the Start-of-term feast.
Entering the Great Hall and sitting at the Ravenclaw Table, Amanda glanced sideways at Senior Penelope, who was sitting not far away being hugged by Luna.
Sensing Amanda's gaze, Senior Penelope turned to look at her and waved with a smile. Luna, who was hugging Penelope, also smiled dreamily and waved to greet Amanda.
After politely responding to their greetings, Amanda turned her gaze back to the Staff Table.
It seemed Senior Penelope had sat at the students' table for Luna's sake, Amanda thought, looking at the extra empty seat beside Professor Flitwick.
As more and more Young Wizards arrived at the Great Hall, and once the first-year students had finally gathered in the center aisle, Headmaster Dumbledore rose with pleasure.
"Welcome, everyone. Welcome back to Hogwarts for a new school year. Before we begin the Sorting Ceremony, please allow me to introduce a new Professor."
"Of course, he is a new Professor to you, but an old friend to us."
"Please allow me to introduce to you, Professor Horace Slughorn."
As his voice fell, Professor Slughorn stood up and waved with a smile to the Young Wizards below. The Young Wizards also joined in to welcome him, with applause ringing ceaselessly. Meanwhile, those Young Wizards who didn't know he was a Potions Master were still guessing how he would teach Defense Against the Dark Arts.
On the other hand, Cho Chang and Marietta Eckmore, who had heard of his name, turned their heads in perfect synchronization toward Professor Snape at the Staff Table. If Professor Slughorn was here to teach Potions, then what would Professor Snape teach?
Could it be... the Defense Against the Dark Arts class he had looked forward to and applied for for so long? Had he finally received permission to teach this subject?
While the two girls were puzzled, Headmaster Dumbledore on the Staff Table continued his introduction, "He will be resuming his position as Hogwarts' Potions Professor."
"What?"
"Professor Slughorn is serving as the Potions Professor? Then what about Professor Snape?"
"Are we going to have two Potions Professors from now on? And then no one to teach the Defense Against the Dark Arts class?"
"If no one's teaching it... does that mean we can attend Amanda's class again?"
The Young Wizards below chattered among themselves. Headmaster Dumbledore looked at them kindly and pressed his hands down to signal everyone to stay quiet.
"Silence, please."
The Young Wizards who were just chatting instantly shut their mouths, looking with bright eyes at Headmaster Dumbledore on the Staff Table.
"This year's defense against the dark arts professor will be held by Professor Severus Snape."
When this news was announced, the Great Hall instantly became even more lively. The fact that Professor Snape wanted to teach the Defense Against the Dark Arts class was not a secret at Hogwarts.
He had applied year after year and failed every time. No one expected that he would actually succeed this year!
More importantly, "Hogwarts' defense against the dark arts professor is cursed," Cho Chang glanced at Professor Snape on the Staff Table, feeling a bit uneasy. "No Professor has been able to serve for more than a year; they all leave Hogwarts due to various accidents. Professor Snape, he..."
Cursed? Amanda turned her head in confusion to look at Cho Chang, "Senior Cho Chang, what curse?"
The position of defense against the dark arts professor was actually cursed? No wonder so many previous Professors hadn't been able to teach for more than a year.
She had thought it was just the Professors' bad luck, but it turned out to be because of a curse?
"Has no one told you this rumor?" Cho Chang paused and explained, "The rumor is that You-Know-Who once came to Hogwarts after graduation wanting to be the defense against the dark arts professor, but he was rejected by Headmaster Dumbledore."
"Then he cursed the position, and since then, no Professor has been able to serve for more than a year consecutively."
Voldemort wanted to be the defense against the dark arts professor? Amanda felt a bit of a headache hearing this claim. This was a bit... a bit nonsensical, wasn't it?
This Voldemort must have used this as a pretext to do something at Hogwarts. Amanda narrowed her eyes slightly, sensing that something was amiss.
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